Digital Commons Network^™

Disrupting Latina/X Media Representations: A Performance Art Installation Informed By Autoethnographic And Embodied Explorations, Sandra Cristina Roa

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation I use autoethnography and performance methods to create a performance art installation that examines and re-imagines the role of media representations in shaping how I as a Latina actively negotiates belonging and identifies this concept as always in a processes requiring negotiation. I argue belonging is influenced by how I see myself or don’t see myself in media representation and offer the counter-narrative as a way of asserting agency and disrupting marginalization. In this project, I tend to the tensions felt between being a community member, media maker, and qualitative researcher in order to disrupt media messages. …

The Ruling Relations Of Care: An Institutional Ethnography Of High-Risk Prenatal Care Experiences, Nicole L. Harris

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Disrespect during pregnancy, labor, and delivery is common in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated that approximately one in five women overall, and over 30% of Black women, report being ignored, dismissed, or verbally mistreated during their care. Public health efforts have primarily focused on individual-level interventions to improve patient-provider communication or reduce provider bias; however, these strategies have been critiqued for their limited scope and effectiveness in shifting outcomes. Instead, researchers and advocates have called for an examination of the structures that shape clinical encounters, including policies, protocols, workflows, and organizational culture. This …

The Role Of Peer Networks In Elementary Teacher Preparation Programs, Bayan Alnaim

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research provided insight into how peer networks related to the professional learning of TC as they moved through an elementary teacher preparation program. These formal and informal peer networks helped nurture collegiality among TCs to aid learning and provide emotional support, which allowed an edge toward forming an identity. This study examined the particular role of teacher networks in TCs’ learning (Al Sultan, 2021; Anderson et al., 2022). The study applied Social Constructivism and Communities of Practice frameworks to analyze the influence of peer networks on the development of teaching skills and professional identities. Data from TCs participating in …

Protocol For Assessing And Managing Radon Gas Exposure Risks In Caves: A Case Study Of Altamira And Paleolithic Cave Art Of Northern Spain World Heritage Site, Sergio Sanchez-Moral, Javier Lario, Soledad Cuezva, Juan Carlos Cañaveras, Tamara Martín-Pozas, Angel Fernández-Cortés

International Journal of Speleology

Exposure to radon and its progeny poses a significant health risk for workers in tourist caves. Implementing protective measures is challenging due to increasingly strict gas concentration and dose limits in new regulations. This study evaluates the annual effective radiation doses received by workers and researchers, considering seasonal and spatial radon variability. Radon levels, temperature, and ventilation patterns were continuously monitored for at least one year in each cave. Results show significant radon fluctuations influenced by seasonal ventilation regimes driven by thermal gradients between the cave and external atmosphere. Using International Commission on Radiological Protection guidelines, the study calculates the …

A Political Ecological Exploration Of The Caracol Road Project In Belize, Lorenzo A. Pantano

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Caracol Road Project is a new BZ$148,100,000 (US$74,050,000) road infrastructure development in the Cayo District of Belize and financed largely by foreign sovereign wealth funds. The areas adjacent to the road, broken into two phases include: communities, forest reserves, national parks, recreational areas, private lands and estates, and archaeological sites. This paper seeks to ask the questions: (i) For whom is the CRP being developed? (ii) For what is the CRP being developed? (iii) What visual evidence exists of sacrifice zones because of the production of the CRP? I sought to answer these questions through ethnographic observations, interviews, and …

Community, Autonomy, Irony: Lessons From Historic Rosenwald Schools, Ronald B. Matus

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Growing evidence suggests the Rosenwald schools of the American South, which anchored thousands of Black communities for a half century before desegregation, boosted academic outcomes for generations of Black students and helped fuel the civil rights movement. The research literature, however, is thin on what specifically made these schools successful. My research attempts to narrow the gaps by asking the Rosenwald alums themselves. Through semi-structured interviews, 10 alums in Florida identify defining features of their schools, including seamless community connections; a culture of high expectations for academic achievement and character development; and especially caring and committed teachers. The alums’ insights …

Building From Within: Hr And Leadership As Strategic Resources In Micro And Small Business Growth Across Generations And Partnerships, Angelia Mathews Payne

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Micro and small businesses (MSBs) with 1-19 employees represent 99.9% of all U.S. private sector businesses and contribute nearly $4 trillion to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), yet academic research on their internal growth strategies remains limited. This study examines how human resources (HR) and leadership function as strategic resources for growth across successive generations and partnerships in MSBs, addressing a critical gap in understanding how these internal capabilities create competitive advantages in resource-constrained environments.

Grounded in Resource-Based View (RBV) theory, this research investigated how HR and leadership capabilities meet the criteria for strategic resources—being valuable, rare, inimitable, and non-substitutable …

Connectedness And Belonging: An Autoethnography About Military Veteran Transition, Benjamin A. Smet

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Military veterans often face profound challenges transitioning to civilian life, yet prevailing narratives focus narrowly on PTSD and combat trauma. This dissertation uses autoethnography to broaden that view, blending personal narrative with theory to explore seven interrelated transition stressors: grief and bereavement, loss of military identity, autobiographical memory, service-connected nostalgia, moral injury, stereotype threat, and socialized masculinity and stoicism. These layered stories illuminate the cultural, emotional, and relational dimensions of transition, showing how isolation, disconnection, and loss of belonging shape veteran experiences as deeply as trauma. The analysis demonstrates that healing emerges not from prescriptive programs but from relational practices …

Microclimatic Conditions In Shulgan-Tash Cave (Southern Ural, Russia): Implications For The Preservation Of Eastern Europe’S Largest Paleolithic Art Collection, Olga Chervyatsova, Rayan Akhmedyanovb, Nailya Saifullina, Ludmila Kuzmina, Mihael Kotov, Yuri Dublyansky

International Journal of Speleology

This study presents the results of a long-term investigation of the microclimatic conditions in Shulgan-Tash Cave (Southern Urals, Russia), which hosts the largest assemblage of Upper Paleolithic paintings (ca. 16.3–19.6 ka) in Eastern Europe. The cave exhibits two distinct seasonal ventilation regimes – winter and summer – differentially influence its two levels of galleries. In the Lower Level, which contains 83% of the images, near-atmospheric CO₂ concentrations persist year-round, and temperature variations associated with seasonal infiltration events are minimal (1.0–1.3°C). By contrast, the Upper Level, including the decorated Hall of Paintings, is affected by downdrafts of CO₂-rich …

Proteomic Characterization Of The Neuronal Bin1 Interactome In Homeostatic And Alzheimer’S Disease Mouse Brains, Joseph Mcmillan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The gene BIN1 is the second-largest genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD). It is expressed in neurons and glia in the brain as cell-type specific and ubiquitous isoforms. BIN1 is an adaptor protein that regulates membrane dynamics in many cell types. Previously, we reported that BIN1 predominantly localizes to presynaptic terminals in neurons and regulates presynaptic vesicular release. However, the function of neuronal BIN1 in relation to LOAD is not yet fully understood. A significant gap in the field is the unbiased characterization of neuronal BIN1-interacting proteins and proximal neighbors. To address this gap and help define the …

First Confirmed Nestings Of Red-Necked Grebe In York Region, Ontario, Roy B.H. Smith

Ontario Birds

On 1 June 2019, the first recorded breeding by Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisgena) in York Region, Ontario, was established when a nest with one egg was found at the Moody Drive storm - water pond in the City of Vaughan. Although this nest was unsuccessful, a pair returned in 2020 and made another six unsuccessful nesting attempts. Also in 2020, another pair was found at the New Enterprise stormwater pond in Vaughan; they too made multiple unsuccessful nesting attempts. Both sites were reoccupied in 2021, and this time the pair at Moody Drive produced one young. In all three years, …

Full Issue, Ontario Field Ornithologists (Ofo)

Ontario Birds

No abstract provided.

Introductory Chemistry Student Success: Investigating Study Strategies And Evaluating An Informative Utility Value Intervention, Pallavi Nayyar

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Improving retention in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) programs is essential to meet the growing demand for skilled professionals in the domestic workforce. To achieve this, it is critical to understand and address the factors that influence student persistence in STEM degrees. Gateway courses such as general chemistry often serve as early barriers to STEM degree completion, with high rates of attrition that impact not only individual students but also institutions and society. Therefore, the aim of this work was to examine and influence the factors that contribute to student withdrawal from introductory chemistry courses in order to promote …

The Taxonomy And Origins Of Folia: A Brief Review, Donald G. Davis, Louise D. Hose, Harvey R. Duchene

International Journal of Speleology

All folia demonstrate a few common elements: folia (singular, folium) are planar or sub-planar speleothems, slanting downward and away from cave walls and ceilings, and genetically associated with fluctuating environmental interfaces. They were first identified and named from examples in western USA hypogenic caves but have since been identified elsewhere in the world. Folia shelves are typically composed of calcite and interweave smoothly along sub-horizontal contours. Calcite accretion, both chemical and mechanical from suspended particles, follows water-surface fluctuations to form protrusions in arrays along walls and ceilings where new accretion tends to follow the water-surface downward during descending phases, gradually …

Strategic Leadership In Security Media: Enhancing Community Safety Against Drug Abuse In Oman, Raed Awashreh, Saif Alshuhoomi,, Viola Gjylbegaj

Journal of Strategic Security

Rapid global development has led to increased security challenges, particularly regarding drug-related crimes. This study examines the role of strategic leadership in security media to enhance community security, focusing on drug abuse in Oman. Despite ongoing efforts to combat drug-related offenses, these crimes remain a significant threat to societal stability. The qualitative research involved in-depth interviews with 14 decision-makers, including 7 experts from Oman’s security media, police, and related institutions. It explores the effectiveness of security media campaigns in raising awareness and reducing drug use. Thematic analysis of the data revealed key challenges, including limited resources, outdated technologies, and insufficient …

Trickle-Down Coordination: The National Security Advisor’S Role As The Strategic And Operational Planner Of The Dod-Dos Interagency Relationship, Fabio S. Van Loon

Journal of Strategic Security

Forging a coherent U.S. foreign policy requires the competent management of the inter-agency framework. Defining strategy at the cabinet level and ensuring its implementation at the operational level, the National Security Advisor must act as an honest broker of the inter-agency process. This article will examine the role of three National Security Advisors from the Nixon, Carter and George W. Bush administrations, and study two examples of operational success and failure, highlighting the importance of the strategic-operational link. The author concludes by recommending a National Security Council (NSC)-led inter-agency framework that drives consensus-based strategic planning and mandates operational coordination through …

Intelligence As An Instrument Of National Power: Lessons Learned From The Tensions Between Serbia And Kosovo, Vadym Chernysh

Journal of Strategic Security

Intelligence activity is unique; it can be a valuable and powerful tool in the hands of state leaders. Leaders should rely not solely on their perception or intuition to leverage the intelligence instrument of national power but rather on understanding this phenomenon and its inherent qualities. Often, political leadership may confuse the functions of intelligence and law-enforcement agencies, leading to the ineffective or inefficient use of national power instruments to achieve strategic goals. Leveraging the intelligence instrument of national power in prolonged conflicts with a larger adversary is a crucial aspect of statecraft. The role of intelligence can be vital …

Can Bilateralism Endure? The 2023-25 Gaza War And The Abraham Accords Framework, Eli Sperling, Elizabeth Trumpfheller

Journal of Strategic Security

The Abraham Accords, signed in 2020, marked a significant shift in Middle Eastern geopolitics by normalizing relations between Israel and several Arab states: the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco. These agreements emphasized novel types of Arab-Israeli economic partnerships, security cooperation, and public diplomacy, representing a shift from earlier Israeli peace deals with Egypt (1979) and Jordan (1994), which did not see significant growth in the states’ bilateral cooperation and coordination, particularly in non-security areas. And despite the unprecedented October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the ensuing Gaza and Lebanon wars, which intensified regional tensions and sparked widespread anti-Israel protests, the …

Looking Inside Seychelles Beneficial Multi-Alignment Strategy Amidst India-China Competition, Gaurav Sen

Journal of Strategic Security

The article is designed to understand the political strategy of Seychelles. Seychelles situated in Western Indian Ocean has emerged as key player in the Indo-China competition. India and China are striving to exert influence over small island state, which hold strategic significance in the contested waters of the Indian Ocean. Seychelles has been adept at maintaining beneficial relationships with both India and China, despite its differing strategic interests. This article undertakes a detailed overview of Seychelles political strategy during India- China competition in the IOR. The first part of the paper devoted in understanding the importance of political strategy and …

Black Widow And Black Tigress: Understanding The Female Suicide Attackers From Russia And Sri Lanka, Jithin Raveendran

Journal of Strategic Security

The phenomenon of female suicide attackers has introduced a new dimension to the landscape of terrorism, challenging traditional perceptions of gender roles and motivations within extremist activities. This article delves into the complex biographies of female suicide attackers in two different geopolitical settings: Sri Lanka and Russia. Women have been prominently involved in suicide attacks in Russia, in which it is closely related to Chechen conflict and during the Tamil insurgency for establishing independent state, Sri Lanka has also seen instances of female suicide attackers. To understand why some women are drawn into these acts of violence, it is essential …

Threat Perception In Taiwan: Trend And Implications, Christina Chen

Journal of Strategic Security

The rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait, driven by China’s growing aggression, have prompted Taiwan to explore ways to bolster its defense and deterrence capabilities. Given that successful deterrence requires the involvement of both military and civilian sectors, the Taiwanese public’s threat perception—specifically, how they view China as a security threat—becomes crucial. This article examines changes in Taiwan’s public threat perception of China. It finds that while Taiwan’s public threat perception has increased since the late 2010s, this shift is more nuanced. External events likely contributed to an overall rise in threat perception, but Chinese coercive actions were associated with …

Subterranean Warfare’S Strategic Coming Of Age: The Israel-Hamas War Of 2023-Present, Nadav Morag

Journal of Strategic Security

This article posits the question as to whether subterranean warfare, which has been a tactic used in warfare since ancient times, has evolved to being an operational tactic in some contexts (such as in the Vietnam War and some Israeli-Hamas clashes in Gaza prior to 2023) and has now, for the first time, has “come of age” to the strategic level in the Israel-Hamas war that broke out in October 2023. The article argues that the current war in Gaza is one in which subterranean warfare has become strategic because the outcomes of this form of warfare in this context …

Cold-Shock Protein Scaffold For Engineering Non-Antibody Binding Proteins, Jack Mathew Webster

USF Patents

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods directed to non-antibody protein scaffolds derived from cold-shock proteins.

Crow's Nest, September 29, 2025, Crow's Nest Staff

Crow's Nest

The September 29, 2025 issue of the Crow's Nest.

The United States’ Secret Warfare Against Democracy, Ashtyn J. Smith

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

This study examines the methods used by the U.S government to orchestrate the overthrow of the democratically elected Guatemalan president Jacobo Árbenz in 1954, by focusing on declassified CIA and State Department documents. Through operation PBSUCCESS, the U.S employed a combination of psychological warfare, economic pressure, diplomatic isolation, and paramilitary operations to destabilize the Árbenz administration. CIA documents reveal the role of propaganda campaigns, assassination proposals, and the arming of opposition forces to create internal chaos. By using primary sources such as CIA memos, and the Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS) archives, this research will outline the step-by-step …

B-Catenin/B-Cell Lymphoma 9 Protein-Protein Interaction Inhibiting Peptidomimetics, Jianfeng Cai, Peng Sang, Yan Shi, Haitao Ji, Min Zhang

USF Patents

Disclosed herein is a series of helical sulfono-γ-AApeptides that mimic the binding mode of the α-helical HD2 domain of B-Cell Lymphoma 9 (BCL9). As disclosed herein, sulfono-γ-AApeptides can structurally and functionally mimic the α-helical domain of BCL9, and selectively disrupt β-catenin/BCL9 PPIs with even higher potency. More intriguingly, these sulfono-γ-AApeptides can enter cancer cells, bind with β-catenin and disrupt β-catenin/BCL PPI, and exhibit excellent cellular activity, which is much more potent than the BCL9 peptide. Furthermore, enzymatic stability studies demonstrated the remarkable stability of the helical sulfono-γ-AApeptides, with no degradation in the presence of pronase for 24 h, augmenting their …

Compositions And Uses Thereof For Treatment Of Idiopathic Preterm Birth, Charles Lockwood, Ozlem Guzeloglu-Kayisli, Umit Ali Kayisli, Frederick Schatz

USF Patents

Disclosed are compositions and methods for delaying or preventing idiopathic preterm birth.

Nanoparticles And Nanogel Drug Compositions For Treatment Of Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Vijaykumar Bhadabhai Sutariya, Priyanka Sureshbhai Bhatt, Vipul B. Amin, Srinivas M. Tipparaju

USF Patents

Disclosed are nanoparticles and nanogel drug compositions and the use thereof for treating age-related macular degeneration.

“There's No Such Thing”: Between The Latin American Science Fiction Archive And A Growing Academic Field., Maria Dolores Gonzalez Ortega, Valeria Seminario Portella

Alambique. Revista académica de ciencia ficción y fantasía / Jornal acadêmico de ficção científica e fantasía

Abstract: Over the past few decades, Latin American science fiction has garnered growing academic interest in both Latin America and the United States. This increase in attention is driven not only by the proliferation of new publications in the region but also by the persistent archival, collecting, and cataloging efforts of scholars and collectors who work to uncover, preserve, and define the genre’s historical and cultural significance. Accessing these texts, which often circulate outside canonical literary and institutional frameworks, presents significant challenges. Specialized collections dedicated to Latin American science fiction reflect a response to these obstacles and attempt to bridge …

Critical Constellations: The Second Premio Alambique, Dale Knickerbocker, Mary E. Ginway

Alambique. Revista académica de ciencia ficción y fantasía / Jornal acadêmico de ficção científica e fantasía

This article announces the winner of the second Premio Alambique, awarded by Alambique: Revista Académica de Ciencia Ficción y Fantasia / Jornal Acadêmico de Ficção Científica e Fantasía to the best academic books or monograph about science fiction and/or fantasy in the Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian worlds (including those in the U.S.), and offers a brief review of all submissions.