Digital Commons Network^™

Under Pressure: Effects Of The Hot Docs Behavioral Parent Training Program On Caregiver Blood Pressure, Bria N. Ferera

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Chronic stress is heightened for caregivers of children with heightened disruptive behaviors. With chronic stress supported as a major factor leading to maladaptive parenting and caregiving practices, exploring new ways to collect data on parenting stress remains a critical research priority (van der Lubbe et al., 2024). Behavioral Parent Training (BPT) programs are linked to improved parent-child relationships and reduced problem behavior (Armstrong, 2006; Agazzi, 2021; Patrusky, 2025). However, few studies have used physiological biomarkers in conjunction with self-reported measures to explore connections in this area. Similarly, other physiological considerations are rarely considered upon evaluation of the impacts of BPT …

Trophic Structure Of Reef-Fish Assemblages In The Eastern Gulf Of Mexico Varies By Depth And Reef Type, Jessica L. Van Vaerenbergh

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Globally, marine ecosystems are increasingly threatened by anthropogenic stressors, leading to reef degradation, changes in reef-fish assemblages, and altered trophic structure. In this study, I investigated reef-fish underwater visual survey data collected over a decade (2013-2023) from paired natural and artificial reefs in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. I applied the novel Normalized Reef Status Index (NRSI) to evaluate how biomass was distributed across the three trophic categories (i.e., Lower Trophic Position (LTP; 2.0-2.9), Central Trophic Position (CTP; 3.0-3.9), and Upper Trophic Position (UTP; ≥4.0). This index is a metric to assess the ecological status of reef systems by investigating …

A System Dynamics Perspective Of User Adaptation: The Case Of Exoskeleton Technology, Enzo Novi Migliano

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Technology implementation is a common occurrence in organizations to which workers must adapt. Although research on workers' technology acceptance is widely spread, research on the workers' technology adaptation process is less represented in the literature. The discrepancy in the literature permeates research on new technologies currently being implemented in organizations, such as occupational exoskeletons. As in other technologies, the variance research perspective dominates the literature on exoskeleton implementations. The current thesis aims to foster process research by formalizing the coping model of user adaptation (Beaudry & Pinsonneault, 2005) and exploring research questions regarding workers' adaptation to general technology and exoskeletons. …

Mental Health Service Utilization Among Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Secondary Analysis Of The 2021–2022 National Survey Of Children's Health, Emma N. Barnes

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently experience co-occurring emotional, behavioral, and mental health concerns that increase the need for accessible behavioral health services. Although schools often serve as an important point of access for behavioral health support, disparities in service utilization continue to exist. Limited national research has examined recent patterns of mental health service utilization among children with ASD using updated nationally representative data.

The purpose of this study was to examine mental health service utilization among children with ASD and determine whether utilization differed across demographic and socioeconomic groups. Secondary data from the 2021–2022 National Survey of …

House Sparrows Reveal Hidden Reservoirs Of Antimicrobial Resistance, Nathan Dowling

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health threat, yet surveillance for antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) remains concentrated in clinical and livestock systems, leaving environmental and wildlife reservoirs comparatively understudied. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether one synanthropic bird species integrates landscape-level antimicrobial resistance pressures across socioeconomic gradients and to identify the predictors most strongly associated with cross-national variation in ARG prevalence. We examined ARG occurrence in the globally distributed house sparrow (Passer domesticus), sampling 205 individuals across eight countries spanning large gradients in economic development, antimicrobial use, and governance structure. Using targeted molecular screening of gastrointestinal …

Exploring Culturally Responsive Leadership Practices Among Female Leaders In Title I Schools: Strategies For Enhancing Student Success, Tara K. Indar

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The academic achievement gap between White students and diverse student populations remains a persistent and prominent disparity in schools across the United States. While this issue affects schools nationwide, it is particularly significant in Title I schools, where many students from diverse, lower-socioeconomic-status backgrounds are served. Although a substantial body of literature examines this gap and highlights the positive impact of culturally responsive leadership, there remains a limited understanding of which specific practices are most effective in improving students’ academic outcomes. This study explores the perceptions of female school leaders in Title I schools regarding the strategies they believe contribute …

Affect And Identification In Hereditary And Huesera: A Critique Of Neoliberal Motherhood In Post-Horror, Jared M. Lamanati

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the implications of affect and identification in post-horror and the consequences they present for motherhood. Specifically, I argue Hereditary (Ari Aster, 2018) and Huesera (Michelle Garza Cervera, 2023) make use of their maternal protagonists to complicate spectatorial identification and critique the cruel attachments of neoliberalism which idealize a heteronormative, homogenous vision of mothering. Following David Church’s postulation of affect, neoliberalism, and the maternal melodrama as central to “post-horror,” I look towards Linda Williams’s and Lauren Berlant’s paradigms of pathos and sentimental politics. While Williams addresses the complicated pains and pleasures of pathetic identification in the maternal melodrama, …

Evaluating Some Effects Of Exposure To Prompt Topographies On Intraverbal Acquisition Rates And Choice For Prompt Topographies, Isabella Zaccor

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

People with developmental disabilities often have communication deficits, which create challenges with functioning in everyday life, making it more difficult for these people to foster meaningful relationships and live an independent life. People with developmental disabilities may need a more structured approach to learning important skills such as communication and social skills, such as learning with prompt topographies. By replicating Roncati et al. 2019, which evaluated exposure to prompt topographies and the effect on acquisition rates, we evaluated an adapted alternating treatments design within a multiple baseline across participants design to examine whether exposure to a specific prompt topography changed …

Caregiver-Implemented Functional Analysis Of Moderate-To-Vigorous Physical Activity Of Children, Rachel B. Riccardo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Most children do not currently meet the 60 min per day recommendation for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), which could lead to problematic health outcomes. Researchers have used behavioral assessments (i.e., functional analysis [FA]) to identify the maintaining variables (e.g., attention, interactive play) that produce elevated levels of MVPA. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent to which a caregiver-implemented FA can identify the function of their child’s MVPA. All three participants engaged in elevated levels of MVPA when adult interaction and attention were delivered contingently. The results of this study showed that caregivers implemented FAs of MVPA …

Taking Flight With North American Bird Bander, Kellie Hayden

North American Bird Bander

No abstract provided.

Documenting Patterns Of Spring And Autumn Bird Bigration At Phillips Tract Research Area, A Stopover Site In The American Midwest, Janice K. Enos, Michael R. Avara, Tara A. Beveroth

North American Bird Bander

Stopover habitat, which is used by birds during migration to rest and refuel, is scarce in the American Midwest due to intensive agriculture. Protected woodlots and other small parcels of habitat do exist in the landscape, and may be important for migratory birds to utilize as stopover sites. Here, using mist netting techniques, we documented abundance and age specific patterns of spring and autumn migration at Phillips Tract Research Area, a protected parcel of land comprised of woodlots and mixed grassland plots. We found that 69 migratory species use this site as stopover habitat, and the most common (n ≥ …

A Modified Potter Trap For Safe And Effective Capture Of American Kestrels And Loggerhead Shrikes, Gary M. Santolo

North American Bird Bander

No abstract provided.

Front Matter, North American Bird Bander

North American Bird Bander

No abstract provided.

Back Matter, North American Bird Bander

North American Bird Bander

No abstract provided.

Evaluating Generalization-Enhanced Behavioral Skills Training To Teach Firearm Safety Skills To Children With Autism, Victoria Alvarez

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Due to the large number of firearm-related incidents and the high percentage of households that own firearms in the United States, it is crucial that children learn firearm safety skills. Although previous research has evaluated various procedures for teaching firearm safety skills to typically developing children, there is a limited amount of research evaluating these interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The current study evaluated the effectiveness of a generalization-enhanced behavioral skills training (BST) procedure, which included varied training settings and tangible reinforcers, to teach firearm safety skills to children with ASD. We evaluated generalization-enhanced BST and in …

Gnsi Decision Brief: Ours To Keep? Diego Garcia, Mauritius, The Uk, The Us And Security In The Indian Ocean, Guido Rossi

GNSI Decision Briefs

Defining Diego Garcia

Since the Pentagon does not disclose information about every US military installation, it is difficult to quantify exactly how many bases the United States has abroad. Among the currently estimated 750 “base sites” in over 80 countries, the Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia occupies a strategic location. This installation stands on the largest island of the Chagos archipelago, after which it is named. Located in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Diego Garcia is not just the only US base in the region but is positioned to support US operations in the Indo-Pacific theater, the Middle East, …

Situating Stormwater Infrastructure Through Collaborative Design: Insights From A University-Community Partnership, Serena A. Echols

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Stormwater ponds help address flooding and partially mitigate nutrient pollution while sometimes serving as a central landscape element in community parks. In underserved urban communities, however, stormwater ponds are sometimes neglected and underutilized, leading to public health and environmental justice challenges. Our research in Tampa, Florida, seeks to develop pathways for residents and other stakeholders to collaboratively co-design infrastructure interventions and pondscape redevelopment for neglected stormwater ponds. Drawing on ethnographic and participatory methods as well as environmental assessment and modeling, we are working with residents of one pond community on cleanup and redevelopment strategies. Results reveal that balancing local and …

Polygenic Risk Scores, Sex, And Socioeconomic Factors As Predictors Of Age Of Onset For Major Depressive Disorder, Kaitlyn M. Nowak

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a heterogeneous psychiatric condition influenced by genetic, sociodemographic, and environmental factors, yet the extent to which these factors jointly shape the timing of disease onset remains unclear. This study evaluated the effects of polygenic risk scores (PRS), sex, and socioeconomic status (SES) on age of onset for MDD across two independent cohorts: the Pharmacogenomics Research Network Antidepressant Medication Pharmacogenomics Study (PGRN-AMPS) (N = 486) and the All of Us Research Program (N = 8,014). Analyses were restricted to individuals of European genetic ancestry, and PRS were constructed using both European-ancestry (EA) and multi-ancestry (MA) genome-wide …

The Architecture Of Chemical Understanding: How Representation Selection, Ordering, And Feature Salience Shape Students' Conceptions In Chemistry, Isaiah Nelsen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Chemical representations play a central role in how students learn and reason aboutchemistry. While representations are routinely used in chemistry classrooms, students often struggle to extract relevant information, connect representations to underlying chemical principles, and apply this information to problem-solving. This dissertation investigates the role of representations in supporting students’ conceptual understanding and reasoning across general and organic chemistry through three qualitative studies.

The first study in this work explores how variation in chemical representation influences how students understand foundational chemistry principles. This study sought to characterize how second semester general chemistry students approach dipole–dipole interaction tasks with four distinct …

Multidomain Operations: The Pursuit Of Battlefield Dominance In The 21st Century. Edited By Amos Fox And Franz-Stefan Gady. Howgate Publishing, 2026., Nathan Jones

Journal of Strategic Security

No abstract provided.

Human-Ai Teaming Under Fire: Lessons From Ukraine’S Human-In-The-Loop Combat Ai Systems, Rahul Kumar Tiwari, Ram Babu

Journal of Strategic Security

This article examines human-artificial intelligence (AI) teaming in Ukrainian combat operations from 2022 to 2025, exploring the integration of AI systems with human decision-making in military contexts and how crisis-driven innovation can lead to human-AI teaming. The research addresses three questions: the effectiveness of human-AI teams compared with human-only or fully autonomous systems; the effect of organizational structures on the sustainability of AI integration; and strategic implications for the development of the doctrine and international security governance in the case of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The methodology uses mixed-method comparative case study analysis of three different Ukrainian systems: …

Spying The Lie: Insider Threat Prevention In National Security, Jazma M. Parker

Journal of Strategic Security

Insider threats pose significant risks to critical assets within the United States. The US intelligence community has already experienced the consequences of insider compromise, such as the unauthorized release of classified material to WikiLeaks and foreign adversaries. Traditional mitigation strategies have struggled to keep pace with the evolving threat landscape. This article recommends updated interventions to detect and prevent insider threats within the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community. A review of current research and best practices reveals three targeted strategies. First, organizations must prioritize the detection and reporting of anomalous behaviors that often precede insider incidents. Achieving this …

Escalation By Algorithm, Restraint By Architecture: Pakistan’S Military Ai Divergence, Sajjad Ahmed, Ahmad Nizar Yaakub, Asma Javed

Journal of Strategic Security

Debates on military artificial intelligence (AI) remain skewed toward great power dynamics, oscillating between techno-optimist celebrations of speed and techno-pessimist warnings of collapse. This binary overlooks how middle powers, operating under nuclearized rivalry and asymmetric sanction risk, embed restraint into organizational and technical practice. This article develops Systems Restrained Realism (SRR), a framework that extends defensive realism into the machine age by theorizing restraint as a deliberate doctrinal posture rather than a symptom of incapacity. Using Pakistan as a critical case, the study draws on expert interviews, procurement manuals, and UN submissions to demonstrate how restraint is operationalized through latency …

Youtube As A Tool For Digital Diplomacy And Strategic Security: A Comparative Analysis Of Russia And Kazakhstan, Bekzat Baktybekovna Baktybekova, Elmira Kagazbaeva, Botagoz Ali

Journal of Strategic Security

In the context of growing competition in the information space, digital diplomacy is gaining key importance for the strategic security of states. This study analyzes how Russia and Kazakhstan use the YouTube platform to promote their foreign policy narratives, shape the image of the state, and strengthen digital sovereignty. Based on a qualitative analysis of 60 videos (30 for each country) published by official government channels between 2020 and 2024, differences in strategies, visual codes, tonality, and patterns of interaction with the audience were identified. The Russian approach is characterized by an aggressive narrative, antagonism to Western structures, and a …

Classified Information Management In Kosovo: Lessons From Nato, The European Union, And The Western Balkans, Bahri Gashi, Ngadhnjim Brovina, Arian Kadriu

Journal of Strategic Security

This study examines the legal framework for the protection of classified information in Kosovo, focusing on the role of the Agency for the Protection of Classified Information (APCI). The selection of APCI as the focal institution stems from its central role in implementing Kosovo’s legal and institutional framework for classified information, following the country’s efforts to align with Euro-Atlantic standards. In a newly established state like Kosovo, protecting sensitive information is crucial for national security. The study compares Kosovo’s model with those of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the European Union (EU), and Western Balkan countries, highlighting its alignment …

The Role Of Special Services In Providing National Information Security, Volodymyr Artemov, Alexander Rusnak, Viktor Trepak, Grygorii Ostafiichuk, Alexandr Kalinin

Journal of Strategic Security

The growing dependence of states on digital infrastructures has elevated national information security to a matter of strategic importance. This study examines the role of special services (intelligence agencies) in protecting against cyber threats, focusing on their legal, operational, and technological functions. Using a combination of comparative legal analysis, case law review, expert surveys, and statistical modelling across 20 countries, the research highlights both strengths and limitations of current approaches. The findings demonstrate that states with clear and specific legislation on intelligence and cybersecurity achieve a 26% higher rate of preventive success than those with ambiguous frameworks. Strong judicial oversight …

Public-Private Cooperation In European Cybersecurity, Andreea Nicoleta Dragomir, Daiana Maura Vesmaș

Journal of Strategic Security

This article critically examines if the public–private partnerships (PPPs) help the European Union strengthen its cyber resilience, a challenge that is now closely tied to the Union’s broader strategic security goals. The discussion does not rely on one single angle. It moves back and forth between the legal side—looking at instruments such as the Network and Information Systems 2 (NIS2) Directive, the Cybersecurity Act, the proposed Cyber Resilience Act, and the Cyber Solidarity Act—and the lessons that come from practice. Examples include the dismantling of Operation Avalanche, the experience of the European Cyber Security Challenge, and the information-sharing efforts of …

Analysis Of Security Concerns In India-Central Asia Relations, Anmol Mukhia, Anurag Tripathi, Sanjeev Kumar Tiwari

Journal of Strategic Security

India-Central Asia relations have gained strategic significance driven by its historical ties, growing economic interests, and, most importantly, evolving security dynamics. This article deals with multifaceted security concerns such as drug trafficking, terrorism, radicalization, and the implications of instability in Afghanistan. The findings show that security concerns in the region, particularly in Afghanistan and Pakistan, constitute a significant obstacle, alongside geographical challenges, to India’s connectivity with the Central Asian Republics (CARS). India’s rising aspiration to increase connectivity and build closer ties with the region in energy, trade, and commerce heavily relies on a peaceful, prosperous, and stable Central and South …

Shadow Logistics: Military Vulnerability Through Civilian Dependence, Gilles A. Paché

Journal of Strategic Security

The rapid evolution of civilian-origin technologies repurposed for defense is reshaping the foundations of logistical advantage and altering the conditions under which armed forces operate. Modern missions rely on an extensive ecosystem of infrastructures—port terminals, cloud services, data platforms, and civilian contractors—whose reliability frequently lies beyond the authority of public institutions. This environment gives rise to shadow logistics, a network of civilian systems largely absent from conventional doctrine yet capable of producing significant operational disruptions when failures occur. Case studies show that some dark assets, whether physical or informational, can act as multipliers of effectiveness while simultaneously creating systemic vulnerabilities …

Chokepoints: American Power In The Age Of Economic Warfare. By Edward Fishman. Portfolio Penguin, 2025., Mark T. Peters Ii

Journal of Strategic Security

No abstract provided.