Digital Commons Network^™

Guiding Principles For Teaching About Genocide And Other Difficult Pasts, Kerry E. Whigham

Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal

This article outlines guiding principles for teaching “difficult pasts”—episodes of large-scale, identity-based violence such as genocide, crimes against humanity, colonialism, and enslavement—in ways that promote peace, human rights, and the prevention of future atrocities. Drawing from the fields of Holocaust and Genocide Education (HGE), Global Citizenship Education (GCED), Peace Education (PE), and Human Rights Education (HRE), it argues that instruction should move beyond the memorization of historical facts toward developing students’ socio-emotional and behavioral capacities to recognize and resist processes of othering, discrimination, and violence. The brief presents three main areas of guidance: curricular content, emphasizing conceptual understanding over rote …

Book Review: The Role Of Civil Society In Transitional Justice: The Case Of Russia, Myra Dahgaypaw

Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal

This book review evaluates Selbi Durdiyeva's The Role of Civil Society in Transitional Justice: The Case of Russia as a vital contribution to genocide prevention scholarship, which is particularly timely given Russia's mass atrocity crimes in Ukraine and their connection to domestic repression. The book's theoretical innovation in challenging state-centric transitional justice paradigms through rigorous analysis of Memorial NGO, Orthodox Church activities, and revisionist groups across three decades of post-Soviet Russia is critical for the transitional justice field. It is worth highlighting Durdiyeva's unique postcolonial perspective as someone from a former Soviet territory studying the metropole, and her demonstration that …

Book Review: The Death In Their Eyes: What Perpetrator Images Perpetrate, Libertad Gills

Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal

No abstract provided.

A Cave In Miocene Conglomerate: The Törökpince-Abaliget Cave System, Hungary, Krisztina Sebe, Piroska Pazonyi, Márton Bauer, Bálint Szappanos, Márton Szabó, Zoltán Szentesi, Mihály Gasparik, Ákos Juhász, Luca Pandolfi, Máté Gregorits, József Haász, Ágnes Novothny, Zsófia Ruszkiczay-Rüdiger

International Journal of Speleology

Conglomerate caves are rare, and only a few have been described in the scientific literature. Here, we present a newly discovered and significant cave system in SW Hungary, comprising over 500 m of upper passages and a shorter, lower section of a through-cave developed in Lower–Middle Miocene conglomerates. The formation of these cave passages was controlled chiefly by bedding and fractures. Dissolution has produced typical karstification morphologies, whereas corrasion, granular disintegration, and rock collapse have also played a role in shaping the cave. The cave is dominated by vadose-zone morphologies, but sediment infills indicating upward water flow, along with ceiling …

Measurements Of Water-Film Thickness On Cave Walls And Speleothems, Alexandre Honiat, Salaheddine Skali-Lami, François Bourges, Bruno Lartiges

International Journal of Speleology

The water-film that coats cave walls and speleothems is a key player for the regulation of cave microclimate and the control of speleothem growth. In this paper, we demonstrate the capability of a confocal optical sensor to quantitatively measure on-site the rapid variations of water-film thickness when dripping, active condensation, or dryness occur on walls of various caves. Results obtained from a sample of four prehistoric caves and one stalagmite cave from Southwest France, indicate that the measurable thickness of water-films is generally in the 25-70 µm range for cave walls and reaches 200-300 µm on the horizontal plane of …

Ifnγ-Driven Skewing Towards Th1 Over Th17 Differentiation Underlies Crs And Neutropenia In Car-T Therapy, Payal Goala

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

CAR-T therapy has improved overall and complete response rates, andprolonged progression free survival of patients with relapsed/refractory hematological malignancies. The short-term and long-term impacts of anti-CD19 CAR-T products on the immune landscape of B cell malignancies has garnered considerable attention in recent years. Most notably, a subset of patients experience high-grade cytokine toxicities, including cytokine release syndrome and immune cell-associated hematologic toxicity that manifest as prolonged cytopenia. Whereas etiology of CRS is more well established, the mechanisms leading to CAR-T associated cytopenia remains elusive. Rejeski et. al. showed that severe cytopenia in patients post CAR-T treatment led to frequent infections …

Bloom: A Low-Cost, Open-Source, Companion Social Robot, Deekshita Senthil Kumar, Sebastian Ramirez-Vallejo, Xiangfei Kong, Zhao Han

Bellini College REU Symposium (BCREUS)

The rapid growth of the aging population has increased rates of loneliness, depression, and cognitive decline among older adults, particularly those living alone or with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). Socially assistive robots such as Paro have demonstrated therapeutic and emotional benefits; however, existing systems remain costly and inaccessible. This project introduces Bloom, a low-cost, physically interactive social robot designed to provide emotional companionship and cognitive engagement.

Built on a Raspberry Pi 5 platform and inspired by the open-source Blossom robot, Bloom features a durable 3D-printed hard-shell design with motor-driven expressive movements that support tactile interaction. The system integrates …

Sharks On The Move: Investigating The Link Between Climate Change And Rising Shark-Human Encounters, Keira E.B. Blakey

USF St. Petersburg campus Honors Program Theses (Undergraduate)

Sharks have long captivated the public imagination, evoking fascination and fear through enduring myths and media portrayals of negative interactions with humans. In recent years, an increase in shark sightings and attacks along the U.S. coastline has prompted scientific inquiry and public concern. This literature review explores the relationship between rising global temperatures and the frequency of shark attacks, focusing on how climate change affects shark behavior, migration patterns, and habitat distribution. Sharks move into warmer waters as ocean temperatures rise, altering migration routes and prolonging active seasons. This increases the likelihood of shark-human encounters, particularly in coastal regions that …

Gnsi Decision Brief: Summary Report On Gnsi Research Initiative “Axis Of Resistance”, Arman Mahmoudian

GNSI Decision Briefs

Since May 2025, the Global and National Security Institute (GNSI) has run the Axis of Resistance Initiative, convening eight panels and multiple expert interviews on Iran’s proxy network (Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen), anchored by a review of Iran’s national security strategy. These discussions underscored that Tehran’s reliance on proxies is not simply a tool for expanding influence: it also helps limit attribution for attacks and brings the conflict to Israel’s borders rather than Iranian territory. This decision brief distills those discussions into a current assessment of proxy capabilities and trajectories two years on from October 7, 2023.

First Report Of A Bat Guano Fire From A Cave In Southeast Asia, Sopark Jantarit, Martin Ellis, Pruet Kalasuwan, Neeranuch Phusunti, Pimonsri Mittraparp-Arthorn, Jiranan Pattano, Arnon Chukamnerd, Turdtun Tong-In, Natthawut Khrueaaunruean

International Journal of Speleology

Fires occurring in cave guano are a rare and unusual phenomenon and the occurrence of such events in Southeast Asia is particularly novel. In this study, we document the first recorded instance of a bat guano fire in a tropical cave at Tham Chao Ram in Sukhothai province, northern Thailand. A bacteriological analysis was made of the guano at the fire site and from a control site within the cave. We give a comprehensive review of global reports on bat guano fires in caves, conduct an initial investigation of the physical factors at the fire site and discuss the potential …

The Relationship Between Lineaments And Cave Passages In Unfaulted Gently-Folded Strata, Snail Shell Cave, Central Tennessee, Usa, Mark Abolins, Joseph Firkaly-Paciera, Blake King, Cris Ocasio-Valentin, Jackson Slighter, Teagan Sullivan, Justin Whited

International Journal of Speleology

Near Snail Shell Cave in central Tennessee, USA, seven image interpreters independently mapped lineaments using a 3DEP LiDAR DTM, revealing geomorphic and structural differences in and near different parts of the cave. MANOVA comparison of lineament and cave passage trend for Western, Central, and Eastern Snail Shell caves reveals statistically significant differences (p <0.05). The Western cave (mean depth 44 m) is in the gently-dipping limb of the Snail Shell anticline, and the Central cave (mean depth 31 m) is in the anticline hinge. In contrast, many Eastern cave passages (mean depth 40 m) cut across the anticline hinge and part of the limb of the Overall syncline. For both the Western and Central caves, a post-hoc Tukey’s HSD test fails to show that lineament trend within 235 m of the cave differs significantly from passage trend, and the test fails to show that the two differ significantly within 235 and 433 m of the Eastern cave. Additional statistical testing fails to show a difference between Western passage trend and bed strike, indicating the likelihood that lineaments and passages developed within strike-joints. However, testing shows a statistically significant difference between passage trend and bed strike for the Central and Eastern caves. The strike of joints inside the Eastern cave shows that it is within a joint zone which penetrates to depths of at least 80 m and is expressed at the surface as an ~4.2 km-long belt of elevated lineament line density. The lack of a statistically significant difference between Eastern passage trend and the trend of a nearby topographic escarpment suggests that many joints are stress release fractures formed during relatively recent erosion. For the Eastern cave, intersections between lineaments and structures would be attractive targets for groundwater exploration at depths typical of wells in carbonates.

A Bioarchaeological Study Of The Individuals From The Városfalva Burial Mound In Transylvania, Romania (15th-19th Century), Vanessa C. Reeves

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the lives and deaths of the Szekler people recovered from a burial mound in the Transylvanian village of Városfalva. The Transylvanian plateau is located in present day Romania, and is protected on the east and the south by the Carpathian Mountains. The Szekler people arrived in this area around 1000 CE, and were a nomadic group originating in the Asian Steppes region who later intermarried with various migratory groups as they moved across the Eurasian plains. The Szeklers eventually banded together with the proto-Hungarian Magyar peoples and settled in the Carpathian Basin, the easternmost frontier of the …

Crow's Nest, November 16, 2025, Crow's Nest Staff

Crow's Nest

The November 16, 2025 issue of Crow's Nest.

Evaluating Student Proficiency In Quantitative Reasoning, Gabriel Chavez, Jennifer Clinkenbeard, Tolga Tezcan, Celine Pinet, Jennifer Duggan, George Beckham, Sumadhur Shakya, Christina Zhang

Numeracy

Quantitative Reasoning (QR) competencies are increasingly vital for academic and professional success across disciplines. This study examines the QR proficiency of over 400 undergraduates through a mixed-methods approach, integrating survey-based self-assessments (n = 469) with direct evaluations of final exams (n = 80). This study took place at a public, primarily undergraduate, four-year state university in Northern California with approximate enrollment of 7,500 students. Although students reported frequent engagement in foundational QR tasks— such as calculation and interpretation—rubric-based scoring revealed inconsistent levels of mastery, particularly on higher-order skills like evaluation and coherence. Regression analyses linked confidence to calculation …

Does The National Benchmark Quantitative Literacy Test Predict Performance In Stem Programmes In Commerce, Engineering And Science?, Robert N. Prince

Numeracy

In South Africa, university completion rates remain low, with only 23% of students finishing within the regulation time (three or four years). These completion rates continue to reflect racial inequalities, with ‘White’ students significantly more likely to complete degrees in professional fields such as engineering and commerce compared to their ‘African’ counterparts. To address these challenges, the South African higher education institutions, through their umbrella body, introduced the National Benchmark (NB) tests to assess students’ academic literacy skills—including quantitative literacy, academic literacy, and mathematics—to identify those most at risk of struggling with the curriculum. The NB tests aim to evaluate …

Reducing Data Requirements In Polymer Science: Deep Neural Networks For Predicting Surface Tension Of Copolymer Compatibilizers, Md Mushfiqul Islam

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In polymer chemistry, compatibilization involves adding a substance often a block or graft copolymerto stabilize polymer blends that would otherwise not mix well, leading to rough structures and weak me- chanical properties. Compatibilizers improve miscibility and reduce interfacial tension, which is critical for applications such as mixed-waste polymer recycling. Sequence-controlled polymers offer unique potential by combining the tunable chemistry of synthetic polymers with the precise, function-driven design of biological macromolecules, but unlike proteins, they lack large, evolution-shaped datasets to guide discovery. This research develops a deep learning framework to predict the surface tension of sequence-controlled copolymer compatibilizers across varying concentrations. …

Distinguished Ornithologist 2024: Mark Peck, Jean Iron, Gerard Binsfeld, John Carley

Ontario Birds

No abstract provided.

An Unusual Case Of Common Terns Nesting On A Rooftop In Ontario And An Attempt To Relocate The Colony, David J. Moore, Jeffrey N. Costa, Alexis L. Stupich

Ontario Birds

A variety of gull and tern species have adapted to urban environments by nesting on rooftops and other human-made structures. Previous reports of Common Terns (Sterna hirundo) breeding on rooftops have generally involved small numbers of nests (≤25). Here, we report an occurrence of an unusually large number of Common Terns nesting on a rooftop in Port Credit, Ontario, in 2013. A complete survey of the roof was conducted on 31 May, when 1,011 Common Tern nests were counted. A similar number of breeding pairs used this roof in 2014, but the site was largely abandoned by 2015, due to …

Table Of Contents, Ontario Field Ornithologists

Ontario Birds

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, Ontario Field Ornithologists

Ontario Birds

No abstract provided.

Cover, Barry Kent Mackay

Ontario Birds

No abstract provided.

A Review: Tree Swallows As Indicators Of Environmental Contaminants, Kailee Hopkins, Melissa Mckinney, Kim Fernie

Ontario Birds

No abstract provided.

Photographic Confirmation Of Dark-Winged Variant Bonaparte’S Gull In Canada, Mick Dryden

Ontario Birds

No abstract provided.

Cover, Barry Kent Mackay

Ontario Birds

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, Ontario Field Ornithologists

Ontario Birds

No abstract provided.

Table Of Contents, Ontario Field Ornithologists

Ontario Birds

No abstract provided.

The Travel Journals And Correspondence Of Charles Fothergill 1816–1840, Jeff Harrison

Ontario Birds

No abstract provided.

Ronald J. Pittaway 1947–2023 Extraordinary Birder And Naturalist, Ron Tozer, Daniel Brunton, Rory Mackay

Ontario Birds

No abstract provided.

Possible Cooper’S Hawk X American Goshawk Hybrid In Ontario, Quinten F.R. Wiegersma

Ontario Birds

No abstract provided.

The Breeding Status Of American White Pelicans In The Canadian Waters Of The Laurentian Great Lakes, David J. Moore, Sara C. Pereira De Souza, Maya Da Silva, D.V. Chip Weseloh

Ontario Birds

No abstract provided.