Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

Barriers To Machine Learning Adoption In Regulated Electric Utilities, Donald R. Shiflet Jr.

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Machine learning (ML) technologies have the potential to revolutionize regulated electric utilities by improving operational efficiency, enabling predictive maintenance, and optimizing energy management. Despite these advantages, the adoption of ML in this sector lags other industries due to technical, organizational, and regulatory barriers. This research, grounded in the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, explores these barriers to uncover actionable solutions for integration. The study identifies key challenges, including explainability, cybersecurity, workforce resistance, and regulatory ambiguity to ML adoption in electric utilities. Utilizing an exploratory qualitative methodology, this approach integrates insights from the literature and industry interviews to rank barriers by frequency, severity, …

An Integrated Pcb-Based Heating And Auto-Ranging Platform For Volatile Organic Compound (Voc) Detection Using Carbon Nanotube Based Sensors, Thomas Kalach

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents the development, characterization, and integration of a novel low-cost, high-dynamic-range sensor platform for the detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), leveraging the unique electrical properties of carbon nanotube (CNT) thin films. The platform introduces a fully integrated auto-ranging analog front-end circuit capable of real-time resistance measurement spanning over eight orders of magnitude ranging from tens of ohms to hundreds of megaohms, without compromising signal resolution or precision. This was achieved through a digitally controlled, multi-path feedback architecture and controllable current source.

To further enhance sensor performance, the system incorporates a copper trace heater beneath the sensor array, …

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 …

"What's A Computer?" Exploring Insurance Agents' Role In Small Business Cyber Insurance Transactions, Dalton A. Crabtree

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods study examined how insurance agents' role identity impacts cyber insurance transactions, addressing gaps in professional practice and academic literature. Small businesses increasingly rely on cyber insurance for protection as cyber risk continues to evolve. The study employed sequential explanatory methodology with 25 interviews across three groups: insurance agents (n=15), corporate cyber insurance professionals (n=5), and small business owners (n=5). Thematic analysis using Katz and Khan's Role Episode Model informed development of the Cyber Insurance Role Identity Scale (CIRIS), tested with 100 agents. Six themes emerged. Key findings reveal that successful cyber insurance transactions require agents to transition from …

A Discussion Of Community: An Ethnography Of Designing Asynchronous Video Discussions To Reveal Student Perceptions Of Digital Presence In Online Learning, Chad S. Garcia

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods digital ethnography investigates how video-based discussions (VBD) influence community building in asynchronous graduate education. Using the Community of Inquiry (COI) framework, this study looks at student experiences in a History of Higher Education class where traditional text-based discussions were replaced with video presentations and peer responses. The research explores how video discussions affect students' sense of presence, how video presence impacts engagement patterns, and which multimedia elements contribute to community development.

Data collection included semi-structured interviews with students and instructors, LMS analytics, video content analysis, and ethnographic observation throughout Spring 2024. Analysis revealed a notable disconnect between traditional …

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 …

Molecular Imaging Of The Cochlea, Parveen Bazard, Mikalai Budzevich, Xiaoxia Zhu, Bo Ding, Robert Dana Frisina

USF Patents

A novel method of measuring endocochlear potential and cochlear function in a patient is presented. The method uses nuclear imaging, such as PET or SPECT, with a radiotracer such as 201Tl to visualize any potassium ion loss in the cochlea of the patient which can contribute to auditory disorders such as hearing loss. This non-invasive technique represents a new method for auditory diagnoses by measurement of cochlear properties which can aid in the development of new therapeutics for auditory disorders.

Investigating Factors Influencing Organic Chemistry Learners' Explanation Sophistication And Representational Competence, Caroline J. Crowder

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The research presented in this dissertation has two themes: organic chemistry learners’ written explanations and representational competence. Chapters 3 and 4 explore how organic chemistry learners construct explanations of reaction mechanisms, specifically focusing on electrophile and nucleophile components. Chapter 5 investigates organic chemistry learners’ representational competence skills and the relationship between these skills and their performance in the course.

Understanding reaction mechanisms is critical for success in organic chemistry, yet learners often struggle to reason beyond explicit, surface-level features. Constructed-response prompts that ask learners to explain what is happening in a reaction mechanism and why it occurs can provide insight …

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 …

Centered? The Growing Role Of Centers In Intelligence Studies Programs, Jonathan Smith

Journal of Strategic Security

In recent years, civilian higher education programs in the area of Intelligence Studies have begun adding academic centers as a complement to their existing curriculum offerings. This study traces the development, operations, and impact of four such centers in the United States. Through a comparative case study approach, it is found that while centers in this subject area may focus on different educational objectives, each works toward this goal with an interdisciplinary approach and a desire to grow their capabilities in the area of cybersecurity. The development of such centers in the field of Intelligence Studies raises questions about the …

The Cost Of Quantum Wars: Small State Standpoint, Gayane Harutyunyan

Journal of Strategic Security

As an emerging technology, quantum technology claims to have a tremendous impact on all spheres of social activity, as well as to significantly change the perception of war and peace, diversify the nature of security threats, opening up new, previously unknown layers in them. The development of quantum technologies is of exceptional importance for small states in terms of defense and security, because due to some important features (efficiency, speed, accuracy, dataflow security) it can offset the scarcity of resources (financial, material and human) typical of small countries, enabling the opportunity to address the issues of low efficiency due to …

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 …

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 …

The Element Of Surprise: Highly Maneuverable Satellites And Ssa, Simone L. Montandon

Journal of Strategic Security

Military, commercial, and civil space missions rely on accurate space situational awareness (SSA) to avoid collisions and inform the analysis of the threat environment. Historically, man-made objects in space have been highly predictable because their trajectories were mostly constrained within the orbit they occupied. However, fast-paced progress in engine/thruster technology, energy efficiency, and on-orbit servicing and refueling have allowed satellites to maneuver often and quickly within their lifespan. This added an element of unpredictability that adds further uncertainty to an operational environment that is already highly uncertain. This paper argues that solving this issue will require pursuing continued custody of …

Identifying Signatures Of Unidentified Aerospace Phenomena Through Structured Analytic Techniques, Joshua S. Pierson, Ms, Dss

Journal of Strategic Security

Unidentified Aerospace Phenomena (UAP) penetrate sovereign airspace and sea space with such proliferation that often national security entities are left baffled with how to detect, identify, and respond to such actions. Since World War II, these phenomena were reported to pace aircraft, maneuver at high speeds in an erratic fashion and increase speed to hypersonic velocity when starting from stasis. The study of UAP is shrouded in stigma, perplexing government mishaps, and academic inquiry focusing on the material aspects of UAP, leaving a gap in determining the exhibited capability and intent of these phenomena. The use of structured analytic techniques …

Ai-Enabled Terrorism: A Strategic Analysis Of Emerging Threats And Countermeasures In Global Security, Shai Farber

Journal of Strategic Security

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming terrorist methods and counter-terrorism strategies, with far-reaching effects on global security. This paper examines how terrorists use AI for new attack tactics, propaganda, and coordination, while also evaluating the ethical, legal, and strategic challenges AI introduces into counter-terrorism. Through a systematic literature review and qualitative analysis, the study identifies key trends in AI's impact on security dynamics, highlighting its role in blurring the lines between peace and conflict. An analytical framework is proposed to navigate the complex landscape of AI-driven asymmetric warfare, providing practical insights for policymakers and researchers. The study …

Detecting Drone Threats At Stadiums And Public Venues: Overview, Operational Considerations, And Technical Implementation, Nathan P. Jones, John P. Sullivan, George W. Davis Jr.

Journal of Strategic Security

This article overviews the issue of drone threats to stadiums and public venues. It provides emergency managers and those defending this critical infrastructure with an overview, operational considerations, and a discussion of the technical implementation for defending these sites from drone threats through detection. It provides a discussion of the current limitations of countermeasures and legal frameworks relevant to drones. Throughout, this article uses real drone detection data from the Astroworld concert incident (November 2021) as a notional case study to illustrate the type of drone detection data emergency managers will contend with and what can be gleaned from it. …

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.

Untangling The Roles Of Pulmonary Vagal Afferent Subsets With Inhaled Irritants, Teresa Darcey

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The sensory nerves in the airways directly regulate critical defenses and indirectly regulate vital gas exchange. Airway function is largely controlled by the autonomic nervous system, and our understanding of its sensory regulation is directly connected to our ability to treat respiratory and cardiovascular pathologies. Airway sensory afferents are heterogeneous with respect to their electrophysiological properties, peptidergic capacity, and stimuli sensitivity, which at least in part dictate some of their various functions. There is evidence that embryological origin impacts reflex function: activation of the neural crest-derived population of sensory afferents has been shown to evoke the cough reflex whereas activation …

Nomina Ignota: Dinosaurios, Dinosauroides Y Otros Animales Del Pasado Que Nunca Existieron, Charlie Charmer, Iván Narváez

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

Aunque desaparecieron hace 66 millones de años, los dinosaurios no avianos y otros grandes reptiles con los que convivieron son un reclamo habitual en las historias de ficción del cómic, cine, literatura u otros medios de expresión artística y/o entretenimiento. A menudo, sirven también de inspiración para introducir criaturas inexistentes cuya imagen y denominación parten de referentes conocidos. En el presente trabajo se analizan los diferentes métodos utilizados para bautizar a estas criaturas, así como las características y funciones que sus nombres pueden tener en los mundos de ficción, acuñando una nueva categoría para la nomenclatura científica, aplicable exclusivamente en …

The Role Of Emotional Stability And Social Confidence In Leading With Vulnerability Moderated By Perceived Trust In The Leader, Perceived Trust In The Team, And Psychological Safety, Adam N. Smith

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

AKTiVe leadership is a foundational cultural model that has been adopted at Florida Health Science Center (Tampa General Hospital). The premise of the model is that treating each other with Authenticity, Kindness, Transparency, and Vulnerability (AKTiVe Model) will lead to cultural change that enhances trust, engagement, and psychological safety, which will in turn drive performance improvement for the organization. It takes years to change the culture of an organization, which highlights the need to focus on sustainability and resilience in the culture. This research aims to understand the personality traits that predict leading with vulnerability.

I focused on vulnerability because …

Economic Impact Of Nicotine Addiction: A Multi-Stakeholder Cost Analysis, Shikha Patel

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Extensive research has examined the health consequences of nicotine addiction, but economic analyses incorporating multiple stakeholder perspectives remain scarce. This study quantifies the annual financial burden of nicotine addiction across users, employers, and insurers. A systematic analysis was conducted on direct and indirect costs, utilizing data from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Bureau of Labor Statistics, and insurance industry reports (2022-2024). The financial impact was assessed for each stakeholder, including consumption expenses, productivity losses, healthcare utilization, and insurance claims. The estimated annual economic burden of nicotine addiction was ₹1,773.4 billion in India, while in the U.S., costs …

Barry Jenkins' Moonlight: Reimagining The Coming-Of-Age Genre In Film, Jonathan R. Davis

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

The coming-of-age genre in film was established during the 1950s, a postwar period defined by rebellious and confused teenagers. Within the film genre, the young protagonist experiences physical or emotional struggle throughout their expedition, resulting in organic identity discovery. One subdivision of the genre that emerged during the 1990s was black coming-of-age stories. However, it was not until Barry Jenkins’ 2016 film Moonlight that the genre was completely reimagined in a new light. Jenkins’ film does not follow the recurrent coming-of-age plotline that has been exemplified in previous films of the genre, which display youthful growth by the end. …

Parental Internalizing Symptoms And Parenting Behaviors: The Moderating Role Of Social Support, Anh Van Nguyen

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

“It takes a village to raise a child”. Social support is vital to parents in carrying out child-rearing duties, which is an additional source of stress for parents. Parents who exhibit higher levels of internalizing symptoms (e.g., depression, anxiety, stress) are more likely to engage in negative parenting behaviors. These behaviors can, in turn, negatively impact child development. Therefore, it is essential to investigate whether greater social support can buffer or attenuate the relationship between parental internalizing symptoms and negative parenting practices. Understanding this potential moderating effect is particularly important given the central role of parenting in shaping children’s developmental …

Evaluating Impact Of Congenital Zika Virus Infection On Reproductive Health And Neonatal Outcomes In Latin America, Adrianna Soto, Maria Ivanova, Amanda Chinea, Daniela Davila, Ana Laura Alcantara Nascimento, Michelle Rodriguez, Valerie Vargas Ardila

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Congenital Zika virus syndrome (CZS) represents a severe and multifaceted outcome of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy, with far-reaching implications for both maternal and neonatal health. ZIVK, transmitted through the Aedes aegypti mosquito vector, has been linked to a range of birth defects, most notably microcephaly. CZS also increases the risk of other complications such as stillbirth, miscarriage, neonatal death, and a spectrum of congenital malformations. Between 2015 and 2016, over 2,000 confirmed cases of microcephaly linked to ZIVK were reported in Brazil, underscoring the epidemic as a public health crisis, particularly in Latin America, where environmental and socio-economic …

Evaluating The Effect Of Competition On Adult Physical Activity Using Heart Rate Monitoring, Julia De Paula Silva

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

As of 2023 it has been reported that the United States is facing a physical inactivity crisis, with approximately 24.2% of adults meeting the recommended engagement levels of physical activity (PA). A lack of PA engagement is associated with an increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and types of cancer (e.g., colon, breast). Therefore, the purpose of the proposed study is to develop a cost-effective behavioral intervention to promote PA among adults. This study will recruit dyads of existing friends between ages 18–65 who engage in low levels of PA (i.e., at least 45 min per week). …

Cardiopulmonary Interactions In Heart Failure And Chronic Lung Disease, Krish Makhija, Rithvik Bhathivi, Riya Narwani, Stuti Dibbur

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Globally, cardiovascular diseases, which are directly related to cardiopulmonary interactions, affect over half a billion people and cause 20.5 million deaths in 2021. Cardiopulmonary interactions refer to the complex interactions between the heart and lungs, particularly in diseases where dysfunction in one organ significantly impacts the other. This research aims to discover treatments and prevention methods for Cardiopulmonary Interactions in Heart Failure and Chronic Lung Disease. The aim is to help find early detections of these diseases and educate the public on how to prevent these diseases. A systematic review analyzed 22 peer-reviewed studies out of 45 from 2010 to …

The Effects Of Sleep Deprivation On Cognitive Function Of University Students, Ikshita Achanta, Anthony Hamati, Vanessa Singh, Joanne Nguyen, Rebecca Pothen, Reneta Pothen, George Malki, Bhavisha Hirani

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Sleep is vital for college students, directly influencing their cognitive, emotional, and physical health, which are crucial for academic success and overall well-being. Sleep deprivation affects memory consolidation, learning, focus, problem-solving, and decision-making, all of which are essential for retaining knowledge, applying it in assignments, and excelling academically. By strengthening neural connections, adequate sleep enhances critical thinking and productivity, while its absence leads to reduced concentration and impaired cognitive performance. Sleep deprivation tends to affect multiple areas of the brain in regard to neural activity, alertness, and cognitive function. Our investigation examines the impact of sleep deprivation on undergraduate cognitive …