Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

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 …

Human Origin Probiotic Lactobacillus Rhamnosus Hl-200 To Reduce Leaky Gut By Metabolizing Ethanolamine, Hariom Yadav, Shalini Jain, Sidharth Mishra

USF Patents

The present disclosure provides for a method of treating increased gut permeability, including administering a therapeutically effective amount of a human-derived probiotic to a patient in need thereof. Further provided herein is a method of increasing a patient's metabolism of ethanolamine, including administering a therapeutically effective amount of human derived probiotics to the patient in need thereof. Also provided herein is a pharmaceutical composition, including a first strain of Lactobacillus and a second probiotic strain. The present disclosure also provides for a pharmaceutical composition, including Lactobacillus and an antidiabetic drug. Additionally, provided herein is a pharmaceutical composition, including Lactobacillus and …

Control Of Robotic Arms Through Hybrid Inverse Kinematics And Intuitive Reference Frame, Lei Wu, Redwan Alqasemi, Rajiv Dubey

USF Patents

Disclosed is an intuitive robotic device control reference frame with hybrid inverse kinematics having a natural and easier human-robot interface. A system for controlling a robot can include a robotic device that performs tasks, an input device that receives user input indicating desired movement of the robotic device to perform the tasks, and a controller that controls the robotic device based on the user input. The controller can receive signals identifying the user input, determine a ground reference frame and an end-effector reference frame for controlling movement of the robotic device, generate, based on the ground reference frame and the …

Gnsi Decision Brief: American Shipbuilding: From Crisis To Made-In-America Opportunity, Guido Rossi, Randall Gentry

GNSI Decision Briefs

Among the most pressing national security issues the new Trump administration has committed to tackle is revitalizing American shipbuilding. In April 2025, the president issued an Executive Order for that purpose of restoring U.S. shipbuilding and providing a maritime action plan for cross-agency coordination. Many historians view the industrial shipbuilding during World War II as the pinnacle of American enterprise to address national defense needs. While in World War II the United States was able to produce around 7,100 large vessels, current reality is much different since that industrial capacity was reduced during the post-war years due to overproduction and …

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.

Human Adipose Stem Cell-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles Modulate Glial Cell Response In Aged And Young Tbi Mouse Models, Salma S. Abdelmaboud

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of long-term neurological impairment, with aging significantly increasing vulnerability and worsening outcomes. Older individuals experience greater cognitive and motor deficits after TBI and often show diminished responses to therapeutic interventions. Both aging and TBI independently promote heightened neuroinflammation and cognitive dysfunction, increasing susceptibility to poor recovery. This study investigated the therapeutic potential of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) derived from human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) to promote neurological recovery and modulate neuroinflammation in a mouse model of TBI. Male C57BL/6 mice aged 3, 15, and 20 months underwent controlled cortical impact (CCI) and …

Crow's Nest, September 2, 2025, Crow's Nest Staff

Crow's Nest

The September 2, 2025, issue of Crow's Nest.

Conductive Paste Based On Nano-Hybrid Materials, Manoj Kumar Ram

USF Patents

Hybrid particles having improved electrical conductivity and thermal and chemical stabilities are disclosed. The hybrid particles are for use in conductive pastes. The hybrid particles include a nanoparticle selected from a graphene-containing material, a dichalcogenide material, a conducting polymer, or a combination thereof encapsulated in a conducting metal. The hybrid particles include a nanoparticle selected from a graphene-containing material, a dichalcogenide material, or a combination thereof encapsulated in a conducting polymer, and optionally further in a conducting metal. Suitable conducting metals include nickel or silver. Suitable conducting polymers include polyaniline, polypyrrole, or polythiophene. Suitable dichalcogenide materials include MoS2 or MoSe2. …

The Effects Of Covid-19 On Mice Tourism, Gülay Cakmak, Gurel Cetin, Cemil Kilic, Erol Sozen

Journal of Global Hospitality and Tourism

The sector of Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism play an integral role in the tourism industry not only because of its volume but also per capita spending. MICE tourism is predominantly characterized by its international reach and the significant number of participants it attracts. However, Covid-19 pandemic precipitated a marked, leading to far-reaching ramifications and transformations. This study is focused on evaluating the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the MICE tourism sector. It aims to explore both the anticipated and the actual shifts within the industry amidst the pandemic. Adopting a qualitative research methodology, this investigation utilized …

The Double-Edged Role Of Cognitive Reappraisal: A Moderated Mediation Model Of Manager Support And Emotional Exhaustion Among Hotel Supervisors, Han Chen, Yvette Green

Journal of Global Hospitality and Tourism

Applying the Conservation of Resources Theory and the Affective Event Theory, this study explores the interplay between perceived manager support (PMS), negative emotions, and emotional exhaustion among hotel supervisors. The study also examines the moderating role of cognitive reappraisal strategy on the above relationships. Data were collected from a sample of U.S. hotel supervisors. Results showed that negative emotions play a mediating role in the relationship between PMS and supervisors’ emotional exhaustion. Cognitive reappraisal amplified the negative effect of PMS on negative emotions, the positive relationship between negative emotions and emotional exhaustion, and the indirect effect of PMS on emotional …

Customer Food Intake: An Empirical Analysis Of Gender, Restaurant Use And Attitude Toward Fast Food Among Adolescents And Young Adults, In Nairobi, Kenya, Gerishom G. Madivoli, Rosemarie Ayuma Khayiya, Beatrice Kamau

Journal of Global Hospitality and Tourism

Fast food is the fastest- growing food category worldwide, providing young people and adolescents with a quick, cost- effective, and easily accessible alternative to home- cooked meals. There has been considerably less research into how gender, restaurant usage, and attitudes influence patterns of fast- food consumption. Moreover, the growth of the fast- food industry in every nation creates a significant environmental impetus for increasing fast food consumption and promoting unhealthy eating behaviours. If this issue is not addressed, the prevalence of lifestyle diseases such as obesity, along with the costs of managing these conditions, will escalate, particularly in Kenya. This …

Applying The Synergy Of Experience Accounting And Service Dominant Logic To Rank Customer Experiences In The Mainstream Cruising, Ganna Demydyuk, Mats Carlbäck

Journal of Global Hospitality and Tourism

This study analyzes how service-related experiences influence customer satisfaction and perceived value for money in the cruise industry. By integrating Service-Dominant Logic (S-D-L) and Experience Accounting (EA), it aims to support the development of customer-centric performance systems for managerial decision making in the all-inclusive hospitality sector. This is the first empirical study to merge data from three perspectives in service-for-service exchanges: customer review ratings from online platforms, ship-level operational characteristics, and financial metrics from corporate reports. This integrated approach allows for a holistic evaluation of the service ecosystem and cocreation of value onboard cruise ships. A quantitative analysis was conducted …

Abiotic Factors Influencing Anuran Occupation Of Neotropical Brazilian Caves, Vinícius F. Sperandei, Willian Vaz-Silva, Tejerina-Garro L. Francisco

International Journal of Speleology

Despite increasing research on the Neotropical underground environment, anurans remain poorly understood in this habitat. It was analyzed scientific literature records of anurans in Brazilian natural caves and performed a redundancy analysis (RDA) to identify the environmental, taxonomic, geographic, geological and land-use variables that influence their cave occupancy. It was examined a total of 247 literature records, encompassing 83 species/morphospecies, which revealed distinct cave-dwelling tendencies. Some anuran species occupy caves at altitudes between 5 to 21 meters above sea level (m asl), in areas characterized by rocky outcrops and grassland. Others are associated with caves surrounded by forest, savanna, pasture …

Review Of Roas, David, Cronologías Alteradas: Lo Fantástico Y La Transgresión Del Tiempo [Altered Chronologies: The Fantastic And The Transgression Of Time], Dale Knickerbocker

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

A review of Roas, David, Cronologías alteradas: lo fantástico y la transgresión del tiempo [Altered Chronologies: the fantastic and the transgression of time], Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 2022. 158 pp., by Dale Knickerbocker

Physiological Modeling Of Multiphase Intra-Arterial Ct Angiography For Hepatic Embolization Therapy, John David Mayfield, Ghassan Elias El-Haddad, Jonathan Michael Ford

USF Patents

Systems and methods are provided herein for determining areas of low blood flow, low blood perfusion, suboptimal treatment perfusion, and/or likelihood of tumor recurrence. For example patient-specific methods are provided for identifying areas of low perfusion in an anatomy of interest (such as a vascular region). Angiography data corresponding to the anatomy of interest can be used to generate a modified three-dimensional (3D) model of the anatomy of interest, which represents a fluid flow system exhibiting variant flow patterns. The model can take into account patient-specific data to simulate physical characteristics of the fluid flow system. This provides for accurate …

Humidity Control Apparatus And Materials, Ying Zhong

USF Patents

A ventilation port maintains the humidity range within a sealed or partially sealed enclosure maintaining a level of atmospheric moisture such as a greenhouse. The port is comprised of a polymer blend film made of a hydrophilic component serving as the water-absorbing material and substrate component serving as the mechanical backbone. The film is designed to bend and open the port when the humidity within the enclosure exceeds a predetermined level outside the humidity range, allowing for the venting of excess humidity. Once the humidity falls back within the desired range, the film returns to its original state and closes …

Snake Spirits, Fishermen And Water Birds On Lake Victoria: A Case Study Of Cultural Conservation In The Musambwa Islands, Uganda, And Prospects For Tourism To Improve Local Livelihoods, Joel T. Heinen, Henry Batenda

Journal of Ecological Anthropology

Abstract.

Using a combination of site visits, document reviews, focus group and key informant surveys of fishermen, we explore the cultural beliefs, taboos and norms that protect Musambwa Islands, Uganda. The islands form part of a large protected wetland with nesting habitat for thousands of water birds and a large population of highly-venomous forest cobras that coexist in and around fishermen dwellings. There are strong taboos against cutting trees, allowing women on the island, and harming cobras. We present some of our ideas on how to improve the economic situation of fishermen through the promotion of nature-based and cultural tourism …

Quarcs Light: Validation Of An Abbreviated Assessment Of Undergraduate Numeracy And Mathematics Affect, Isaac S. Rosenthal, Kate Follette, Vonna L. Hemmler, Catherine Sarosi, Sanlyn Buxner, Erin Galyen, Margaret Shea, Soon-Young Shimizu, Brendan Seto

Numeracy

In this study, we present evidence for the validity of a shortened form of the Quantitative Reasoning for College Science (QuaRCS) Assessment, a validated instrument assessing the numeracy and math-related affect of undergraduate students in general education/introductory science courses. Previously published analyses of QuaRCS data revealed that 1) roughly 30% of students found the assessment boring, leading to lower self-reported effort and 2) affective factors (e.g. numerical self-efficacy) were significant predictors of QuaRCS score. As a result, we reduced the length of the assessment from 25 to 15 quantitative items, and expanded the affective variable selection from three to eight …

Hybrid Nanomaterials, Composites Thereof, And Uses Thereof, Manoj Kumar Ram

USF Patents

Described herein are hybrid nanomaterials that can include a functionalized nanodiamond and a functionalized graphene and/or functionalized graphene oxide. Also described herein are composite materials that can include a hybrid nanomaterial described herein and a polymer or polymeric material. Also described herein are methods of making and using the hybrid nanomaterials and composite materials described herein.

Flexible Monolithic All Polycrystalline Silicon Carbide Neural Interface Device And Method Of Manufacture, Stephen Edward Saddow, Francesco La Via, Christopher Leroy Frewin

USF Patents

An implantable, conformal, neural interface device fabricated completely from neuro-compatible SiC and method of manufacture thereof, includes at least one elongated probe to be placed in a brain of a subject of interest, the at least one elongated probe comprising a plurality of electrodes positioned on a surface of the elongated probe, each of the plurality of electrodes comprising a conductive mesa consisting of polycrystalline silicon carbide (SiC), an insulative layer consisting of amorphous SiC, the insulative layer positioned to surround the conductive mesa absent a window through the amorphous SiC exposing a surface of the conductive mesa. The elongated …

Batched Query Processing And Optimization, Yicheng Tu, Mehrad Eslami

USF Patents

Disclosed are various embodiments for batched query processing and optimization in database management systems. A single algebraic expression is generated based at least in part on applying equivalence rules to algebraic expressions for a plurality of database queries of a database comprising a set of relations. The equivalence rules involve relational operators comprising Psi (ψ) operators. The database can be queried using a single database query to create a result that is equivalent to the plurality of database queries.

Crisis On The Frontlines: Recruitment And Retention Challenges In Ems, Bruce J. Moeller, Michael Lozano

Florida Center for Emergency Medical Services Research Reports

Florida’s emergency medical services (EMS) and fire service agencies face an unprecedented workforce crisis. Compounded by demographic shifts, rising call volumes, and mounting mental health challenges, many EMS agencies are struggling to recruit and retain qualified personnel. Existing models of recruitment—centered on short-term bonuses or messaging emphasizing sacrifice—are failing to resonate with new generations of workers, who prioritize mental wellness, career progression, and work-life balance. Additionally, outdated training pipelines and a decline in volunteerism, especially in rural areas, have weakened the traditional workforce structure, creating gaps that threaten the stability of emergency response systems statewide.

To address these challenges, the …

Biojardineras In Monteverde: A Mixed Method Approach To Examine Greywater Treatment, Elyssa Allen, Jackson Anderson, Brayden Dostal, Alan Hernandez, Kacy Moe, Facundo Pereya-Kluser

Monteverde Institute: Tropical Ecology and Conservation

Rural and semi-rural regions around the globe often struggle with inadequate wastewater treatment infrastructure, thereby negatively impacting the public and environmental health of the region. Due to its rural nature and current infrastructure, the Monteverde Zone (MVZ) in Costa Rica lacks a centralized wastewater system, with many homes relying on septic tanks for wastewater treatment. To prevent overloaded flows to septic tanks, greywater from kitchens, laundry, showers, and sinks is often discharged separately to the environment with no treatment. This pollutes the surrounding water bodies and streets with pathogens, soap, excess nutrients, as well as fats, oils, and grease (FOG). …

Considering What Counts: The Limits Of Proxy Measures, Keith R. Johnson, Joel Best

Numeracy

People working with data adopt proxy measures when they find it difficult to measure something directly. In the U.S., infanticide (fairly easy to count) is used as a proxy for physical child abuse. However, infanticide is harder to count cross-nationally, leading researchers to use sex ratios as a proxy for infanticides

Bayes In The Brain: A Review Of Everything Is Predictable: How Bayesian Statistics Explain Our World, (2024) By Tom Chivers., Michael T. Catalano

Numeracy

Tom Chivers’ Everything is Predictable: How Bayesian Statistics Explain Our World, is an interesting and wide-ranging narrative on Bayesian thinking, its history, and its applicability to both our everyday lives and the pursuit of scientific truth. Although appropriate for the non-expert, afficionados and teachers of quantitative literacy should find the plethora of examples, links to psychology as it applies to how people reason about probabilities, and even Chivers’ philosophical musings informative and thought-provoking.

Some Corrections To The Record On Lemkin’S Early Years: The Evidence From Poland, Zachary Mazur

Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal

This piece addresses some misunderstandings regarding Raphael Lemkin's early years in Poland, his influences and the development of his ideas. While discussing some of the extent published information, I point out what other archival documents from Poland and the League of Nations have to say about Lemkin's past. One of the main points is that Lemkin was an unreliable narrator on his own life, and this has caused confusion.

Arts & Literature: A Personal Reckoning: Taking Responsibility As A Perpetrator, Henry C. Theriault

Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal

This autobiographical essay identifies three forces that shaped the author’s participation in the scholarly and political struggle against genocide and other mass violence and oppression. These include his status as the grandson of Armenian Genocide survivors, the fact that his father was killed in action in the US War of Aggression against Vietnam, and the bullying he experienced as a child and adolescent. It then pushes back against any sense of victimhood that has resulted from the combination of these forces, to recognize the author’s implication in perpetration of the US War of Aggression against Vietnam, which the author has …