Digital Commons Network^™

In Transit: Being Non-Binary In A World Of Dichotomies (Review), Kennan Dykstra

Deliberately Queer Journal

In Transit: Being Non-Binary in a World of Dichotomies is a book written by Dex Anderson that explores what it is to be gender nonconformant. With a specific look at the nonbinary experience, the author deconstructs binary ideas about gender through discussions of their own experiences, LGBTQ+ history, and media representation. This review encapsulates the content and structure of Anderson’s book, chapter-by-chapter, to analyze how well it communicates the importance of nonbinary and transgender visibility. This review also examines how well it communicates to the intended audience—not those who are unsympathetic to gender non-conformant identities but those who are newly …

Digital Resistance And The Political Economy Of Authoritarian Decline And Economic Liberalization In Ethiopia, Anaol Dalle

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation aims to examine the impact increased consumption of digital technologies, like social media and the internet, has on the stability and autonomy of low-capacity authoritarian countries. By using Ethiopia (2015-2021) as a case study, the dissertation argues that the sudden adoption and proliferation of digital platforms serves as an exogenous shock that pushes the state into a critical juncture that unravels institutional equilibria and transforms domestic incentive structures and institutions. This creates a power vacuum, which triggers a period of intense, and often violent, competition between elite groups, significantly destabilizing the state. In the absence of a cohesive …

Learning Analytics: An Innovative Technological Tool To Help Increase Student Retention And Graduation Rates In Us Higher Education Institutions, Fednold Thelisdort

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Higher education institutions (HEIs) have embarked on a journey of innovation by adopting learning analytics (LA) in their operation, offering a more sustainable and innovative technological tool to increase student retention and graduation rates in US HEIs. LA, an emerging academic and technological tool, equips HEIs to gather, analyze, and interpret their students’ data. Since the publication of the first (conceptual) framework by Burke (2019), LA has matured into a research focus and practice, implemented in several institutional contexts at different scales and disciplinary/pedagogical contexts. This study explored the impact of the use of LA on student retention and graduation …

From Campus To Career: C Spire Builds Talent Pipeline At Um, Clara Turnage

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – C Spire's on-campus partnership with the University of Mississippi is helping students build career skills – and land jobs – before they even graduate.

Butyrylcholinesterase (Bche) Downregulation In Taxane Resistance: Implications For Prostate Cancer, Buse Cevatemre, Arda Işiklar, İpek Bulut, Ezgi̇ Karyemez, Hamzah Syed, Ceyda Açilan

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Despite advancements in chemotherapeutic strategies, drug resistance remains a major barrier to effective cancer treatment. While primary prostate cancers (PC) can be treated with surgery and radiotherapy, treatment options for recurrent PC are limited. Upon progression to the castration-resistant (CR) phase, therapies rely on taxanes (chemotherapeutic drugs) like docetaxel (Dtx) and cabazitaxel (Cbz); however, resistance to taxanes is common in CRPC, highlighting the importance of identifying underlying molecular mechanisms or targets in resistant cells.Materials and methods: In transcriptome (RNA sequencing) analyses comparing taxane-resistant PC cells (resistant to both Dtx and Cbz) with parental (nonresistant, sensitive) cells, butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) was …

Proteomic Profiling Of Escherichia Coli Cytoplasmic Proteins Under Sublethal Boric Acid Stress, Beki̇r Çöl, Begüm Hazar Çi̇ftçi̇, Merve Sezer Kürkçü, Esra Di̇bek

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Boron is an essential micronutrient for plants and certain bacteria, where it plays critical roles in cellular processes at low concentrations. However, elevated levels of boron-containing compounds, such as boric acid, exhibit antimicrobial toxicity. Although the physiological effects of boric acid on bacteria have been partially characterized, its proteome-wide impacts remain poorly elucidated. This study employs a 2D-PAGE-based proteomic approach to investigate how sublethal boric acid stress alters the cytoplasmic proteome of Escherichia coli BW25113. Materials and methods: E. coli BW25113 cultures were grown to mid-log phase in tryptic soy broth (TSB) and exposed to 70 mM boric acid …

Screening Of Ccdc43 Molecular Partners By Bioid2-Based Proximity Labeling, Merve Tuzlakoğlu Öztürk

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: CCDC43 (coiled-coil domain containing protein 43) is a eukaryotic protein that contains alpha-helical domains in its structure, consistent with the family to which it belongs. It is predominantly located in the cytosol of the cell. CCDC43 protein has been shown to play a role in cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition in gastric and colorectal cancer types. The fundamental function and cellular interaction network of this protein, which is known to have varying expression levels in various cancer types, has not yet been fully elucidated. Here, we conducted a proximity-dependent biotin identification (BioID2) screening approach for CCDC43 to …

Antiinflammatory Effects Of Cucurbitacins And Sorafenib In Hepg2 Cells By Modulating The Iκb/Nf-Κb/Cox-2 Pathway Through Akt Signaling, Muhammed Mehdi̇ Üremi̇ş, Yusuf Türköz, Nuray Üremi̇ş

Turkish Journal of Biology

Aim: Cucurbitacins possess antitumor, antiproliferative, and antiinflammatory properties. This study aims to examine the antiinflammatory effects of CuD, CuI, and CuE on NF-κB, iNOS, COX-2, and Akt and compare their cytotoxic and antiinflammatory effects on HepG2 cells with sorafenib, the primary chemotherapeutic agent used in HCC treatment. Methods: Cytotoxic effects of cucurbitacins and sorafenib on HepG2 cells were evaluated using MTT and LDH assays, along with Annexin V, MMP, and comet assays. Levels of proteins related to the Akt/NF-κB pathway and COX-2, iNOS, and NO were also measured. Results: Our study showed that CuD, CuI, CuE, and sorafenib have antiproliferative …

Novel Mrsa-Targeting Phage Metb16: Genomic Features, Structural Insights, And Therapeutic Applications, Berna Erdoğdu, Senanur Dokuz, Görkem Güngör, Wei Lin, Yigang Tong, Tüli̇n Özbek

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Recent reports have indicated that multidrug-resistant strains of S. aureus, including methicillin-resistant strains, may pose a significant threat to public health and global economic stability. Materials and methods: In this study, we present the isolation and comprehensive characterization of a novel phage, derived from clinically isolated MRSA strains. Results: MetB16 exhibited an incubation period of approximately 20 min, a lysis period of around 45 min, and a burst size of 127 Plaque Forming Units (PFU)/cell. The phage demonstrated remarkable biological stability across a pH spectrum of 4.0–9.0 and maintained integrity within a temperature range of 37 and –80 °C. …

Technology Manufacturing Organizations’ Strategies For Achieving Sustainability, Kate Cheney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sustainability remains a challenge for technology manufacturers struggling to integrate environmental priorities into core operations. This issue is critical for technology manufacturing managers who must embed sustainability into organizational systems and decision-making processes to meet rising expectations from regulators, investors, and consumers. Grounded in transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry study is to identify and explore effective strategies used by technology manufacturing managers in the western region of the United States. The data collected from seven semistructured interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. The five themes that emerged were (a) leadership and company culture, (b) collaboration, …

Cognitive Defense: 2024 Homeland Defense Symposium

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

©2025 Mark R. Landahl – Chapter 1

©2025 George M. Schwartz – Chapter 3

The US Army War College hosted the inaugural annual Homeland Defense Symposium from February 6 to 8, 2024, at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. The conference, entitled “Reestablishing the Sanctuary,” featured plenary presentations on defending critical infrastructure, contested deployment, and cognitive defense by experts from military, academic, and government organizations.

As highlighted in the conference theme, attendees recognized the homeland does not provide the sanctuary it once did, and our society is already under attack. Using disinformation and social media means, our adversaries are engaged in cognitive warfare …

Mental Health Of Adults With Down Syndrome, Brian Chicoine

Advocate GME

Mental health is an integral part of overall health and well-being for people with and without Down syndrome. In this presentation, Brian Chicoine, MD will describe common characteristics of individuals with Down syndrome that are important to understand when supporting their mental health promotion efforts. He will also discuss diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions in people with Down syndrome and provide case examples of some of the mental health challenges that people with Down syndrome may experience. Additionally, Dr. Chicoine will highlight different types of resources that can be used by adults with Down syndrome and those who …

3d Nano-Architected Polymer Shell Enables Reconfigurable Stabilized Blue Phase Soft Crystals, Sephideh Norouzi, Yazael R. Morales-Flores, Tadej Emersic, Jeremy Money, Otillo E. Rodriguez-Lopez, Andrew Casale, Juan J. De Pablo, Jose A. Martinez-Gonzalez, Monirosadat Sadati

Faculty Publications

Blue phases (BPs), formed through the self-assembly of chiral liquid crystal molecules into 3D nanolattices with cubic symmetries, exhibit dynamic photonic bandgaps in the visible spectrum, offering transformative opportunities for advanced optical circuits, sensing and communication technologies. However, their thermal stability is restricted to a narrow temperature range (0.5–1.0 K), limiting practical applications. Polymer stabilization of bulk BPs has extended thermal stability but often compromises the dynamic behavior essential for fast-response functionalities. Here, experimental and computational approaches are integrated to investigate the effect of curvature and interfacial interactions on BP polymer stabilization. It is demonstrated that photo-polymerization of reactive monomers …

Social Communication Implementable And Applicable Lens: A Framework For Addressing Assessment Of Social Communication, Louise C. Keegan, Jerry K. Hoepner, Leanne Togher, Mary Kennedy, Elise Bogart, Melissa Brunner, Sheila Macdonald

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Articles and Research

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Cybersecurity Strategies For Effective Proactive Response To Cyber Attacks, Tony L. Perry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Malicious cybersecurity attacks threaten the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of organizational data. This issue concerns organizational leaders and cybersecurity professionals who must address these threats to prevent operational disruptions, financial losses, reputational damage, and declining stakeholder trust. Grounded in organizational learning theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore the strategies information technology security professionals use to proactively respond to evolving cybersecurity threats. The study involved 16 cybersecurity professionals, each with a minimum of five years of experience in implementing both offensive and defensive cybersecurity strategies within their organizations. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and a …

Examination Of Evidence-Based Practices Implementation And Perceived Job Satisfaction With Mental Health Providers, Rafael Montoya

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Job satisfaction among mental health providers continues to be an important area of inquiry, particularly in relation to professional development and training. However, limited studies have evaluated whether training in evidence-based practices (EBPs) is associated with different levels of job satisfaction compared to traditional training models. The purpose of this cross-sectional, quantitative study was to examine whether a statistically significant difference in job satisfaction exists between mental health providers trained in EBPs and those trained using traditional approaches. The study was guided by Spector’s multidimensional job satisfaction model, which categorizes job satisfaction into nine key domains. Data from 81 mental …

Development And Exploratory Factor Analysis Of A Multicultural Competence Assessment Scale For Primary School Teachers, Nanthaka Supreeyaporn, Nongluck Kienngam, Nannaphat Saenghong

Journal of Education Studies

Multicultural competencies are essential for teachers to provide education that fosters cultural diversity of learners and creates an inclusive learning environment in which every student feels accepted and included. However, research on teachers’ multicultural competence remains limited, particularly regarding the development of valid assessment tools. This study aimed to develop and explore the construct validity of a multicultural competence assessment scale for teachers. The sample consisted of 351 primary school teachers from culturally diverse urban schools. The research instrument was a 40-item multicultural competence scale, with an overall reliability coefficient of  = .977. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and exploratory …

Effects Of Blended Learning On The Self-Directed Learning And Academic Achievement Of First-Year Nursing Students Studying Metabolic Biochemistry, Yuree Chaopipat, Pimrat Tokun, Jerapa Srithahai

Journal of Education Studies

This study examined the impact of blended learning on the self-directed learning and academic achievement of the first-year nursing students studying metabolic biochemistry. This quasi-experiment research recruited 150 first-year nursing students at one of the nursing college. A blended learning intervention, combining face-to-face instruction and various online activities, was implemented. Data were collected using a self-directed learning scale, pretest and posttest, and a final exam. Results indicated that blended learning significantly enhanced students' self-directed learning (t = -2.847, p = 0.005) and academic performance. Post-test scores across all chapters significantly improved after the intervention (t = -10.63, p …

“Health Insurance Is A Worthwhile Investment” Language And Ideology In The Discourse Of Health Insurance Advertising: A Critical Discourse Analysis Perspective, Patamaporn Mingcharoenwong, Sirirat Rakchat, Sirawat Kavilanan

Journal of Letters

This research aimed to examine the relationship between linguistic strategies and the ideology of “health insurance is a worthwhile investment” as well as the discourse practices and socio-cultural practices in health insurance advertising, using a critical discourse analysis framework based on Fairclough’s (1995) three-dimensional model of discourse. The data were collected by selecting the top three most popular and reputable life insurance companies in the 2024 Thailand’s Most Admired Brand survey (A.Kanitha, 2023): AIA, Thai Life Insurance, and Muang Thai Life Assurance. The findings revealed two sets of ideologies: 1) health insurance as an investment for financial security and 2) …

Provision Of Transportation To Psychiatric Follow-Up Appointments, Eliane Sandrine Tueche Fankam

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quality improvement initiative is focused on the lack of transportation as a significant barrier to obtaining health care services for patients with severe psychiatric disorders. Transportation issues remain an important factor that hinders the attainment of health care services by the members of this population. Transportation challenges should be addressed as much as possible for improving healthcare accessibility and providing timely care. Prior to the implementation of the transportation service, only 30% of patients with severe mental illness (SMI) attended their scheduled appointments, demonstrating the need for intervention. This project focused on whether providing transportation services would improve compliance …

Visualizing Data For Diabetes Management In Patient Portals, Eric Yang, Lakeidra Salazar, Usha Rijal, Yang Gong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Effectively managing diabetes requires active patient engagement in monitoring crucial health metrics, such as HbA1c and glucose levels. However, many existing patient portals present this information in complex and confusing formats, hindering understanding and communication. This study established a prototype for a user-centered dashboard for diabetes management, designed to enhance patient comprehension and interaction with their health data by utilizing principles of relational data display. By applying Gestalt principles and theories of distributed representation, our dashboard optimizes data visualization through Google Looker Studio, ultimately reducing cognitive load and aiding patients in self-management. The findings emphasize the benefits of user-friendly and …

Quantifying Experiences Of Religious Abuse Among Sexual And Gender Minority Populations, Joshua Sink

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A niche venue of research around religious trauma and spiritual abuse has demonstrated adverse outcomes of individuals who feel manipulated or harmed by institutions or individuals holding an imbalance of religious power. While general claims are often made that religion is a positive force on health and psychological wellness, religious trauma is usually associated with PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other pathological symptoms. Interestingly, an area where religion is not related to positive outcomes is among sexual and gender minorities, who show poorer health, higher suicidal rates, and poorer psychological well-being correlated with higher religiosity. While research has been conducted to …

Physical Activity And Functional Mobility In Adults With Hearing Loss: A Series Of Embedded Studies Within A 6-Month Clinical Trial With Hearing Aids, Sarah L. Bochat

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Adults with hearing loss engage in low levels of physical activity and demonstrate poor performance on measures of functional mobility. The impact of hearing rehabilitation on these outcomes is not fully understood. Previous investigations were largely quantitative and focused on older adults ≥ 65 years of age who may respond differently to hearing intervention than relatively younger adults. They also tended to focus on exercise rather than global engagement in physical activities and did not report hours of hearing aid use, an important indicator of intervention success. One purpose of this dissertation was to determine the feasibility of collecting accelerometry-assessed …

Teaching Word Combinations Using Matrix Training Via Serious Gaming In Minimally Verbal Children, Nataly Innamorato

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation addresses the communication challenges faced by minimally verbal children who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), often limited to one-word expressions. The approach used involves gamifying matrix training, an empirically supported method for teaching word combinations and promoting the generalization of language skills. Across three studies, the development of an instructional game is described and evaluated with two populations, typically developing children and children who are minimally verbal. First, it introduces a gamified application of matrix training that provides training in an interactive digital environment. Second, a proof-of-concept was obtained via a multiple baseline across participants with typically …

Progressive Release Of Informational Materials For People Living With Dementia And Their Informal Carers, Jonathan Turner, Siobhán O’Neill, Damon Berry, Julie Doyle, Harish Kambampati, Orla Moran, Suzanne Smith, Michael Wilson, Dympna O’Sullivan

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

We describe a process for selecting informational material for people living with dementia that is most appropriate for their stage of dementia. This material provides information on the disease, on ways of living with the disease, and on activities that may delay the progression of the disease, with a view to maintaining an individual’s independent living at home. Informational material is suggested according to both an individual’s overall clinical disease progression and progression along seven cognitive domain axes that contribute to the overall progression, for example ‘working memory’ performance or ‘attention’, with scores for these axes being derived from clinical …

If The Halls Could Talk: Educator Narratives On Teen Media Literacy, Doda Lulgjuraj

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Adolescents are avid yet vulnerable consumers of digital and social media, frequently exposed to non-credible information without possessing the essential tools to evaluate it effectively. The qualitative research conducted explores adolescent media literacy through the perspectives of middle school and high school educators, intending to understand students' ability to discern credible information. Additionally, this research aims to determine the extent to which current educational practices foster this skill. This study underscores the importance of equipping adolescents with media literacy skills in an increasingly complex and sometimes misleading digital environment. Thirty-six educators from four states in the U.S. participated in semi-structured …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of University Students With Lyme Disease: A Qualitative Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Rebekah A. Russell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative transcendental phenomenological study aimed to describe the lived experiences of students with persistent or reoccurring Lyme disease symptoms post-treatment within the context of higher education institutions. Guided by Nancy Schlossberg’s transition theory, the research sought to explore the challenges students encountered while experiencing lasting symptoms of Lyme disease post-treatment. The central research question driving the inquiry was: What are the lived experiences of students contending with persistent or reoccurring Lyme disease symptoms post-treatment while pursuing higher education? Employing a transcendental phenomenological method, the study utilized journal prompts, interviews, and two focus groups comprised of students who have navigated …

Umn Morris Welcomes Distinguished Visiting Professor Todd Richardson, Communications And Marketing

Campus News Archive

No abstract provided.

Bridging The Gap: Exploring Veteran Students' Transition From Military Service To Higher Education, Edward Lewis King Sr.

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

Transitioning from military to civilian life can present many challenges for military personnel. Veterans often face difficulties adjusting from the structured and hierarchical environment of the military to the more fluid and unstructured nature of civilian life and the flexibility of higher education. The purpose of this qualitative, narrative inquiry study was to explore the challenges veterans face when transitioning from military service to higher education. The secondary purpose was to develop a webinar series, King Veteran Success 360, to mitigate obstacles student-veterans encounter during this transition. Schlossberg's transition theory was the theoretical framework that guided this inquiry to identify …

Student And Teacher Perspectives On Blending Popular Music Pedagogies Into Kodály-Based Elementary Music Classes, Maurine Floyd Parker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Kodály instructors in the United States train music educators to use American folk songs and classical Western European music as a foundation for students’ lessons; however, American music classrooms today look very different from the 1940s Hungarian classrooms when Zoltán Kodály developed his philosophy for teaching music, and there is a current need to include music that reflects the diverse student population within our schools. While Kodály “purists” may be hesitant to add music outside the realm of folk songs and art music, doing so may provide today’s learners the relevancy to stay engaged as valued members of the music …