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GNSI Decision Brief: American Shipbuilding: From Crisis to Made-in-America Opportunity
No full textAmong 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 an enormous surplus of existing ships. The Reagan administration provided a brief period of renewed funding for the naval shipbuilding industry to achieve a 600-ship Navy, but the commercial sector continued to decline. During the Global War on Terror the Merchant Marine was neglected and the Maritime Administration budget was slashed. While at its peak in 1943 the United States built almost 90% of vessels worldwide, today that capacity has sunk to 0.2%, and 90% of the market share has been taken over by China, Korea, and Japan. Today, the United States’ 154 private shipyards are almost entirely dedicated to building military or repairing vessels for the U.S. Navy. Meanwhile, the remaining public naval shipyards of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Puget Sound, and Pearl Harbor often have outdated infrastructures that struggle to keep pace with fleet maintenance and repair.https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/gnsi_decision_briefs/1030/thumbnail.jp
Can Bilateralism Endure? The 2023-25 Gaza War and the Abraham Accords Framework
No full textThe Abraham Accords, signed in 2020, marked a significant shift in Middle Eastern geopolitics by normalizing relations between Israel and several Arab states: the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco. These agreements emphasized novel types of Arab-Israeli economic partnerships, security cooperation, and public diplomacy, representing a shift from earlier Israeli peace deals with Egypt (1979) and Jordan (1994), which did not see significant growth in the states’ bilateral cooperation and coordination, particularly in non-security areas. And despite the unprecedented October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the ensuing Gaza and Lebanon wars, which intensified regional tensions and sparked widespread anti-Israel protests, the Abraham Accords have largely remained intact. This article argues that the core drivers behind the Accords—security, trade, and pragmatic diplomatic cooperation—continue to shape these partnerships, suggesting the potential for the Accords framework to endure. Further, the accords can serve as a model for future Arab-Israeli peace processes, including ongoing Saudi-Israeli normalization efforts, particularly alongside concerted efforts to reinvigorate the Israeli-Palestinian peace process
The Element of Surprise: Highly Maneuverable Satellites and SSA
No full textMilitary, 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 satellites to inform decision-making in space and allow for more accurate and timely reactions. It proposes the development of a proliferated space-based network of SSA satellites to achieve this goal
The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Cognitive Function of University Students
No full textSleep 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 function through a literature review, focusing on its effects on the hippocampus, amygdala, and cerebral cortex. The literature used for this review was derived from multiple research sources including PubMed and JSTOR. Research shows an inverse relationship between sleep deprivation and cognitive function, with significant reductions in brain activity in these regions as measured by various cognitive tests. College institutions often exacerbate sleep deprivation with demanding schedules, late-night study expectations, early morning classes, and environments that encourage irregular sleep patterns, such as 24/7 libraries and social activities. To further this research, we aim to study a sample of students at the University of South Florida by administering questionnaires to explore sleeping habits, factors contributing to sleep deprivation, and natural ways to improve sleep. This research seeks to guide interventions that enhance cognitive function and promote healthier sleep habits among students
GPCR-Mediated Mechanisms in Obesity: The Role of Ghrelin and GLP-1 Receptors
No full textG protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) regulate metabolism and transmit appetite cues throughout the brain and digestive system. Binding to GPCRs, ghrelin, and GLP-1 are ligands that influence hunger, energy balance, and insulin secretion. Understanding the relationship between GPCRs and ligands such as ghrelin and GLP-1 offers critical insights into treating metabolic disorders such as obesity, a growing issue in America. Our methodology involved a literature review using USF, NIH, and JSTOR databases. Search terms like “GPCR obesity,” “GLP-1 obesity,” and related keywords identified articles from 2000 onward, yielding 59 studies on GLP-1 and ghrelin in obesity. GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), initially developed for type 2 diabetes, have shown effectiveness in treating obesity by reducing blood glucose levels, appetite, and hunger while delaying gastric emptying and enhancing satiety. Studies on semaglutide, liraglutide, and retatrutide demonstrated their efficacy in promoting weight loss when combined with diet and exercise, highlighting their potential as pharmacologic treatments for obesity. However, side effects such as gastrointestinal discomfort and limitations of mostly animal studies underscore the need for further research to enhance safety and reliability. This study highlights the pivotal role of GPCRs in managing obesity and diabetes by regulating energy balance and metabolism. Advances in GLP-1-based therapies and GPCR-targeting drugs offer transformative potential for personalized treatments, emphasizing the importance of continued research into these mechanisms
The Distribution, Abundance, and Habitat Use of Wintering Iceland Gulls \u3ci\u3eLarus glaucoides thayeri\u3c/i\u3e in Northern California and Comparisons with Other \u3ci\u3eLarus\u3c/i\u3e Gulls.
No full textRecent studies have provided significant insights, but relatively limited information is available on many aspects of the ecology and behavior of the Arctic-breeding Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides. In this study, the distribution, abundance, and habitat use of wintering Iceland Gulls Larus glaucoides thayeri in Northern California, USA, were analyzed in 30 habitat types over three winters. A total of 6012 individuals was recorded, contributing 2.3% of the total Larus gulls recorded. The mean number of Iceland Gulls recorded per count was highest in sanitary landfills located in the Inner Coast Range, Central Valley, Inner Coast, and San Francisco Bay Plain areas. Mean counts were lower in shoreline and intertidal flat habitats on the Inner and Outer Coasts, and low in other habitats. The relative abundance of Iceland Gulls was similar among the habitats. Habitat use was most similar to the American Herring Gull L. smithsonianus and most different from the Western Gull L. occidentalis. Most Iceland Gulls observed were adults (70%), and the percentage slightly increased from the Outer Coast to more inland areas. The availability of substantial food resources at large landfills in the region, which includes four large metropolitan areas, probably accounts for the relatively large wintering population of Iceland Gulls at the southern end of their winter range. This food source may decrease in the future as new solid-waste management requirements are implemented in California. During the breeding period, primary elements of niche segregation between the Iceland Gull and sympatric large Larus gull species include nesting on coastal cliffs, concentrated use of coastal shoreline and inshore habitats for feeding, and use of different food items. In the non-breeding period, elements include differences in habitat use, feeding ecology, and feeding behavior. Abundant food sources may increase overlap in certain breeding and wintering habitats
Page 08: Decades of Questions, Resident Suspicions
No full textPage 8 of 12 of the LHI Zion Cemetery Poster Project (FLDOS). Download to view in high resolution.https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/zion_posters/1008/thumbnail.jp
First Evidence of Plastic Ingestion by Red-billed Tropicbirds \u3ci\u3ePhaethon aethereus\u3c/i\u3e from St. Eustatius, Caribbean Netherlands
No full textWe present the first confirmed evidence of plastic ingestion by a Red-billed Tropicbird on the Caribbean Netherlands island of St. Eustatius, which supports a regionally important nesting population. With our observations, all species of tropicbird have now been documented ingesting marine plastic pollution
Identification of Foraging Areas and Movements of Royal Tern \u3ci\u3eThalasseus maximus\u3c/i\u3e at the Isles Dernieres Barrier Islands Refuge, Louisiana
No full textThe Isles Dernieres Barrier Island Refuge (IDBIR) in Louisiana constitutes a major colonial seabird breeding site but is also considered a high-risk marine area that is susceptible to both natural and anthropogenic disturbances that can be detrimental to breeding areas and food resources. The objective of this study was to track the movements of breeding Royal Terns Thalasseus maximus at the IDBIR to identify important foraging movement parameters and foraging areas. GPS loggers were attached to six Royal Terns during the 2014–2017 breeding seasons. Mean foraging trip distance was 28.8 km and the maximum distance traveled was 47.8 km. The overall mean foraging area (95% fixed kernel densities) was 1042.5 ± 526.1 km2. There was individual variation among foraging area size and foraging habitats that included bays, offshore habitats, and marsh habitats. However, appreciable overlap in foraging areas included marsh habitats ~12 km north of the breeding colony and offshore areas south of the colony. Identifying seabird foraging areas is critical for understanding their resource needs in the Gulf of Mexico, the coast of which is undergoing rapid change, and to assess how major disasters, such as oil spills and hurricanes, may influence important foraging areas