Digital Commons Network^™

Rewiring The Senses: Neural And Perceptual Adaptation Through Cultural Immersion In Chile, Alexa Castillo

University Honors Theses

This thesis explores how cultural immersion reshapes perception over time. Rather than focusing only on language acquisition, the project examines how sustained exposure to a new cultural and linguistic environment alters sensory processing, cognitive effort, and emotional experience. The study draws on cultural neuroscience and neuroplasticity research to frame immersion as a process of adaptive recalibration.

Over four weeks in Valparaíso, Chile, I documented daily changes in auditory processing, visual attention, emotional response, and social interpretation. Journal entries were analyzed using qualitative thematic coding and organized into five categories: language overload, cognitive effort, automaticity, anxiety/frustration, and belonging/comfort. Weekly intensity ratings …

Toward A Model Of Agentic Professional Learning: A Phenomenological Study Of Collective Efficacy Development, Stephanie Thomas

Education Dissertations

Collective teacher efficacy (CTE) refers to a faculty’s shared belief in its collective ability to take action and positively impact student outcomes in ways more influential than other predictive factors, including socioeconomic status or prior achievement. Research has shown that high levels of CTE are associated with improved student achievement as well as positive outcomes and productive behaviors among educators. However, limited attention has been given to how intentional design and facilitation of professional learning experiences could foster the development of CTE. Given the strong empirical evidence linking CTE with student achievement and the virtuous cycle, or bidirectional causality, between …

Beyond War Crimes, Anne-Marie Carstens

Maryland Law Review

No abstract provided.

Preliminary Objections To Extraterritorial Criminal Prosecutions, Alyssa Resar, Eli Scher-Zagier

NULR Online

No abstract provided.

Equity In Enhancing Family Planning Access In Rural Municipalities Of The Philippines, Jean Rachel D. Ang, Meljun R. Banogon, Teodoro Lloydon C. Bautista, Wendy D. Besa-Ang, Macario A. Felicen Ii, Jovine M. Martin, Hermie Alexander D. Sia, Jaeron Den D. Topinio

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

Fertility trends in the Philippines have decreased over the years, driven by improved implementation of family planning (FP) practices and programs. However, regional and urban-rural disparities remain evident. Based on the 2022 Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), the general fertility rate (GFR) in urban areas is 57 per 1,000 women aged 15–44 years, compared with 72 per 1,000 in rural areas. This study determined the factors affecting fertility rates in selected municipalities in the second to fourth-income classes, namely Candoni, Jamindan, Moalboal, Palapag, San Miguel, and Sibalom. It utilized a descriptive cross-sectional study design involving 180 women of …

Management And Prognosis Of Patients With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Narrative Review, Mayank Gupta, Sara Khan, Samantha Bunk, Anand S. Patil, Joan Stilling, Jaspal Singh, Sudhir Diwan, Michael E. Schatman, Anushka Bajaj, Alaa Abd-Elsayed, Steven Kosa

Student Publications

Background/Objectives: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is the most common subtype of traumatic brain injury, where patients experience a multitude of symptoms from headaches to memory loss and mood changes. Consequently, there are known poor prognostic factors for mTBI that can impede recovery and alter management courses. This narrative review aims to synthesize and provide a critical assessment of the current diagnostic criteria, management, and prognostic factors for mTBI to inform practice guidelines. Methods: This study adopts a patient-centered approach, focusing on treating presenting symptoms and referring patients to specialists for abnormal exam findings as needed. These findings …

Sovereign Lands, Brent D. Chicken, Tanner M. Boyzuick

Oil and Gas, Natural Resources, and Energy Journal

No abstract provided.

Alaska, Steven A. Rhodes, Zachary H. Barrett, Kizito Aidam

Oil and Gas, Natural Resources, and Energy Journal

No abstract provided.

A Revision Of The Psammophilic Genus Liobuthus Birula, 1898 (Scorpiones: Buthidae), With A Description Of Four New Species From Central Asia, Victor Fet, František Kovařík, Graeme Lowe, Matthew R. Graham

Euscorpius

The rare Central Asian psammophilic scorpion genus, Liobuthus Birula, 1898 (Scorpiones: Buthidae), is revised. Five species are delineated according to results from three species delimitation approaches using mitochondrial DNA. Results are supported by diagnostic morphology, including an assessment of the distinctive neobothriotaxy. The type species, L. kessleri Birula, 1898, is confirmed for Iran (northeast), Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan (south). Four new species are described: L. atamuradovi sp. n. (Turkmenistan),  L. danovi sp. n. (Kazakhstan, northern Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan), L. shukurovi sp. n. (southwestern Tajikistan), and L. vachoni sp. n. (southern Kazakhstan), The unique additive neobothriotaxy (on both pedipalp femur and patella) …

Interchange, 1995, V15 N6-7, June-July, Advocate Health - Midwest

Historical Documents - Combined

The lnterChange newsletter was published monthly for the nursing division of St. Luke's Medical Center. It's purpose was to provide health care and shared governance information and inform nurses of new program benefits and upcoming special events.

Interchange, 1990, V10 N5, Septembert-October, Advocate Health - Midwest

Historical Documents - Combined

The lnterChange newsletter was published monthly for the nursing division of St. Luke's Medical Center. It's purpose was to provide health care and shared governance information and inform nurses of new program benefits and upcoming special events.

Interchange, 1988, V8 N5, June, Advocate Health - Midwest

Historical Documents - Combined

The lnterChange newsletter was published monthly for the nursing division of St. Luke's Medical Center. It's purpose was to provide health care and shared governance information and inform nurses of new program benefits and upcoming special events.

Inter-Change, 1984, V4 N10, October, Advocate Health - Midwest

Historical Documents - Combined

The lnter-Change newsletter was published monthly for the nursing division of St. Luke's Medical Center. It's purpose was to provide health care and shared governance information and inform nurses of new program benefits and upcoming special events.

Machine Learning–Driven Prediction Of Dementia From Mri And Clinical Features: A Comparative Analysis Of Ensemble And Baseline Models, Sarah Raad Hameed, Zainab Muhannad Nahid, Rawan Ahmed Abdulmahdi

AUIQ Technical Engineering Science

Early detection of dementia remains a pressing challenge in clinical neuroscience, as delayed diagnosis limits therapeutic impact and healthcare planning. Leveraging the Open Access Series of Imaging Studies (OASIS) cross-sectional dataset of 436 participants, this study developed a robust machine learning pipeline integrating sociodemographic, clinical, and neuroimaging-derived features. Preprocessing included removal of highly sparse variables (Delay), median imputation of partially missing but clinically essential measures (SES, MMSE, CDR, Educ), Winsorization of extreme values, and skewness correction. The target Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) was binarized (0 = no dementia, ≥ 0.5 = dementia) to align with clinically actionable screening. Categorical features …

An Ai-Enhanced Ant Colony Optimization Based Routing Protocol, Niranjan M M, Srihari P Bhavanasi

Defensive Publications Series

Proposed herein are techniques to address limitations in classical Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) routing protocols that rely on static, hand-crafted probabilistic rules and lack contextual awareness. Traditional ACO-based routing reacts slowly to rapid topology changes or fluctuating link quality, and pheromone evaporation alone cannot ensure fast convergence in highly dynamic or congested environments. To overcome these limitations, techniques herein replace conventional control packets with intelligent software-based AI agents that employ learning-based decision models. These AI agents evaluate link quality, predict route reliability, and optimize exploration behavior in real time by integrating machine-learning-based decision-making with adaptive ACO behavior. The techniques enable …

Improving The Uv Resistance And Service Life Of Polystyrene-Based Building Materials Via Low-Concentration Metal Complex Modifiers, Dina S. Ahmed, Marwa Fadhil, Raghda Alsayed, Mohammed Kadhom, Muna Bufaroosha, Amani Husain, Thura Alyasiri, Hanan Ibraheem, Alaa A. Rashad, Bassam M. Abood, Riyadh Noaman, Ahmed Ahmed, Ruqaya Raad, Ala'a Shaker, Abeer Erfan, Hassan Hashim, Saba Hamza, Rahimi M. Yusop, Emad Yousif

AUIQ Technical Engineering Science

PS is highly susceptible to UV-induced photodegradation, which results in deterioration of its mechanical and aesthetic properties. In the present study, four novel and highly aromatic levofloxacin metal complexes, synthesized from Zn, Sn, Cu, and Ni, were investigated as low-concentration (0.5% w/w) photostabilizer additives for PS. Composite films were prepared by solution casting and subjected to accelerated UV irradiation up to 300 hours. Photostabilizing performance was systematically followed by monitoring changes in the carbonyl index via FT-IR spectroscopy, mass loss measurements, and surface morphology analyses using SEM and AFM. Results showed that all levofloxacin metal complexes had a pronounced inhibition …

The Current - Volume 36 Issue 7, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Spectator 2026-02-26, Editors Of The Spectator

The Spectator

No abstract provided.

Functional Characteristics Of Ice Creams Enriched With Aronia Melanocarpa And Sambucus Nigra L. Extracts, Murat Emre Terzi̇oğlu, Emi̇ne Maci̇t

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

In this study, the effects of Aronia melanocarpa and Sambucus nigra L. extracts added at different concentrations (0.5%, 1%,and 1.5%) on the physicochemical, sensory, microbiological, antioxidant capacity (DPPH• and ABTS•+ radical scavenging activity, TPC,TFC, and TAC) antidiabetic (α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition), and anti-Alzheimer properties (AChE inhibitory activity) of icecream were investigated. According to the statistical analysis results, extract addition did not have an effect on the total dry matter, fatand ash ratios of the ice cream samples (p > 0.05), but it had an effect on the protein ratio, viscosity, and first drip time at the level ofp < 0.05. The addition of extract positively affected the DPPH• radical scavenging activity IC50 and ABTS•+ radical scavenging activityIC50 values of the ice cream samples, and also increased the TPC, TFC, and TAC values. Indeed, a decrease in the IC50 values of DPPH•and ABTS•+ radical scavenging activities indicates an increase in antioxidant activity. The highest TPC, TFC, and TAC values weredetected in the A-1.5 sample (sample containing 1.5% A. melanocarpa extract) as 749.33 mg GA/kg, 434.70 mg QE/kg, and 290.97 mg/kg, respectively. Similarly, the highest α-amylase inhibitory activity (23.08%), the highest α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (10.41%) andthe highest AChE inhibitory activity (14.70%) were observed in the A-1.5 sample. Extract addition had no effect on microbiologicalproperties and sensory properties except texture. The results of this study showed that A. melanocarpa, S. nigra L. extracts can be usedas a natural additive with antioxidant, antidiabetic and anti-Alzheimer activities in ice cream production.

February 26, 2026, Caa

Minutes

No abstract provided.

Exploring Molecular And Morphological Diversity Of Ostracoda: A Combined Approach Based On Coi Sequences And Morphological Characters, Serdar Di̇nç, Serap Mutun, Okan Külköylüoğlu

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Ostracods are diminutive aquatic invertebrates with a broad geographical distribution  across a diverse range of aquatic habitats, including lentic and lotic freshwater  environments as well as marine waters. Due to their sensitivity to environmental  changes, ostracods are valuable tools in biodiversity monitoring, providing a link to  past, present, and future ecological conditions. Despite the significance of classical  taxonomic studies in species identification, molecular approaches remain  underutilized in ostracod research, representing an area of potential growth for  advancing our understanding of this diverse group. Thus, molecular studies in  ostracods have the potential to greatly enhance our understanding of morphology,  ecological variation …

Spatial And Temporal Variability Of Mayfly Communities (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) In Mountainous And Semimountainous Rivers Of The Western Aegean Basin, Biljana Rimcheska, Yanka Vidinova

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Mayflies are among the most abundant benthic invertebrates inhabiting natural lotic  freshwater systems. Their assemblages vary with environmental, geographical, and  hydrological conditions along altitudinal gradients and under different types of  watershed disturbance. The main objective of this study was to analyze the  composition and β-diversity of mayflies across three river watersheds and to assess  how these assemblages differ among them. We collected biological and  environmental data from 38 sampling sites distributed across the three river  watersheds. We hypothesized that mayfly assemblages would vary with  environmental gradients on both spatial and temporal scales; specifically, we  expected pristine streams to exhibit higher …

Cover And Contents

Turkish Journal of Zoology

No abstract provided.

Towards The Assessment Of E-Flows: A Fish-Based Approach For The Tiber River Basin (Central Italy), Antonella Carosi, Francesca Lorenzoni, Fatemeh Zarei, Rachele Brustenga, Lucio Di Matteo, Daniela Valigi, Corrado Cencetti, Carlo Cardellini, Stefano Casadei, David Cappelletti, Massimo Lorenzoni

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Estimating ecological flows (EFs) in rivers is crucial for meeting the Water Framework  Directive (WFD) 2000/60/EC goals. To develop an EF model, it is  essential to use biological indicators to reliably record the impacts of human-induced  alterations on aquatic ecosystems. The adaptability of fish to annual flow variability  makes them a significant biological quality element (BQE). Consequently, using fish  as bioindicators is a powerful tool for assessing the impact of changes in the  hydrological regime on the natural communities within a river system. The new index  of the ecological status of fish communities (NISECI) is a methodology developed in  Italy …

Chlorella Vulgaris Measurements Using Full-Spectrum Goniometer For Optically Complex Inland Water Monitoring, Pinar Gürbüzer, Uğur Murat Leloğlu

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Rising environmental stressors, including climate change, nutrient loading, pollution,  and anthropogenic impacts, have made the continuous monitoring of lake water  quality increasingly essential. While in situ methods offer high precision, satellite-based remote sensing is essential for capturing large-scale, long-term changes and  accessing remote or extreme environments. To complement these approaches, we  developed a cost-effective in situ optical measurement system specifically designed  for optically complex inland waters. T he instrument enables detailed optical  characterization across scattering angles from 0° to 160° and wavelengths between  423 and 728 nm, covering both visible and near-infrared regions. Initial validation was  performed using monocultures of …

Plants Have A Chemical Defense To Protect Themselves From Herbivory, Isis Cordova

Research on Capitol Hill

All plants produce compounds for survival. My work focuses on how plants remember past attacks and whether that memory leads to stronger/faster responses.

Ant Queens Divide Tasks Among Themselves To Maximize Efficiency In Multi-Queen Colonies, Ian Brush

Research on Capitol Hill

Before workers arrive, founding queens must sustain the colony on their own. In single-queen colonies, one queen performs all necessary tasks. In contrast, when several queens co-found a colony, their contributions often differ: some queens invest more in egg-laying, while others devote more effort to brood care or nest maintenance.

How Can We Protect Utah Vineyards From Insect Pests And Diseases?, Josh Westhora

Research on Capitol Hill

The Utah Plant Pest Diagnostics Lab (UPPDL) at USU conducts surveys of Utah vineyards for plant diseases and insect pests affecting production to notify growers of their presence. Last year’s survey was conducted without funding to provide immediate support to growers. Funding for this year’s has been requested through the USDA APHIS PPQ PPA 7721 program.

We Can Use Coyotes As A Model To Understand How Social Loss Alters The Brain, Rebekah Rowe

Research on Capitol Hill

While we understand some factors that increase psychological distress for grieving individuals, little is known about this biological basis.

Ovarian Transplants Drastically Improved The Health Of Post-Menopausal Mice, Nathan Mccoy

Research on Capitol Hill

Women generally experience health advantages compared to men before menopause. Following menopause, this advantage diminishes, and women become more susceptible to metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease.