Digital Commons Network^™

Mitigation Of Virtual Reality Induced Cybersickness, Louis Pandolfo, Hannah Lyons

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Virtual reality (VR) offers valuable training opportunities in different industries, but its widespread use is limited by cybersickness, characterized by nausea, dizziness, and disorientation. Although there is research on the causes of cybersickness, how people adapt to it is not well understood. This study looks at whether repeated exposure to a VR-based optokinetic nystagmus (OKN-VR) system reduces symptoms and if this adaptation carries over to other VR environments. Forty healthy adults (18+) will have five days of 20-minute VR sessions (or until discomfort starts). Participants will be randomly assigned to experience either OKN-VR first, followed by a VR roller coaster …

Sirius Nlte Updates And Improvements, Katelyn Sonnen

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Sirius A (Alpha Canis Majoris), with its slow rotation and stable atmospheric conditions, serves as an ideal candidate for 1-D stellar atmosphere spectral synthesis. Its mass, radius, and surface gravity are known with great precision (within 1%), making it a key benchmark for stellar astrophysics. However, the elemental composition of Sirius’ atmosphere remains one of its most uncertain parameters. Kurucz and Furenlid (1979) produced the Sample Spectral Atlas for Sirius, covering wavelengths from 354 nm to 440 nm, the first high signal-to-noise, high spectral resolution atlas of the star. In an effort to improve the accuracy of the spectral synthesis, …

Aging Popular Exoplanet Host Stars; A Bayesian Analysis Of Stellar Evolution, Grace Henry

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This study uses BASE-9, a software tool designed for stellar age analysis, to investigate the ages of exoplanet host stars. We found the stars through a query of the NASA Exoplanet Archive based on the orbital distance of their exoplanets. The habitable zone (HZ) approach we use [2] analyzes the effective temperature and luminosity of stars between 2600 K to 7200 K. Single star systems with that effective temperature range and planets in the calculated HZ were added to our host star candidate set. From there, we used the BASE-9 (Bayesian Analysis of Stellar Evolution) software suite to derive ages …

Is Hd 122970 Still Pulsating?, Thomas Matney

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

We present a comparison of the pulsation frequencies of the rapidly oscillating Ap star (roAp) HD 122970 with previous measurements of this star’s pulsations. RoAp stars are a subclass of Main Sequence stars that pulsate with periods between 5-23 minutes. HD 122970 has been shown to be a roAp star based on light curves developed from previous observations. These observations show that HD 122970 has a pulsation period of 11.093 minutes (frequency of 1.5025 mHz). This study investigates whether HD 122970 is still pulsating in this manner by developing a differential light curve of this star. We then use digital …

Testing The Coevality Of Stars In Wide Binary Systems, Aldir Moreira

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Gyrochronology, the observed correlation between a star’s period of rotation and its age, is a method that is calibrated based using stellar clusters where ages have been determined by evolutionary models. This project employs a novel “daisy-chain” interpolation algorithm to test the assumption that stars within a given wide binary are the same age, and therefore, should have rotation periods that agree with gyrochronology models. Here we show that the approach does trace lines of constant age across the rotation period vs. color index relation. Additionally, the age dependency of stellar kinematical properties is used to confirm components are gravitationally …

Building Capacity And Inspiring Change: The Impact Of Louisiana’S Ucedd Across The Lifespan, Alicia Kowitz, Constance Alphonse, Phil Wilson, Maria Blanco

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

The Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Human Development Center (HDC), as the state’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), serves as a catalyst for inclusive systems change through interdisciplinary training, community engagement, and evidence-based service delivery. This manuscript highlights the breadth and impact of HDC’s initiatives across early childhood, education, transition, and community inclusion. Through programs such as Inclusive Practices in Early Childhood, PAYCheck, and LEND, HDC builds capacity among professionals, empowers individuals with disabilities and their families, and strengthens systems to be more responsive and equitable. The stories and outcomes shared illustrate how intentional, collaborative efforts …

Identifying Exoplanetary Signals In Tess Cycle 3 Data Using Cross Referencing And Light Curve Analysis, Narayani Arora

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has transformed exoplanet discovery by collecting high-precision light curves from thousands of stars. In this study, a Python pipeline was created that uses LightKurve to cross-reference our team's TESS Cycle 3 dataset with NASA's Exoplanet Database. Light curves have been retrieved and normalized for 23 candidate stars to search for potential planetary transits. The pipeline also generated pixel files to determine source contamination and validate potential transits. This work demonstrates how cross referencing and automated light curve analysis might help refine exoplanet searches in TESS data.

Looking For New Roap Stars In The Young Open Cluster Ngc2264, Jadia Renee Ewing

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Rapidly oscillating Ap (rOAp) stars are a rare subclass of chemically peculiar A-type stars that exhibit high-frequency pulsations driven by strong magnetic fields and ionization zones in the photosphere. These pulsations, observed between 1–4 mHz provide insight into stellar interiors and magnetic fields. Pulsations were analyzed between 0–10 mHz. Studying these oscillations allows for a better understanding of magneto-acoustic coupling in stellar atmospheres and the evolution of peculiar main sequence stars. In this study, photometric time-series analysis was used to extract the dominant oscillation frequencies of a candidate rOAp star observed with the Southeastern Association for Research in Astronomy telescope …

Magnetic Actuation Chamber System, Reghan Schafer, Brian Davies Ii, Jonah D. Reed

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The Magnetic Actuation Chamber System (MACS) is an innovative solution designed to enhance the cultivation of cells and tissues under simulated microgravity conditions using a 3D clinostat. By integrating a magnetic actuator with a microfluidic organ-on-chip platform, the system facilitates precise mechanical stimuli for tissue engineering and disease modeling. Key upgrades, including a pneumatic piston system, Raspberry Pi 4-based processing, and enhanced nutrient delivery through microfluidic pumps, significantly improve reliability, data collection, and adaptability. The system’s modular design ensures flexibility for future modifications. Initial results demonstrate the potential of MACS to replicate natural cellular environments, with plans to study heart …

Ground-Based Contributions To Gyrochronology: Comparing Stellar Rotation Periods Of Tess Targets With Zwicky Transient Facility, Kylie Boyer

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Gyrochronology is a technique for determining the age of low-mass main-sequence stars by measuring their rotation periods. In principle, rotation is a relatively easy to observe property when spots modulate the brightness of a star. However, contamination from blended objects, instrumental biases, and gaps in observational coverage can skew the data, making rotation periods harder to determine accurately. The Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF), an advanced wide-field camera located in California, surveyed the entire northern sky every two days. This extensive coverage, with data collected from 2018 to late 2024, makes the ZTF an ideal resource for studying long-period stars. Of …

Mindfulness Practices In The School Setting: Research, Strategies, And Student Voices, Katie Lewis

Michigan Reading Journal

This article explores the role of mindfulness practices in elementary school settings, drawing from current research, practical classroom strategies, and student reflections from a school-based mindfulness yoga pilot. While children enter school with an innate capacity for presence, the structure and demands of formal education can unintentionally diminish their natural ability to regulate attention and emotion. Grounded in research connecting mindfulness to improvements in executive functioning, including working memory, inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, and sustained attention, this article argues that intentionally teaching mindfulness can strengthen both behavioral and academic outcomes.

A review of empirical studies highlights correlations between mindfulness-based interventions …

Joyful Literacy Experiences: Insights From The Pei In Multicultural Ya Literature, S. Rebecca Leigh, Taraneh Matloob Haghanikar, Danielle Alexander, Yujie Mao, Kim Stein, Maria Mendola, Xunmei Luo, Quigxian Wang, Yonghong Li

Michigan Reading Journal

The primary focus of this qualitative study was to determine how we could apply the theory of emotion and transactional reader response theory to the experience of coding and analyzing emotion in multicultural young adult literature. Seven graduate students in a doctoral class in the Midwest participated in the study for one academic semester, including their instructor and another faculty member from a different Midwestern university. Data included coding and analysis of eight Coretta Scott King medal and honor-winning novels and the Protagonist Emotion Inventory (PEI). Chapters were coded for eight basic emotions and the constant comparative method (Corbin & …

No Bones About It: Ohio’S Food Negligence Standard Should Be The Model For The Rest Of The Country, Malachi I. Morrison

Liberty University Law Review

On July 25, 2024, the Ohio Supreme Court issued one of its most controversial decisions since its founding in 1802. It ruffled many feathers when it appeared to defy common sense by ruling, in Berkheimer v. REKM, L.L.C., that boneless wings may contain bones. However, hidden beneath all the public backlash for this seemingly illogical ruling, one will find an opinion that made significant strides in the field of food negligence. How does this ruling advance food negligence law, you ask? Well, the court finally provided a satisfying answer to a long-standing question in food negligence: What test should …

Classifying Equal Protection, The Ada, And Physical Disabilities: Why The Court Should Apply Heightened Scrutiny To Physical Disabilities And Reconsider Its Decision In City Of Cleburne V. Cleburne Living Center, Alek D. Hedlund

Liberty University Law Review

The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment provides a constitutional check on state governments when a state statute or action classifies a group of individuals based on certain characteristics. Courts typically scrutinize a discriminatory state statute based on the type of class that it discriminates against, weighing the statute against the government interest and the statute’s relation to the asserted government interest.

In City of Cleburne v. Cleburne Living Center, the United States Supreme Court applied rational basis review to a city ordinance that discriminated based on mental disabilities. Courts following Cleburne have used its rationale to apply …

Table Of Contents

Liberty University Law Review

No abstract provided.

Audio-Synchronized Personal Media Playback In A Streaming Interface, Devin Carder

Defensive Publications Series

A technique is proposed for audio-synchronized personal media playback in a streaming interface. A user interface associated with a content streaming platform is provided for presentation via a client device. The content streaming platform provides a current audiovisual track for playback. A user interaction with one or more user interface elements is detected. A determination is made of an emotional tone and a temporal characteristic associated with the current audiovisual track. A set of content items corresponding to the determined emotional tone is identified from a personal content repository associated with the user. The user interface is updated to include …

Systems And Methods For Detecting Silent Backward-Incompatible Api Contract Drift Using Runtime Structural-Semantic Fingerprints, Harsh Agrawal, Isha Navanath Shinde

Defensive Publications Series

A computer-implemented method for detecting silent backward-incompatible application programming interface (API) contract drift includes receiving API interaction data from one or more sources in a production environment, where the API interaction data includes request and response payloads for one or more API endpoints. The method includes normalizing the request and response payloads into structured representations and generating runtime structural-semantic fingerprints from the normalized payloads, where each fingerprint encodes field presence, field absence, hierarchical path structure, type signatures, nullability indicators, enumeration membership, and cross-field relationships. The method includes learning endpoint-specific behavioral invariants from historical API traffic, where the behavioral invariants capture …

Graph Based Context Ingestion And Automated Risk Identification Engine, Kautilay Siingh, Sanjeev Murthy, Shreyas Kc, Brianna Rezler, Aishwarya Hariharan Athreya

Defensive Publications Series

Systems and methods are provided for a risk identification and generation engine that performs security architecture analysis in a standardized manner. The engine automatically populates security questionnaires within a security architecture workflow and determines whether a feature requires a minor assessment or a detailed analysis. The engine generates dataflow and architecture diagrams, provides editing capabilities through drag‑and‑drop operations, and enables creation of additional diagrams. Threat models are generated using application context to identify security flaws at the design stage. The system stores design and technical security requirements, application details including summaries, APIs, and implemented controls, as well as records of …

Agent-Orchestrated Apparel Curation With Generative Ai-Based Visual Assessment, Sneha Kudli, Lakshmi Kumar Dabbiru

Defensive Publications Series

Some online fashion commerce experiences can be fragmented and labor-intensive, while certain human-led stylist services may lack scalability and real-time adaptability. A system and method are described for a personal shopper agent that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to automate apparel curation. The agent can synthesize a user's explicit preferences and implicit behavioral data to create a style blueprint. It may then query one or more product inventories for candidate items and use generative AI to produce virtual try-on images of these items on a user's three-dimensional body model. The agent can programmatically assess these images for fit and style to …

Explainable Tree-Based Ensemble Models For Diabetes Prediction Using Shap, Maan Y Anad Alsaleem, Omar Shakir Hasan, Yahya Albugg

AUIQ Technical Engineering Science

Due to the generally unqualified nature of prediction data and the difficulty of interpreting predictions, predicting diabetes remains a significant hurdle in the adoption of machine learning within the medical domain. In this study, several tree-based machine learning techniques (LightGBM, XGBoost, CatBoost, and Gradient Boosting) were applied to predict diabetes using the 2015 BRFSS dataset, while two ensemble methods (soft voting and stacking) were employed to improve predictive accuracy. The performance analysis of the individual models and ensemble approaches indicates that CatBoost achieved the highest accuracy among the single classifiers (0.871), with an F1-score of 0.871 and a ROC–AUC of …

Chronotropic Response To Intratracheal Versus Intravenous Atropine In Anesthetized Adult Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Ammar H. Mahdi, Majid Alhamaidah, Myasar J. Mohammed, Hussein Ali Hussein, Hussein Alkhfaji

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Atropine is a commonly used anticholinergic agent in anesthetic practice, administered primarily to counteract bradycardia. Rapid treatment of intraoperative bradycardia is clinically critical, as delays may lead to hemodynamic compromise. This study aimed to compare the onset, magnitude, and duration of the chronotropic response to atropine administered via the intravenous (IV) versus intratracheal (IT) route in anesthetized adult patients. A prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled study was conducted on 60 adult patients classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-II, scheduled for elective peripheral surgery under general anesthesia. Patients were randomly allocated into three equal groups (n = 20 …

Statistical Assessment Of Groundwater Quality In Selected Areas Of Samarra District: Effects Of Land Use And Geological Setting, Ahmed K. Ibrahim

Engineering and Technology Journal

In this study, 25 newly drilled wells were selected in the Samarra district, which has an estimated area of about 350 km², and included rural and urban areas with various agricultural, industrial, and residential activities. Water samples were taken from the wells every two months starting in November 2023 and continuing until September 2024. Physical tests were conducted, including total dissolved solids and electrical conductivity, as well as chemical tests that included pH, total hardness (TH), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), potassium (K), sulfates (SO₄^–2), nitrates (NO₃^–), and chlorides (Cl). Concentrations …

Experimental And Numerical Analysis Of Mechanical Properties Of Uhmwpe Nanocomposite Reinforced With Nano-Hydroxyapatite, Heshw A. Hassan, Diyar O. Kaka

Engineering and Technology Journal

Recently the polymer nanocomposites have shown significant development, enabling substantial improvements in the performance of conventional polymers that reflect large influences on the products and industry. Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is widely employed in biomedical and structural applications, their mechanical properties can be tailored through the incorporation of nanoscale fillers. In this study, nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) particles were incorporated into UHMWPE at reinforcement loadings of 0.5, 1.0, 3.0, and 5.0% content experimentally, and different volume fraction numerically to evaluate their effect on the material's mechanical behavior. A Representative Volume Element (RVE) based on finite element analysis (FEA) was developed to …

Enhanced No₂ Gas Sensing Using Silver-Doped Cadmium Telluride Nanocrystalline Thin Films, Tunis Balasim Hassan

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) is a toxic pollutant that necessitates sensitive and reliable monitoring systems. Conventional gas sensors often lack adequate responsiveness and fast recovery under changing conditions and therefore create a need for semiconductors with enhanced performance, especially at high industrial temperatures (around 250 °C). The study therefore aims to synthesis and evaluate silver-doped cadmium telluride (Ag:CdTe) thin films as NO₂ gas sensors. Pure CdTe and Ag:CdTe with silver concentrations of 5, 10, and 15 wt% were prepared by a co-precipitation process. XRD verified cubic symmetry with a progressive fall in crystallite size (6.67 nm to 5.46 nm at 15 …

Exploring Resource-Efficient Deep Learning For Medical Image Segmentation, Pallabi Dutta

Doctoral Theses

Automated medical image segmentation improves diagnostic accuracy by au tomating the precise delineation of target anatomical structures in the input images. Artificial Intelligence (AI), and specifically, Deep Learning (DL), has emerged as a state-of-the-art approach for this task. However, the significant computational demands of DL approaches often hinders their deployment. Ad vanced models, including Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and Vision Transformers (ViTs), require substantial processing power and a large memory footprint, limiting their use in resource-constrained settings. This thesis aims to address this challenge by developing a series of novel, resource-efficient DL models that achieve high segmentation accuracy with reduced …

Digital Preservation Committee Annual Report 2025-26, Ella Hitchcock

NASIG Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Does Relationship-Centered Communication Partner Training Improve Perceived Marital Attachment, Communication, And Psychosocial Well-Being In Couples Impacted By Aphasia?, Sarah Janalee Laws

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored whether Relationship-Centered Communication Partner Training (RC-CPT) improved perceived marital attachment, communication, and psychosocial well-being in couples impacted by aphasia. A quasi-experimental design was implemented to assess the impact of RC-CPT on various marital outcomes. Twelve married couples participated in the study, with each couple including one spouse with post-stroke aphasia. The Brief Accessibility, Responsiveness, and Engagement Scale (BARE) was used as the primary outcome for this study, assessing attachment behaviors within couples. Secondary outcome measures included the Loneliness Scale Questionnaire, the Relationship Questionnaire, the Conflict and Conflict Resolution Questionnaire, and the Kessler Psychological Distress Rating Scale. Pre-testing …

Assessment Of Groundwater Quality For Irrigation Purpose In Asfan, Saudi Arabia, Abdelilah Khattab, Zaki Al-Hasawi, Talal Almeelbi

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture

Saudi Arabia faces a severe water scarcity, making groundwater the primary source for agricultural activities and underscoring the need to assess its quality to ensure sustainable agriculture, given its direct impact on crop performance, soil properties, and overall productivity. This study evaluated the suitability of groundwater for irrigation in the Asfan area of Al-Jumum Governorate, Makkah Region, in western Saudi Arabia. Water samples were collected from nine wells distributed across five farms and analyzed to measure a wide range of physical and chemical parameters, including temperature, total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), turbidity, salinity, electrical conductivity, pH, dissolved …

Temporomandibular Joint Ganglion Cyst Causing Dynamic External Auditory Canal Obstruction And Position-Dependent Hearing Loss: A Case Report And Literature Review, Ali Akbar, Abdulrahman Meerza, Craig Pearl

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Ganglion cysts of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) are uncommon periarticular lesions and may be diagnostically challenging because symptoms are often nonspecific. When these lesions arise posterior to the joint, they can produce otologic complaints through dynamic narrowing of the external auditory canal (EAC). Herein, we report on a histologically confirmed TMJ ganglion cyst causing position-dependent hearing loss and review the relevant literature.

Case description: A 72-year-old woman presented with a 3-year history of bilateral preauricular pain, left-sided tinnitus, left aural fullness, and near-complete hearing loss in the left ear when the mandible was closed in occlusion. Clinical examination showed …

Visualization And Marker-Less Tracking Of User-Defined Pre-Processed Mri Articulator Data Using Deep Learning, Michael De George

Student Theses

This thesis presents a comprehensive framework for the automated tracking and visualization of articulatory movements based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. A well-known data analysis tool for markerless pose estimation, known as DeepLabCut, is investigated for this purpose. The performance of this tool is enhanced through the design and implementation of a pre-processor. DeepLabCut is a markerless pose estimation toolbox based on deep learning, which overcomes the issue of making manual annotations frame-by-frame. Limitations from manually marking the MRI images are addressed by implementing transfer learning with convolutional neural networks to achieve accurate, user-defined articulator tracking without markers. Current …