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This paper explores the need to build a reciprocal partnership with Indigenous Peoples and develop culturally-relevant strategies that foster academic motivation among Indigenous youth. The objectives of this study were to describe education professionals' perceptions regarding: (1) the challenges Indigenous students face when transitioning to postsecondary education, (2) the strategies used to provide academic support, and (3) the different ways of enhancing Indigenous students' educational experiences. These perceptions were necessary to better comprehend the ongoing progress related to the need for a decolonized education within academic institutions. Although an increasing proportion of Indigenous Peoples are obtaining college diplomas, some challenges remain and are specifically encountered during Indigenous students' transition to postsecondary education and in the cultural relevance within their learning materials.

Gamma oscillations in brain activity (30-150 Hz) have been studied for over 80 years. Although in the past three decades significant progress has been made to try to understand their functional role, a definitive answer regarding their causal implication in perception, cognition, and behavior still lies ahead of us. Here, we first review the basic neural mechanisms that give rise to gamma oscillations and then focus on two main pillars of exploration. The first pillar examines the major theories regarding their functional role in information processing in the brain, also highlighting critical viewpoints. The second pillar reviews a novel research direction that proposes a therapeutic role for gamma oscillations, namely the gamma entrainment using sensory stimulation (GENUS). We extensively discuss both the positive findings and the issues regarding reproducibility of GENUS. Going beyond the functional and therapeutic role of gamma, we propose a third pillar of exploration, where gamma, generated endogenously by cortical circuits, is essential for maintenance of healthy circuit function. We propose that four classes of interneurons, namely those expressing parvalbumin (PV), vasointestinal peptide (VIP), somatostatin (SST), and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) take advantage of endogenous gamma to perform active vasomotor control that maintains homeostasis in the neuronal tissue. According to this hypothesis, which we call GAMER (GAmma MEdiated ciRcuit maintenance), gamma oscillations act as a 'servicing' rhythm that enables efficient translation of neural activity into vascular responses that are essential for optimal neurometabolic processes. GAMER is an extension of GENUS, where endogenous rather than entrained gamma plays a fundamental role. Finally, we propose several critical experiments to test the GAMER hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI), coupled with the global rollout of 4G and 5G networks, has fundamentally transformed the Big Data landscape, redefining data management and analysis methodologies. The ability to manage and analyze such vast and varied datasets has exceeded the capacity of any individual or organization. This study introduces an enhanced framework that expands upon the traditional four Vs of Big Data—volume, velocity, volatility, and veracity—by incorporating six additional dimensions: value, validity, visualization, variability, volatility, and vulnerability. This comprehensive framework offers a novel and straightforward approach to understanding and addressing the complexities of Big Data in the AI era. This article further explores the use of 'Big D', an AI-driven, RAG-based Big Data analytical bot powered by the ChatGPT-4o model (ChatGPT version 4.0). This article's innovation represents a significant advance in the field, accelerating and deepening the extraction and analysis of insights from large-scale datasets. This will enable us to develop a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of intricate data landscapes. In addition, we proposed a framework and analytical tools that contribute to the evolution of Big Data analytics, particularly in the context of AI-driven processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proper water resource management is essential for maintaining a sustainable supply chain and meeting water demand. The urgent need to preserve river ecosystems by sustaining environmental flow (EF) in the realm of environmental management has been highlighted by the drastic changes to river ecosystems and upstream flow dynamics brought about by careless river exploitation in the last few decades. To optimize EF in river basin management, we present an integrated modeling approach. We focused on the Pir Khezran River basin. Our objective was to estimate EF and generalize the findings to adjacent rivers using modeling techniques, thus providing valuable insights for environmental management applications. The assessment and optimization of EF under uncertain conditions was achieved by combining physical habitat simulation (PHABSIM) modeling with advanced techniques like Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference Systems (ANFIS) and Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) neural networks. This integrated modeling approach contributes to sustainable solutions for river basin management and environmental conservation by effectively optimizing EF, as demonstrated by the results. This research, therefore, makes valuable contributions to environmental management in various areas such as ecological preservation, modeling and optimizing environmental systems, and policy considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migrants and members of cultural minorities must negotiate their identification with multiple cultural groups. Many studies have investigated associations between general questionnaire–based cultural identity patterns and psychological adjustment. Research on situational cultural identity patterns—context-bound, momentary identification with a given cultural group—is scarcer. Furthermore, we know little about how variability in identification across contexts and situations may be associated with psychological adjustment. This study addresses these issues by (a) comparing the relative ability of general questionnaire–based and situational diary–based cultural identity patterns in statistically predicting psychological adjustment among Maghrebi migrants to Canada, and (b) introducing and testing cultural identity entropy, a novel approach to characterizing variability in a person's multiple cultural identities during daily interactions. Drawing on concepts in thermodynamics and information theory, cultural identity entropy indexes greater balance in one's multiple identifications during an interaction and reflects greater flexibility in cultural ways in that moment. Participants were 93 Maghrebi migrants to Canada who completed baseline questionnaires and daily diaries on situational identification during interactions for 7 days. Results show that situational diary–based cultural identity patterns accounted for substantial variance in psychological adjustment, above and beyond general questionnaire–based patterns, and that greater entropy in heritage cultural contexts was associated with greater psychological adjustment. These results underscore the importance of going beyond general characterizations of multicultural identity by investigating the shifting and contextual ways in which migrants mobilize and negotiate their cultural identities in daily life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder face challenges related to early maladaptive schemas, unhealthy lifestyles, and decreased mental well-being. This study aimed to investigate the effects of coping skills training on early maladaptive schemas, health-promoting lifestyle behaviors, and mental well-being in individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder. The research design was quasi- experimental, consisting of a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up stages with a control group. The statistical population included individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder visiting counseling centers and psychiatric clinics in Sanandaj in 2023. Thirty participants were purposefully selected and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups,15 people each. Initially, a pre-test was conducted using questionnaires assessing early maladaptive schemas, health-promoting lifestyle, and mental well-being. The experimental group underwent 12 sessions of 90 minutes each (twice a week) of coping skills training. Post-tests, after intervention, and a follow-up were conducted one month later on both groups. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. Results indicated that coping skills training significantly reduced early maladaptive schemas and increased health-promoting lifestyle behaviors and mental well-being. It is recommended to apply these findings in counseling and psychotherapy centers for individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]