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The Future Is Now: Empowering Society Through Ai Literacy, Jason S. Wrench, Sanae Elmoudden

Milne Open Textbooks

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept—it is the reality of the present. From the algorithms shaping our social media feeds to the generative tools transforming our workplaces, AI has permeated every aspect of modern life. The Future is Now moves beyond the hype to provide a comprehensive roadmap for understanding, navigating, and shaping this technological revolution.

Demystifying the Machine

This textbook serves as a user-friendly guide to the “black box” of AI. It breaks down complex technical concepts—from machine learning and neural networks to large language models—making them accessible to students across all disciplines. By establishing a …

Interpersonal Communication: A Mindful Approach To Relationships 2nd Edition, Jason S. Wrench, Narissra M. Punyanunt-Carter, Katherine S, Thweatt

Milne Open Textbooks

Interpersonal communication is the way we connect with others. Whether engaging with a spouse, a coworker, a close friend, or a stranger, our daily lives are defined by the messages we send and receive. Interpersonal Communication guides students through the complex landscape of human interaction, helping them navigate relationships in the twenty-first century.

A Mindful Perspective

What distinguishes this textbook is its integration of mindfulness into the study of communication. Moving beyond simple skills training, the text encourages students to engage in mindful awareness and mindful practice. By learning to be fully present, open, and non-judgmental, students develop the …

Expression, Purification And Characterization Of Full Length Tdp-43, Danya Abouzaid

Honors Theses

TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is a 43 kDa RNA-binding protein linked to several neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and Alzheimer’s disease. 5-7,28,30,33 Studying full-length TDP-43 has been difficult because of its intrinsic instability and tendency to aggregate.19,25,28,33,36 In this study, we focused on overcoming the difficulties to express full-length TDP-43 in E. coli recombinantly. We focused on expressing full-length TDP-43 as a fusion construct with a maltose-binding protein (MBP) to improve solubility and stability. Our strategy was to purify TDP-43-MBP fusion and make biomolecular condensates with RNA before cleaving the tag with thrombin protease. …

Investigating The Cardiovascular And Autonomic Responses To Energy Drink Consumption: The Role Of Energy And Calorie Content, Sophia Schmidt

Honors Theses

Energy drinks (EDs) are among the most consumed functional beverages, often marketed to enhance focus, alertness, and physical performance. Despite their popularity, the combined cardiovascular and autonomic effects of caffeine and sugar during exercise remain poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the acute cardiovascular, metabolic, and autonomic responses to sugar-sweetened (ED-S), non-nutritive sweetened (ED-NNS), and placebo beverages during submaximal cycling in healthy young males.

Nine male participants (age 22.2 ± 2.4 yrs; BMI 26.2 ± 2.9 kg/m²) completed three experimental visits in a randomized, repeated-measures design. Each visit involved ingestion of one drink (ED-S, ED-NNS, or …

Issue 16: Pulmonary & Critical Care Insider, Bharat Bajantri Md, Sarah Ellsworth Mls

Critical Care & Pulmonary

Pulmonary & Critical Care Insider Issue 16

Compiled by Bharat Bajantri, MD, and librarian Sarah Ellsworth, MLS for the clinicians of the Pulmonary and Critical Care team of Parkview.

The Pulmonary & Critical Care Insider newsletter was created by Dr. Bharat Bajantri, MD and Sarah Ellsworth, MLS in 2023 as a form of current awareness for current practice at our hospital, Parkview Health.

Topics:

EVERDAC Trial: Do All Shock Patients Need Arterial Lines?

Beyond MAP: Redefining Perfusion Pressure in Septic Shock

ECG Findings You Cannot Miss in Acute Pulmonary Embolism

Food for Thought: When Private Equity Buys Hospitals, Who Pays …

De Novo Genome Assembly, Annotation, And Characterization Of Chemosensory Genes In The Camel Ked (Hippobosca Camelina), Fredrick Kebaso, Souleymane Diallo, Caleb Kibet, Suhaila Hashim, John Mark O. Makwatta, Merid Getahun, Dennis Getange, Jean Baka Domelevo Entfellner, Daniel Masiga

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background: Hippobosca camelina (camel ked) is an obligate hematophagous ectoparasite that infests camels. Hematophagy inflicts painful bites leading to myiasis, anemia and pathogen transmission such as Candidatus Anaplasma camelii. A genome assembly for this biting flies is currently unavailable, limiting understanding of its genetics, including the chemosensory system.

Results: The assembly size for Hippobosca camelina female is 135.6 Mb with 17.08% repeated regions, an N50 of 1.2 Mb, a total of 2,182 contigs, a GC content of 33.5% and compleasm (Busco) completeness of 95.38% with the diptera_odb10 lineage (S:95.83%, 3148, D:0.30%, 10, F:0.30%, 10, I:0.00%, 0, M:3.56%, 117, N:3285) …

Techno-Functional Properties Of Protein-Rich Flours From Different Species Of Edible Insects As Affected By Drying Methods, K. B.Yisa Njowe, K. G. Duodu, M. N. Emmambux

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Food-based ingredients from insects can circumvent the challenging disgust factor of consuming edible insects as food. The functional properties of dried edible insect flour could guide the use of edible insects as food ingredients in familiar foods. This study investigated the effect of freeze drying, oven drying, sun drying, solar cabinet drying, boiled before either sun drying or solar cabinet drying techniques on the functional properties of protein-rich flours from edible grasshoppers, crickets, and caterpillars. The Nitrogen solubility indices (NSI), water solubility indices (WSI) and β-sheets for all boiled solar-dried grasshopper, cricket, and caterpillar protein concentrates decreased compared to the …

The Dissemination Potential Of Microsporidia Mb In Anopheles Arabiensis Mosquitoes Is Modulated By Temperature, Fidel Gabriel Otieno, Priscille Barreaux, Affognon Steeven Belvinos, Edward Edmond Makhulu, Thomas Ogao Onchuru, Anne Wambui Wairimu, Stancy Mandere Omboye, Cynthia Nyambura King’Ori, Bonoukpoè Mawuko Sokame, Anthony Kebira Nyamache, Jeremy Keith Herren

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Microsporidia MB, a vertically transmitted endosymbiont of Anopheles mosquitoes, shows strong potential as a malaria control agent due to its ability to inhibit Plasmodium development within the mosquito host. To support its deployment in malaria transmission reduction strategies, it is critical to understand how environmental factors, particularly temperature, influence its infection dynamics. In this study, we investigated the impact of four temperature regimes (22 °C, 27 °C, 32 °C, and 37 °C) on Microsporidia MB prevalence and infection intensity by rearing mosquito larvae under controlled laboratory conditions. Our results demonstrate that elevated temperatures, especially 32 °C, significantly enhance both larval …

Spectrum Of Headache Disorders In Pakistan: A Multicenter Study, Amina Javed, Shafaq Saleem, Safia Awan, Saba Zaidi, Manzoor Lakhair, Fahad Saleem, Waleed Shahzad, Ahmed Wali

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

Background and Objective:

Headache disorders represent some of the most prevalent neurological conditions worldwide. While community-based

studies provide general prevalence, data on their diagnostic spectrum in specialized clinical settings in Pakistan remain

limited. The objective of this multicenter study was to evaluate the demographic distribution and spectrum of headache

disorders among patients presenting to neurological services across Pakistan.

Methods:

This cross-sectional observational study was carried out at 39 neurology centers across Pakistan, from August 2017

to December 2019. Diagnosis was made using International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition

(ICHD-3). Demographic details, and headache subtypes were compared across gender and …

A Retrospective Analysis Of Relapse Rates And Medication Compliance In Bipolar I And Bipolar Ii Disorders: A Comparative Study, Nasir Mehmood, Qudsia Tariq

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

Background and objective:

Bipolar disorder is a chronic, serious mental health condition characterized by mood episodes, and medication non-compliance is a significant predictor of relapse. The objective of this study was to investigate the relapse rates and medication compliance in patients with bipolar I and II disorders.

Methods:

This retrospective observational study was conducted at Karwan-e-Hayat Institute for Mental Health Care, Karachi, Pakistan. Medical records of 377 patients diagnosed with bipolar I or bipolar II disorder between July 2019 and June 2022 were retrieved from the Hospital Management System (HMS). Diagnosis was confirmed using DSM-IV criteria. Medication compliance was assessed …

Validated And Culturally Specific Screening Tools And Early Response Programs For The Detection And Prevention Of Eating Disorders Among First Nations Peoples In Australia: A Scoping Review, Mark John Castro, Zyana Gall, Alana Gall, Hilary Smith, Kanita Kunaratnam

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Eating disorders (EDs) are complex mental health conditions that can have severe health consequences, exacerbating the overall disease burden and causing significant economic impacts on healthcare systems. Globally, cultural and societal factors influence the presentation and management of these disorders, necessitating culturally specific approaches to screening and prevention. Among First Nations peoples in Australia, the intersection of historical, cultural, and social factors offers both context and strength in addressing EDs, while also presenting distinct challenges in identification and prevention. Objective: This scoping review seeks to map and evaluate existing research on culturally specific and validated screening tools and early …

Research Nexus : Volume 32 - 2025, Office Of Research And Graduate Studies

Office of Research and Graduate Studies

• Researcher Spotlight
• Research Milestones & News
• AKU’s Navroz Ali Receives Prestigious SRAI Honour
• Research Magazine Highlights
• Capacity Building Initiatives
• Navigating Predatory Journals
• New Funding Opportunities

Exercise Medicine As Adjunct Therapy During Radiation For Cancer Of The Prostate To Improve Treatment Efficacy – Protocol For The Eradicate Study: A Phase Ii Randomised Controlled Trial, Oliver Schumacher, Robert U. Newton, Colin Tang, Raphael Chee, Sjoerd B. Vos, Ronny S. Low, David Joseph, Dennis R. Taaffe, Daniel A. Galvão

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Tumour hypoxia resulting from inadequate perfusion is common in many solid tumours, including prostate cancer, and constitutes a major limiting factor in radiation therapy that contributes to treatment resistance. Emerging research in preclinical animal models indicates that exercise has the potential to enhance the efficacy of cancer treatment by modulating tumour perfusion and reducing hypoxia; however, evidence from randomised controlled trials is currently lacking. The ‘Exercise medicine as adjunct therapy during RADIation for CAncer of the prostaTE’ (ERADICATE) study is designed to investigate the impact of exercise on treatment response, tumour physiology, and adverse effects of treatment in prostate …

Industry Return Predictability Using Health Policy Uncertainty, Thach Pham, Deepa Bannigidadmath, Robert Powell

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper examines how a change in health policy uncertainty affects US industry returns using monthly data from January 1985 to September 2020. We employ in-sample and out-of-sample analyses, and we find evidence that 25 out of 49 considered industries are predictable during the health crisis periods, including severe acute respiratory syndrome and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The out-of-sample tests corroborate the evidence for the in-sample predictability. Furthermore, using a mean–variance utility function-based trading strategy, we observe that investors can use this simple tool for their trading strategies and make profits from 2.99 to 11.44% per annum. Our findings are …

Cutting Through The Fog: Recognising Brain Fog As A Significant Public Health Concern, Darren Haywood, Susan L. Rossell, Nicolas H. Hart

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Brain fog is a highly common condition that can have significant impacts on quality of life and functioning. Most people will experience a condition, illness, or infection that might result in the development of brain fog. We provide a call to action to minimise the impacts of brain fog.

Improving Intimate Partner Violence Screening In Telehealth Mental Health Settings, Marina Oliynyk

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive yet frequently underrecognized public health concern, particularly within telehealth psychiatric care, where nonverbal cues may be absent. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to improve the identification and response to IPV by implementing a standardized, evidence-based screening protocol in a private telepsychiatry practice. Guided by the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework, the validated E-HITS screening tool was introduced, along with structured trauma-informed care training, to six psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs). Six PMHNPs completed pre/post-confidence surveys (5-point Likert) and tracked screening activity across 100 telehealth encounters (98 of 100 visit were eligible). Over a three-month …

Ai Procurement As Regulatory Reconnaissance, Sam Adler

Fordham Law Review

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a black box technology in a black box industry. Some view AI as a life-changing technology capable of advancing society and perhaps even saving the world, while others fear its capacity to harm. Like Dr. Frankenstein, developers fear the unpredictability of their own creations; deployers fear the unknown risks of third-party AI tools that market pressures drive them to assume; members of civil society fear AI’s capacity to oppress the already oppressed and degrade trust in institutions; and everyday users fear the undisclosed potential of AI to cause harm by means they cannot readily comprehend. These …

Federal Courts, Class Actions, And The Jurisdictional Void, Courtney T. Welch

Fordham Law Review

To invoke the jurisdiction of a federal court, a plaintiff must satisfy the requirements of Article III. Among other things, Article III requires a plaintiff to have and maintain personal stake throughout the lifespan of the litigation. Though a simple premise, this constitutional requirement has a complicated history. This is especially true as applied to class action lawsuits, where plaintiffs bring claims both on behalf of themselves and other harmed individuals.

The U.S. Supreme Court has applied flexible rules to some—but not all—of Article III’s requirements in class actions. The breadth of this flexibility, though, is uncertain. Accordingly, so too …

Threshold Sites Of Encounter: Dialogic (Place) Making To Enable Cross-Cultural Community Development—Lessons From Tuti Island, Khartoum, Sudan, Ioana Popovici, Robert Brown

School of Art, Design and Architecture

This text explores a possibility for extending our thinking on enacting dialogical placemaking and its potential to contribute to cross-cultural exchange through co-joining making and place as threshold sites of encounter. Advancing our knowledge and practice of dialogical placemaking and cross-cultural interaction is significant owing to the increasing presence of cultural differences, and with it economic, environmental, and social disparities, in an ever-increasingly globalized world. To advance this intention, this text will, through qualitative research, critically reflect upon the experience of a postgraduate Design Studio project based around the regeneration of an urban community situated in Khartoum, Sudan. Preliminary conclusions …

Development And Optimization Of Moxifloxacin Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Via Double Emulsion Organic Solvent Free Technique Applying Box–Behnken Experimental Design, Esraa M. Elshazly, Mona G. Arafa, Samia A. Nour

Pharmacy

The current research proposes the preparation of Moxifloxacin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles through a solvent-free double emulsion technique, to overcome chronic wound healing limitation. The independent variables: stearic acid, Span 80, and Tween 80 were optimized via Box–Behnken design, based on entrapment efficiency (EE%), zeta potential (ZP), and particle size (PS). To statistically optimize the formulation variables, a three-factor, three-level (3³) design involving 15 runs was employed and optimization was carried out to attain maximum EE% and ZP and minimum PS yielding an overall desirability of 0.851. Results indicated that increasing stearic acid enhanced EE%, Span 80 increase PS, and Tween …

Data-Driven Evaluation Of Sustainable Waste-To-Energy Pathways For Intelligent Urban Systems, Izech Brian O. Edwin, King Harold A. Recto

Electronics, Computer, and Communications Engineering Faculty Publications

The handling of municipal solid waste (MSW) in swiftly urbanizing Philippine cities poses intricate energy and governance challenges. In Baguio City, reliance on landfills has reached critical levels due to diminishing capacity, rising transport costs, and opposition to trash transfers by nearby LGUs. Although shaped by unique topographical and governance constraints, Baguio’s situation reflects issues faced by other rapidly growing Philippine cities; therefore, analyzing it offers insights for national MSW decision-making. This study applies a triple bottom line (TBL) framework to assess three management scenarios: (1) Status Quo, where all MSW is landfilled with no energy recovery; (2) Landfill with …

Should The Army Be Involved In Divorce? Re-Examining The Pre-Divorce Defaults For Spousal Support, Artem M. Joukov, Thomas Godfrey

MC Law Review

Army Regulation 608-99 assigns a large portion of a Soldier’s paycheck to the spouse upon marital separation. The assignment occurs without a hearing, discovery, or consideration of critical evidence which might moderate the amount of support. The obligation rests on the Soldier to obtain a court order or spousal agreement to reduce the financial burden. The adversarial nature of modern divorces renders these requirements unrealistic. Amending the regulation would ease the burden of the Soldier, which is desirable in light of the ongoing recruitment crisis and the need to attract recruits and retain those already in the service.

A Qualitative Examination Of Peer Navigation For Smoking Cessation In People With Hiv, Garrett S. Stang, Bianca Camacho, Megan Pinkston, Karen Tashima, Christopher W. Kahler, Patricia A. Cioe

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

Introduction: People with HIV (PWH) are disproportionately affected by cigarette use, with a 40-60% prevalence rate. They achieve relatively low cessation rates following traditional interventions and often confront compounded challenges related to social factors. HIV care services have integrated Peer Navigators (PNs) into clinical care for many years, but not in the context of smoking cessation. The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences of PWH on a novel smoking cessation intervention that integrated PNs as part of a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Methods: This qualitative examination was conducted among PWH who smoke cigarettes and who participated in …

Faculty List

MC Law Review

No abstract provided.

Developing American Indian/Alaska Native Children As Leaders In The Climate Movement, Joseph Burns, Alessandra Angelino, Danielle Heims-Waldron, Allison Empey, Jason Deen

Journal of Youth Development

American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) voices are critical in the climate movement, as numerous social drivers have rendered these communities particularly vulnerable to the consequences of environmental change. In recent years, specific events, including the Dakota Access Pipeline, have galvanized AI/AN youth, who have been increasingly involved as leaders in the climate movement both in the United States and internationally. This yields a significant opportunity to promote leadership development for Indigenous youth, both through local, national, and international organizing and through curricular development to spark interests in environmental science. This review aims to discuss the role of AI/AN youth leadership in …

Presenting The Inner Triangle Outer Diamond (Itod) Framework Of Educational Ecosystems And Its Applications To The Integration Of Educational Technologies And Innovations., Joshua Owolabi

PCOM Scholarly Works

Educators are leveraging technologies and innovations, including artificial intelligence (AI), to support learners and deliver quality medical education. Many of these initiatives have reportedly yielded positive impacts. There have also been publications and reports highlighting the success of educational technologies (EdTech) and innovations, as well as their potential to not only enhance the outcomes of educational programs but also define the future of medical education and practice. Proponents of EdTech and innovations argue that the significant introduction of EdTech and innovations into programs can enhance learners' experiences, improve programme outcomes, and prepare learners for a future of work and practice …

Identification And Characterization Of Host-Modulating Effectors Encoded By The Cluster F1 Mycobacteriophage Normanbulbiejr, Bethany M. Wise, Kaylia Edwards, Cole R. Jirsa, Sabrina Abbruzzese, Amina Adebiyi, Sarika Bapat, Tyler Barnhardt, Naomi Bastiampillai, Ella Begovic, Mary G. Berchick, Gilda Bocco, John Bonoris, Elizabeth Boos, Margaret Cassady, Julia Chehab, Gene Cooper, Hunter Coyle, Joseph Davis, Natalia De La Cruz Vargas, Matthew Delach, Carly Dowiak, David Ferraro, Madison Fuller, Bootsie Glasser, Kyle Gordon, Hannah Hoch, Sarah Holleman, Luke Hood, Brett Hurrell, Nicholas Jacobs, Danny Jiang, Steven Kefalos, Salma Maher, Jocelyn Martin, Rohebot Mengesha, Daniel Merenich, Ashwin Nayak, Dasha Nesterova, Joshua Nguyen, Chukwudumebi Okonkwo, Taylor Pompan, Lauren Redwood, Christina Scanlon, Lily Schneider, Aparna Shenai, Colton Siatkowski, Lisa Strausner, Joseph Vizzarri, Jordan Watson, Angela Wilson, Catherine Wynne, Anthony Zygmunt, Michelle Kanther, Kimberly M. Payne, Richard S. Pollenz, C N. Sunnen, Danielle M. Heller

PCOM Scholarly Works

NormanBulbieJr (NBJ) is a temperate siphovirus isolated on the host Mycobacterium smegmatis mc²155 that encodes 102 gene products, 60 of which have no known function (NKF). Based on gene content, NBJ is classified as a Cluster F, Subcluster F1 phage and shares 70% of its encoded gene phamilies with Girr, another F1 mycobacteriophage that was recently analyzed in a genome-wide overexpression screen and found to encode 29 diverse gene products capable of inhibiting growth of M. smegmatis. Similar functional screens in other mycobacteriophages have uncovered a growing repertoire of diverse, phage-encoded bacterial growth inhibitors, providing prime candidates …

Brief Of Edward A. And Doris Zelinsky In The Appellate Division, Third Department, New York Supreme Court, Edward A. Zelinsky, Doris Zelinsky

Amicus Briefs

To combat COVID, New York in 2020 forbade an out-of-state employee like the petitioner to commute into his New York office, forcing him to instead work at his home in Connecticut. New York now takes the remarkable position that it can tax the income Governor Cuomo forced this out-of-state employee to earn at his home exclusively outside New York. That position is as wrong as it sounds.

Both as a matter of New York law and of federal constitutional law under the Due Process and dormant Commerce Clauses, New York may not tax the income the petitioner earned exclusively at …

Esteban Salinas: Reworking Mono-Epistemological Thought In The Borderlands Through Local Leadership And Legacy, Jose M. Escobedo, Juan Salinas Jr., Griselda Salinas

Organization and School Leadership Faculty Publications

This article examines an ethnographic case study of Esteban Salinas, a local teacher beloved by communities across the mid-Rio Grande Valley. By reconstructing his story and critically examining his legacy, we can achieve a better understanding of the monocultural narratives imposed on the borderlands in his time and seek to challenge them through the examples and legacies of individuals like Esteban Salinas. We also seek to further add contextualization over the Western colonial institutions implemented in the 20th century in the borderlands through which we are still confined, and which require reevaluation and rework and how aspects of his legacy …

Income Inequality And Self-Reported Health: A Difference-In-Differences Study, Kola Adegoke

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Health disparities in the United States (US) are closely linked to income inequality. While many studies have reported associations between income and health, causal evidence remains limited.

Objective: To estimate the causal effect of income-equalizing state policies, such as minimum wage increases, Medicaid expansion, and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) adjustments, on adult self-rated health using a difference-in-differences (DiD) framework.

Methods: Using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data from 2018 to 2023, a 2-way fixed-effects DiD model was employed to compare changes in the proportion of adults reporting fair or …