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Indigenous Science Network Bulletin - May 2026

Indigenous Science Network

The editorial for this issue of the Indigenous Science Network Bulletin titled: Bridging Indigenous Knowledge, Education and Community: A Living Journey of  Learning and Transformation, is written by Dr Alvin Riffel, a lecturer and researcher in the Faculty of Education at the University of the Western Cape. The Bulletin includes sections on news and views; resources; decolonising science; papers; Indigenous astronomy; and conferences / seminars.

2026-05-20 The Block Pop-Up Harbors Mobile Coffee Culture, Hadia Noor Ahmed

The Spectator Online

No abstract provided.

2026-05-20 Is Hantavirus Worth Freaking Out Over?, Maya Deguzman

The Spectator Online

No abstract provided.

Hmong Individuals Practicing Animism And Their Engagement With The Mental Health System, Bao Lee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Reassessing Skeletal Stress Indicators: Implications For Changing Population Health In The Freedman’S Cemetery, Dallas, Tx, Samantha M. Mccrane, Megan Fry, Siobhan A.E. Summers

Human Biology Open Access Pre-Prints

Inferring biological stress from stature and skeletal pathological conditions is common practice in bioarchaeology. Interpretations of these data can greatly enrich knowledge about past peoples’ lifestyles, cultural practices, and socio-political constraints and shifts. However, interpretations are not always clear, are often drawn from a single skeletal indicator of stress and not always subjected to statistical testing. In this study, we reanalyze archaeological data from 742 individuals buried at Freedman’s Cemetery in Dallas, Texas. We focus on four commonly used skeletal measures of ‘stress,’ broadly defined (stature, linear enamel hypoplasia, porotic cranial lesions [e.g., cribra orbitalia & porotic hyperostosis], and bone …

Early Chemical Markers Of Spoilage In Thermally Processed Tomato Paste: A Rapid Approach For Shelf-Stable Foods, Hussein Ali Shaghati, Rawia Mahmood Yousif

Al-Nisour Journal for Medical Sciences

This study aims to reduce the incubation period (commercial sterility test) of tomato paste cans before the bacteriological inspection in quality control laboratories. 62 cans of tomato paste were incubated under temperatures (mesophilic 25,37°C and thermophilic 55°C) to accelerate potential spoilage. Chemical indicators(pH, titratable acidity, and lactic acid) and microbial indicators (Total plate count and yeast/molds) were monitored daily to identify the earliest reliable spoilage signals. Incubation at elevated temperatures accelerated acid buildup. D+L lactic acid levels measured using a rapid enzyme assay increased with titratable acidity, while pH decreased. Meanwhile, total platelet counts remained at very low levels, while …

Elucidating The Potential Impact Of Solute Carrier Family2 (Glut4) In Newly Diagnosed Dm-2 Patients, Marwa Ghanim Hashim, Zahra'a Abdul Al-Aziz Yousif, Farah A. Al-Waeely, Raya Khalel Ibrahem

Al-Nisour Journal for Medical Sciences

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a progressive metabolic condition marked by hyperglycemia due to irregularities in insulin production or activity, leading to poor carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism. Dysfunctional glucose transporter-4 (GLUT4) activity, characterized by insufficient expression or poor redistribution to the cell membrane, is a critical element in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This defect limits cellular glucose uptake, leading to energy deficits and elevated blood glucose levels. Objective: What is the clinical diagnostic potential of serum GLUT4 levels in newly identified type 2 diabetic people, and how do these levels correspond with established metabolic parameters? Materials …

Environmental Impact Of Benzo[A]Anthracene Exposure On Liver Biomarkers And Covid-19 Severity: Evaluation Of Combined Clinical And Molecular Modeling, Osamah Alkilidar, Hayder G. Jawad, Hasan K. Nimr

Al-Nisour Journal for Medical Sciences

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between exposure to environmental pollutants, particularly benzo[a]anthracins (BaA), and the severity of the inflammatory response and liver dysfunction in COVID-19 patients, using a combination of statistical analysis and molecular modeling. Molecular docking studies revealed stable and robust interactions between benzo[a]anthracins and cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes, suggesting that these interactions may contribute to increased oxidative stress and hepatocyte damage. The statistical analysis included 70 COVID-19 patients, stratified by benzo[a] anthracene exposure. The results showed statistically significant associations between exposure to this pollutant and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, as well as a significant increase …

Evaluation Of Complement Deficiency In Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients And Its Effect On Clinical Manifestations And Immunological Markers, Zahra'a Abdul Al-Aziz Yousif

Al-Nisour Journal for Medical Sciences

Background and Aim:\ Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is an autoimmune chronic disease resulting in multi organ damage and impairment of immune response. Complements such as C3 and C4 are considered important in disease progression and often used for disease activity measurements. The purpose of this research is to assess the frequency of complements deficiencies in SLE patients, and identify associations with symptoms and disease severity. Material and Methods:\ This single-center, cross sectional study involved 50 SLE patients classified in to four groups according to their serum C3 and C4 values. Symptoms, signs of disease severity, immunologic indicators [Erythrocyte Sedimentation …

Methyldopa: Chemistry, Structural Modifications, Pharmacological Activities, And Clinical Applications — A Comprehensive Review, Rania Kadhim, Emad Yousif, Suhad Ibrahim, Nany Hairunisa

Al-Nisour Journal for Medical Sciences

Methyldopa (α -methyldopa) is a centrally acting antihypertensive drug that has been extensively prescribed for the management of hypertension, particularly in pregnant women, due to its established safety profile and non-teratogenic nature. Beyond its clinical use, methyldopa has attracted increasing scientific interest because of its unique chemical structure, which contains multiple oxygen- and nitrogen-donor functional groups capable of undergoing structural modification and metal coordination. This comprehensive review highlights the chemical structure of methyldopa, its synthesis pathways, spectroscopic characteristics—particularly FTIR analysis—and its pharmacological mechanisms of action as an α ₂-adrenergic receptor agonist. Special attention is given to methyldopa-induced adverse effects, …

Advantages Of Treatment Pollution By Nanomaterial: Review, Riyam Lateef Khalaf, Ola Abdulkareem Nori

Al-Nisour Journal for Medical Sciences

Pollution remains one of the most pressing global environmental challenges and is increasing day by day, with serious implications for public health and the environment. Among the various approaches to address this issue, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising solution due to its unique properties, such as high surface area, reactivity, and catalytic efficiency. There are four types of pollution that can be treated by nanotechnology, air pollution, soil pollution, water pollution and light pollution. This review studies recent research on the use of nanoparticles for pollution treatment, focusing on the mechanisms through which they degrade pollutants, the diverse applications …

Allopurinol Beyond Hyperuricemia: A Multifaceted Therapeutic Agent With Expanding Clinical, Safa Khaldoon, Emad Yousif, Khawla A. Kasar, Hazim F. Abbas

Al-Nisour Journal for Medical Sciences

Allopurinol is a well-established xanthine oxidase inhibitor widely used in the management of hyperuricemia, gout, tumor lysis syndrome, and uric acid nephrolithiasis. This review provides a comprehensive overview of its pharmacology, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, safety profile, and emerging insights from recent clinical and translational studies. Despite being in clinical use for over five decades, allopurinol remains the first-line urate-lowering therapy worldwide due to its proven efficacy, favorable safety profile, and cost-effectiveness. Beyond its classical role in inhibiting xanthine oxidoreductase, increasing evidence highlights additional therapeutic effects, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The structural similarity of allopurinol to purine …

The Ramification Of Mutations In Sonic Hedgehog Gene On The Occurrence Of Deformities In The Course Of The Embryonic Development Stage, Umalbaneen Hilal Hadi, Safa J. Al-Yassiri

Al-Nisour Journal for Medical Sciences

Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) is one of the most significant genes regulating embryonic development in mammals, playing a pivotal role in cell differentiation, tissue fate determination, and regulating lateral symmetry of the embryo. The results of this research show that any mutation whether, a loss of function or a change in the regulation of gene expression in SHH gene leads to severe and highly complex consequences for embryonic development.as a result for that, severe disorders of CNS development SHH is a morphogen essential for germline formation and neuronal differentiation. Mutations in this gene result in failure to develop properly the cerebellum, …

Effect Of Different Methods Of Smoking On Serum Level Of Vitamin D Among University Students In Baghdad, Sabiha Aljubory, Usama Salman Altimari

Al-Nisour Journal for Medical Sciences

Vitamin D has different biological actions in the body. Vitamin D has pleiotropic effects in multiple organ systems. Vitamin D deficiency has been found to have an inverse relationship with tobacco smoking. The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence of Vitamin D level and its correlates with tobacco smoking among University student male and female. Volunteer was conducted on a sample of university student, both males and females Iraq, during the period from January to December 2020. A pretested questionnaire was used for data collection adopted from previous standard national surveys and studies, and the questionnaire included …

Making The Case For Career Academies In Shaping Pre-Collegiate Students For Stem Career Pathways, Felix Quayson

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

Career academies are increasingly important in preparing pre-collegiate high school students for STEM pathways by connecting academic learning, technical skill development, career identity, and postsecondary readiness. STEM-focused career academies function as structured bridges between secondary education, higher education, and the labor market. Through small learning communities, interdisciplinary curricula, employer partnerships, work-based learning, and early exposure to college and career expectations, career academies help students understand STEM not only as school subjects but as possible futures. Research suggests that career academies can improve student engagement, support school persistence, and strengthen labor market outcomes when implemented with fidelity. The article concludes that …

Graduates Offered Chance To Teach, Study Through Fulbright Awards, Clara Turnage

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – The Fulbright U.S. Student Program has offered scholarships to seven University of Mississippi graduates to teach, study and conduct research across the globe.

Rna Interference Of Torsina In Acyrthosiphon Pisum, James Balthazor Ph.D., Braden Allphin

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Undergraduate research using dsRNA to knockdown TorsinA in pea aphids sponsored by the K-INBRE NIH Grant.

When Stress Cardiomyopathy Meets Iron Deficiency: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Emmanuel Olumuyide Md, Alfredo Toll Md, Lukan Abdulraheem Md

Scientific Day

Background/Significance:

Iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) commonly complicates cardiovascular disease, but its association with outcomes in stress cardiomyopathy (SC) is not well defined.

Purpose:

We examined whether IDA in SC is associated with higher in-hospital mortality and greater resource utilization.

Methods:

Using the National Inpatient Sample (2016–2022), we identified adult SC hospitalizations and stratified admissions by IDA status. Survey-weighted multivariable logistic regression evaluated the association of IDA with in-hospital mortality (primary outcome).Key secondary outcomes—cardiogenic shock (CS), mechanical circulatory support (MCS), acute kidney injury (AKI), vasopressor use, length of stay (LOS), and total hospital charges (THC)—adjusting for demographics, comorbidities, and hospital characteristics.

Results: …

Arylation Of Nitrogen, Oxygen And Carbon Nucleophiles By Aryl(Tmp)Iodonium Salts, Joseph Jordan Hatton

Dissertations and Theses

Substituted aromatic rings are present in industry in a plethora of organic molecules such as pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, materials and beyond. Therefore, methods for broadly installing aryl rings into other compounds to create substituted aromatic rings are valuable to many organic chemists. Historically these transformations are achieved through methods such as nucleophilic aromatic substitution and metal catalyzed cross-coupling. Nucleophilic aromatic substitution is a user-friendly method in this space but is limited by reliance on specific electronics. Metal catalyzed cross-coupling reduced the dependence on electronics in this space, but metals are generally unattractive reagents due to high costs, toxicity and challenges with …

Effects Of Rnai Of Ribophorin 1, Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 2 Beta And Peptidylprolyl Isomerase A In Acyrthosiphon Pisum, James Balthazor Ph.D., Brandon Kenemer

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Graduate research using dsRNA to knockdown three genes of the unfolded protein response in pea aphids supported by the NIH K-INBRE Program.

Three genes found in the Unfolded protein response, Ribophorin 1, Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 beta, and Peptidylprolyl isomerase A are thought to be potential targets for RNA Interference (RNAi) in Acyrthosiphon pisum.  Ribophorin 1 (RPN1) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that assists in anchoring ribosomes to the rough endoplasmic reticulum membrane.  It acts as a substrate-specific chaperone.  It facilitates N-glycosylation by delivering newly synthesized proteins to the oligosaccharyltransferase (OST) complex.  Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 beta (eIF2B) is …

From Bronchioles To Blasts: A Diagnostic Turn In A High-Risk Infant, Danielle Dejournett Md, Marie-Ellen T. Sarvida Md, Travis J. Matics Do

Scientific Day

Background/Significance:

Acute respiratory distress in infancy is commonly attributed to viral bronchiolitis; however, children with trisomy 21 represent a high-risk population in whom alternative diagnoses must be considered. In these patients, respiratory symptoms may reflect congenital heart disease, pulmonary hypertension, airway anomalies, reactive airway disease, and many more pathologies. In the setting of subtle bleeding manifestations, it is important to include hematologic and oncologic diseases in the initial diagnostic approach.

Description:

An 11-month-old male with trisomy 21, bicuspid aortic valve with aortic root dilation, laryngomalacia, and dysphagia presented to the emergency department for three days of congestion, increased work of …

Characterization Of Mixed Metal Biogenic Manganese Oxide Materials For Catalysis And Rare Earth Element Sequestration, Elisa Morales, Jeremy Brown, Chloe Runge, Madeline York, Genesis Dennis, Cole Johnson, Anthony M. Baudino, Norman Paz-Ramirez, John Rey A. Romal, Kari Stone, Sarah E. Shaner

Chemistry Department Faculty Articles

This study explores the potential of utilizing biogenic manganese oxides (BMOs) produced by Mn-oxidizing Pseudomonas putida MnB1 to facilitate metal cation uptake for rare earth element (REE) sequestration and the synthesis of novel materials. Previous studies have shown that P. putida MnB1 efficiently oxidizes environmental Mn(II) to Mn(IV)-oxides, producing BMOs with unique physicochemical properties. Unlike their abiotic counterparts, BMOs exhibit high surface area, reactivity, and amorphous, poorly crystalline structures, making them promising platforms for adsorbing metal cations. This research study, building on the prior work, demonstrates the incorporation of ten different main group, transition, and rare earth metals into the …

Herpes Zoster Infection As An Adverse Reaction To Treatments For Ulcerative Colitis: A Review Of Reports To The Fda Adverse Events Reporting System (Faers), Nick Adimi Md, Ethan Anderson Do, Bilal Ahmed Do, Eli Ehrenpreis Md, Agaf, Facg

Scientific Day

Background/Significance:

Many new treatment options for ulcerative colitis (UC) have become available in recent years, including dual-mechanism strategies and single-agent approaches. Among available treatments, JAK– STAT inhibitors carry an increased risk of herpes zoster (HZ) with an associated FDA Black Box warning.

Purpose:

This study aims to compare FDA-approved UC therapies and their relative association with HZ using reported data from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System database (FAERS).

Methods:

The FAERS database consists of voluntarily reported post-marketing adverse drug reactions (ADRs). 32,229,802 total reports from Jan 1968 to September 2025 were evaluated. Reports of ADRs of all FDA approved …

Exceptional Response Of Radiotherapy-Naïve Cranial Meningiomas To Dual Immune Checkpoint Blockade In Bap1 Tumor Predisposition Syndrome, Gary Gallia, Christine Hann, Calixto-Hope Lucas, Licia Pacheco Luna, David Kamson, Takami Sato

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

Meningiomas are the most common primary central nervous system tumors, and while most are benign, atypical and anaplastic variants frequently recur and have limited effective treatment options. Recent trials of PD-1 blockade in unselected meningioma cohorts have demonstrated modest activity, with low objective response rates. These findings highlight the need to identify molecular biomarkers that may predict immunotherapy sensitivity in this disease. BRCA1-associated protein 1 (BAP1) is a tumor suppressor critical for chromatin regulation and DNA repair, and germline pathogenic variants cause BAP1 tumor predisposition syndrome (BAP1-TPDS), a hereditary cancer syndrome characterized by uveal melanoma, mesothelioma, renal cell carcinoma, meningioma, …

Mtdna Analysis Of The Genetic Origin Of Jordanian Indigenous Chickens In Comparison With Ancient, Commercial, And Fancy Breeds, Raed Mahmoud Al-Atiyat

Baghdad Science Journal

Jordan indigenous chickens (JIC) are threatened with extinction since they are crossed with exotic chickens to enhance their low levels of production. The study objective was to investigate the origin, biodiversity, and phylogeographic structure of JIC using mtDNA sequencing in reference to exotic chickens. We sampled 483 males and females by taking a blood spot on an FTA card. We also sampled ancient, commercial, and fancy chickens from Jordan as references. The sampling regions were the main cities and rural areas of the Middle, North and South governorates of Jordan. The extracted DNA from blood samples was sequenced for the …

Distributional Dynamics And Patterns Of Co-Existence In Dung Beetles (Tribe: Onitini) Across Agricultural Landscapes Of Punjab, Pakistan, Takhmina Nazir, Mubashar Hussain

Baghdad Science Journal

Dung beetles (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) play a crucial role in dung removal and nutrient cycling. We assessed the distributional patterns of diversity of the tribe Onitini across 12 subdivisions in Gujranwala, Gujrat, and Sialkot districts of Punjab, Pakistan. Surveys were conducted twice a month with an inter-visit interval of ∼2 weeks by placing three pitfall traps along each 1000 m transect, each spaced ∼330 m apart. Data were collected from nine traps placed along three transects at each location within the subdivisions. Gujrat district demonstrated the highest species richness, recording all 11 species, followed by Sialkot and Gujranwala. Onitis castaneus was …

"Market Shift Liability" For Generic Drugs: Market Share Theory's Eccentric New Cousin, Lars Noah

Texas A&M Law Review

Market share liability, which permits allocating proportional responsibility to each tortious member of an industry when victims cannot identify the exact source of their injurious exposure, enjoyed its judicial heyday in the 1980s. It originated in the peculiar setting of litigation over a distinctive cancer that developed decades after in utero exposure to the drug diethylstilbestrol (“DES”), which a few hundred companies had produced and sold for the prevention of miscarriages before federal regulators withdrew it from the marketplace. Although judges have occasionally attempted novel extensions of this theory to other products, and academic commentators remain fascinated by its use, …

The Heat Of The Moment: Rethinking The Endangered Species Act Amidst The Sixth Mass Extinction, Sarah Morton

Texas A&M Law Review

The biggest natural disaster facing humans today likely won’t be on the front page of the news. That doesn’t mean its impacts aren’t already being felt. Despite other disasters, like wildfires and hurricanes, dominating headlines, extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related mortality in the United States. Even worse, extreme heat makes other natural disasters more severe and is decimating the Earth’s biological diversity at a rate that could soon become irreversible. The cost of widespread biodiversity loss is incalculable. Depleting ecosystems eradicates crucial services that nature provides for humanity, including clean air and water, food security, and cooling. …

Beyond "Bad Apples": Political Identity, Moral Interpretation, And Institutional Response To Abuse, Laura Werner

Student Theses

This thesis examines how psychological explanatory frameworks and structural institutional response interact to shape how domestic violence and sexual abuse are understood and addressed. Drawing on behavioral design theory and John Dewey's transactional approach to experience, I argue that harm is interpreted through mental models that simultaneously shape both individual perception and institutional action. Using survey data from 736 participants, I demonstrate that endorsement of the "bad apples" explanatory framework, attributing abuse primarily to a small group of deviant individuals, is predicted by psychological essentialism, belief in a just world, social dominance orientation, and political conservatism. These findings suggest that …

Unpacking Barriers And Enablers To Quality Early Childhood Education And Care In Lebanon: A Multi-Level Perspective, Rana Bassaj, Caroline Floccia

School of Psychology

This article investigates the barriers and enablers to quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) in Lebanon’s complex and multilingual context. In this qualitative study, 56 stakeholders—ministry representatives, NGOs, educators, parents, and healthcare professionals—were interviewed. The study reveals a fragmented governance structure and inequitable funding that impact the quality and equitable access to ECEC provision. Despite the value placed on ECEC and OL, systemic weaknesses, including inadequate staff compensation and donor-driven priorities, constrain progress. Findings also highlight grassroots resilience, with committed educators and NGOs adapting to meet local needs. Using Kagan’s system-level framework and Torii et al.’s (2017) quality domains …