Digital Commons Network^™

Du Undergraduate Showcase Abstracts: Research, Scholarship, And Creative Works, Sophia Wismar, Henry Staats, Allison Metzler, Chloe Puckett, Rachel Levine, Christa Kilpatrick, Scott Wolf, Joe Walsh, Grace Doolittle, John Engebreston, Zoe Lopez, Christopher Aaby, Audrey Duff, Timothy Sisk, Katelyn Lamberton, Angela Narayan, Gilkah Argueta, Habiba Samir, Girena Tesfazghi, Genet Kenore, Sinit Tesfamariam, Effley Brooks, Abi Newell, Megan Doherty, Natalie Baer, Lexi Blood, Talya Riciputi, Jessica Jimenez, Devin Hernandez, Lynn Clark, Taj Kumar, Sunil Kumar, Allen Rutman, Mira Pronobis, Tess Carson, Anna Sher, Frankie Stroud, Tamra Pearson D'Estree, Alyssa Wilson, Emily Melnick, Jenalee Doom, Yihang Gao, Gwendolyn Geiger, Noah Gettle, Scott Nichols, Clare Ayoub, Cara Dienno, Sunny Walker, Zoe Hansen, Maya Wheeler, Addison Rice, Patrick Martin, Sanjana Acharya, Daniel Mcintosh, Amanda Mckellips, Calli Cain, Justin Blake, Peter Sokol-Hessner, Natalie Miller, Max Weisbuch, Sophia Dellota, John Macikas, Charlotte Snow, Mark Siemens, Zoe Lynch, Alex Huffman, Prachi Shah, Jason Roney, Halcyon Levi, Nicole Herzog, Andrea Koly, Daniel Linseman, Annie London, Xi Yang, Avery Zwisler, Jane Smith, Chaz Contag, Michael Kerwin, Lucy Rand, Grace Schroeder, Michelle Rozenman, Nissa Tapper, Guiming Zhang, Mateo Mazariego-Halpern, Keith Meyer, Julie Do, Dakota Park-Ozee, Travis Herink, Kara Neu, Jonathan Plomin, Eve-Odine Duchaufour, Debbie Gale Mitchell, Tennyson Anderson-Stricklin, Lily Treitz, Samantha Rosenberger, Sierra Griffith, Finley Joseph, Daniel Sampson, Emmy Davis, Skyler Kasnoff, Evon Lopez, Vivian Nguyen, Cassy Young, Franklin Sellner, Martin Tobon, Ila Graham, Zach Billings, Holden Hedit, Decatur Boland, Paul Kosempel, Cory Chandler, Jay Mahoney, Sam Dragan, Susan Dagget, Yarrow Ator, Heidi Vuletich, Owen Weber, Andrew Kloeppel, Petersen Gray, Mandi Schaeffer-Fry, Razleen Bassra, Bryanna Rodriguez, Christina Blue, Taubie Sanders, Rachel Epstein, Luke Milburn, Camryn Evans, Ezra Martinez, Mary Westwood, Gabri Notov, Robin Tinghitella, Lilou Cabrol, Eli Barbour, Juliet Mendik, Selma Myers, Zac Wise, Noah Fahlin, Michelle Knowles, Abigail Hopper, Michael Greenberger, Romi Laclair, Sarah Watamura, Sabrina Efroymson, Casey Barker, Sydney Seltzer, Bryn Yehle, Jennifer Hoffman, Sara Garcia, Ryuka Nagamine, Trevor Briggs, Remy Le Boeuf, Elena Krone, Eileen Farrell, Regan O'Rourke, Elena Roel, Greg Mortimer, Ali Ayoub, Stefani Langehennig, Caitlin Turk, Logan Scmid, Stefan Chavez-Norgaard, Karen Kim, Tatiana Peccedi, Courtney Cassidy, John Sebesta, Rhianna Lewis, Janice Bening-Lacek, Vivian Lawless, Mckenna Hanson, Jeffrey Amidon, Riya Joshi, Ram Ambre, Brady Worrell, Perrin Schneider, Ali Azadani, Brooke Agulnek, Lyndsie Salvagio, Elise Siemanowki, Yan Qin, Andre Allen, Melodie Nguyen, Megan Livengood, Abby Reams, Saffron Hartreeve, Bri Wylie, Sarah Brookman, Mariah Loiacono, Green Russo, Abhia Lodhi, Gabrielle Welsh, Nika Spehar, Shahked Levin, Evrim Baykal, Kimberly Chiew, Jocelyn Torres, Kailey Hicks, Mykaela Tanino-Springsteen, Audrey Bellows, Akam Chahal, Madeline Tepper, Shannon Murphy, Alexa Fonseca, Deborah Han, Cassandra Perez, Oluwatoyin Alaba, Julia Roncoroni, Vy Nguyen, Nana Burn, Sarah Sasse, Rubin Tuder, Anthony Gerber, Nancy Lorenzon, Christine Vohwinkel, Camryn Gunter, Tristan Weber, Sam Rommel, Brian Michel, Muskan Fatima, Alannah Oleson, Kira Frey, Edward Garrido, Beckett Morris, Kerstin Haring, Drew Middleton, Abigail Walpert, Liam Dee, Gabby Ishaw, Cole Carnes, Maddie Weiser, Claire Fox, Valeriia Vlasenko, Kateri Mcrae, Riley Smith, Abigail Templin, Kushani Rajapaksha

DU Undergraduate Research Journal Archive

Abstracts from the DU Undergraduate Research Showcase.

An Ecological Survey Of Algal Species In The Sawyer River, Al-Muthanna Governorate, Iraq, Rasha.H. R. Al-Miawi, Hiafaa A.J. Al-Barakat, Alaa Jabar Mahmoud

Muthanna Medical Journal

Given the global changes in climate, especially the drought conditions Iraq has recently experienced, along with the severe water shortage, this study sought to develop both quantitative and qualitative methods and strategies for phytoplankton (excluding diatoms) as key indicators to protect ecosystems, boost their resilience, and promote sustainability. sites were chosen for the most prominent cities A number of samples were selected from three sites (Al-Dahara region, Al Jarukhi Bridge, Al-Ghanim area), located on the Al-Sawyer River, which is the most important branch of the Euphrates River in the Al-Muthanna Governorate in southern Iraq in 2024 the species that was …

Patron-Client Relationship Undermines Sustainable Fishery Governance: A Case Of Small-Scale Fishing Certification In Sulawesi, Indonesia, Desiree Simandjuntak

Forest and Society

One of the ways market-based fishery governance attempts to boost sustainable fishing is through economic incentive. Offered as an above-market price to producers, it is commonly practiced in seafood certification to encourage sustainable and equitable production. However, certification is mainly inaccessible to small-scale fishers who are typically tied to pre-existing patron-client relationship, particularly those from developing economies. This study analyzes the extent to which economic incentive can benefit small-scale fishers amidst the intricate power imbalance in producer community. Based on a ten-month ethnography study in Sulawesi, Indonesia, it finds that prevalent patronage impedes participating fishers' income as it is affected …

Environmental Ethics And The (Dis)Continuity Of Meaning In Experience And Nature, Harrison S. Jackson

Dewey Studies

No abstract provided.

Place-Based Education: A Rural Solution For Student Achievement, James A. Chamness

College of Education

Rural secondary students in the United States continue to demonstrate lower academic outcomes on standardized assessments compared to their non-rural peers, highlighting the need for contextually responsive instructional approaches. This concurrent mixed methods study examined the relationship between place-based education (PBE) and academic achievement among rural secondary students and explored rural teachers’ perceptions of PBE. Guided by social cognitive theory, the study investigated differences in ACT composite scores between students exposed to PBE and those receiving traditional instruction, as well as perceived challenges and opportunities associated with PBE implementation. Quantitative data included archived ACT scores, which were analyzed using descriptive …

Lovastatin Potentiates The Function Of Α7-Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors, Dmytro Isaev, Keun-Hang Susan Yang, Murat Oz

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background/Objectives: Statins are currently one of the most commonly used cholesterol-lowering drugs. In recent years, in addition to their well-known effects on the cardiovascular system, statins have been shown to exert beneficial effects in the progression of various neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. Methods: In this study, the effects of lovastatin on the function of α7-nicotinic acetylcholine (nACh) receptors expressed in rat hippocampus and Xenopus oocytes were investigated. Results: In whole-cell patch clamp studies in hippocampal neurons, 21-day chronic (20 mg/kg), but not acute (20 min), lovastatin treatment caused significant potentiation of choline (a selective agonist for α7 nACh receptors)-induced currents …

Integrating Local Ethnobiology Into Sustainable Forest City Development In Indonesia's New Capital City, Tri Atmoko, Mukhlisi Mukhlisi, Bina Swasta Sitepu, Ulfah Karmila Sari, Eko Herwanto, Deny Adi Putra, Tri Rizkiana Yusnikusuma

Forest and Society

The Nusantara new capital city has been a national strategic program based on Indonesian's sustainable forest city concept. In the future, there will be a migration of 1.9 million people from different islands, indigenous, and religions, carrying their own cultures. It will suppress the existence of local cultures. Local culture lives in harmony with nature, but massive development will impact the presence of forests and their culture. This research aims to document various local cultures related to ethnobiology (plants and wildlife) of the indigenous in the Nusantara region and its surroundings (Dayak, Paser, and Kutai). The research was conducted through …

Backscattering By Particles Of Sizes <0.2 Μm In Seawater, Xiaodong Zhang, Yuanheng Xiong

Faculty Publications

We measured the angular scattering functions at 517 nm in different size fractions, including bulk and very small particles (VSP for diameters <0.2 μm), in a variety of waters ranging from coasts to open oceans and from surface to depths as deep as 3,000 m. The measurements revealed a strong covariation in backscattering between VSP and bulk particle populations. The fractional contribution by VSP decreases from 60% in clear oceanic water where bulk particle backscattering coefficient bbp is on the order of 0.001 m⁻¹ to <2% in turbid coastal water where bbp ∼0.1 m⁻¹. An empirical model is developed (r² = 0.89) to estimate bbp for VSP from the bulk bbp, which can now be routinely obtained from satellite observations.

A Testis-Specific Aralkylamine N-Acetyltransferase Regulates Dimorphic Sperm Function And Male Fertility In Moths, Hao Sun, Peng Yi Huang, Zhi Ruo Zhang, Cong Fen Gao, Subba Reddy Palli, Shun Fan Wu

Entomology Faculty Publications

Most Lepidopterans produce two distinct sperm types—nucleated eupyrene (fertile) and anucleate apyrene (non-fertile), yet the genetic mechanisms governing this dimorphism remain poorly understood. Using the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) as a model, we identified a Lepidoptera-conserved, testis-specific arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (LTNAT) indispensable for male fertility. Functional analyses showed that LTNAT is expressed in both sperm types, and its depletion disrupts mitochondrial derivatives (MDs) in eupyrene sperm and drastically impairs apyrene sperm motility. Multi-omics analyses revealed LTNAT mutation perturbs energy metabolism, lipid homeostasis, and transmembrane transport—alterations correlating with abnormal MD structure. Furthermore, LTNAT deficiency likely compromises apyrene sperm motility by downregulating Sex-lethal …

Unlocking The Colleague Next Door, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Learning, Teaching, & Researching Optimization

The structural barriers that isolate faculty from one another—individualistic reward systems, professional identity protection, disciplinary silos, fragmented time—have been documented in detail elsewhere. This paper begins where that analysis ends. Its sole focus is solutions: what actually works, what you can do without waiting for your institution to change, and most importantly, what you can do today. It is organized in three movements: evidence-based institutional strategies, community-level structures any group of faculty can build, and a granular map of the smallest possible individual first steps—the ones that cost almost nothing and have an outsized probability of changing how you experience …

Food Traceability Rule Vs. Produce Safety Rule, Hema Lingireddy, Amanda J. Deering, Tari Gary, Scott Monroe, Katheryn Parraga, Rama Radhakrishna

Purdue Extension Numbered Publications

The federal Food Traceability Rule and Produce Safety Rule address different but complementary aspects of food safety. In this publication, Purdue University researchers support understanding and clarification by explaining the differences and how the rules work together within the Food Safety Modernization Act. This publication pairs with FS-73-W and FS-74-W.

Target Trial Of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Agonists Versus Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors And Mortality In Hemodialysis, Dustin Le, Duncan Kilpatrick, Walter K. Kraft, Morgan E. Grams, Bernard G. Jaar, Jung-Im Shin

Division of Nephrology Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: The comparative effectiveness of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists (GLP-1s) versus dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors (DPP-4s) in hemodialysis is unknown.

METHODS: Using 2011 to 2021 US Renal Data System and Medicare claims data, we emulated a target trial comparing new users of GLP-1s versus DPP-4s with patients who survived ≥ 90 days on in-center hemodialysis before medication initiation. We used inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and Cox proportional hazards models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs).

RESULTS: We identified 3671 GLP-1 and 12,039 DPP-4 users. After IPTW, mean age was 63 years, 52% male, 63% White, and mean body mass …

Icam1high Neutrophils Sculpt Tumor Evolution And Metastasis Through Symbiotic Adhesion And Reverse Migration, Ling Wu, Zhan Xu, Jun Wang, Fengshuo Liu, Yunfeng Ding, Yang Gao, Siyue Wang, Jun Liu, Hilda L Chan, Weiguo Wu, Yi-Hsuan Wu, Liqun Yu, Xiaoxin Hao, Xuan Li, David G Edwards, Cher Sha, Tobie D Lee, Nan Guan, Sergio Aguirre, Luis Becerra-Dominguez, Dane Hoffman, Xiang Chen, Charlotte Helena Rivas, Xiaoyuan G Yan, Igor L Bado, Weijie Zhang, Qian Zhu, Arun Sreekumar, Robert L Satcher, Xiang H-F Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Neutrophils are a prominent component of the tumor microenvironment that can have both pro- and anti-tumor functions. By analyzing neutrophils across different human cancers, we revealed an ICAM1high subset enriched in the tumor microenvironment, which were also observed in murine triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) models. ICAM1high neutrophils exhibited an enhanced capacity for cell-cell adhesion specifically with tumor cells retaining epithelial features, and this adhesion conferred mutual advantages to both cell types. In contrast, cancer cells with mesenchymal-like phenotypes were vulnerable to neutrophil-mediated cytotoxicity due to decreased cell adhesion and elastase resistance. These opposite effects drove tumor evolution toward a …

Development Of A Second-Generation Rarα Selective Antagonist As An Orally Bioavailable, Effective, Safe, And Reversible Male Contraceptive, Rui Shi, Kristen John, Xuan Qin, Ehfazul Haque, Taimeng Liang, Narsihmulu Cheryala, Feng Li, Henry L Wong, Gunda I Georg

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

We report the design and SAR studies of benzopyran-, benzofuran-, and benzothiophene-derived inhibitors of the retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARα) for male contraception. SAR studies identified critical features influencing activity, such as the optimal positioning of antagonism moieties and substituents, leading to the discovery of (S)-4-(5-(2,8-dimethyl-5-(p-tolyl)-2H-chromen-3-yl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)­benzoic acid (compound 23). Compound 23 is a highly potent RARα inhibitor (IC50 = 0.051 nM) with excellent selectivity (>1650-fold over RARβ and >1960-fold over RARγ) and ADMET properties. Compound 23 is orally bioavailable and reduces sperm counts in mice for a full male contraceptive effect …

Panda-Plus-Bench: A Clinical Benchmark For Evaluating The Robustness Of Ai Foundation Models In Prostate Cancer Diagnosis, Joshua L. Ebbert, Dennis Della Corte

Faculty Publications

Artificial intelligence foundation models are increasingly deployed for prostate cancer Gleason grading, where GP3/GP4 distinction directly impacts treatment decisions (active surveillance vs. intervention). However, these models may achieve high validation accuracy by learning specimen-specific artifacts rather than generalizable biological features, limiting real-world clinical utility. We introduce PANDA-PLUS-Bench, a curated benchmark dataset derived from expertly annotated prostate biopsies designed specifically to quantify this failure mode. The benchmark comprises nine carefully selected whole slide images from nine unique patients containing diverse Gleason patterns, with non-overlapping tissue patches extracted at both 512 × 512 and 224 × 224-pixel resolutions across eight augmentation conditions. …

“It's Because Of Me – I Made Myself Get Here”: First-Generation College Students In Stem Motivations For, And Experiences With, Academic Advising, Desiree Forsythe, Amy C. Moors, Quaylan Allen, Jeremy L. Hsu

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Academic advising plays a major role in shaping undergraduate life sciences students’ experiences through college. However, despite the critical nature of advising, there have been relatively few studies examining students’ experiences with advising and how these experiences may influence their academic journeys. Here, we investigate first-generation college students’ experiences with academic advising in biology and throughout STEM. Through the lens of community cultural wealth, we found several themes such as balancing independence and pressures to succeed, identity as a source for empowerment and motivation, wanting reassurance and support from advisors, as well as negative outcomes during interactions with advisors. We …

Plant-Derived Bioactives, The Gut-Brain Axis, And Neurodegenerative Diseases: Mechanistic Roles Of Diet-Microbiota Interactions, Ashley Reynolds, Ethan Glenn, Brigitte Lavoie, Suzanne L. Ishaq, Yanyan Li

Pharmacy Faculty Scholarship

Diet is increasingly recognized as a potential upstream modulator of the gut-brain axis (GBA) through its effects on the microbiome, microbial metabolites, and host immune and endocrine responses. The GBA is a complex, bidirectional network connecting the gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system, with diet influencing microbial community structure and metabolic output. Plant-based diets, such as Mediterranean and MIND, have been associated with increased production of anti-inflammatory microbial metabolites and improved barrier function, while high calorie/low nutrient diets are often linked to increased immune activation and barrier dysfunction. However, while microbial metabolites, especially short-chain fatty acids, indoles, bile acids, and …

Structure Of Ergosteryl-Aspartate Synthase Reveals How An Entrapped Trna Is Used Like A Prosthetic Swinging Arm In The Synthesis Of Aminoacylated Sterols, Hanako Murayama, Nathaniel Yakobov, Nassira Mahmoudi, Sasha Legrosdidier, Nicolas Fournier, Solène Zuttion, Kanata Matsumoto, Michihiro Nishimura, Jingwei Ji, Bruno Senger, Laurence Huck, Howard Gamper, Yoshiaki Kise, Ralph Kleiner, Mathieu Frechin, Ya-Ming Hou, Hubert Becker, Yuzuru Itoh, Frédéric Fischer, Osamu Nureki

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Ergosteryl-3β-O-L-aspartate synthase (ErdS) catalyzes tRNA-dependent aspartylation of ergosterol, a lipid essential for fungal cell membrane integrity. However, the functional significance of ergosteryl-aspartate and the molecular mechanisms underlying its synthesis remain unclear. Here, we show that ErdS localization is highly dynamic and that Erg-Asp is required for proper hyphal growth, sporulation, and spore germination, and likely influences stress tolerance. The cryo-electron microscopy structure of ErdS revealed an unprecedented sterol-binding pocket. In addition, the structures in complex with a non-hydrolyzable Asp-N-tRNAAsp show a tRNA-guided intramolecular aminoacyl transfer mechanism between two functional domains of the enzyme. The CCA end of tRNAAsp undergoes a …

Movement, Residency, And Behavioral Plasticity Of Reef Manta Rays In The Samarai Islands Of Papua New Guinea, Anna Knochel, Joanna Harris, Shannon Murphy, Annie Murray, Guy M.W. Stevens, Mark Erdmann

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

The reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) is a highly mobile pelagic marine ray found throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific, but investigation into their behavior and ecology within Papua New Guinea has not been previously undertaken. Furthermore, the home range, dispersal characteristics, and inter-seasonal fine-scale habitat use of this species is limited. To address these data gaps and investigate the vertical and horizontal habitat use of a previously unstudied population, SPLASH10-F-321A pop-off archival satellite tags were used to track ten adult individuals from 4–181 days between 2016–2018 across two distinct monsoonal periods in the Samarai Islands of …

Unbiased Niche Labeling Maps Immune-Excluded Niche In Bone Metastasis, Zhan Xu, Fengshuo Liu, Yunfeng Ding, Tianhong Pan, Yi-Hsuan Wu, Yujiao Han, Jun Liu, Igor L Bado, Weijie Zhang, Ling Wu, Yang Gao, Xiaoxin Hao, Liqun Yu, Xuan Li, David G Edwards, Hilda L Chan, Sergio Aguirre, Michael Warren Dieffenbach, Elina Chen, Siyue Wang, Yichao Shen, Dane Hoffman, Luis Becerra Dominguez, Charlotte Helena Rivas, Xiang Chen, Hai Wang, Yibin Kang, Zbigniew Gugala, Robert L Satcher, Xiang H-F Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Metastatic cancer cell fate is shaped by the local microenvironment niches. To unbiasedly define the cellular and molecular features of metastatic niches, we developed sortase A-based microenvironment niche tagging (SAMENT), which selectively labels cells encountered by cancer cells during metastasis. Applying SAMENT across multiple cancer models and target organs revealed shared niche features, including macrophage enrichment and T cell depletion, alongside marked organ-specific phenotype heterogeneity in niche macrophages. In bone, metastatic niches are enriched for macrophages expressing estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) with active ERα signaling. Conditional deletion of Esr1 in macrophages significantly impaired bone colonization by enabling T cell infiltration. …

Applicability Of Diatom Indices And Phytoplankton Functional Groups To Assessment Of Water Quality In The Coastal Egyptian Mediterranean Estuary, Fatma A. Zaghloul, Soha H. Shabaka

Blue Economy

This study provides the first application of diatom-based water quality and eutrophication assessments in Egypt, focusing on the El Mex Bay situated along the Mediterranean Coast of Egypt, providing a comprehensive evaluation of how diatom assemblages can serve as reliable bioindicators for ecological monitoring in this heavily impacted coastal system. It analyzes two distinct periods: monthly from 2003-2004 and seasonally from 2020-2021. Diatom community composition shifted significantly between the two decades. The earlier period hosted 109 diatom species, which declined to 69 species in the later period. Concurrently, overall abundance decreased from 1,071 x 10³ to 728 x 10³ cells/L. …

Seaweed-Derived Bioactives: A Promising Source Of Novel Therapeutics, Aida H. Shobier, Sahar W.M. Hassan, Safaa A. Abdel Ghani

Blue Economy

The marine environment provides bioactive natural products with unique structures that are absent in terrestrial compounds. This review aims to provide a thorough overview of key studies on bioactives derived from seaweeds. It focuses on their potential to address common diseases such as microbial infections, diabetes, oxidative stress, inflammation, viral infections, cancer, immune disorders, and Alzheimer's disease as well as their potential use in drug delivery systems. The bioactive compounds found in seaweeds belong to various chemical classes, with the largest proportion being polysaccharides, lipids, proteins, phenolics, pigments, terpenoids, alkaloids, and sterols. These compounds possess significant pharmacological potential. …

Phenotypic Plasticity In A Stochastic Environment: Modeling Three Phenotypes And Environments, Sarah P. Williams, Marissa C. K. Douglas, Stephen C. Adolph

Spora: A Journal of Biomathematics

Phenotypically plastic organisms are capable of adjusting their phenotypes in a variable environment. Padilla and Adolph (1996) modeled this process and included a time lag between detection of an environmental change and the responding change in phenotype. We extended the Padilla and Adolph model from two to three discrete environments and phenotypes and analyzed the model computationally. Our results were consistent with their findings: the fitness advantage of phenotypic plasticity is higher when (1) the lag time is shorter, (2) the probability of environmental change is lower, and (3) the fitness disadvantage of mismatched phenotypes and environments is more severe. …

Ai Need Not Make One Slothful, Roy A. Kaelin Jr

i.e.: inquiry in education

As National Louis University seeks to plan and advance its way amid the potential perils and pitfalls of so-named artificial intelligence, one finds that with reasonable workflows and guard rails, the use of AI proposes both potential promise and prospect, to assist and augment the natural intelligence that students and teachers bring to the classroom, encouraging them to pursue STEM-related activities with the preparation and deployment of focused and directed AI-bots. This paper presents examples and a case study of that directed and focused approach, the incremental lessons learned to date, and a proposed path to advance worthwhile AI …

When The Output Looks Like Learning: Tertiary Algorithmicity, Unproductive Success, And The Case For Pedagogical Friction In K–12 Schools, Micah J. Miner

i.e.: inquiry in education

The rapid adoption of generative artificial intelligence in K–12 schools has outpaced educators' capacity to evaluate its effects on learning. This conceptual article argues that the dominant institutional responses treating AI as either an integrity threat or a productivity tool share an unexamined assumption that the fundamental nature of learning remains unchanged. Drawing on Walter Ong's media ecology and extending it through the concept of tertiary algorithmicity, the article offers a theoretical framework for understanding generative AI as a qualitative shift in the symbolic environment of schooling. For the first time, the prevailing communication technology ctively generates symbolic content, enabling …

Making Ai An Intelligent Tool For Our Schools: Using The Perceptions Of Administrators And Teachers In A Midwestern School District To Help Shape Our Educator Preparation Program, John A. Huss

i.e.: inquiry in education

This qualitative practitioner research study explored the attitudes and perceptions of administrators and teachers in a high-performing Midwestern school district regarding the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in K-12 education. While AI has rapidly emerged as a transformative force in society, its implementation in schools remains inconsistent, with limited policies, training, and usage. Semi-structured interviews with nine educators (three principals and six experienced teachers) revealed widespread interest in AI, but also significant uncertainty and uneven adoption. Educators reported using AI for administrative and instructional tasks, such as grading and resource generation, yet expressed concern over student overreliance and diminished critical …

Non‑Invasive Posterior Acoustic‑Vortex Clamp For Macular Drug Delivery (Poav‑Clamp V1.0), Michael Victor Caldwell Mr.

Defensive Publications Series

The POAV‑Clamp v1.0 is a non‑invasive, temple‑mounted, dual‑band ultrasound platform designed to enhance the penetration of topically applied macular therapeutics into the posterior segment of the eye. The system uses low‑frequency ultrasound to transiently increase posterior scleral permeability, combined with mid‑frequency vortex‑mode acoustic fields to induce vitreous micro‑streaming and directional transport toward the macula. When applied immediately after eye‑drop dosing, the POAV‑Clamp creates a front‑to‑back transport gradient that may significantly increase macular drug levels without injections. This disclosure is released as open, non‑patented, and free for global research, enabling any qualified laboratory or academic group to prototype, test, and validate …

Open Amd Delivery Testbed (O‑Amd‑Dt V1.0), Michael Victor Caldwell Mr.

Defensive Publications Series

O‑AMD‑DT v1.0 is a fully open, modular, benchtop‑only testbed for evaluating drug penetration into posterior ocular analogs under ultrasound stimulation.

The system uses standardized, layered ocular phantom cartridges with microfluidic sampling ports, enabling quantitative measurement of drug transport through cornea, sclera, and choroid/retina analogs.

The platform integrates capabilities from UAAP v1.0, GCI‑267, GCI‑v3.1, VMR v2.5‑T “Titan”, and VABR‑v2.0, providing acoustic control, microfluidic sampling, and nano‑/micro‑carrier preparation.

This disclosure includes complete mechanical blueprints, phantom construction methods, ultrasound coupling geometry, microfluidic architecture, assembly instructions, and test protocols, enabling any laboratory to fabricate and use the system.

Non‑Invasive Ultrasound‑Enhanced Macular Drug Delivery Platform (Onrs‑Amd V1.0), Michael Victor Caldwell Mr.

Defensive Publications Series

ONRS‑AMD v1.0 is a fully open, build‑ready, non‑invasive macular drug‑delivery platform using low‑intensity focused ultrasound, acoustic vortex field shaping, and a periocular drug/gel reservoir to drive therapeutic molecules across the cornea, sclera, and choroid toward the macula.

The system uses a 12‑element ultrasound ring with independent phase control, programmable delivery modes, and integrated safety logic.

This disclosure provides complete mechanical blueprints, electronics, firmware logic, assembly steps, phantom testbeds, validation protocols, and safety requirements, enabling any research group to fabricate and test the system without licensing barriers.

When Equitable Becomes Equal: Experimental Evidence On Division Of Marital Assets With Same-Sex Couples, John Roberts, Jennifer Bennett Shinall

Florida Law Review

Previous scholarship has suggested that legal decisionmakers may be biased against women and against nonbreadwinning spouses when dividing the marital assets of divorcing, opposite-sex couples. This Essay extends the marital asset division literature to divorcing, same-sex couples. Using experimental methods, this Essay finds that subjects divide marital assets between spouses equivalently, regardless of whether the divorcing couple is same-sex or opposite-sex. Subjects’ own sexual orientation, however, influences how they divide marital assets between divorcing spouses. Furthermore, this Essay documents a mitigation of prior experimental subject bias against women and nonbreadwinning spouses after the #MeToo movement and the COVID-19 pandemic. This …