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Serum Tslp Levels And Rs1837253 Gene Polymorphism In Psoriasis Patients: Correlation With Disease Severity, Atheer Falah Kadhim Al-Fatlawi, Hams Hussain Hashim Handool Alfattli

Muthanna Medical Journal

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated skin disease driven by IL-23/Th17 axis. TSLP, an epithelial-derived alarmin cytokine, has emerged as an upstream regulator of psoriasis, TSLP rs1837253 has been proposed as a functional variant influencing TSLP secretion, although its role in psoriasis remains insufficiently characterized. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate serum TSLP levels in relation to disease severity (PASI) and to determine the genotypic and allelic distribution of the TSLP rs1837253 polymorphism in psoriasis patients compared with controls. Methods: Sixty patients with psoriasis and 60 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited. Serum TSLP was quantified by ELISA, and …

Integrating Mrcp Into Preoperative Difficulty Scoring To Predict Challenging Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Prospective Iraqi Cohort Study, Raad Fadhel Al-Rubaey

Muthanna Medical Journal

Background: The identification of the difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is important for operative planning, patient counselling, and minimizing intra-operative complications. Abdominal ultrasonography is a routine part of the preoperative evaluation, but may not identify biliary anatomic variations or undetected ductal disease. When used as part of a structured preoperative scoring system, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) may prove to be more helpful in predicting the outcome.
Objective: To determine if the addition of MRCP findings to a modified preoperative score for laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) will improve prediction of the difficulty of the procedure.
Methods: In this prospective observational study, 86 patients …

Representations Of The Asian Other In Contemporary Saudi Fiction: The Self–Other Dialectic, Adel Musaylih Salhan Almuthaybiri

Journal of Arabic Sciences and Humanities

This study explores how contemporary Saudi fiction represents the Asian Other، using a descriptive-analytical approach informed by image studies، cultural criticism، and postcolonial theory. While modern Arab literary criticism often focuses on the Western Other، the Asian Other remains understudied despite its significant presence in Saudi society. The analysis examines seven novels by authors from various generations and backgrounds. It finds that the depiction of the Asian Other is multidimensional، constructed across three interconnected levels: its geographic context، its role within the social space of the self، and its function in narrative discourse. The findings indicate that the image of …

Methodology Of Sibṭ Ibn Al-ʻAjamī Alābn (Died 1479) In His Book: Kunūz Al-Dhahab Fī Tārīkhḥalab, Sami Ghazi Al-Anzi

Journal of Arabic Sciences and Humanities

The research examines the methodology of Sibṭ Ibn al-ʿAjami (the son), who died in 884 AH, as well as his critical approach and the way he structured his book Kunūz al-Dhahab fī Tārīkh Ḥalab (Treasures of Gold in the History of Aleppo). The study primarily aims to analyze his methodology, explore his approach, and examine his writing style. It adopts the historical research methods, analyzing the book’s texts and deriving the characteristics of his methodology in compiling it. One of the main findings of the study is that the book is essentially a concise encyclopedia about the city of Aleppo, …

The Danishmend Dynasty And Their Political Relationship With The Crusader Emirates The Emirates Of Edessa And Antioch As A Model (490-552 Ah / 1097-1157 Ad), Ali Mohammed Al-Neghaimshi

Journal of Arabic Sciences and Humanities

This research examines the role of the Danishmend family in Anatolia and northern Syria during the period (490–552 AH / 1097–1157 AD), and analyzes the nature of their political relations with the Crusader states, taking the principalities of Edessa and Antioch as a model for study, with the aim of highlighting their political and military positions in light of the transformations that the region witnessed after the First Crusade. The research focuses on the forms of interaction between the two sides, which varied between direct military conflict, temporary alliances, and political truces, according to the balance of power and regional …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Saudi National Systems And Regulations In Reducing Domestic Violence The Protection From Abuse System And The Child Protection System As Models, Salwa Daud Saad Bindaud

Journal of Arabic Sciences and Humanities

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Protection from Abuse System and the Child Protection System in reducing domestic violence from the perspective of workers in family protection centers. The researcher employed the social survey method as the study’s methodological approach. The study population consisted of all employees working in family protection centers across all regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, totaling (355) individuals. A sample of (215) participants was selected. The questionnaire was used as the primary data collection instrument.

The study yielded several key findings, including:

1. The level of effectiveness of the Protection from …

Linguistic Collocation And Its Effect On Lexical Cohesion In Surah Saba: A Textual Study, Hamad Bin Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Saif, Ibtisam Bint Abdulaziz Al-Rashidi

Journal of Arabic Sciences and Humanities

This research examines one of the means of lexical cohesion: collocation in Surah Saba. It does so through a textual analysis aimed at revealing the function of collocation in achieving cohesion and semantic coherence within the Quranic text. The research comprises an introduction, a preface, three main sections (the first on antonymy, the second on contrast, and the third on the relationship between the part and the whole), and a conclusion summarizing the most important findings. These findings include the conclusion that Surah Saba contains all three means of collocation, and their application contributes to highlighting the cohesion of the …

From Morphological Patterns To Meaning: A Calculus Of Arabic Morphology For Morphologically Aware Machine Translation, Saleh Belhassen, Ahmed Hakami

Journal of Arabic Sciences and Humanities

The computational processing of Arabic morphology presents a substantial challenge due to its intricate, non-concatenative root-and-pattern structure, which often leads to semantic ambiguity in translation. This paper introduces the Pattern Matrix Calculus (PMC), a mathematical and algorithmic framework that formalizes Arabic derivational morphology as an algebra of computable functions. Word formation is conceptualized as W = V(P(R)) — meaning that a word (W) is generated by applying a morphological pattern (P) to a consonantal root (R) and then adding vocalization (V). Derivational patterns are encoded as matrices, enabling operations such as comparison, composition, and direct inference of morphological meaning (i.e., …

Dynamic Graph Mamba Model For Crime Count Forecasting Based On Adaptive Geographic Fusion, Wadhah R. Baiee

Journal of Intelligent Informatics, Networking, and Cybersecurity

Daily crime counts are hard to predict due to variations in the patterns of crime across neighborhoods and over time, as well as that the patterns vary by offence type. Areas with a shared border can give different information for forecasts than areas with similar crime histories. This study investigates if the joint use of these two relationships would give better prediction than using one or the other, and whether the algorithm can be adapted to the frequent occurrence of zeros and variance greater than the mean. It evaluates the functionality of Dynamic Graph Mamba for Crime Prediction (DG-Mamba-CP), a …

“Charting The Course: 20 Years Of Cmsi And The Future Of China In The Maritime Military Domain”

CMSI Quarterly Review

Keynote address by former Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral Gary Roughead, U.S. Navy (Ret.) at the commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI)’s official public launch.

Academic Performance In College Students: The Roles Of Physical Activity, Perceived Academic Control, And Bmi, Erin Vanderbunt, Jenna Woolley

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Volume 7: Issue 1, Article 3, 2026.  Background: Health behaviors and motivational factors are increasingly recognized as contributors to academic performance in college students. Physical activity (PA), perceived academic control (PAC), and body mass index (BMI) have each been linked to academic outcomes, yet their combined effects remain understudied. Purpose: To examine the relationships between PA, PAC, BMI, and academic performance in undergraduate students. Methods: A total of 299 undergraduates from a regional Midwestern university participated in this study. Students completed a survey assessing demographic variables, physical activity (via IPAQ-SF), PAC, BMI, and self-reported academic performance on a …

Analyzing Accessibility And Efficacy Of One Research Survey Website To Test Readability Of Physical Activity Promotion Material Disseminated Online: A Mixed Methods Pilot Study, Jafra D. Thomas, Anuraj Dhillon, Yi Sheng Wu, Jasmine C. Wong, Regina F. Hockert

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Volume 7: Issue 1, Article 2, 2026.  Accessibility is the effort and ability required to access and navigate environments and participate in activities. Physical activity educational materials disseminated to the public and used within behavior change interventions may be hard to read and navigate, decreasing their accessibility and a study’s validity. This study documented, and addressed, issues that may hinder researchers’ ability to gauge accessibility of their online educational materials using the cloze procedure (a direct readability measure, requires guessing missing words from text passages). A multi-stage, mixed methods pilot study was utilized (August 2022 to May 2023). Phase 1: …

Communication & Theater Association Of Minnesota Journal, Volume 49, Issue 2, 2026

Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota Journal

Volume 49, Issue 2 (2026) of the Communication & Theater Association of Minnesota Journal.

Ctamj Forum On Mshsl Activities: One Act, Tony Hartmann, Allee Nickolauson, Grif Sadow

Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota Journal

The CTAM Journal seeks to raise up voices from notable interest groups. Occasionally, individuals are asked to share their thoughts on issues that pertain to the target readership of CTAMJ.

For this special forum, three coaches share their voices on Minnesota State High School One Act: Tony Hartmann (Belle Plaine), Allee Nickolauson (Fergus Falls), and Grif Sadow (Stillwater).

Overcoming The Blank Page: In Class Ai Brainstorming For Public Speaking Topics, Jacquelyn K. Seymour

Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota Journal

This activity introduces students to their speech assignment, allows for a discussion on the ethical uses of AI, and allows for class-wide use of AI to select speech topics (Slade et al., 2025). Ideally, every student will leave class with a topic for their speech to begin the process of research and writing rather than be stuck on selecting a topic.

The Public Speaking Survival Kit: A Personalized And Holistic Approach To Managing Speech Anxiety, Sydney Kamm

Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota Journal

Speech anxiety is a common stressor for students in public speaking classes (McCroskey, 1977) and is a particular worry for Gen Z students (Wahed & Palmer-Wackerly, 2026), yet it is often treated superficially in curricula and textbooks. When instruction centers on generic advice, students are left unequipped to manage anxiety that directly affects performance. Although delivery is graded, many “poor delivery” habits—fidgeting, filler words, lack of eye contact—stem from unmanaged anxiety (Bodie, 2010). This activity addresses that gap through a holistic approach that integrates cognitive, behavioral, and physiological dimensions. Informed by my experience with a neurological condition that causes physical …

"From An Activist Spirit And History": An Examination Of Midwest Professors Who Teach Gender Studies In The Current Political Climate, Mena Faber

Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota Journal

Gender studies is an interdisciplinary field spanning higher education institutions globally. Yet the experiences of scholars within specific regional contexts remain understudied. This study examines the lived personal and pedagogical experiences of gender studies and gender communication scholars in the Midwest. Using a qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore participants’ experiences, perceived pressures, and responses to the current political and academic climate. Interview questions focused on the challenges scholars face as well as the communicative practices they adopt in response to shifting attitudes toward gender studies. This research seeks to contribute to a deeper understanding of how scholars …

Welcoming Generation Alpha Through The Lens Of Connectivism: Featuring Ai's Rhetorical Agency, Lin Allen, Shea-Tinn Yeh

Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota Journal

As students pack for college do they leave space in their carry on for agency—self-empowerment through the strategic use of artificial intelligence?  And in what ways do educators address the need to define and shape their learning experience?  Preparing to welcome the first wave of Generation Alpha (Gen Alpha) by endowing them with agency, this theoretical framework draws upon the eight principles of connectivism. Gen Alpha, digital natives by necessity, demands a new learning archetype incorporating artificial intelligence (AI). However, the contested capabilities of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) reveal a disparate, disconnected approach to responding to the ubiquity of GenAI …

Debating Without Format: A Portrait, A Proposal, A Possibility, Stephen M. Llano

Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota Journal

This essay distinguishes "Debate" — competitive, tournament-driven, and governed by fixed procedural rules — from "debate," rhetoric's older practice of persuading an audience. Drawing on the dual etymology of "format" (to shape, and to arrange data for machine processing) and on Goodhart's law, the essay argues that competitive format has displaced audience assent as debate's real aim, training students to satisfy a judge's rules rather than move real listeners. As an alternative, it proposes a co-curricular model rooted in the university rather than the tournament circuit, treating rules as adaptable paradigms rather than algorithms to execute. Drawing on Perelman and …

Retaking The Pulse Of The Real Economy Using Financial Statements: Validation And Extension, Nathan Parrotte, Narayan Ramasubbu, Ahmed Elshahat

Annual DBA Scholars Conference

Financial statements provided by publicly traded firms inform shareholders about the present state of a firm. While it is natural to consider public financial statements at the firm level, what benefits could be gained from their aggregation? Present research on this is limited with the most relevant recent research being done by Konchitchki and Patatoukas (2014), with their results highly supporting the argument that public financial statement analysis can be used to understand “the pulse” of the real economy. This study not only replicates their study validating it, but it will also expand the timeline to the end of 2025.

From Burnout To Belonging: A Faculty Well-Being Director's Perspective On Leadership, Workplace Culture, Organizational Efficiency, And The Broader Role Of Physician Well-Being, Ajit K. Bisen

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

Burnout remains a major challenge in health care, despite increasing investments in physician well-being initiatives. As the faculty well-being director for my department, my perspective on physician well-being has shifted from focusing primarily on individual resilience, mindfulness, and wellness initiatives to recognizing the important roles of leadership, workplace culture, and organizational efficiency. Physician well-being is an essential foundation for high-quality patient care, stronger teams, patient safety, quality improvement, and healthier organizations. Here, I discuss the 3 key shifts in thinking that have influenced my approach as faculty well-being director.

Life After Death, Mridula Nadamuni

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

This poem explores the reflections of a physician following a poignant interaction with a patient, as each confronts the reality that time on Earth is limited.

A Stroll For My Soul, Charisma Desai

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

This poem/photo montage explores the healing power of nature through a jog in the park after a demanding week at work. The sights and sounds of birds and butterflies transform an ordinary outing into a moment of peace, wonder, and rejuvenation.

Towards Upstate Well Center: Lessons Learned In Organizational Well-Being Over The Last Decade, Nayla M. Khoury, Asalim Thabet, Kerryanna M. Elhage, Jarrod L. Bagatell, Kaushal Nanavati, Leslie J. Kohman

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

Background: Upstate Well has evolved over more than 10 years through the integration of multiple partners, programs, and initiatives. The scope and complexity have increased alongside stronger relationships, shared ownership, and supportive infrastructure.

Methods: This report analyzes implementation lessons learned through program development and impact assessment over 5 years.

Results: Upstate has a growing number of wellness champions across the institution, collaboration among multiple wellness programs, and lessons learned from select programs. Themes include (1) supportive infrastructure, including new full-time equivalent positions to support Upstate Well; (2) active collaboration between stakeholders, and appointed wellness champions in each department; (3) improved …

From Career Alignment To Action: Strengthening Academic Mentoring Through Structured Reflection, Fanni Farago, Julie Izzo, Courtney L. Holladay, Diane C. Bodurka, Michelle Hildebrandt, Suezen Salinas

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

Background: As faculty roles and responsibilities become increasingly complex and demanding in contemporary academic medicine, fostering and sustaining faculty well-being has emerged as a critical organizational priority. In response to this need, this brief report describes early insights from the first year of implementation of the Academic Mentoring Program (AMP), a formal and expanding faculty mentoring initiative at UT MD Anderson. Our findings highlight the potential value of incorporating a structured career development assessment (CDA) tool into the mentee intake and engagement effort, evaluating development alignment, professional activities, and organizational expectations.

Methods: We conducted descriptive statistical analysis and qualitative thematic …

Feasibility And Pilot Study Of Implementing Mindfulness-Based Attention Training In A Pediatric Health Care Setting, Thomas B. Ayres, Seth Sonnevile, Angela Myers

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

We present herein our preliminary evidence from a pilot study of the feasibility of implementing Mindfulness-Based Attention Training (MBAT) in a pediatric health care institution. MBAT has been implemented primarily in military settings, representing another high-stress work environment. Furthermore, MBAT has had favorable evaluations from being implemented with medical students. Mindfulness-based interventions have received increasing attention in health care environments. This interest from health care institutions and the focus on developing attention-based resources through MBAT created a use case for implementing MBAT. We had 5 health care workers with a variety of job roles in our institution complete a train-the-trainer …

Pebbles In The Shoe: A Multidisciplinary Program To Identify And Resolve Workplace Inefficiencies In A Pediatric Oncology Division, Reeja Raj, Kate Gazouleas, Pavilia Francis, Nancy Gordon, Vidya Gopalakrishnan, Amy Heaton, Ishwaria Subbiah, Priti Tewari, Harjeet Singh, Aaron Walton, Shehla Razvi, Martha Askins, Lisa Triche, Karen Moody

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

Introduction: Occupational burnout is a significant concern among pediatric oncology faculty and multidisciplinary staff, characterized by emotional depletion, detachment from work, or a diminished sense of professional achievement. Inefficient work processes can be important contributors to burnout. This report describes the implementation and outcomes of Pebbles in the Shoe (also referred to as Pebbles), a pediatric division–wide initiative designed to address workplace concerns and inefficiencies.

Methods: The Pebbles program was developed and led by our pediatric division's wellness task force. Division members were invited to anonymously submit work-related concerns and irritations through a QR code–accessible electronic form. Five discipline-based work …

Aligning Trainee Leave Policies Across Surgical Fellowships: Development Of A Division-Wide Framework For Leave And Program Completion, Helen M. Johnson, Mara B. Antonoff, Kelly K. Bree, Maxwell G. Lewis, Heather A. Lillemoe, Margaret S. Roubaud

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

Background: Surgical fellows and program leaders face difficulties navigating parental, caregiver, medical, and personal leave due to variation in policies. A Division of Surgery (DoS) Trainee Leave and Parental Support Task Force was convened at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to review existing requirements and develop a harmonized framework for trainee leave and fellowship program completion.

Methods: The Task Force conducted a comprehensive review of policies relevant to surgical fellow leave and graduation requirements, identified best practices, and drafted a DoS policy. The policy was refined iteratively through engagement with key stakeholders, including program directors, department chairs, …

Creating A Culture Of Well-Being By Removing Barriers To Participation In A Multi-Campus Cancer Center, Adam Siegman, Miranda M. Phillips, Jennifer Bickel

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

Background: Healthcare professionals in geographically distributed cancer care settings may face barriers to accessing workforce well-being resources due to geographic distance, staffing constraints, and operational demands. Disconnect & Refresh was developed to improve access to restorative wellness opportunities across community-based cancer care sites.

Methods: Disconnect & Refresh was implemented at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center across 4 Houston area locations. The initiative included BeWell Paws, virtual reality meditation, chair yoga, and creative wellness activities delivered during the workday. Participation was voluntary and tracked through employee badge scans. Participants were invited to complete an anonymous post-event survey, and …

Faculty Growth Through Academic Career Development Committees, China Crowder, Rebekah Filson, Elizabeth Grubbs, Carin Hagberg, Anne Tsao

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

Academic medical centers face ongoing challenges in providing structured, career -stage-–specific faculty development, mentorship, and leadership opportunities that effectively engage faculty throughout their academic careers. The Academic Career Development Committees at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center represent a structured, faculty-driven model designed to promote professional growth, mentorship, and leadership engagement across all career stages. Grounded in established principles of faculty development and mentorship in academic medicine, the Academic Career Development Committees foster cross-level collaboration, inclusive participation, and intentional skill-building. Outcomes were measured through participant evaluations, attendance and participation trends, mentorship engagement indicators, and qualitative feedback gathered from …