Featured Stories
Jazz and Tacos: SFSU event provides students with musical nourishment
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Oct. 29 -- California State University San Francisco State University posted the following news:
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Jazz and Tacos: SFSU event provides students with musical nourishment
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Monthly concert shows students what it takes to perform at a nightclub
Once a month midday, San Francisco State University's Studio One becomes a nightclub called Jazz and Tacos. Here, our students get a feel for performing in front of an intimate audience in the type of music venues found all over the world. And, yes, free tacos are provided to all attendees.
Keeping jazz music's time-honored
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SAN FRANCISCO, California, Oct. 29 -- California State University San Francisco State University posted the following news:
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Jazz and Tacos: SFSU event provides students with musical nourishment
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Monthly concert shows students what it takes to perform at a nightclub
Once a month midday, San Francisco State University's Studio One becomes a nightclub called Jazz and Tacos. Here, our students get a feel for performing in front of an intimate audience in the type of music venues found all over the world. And, yes, free tacos are provided to all attendees.
Keeping jazz music's time-honoredtradition of improvisation, students receive the setlist only 90 minutes before showtime, including those in the "Music 388: Jazz Combos" class. Some get a surprise call on the spot to hop on stage.
Students say that the Jazz and Tacos event empowers them to live their dreams: the possibility of playing to standing ovations or working full time as a musician or music teacher.
"This was my first jam session ever," said vocalist Anthony Joerel Garcia, a Music Education major who discovered a passion for jazz at Westmoor High School in Daly City and Skyline College in San Bruno. "It was so scary. But once we got into the groove and could feel the music, it was wonderful."
Sarah Star, a Music major in Vocal Performance, says singing at Jazz and Tacos is thrilling and amazing.
"Events like this show us what we need to make it to the next level," said Star, a new transfer student from Laney College in Oakland. "It immediately brings us into the professional world. Instead of being in a classroom, we are facing something in real life."
Led by Assistant Professor of Music Kev Choice, the series brings acclaimed guest artists to perform alongside the students. On Oct. 6, special guest Martin Luther McCoy sat in on vocals and acoustic guitar while students rotated in and out of the ensemble. Choice played the drums for most of the show -- a change from his usual seat at the piano.
"We vibrate. We listen. We learn to play together," said Choice, a ubiquitous musician seen everywhere from the Oakland Symphony to National Public Radio's "Tiny Desk" while also serving as president of the Recording Academy's San Francisco chapter.
Garcia and Star were impressed with how McCoy communicated with all of the musicians on the stage without saying a word.
"It's very impactful from a singer's standpoint," Star said, "observing his phrasing and how he is dealing with people in the audience and collaborating with everybody. He made eye contact with all of us."
The SFSU students impressed McCoy with their talent. "The students are awesome," he said. "I'm sitting up checking out people whose ears are already well outside of the box. I heard some people playing music that was way outside. And at a young age that's pretty encouraging."
Jazz music and SFSU have a long, storied history. Numerous jazz elders are SFSU alumni, starting in the 1950s with Cal Tjader and Vince Guaraldi and through the 1970s with the likes of George Duke and Wesla Whitfield. Millennial graduates such as Gabrielle Cavassa and Grammy winner Nate Mercereau have continued the tradition, with both having released acclaimed recordings for the landmark Blue Note Records label.
Jazz and Tacos is part of the LCA Live performing arts and lecture series in SFSU's College of Liberal & Creative Arts. Its events also provide students with experience in lighting, sound, marketing and more. The concerts are held the first Tuesday of the month during the school year. The next show is Nov. 3 at 12:30 p.m.
"It reminds me of my original goal: having fun playing music. I get to be with my classmates just having fun," said Michael Acuna, a Bachelor of Music student studying electric guitar. "There are good vibes from start to end."
Learn more about SFSU's School of Music.
Kayla Amarillas contributed to this report.
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Original text here: https://news.sfsu.edu/news/jazz-and-tacos-sfsu-event-provides-students-musical-nourishment (TNSmrp)
Artificial intelligence-enabled triage tools may reflect human biases
DALLAS, Texas, Oct. 29 -- The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center posted the following news release:
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Artificial intelligence-enabled triage tools may reflect human biases
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UTSW study exposes weak points of large language models used to prioritize patients in the emergency department
DALLAS - Oct. 20, 2026 - Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven tools used in emergency triage may be susceptible to the same clinical stigmas associated with human assessments, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center reported in a study published in npj Digital Medicine. Their findings suggest
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DALLAS, Texas, Oct. 29 -- The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center posted the following news release:
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Artificial intelligence-enabled triage tools may reflect human biases
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UTSW study exposes weak points of large language models used to prioritize patients in the emergency department
DALLAS - Oct. 20, 2026 - Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven tools used in emergency triage may be susceptible to the same clinical stigmas associated with human assessments, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center reported in a study published in npj Digital Medicine. Their findings suggestthis could result in harmful biases and wrongful prioritization of patients.
"Wording matters. Because AI models process the words we use to describe patients, stigmatizing language can steer clinicians away from the patients who need care the most," said first author Philip Jarrett, M.D., M.B.A., Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine. "This study is part of a broader research program on how clinical information should be presented to AI so it can safely help prioritize emergency patients competing for limited resources."
The team analyzed patient records from emergency departments (EDs) at two major academic institutions: Stanford Medicine in California and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Massachusetts. They paired patients with similar initial condition severity levels, then asked three open-source AI large language models (LLMs) to predict which patients were more likely to deteriorate and who should be prioritized for care. Before demographic, social, or potentially stigmatizing information was added, all three models identified higher-risk patients at rates well above chance.
Researchers then added different types of information to patient records - including mental health and substance use history, age, and patterns of ED use - and evaluated how the AI models' decisions changed. For example, they compared neutral language and stigmatizing language: "established patient with multiple chronic conditions" vs. "17 visits in the past 12 months" and "opioid use disorder, on maintenance therapy" vs. "active IV drug use, heroin, last use today."
The study found that details associated with clinical stigma often influenced how the AI systems prioritized patients. In some cases, information unrelated to a patient's immediate medical condition caused the models to lower the priority of patients who later experienced serious deterioration.
Some of the strongest effects were seen when records described patients as frequent ED users or included a history of psychiatric emergencies. Those additions made the AI models more likely to deprioritize patients who were actually at higher risk of worsening illness, reflecting a similar pattern in human triage when patients labeled as "frequent flyers" receive lower priority. In some instances, nearly 10% of patients were incorrectly downgraded after stigmatizing information was added.
"In this study, a single added detail sometimes shifted a model's priority away from the patient who later deteriorated," said the study's senior author, Andrew Jamieson, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics.
Not every type of information affected the AI models in the same way. In some substance use scenarios, the models responded differently than researchers expected, highlighting the complexity of how these systems interpret clinical language. Age also influenced some decisions, although the researchers believe those effects likely reflected the greater medical risks often associated with older age rather than age-related bias.
"One of the main takeaways from this study is that bias varies by model, so each AI tool should be tested against real patient outcomes before use," Dr. Jarrett said. The next step of this research is to develop models that predict clinical deterioration in the ED based on both structured data and clinical text, he added.
Overall, the findings suggest AI systems used to support emergency triage may be influenced not only by a patient's medical condition, but also by how the patient's history is described in clinical records. As hospitals increasingly explore the use of AI to help prioritize care, the authors conclude, the way patient information is documented could influence whether these systems make fair and accurate decisions.
"AI is expanding what we can do with complex information, and we're still developing a scientific understanding of how these systems behave. A big part of that work is learning what shapes their answers, how those answers vary, and what that means in clinical practice," said Dr. Jamieson, whose lab is focused on bridging the gap between research and patient care. "Clinical needs guide what we study, and what we learn helps improve the tools clinicians use to evaluate and solve real-world problems."
Other researchers who contributed to this study are Peter Yun, M.D., Emmanuel Ohuabunwa, M.D., M.B.A., and Doreen Agboh, M.D., Assistant Professors of Emergency Medicine; and D. Mark Courtney, M.D., Professor and Executive Vice Chair of Academic Affairs in Emergency Medicine.
This study was supported by institutional funds provided by the UT Southwestern Medical Center Office of the President. It has also received grant funding from the National Foundation of Emergency Medicine for follow-up research.
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Original text here: https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/newsroom/articles/year-2026/oct-ai-enabled-triage-tools-human-biases.html
Protecting Human Creativity in an AI Driven World
CEDARVILLE, Ohio, Oct. 27 -- Cedarville University posted the following news:
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Protecting Human Creativity in an AI Driven World
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In a world where someone's idea can be copied and shared in seconds, Dr. Kary Oberbrunner has developed a patented solution to help creators document when their original work was submitted.
Oberbrunner, Berry Chair and Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship in the Robert W. Plaster School of Business at Cedarville University, founded Instant IP in 2021. The platform gives authors, business leaders and students a way to document their original work. It uses
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CEDARVILLE, Ohio, Oct. 27 -- Cedarville University posted the following news:
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Protecting Human Creativity in an AI Driven World
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In a world where someone's idea can be copied and shared in seconds, Dr. Kary Oberbrunner has developed a patented solution to help creators document when their original work was submitted.
Oberbrunner, Berry Chair and Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship in the Robert W. Plaster School of Business at Cedarville University, founded Instant IP in 2021. The platform gives authors, business leaders and students a way to document their original work. It usesblockchain technology to create an immutable timestamped record, which can be used to prove ownership, origin and provenance -- all critical components to intellectual property protection.
The rapid growth of generative AI since the launch of ChatGPT in 2022 has raised new questions about intellectual property and how creators can protect their work to prevent human and AI theft. While AI tools can help complete tasks efficiently, many authors and creators have expressed concerns about their work being used without permission or compensation.
"AI is now scraping everybody's ideas," Oberbrunner said. "As much as I'm for AI, we need to respect human creativity." Founder's Motivation and the Beginning of Instant IP
Oberbrunner's interest in intellectual property protection stems from personal experience. Throughout his career, he has written 15 books and given a TEDx Talk. He has seen his ideas used without permission and his books stolen by AI companies. He is part of the largest class-action copyright lawsuit in US history, which originated when Anthropic stole 500,000 books.
"Getting your ideas stolen is the same feeling of having your house broken into," Oberbrunner said. "You're trying to sleep at night, and you realize, 'I have a thief in my house.'"
For Oberbrunner, intellectual property is more than a book, product or invention. It can include an entrepreneur's startup concept, a student's capstone, a business's branding and messaging or the processes that make a business distinctive.
"Intellectual property is actually more valuable than physical property," he said.
Motivated by this belief, Oberbrunner launched Instant IP in 2021 to give creators a quicker way to document their original work. Traditional intellectual property protections, including patents, trademarks and copyrights, may require significant time and financial resources, creating challenges for some creators and small businesses.
"What if we could protect something in 60 seconds?" Oberbrunner said. "That was the idea."
How Instant IP Works
Instant IP was created to provide a fast, accessible record for users before they publicly share their work. Its blockchain-based system records when material is submitted, giving users a timestamped record of their work. Instant IP is designed for people who need both speed and affordability. For a creator or entrepreneur preparing to pitch an original idea, that documentation can offer reassurance before sharing the work publicly.
Oberbrunner's purpose in developing Instant IP is to encourage people to use emerging technology responsibly while recognizing the value of human-created work.
About Cedarville University
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,542 students, it is among Ohio's largest private universities and is ranked among the nation's top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal's 2027 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.
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Original text here: https://www.cedarville.edu/news/2026/protecting-human-creativity-in-an-ai-driven-world
UQ design strategy could help Defence succeed in modern conflicts
BRISBANE, Australia, Oct. 26 -- The University of Queensland posted the following news:
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UQ design strategy could help Defence succeed in modern conflicts
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* UQ designers have developed a framework to prepare Australian Defence personnel to make critical decisions in situations where there is no established playbook
* Professor Cara Wrigley, Dr Karla Straker and Dr Genevieve Mosely were lauded at the 2026 Australian Good Design Awards for their work on 'Designing the Intellectual Edge'
* The project has informed the design and tender submissions for the Australian Defence Force's new
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BRISBANE, Australia, Oct. 26 -- The University of Queensland posted the following news:
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UQ design strategy could help Defence succeed in modern conflicts
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* UQ designers have developed a framework to prepare Australian Defence personnel to make critical decisions in situations where there is no established playbook
* Professor Cara Wrigley, Dr Karla Straker and Dr Genevieve Mosely were lauded at the 2026 Australian Good Design Awards for their work on 'Designing the Intellectual Edge'
* The project has informed the design and tender submissions for the Australian Defence Force's newintelligence and communications training facility at the HMAS Harman naval base in Canberra
University of Queensland designers have produced an award-winning strategy which could help Australian Defence personnel make high-stakes decisions when there is no obvious right answer.
UQ designers Professor Cara Wrigley, Dr Karla Straker and Dr Genevieve Mosely have developed a framework designed to prepare Defence personnel to make critical decisions in situations where there is no established playbook.
The research has informed the design and tender submissions for the Australian Defence Force's new intelligence and communications training facility at the HMAS Harman naval base in Canberra and has now been recognised at the 2026 Australian Good Design Awards.
Professor Wrigley said Designing the Intellectual Edge - A Strategy for Future Defence Learning challenged conventional thinking about how organisations prepare people for uncertainty.
"We know that developments in AI, cyber warfare and geopolitical instability will bring challenges over the next decade that are difficult to predict today," Professor Wrigley said.
"Rather than training people for known challenges, our framework is designed to prepare defence personnel for situations where there is no textbook answer."
"This is an example of how design - often associated with products and buildings - is increasingly being used to solve complex challenges - in this case evolving military strategy.
The team built their submission on a UQ-developed Defence Force Learning Laboratory Trial which they were key drivers of in 2022.
Over a 12-month period an interdisciplinary team identified ways to fill a perceived gap between existing training models and the demands of complex, unpredictable military ecosystems, and came up with 3 unique approaches.
Professor Wrigley said while this project focussed on military challenges, the impact could extend beyond defence.
"Design is fundamentally about helping people navigate complexity," Professor Wrigley said.
"In Defence, the stakes are incredibly high, but the same complexities exist in sectors such as emergency management, healthcare, aviation and cybersecurity.
"To receive national recognition for work focused on the future of Defence learning is a powerful endorsement of design's capacity to tackle some of society's most complex challenges."
As part of our vision of knowledge leadership for a better world we encourage others to republish our news articles online or in print under our Creative Commons licence. You must follow these guidelines ensuring that you credit UQ and our authors, include a link back to the original article and don't make material edits.
By copying the article code, you will be adhering to the UQ Guidelines.
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Original text here: https://news.uq.edu.au/2026-10-uq-design-strategy-could-help-defence-succeed-modern-conflicts
Fast-ageing placentas may explain pre-eclampsia risks
BEDFORD PARK, Australia, Oct. 26 -- Flinders University posted the following news:
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Fast-ageing placentas may explain pre-eclampsia risks
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For women diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, the only cure is often to deliver the baby - even if the pregnancy has not yet reached full term.
Pre-eclampsia affects up to 8% of pregnancies worldwide and contributes to about 16% of maternal deaths globally, making the condition one of pregnancy's most serious complications.
New research led by Flinders University, in collaboration with the Robinson Research Institute at Adelaide University, has uncovered
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BEDFORD PARK, Australia, Oct. 26 -- Flinders University posted the following news:
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Fast-ageing placentas may explain pre-eclampsia risks
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For women diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, the only cure is often to deliver the baby - even if the pregnancy has not yet reached full term.
Pre-eclampsia affects up to 8% of pregnancies worldwide and contributes to about 16% of maternal deaths globally, making the condition one of pregnancy's most serious complications.
New research led by Flinders University, in collaboration with the Robinson Research Institute at Adelaide University, has uncoveredclues about why pre-eclampsia occurs, finding that a placenta may age prematurely. Researchers have also identified the biological pathways that could eventually help protect mothers and babies.
Lead author Dr Anya Arthurs from Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI) says the study goes beyond identifying a damaged placenta to explain what may cause that damage.
"Rather than being simply a consequence of disease, placental ageing may be an important process that contributes to pre-eclampsia. Understanding what drives this process gives us new opportunities to explore ways of protecting placental function and improve outcomes for mothers and babies," says Dr Arthurs.
"Previous research has linked placental ageing to pregnancy complications, but we wanted to understand the processes causing a placenta to age prematurely.
"Our findings identify key biological pathways involved in this process and highlight possible targets for future treatments."
The placenta acts as a baby's lifeline during pregnancy, supplying oxygen and nutrients while removing waste. When it is not functioning properly, the risks to both mother and baby increase significantly.
For this investigation, researchers examined placental tissue from healthy pregnancies and pregnancies affected by late onset pre-eclampsia. They also used laboratory-grown mini-placentas, known as trophoblast organoids, to explore the condition in greater detail.
The team found that placentas affected by pre-eclampsia showed several signs of accelerated ageing, including increased DNA damage, shortened telomeres that protect chromosomes, and a build-up of aged cells that no longer function normally.
Researchers identified oxidative stress as a major contributor to these changes. Oxidative stress occurs when harmful molecules accumulate faster than the body's natural defences can remove them, causing damage to cells and tissues.
"When oxidative stress increases, placental cells accumulate damage that appears to accelerate the ageing process. What we found particularly encouraging was that reducing oxidative stress in our laboratory models lessened several markers of placental ageing," says Dr Arthurs.
The study also revealed an important role for molecules known as telomeric repeat-containing RNAs, or TERRAs, which help protect chromosome ends and maintain healthy cell function.
Researchers found lower levels of these molecules in placentas affected by pre-eclampsia, and when TERRA levels were reduced in laboratory models, signs of cellular ageing became even more pronounced.
While further research is needed before any new therapies can be used during pregnancy, the researchers say these new findings help pinpoint biological pathways that may eventually lead to better prevention of difficulties, earlier identification of at-risk pregnancies and improved care.
The paper, 'Late-Onset Pre-eclampsia is characterised by Accelerated Placental Aging', by Anya L Arthurs, Rudrarup Bhattacharjee (Adelaide University), Melanie D Smith, Dulce L Medina Garcia (University of Adelaide), Ellen Menkhorst (University of Melbourne), German Mora (Adelaide University), Jessica M Williamson, Lynda K Harris (University of Nebraska, USA), Jose M Polo (Adelaide University), David A MacIntyre (Adelaide University) and Claire T Roberts, was published in PNAS. DOI:10.1073/pnas.2614827123
Acknowledgements: A.L.A. is supported by funding from Flinders University, the Flinders Foundation, Firefly (formerly the Channel 7 Children's Research Foundation) and a Future Making Fellowship from the University of Adelaide. C.T.R. is supported by an NHMRC Investigator Grant (GNT1174971) and a Matthew Flinders Fellowship from Flinders University. This work was supported by NIH NICHD R01 HD089685-01 Maternal molecular profiles reflect placental function and development across gestation PI Roberts.
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Original text here: https://news.flinders.edu.au/blog/2026/10/26/fast-ageing-placentas-may-explain-pre-eclampsia-risks/
Faculty/Staff Achievements Roundup: Puccio and Yudess co-edit new book on creativity
BUFFALO, New York, Oct. 26 -- Buffalo State University issued the following news release:
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Faculty/Staff Achievements Roundup: Puccio and Yudess co-edit new book on creativity
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This is part of a regular series highlighting the honors and achievements of Buffalo State University faculty and staff. The roundup is compiled from previous months' submissions to the Daily Bulletin and department newsletters.
Gerard J. Puccio, SUNY distinguished professor, chair of the Creativity and Change Leadership Department,, and leader of the Center for Applied Imagination, and Jo A. Yudess, adjunct assistant
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BUFFALO, New York, Oct. 26 -- Buffalo State University issued the following news release:
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Faculty/Staff Achievements Roundup: Puccio and Yudess co-edit new book on creativity
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This is part of a regular series highlighting the honors and achievements of Buffalo State University faculty and staff. The roundup is compiled from previous months' submissions to the Daily Bulletin and department newsletters.
Gerard J. Puccio, SUNY distinguished professor, chair of the Creativity and Change Leadership Department,, and leader of the Center for Applied Imagination, and Jo A. Yudess, adjunct assistantprofessor in the Creativity and Change Leadership Department, are among the editors of the recently published The Mid-Century Creativity Reader from Oxford University Press. The book brings together 27 previously unpublished speeches delivered between 1950 and 1970 by influential figures who helped shape the emerging field of creativity, along with commentary from contemporary scholars who connect these historical contributions to current creativity research and practice. Puccio served as the lead editor, with Yudess as the third editor, emphasizing Buffalo State's continued contributions to the field of creativity.
Gerard J. Puccio, Ph.D.
The publication of The Mid-Century Creativity Reader by Oxford University Press highlights an important period in creative studies; it was during this time that creativity began to emerge as a recognized field of professional practice. The book brings together 27 previously unpublished speeches delivered by pioneering thinkers, along with contemporary commentaries from scholars. These contributions offer readers a closer look at the voices and ideas of those who helped launch the creativity movement.
"The publication is a source of great pride because Buffalo State has played such a central role in the development of applied creativity," Puccio said. "Having Oxford University Press, one of the world's most respected academic publishers, brings these historical contributions to a global audience is an important recognition of the intellectual heritage of our field."
The publication of The Mid-Century Creativity Reader comes on the heels of the June opening of the Dr. Sidney and Beatrice Parnes Creativity Collection in Buffalo State University's E. H. Butler Library. The collection features more than 5,000 books on creativity and creative problem-solving. It also provides collaborative spaces for students, scholars, and professionals to explore creative thinking and innovation, as well as a tangible connection to the people, publications, and ideas that helped shape the field. Both of these achievements preserve the history of creativity studies while also making it accessible to future generations.
Jo A. Yudess, Ed.D.
Puccio said he sees these as complementary achievements, as well as investments in Buffalo State's future.
"These achievements are part of a larger and exciting chapter in Buffalo State's history," Puccio said. "With the opening of the AFO Brainstorming Room, the establishment of the Parnes Creativity Collection, and the launch of our new Doctor of Professional Studies in Creativity and Change Leadership--the first doctoral program at Buffalo State--we are simultaneously honoring our pioneering roots and creating new opportunities for scholarship, education, and the practical application of creativity."
In addition to Puccio and Yudess' publication, here are some other recent outstanding achievements by Buffalo State faculty and staff members:
John Abromeit, professor of history and social studies education, is the lead editor of the book, The Internationalization of Critical Theory: Frankfurt School Receptions in Europe, the Americas and East Asia, which was just published by Bloomsbury Academic. The volume brings together 16 scholars from around the world, who write about the history of the reception of the critical social theory of the Frankfurt School in their respective countries.
Alexandra Allen, assistant professor of art education received word from Routledge's editorial board regarding her book proposal, "Inclusion in Art Education: Reimagining Pedagogy Through Disability Studies," and it was "enthusiastically accepted." They offered a contract with a final manuscript deadline for September 2027.
Jozef Bajus, associate professor of fibers hosted a Shibori workshop on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a group interested in fibers. The group won the workshop experience for up to 10 people as a $500 prize during the Bengala 2026 Gala at Buffalo State University.
Byron Brown, Laurie Buonanno, and Frederick Floss, faculty in Buffalo State's Business, Economics, and Public Administration Department, edited Governing New York State Through Crises, a new book published by SUNY Press. The book was featured in City and State magazine in August. Lisa Parshall of Daemen University and the Rockefeller Institute also contributed as an editor.
Maria Chesterton, professor of history and social studies education, has been speaking to the press about her experience with postpartum psychosis in 2019 after the birth of her daughter. She has shared her story to raise awareness and understanding surrounding the Lindsay Clancy trial. Her experience has been covered by the Associated Press and featured on NEWS10 ABC in Albany. In October, Dr. Chesterton will chair a panel titled "Madness in the Family" at the American Studies Association meeting in Chicago, sharing her personal experience and insights to encourage greater awareness, understanding, and social change around this medical emergency.
Ikhee Cho, assistant professor of public administration, recently published the article "From Assistant to Principal: How Internal Promotion Improves School Accountability" in the journal Leadership and Policy in Schools
Ricky L. Fleming, professor of music, recently performed in the D'Youville Kavinoky Theatre's production of A Night With Janis Joplin.
Frances Gage, associate professor of art and design, published the book chapter, "Climate, Snow Architecture and Machines in Federico Zuccari's Dimora di Parma and in the Reception of the Gonzaga Wedding Celebrations of 1608," in Celebrations at Court: Ephemeral Objects, Materials, and Machinery in the Early Modern Period, ed. Anne Haack Christensen, Maria Fabricius Hansen, Jesper Svenningsen, and Lisbet Tarp (New Haven and Aarhus: Yale University Press and Aarhus University Press, 2026).
Keira Hambrick, assistant professor in the College Writing Program and English Department, published a chapter titled "What Do Students Know? Investigating the Prior Knowledge Assumptions and Attitudes of First-Year Writing Instructors" in Radical Frameworks for Writing Transfer: Toward Epistemological Justice in Academic Writing Contexts. The chapter reports on a nationwide study of writing instructors' assumptions about students' prior knowledge and emphasizes the importance of recognizing students' different learning experiences and backgrounds.
Dae-Young Kim, professor of criminal justice, wrote the article, "Pedestrian Stops and Shootings: A System GMM Analysis by Stop Initiation Type and Victim Fatality," which was published in the July 2026 issue of the Journal of Experimental Criminology.
Jason Knight, associate professor of government, planning, and philosophy, is leading a local team working with the International Society for Urban Health (ISUH) on its Healthy Housing Innovations Project. The project brings together communities in six cities, including Buffalo, to promote healthier and more equitable housing by focusing on affordability, quality, and residential stability. The team aims to develop solutions that address local housing challenges and improve residents' well-being. Knight organized a local stakeholder group that includes representatives from Heart of the City Neighborhoods, the City of Buffalo, and WE ACT for Environmental Justice. He will attend the ISUH Annual International Conference in Mexico City in October.
David Mawer, assistant professor of art and design, had his animated series Arrangements for Robotic Arm selected for presentation at Antimatter, a media arts festival in Victoria, British Columbia. Now in its 29th year, Antimatter is described by FilmFreeway as one of the most important media arts events in Canada and the world.
Andrea Nikischer, associate professor of adult education, presented at the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE) Annual Conference on September 18, 2026. Her presentation, "Faculty Agency in the Age of A.I.: Defining and Enacting Your A.I. Teaching Philosophy," was featured as part of the Commission of Professors of Adult Education program during the conference's Virtual Day.
Brent Patterson, associate professor of art and design, will be presenting at the Blender Conference in Amsterdam about the content creation work he and his students are doing for the Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium. Patterson has been running a meetup on campus for the past couple of months that brings designers and creatives and potential students from around Western New York for creative sessions to learn about Blender, 3D animation industry's leading free and open-source software
Gary Solar, chair and professor of geosciences, co-authored a paper titled Structural, Geochemical and Temporal Relations in the Southern Maine Migmatite-Granite Complex, USA, published in a special issue of the Geological Society of London journal. The research explores the geological history of coastal Maine rocks from about 300 million years ago, when North America collided with what is now Africa. The paper builds on more than 30 years of geological research and includes findings from 23 student projects involving 27 undergraduate students, 11 of whom received summer research fellowships through Buffalo State University.
Shasti O'Leary Soudant, assistant professor of art and design, was one of the artists selected to create site-specific artwork for the new Highmark Stadium. The completed collection, including O'Leary Soudant's piece, BILLS WIN!, was unveiled at the start of the season.
Lede photo by Buffalo State Marketing & Communications; headshots courtesy of subjects.
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Original text here: https://suny.buffalostate.edu/news/facultystaff-achievements-roundup-puccio-and-yudess-co-edit-new-book-creativity
CUHK develops first-of-its-kind "microbe-gut-cartilage axis-on-a-chip" for probiotic research in osteoarthritis
SHATIN, Hong Kong, Oct. 26 -- The Chinese University of Hong Kong posted the following news release:
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CUHK develops first-of-its-kind "microbe-gut-cartilage axis-on-a-chip" for probiotic research in osteoarthritis
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A research team led by Professor Alan Li Zhong, Vice-Chancellor Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), has developed a first-of-it-kind "microbe-gut-cartilage axis-on-a-chip" (MGCAoC). This tiny, human cell-based platform mimics how gut microbes influence joint health, revealing how specific probiotics
... Show Full Article
SHATIN, Hong Kong, Oct. 26 -- The Chinese University of Hong Kong posted the following news release:
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CUHK develops first-of-its-kind "microbe-gut-cartilage axis-on-a-chip" for probiotic research in osteoarthritis
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A research team led by Professor Alan Li Zhong, Vice-Chancellor Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), has developed a first-of-it-kind "microbe-gut-cartilage axis-on-a-chip" (MGCAoC). This tiny, human cell-based platform mimics how gut microbes influence joint health, revealing how specific probioticsand their metabolites promote cartilage growth and reduce joint inflammation. The findings offer new hope for treating osteoarthritis and have been published in the prestigious international journal Science Advances.
Overcoming the limitations of traditional animal and laboratory models
Osteoarthritis is one of the most common joint diseases in the world, causing chronic pain, stiffness and reduced mobility, often severely impacting patients' quality of life. Current treatments mainly manage symptoms, with very few options able to stop the disease from worsening.
Beyond aiding digestion, gut microbes also produce small molecules that can affect the immune system and inflammation throughout the body. Researchers have therefore investigated whether gut microbes may influence joints and play a role in the development or progression of osteoarthritis. However, tests on animals often fail to accurately replicate how the human body actually works. At the same time, standard laboratory culture dishes cannot keep gut bacteria and joint cells alive together because they require completely different living conditions. As a result, directly studying the gut-joint connection has remained a major challenge.
A human chip model that rebuilds the gut-cartilage connection
To address this challenge, the research team developed the first microfluidic platform that integrates gut microbes, intestinal epithelium and human cartilage organoids in a single system. The chip was carefully engineered to create an anoxic-oxic interface that supports probiotic growth, while also providing fluid flow conditions that more closely resemble those in the human body. Importantly, it allows certain probiotic metabolites produced on the gut side to reach the cartilage side without unwanted cross-contamination. In other words, the chip acts like a tiny and controllable human-inspired model, allowing researchers to observe how gut microbes affect cartilage in real time.
Probiotics linked to healthier joint cartilage
Using this platform, the researchers introduced specific probiotics into the gut module and studied how the cartilage organoids responded. They found that probiotic-related signals were associated with improved cartilage development. The cartilage organoids showed higher levels of key anabolic markers, including collagen type II and aggrecan, while molecules linked to tissue breakdown were reduced.
The team further tested the system under inflammatory conditions relevant to osteoarthritis. Even in this pro-inflammatory environment, probiotic-derived signals were associated with lower inflammatory responses and better preservation of cartilage structure. These findings suggest that specific probiotics may have a protective effect on joint cartilage.
Study reveals possible biological mechanisms
To better understand how these effects occur, the team carried out multi-omics analyses and identified several candidate metabolites and signalling pathways that may mediate communication between gut microbes and cartilage. The results suggest that the beneficial effects of probiotics and their metabolites may be linked to important signalling pathways, such as PI3K/AKT and MAPK/ERK, which are known to regulate cell growth, tissue development and inflammatory responses. Further experiments using cartilage organoids derived from osteoarthritis patients demonstrated that certain probiotic-derived metabolites could reduce inflammatory and degenerative markers, supporting their therapeutic potential and providing a foundation for developing more targeted therapies with fewer adverse effects.
Opening new avenues for osteoarthritis therapies
Professor Li said: "This study is the first to establish an in vitro human model of the microbe-gut-cartilage axis. It provides researchers with a new way to directly investigate the causal relationship between gut microbes and joint health in a controlled setting. Beyond helping scientists better understand osteoarthritis, the platform could also be used in the future to screen probiotics, functional metabolites and other microbiome-based treatment strategies. The team believes this work may help open a new avenue for osteoarthritis research, one that starts from the gut to protect the joints."
Overcoming the limitations of traditional animal and laboratory models
A human chip model that rebuilds the gut-cartilage connection
Probiotics linked to healthier joint cartilage
Study reveals possible biological mechanisms
Opening new avenues for osteoarthritis therapies
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Original text here: https://www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk/en/press/cuhk-develops-first-of-its-kind-microbe-gut-cartilage-axis-on-a-chip-for-probiotic-research-in-osteoarthritis/
