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Practical Strategies for Integrating Artificial Intelligence into Open Educational Resources: A Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Workshop
No full textThis was presented during the Florida OER Summit 2025:
Get ready to explore the possibilities of Generative AI (GenAI) in OER development in this interactive, hands-on workshop!
Utilizing a fun, “Choose-Your-Own-Adventure” format, participants will actively shape the session by making key decisions about creating OER through the ADDIE framework — Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate. This engaging session offers a practical, flexible approach to understanding how GenAI tools can streamline and enhance each stage of the OER creation process
Using Guided Notes To Provide Scaffolded Design as a Tool for Cognitive Efficiency and Conceptual Clarity
Get PDFThese supplemental learning materials streamline the learning process through a design that facilitates scaffolded learning by organizing focus on mastering macro-level concepts as a prerequisite to individualized details in content-dense courses.
Guided notes lead the learner on a path of discovering the depth of content while the layout encourages the development of discernment among multiple pathologies that share disease/disorder categorization.
This tool has helped students master the skill of chunked learning and has allowed them to implement this strategy, using these worksheets as a template, into multiple disciplines outside of pathophysiology
Gender-targeted Substance Use Interventions for Young Cisgender Women and Transgender Women – A Scoping Review (Preliminary Results)
Get PDFAbstract Polysubstance use among young people has recently become the focus of popular media, public health interventions, and research due to alarming increases in polysubstance use-related morbidity and mortality in younger age groups in North America. Research also suggests that gender is an important factor to consider when trying to understand polysubstance use and to develop effective interventions for substance use in young people.
Cisgender and transgender women\u27s experience of polysubstance use is contextualized by intersecting structural, social, and individual-level factors. For example, young cisgender women are more likely to be the victims of rape, incest, childhood sexual and emotional abuse relative to men/males and stigmatized for substance use due to societal expectations and gender-specific characteristics (e.g., as family caregivers, childcare, and pregnancy). Transgender women are more likely to experience family rejection, bullying, transphobia, violence, and poverty and have been shown to be two to four times more likely to use substances in their lifetimes and at earlier ages relative to cisgender peers. Transgender youth use substances to cope with isolation they experience as a result of stigmatized gender and sexual identities.
Research Question & Objectives
Considering data that demonstrates young cisgender and transgender women are vulnerable to polysubstance use, our research team sought to understand and characterize the substance use interventions that exist targeting young cisgender and transgender women. We also sought to characterize the interventions and identify gaps and areas for improvement.
Method
We undertook a scoping review of the available scientific literature. Our scoping review protocol was guided by the JDI Manual for Scoping Reviews (2020) and involved searches of six databases (CINAHL, APA PsycInfo, Medline, Social Services Abstracts, Web of Science (Science Citation Index Expanded), and Web of Science (Social Sciences Citation Index Expanded). All results were imported to EndNote and the results were deduplicated.
Results
N=17 studies were included in our full-text analysis. The results date ranges from the late 1980s to the present. N=10 studies were from the U.S. There was a significant focus on pregnant/perinatal interventions for cisgender women (N=6). Four of these interventions were variations of methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) for pregnant/perinatal young cisgender women. Additional included studies coalesced around several intervention ‘types’ including a web-based gender-specific intervention for young girls, adaptation of an in-person intervention (The Women’s Coop), and adaptation of Women’s Recovery Group (WRG) for young adult women. We found one substance use intervention targeted to gender and sexual minority youth.
Conclusion & Next Steps:
The next (current) steps in our analysis include reference list screening and content analysis of the studies to understand the justification for a gender-targeted approach. We also seek to understand how the interventions have been adapted to young people and the forms of engagement undertaken with cisgender and gender diverse participants. Thus far, it is evident there is an emphasis on harm reduction in the interventions which is promising, and a potential disproportionate emphasis on young cisgender and perinatal/pregnant women. We aim to further explore and critically reflect on these findings in our presentation
Building and Defending LGBTQ+ Collections
Get PDFThis chapter explores the critical role of collection development policies in libraries, particularly in supporting and defending LGBTQ+ collections. The authors argue that a robust, regularly updated, and transparent collection development policy is essential for ensuring equitable representation and resisting censorship. They emphasize that such policies must account for the needs of historically underserved communities, including LGBTQ+ populations, and serve as tools for advocacy and defense against internal and external challenges.
Using real-world examples, the chapter highlights the consequences of outdated or ineffective policies, including instances of hidden censorship and administrative interference in material acquisition. The authors advocate for retrospective collection development to correct historical biases, and they underscore the importance of outreach, transparency, and community engagement. The chapter concludes with a call for libraries to anticipate and prepare for challenges through policy, allyship, and proactive communication, thereby reinforcing their commitment to intellectual freedom and inclusive service
Lost Innocence
Get PDFHuman trafficking is defined as involving “force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act” (U.S. Department of Homeland Security). It disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, particularly children within the U.S. welfare system. This research aims to analyze the characteristics of this system that produce vulnerabilities in welfare children that heighten their risk of being trafficked. The study focuses on socio-economic, psychological, and environmental vulnerabilities, examining how these factors, combined with increased internet accessibility, exacerbate the risks of trafficking. Using a qualitative approach, the research uses secondary data from peer-reviewed journal articles, government reports, and reputable databases to identify common vulnerabilities among welfare children since 2010. The data analysis correlates these vulnerabilities with instances of trafficking, aiming to uncover significant patterns and trends. This comprehensive analysis seeks to fill existing research gaps by providing an understanding of the interplay between various risk factors perpetuated by the U.S. welfare system and trafficking susceptibility and occurrences over the past 14 years. The study\u27s findings will inform policy development and intervention strategies aimed at mitigating trafficking risks and safeguarding vulnerable children within the welfare system. By identifying critical intervention points and proposing effective strategies, this research contributes to advancing knowledge and practices in child welfare and anti-trafficking efforts, ultimately protecting children from exploitation and abuse. The expected outcome is to reveal the most prevalent vulnerabilities that predispose welfare children to trafficking and provide practical recommendations for policymakers, child welfare agencies, and anti-trafficking organizations
Investigating the Effects of a Psychoplastogen on Depressive-Like Behaviors in Huntington Disease Model Mice
Get PDFHuntington Disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expansion in the trinucleotide CAG repeat on exon 1 of the huntingtin gene. In HD one of the first symptoms is often depression. In cases where SSRIs fail, treatments for treatment-resistant depression often become a patient’s only option. These rigorous treatments, such as electroconvulsive therapy, are not suitable for this patient population as it can worsen motor symptoms. In order to search for potential alternatives, we queried whether depressive-like behavior could be reduced in Hu97/18 and Q175FDN HD mice by administering tabernanthalog, a non-hallucinogenic psychedelic analog. Our study is not completed at this time as not all cohorts have reached the age of testing. In our preliminary studies reported here, we have found that compared to Hu18/18 control littermates, Hu97/18 mice do not display apathy as assessed by the sucrose splash test, however, tabernanthalog treatment did decrease apathy-like behavior in female Hu97/18 mice. We did not observe a significant effect of tabernanthalog treatment on depressive-like behavior during the forced swim test, but there was a trend towards an anti-depressant-like effect. Further testing is ongoing to include the rest of the Hu97/18 mice in this trial, followed by repeating the same trial in the Q175FDN mice. Our future findings could potentially provide proof of principle for the use of psychoplastogens for treatment-resistant depression in HD
Comparative Efficacy of Hallucinogens in Treating Mood Disorders Through a Meta-Analysis of Symptom Reduction, Dosage, and Duration
Get PDFBackground: Hallucinogens including psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), ketamine, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) (as ayahuasca), have re-emerged as potential rapid-acting treatments for mood disorders. We conducted a meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials evaluating their efficacy in depression and anxiety disorders. Methods: A systematic review identified 12 trials (Total ≈ 670) meeting inclusion criteria (randomized, placebo-controlled). Data on Cohen’s d and Hedges’ g effect sizes for depression- and anxiety-related outcomes were extracted. We computed pooled effect sizes (weighted by sample size and inverse variance), performed subgroup analyses by drug, diagnosis, follow-up duration, and outcome measure type, and assessed heterogeneity (I2, Q) and funnel plot asymmetry. Results: Hallucinogen-assisted therapy showed large antidepressant and anxiolytic effects overall. The pooled Hedges’ g was 0.79 for depression and 0.87 for anxiety outcomes, favoring hallucinogens over placebo. Psilocybin and ayahuasca produced consistently large reductions in depression (g≈1.0–1.2) (Goodwin et al., 2022) (Palhano-Fontes et al., 2019) and anxiety (g≈1.0–1.1) (Ross et al., 2016) (Palhano-Fontes et al., 2019) symptoms. LSD-assisted therapy yielded robust anxiolytic effects in patients with anxiety (g1.5) (Gasser et al., 2014), with more moderate effects on depressive symptoms (g0.7) (Holze et al., 2023). Ketamine had significant, rapid antidepressant effects in major depression (g0.5 at 24 hours) (Lapidus et al., 2014), and substantial anti-suicidal effects in acutely suicidal patients (e.g., MADRS-SI item, g\u3e3) (Domany & McCullumsmith, 2021). Between-study heterogeneity was moderate to high (I^2≈45–67%). Subgroup analysis indicated larger effects in life-threatening illness-related distress (e.g., cancer-associated anxiety/depression, g1.2–1.4) and smaller effects in treatment-resistant depression (g~0.4–0.8). Follow-up duration influenced outcomes: psychedelic effects often persisted for weeks (Holze et al., 2023) (Ross et al., 2016), whereas ketamine’s effects waned by 12 weeks (Glue et al., 2024) without continued dosing. Mechanistically, classical psychedelics (LSD, psilocybin, DMT) likely act via 5-HT2A receptor agonism leading to enhanced neuroplasticity (Calder & Hasler, 2022), while ketamine’s effects involve glutamate-mediated synaptogenesis (BDNF–TrkB signaling) (Krystal et al., 2023). Conclusion: Hallucinogen-assisted therapies are associated with rapid, clinically meaningful reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms across diagnoses. Psilocybin and LSD, given with psychotherapy, showed durable benefits (weeks-months) (Holze et al., 2023) (Ross et al., 2016). Ketamine reliably produced acute antidepressant and anti-suicidal effects (Domany & McCullumsmith, 2021), though maintenance treatments are required for sustained remission. While results are encouraging, significant heterogeneity and potential publication bias were observed (funnel plots showed asymmetry). Further large-scale trials are warranted to confirm efficacy, address long-term outcomes, and optimize treatment protocols (e.g. dosing, psychotherapy integration). Keywords: hallucinogens, psychedelics, LSD, psilocybin, DMT, ketamine, depression, anxiety, meta-analysis, suicidal ideatio
Effect of Culture Condition on Exosome Secretion by Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Get PDFThis study focuses on investigating the effect of culture conditions on the production of exosomes by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles, typically measuring between 30 to 120 nanometers in size, that are naturally secreted by cells to facilitate intercellular communication. Exosomes are promising candidates for both diagnostic tools and drug delivery systems. MSC-derived exosomes have been studied for their unique ability to carry anti-inflammatory cytokines and other beneficial factors. While MSC exosomes hold significant potential in the treatment of numerous diseases, long-term cultivation of MSCs poses various challenges. Over time, MSCs often exhibit increased differentiation and a slow proliferation rate when grown in 2D cultures, which do not accurately replicate the conditions within the human body. In contrast, 3D cultures provide a more physiologically relevant environment. In this study, we found that cultivating MSCs as spheroids increased secretion of exosomes. This study will provide valuable insights into addressing these challenges and optimizing clinical utilization of MSCs and their exosomes to harness their therapeutic potential effectively