Fall Issue October 2025
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Better Living Through Well Being

This is the final issue of TMIS eNewsletter.

Our first quarterly issue was twenty-three years ago in 2002 with Tools for Efficiency, portable computing products and other devices. Mobile computing tools for commuting professionals continued to be our main focus until 2006 when we incorporated information related to environmental impacts, advancements in use of technology in medicine, and other social impacts, under the heading Better Living Through Technology.

Our focus changed again in October 2011 to reflect the importance of ethical considerations in the development and use of technology as part of a larger spectrum of human activity, under the heading Better Living Through Well Being. I referenced an essay, “Technology as Forms of Life” in which Langdon Winner used the term “technological somnambulism” for those who simply sleepwalk through their existence with little concern or knowledge as to how to truly interact with technology. He claimed it was possible to participate with and shape how technology is used, rather than allow its progression to be such that it cannot be controlled, changed, or stopped once it is started. He advised it was still possible to wake up and once again take control of the direction we were traveling. Our hope is that it is still possible.

As I bid fond farewell to my role as editor of TMIS eNewsletter, I gratefully and enthusiastically applaud those who don the mantle and shine a light on the subject of ethical technology and its impacts now and into the future. The TMIS eNewsletter Archive will be available online until the end of 2025, at which time the TM Information Services website will be retired.

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The National Runaway Safeline (NRS) just released a new report that shines a light on what's really going on with young people who reach out for help before homelessness happens. Teaming up with the American Institutes for Research, NRS analyzed data from more than 100,000 youth and families between 2019 and 2023. The big takeaway? Most of the young people who contacted NRS were under 18, many called from home rather than the streets, and family conflict was the number one issue they needed help with.

NRS CEO Amanda Whitlock says these insights can help everyone-from local service providers to national policymakers-find better ways to support young people early, before things reach a breaking point. Senator Tammy Duckworth, who helped fund the project, added that keeping youth safe and housed should always be a national priority.

The report encourages families, communities, and young people to reach out for help, spread awareness, and remove the stigma around asking for support. And for anyone feeling stuck or unsure where to turn, NRS's 24/7 helpline (1-800-RUNAWAY) is always open – ready to listen, guide, and help find a safe path forward.

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Swiss energy company MET Group is turning up the voltage on Europe's clean energy transition with its new Climate Impact Report 2024. The company invested a whopping 34% of its budget into green projects last year-showing it's serious about building a lower-carbon future. With more than 1,000 megawatts of new renewable projects in the works and 130 megawatts of battery storage under construction, MET is helping to power Europe's shift toward sustainable, flexible energy.

The report also shows real results: emissions down 23%, carbon intensity down 12%, and a 16% jump in green electricity generation thanks to new solar farms in Spain and Hungary. That's 617 gigawatt-hours of clean power – enough to keep the lights on for hundreds of thousands of homes, the eco-friendly way.

As CFO Noubi Ben Hamida put it, MET isn't just talking about change-it's delivering it. With strong investments, expanding renewable capacity, and a team representing nearly 60 nationalities, MET Group is proving that a cleaner, more secure energy future for Europe isn't just possible – it's already happening.

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Working with actor and rescue cat mom, Shailene Woodley, a leading pet care company and a leading mental health company are shining a light on the positive impact of pets on mental wellbeing, and how adopting a pet can change two lives, the pet’s and the pet owner’s. They commissioned a recent survey in which 83% of pet owners say their pet has improved their mental wellbeing. With an estimated 12 million dogs and 4 million cats living in shelters across the globe waiting to meet their forever family, these collaborators are coming together to promote pet adoption and the power of the human animal bond.

As part of the campaign, Shailene has recorded a Sleep Story, Fnding Four-Legged Friends, inspired by her own experience welcoming pets into her life and other amazing stories of four-legged friends changing the lives of those around them.

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Other articles of interest in this TMIS eNewsletter for Fall 2025:

* Researchers discover an important genetic aggregate approach to better reflect the full spectrum of genetic variation to greatly improve accuracy of genetic diagnoses.

* Quantum reinforcement learning for HVAC control in residential buildings combines real-time occupancy detection with quantum computing principles.

* Leading cat care brand launches “Cats as Therapy Project” to showcase the healing power of cats.

* Medicinal mushroom supplement helps kids and their families improve immunity to stay strong all year.

* Partnerships with the Center for Autism Education Research deepen understanding and strengthen student programs through rigorous and relevant outcomes.

* Everyone is invited to take an Everyday Escape for wellness in mind and body on World Mental Health Day.

* First-of-its-kind partnership launched to turn everyday browsing into real-world ocean cleanup.

* Powerful collaboration features co-curated Peloton programming targeting the needs of perimenopausal and menopausal women.

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I am grateful to have been in a collaborative business with many talented and skilled professionals for over twenty-three years! Thank you dear readers for your interest and your support.

- Mary Michele McLaughlin


From the Front Page of TMIS News
www.tminformationservices.com
Click on links below to view Full Stories.

New Report from the National Runaway Safeline Reveals the Circumstances and Needs of Young People in Crisis and at Risk of Homelessness
Chicago, Illinois

The National Runaway Safeline (NRS), in collaboration with the American Institutes for Research, today announced the release of a new report, Prevention Needs and Opportunities for Young People at Risk of Homelessness, featuring an analysis of data collected from more than 100,000 youth and families who interacted with NRS between 2019 and 2023. The findings showcase the nuanced differences in the characteristics, experiences, and challenges of young people in crisis, at imminent risk of homelessness, or homeless, revealing opportunities for prevention in both the practice and policy realms. 

"These findings help us better understand the experiences and challenges of young people across the country and will enable frontline staff, program administrators, policymakers, and youth advocates to more effectively respond to the needs of this population," said Amanda Whitlock, LCSW, CEO of the National Runaway Safeline. "It's clear that prevention efforts, such as early interventions and addressing family conflict, as well as reducing barriers to seeking help are among the successful strategies to keep young people safe and stably housed."

Youth homelessness is a considerable challenge for communities nationwide, with a growing number of people under the age of 25 reported to be experiencing unaccompanied homelessness in recent years. Homelessness in adolescence and early adulthood can have serious repercussions for young people's health and well-being, and as such, it is critical to understand how to prevent homelessness among young people.

Full Story

MET Group Enables Energy Transition and Publishes Climate Impact Report 2024
Singapore

Swiss-based energy company MET Group published its Climate Impact Report 2024, unveiling a sharpened commitment to supporting Europe's energy transition – whilst driving measurable environmental impact across its operations in 32 national gas markets.

The 34% of CAPEX channelled into energy transition initiatives underscores the company's commitment to shaping a lower-carbon, flexible, and future-ready energy portfolio. This investment focus reflects MET Group's ambition to accelerate the integration of renewables and BESS as core pillars of its growth strategy. Looking ahead, MET is developing 1,000+ MWp of renewable energy projects, in addition to 130 MWp of battery storage systems in operation, or under construction across Europe.

Full Story

Shailene Woodley joins forces with Mars and Calm to celebrate how pet adoption can change two lives
Toronto, Canada

Mars, a leading pet care company is teaming up with award-winning actor Shailene Woodley ("Motor City", "Paradise", "Big Little Lies") and leading mental health company Calm to shine a light on the power of pets for mental wellbeing and to encourage adoption as a path to pet ownership.

Globally, there are around 16 million dogs and cats in shelters waiting to find a home.2 In an effort to help pets in shelters find loving homes, Mars is hosting its second annual Global Adoption Weekend. For those who open their homes to pets, the rewards are huge. The bond with a pet has a measurable, positive impact on mental wellbeing. A recent global survey commissioned by Mars and Calm found a huge 83% of pet owners say their pet has improved their mental wellbeing, and 73% say their pet encourages them to stop overthinking or worrying.1

Shailene Woodley said: "My rescue cats transformed my world. They bring me peace when I'm overwhelmed with a busy filming schedule, and every day, they remind me to breathe, slow down and live in the moment. I want more people to see that adoption isn't just an act of compassion for an animal; it can also be an act of care for yourself. In rescuing Bear and Pharrah, they have changed my life as much as I have changed theirs."

Spending time with pets has also been found to increase levels of oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin, collectively known as the 'happy hormones' because they promote a sense of wellbeing and contentment.3 Plus, the benefits go both ways as studies have found that in three months of adoption, dogs show signs of increased confidence and cats show signs of bonding and calmness.4

Full Story

Texas Children's Researchers Create Groundbreaking Tool to Improve Accuracy of Genetic Testing
Houston, Texas

Researchers at Texas Children's Neurological Research Institute (NRI) and Baylor College of Medicine have developed a powerful new tool within the Genome Aggregation Database (gnomAD) to sharpen the accuracy of genetic testing – a breakthrough with direct implications for patient diagnoses and care worldwide. The work, published in Nature Communications, applies a method called local ancestry inference (LAI), which breaks the genome into ancestry-specific segments to provide more accurate insights into genetic differences.

"This research updates our genomic resources to better reflect the full spectrum of genetic variation," said Dr. Elizabeth Atkinson, Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular and Human Genetics at Baylor College of Medicine and principal investigator at the NRI at Texas Children's. "By refining allele frequency estimates for admixed populations, we can improve the accuracy of genetic diagnoses and reduce the risk of misclassification -- ultimately benefitting patients across all backgrounds."

The study called Improved Allele Frequencies in gnomAD through Local Ancestry Inference, represents a major step forward in the field of genetic testing and personalized medicine. Dr. Atkinson is the senior author of the study, and Pragati Kore and Michael Wilson are co-first authors.

Genetic testing is a powerful tool for diagnosing disease. If genetic variants are common in the general population, they are more likely to be benign. However, estimates for most population frequencies are based on averages across large groups. For people whose genetic background reflects ancestry from multiple continents, such as those classified as African/African American or Latino/Admixed American in gnomAD, this aggregate approach can mask important differences between their ancestral components.

Full Story

Hanbat National University Study Shows Quantum Computing Can Make Your Home Smarter and Greener
Daejeon, South Korea

Residential heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems constitute a significant proportion of energy usage in buildings, necessitating energy management optimization. Occupancy aware HVAC control is a promising option with 20-50% energy savings in homes. However, occupancy sensing technology suffers from long payback times, privacy issues, and poor comfort. Moreover, there is an increasing need for advanced technologies that help regulate indoor air quality alongside energy control.

To this end, scientists are exploring intelligent control methods such as quantum reinforcement learning (QRL) based on quantum computing principles. Such approaches significantly accelerate the machine learning process while handling the complexity of real-world building dynamics.

A group of researchers from the Republic of Korea, led by Dr. Sangkeum Lee, Assistant Professor of Computer Engineering at Hanbat National University, Korea, presented the first demonstration of continuous-variable, quantum-enhanced reinforcement learning for residential HVAC and home power management. Their findings were made available online on 16 June 2025 and published in Volume 21 of Energy and AI on 01 September 2025.

Full Story

Purina Cat Chow Brings Therapy Cat "Therapod" to NYC Students for World Mental Health Day
St, Loius, Missouri

Cat Chow believes that cats have a profound impact on our mental well-being, and i the brand is launching the "Cats as Therapy Project" to promote mental well-being through the healing power of cats.

In partnership with Pet Partners, a leading pet therapy organization, the campaign kicks off in New York City with the Cat Chow Therapod, a mobile wellness pod that will offer college students -- a group facing constant connectivity and social media pressure -- relief from screen fatigue and a break from daily life by spending time with cats. The only requirement? Entrants must temporarily turn in their phones for admission.

Recognizing the healing power of cats, Cat Chow is rolling out the Therapod -- a cozy, mobile space where college students ages 18 and up can enjoy a 10-minute session with a therapy cat in a quiet, welcoming environment.

One in five adults1 -- approximately 59 million Americans -- struggles with daily mental health challenges, and Gen Z is particularly affected. A recent report found that 83 % of Gen Z2 believe they have an unhealthy relationship with their phones, citing negative impacts on mental health, focus, and overall quality of life.

Amid the digital overload, a surprising source of healing has emerged: cats. Research from the American Educational Research Association reveals3 that college students who spent just ten minutes a day petting a cat experienced a measurable drop in cortisol, the stress hormone, suggesting that even small doses of feline interaction can offer meaningful relief. 

Full Story

California Greens Equips Families for Stronger Immunity During Back-to-School Season
Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Sustained health starts with a strong immune system. This is especially important during the back-to-school season, when children return to closed classrooms and close encounters with other germ-carrying peers. California Greens is shining a spotlight this autumn on Gardy, a natural supplement that improves immunity through the synergy of a number of top-shelf ingredients — especially medicinal mushrooms.

The immune system is the body's frontline defense. A strong immune system provides a collective and coordinated response to the introduction of foreign substances, which is a common occurrence when a child attends school. In fact, younger school-aged children get between six and 12 colds per school year. This includes classic challenges, like strep throat, the flu, the stomach flu, pink eye (conjunctivitis), and of course, the common cold.

"Everyone is aware of the threat of things like the flu, especially in the fall. In search of a response to this ongoing need, our team turned to the best illness prevention barrier we know: our own bodies," explained Dr. Ahmed Albandy. "We worked on creating an immunity-boosting formula that includes garlic, echinacea, honey, black seed, propolis, and several essential vitamins and minerals. The part that really stood out, though, was the inclusion of three medicinal mushrooms."

The best tool to guard against this onslaught of infection? Gardy. The mushroom-powered nutraceutical consists of a slurry of natural ingredients, consumable in a drinkable shot format. The formula was invented during the depths of the coronavirus pandemic.

Full Story

Shrub Oak International School and The Pines at Shrub Oak Lead Ongoing Research to Advance Best Practices in Autism Education
London, England

Shrub Oak International School and The Pines at Shrub Oak continue to advance pioneering research that shapes best practices in autism education. Through its Center for Autism Education Research, Institutional Review Board (IRB), and a growing network of strategic partnerships, Shrub Oak integrates current research directly into daily programming, ensuring students benefit from the latest knowledge and innovation.

"Research here is not abstract — it is about deepening our understanding of what truly helps, and holding ourselves accountable to more than our intentions. It is about learning from our practice in a way that can benefit not only our own students, but the broader field," said Dr. Salam Soliman, Director of Clinical Services & Research at Shrub Oak.

A comprehensive framework for ethical, impactful research

At the heart of research efforts at Shrub Oak International School and The Pines at Shrub Oak is the Center for Autism Education Research, which supports a continuous cycle of critical literature review, original study design, and program evaluation, ensuring that practices remain closely aligned with student needs. Complementing this is the Institutional Review Board (IRB) -- a nine-member panel representing diverse expertise -- charged with safeguarding participant rights and welfare while upholding the highest ethical standards. Together, these structures ensure that research remains both rigorous and directly relevant to student outcomes.

Full Story

Why Travel for Wellness: ASICS Reveals 15 Minutes of Movement Can Boost Your Mood More Than a Week at a Wellness Retreat
Cincinnati, Ohio

As stress levels rise, wellness travel is booming -- but it often comes with long flights, hefty price tags, and treatments that don't always deliver lasting results. This World Mental Health Day, ASICS and its newest wellbeing ambassador, Natasha Rothwell, are inviting the world to take an Everyday Escape – a simple 15 minute movement break - that is proven to transport you to a happier place and deliver more lasting benefits than a week at a wellness retreat.[1]

According to Euromonitor, the global demand for wellness holidays has surged by 33% in the last year [2], with the Global Wellness Institute finding that people spend an average of $1,764 for a week away, 41% more than standard travel.[3] However, new global research by ASICS[4], surveying 11,000 people who recently took a wellness holiday, reveals that whilst people travel on average 1,920km for their wellness holidays[4], they don't always deliver. Two-thirds (67%) said their wellness holiday failed to meet all expectations, and an equal number (67%) reported that any wellness benefits faded as soon as they left the retreat or shortly after returning home. For some, the experience even added to their stress levels, nearly a third (32%) cited cost, and a quarter (25%) said long travel distances were stress-inducing.

In contrast, ASICS' research highlights the transformative power of movement on mental wellbeing, showing that just 15 minutes and 9 seconds of exercise can trigger a measurable mental uplift.[5] In a new Everyday Escape trial, overseen by Dr Brendon Stubbs of King's College London, participants who took a simple daily 15-minute movement break reported a 21% greater uplift in their overall mental state compared to their wellness holiday. In fact, 71% said daily movement was more effective at reducing stress, 65% found it more mood-enhancing and 73% experienced longer-lasting mental wellbeing benefits than after their recent wellness holiday.

Full Story

Wave Browser to Remove 100,000 Pounds of Ocean Plastic and Trash--Just by Browsing
Georgetown, Cayman Islands

Ocean plastic pollution affects over 1,000 marine species and costs billions in environmental and economic damage. But small actions, like opening a browser, can add up to massive impact. That's the philosophy behind a new partnership between Wave Browser and global ocean cleanup company 4ocean. Since its inception, 4ocean has successfully removed over 40 million pounds of plastic and trash from our ocean, rivers, and coastlines.

Every Wave Browser user contributes to a cleaner ocean, just by browsing. As part of a Certified Cleanup Partnership, Wave has committed to funding the removal of 100,000 pounds over 12 months. Wave is now one of the only web browsers with verified ocean cleanup built directly into its core experience. Users don't need to change their behavior. Just using the browser helps reduce ocean plastic and trash.  A cleanup impact tracker is now available to Wave Browser users so they can see how their daily browsing contributes to the broader environmental mission. 

"We're making environmental impact as effortless as opening a new tab," said Deniz Gezgin, CEO of Eightpoint. "As we expand our portfolio of digital products, we're also investing in sustainability—aligning growth with global impact. We're exploring additional partnerships, environmental features, and mission-driven innovations that turn everyday digital habits into positive change." 

"Wave Browser is proving that technology can be a force for good," added Alex Schulze, co-founder and CEO of 4ocean. "Together, we're removing hundreds of thousands of pounds of trash from the ocean—and empowering millions of people to help." 

Full Story

Peloton and Respin Health Announce First-of-Its-Kind Research Partnership to Study the Impact of Exercise on Menopause Symptoms
New York, New York

Peloton, the global leader in connected fitness, and Respin Health, the most comprehensive platform for holistic, personalized menopause care, announce a groundbreaking partnership to advance the conversation around women's health during perimenopause and menopause. Together, the brands will partner to offer special fitness content, unite communities to empower women, and launch one of the first large-scale research studies exploring how targeted exercise can improve menopause-related symptoms, bringing scientifically validated solutions and mainstream visibility to an often-overlooked life stage.

The partnership will unfold in two key phases. Beginning this October, Peloton and Respin Health will invite 500 Peloton members to take part in an innovative research study. Aptly named 'PRESS' (Peloton/Respin Exercise & Symptoms Study), the study will provide participants with free access to a curated collection of Peloton workouts designed in collaboration with Respin Health's menopause care program, which integrates clinically informed, science-backed protocols to help manage symptoms such as sleep disruption, mood swings, and energy fluctuations. The study will run through December, with results to be shared in January 2026. Those findings will power the next phase of the partnership: the launch of the Peloton x Respin Menopause Care Program, giving women everywhere ongoing access to evidence-based exercise and menopause support.

The venture marks Peloton's inaugural curation of content specifically for menopausal women, available to all Members on the Peloton platform. The eight-week program consists of a Collection of Peloton classes and new classes co-created with Respin featuring inspiring Peloton Instructors Christine D'Ercole, Susie Chan, Joslyn Thompson Rule and Charlotte Weidenbach. To allow participants to share in community, Peloton will leverage the brand's Teams feature by creating a dedicated "Menopause Health" Team, available on the Peloton App.

Full Story


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In loving memory of my late husband Laurence Neil “Mack” McLaughlin, Jr.
January 9, 1951 – November 19, 2023

The Green Man


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