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Introduction To Aquaponics, Amy M. Shambach, Rebecca M. Ward, J. Stuart Carlton, Kwamena K. Quagrainie, Tomas O. Höök

Supplementary Content for Aquaponics: Farming Fish and Growing Greens for Grades 9–12

This PowerPoint slide provides readers with an introduction to aquaponics. This book was published by the Purdue University Press. Copyright 2026.

Permission: Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant

Animal Taxa Threatened By Adverse Fire Regimes In Western Australia: A Synthesis And Outlook, Tim S. Doherty, Mark G. Allen, Karlene Bain, Stephen Beatty, Allan H. Burbidge, Renee A. Catullo, Sarah Comer, Ben Corey, Saul J. Cowen, Robert A. Davis, Martin A. Dziminski, J. Anthony Friend, Bruce Greatwich, Mark S. Harvey, Hannah Killian, Michael E. Klunzinger, Damian C. Lettoof, Nicola J. Mitchell, Melinda Moir, Harry A. Moore, David L. Morgan, Ian J. Radford, Michael J. Rix, Tom Vigilante, Adrian F. Wayne, Corey Whisson, Nicole Willers, Matthew R. Williams

Natural Resources Research Articles

Adverse fire regimes threaten biodiversity, potentially leading to population declines and increased extinction risk. Understanding how varying fire regimes affect threatened species is essential for effective ecosystem management, including in Western Australia where diverse ecosystems are exposed to wildfires, Indigenous burning, and prescribed fire. We compiled and synthesised data on the threat of adverse fire regimes to threatened animal taxa in Western Australia. Using a threat classification scheme, we ranked adverse fire regimes as having either no, low, medium, high, or unknown impact on each taxon. A total of 212 taxa were reviewed, 153 (72%) of which are considered fire-threatened: …

Metacommunity Coupled Epidemiological And Biophysical Modeling Of An Emergent Coral Disease, Benjamin Holmes Farmer

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Emerging infectious diseases pose imminent risk to the marine realm and coral reefs in particular. Since its emergence in 2014, stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) has dramatically reduced living coral cover in Florida and charted a similar course in the Caribbean. SCTLD is by far the most severe coral disease in history and has driven highly susceptible species to local extinction, yet the mechanisms driving the regional epizootic are not well understood. Here, we developed reef-scale parameterizations of disease spread using model sites in the lower Florida Keys, developed extensive metacommunity habitat maps for the US Caribbean, and then …

Defining Rna Oligonucleotides That Reverse Deleterious Phase Transitions Of Rna-Binding Proteins With Prion-Like Domains., Lin Guo, Jacob Mann, Jocelyn Mauna, Katie Copley, Hejia Wang, Jack Rubien, Cristian Bergmann, Jenny Carey, Jessica Merjane, Marilyn Ngo, Jiazhen Xu, Hana Odeh, Jiabei Lin, Bo Lim Lee, Laura Ganser, Emma Robinson, Kevin Kim, Anastasia Murthy, Tapas Paul, Bede Portz, Amanda Gleixner, Zamia Diaz, Ashleigh Smirnov, George Padilla, Ellen Lavorando, Carolann Espy, Yulei Shang, Eric Huang, Alessandra Chesi, Nicolas Fawzi, Sua Myong, Christopher Donnelly, James Shorter

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) with prion-like domains (PrLDs), such as FUS and TDP-43, condense into functional liquids, which can transform into pathological fibrils that underpin fatal neurodegenerative disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)/frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Here, we define short RNAs that prevent FUS fibrillization by promoting liquid phases and distinct short RNAs that prevent and reverse FUS condensation and fibrillization. These activities require interactions with multiple RNA-binding domains of FUS and are encoded by RNA sequence, length, and structure. We define a short RNA that dissolves cytoplasmic FUS aggregates, restores nuclear FUS, and mitigates FUS toxicity in optogenetic models and ALS …

Classification Of Venomous Snakes In Thailand Based On The Melting Temperature Specificity Of Target Genes Using Sybr Green Real-Time Pcr, Sunutcha Suntrarachun, Tanapong Tawan, Lawan Chanhome

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

The SYBR Green real-time PCR was developed for the rapid and accurate classification of major venomous snakes in Thailand. The method relies on melting temperature (Tm) discrimination of target genes from mitochondrial ribosomes. Short single-stranded primers were designed to specifically amplify synthetic DNA of venomous snakes in a single reaction (singleplex), producing distinct melting peaks. Neurotoxic snakes such as cobras (Naja spp.), king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) and kraits (Bungarus spp.) exhibited melting peaks ranging from 81.00 to 86.00°C, whereas hematotoxic snakes, including the Siamese Russell's viper (Daboia siamensis), Malayan pit viper (Calloselasma rhodostoma …

Dna Of Leadership To Guide Our Existential Purposes Toward Kindness, Hakan Kapucu

The Journal of Values-Based Leadership

This article examines the intersection of leadership and humanity’s quest for existential purpose, highlighting the role of human values such as kindness, empathy, respect, and ethics in guiding individuals toward meaning. It examines how existential purposes—shaped by philosophical, spiritual, social, and scientific perspectives—align with values that foster personal fulfillment and collective well-being. The article highlights the potential of leaders to address existential struggles, such as the dread of insignificance or isolation, by creating purpose-driven workplaces. Two leadership styles, servant leadership and technoversal leadership, are presented as exemplary models. Servant leadership prioritizes community, fostering environments where individuals discover purpose through shared …

Sperm-Associated Antigen 6 (Spag6) As A Potential Marker Of Sperm Function In Diagnosing Male Infertility, Ibtisam A. Al-Ali,, Kawkab A. Alsaadi

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Background: While male infertility has become a significant global health concern, conventional analysis of semen has not made progress in the detection of contraindicated molecular biomarkers, such as sperm-associated antigen 6 (SPAG6), which is a protein involved in axonemal structure and flagellar motility.

Hypothesis: Expression of SPAG6 correlates with sperm motility and structural integrity. This means that its dysregulation may serve as a molecular indicator of impaired sperm performance.

Methods: A comprehensive review of recent studies was conducted with a focus on SPAG6’s molecular characteristics, expression patterns in normal versus abnormal spermatozoa, and the role it plays in motility-related …

Optimized Co2 Gas Sensing With Sns:Sm2o3/N-Si Nanocomposites Fabricated Via Spray Pyrolysis, Wasan A. Khalaf, Mays A. Hammadi, Mohammed J. Alsultani, Yahya R. Hathal, Mohammed O. Salman

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

In this work, tin sulfide:samarium oxide (SnS:Sm₂O₃) composite films were deposited using a spray pyrolysis technique for room-temperature CO₂ gas sensing. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed a polycrystalline SnS nature of orthorhombic-phase crystallinity at 10 at.% Sm ions, while 20 at.% Sm induced Sm₂O₃ as a separate phase. Field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) induced uniform grains and increased the surface roughness, enhancing gas adsorption. UV-visible absorbance revealed band-gap narrowing. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis revealed vibrational band shifts, confirming the structural modifications. Gas-sensing measurements demonstrated 5.72%, 19.65%, and 9.65% for pure SnS, …

Characterization Of Inflammatory Pseudotumors In A Large Animal Model Of Liver Cancer, Erik N K Cressman, Samantha Hicks, Natalie W Fowlkes, Danielle L Stolley, Maria Sophia Stenkamp

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The development of relevant and robust large animal models of hepatocellular carcinoma is needed to test new therapeutic strategies for this disease. Transgenic approaches hold promise in addressing this complex problem. One such model, the Oncopig, has been reported to develop tumors of up to 4 cm in diameter within 7-14 days at sites of in situ vector inoculation. However, the resulting lesions reportedly contained an extensive inflammatory component that has not been evaluated in detail.

Methods: Herein, we describe our results from multiparametric characterization of the lesions generated using liver biopsy cores incubated in vector solution and replaced …

Loss Of Kdm6a-Mediated Genomic Instability And Metabolic Reprogramming Regulates Response To Therapeutic Perturbations In Bladder Cancer, Pratishtha Singh, Ranit D'Rozario, Bidisha Chakraborty, Swadhin Meher, Deblina Raychaudhuri, Aminah J Tannir, Yang Li, Anurag Majumdar, Jessalyn Hawkins, Yun Xiong, Philip Lorenzi, Padmanee Sharma, Kadir Akdemir, Patrick Pilie, Abhinav K Jain, Byron Hing Lung Lee, Sangeeta Goswami

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Mutations in epigenetic regulators are common in bladder cancer, yet their impact on therapeutic responses remains unclear. Here, we identify that loss-of-function mutations in KDM6A, a histone demethylase altered in about 26% of advanced bladder cancers, are associated with poor survival after cisplatin chemotherapy, whereas they correlate with improved outcomes with anti-PD-1 therapy. Using CRISPR-Cas9-engineered murine and human bladder cancer models, we show that KDM6A deficiency increases formation of extrachromosomal circular DNA carrying chemoresistance loci, promoting cisplatin resistance. In parallel, KDM6A loss impairs DNA repair and rewires tumor metabolism, reducing glycolysis and lactate output. This metabolic shift diminishes histone lactylation …

3d Reconstruction Of Spatial Transcriptomics With Spatial Pattern Enhanced Graph Convolutional Neural Network, Chen Tang, Yuansheng Zhou, Xue Xiao, Lei Dong, Lei Yu, Qiwei Li, Guanghua Xiao, Lin Xu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Spatially resolved transcriptomics (SRT) is a promising new technology that enables simultaneous analysis of gene expression and spatial information for biomedical research. However, the existing statistical and deep learning algorithms used for analyzing SRT data rely solely on two-dimensional (2D) spatial coordinates, which limits their ability to accurately identify spatial domains, spatially variable genes (SVGs), cell-to-cell communications, and developmental trajectories in a three-dimensional (3D) spatial manner. To address these limitations, we introduced Spa3D, which utilized the anti-leakage Fourier transform and graph convolutional neural network model to reconstruct 3D-based spatial structures from multiple 2D SRT slices. We demonstrate that Spa3D is …

Defective Dna Damage Response Is A Targetable Therapeutic Vulnerability In Esr1 Mutant Breast Cancer, Sarah K Herzog, Jessica H Stevens, Guowei Gu, Sandra L Grimm, Kloma Cardoza, Autumn G M Hawkins, Hangqing Lin, Daniela Ramos, Amanda R Beyer, David G Edwards, Derek Dustin, Harry J Yang, Nicole Liang, Ashfia F Khan, Tasneem Bawa-Khalfe, Daniel J Mcgrail, Shiaw-Yih Lin, Cristian Coarfa, Suzanne A W Fuqua

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

ESR1 mutations are the leading cause of endocrine therapy resistance and progression in ER-positive metastatic breast cancer. ESR1 mutations are detected in ~50% of metastatic breast cancer patients, and identification of effective targeted therapeutics are critically needed. Here, we identified enrichment of dysregulated replication stress and DNA damage responses in multiple ESR1 mutant models. Targeting the replication stress response utilizing checkpoint inhibition in combination with PARP inhibition synergistically suppressed growth, induced cell cycle arrest, and attenuated DNA replication. PARP inhibition blocked metastatic dissemination in vivo and reduced both PARP1 and ER-regulated protein expression. PARP trapping by olaparib treatment with or …

Computational Comparative Genome Analysis Reveals The Characteristics Of Acinetobacter Baumannii C123 Strains, Jennilyn Nicole G. Mendoza

The Lasallian Journal of Health

Acinetobacter baumannii is a Gram-negative, aerobic and multi-drug resistant bacterial pathogen commonly associated with nosocomial infections. This species has several strains and is known to cause pneumonia, septi cemia, meningitis, urinary tract infection and wound infection which are associated with high mortality rates. This study focused on a genome-wide compari son among target C123 strain and 15 other reference strains to predict the overall properties, and resistance mechanisms of the C123 strain. A total of 16 whole genome sequence strains were retrieved from NCBI database for analysis. The selected strains were assem bled and annotated using computational tools. Further more, …

Environmental Detection And Genetic Profiling Of Staphylococcus Sp. At Taal Volcano Island, Ray Albert E. La Rosa, Shaun Michael C. Basco, Martin Gabriel Z. Dela Cruz, Iluminada A. Ronio

The Lasallian Journal of Health

Taal Volcano Island’s hydrothermal environment supports extremophilic microbial communities. This study isolated, biochemically characterized, and genetically profiled Staphylococcus sp. from shoreline soils. Soil samples were collected near active vents and cultured on acidified gelatin agar (pH 5.0). Biochemical tests—Methyl Red, Spirit Blue Agar, Motility, and Acrolein—were performed. DNA extraction and 16S rRNA sequencing identified Staphylococcus candidatus, with 99 % sequence similarity to GenBank entries JN794602.1 and KX250303.1. Phylogenetic analysis clustered the isolate with S. ureilyticus, S. cohnii, and S. equorum. The organism’s presence in volcanic soils demonstrates adaptation to acidic, thermophilic conditions and suggests potential applications in bioremediation and enzyme …

Inhibition Of Gpx4 Induces The Death Of P53-Mutant Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells, William M Tahaney, Amanda Lanier, Jing Qian, Cassandra L Moyer, Nghi Nguyen, Yanxia Ma, Jamal Hill, Reid T Powell, Clifford C Stephan, Peter J A Davies, Abhijit Mazumdar, Powel H Brown

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer characterized by high rates of tumor protein 53 (TP53) mutation and with limited targeted therapies. Despite being clinically advantageous, direct targeting of mutant TP53 has been challenging. Therefore, we hypothesized that p53-mutant TNBC cells rely upon other potentially targetable survival pathways.

Methods: In vitro and in silico screens were used to identify drugs that induced preferential death in TP53-mutant cells. The effect of the ferroptosis inducer ML-162 was tested both in vitro and in vivo and the mechanism of cell death following ML-162 treatment or GPX4 knockout was …

Peripheral Nerve Injury Reduces Macrophage Efferocytosis To Facilitate Neuropathic Pain, Vipul K Pandey, Tusar K Acharya, Kendal F Willcox, Sandeep Dembla, Ajeena Ramanujan, Anamaria R Grieco, Younus A Zuberi, Rajasekaran Mahalingam, Andrew J Shepherd, Cobi J Heijnen, Peter M Grace

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

For reasons not fully understood, proresolving immune processes sometimes fail to engage after peripheral nerve injury (PNI), leading to enhanced neuropathic pain and inflammation. Here, we implicate reduced efferocytosis due to proteolytic cleavage of surface MER tyrosine kinase (MERTK) from macrophages at the site of PNI. After PNI, the proportion of macrophages expressing MERTK progressively decreased, while soluble (cleaved) MER increased. Using male and female knock-in mice encoding cleavage-resistant Mertk, we demonstrated that cleavage of MERTK from macrophages at the PNI site led to exaggerated pain-related behaviors. PNI-induced hyperactivity of TRPV1+ sensory neurons and damage to myelin and myelinated …

Spatial2gwas: A Database For Linking Spatial Transcriptomic Regions With Gwas Traits, Xi Hu, Aoqi Wang, Huan Yu, Pora Kim, Xiaobo Zhou

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Spatial heterogeneity of gene expression within tissue regions has a critical influence on biological functions, thereby affecting disease pathogenesis. However, systematic associations between spatially resolved transcriptomes and phenotypes, especially in complex diseases, remain underexplored. Here, we developed spatial2GWAS (http://www.spatial2gwas.cn), a comprehensive resource linking spatial transcriptomic (ST) regions with GWAS traits. In the database, we collected 1196 ST slices (human and mouse) from five technologies and 812 GWAS traits spanning 18 phenotype categories and identified 29 701 ST slice-GWAS trait pairs containing 47 492 significant regions. Functional analyses reveal distinct patterns of cell type composition, gene expression, GO/KEGG pathway activation, and …

N-Palmitoyl Glutamine Is A Candidate Mediator Of Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Jeremy M Robbins, Mark Benson, Anthony R P Verkerke, Gaurav Tiwari, Shuliang Deng, Prashant Rao, Usman A Tahir, Julian Avila-Pacheco, Xu Shi, Yuntian Guan, Foje-Geh Tendoh, Jacob L Barber, Patricia E Miller, Andrew S Perry, Michael E Hall, Alexis C Wood, Kent D Taylor, Wendy S Post, Stephen S Rich, Matthew Nayor, James G Wilson, Gregory D Lewis, Ravi V Shah, Jerome I Rotter, Scott A Summers, Laura M Raffield, Shingo Kajimura, Claude Bouchard, Clary B Clish, Mark A Sarzynski, Robert E Gerszten

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: Cardiorespiratory fitness is an integrative measure of cardiometabolic health and predictor of survival, yet little is known about its molecular underpinnings. Small molecule metabolites and lipids are increasingly recognized as exercise-stimulated signaling molecules and candidate molecular transducers of cardiorespiratory fitness.

Methods: We performed nontargeted liquid chromatography mass spectrometry-based plasma metabolomics in 654 participants (mean age, 35 years; 55% women) from the HERITAGE Family Study (Health, Risk Factors, Exercise Training, and Genetics) who had cardiorespiratory fitness (maximal oxygen uptake [VO2max]) measured by cardiopulmonary exercise testing and underwent 20 weeks of supervised endurance training. Metabolite-VO2max relationships were assessed using linear regression …

Multi-Omics Comparison Of Two Emerging Storage Pests (Necrobia Rufipes And Tribolium Castaneum) Of Dried Black Soldier Fly Larvae Product, Inusa Jacob Ajene, Chrysantus M. Tanga, Komivi S. Akutse, Samantha W. Karanu, Fathiya M. Khamis

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The black soldier fly (BSF) larvae is a rich and promising source of alternative protein that continues to increasingly gain global traction as a functional ingredient for sustainable livestock and fish production. The key setback to postharvest processing of stored BSF larvae (BSFL) products is the significant damage caused by two notable storage pests (Tribolium castaneum and Necrobia rufipes). Here, we present a comparative analysis of the complete mitochondrial genomes and gut microbiome profiles of T. castaneum and N. rufipes. The study mitogenomes were similar in size and structure to other coleopteran mitogenomes. The gut microbiome profiles of the two …

Anti-Csf-1r Therapy With Combined Immuno-Chemotherapy Coordinate An Adaptive Immune Response To Eliminate Macrophage Enriched Triple Negative Breast Cancers, Diego A Pedroza, Xueying Yuan, Fengshuo Liu, Hilda L Chan, Christina Zhang, William Bowie, Alex J Smith, Sebastian J Calderon, Nadia Lieu, Weiguo Wu, Paul Porter, Poonam Sarkar, Na Zhao, Constanze V Oehler, Ondrej Peller, M Waleed Gaber, Qian Zhu, Charles M Perou, Xiang H-F Zhang, Jeffrey M Rosen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Women diagnosed with metastatic triple negative breast cancer (mTNBC) have limited treatment options, are more prone to develop resistance and are associated with high mortality. A cold tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) characterized by low T cells and high tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) in mTNBC is associated with the failure of standard-of-care chemotherapy and immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) treatment. We demonstrate that the combination of immunomodulatory low-dose Cyclophosphamide (CTX) coupled with anti-CSF-1R antibody targeted therapy (SNDX-ms6352) and anti-PD-1 (ICB), was highly effective against aggressive metastatic Trp53 null TNBC transplantable syngeneic models that present with high macrophage infiltration. Mechanistically, CSF-1R inhibition along …

Inhomogeneous Branching Random Walks: Incorporating Genealogy And Density Effects, Lauren Ajax, Beatrice Durham, Pratima Hebbar, Cade Johnston, Jiayi Zhang

Spora: A Journal of Biomathematics

We introduce a novel framework using inhomogeneous branching random walks (BRWs) to model biological processes, specifically by introducing genealogy-dependence in branching rates and displacement distributions to model bacterial colony growth. Current stochastic models often either assume independent and identical behavior of individual agents or incorporate only spatiotemporal inhomogeneity, ignoring the effect of genealogy-based inhomogeneity on the long-time behavior of these processes. Such asymptotics are of independent mathematical interest and are crucial in understanding the emergence of patterns. We propose several inhomogeneous BRW models in 2D space where displacement distributions and branching rates vary with time, space, and genealogy. A combined …

Sheep Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Biological Characteristics, Ethical Considerations, And Translational Applications, Hasan M. Agha, Mohammed A. Abdalqader, Oh Chin Kin Michelle, Sabaa M. Agha, Jantson Hoh, Abdulmutalib Alabeed Allaq, Amjad Abdulhadi Mohammed, Muneer Mohammed Saleh Alsayadi

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are widely used in regenerative medicine due to their self-renewal capacity, multilineage differentiation potential, and paracrine activity. Limitations associated with the sourcing and scalability of human MSCs have increased interest in xenogeneic alternatives, particularly sheep umbilical cord–derived MSCs (sUC-MSCs). These cells display high proliferative capacity, stable karyotypes, and a typical MSC immunophenotype (CD44, CD73, CD90, CD105), with low basal immunogenicity. sUC-MSCs exhibit osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic differentiation potential and secrete angiogenic and immunomodulatory factors, including VEGF, HGF, IGF-1, TGF-β, and IL-10. Owing to their biological similarities to human MSCs and accessibility from perinatal tissue, …

The Role Of Exotic Plants In The Diet Of Black-And-White Colobus Monkeys (Colobus Guereza) In Kibale National Park, Uganda, Michelle Gaykov

Theses and Dissertations

Exotic plants have both positive and negative impacts on their environment. They may act as additional food sources for the local fauna or as competition for local flora or leading to changes within a landscape or ecosystem. To considere the role of exotics in primate diet, this study focused on the dietary role of exotic plant species in the diet of a leaf-eating foregut fermenting monkey, the black-and-white colobus monkeys (Colobus guereza) in Kibale National Park, Uganda. Int this study, I followed individuals in two groups of black-and-white colobus monkeys for 21 days recording their food intake (0700-1900). I also …

Circadian-Shaped Immune Variability Predicts Infection Outcome, Jonathan Lalsiamthara, Mariko Locke, Alejandro Aballay

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Disease risk and severity are influenced by genetics, epigenetics, and environmental factors. However, immune responses vary even among genetically similar or related individuals, shaped by inherited and noninherited factors. Using Caenorhabditis elegans, we found that pathogen susceptibility can be predicted by preinfection biomarkers. Individuals with high-basal expression of irg-5, an infection response gene regulated by the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase-1 (PMK-1) pathway, were more susceptible to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. A genome-wide screen identified the myeloid ecotropic viral integration site-1 (MEIS) homeobox protein UNC-62 as a regulator of irg-5 expression, acting through PMK-1 and GATA binding erythroid-like transcription factor …

Cholesterol Efflux Protein, Abca1, Supports Anticancer Functions Of Myeloid Immune Cells, Shruti V Bendre, Yu Wang, Basel Hajyousif, Rajendra K C, Shounak G Bhogale, Dhanya Pradeep, Natalia Krawczynska, Claire P Schane, Erin Weisser, Avni Singh, Simon Han, Hannah Kim, Lara Kockaya, Anasuya Das Gupta, Adam T Nelczyk, Hashni Epa Vidana Gamage, Yifan Fei, Desirée Rodríguez-Casiano, Xingyu Guo, Haoyun Li, Ryan J Deaton, Fei Mo, Maria Sverdlov, Peter H Gann, Saurabh Sinha, Sahil Sahni, Kun Wang, Kevin Van Bortle, Emad Tajkorshid, Wendy A Woodward, Wonhwa Cho, Erik R Nelson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Breast and other solid tumors respond poorly to immune therapy. Myeloid cells (MCs) such as macrophages contribute to resistance. Established clinical evidence links cholesterol to cancer outcomes, with MC function being regulated by cholesterol metabolism. We screened MC-expressed regulators of cholesterol homeostasis linked to survival and identified the cholesterol efflux protein ABCA1. ABCA1 activity increases anticancer functions of macrophages: enhancing tumor infiltration, decreasing angiogenic potential, reducing efferocytosis, and improving support of CD8+ T cell activity. Mechanistically, different AKT isoforms are involved, through both PI3K-dependent and PI3K-independent mechanisms. Highlighting the clinical relevance of our findings are correlations between ABCA1 in macrophages …

Nf2 Loss Malignantly Transforms Human Pancreatic Acinar Cells And Enhances Cell Fitness Under Environmental Stress, Yi Xu, Michael H Nipper, Angel A Dominguez, Chenhui He, Francis E Sharkey, Sajid Khan, Han Xu, Daohong Zhou, Lei Zheng, Yu Luan, Jun Liu, Pei Wang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) occurs as a complex, multifaceted event driven by the interplay of tumor-permissive genetic mutations, the nature of the cellular origin, and microenvironmental stress. In this study, using primary human pancreatic acinar 3D organoids, we performed a CRISPR-KO screen targeting 199 potential tumor suppressors curated from clinical PDAC samples. Our data revealed significant enrichment of a list of candidate genes, with neurofibromatosis type 2 associated gene (NF2) emerging as the top target. Functional validation confirmed that loss of NF2 promoted the transition of PDAC to an invasive state, potentially through extracellular matrix modulation. NF2 inactivation …

Peroxisomal Integrity In Demyelination-Associated Microglia Enables Cellular Debris Clearance And Myelin Renewal In Mice, Joseph A Barnes-Vélez, Xiaohong Zhang, Yaren L Peña Señeriz, Kiersten A Scott, Yinglu Guan, Jian Hu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Demyelination associated microglia (DMAM) orchestrate the regenerative response to demyelination by clearing myelin debris and promoting oligodendrocyte maturation. Peroxisomal metabolism has emerged as a candidate regulator of DMAMs, though the cell-intrinsic contribution in microglia remains undefined. Here we elucidate the role of peroxisome integrity in DMAMs, using cuprizone-mediated demyelination coupled with conditional KO of peroxisome biogenesis factor 5 (PEX5) in microglia. Absent demyelination, PEX5 conditional KO (PEX5cKO) had minimal impact on homeostatic microglia. However, during cuprizone-induced demyelination, the emergence of DMAMs unmasked a critical requirement for peroxisome integrity. At peak demyelination, PEX5cKO DMAMs exhibited increased lipid droplet burden and reduced …

The Prophylactic Effect Of Aqueous Chamomile Extract On Nitrogen Dioxide Exposed Mice, Mariam Kbaysi, Ruzanna Petrosyan, Jamilah Borjac

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) a gaseous air pollutant resulting from industrial activities. It has been associated to various diseases related to oxidative stress and inflammation, including cardiovascular and nervous system disorders. Chamomile is mainly recognized for its high content of antioxidant flavonoids and is extensively utilized in herbal medicine for treating several disorders. The aim of this study is to examen the protective effects of chamomile extract against NO₂-induced damage in female mice. Balb/c mice were divided into four groups: control, chamomile extract, NO₂ derivatives, and NO₂ derivatives combined with chamomile extract. Upon completion of the study, Blood was …

Exploring Alkaline Protease Activity Of Bacillus Strain Isolated From Sidon Dumpsite Lebanon, Zahra Farroukh, Dalia El-Badan, Jamilah Borjac

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

Proteases are crucial hydrolytic enzymes present in all organisms, performing essential physiological and industrial tasks. This study was conducted to screen and isolate protease-producing bacteria from soil and water samples collected from Sidon dumpsite in Lebanon. Bacterial samples were cultured onto skim milk agar medium to identify the alkaline protease-producing ones. In this study, we report on the partial purification and characterization of one of the isolated alkaline protease-producing bacteria. The bacterium was identified as Bacillus subtilis Z3 based on 16S rRNA sequencing. The molecular weight of the partially purified protease was approximately 55 kDa, estimated by sodium dodecyl sulphate …

Capacity-Building Project To Progress The Implementation Of International Instruments To Combat Iuu Fishing (Capfish) : Summer Academy: West Africa, World Maritime University, Korea Maritime Institute, Ministry Of Oceans And Fisheries

Reports

The CAPFISH Project was created in response to an identified need for capacity-building to address illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and related matters - a complex problem affecting aquatic ecosystems, coastal communities, fishers and fish workers, and economic and national security. Over the last five years, the CAPFISH Project has provided training and educational materials on IUU fishing to developing country administrations around the world, most recently with a two-week regional Summer Academy for West Africa. This Academy ran for two weeks and included delegates from fisheries, maritime and enforcement agencies, industry, maritime training institutions, regional fisheries bodies, and …