Digital Commons Network^™

Kap1 Promotes Gastric Adenocarcinoma Progression By Activating Hippo/Yap1 Signaling Via Binding To Hnrnpab, Shumei Song, Yibo Fan, Gengyi Zou, Longfei Huo, Janani Kumar, Yuan Li, Ruiping Wang, Enyu Dai, Jiankang Jin, Ailing W Scott, Shan Shao, Melissa Pool Pizzi, Jody V Vykoukal, Hiroyuki Katayama, Samir Hanash, George A Calin, Xing Zhang, Min Gyu Lee, Zhenning Wang, Yuan-Hung Lo, Qiong Gan, Rebecca E Waters, Feng Yin, Linghua Wang, Xiaodong Cheng, Jaffer A Ajani, Shilpa S Dhar

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) remains a significant global health challenge, with over a million new cases annually. Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC), detected in ∼20 % of cases at diagnosis and ∼45 % later, is uniformly fatal, with limited treatment options. This study investigated the role of KAP1 in GAC progression, focusing on its interaction with YAP1 and cancer stemness traits. Analysis of over 596 primary GACs and 72 PC samples revealed that high nuclear KAP1 expression correlates with poor prognosis. KAP1 knockdown reduced oncogenic activity and stemness traits in GAC cells. Mechanistically, KAP1 positively regulates YAP1 transcription by binding to its promoter …

Tumour And Microenvironment Crosstalk In Nsclc Progression And Response To Therapy, Zahraa Rahal, Roy El Darzi, Seyed Javad Moghaddam, Tina Cascone, Humam Kadara

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The treatment landscape of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is evolving rapidly, driven by advances in the development of targeted agents and immunotherapies. Despite this progress, some patients have suboptimal responses to treatment, highlighting the need for new therapeutic strategies. In the past decade, the important role of the tumour microenvironment (TME) in NSCLC progression, metastatic dissemination and response to treatment has become increasingly evident. Understanding the complexity of the TME and its interactions with NSCLC can propel efforts to improve current treatment modalities, overcome resistance and develop new treatments, which will ultimately improve the outcomes of patients. In this Review, …

Protocol To Detect M22g Modification On Single Trna Iso-Decoders By Immuno-Northern Blotting, Sseu-Pei Hwang, Katherine Barondeau, Catherine Denicourt

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

tRNA modifications are highly dynamic and play crucial roles in regulating gene expression. Here, we present an assay for analyzing N2, N2-dimethylguanosine (m22G) modifications on tRNAs using an antibody-based detection approach. We describe steps for isolating tRNAs from human cells via ion-exchange chromatography, capturing specific tRNA iso-decoders on streptavidin magnetic beads, and detecting modifications through immuno-northern blotting. This approach enables researchers to investigate other tRNA modifications using specific antibodies or downstream approaches such as mass spectrometry.

Risk Of Early Death After Acute Leukemia Diagnosis Among Adolescents And Young Adults, Amy M Berkman, Clark R Andersen, Vidya Puthenpura, Nicholas J Short, Kelly Merriman, Mahesh Swaminathan, Branko Cuglievan, David Mccall, Courtney Dinardo, Cesar Nunez, Nitin Jain, Tapan Kadia, Ghayas Issa, Amber Gibson, Miriam B Garcia, J Andrew Livingston, Susan Parsons, Michelle A T Hildebrandt, Michael E Roth

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Advances in care have led to improvements in survival for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) diagnosed with cancer; however, the risk of early death remains high for certain cancers, particularly acute leukemias. Risk factors for early death in AYAs diagnosed with acute leukemia have not been well studied.

Methods: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry was used to assess risk of early death (within 2 months of diagnosis) in AYAs diagnosed with acute leukemia (n = 16 153). Early death proportion, by year, for AYAs diagnosed between 2006 and 2020 was described. Associations between incidence of early death …

A Phase Ii Trial Of Azacitidine With Ipilimumab, Nivolumab, Or Ipilimumab And Nivolumab In Previously Untreated Myelodysplastic Syndrome, Ian M Bouligny, Guillermo Montalban-Bravo, Koji Sasaki, Naval Daver, Elias Jabbour, Yesid Alvarado, Courtney D Dinardo, Farhad Ravandi, Gautam Borthakur, Prithviraj Bose, Naveen Pemmaraju, Steven Kornblau, Tapan Kadia, Lucia Masarova, Koichi Takahashi, Michael Andreeff, Alexandre Bazinet, Hui Yang, Rashmi Kanagal-Shamanna, Chitra Hosing, Sherry Pierce, Meghan Meyer, Xuelin Huang, Guillermo Garcia-Manero

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Crem Is A Regulatory Checkpoint Of Car And Il-15 Signalling In Nk Cells, Hind Rafei, Rafet Basar, Sunil Acharya, Yu-Sung Hsu, Pinghua Liu, Deqiang Zhang, Toszka Bohn, Qingnan Liang, Vakul Mohanty, Ranjan Upadhyay, Ping Li, Pravin Phadatare, Merve Dede, Donghai Xiong, Huihui Fan, Corry Mathew Jones, Sebastian Kunz, May Daher, Ana Karen Nunez Cortes, Mayra Shanley, Bin Liu, Sadie Mae Moseley, Chenyu Zhang, Dexing Fang, Pinaki Banerjee, Nadima Uprety, Ye Li, Rejeena Shrestha, Xinhai Wan, Hong Shen, Vernikka Woods, April Lamour Gilbert, Seema Rawal, Jinzhuang Dou, Yukun Tan, Jeong-Min Park, Francia Reyes Silva, Alexander Biederstädt, Mecit Kaplan, Xin Ru Jiang, Inci Biederstädt, Bijender Kumar, Silvia Tiberti, Madison Moore, Jingling Jin, Ryan Z Yang, Luis Muniz-Feliciano, Samuel Rosemore, Paul Lin, Gary M Deyter, Natalie Wall Fowlkes, Abhinav K Jain, David Marin, Anirban Maitra, Ken Chen, Tobias Bopp, Elizabeth J Shpall, Katayoun Rezvani

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) natural killer (NK) cell immunotherapy offers a promising approach against cancer1-3. However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate CAR-NK cell activity remain unclear. Here we identify the transcription factor cyclic AMP response element modulator (CREM) as a crucial regulator of NK cell function. Transcriptomic analysis revealed a significant induction of CREM in CAR-NK cells during the peak of effector function after adoptive transfer in a tumour mouse model, and this peak coincided with signatures of both activation and dysfunction. We demonstrate that both CAR activation and interleukin-15 signalling rapidly induce CREM upregulation in NK cells. Functionally, CREM …

A Method For Sensitivity Analysis Of Automatic Contouring Algorithms Across Different Contrast Weightings Using Synthetic Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Lucas Mccullum, Zayne Belal, Warren Floyd, Alaa Mohamed Shawky Ali, Natalie West, Samuel Mulder, Yao Ding, Jiaofeng Xu, Dan Thill, Nicolette O'Connell, Joseph Stancanello, Kareem A Wahid, David T Fuentes, Ken-Pin Hwang, Clifton D Fuller

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background and purpose: A majority of institution-specific automatic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based contouring algorithms utilize one contrast-weighting (i.e., T2-weighted), however their performance within this contrast-weighting (i.e., across different repetition time, TR, and echo time, TE) is under-investigated and poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to develop a method to evaluate the robustness of automatic contouring algorithms to varying MRI contrast-weightings.

Materials and methods: One healthy volunteer and one patient were scanned using the multi-delay multi-echo (MDME) scan on a 3T MRI. The parotid and submandibular glands in these subjects were contoured using an automatic contouring algorithm trained on …

Technical Development And In Silico Implementation Of Syntheticmr In Head And Neck Adaptive Radiation Therapy: A Prospective R-Ideal Stage 0/1 Technology Development Report, Lucas Mccullum, Samuel L Mulder, Natalie A West, Robert Aghoghovbia, Alaa Mohamed Shawky Ali, Hayden Scott, Travis C Salzillo, Yao Ding, Alex Dresner, Ergys Subashi, Dan Ma, R Jason Stafford, Ken-Pin Hwang, Clifton D Fuller

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: SyntheticMR has the capability of generating quantitative relaxometry maps and synthetic contrast-weighted MRI images in rapid acquisition times. Recently, it has gained attention in the diagnostic community, however, no studies have investigated its feasibility on the MR-Simulation or MR-Linac systems, especially as part of the head and neck adaptive radiation oncology workflow.

Purpose: Demonstrating its feasibility will facilitate rapid quantitative biomarker extraction, which can be leveraged to guide adaptive radiation therapy decision making.

Methods: Two phantoms, two healthy volunteers, and one patient were scanned using SyntheticMR on the MR-Simulation and MR-Linac devices with scan times between 4 to 6 …

Long-Term Transfusion Independence With Luspatercept Versus Epoetin Alfa In Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agent-Naive, Lower-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes In The Commands Trial, Guillermo Garcia-Manero, Valeria Santini, Amer M Zeidan, Rami S Komrokji, Veronika Pozharskaya, Shelonitda Rose, Karen Keeperman, Yinzhi Lai, Sameer Kalsekar, Barkha Aggarwal, Dimana Miteva, David Valcárcel, Pierre Fenaux, Jake Shortt, Matteo Giovanni Della Porta, Uwe Platzbecker

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: The efficacy of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) for transfusion-dependent (TD) anemia in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR-MDS) is limited. Luspatercept achieved significantly greater rates of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion independence (TI) versus epoetin alfa (an ESA) in the phase 3 COMMANDS trial. This analysis assessed long-term RBC-TI, cumulative response, and safety with luspatercept in COMMANDS.

Methods: Eligible patients aged ≥ 18 years, with ESA-naive, RBC TD LR-MDS were randomized 1:1 to receive luspatercept (1.0 mg/kg, titration to 1.75 mg/kg permitted) or epoetin alfa (450 IU/kg, titration to 1050 IU/kg). Disease assessment was carried out at week 24 (day 169) and …

Long-Term Follow-Up And Combined Phase 2 Results Of Eprenetapopt And Azacitidine In Patients With Tp53 Mutant Mds/Aml, David A Sallman, Rami S Komrokji, Amy E Dezern, Marie Sebert, Guillermo Garcia-Manero, Ramy Rahmé, Eric S Winer, Jacqueline Lehmann-Che, Gail J Roboz, Isabelle Madelaine, Mikkael A Sekeres, Pierre Peterlin, Onyee Chan, Odile Beyne-Rauzy, Andrew Kuykendall, Christian Recher, Amy Mclemore, Aspasia Stamatoullas, Ling Zhang, Lise Willems, Qianxing Mo, Emmanuel Raffoux, Lisa Nardelli, Céline Berthon, Najla H Al Ali, Bruno Quesnel, Eric Padron, Hagop M Kantarjian, Alan F List, Lionel Ades, Jeffrey E Lancet, Pierre Fenaux, Thomas Cluzeau

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

TP53 gene mutations (mTP53) represent a distinct molecular cohort with poor outcomes. Eprenetapopt (APR-246) is a novel, first-in-class small molecule that reactivates p53 and targets cellular redox balance, ultimately inducing apoptosis and ferroptosis in mTP53 cancer cells. This is a multicenter, international collaboration of the US myelodysplastic syndromes/neoplasms (MDS) clinical research symposium and the Groupe Francophone des Myelodysplasies (GFM) of hypomethylating agents-naïve mTP53 higher risk MDS and oligoblastic acute myeloid leukemia (AML; ≤30% blasts; NCT03072043/NCT03588078). Patients received eprenetapopt 4500 mg iv (Days 1-4) + azacitidine 75 mg/m2 sc/iv × 7 days in 28-day cycles. The …

Progress And Challenges Of Artificial Intelligence In Lung Cancer Clinical Translation, Erjia Zhu, Amgad Muneer, Jianjun Zhang, Yang Xia, Xiaomeng Li, Caicun Zhou, John V Heymach, Jia Wu, Xiuning Le

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, such as convolutional neural networks and transformers, have significantly impacted cancer care. For lung cancer, AI holds great potential in addressing smoking cessation, personalized screening, and imaging genomics. And these data could be incorporated to optimize treatment selection. This review highlights the transformative impact of AI in lung cancer management, discusses crucial barriers such as model bias and fairness, and outlines future directions for clinical application.

First-In-Human Phase 1 Study Of Khk2455 Monotherapy And In Combination With Mogamulizumab In Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors, Timothy A Yap, Olivier Rixe, Capucine Baldini, Ursa Brown-Glaberman, Sergey Efuni, David S Hong, Christophe Massard, Jameel Muzaffar, Andreea Varga, Emrullah Yilmaz, Yuta Ikawa, Lisa H Shiue, Yi Liu, Matthew W Hruska, Henry Zhao, Akihiro Tokunaga, Solmaz Sahebjam

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) is a heme-containing enzyme that degrades tryptophan (Trp) to kynurenine (Kyn), which suppresses effector T cells and reduces antitumor activity. KHK2455 is a long-acting selective IDO1 inhibitor that blocks the heme component of the IDO holoenzyme. Mogamulizumab is a humanized immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody targeting CCR4. KHK2455 + mogamulizumab demonstrated enhanced antitumor activity in preclinical studies, which led to a first-in-human, two-part, multicenter, open-label, phase 1, dose-escalation, cohort-expansion trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02867007) evaluating the safety/tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and IDO1 activity of KHK2455 alone and in combination with mogamulizumab in patients with treatment-refractory advanced solid tumors. …

A Follow-Up Study On The Novel Use Of Contrast-Enhanced Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging For Extremity Desmoid Fibromatosis Response Assessment, Raul F Valenzuela, Elvis Duran-Sierra, Mathew Antony, Behrang Amini, Sam Lo, Keila E Torres, Ken-Pin Hwang, Jingfei Ma, R Jasson Stafford, Ravin Ratan, John E Madewell, Dejka Araujo, William A Murphy, Colleen M Costelloe

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Desmoid tumors are rare mesenchymal neoplasms characterized by a clonal proliferation of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. Using the novel contrast-enhanced susceptibility-weighted imaging (CE-SWI) for characterizing desmoid tumors can enhance the separation between fibrous T2-hypointense and cellular T1-enhancing components. We aim to evaluate the effectiveness of the CE-SWI signal, volumetric, and radiomics-derived features in assessing desmoid treatment response. This IRB-approved study included 17 single-lesion extremity desmoid fibromatosis patients who underwent standard-of-care MRI, including CE-SWI, from March 2021 to February 2024. Measurements of maximum diameter, volume, and the modified Choi (m-Choi: tumor/muscle T2 ratio) were computed based on CE-SWI and T2-STIR volumetric tumor …

Memantine Inhibits Calcium-Permeable Ampa Receptors, Elisa Carrillo, Alejandra Montaño Romero, Cuauhtemoc U Gonzalez, Andreea L Turcu, Santiago Vázquez, Edward C Twomey, Vasanthi Jayaraman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Memantine is an US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drug that is thought to selectively inhibit NMDA-subtype of ionotropic glutamate receptors (NMDARs). NMDARs enable calcium influx into neurons and are critical for normal brain function. However, increasing evidence shows that calcium influx in neurological diseases is augmented by calcium-permeable AMPA-subtype ionotropic glutamate receptors (AMPARs). Here, we demonstrate that these calcium-permeable AMPARs (CP-AMPARs) are inhibited by memantine. Electrophysiology unveils that memantine inhibition of CP-AMPARs is dependent on their calcium permeability and the presence of their neuronal auxiliary subunit transmembrane AMPAR regulatory proteins (TARPs). Through cryo-electron microscopy we elucidate that memantine …

Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Mri Processing Comparison For Distinguishing True Progression From Pseudoprogression In High-Grade Glioma, Ahmad Amer, Shehbaz Ansari, Apollo Krayyem, Suprateek Kundu, Swapnil Khose, Halyna Pokhylevych, Susana Calle, Chirag B Patel, Zixi Yang, Ho-Ling Anthony Liu, Jason M Johnson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Treatment-related changes may occur due to radiation and temozolomide in glioblastoma and can mimic tumor progression on conventional MRI. DCE-MRI enables quantification of the extent of blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, providing information about areas of suspicious postcontrast T1 enhancement. We compared DCE-MRI processing methods for distinguishing true disease progression from pseudoprogression in high-grade gliomas (HGGs).

Methods: We identified 110 patients with HGG treated with surgery and chemoradiation who underwent DCE-MRI to further interrogate areas of new/increasing enhancement. All patients had confirmatory surgery/biopsy with pathology-confirmed progression or pseudoprogression. Scans were performed at 3T and analyzed using nordicICE. The MCA, SSS, …

Supporting Administrative Time For Advanced Practitioners: A Comprehensive Approach, Merdith Beaton, Andrea Edwards, Wendy Vogel, Haleigh Mistry, Lisa Kottschade, Sara Toth, David Johnson, Heather Koniarczyk

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Advanced practitioners (APs), including nurse practitioners (NPs), physician assistants (PAs), clinical nurse specialists, and pharmacists, are pivotal in health care. Despite their critical role, record numbers of APs are leaving the profession, primarily due to poor work-life balance, which contributes to burnout and high turnover rates. This article explores the impact of administrative time on AP job satisfaction and retention, drawing from recent surveys and case studies. Findings indicate that dedicated administrative time significantly enhances job satisfaction and reduces burnout, with data showing that APs with administrative time are less likely to leave their roles. The Advanced Practitioner Society for …

Hyalinization-Based Pathologic Response And Immune Infiltration Following Neoadjuvant Radiotherapy With Or Without Immune-Checkpoint Blockade In Localized Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma, R S Traweek, M Zoghbi, R Lazcano, B M Cope, A J Bishop, A Farooqi, D Mitra, A K Yoder, B A Guadagnolo, D R Ingram, K Wani, D Shamsutdinova, A J Lazar, W-L Wang, C P Scally, E Z Keung, K E Torres, K K Hunt, R Ratan, J A Livingston, M S Nakazawa, D M Araujo, S Patel, V Ravi, A P Conley, M A Zarzour, N Somaiah, C L Roland, E F Nassif Haddad

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Standard-of-care treatment of localized undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) involves preoperative radiotherapy (RT) and surgery. Combination of RT with immune-checkpoint blockade (ICB) represents a promising new strategy.

METHODS: Our primary objective was to assess survival outcomes and pathologically documented response in patients receiving RT with or without ICB or chemotherapy.

RESULTS: In a retrospective cohort of 68 patients with primary or locally recurrent UPS who received neoadjuvant RT with or without ICB, the ICB group had greater tumor hyalinization than the non-ICB group (89% compared with 30%, P = 0.018). In the non-ICB group, 19/37 patients (51%) achieved hyalinization-based pathologic …

Coordinated Regulation By Lncrnas Results In Tight Lncrna-Target Couplings, Hua-Sheng Chiu, Sonal Somvanshi, Chung-Te Chang, Eric James De Bony De Lavergne, Zhaowen Wei, Chih-Hung Hsieh, Wim Trypsteen, Kathleen A Scorsone, Ektaben Patel, Tien T Tang, David B Flint, Mohammad Javad Najaf Panah, Hyunjae Ryan Kim, Purva Rathi, Yan-Hwa Wu Lee, Sarah E Woodfield, Sanjeev A Vasudevan, Andras Attila Heczey, M Waleed Gaber, Gabriel O Sawakuchi, Ting-Wen Chen, Pieter Mestdagh, Xuerui Yang, Pavel Sumazin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The determination of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) function is a major challenge in RNA biology with applications to basic, translational, and medical research. We developed BigHorn to computationally infer lncRNA-DNA interactions that mediate transcription and chromatin-remodeling factor activity. Its accurate inference enabled the identification of lncRNAs that coordinately regulate both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional processing of their targets. These lncRNAs may act as molecular chaperones, regulating the stability and translation of mRNAs they helped transcribe, leading to tightly coupled expression profiles. Our analysis suggests that lncRNAs regulate cancer genes across tumor contexts, thus propagating the effects of non-coding alterations to …

In Vivo Pulse-Chase In Caenorhabditis Elegans Reveals Intestinal Histone Turnover Changes Upon Starvation, Christopher Borchers, Kara Osburn, Hyun Cheol Roh, Scott T. Aoki

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

The ability to study protein dynamics and function in the authentic context of a multicellular organism is paramount to better understand biological phenomena in animal health and disease. Pulse-chase of self-labeling fusion protein tags provides the opportunity to label proteins of interest and track those proteins over time. There are currently several challenges associated with performing in vivo protein pulse-chase in animals, such as cost, reproducibility, and accurate detection methods. The Caenorhabditis elegans model organism has attributes that alleviate many of these challenges. This work tests the feasibility of applying the Halo modified enzyme (HaloTag) for in vivo protein pulse-chase …

Sedentary Behavior Patterns After Acl Reconstruction, David M. Werner, Liubov Arbeeva, Yvonne M. Golightly, Balarinivasa R. Sajja, Michael D. Rosenthal, Matthew Tao, Elizabeth Wellsandt

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(4): 636-658, 2025. Individuals after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) are less physically active than their uninjured peers, but little is known about their sedentary behavior (SB). This study aimed to identify patterns of SB in individuals six and 18 months after ACLR. Eighteen individuals after ACLR wore accelerometers for one week during six- and 18-month post-operative assessments (83.3% female, 19.7±5.6 years old, BMI 23.9±kg/m²). The percentage of awake time spent in SB was estimated. A multilevel (two time points – six and 18 months), multidimensional (13 hours) functional principal component analysis generated …

Reliability Of A Linear Position Transducer During The Bench Press Across Three Segments, Jennifer Rivera, Edward Pelka, Ryan Gant, Anthony G. Pinzone, Emily C. Tagesen, Modesto A. Lebron, Adam R. Jajtner

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(2): 622-635, 2025. The purpose of this investigation was to determine inter-set and inter-session reliability of the HUMAC360 measures for duration (DUR), peak velocity (PV) and mean velocity (MV) across three segments of the bench press. Seventeen recreationally active adults participated in this investigation. During visit one, participants completed a bench press one-repetition maximum (1RM). Visits two and three consisted of two sets of three repetitions at 30%-, 50%-, 60%-, and 70 %-1RM. Segments were defined by dividing total displacement into equal thirds at the bottom (BOT), middle (MID) and top (TOP). Intraclass correlation coefficients …

The Effects Of Heavy Metals Applied In Digested Sewage Sludge To Grassland, A Desira Buttigieg, D A. Klessa, D A. Hall

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The application of potentially toxic elements in sewage sludge to grassland has implications to environmental pol­lution and the health of grazing rumiµants. In Scotland, mod­erately acid grassland receives most of the sewage sludge applied to agricultural land and there is therefore a risk of heavy metal mobilisation and uptake by herbage. In addition, soil ingestion (Fleming, 1986) and intake of herbage contami­nated with sludge adhering to leaf surfaces may present an important means by which potentially toxic elements are absorbed by ruminants. In this paper, two aspects of sewage sludge use on grassland are studied, namely : 1. Factors affecting …

Assessing The Influence Of Afforestation On Soil Quality And Soil Organic Carbon: A Case Study In Rashaya District, Lebanon, Mohammad Saleh, Wael Mostafa, Safaa Baydoun, Hisham Salman, Jamilah Borjac

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

Afforestation is a promising strategy for improving soil quality and enhancing carbon sequestration, contributing to climate change mitigation efforts. This study assessed the impact of afforestation on soil parameters in two afforested areas and one natural forest, compared with adjacent non-forested sites in Rashaya al-Wadi, Lebanon. Soil samples (0–30 cm depth) were analyzed for texture, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), soil organic matter (SOM), soil organic carbon (SOC), organic nitrogen (ON), mineral nitrogen (MN), and available phosphorus (AP) using ISO and standardized protocols at the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI). The findings indicate that afforestation significantly increased SOM, SOC, and ON, …

Phytochemical Analysis And Antimicrobial Activity Of Micromeria Barbata Leaf And Stem Extracts Against Pseudomonas Aeruginosa: Insights From Molecular Docking And In Vitro Assays, Shiraz Rawas, Dalia El-Badan, Nawal Al Hakawati

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

The present study provides the characterization of the phytochemical content and the antibacterial activity of ethanolic extracts from the leaves (LM) and stems (SM) of Micromeria barbata (M.barbata) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Important functional groups were determined by analyzing the FTIR spectra of LM and SM. The phytochemical profiles were analyzed by GC-MS, and these characterized the chemicals according to retention periods and peak regions. The binding affinities of discovered compounds with the P. aeruginosa LasR and PqsD proteins were evaluated using molecular docking approach. Assays for biofilm formation, MIC, MBC, and agar well diffusion were used to assess the …

Arum Palaestinum Extracts: A Natural Solution For Root-Knot Nematode Control, Samaher Ghaith, Michel Afram, Jamilah Borjac

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs), Meloidogyne spp., have a destructive effect on a wide range of the crops. Arum palaestinum is a wild plant in levant that has a lot of different phytochemicals. The aim of this study is to evaluate the nematicidal potential of A. palaestinum extracts against RKN. The nematicidal efficiency of three types of extracts (aqueous, ethanolic and chloroform) of leaves, flowers and rhizomes of A. palaestinum on second stage juveniles (J2s) and hatching egg rate (RHI) of RKNs were evaluated in vitro using 6 concentrations of each extract (50mg/mL, 37.5mg/mL, 25mg/mL, 12.5mg/mL, 5mg/mL and 2.5mg/mL) and compared …

Spatially Resolved Transcriptomic Profiles Of Placental Cell Populations In Placental Malaria, Corina A. Mong

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Malaria remains a prevalent infectious disease that continues to cause disease-related morbidity and mortality. Despite preventative efforts, malarial pregnancies still cause birth complications, therefore emphasizing the necessity to study these adverse outcomes in malarial pregnancy. Malaria in pregnancy can lead to placental malaria (PM), which is the presence and accumulation of Plasmodium-infected red blood cells in the placental intervillous space (IVS). Even after treatment, past PM (presence of hemozoin crystals from the parasite in the placenta) can cause a chronic inflammatory response. We predicted that the activation states of the maternal monocytes and fetal macrophages differ within the placenta and …

Life Beneath The Tides: Seagrass Meadows In Surigao Del Sur, Philippines, Giselle B. Ramos, Roxan E. Caray

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Marine Science

Seagrasses are a valuable component of global blue carbon ecosystems yet are also endangered due to natural and man-made pressures. This study assessed the seagrass resources regarding species community structure and diversity using a transect-quadrat design along the intertidal coastlines of selected towns of Surigao del Sur. Of the 19 recorded species in the Philippines, seven common species were observed: Cymodocea rotundata, Enhalus acoroides, Halodule pinifolia, Halodule uninervis, Thalassia hemprichii, Syringodium isoetifolium, and Halophila ovalis. Across study sites, the most evident species are T. hemprichii, C. rotundata, and S. isoetifolium; the existence …

Lifecycle Of Greater Wax Moth Galleria Mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) And Its Control By Natural Products, Tahani A. Alzahrani, Hanan S. Alyahya, Shatha I. Alqurashi, Jazem A. Mahyoub

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture

The great wax moth (Galleria mellonella) is a major pest that affects honeybee colonies, causing serious damage to the honeycomb and disrupting beekeeping operations. This paper aims to review the life cycle of this insect and the natural control strategies used to manage its populations. This paper examines the different stages of growth of the great wax moth, including the stages of eggs, larva, pupae, and adults. The life cycle of this insect depends largely on environmental conditions, especially temperature, humidity and food quality, in addition, this paper focuses on natural control strategies, such as the use of plant extracts …

Mecanismos De Participación En Temas Ambientales En Colombia, Martha Rocío Castro Rodríguez, Felipe Ramírez Cortázar, Sara Milena Niño Montero

Ciencias Agropecuarias

Mecanismos de participación en temas ambientales en Colombia es un producto editorial, de divulgación y apropiación social del conocimiento, desarrollado en el proyecto de investigación “Participación política en ciudades de Colombia, Italia y Guatemala: un estudio mixto sobre su relación con la anomia y la autoeficacia política en jóvenes”, en el marco de la V convocatoria interna - periodo 2023-1 UCundinamarca Generación Siglo 21.

Innovations In Shipbuilding: A Comprehensive Review Of Material Selection, Corrosion Management, And Environmental Considerations, Oumaima Bouanani, Sara Sandabad, Moulay El Houssine Ech-Chhibat

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Marine Science

The shipbuilding industry, a cornerstone of global maritime operations, oversees vessel lifecycles from design through commissioning. This article delves into the industry's complex role in facilitating global trade, driving technological advancements, and prioritizing sustainability and safety. The harsh marine environment-marked by salinity, temperature extremes, and mechanical stresses-necessitates resilient and durable vessel structures. Consequently, the careful selection of materials is crucial for ensuring vessel longevity and performance under stringent safety and environmental standards. Recent breakthroughs in shipbuilding materials, including high-strength steel, composites, and lightweight alloys, have transformed the industry. Innovative solutions, such as shape memory alloys and eco-friendly composites, are designed …