Facts And Hopes Of Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Redirected Nk T Cells, Amy N Courtney, Xin Zhou, Gengwen Tian, Ying Wang, Leonid S Metelitsa, Gianpietro Dotti

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered invariant NK T cells (CAR-NKT) are a novel cell platform for cancer immunotherapy. Unlike conventional T cells, NKTs are characterized by innate antitumor properties, minimal alloreactivity, and a unique ability to modulate the tumor microenvironment. This article provides a comprehensive overview of preclinical and early clinical studies evaluating CAR-NKTs in both autologous and allogeneic clinical settings. We discuss the contributions of CAR signaling domains, cytokine coexpression, and other functional measures that correlate with CAR-NKT persistence, function, and metabolic fitness. We also discuss the critical role of immunocompetent animal models in elucidating the interactions of CAR-NKTs with …

Mitochondrial Complex Ii Orchestrates Divergent Effects In Cd4+ And Cd8+ T Cells, Keisuke Seike, Shih-Chun A Chu, Yuichi Sumii, Takashi Ikeda, Meng-Chih Wu, Laure Maneix, Dongchang Zhao, Yaping Sun, Marcin Cieslik, Pavan Reddy

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Mitochondrial metabolism orchestrates T cell functions, yet the role of specific mitochondrial components in distinct T cell subsets remains poorly understood. Here, we explored the role of mitochondrial complex II (MC II), the only complex from the electron transport chain (ETC) that plays a role in both ETC and metabolism, in regulating T cell functions. Surprisingly, MC II exerts divergent effects on CD4+ and CD8+ T cell activation and function. Using T cell-specific MC II subunit, succinate dehydrogenase A-deficient (SDHA-deficient) mice, we integrated single-cell RNA-seq and metabolic profiling, with in vitro and in vivo T cell functional assays to illuminate …

A Long Non-Coding Rna Leat1 Mediates The Hormone Responsiveness Of Efnb2 During Male Urogenital Development, Deidre Mattiske, Pascal Bernard, Paul E Gradie, Richard R Behringer, Paul A Overbeek, Rachel J O'Neill, Tiffany Phillips, Melanie Stewart, Neil Youngson, Gerard Tarulli, Andrew J Pask

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The novel long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) Leat1 is extraordinarily conserved in both its location (syntenic with EfnB2, an essential gene in anogenital patterning) and sequence. Here we show that Leat1 is upregulated following the production of testosterone from the developing testis in mice and interacts with EfnB2, positively regulating its expression. Leat1 expression is suppressed by estrogen, which in turn suppresses the expression of EfnB2. Moreover, the loss of Leat1 leads to reduced EfnB2, resulting in a severe hypospadias phenotype. The human LEAT1 gene is also co-expressed with EFNB2 in the developing human penis, suggesting a conserved function for this …

Mrna Vaccines Encoding Variant Forms Of Sm-Tsp-2 Confer Protective Immunity Against Schistosoma Mansoni, Athos Silva De Oliveira, Sevan Alwan, Philip T Loverde, Ramiz Shaheed, Pranav Mandyam, Rakesh Adhikari, Peter Hotez, Maria Elena Bottazzi, Jeroen Pollet

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

This study explored the development and evaluation of mRNA vaccine candidates targeting Schistosoma mansoni tetraspanin-2 (Sm-TSP-2). We designed constructs encoding either full-length Sm-TSP-2, or its large extracellular loop (EC2) domain in secretory, membrane-anchored, or cytosolic forms. In a murine model, the secreted and membrane-anchored versions of Sm-TSP-2-EC2 induced the highest antigen-specific antibody titers. These two construct designs, along with full-length Sm-TSP-2 mRNA, also significantly reduced adult worm and egg burden compared to controls. The membrane-anchored Sm-TSP-2-EC2 mRNA was the most effective, lowering worm and egg burdens by 66.7% and 66.9%, respectively. Protective responses induced by the mRNA vaccines were comparable …

Transdiagnostic Links Of Reward Processing In Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder And Depression, Kevin M Wagner, Matti Cervin, Jessica S C Cheng, Jasmine Arriaga, Vanessa Zavala Cruz, Dayan Berrones, Josselyn S Muñoz, Renee M Frederick, Jacey L Anderberg, Belinda E Núñez Bracho, Victor R Adorno, Leonardo F Fontenelle, Andrew D Wiese, Latin American Trans-Ancestry Initiative For Ocd Genomics (Latino), Brazilian Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorder Working Group (Gttoc), James J Crowley, Eric A Storch

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objectives: Transdiagnostic models aim to uncover shared mechanisms across mental disorders. Reward responsiveness (the ability to experience pleasure from rewarding stimuli) is a plausible, yet underexplored, transdiagnostic mechanism linking obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and depression. This study used network analysis to (1) examine how key reward responsiveness domains are interlinked in individuals with OCD and (2) explore how each domain is uniquely associated with OCD and depression.

Methods: A total of 1345 individuals with a history of OCD symptoms (ages 18-88, 71 % women) from Latino communities in the United States (including Puerto Rico) and nine Latin American countries completed validated …

Risky Decision Making Among Adolescents, Ziad Ahmed Hussein, Ashraf Muwafaq Flaiyah

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

Risk decision-making refers to choices made under uncertain circumstances where the potential negative consequences are high. Adolescents are often at a crossroads during this stage, where the rush towards reward and external influences, such as peer pressure and environmental pressures, can greatly influence their decisions. The current research aims to: • Identify risky decision-making among adolescents. For this purpose, the researchers built a tool to measure risky decision-making among adolescents based on Albert Bandura›s observational learning theory (Bandura, 1976). The scale consisted of (30) items that were applied to the research sample of (400) male and female students from secondary …

Suicidal Intentions Among Divorced Women In Wasit Province, Khitam Abbas Fadhel, Hassan Aii Ai-Sayed

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

The current research aims to: Identifying Suicidal Intentions Among Divorced Women Marriage is viewed as a social institution that includes a set of norms regulating the relationship between spouses. The strength of this structure relies on solid foundations such as proper selection and compatibility in social aspects. Marriage imposes on spouses a set of mutual obligations and rights ensuring the continuity of marital life and enabling the family to fulfill its basic functions Despite the psychological, health and social significance marriage, offers to individuals and society, the phenomenon of divorce has been increasingly prevalent in recent times across various communities …

Investigating Community Attachment, Quality Of Life, And Community Citizenship Behavior Toward Rural Tourism Development In Thailand, Supaporn Prasongthan, Pimonphat Rodtook, Jariya Supun, Rabhas Silpsrikul

Asia-Pacific Social Science Review

In rural tourism destinations, residents serve as representatives of the area, and their involvement in tourism and discretionary behavior contributes to the destination’s success. The objectives of this study were to explore the community citizenship behavior (CCB) model and to examine the relationship among residents’ attachment, quality of life (QOL), and five dimensions of CCB, including involving, keeping interpersonal harmony, protecting, helping, and recommending behavior, across two stages of rural tourism destinations in Thailand. A multivariate quantitative research method was employed. A total of 1,052 samples were retrieved from residents living in 10 selective rural tourism destinations, with 526 respondents …

From Cultural Enthusiasm To Academic Institutionalization: The Rise And Limitations Of Korean Studies In Taiwan’S Higher Education, Bumsig Ha, Hsien-Ming Lin

Asia-Pacific Social Science Review

This study explores the institutionalization, development, and ongoing challenges of regional studies in Taiwan’s higher education system, with a specific focus on Korean Studies. It examines how Taiwan’s growing interest in South Korea, shaped by historical, political, and cultural ties as well as the widespread influence of Korean popular culture, has stimulated the expansion of Korean language learning and academic engagement. Through a comprehensive analysis of Korean Studies programs across Taiwanese universities, the study identifies a clear rise in student enrollment and curricular diversification, with course offerings now extending beyond language instruction to encompass interdisciplinary topics such as Korean politics, …

Isomorphism And Network Governance:A Reflection Of The Thai Elderly Quality Of Life Development And Career Promotion Centers, Ratchaphon Amsuk, Piyamart Tupmongkol, Phengkamon Marnarath, Siriprapa Promma

Asia-Pacific Social Science Review

This study aims to examine isomorphism, network governance, and the spectrum of participation, as classified by the International Association of Public Participation, in the management of the elderly quality of life development and career promotion centers (EQCCs). This study applied the concepts of isomorphism from institutional theory, network governance, and spectrum of participation as defined by the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2), as the instruments for analysis. The findings revealed that EQCCs’ isomorphism emerged before and after the establishment. The three isomorphism mechanisms—coercive, mimetic, and normative—affected the isomorphism of the EQCCs, leading to organization homogenization. However, the management of …

Reduplication In English Children’S Songs In Youtube: A Morphological Study, Amal Awda Ghadab

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

The study is qualitative descriptive research of a morphological analysis of reduplication in English children's songs in YouTube. The study identifies what is meant by reduplication phonologically and morphologically. It also shows the types reduplication. The data is selecting (21) English children's songs and analyzing them according to types of reduplication (full and partial reduplication). The conclusions show what types of reduplication are used in English children's songs.

Roots Of The Human Psyche: The Spiritual Connection Of Nature With The Mind, Dania Hussain Abdulmunem, Nadia Ali Ismael

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

Seamus Justin Heaney (1939-2013) was intensely engaged in nature in a way that differed from the usual concept of nature representing beauty, love, and romance. Heaney's role in portraying nature is unique. Describing nature from a deeper perspective reveals what nature hides in terms of darkness and violence. This image encourages people to contemplate more deeply because beauty may conceal a lot of sadness and grief. The poet intends to reflect on the events of the conflicts in Ireland and around the world through nature. Just as nature conceals darkness, so does the individual conceal the inner meaning of his …

Leveraging Social Capital For Value Creation In Public Procurement: The Role Of Strategic Purchasing Integration, Iryna Malacina, Jad El Bizri, Frederik G. S. Vos, Elina Karttunen, Aki Jaaskelainen

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

Purpose Although the integration of the purchasing function within strategic decision-making has been extensively studied in the context of the private sector, its significance for the effective functioning of public procurement (PP) remains underexplored. Effective PP is critical for suppliers, users of public services and society at large. This study investigates how the strategic integration of PP influences operational, environmental and innovative value creation by developing social capital in buyer–supplier relationships. Design/methodology/approach This study empirically examined how strategic purchasing integration contributes to the development of social capital in buyer–supplier relationships, which in turn affects value creation. It utilizes survey data …

Extracellular Matrix-Mycaf Signatures Correlate With Resistance To Neoadjuvant Apd-L1 Immune Checkpoint Inhibition With Durvalumab + Metformin In Hpv+ Hnscc, Pablo Llerena, Hani Samarah, Kathryn Nunes, Zhao Lin, Kelly Bridgham, Sruti Tekumalla, Amiti Jain, Larry A. Harshyne, Sanket Kumar Shukla, Ioannis Vathiotis, Madalina Tuluc, Stacey Gargano, John R. Eisenbrey, Scott W Keith, David Cognetti, Voichita Bar-Ad, Adam J. Luginbuhl, Rita S. Axelrod, Rajanikanth Vadigepalli, Hushan Yang, Diana Whitaker-Menezes, Megan Roche, My G. Mahoney, Athanassios Argiris, Charalambos C. Solomides, Jennifer Johnson, Md, Mouadh Barbirou, Amanda Miller, Andrew P. South, Ramkrishna Mitra, Alban J Linnenbach, Ubaldo E. Martinez-Outshoorn, Joseph Curry

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have demonstrated clinical benefit in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC); however, single-agent efficacy is limited, leaving significant unmet needs. Metformin may synergize with ICIs, offering promise to improve response rates. We leveraged multiomic data from a randomized, presurgical neoadjuvant trial (NCT03618654) evaluating a single infusion of the anti-PD-L1 ICI durvalumab with or without daily, standard dose metformin in previously untreated, nondiabetic patients with HNSCC to understand predictors of response and the effect of combination therapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinical, pathologic, and correlative data were analyzed to investigate response and resistance mechanisms. We present …

Trust And Learning In Early Childhood, Anjuii Barrett

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Elucidating The Role Of Pbaf Chromatin Remodeling Subunit Arid2 In B Cell Development, Rachel Paolini

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

B cells are key components of the adaptive immune system that mediate humoral immunity through the production of antigen-specific antibodies. The generation of functional B cells involves multiple stages of differentiation across distinct anatomical niches, requiring precise regulation of microenvironmental signals and intrinsic transcriptional networks. SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complexes have emerged as key regulators of B cell lineage commitment by modulating the accessibility of transcriptional programs required for differentiation and maturation. However, the specific roles of individual SWI/SNF subunits and distinct complexes within early B cell differentiation remain poorly understood. In this thesis, I investigated the function of Arid2, an …

Psychiatric Symptom Severity And Performance Monitoring: Intraindividual Variability In Neural Responses And Behavioral Adjustments To Errors, Bohyun Park

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Performance monitoring is a cognitive process that involves evaluating one’s own performance and adjusting behavior accordingly. Atypical neural and behavioral indices of performance monitoring are commonly observed in individuals with psychopathology and have led to hypotheses that perturbed performance monitoring may contribute to functional impairment. However, neural and behavioral indices of performance monitoring are often examined in isolation, so it remains unclear how error-related neural activity relates to subsequent behavioral adaptation on a trial-by-trial basis, and whether this coupling varies across different levels of internalizing and externalizing symptoms. The present study examined trial-level relationships between error monitoring event-related brain potentials …

Enhancing Exercise Engagement And Gait In Parkinson Disease: Participation Factors, Novel Approaches, And The Role Of Rhythmic Auditory Cueing, Allison Haussler

WUSM Theses and Dissertations – All Programs

Parkinson disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, characterized by gait and balance impairments that reduce independence and diminish quality of life. Exercise and other rehabilitation strategies, such as rhythmic auditory cueing, are well-researched methods to address motor impairments. However, despite the strong body of research supporting these approaches, many individuals with PD remain sedentary and do not meet current exercise recommendations. This highlights a critical gap between evidence and real-world behavior.

While prior research identified general motivators and barriers to exercise in people with PD, emerging exercise modalities and the growing diversity of community-based programs emphasize the …

Vasoactive Drug Use In Children With Community Acquired Septic Shock In Australia And New Zealand, Elliot Long, Stephen Hearps, Amanda Williams, Ben Gelbart, Warwick Butt, Thomas Rozen, Sarah Mcnab, Meredith Borland, Simon Erickson, Shefali Jani, Marino Festa, Eunicia Tan, Natalie Phillips, Sainath Raman, Amit Kochar, Subodh Ganu, Simon Craig, Anna Lithgow, Arjun Rao, Emma Whyte, Stuart Dalziel, Shane George, Fran Balamuth, Scott Weiss, Nathan Kuppermann, Franz Babl

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Vasoactive agents are a critical supportive therapy for children with sepsis. We describe the choice and use patterns of vasoactive agents in children with sepsis.

METHODS: Prospective observational study conducted in 11 hospitals in Australia and New Zealand through the Paediatric Research in Emergency Departments International Collaborative (PREDICT) Network from April 2021 to December 2023. Children aged 0-< 18 years with suspected sepsis were included. Children admitted to hospital and treated with parenteral antibiotics and either 1) a provisional diagnosis of sepsis, and/or 2) treatment for suspected sepsis (fluid bolus to treat poor perfusion). The frequency and sequence of use of vasoactive agents, and contributors to the choice of initial vasoactive were collected.

FINDINGS: 6232 children with suspected sepsis were included; median age of 2.1 years (IQR 0.3-7.1 years), in-hospital mortality of 60 (1.0%), in whom a subset of 306 (4.9%) met Phoenix sepsis criteria. Vasoactive agents were used in 179 (2.9%) children overall …

The Gray Bird Sings: The Extraordinary Life Of Betty Kwan Chinn (Second Edition), Karen M. Price Ph.D.

Trade & Scholarly Monographs

“Touched by childhood tragedy, Betty Chinn brings hope to those who have fallen on hard times. Left homeless as a child in China, Chinn became mute. When she came to America, she found both her voice and her mission: aiding those without shelter on our own shores. ” -Barack Obama, awarding Betty the Presidential Citizens Medal

As a child during the Chinese Cultural Revolution, she was separated from her family, imprisoned, and ruthlessly tortured. As an immigrant to the United States, she worked tirelessly to shelter and feed thousands in her community. How she survived monstrous conditions, challenged impossible odds, …

Latino Economic Inequality In New York City: Income And Snap Recipiency, 2013–2023, Oswaldo A. Mena Aguilar

Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies

This Latino Data Project Report analyzes trends in the economic well-being of Latino households in New York City between 2013 and 2023, focusing on household income and participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The findings reveal a paradoxical pattern: although median Latino household income increased over the decade, economic inequality within the Latino community widened substantially. Income gains were unevenly distributed, with higher-income households pulling further ahead while the lowest-income households experienced stagnation or decline. Over the same period, Latino households fell further behind all other racial and ethnic groups in the city. Additionally, Latinos consistently exhibited the …

Spinach (Spinacia Oleracea L) Flavonoids Are Hydrolyzed During Digestion And Their Bioaccessibility Is Under Stronger Genetic Control Than Raw Material Content, Michael P Dzakovich, Alvin L Tak, Elaine A Le, Rachel P Dang, Benjamin W Redan, Geoffrey A Dubrow

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

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Method Development And Optimization For The Detection Of Synthetic Cannabinoids In Hair Using Lc-Msms, Linda K. Obeng

Student Theses

Synthetic cannabinoids represent one of the most prevalent and high-risk classes of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), continuously evolving in structure and potency. Their widespread presence in seized materials and toxicology casework underscores the growing need for reliable analytical methods capable of detecting these compounds in biological matrices. Hair offers several advantages for drug testing, including a long detection window, minimal invasiveness, and resistance to adulteration; however, detecting synthetic cannabinoids in hair remains challenging due to their low incorporation levels and structural diversity. This study focuses on the method development and optimization of an LC-MS/MS technique for the detection of selected …

Tolkien Among The Theologians (2025) Edited By Austin M. Freeman, Tom Emanuel

Journal of Tolkien Research

Book review, by Tom Emanuel, of Tolkien among the Theologians (2025), edited by Austin M. Freeman

From Spark To Agency: Metalinguistic Awareness, Investment, And Liberatory Autonomy In Introductory And Honors Intermediate Spanish And Intermediate Italian At Cod, Brian Kapustka

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

This field experience capstone documents the application of sociocognitive, reflective, and equity-oriented pedagogy across multiple Spanish and Italian instructional contexts at the College of DuPage, a large and diverse community college. Grounded in applied linguistics frameworks including sociocognitive second language acquisition (Atkinson, 2011), learner motivation and identity through the L2 Motivational Self System (Dörnyei, 2009), the inseparability of cognition and emotion in second language learning (Swain, 2013), learner autonomy and postmethod pedagogy (Kumaravadivelu, 2002; 2003), learner investment (Darvin & Norton, 2015), willingness to communicate as a volitional process (MacIntyre, 2007), and transformative learning (Mezirow, 2000), the project examines language learning …

Investigating Ionic Liquid (Il)-Based Electrolytes In Li-Co2 Battery Performance, Kaden T. Gammon

Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science Independent Study

This report discusses the results of an independent study that investigates the impact of ionic-liquid (IL) based electrolytes on Li-CO₂ battery performance. Three electrolytes were compared in this study at two temperatures: room temperature and 60 °C. The electrolytes tested were BMIM-DMSO (an IL-based electrolyte), TEGDME, and DMSO. The results indicate that the IL-based electrolyte enables better electrochemical reactions and achieves a higher discharge capacity than the other two electrolytes. This study also compared cathodes with different catalysts, emphasizing the importance of catalyst choice. The comparison showed that bismuth oxide combined with Vulcan carbon may serve as a strong catalyst …

Assessing A Model Of Customer Rage: Does Customer Entitlement Moderate Relationships Between Rage Emotions, Expressions And Behaviors?, S. Mostafa Rasoolimanesh, Martin Gannon, Babak Taheri, Josip Mikulić

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Across travel and tourism services research, studies investigating “customer rage” typically prioritize the direct point-of-consumption, often within airport, airline, or hotel contexts. However, the sector is awash with intermediaries (e.g., travel agencies, insurance brokers, booking platforms), which serve as primary points-of-contact capable of shaping customer expectations. Accordingly, the consequences of service failure therein are nuanced and complex. Yet, extant research often portrays service failure as unilateral (i.e., solely the firm in question’s responsibility), overlooking one core demand-side characteristic: the customer’s sense of entitlement. Thus, while this study draws upon the Iranian travel agency setting (as a service intermediary) to assess …

Catherine, Reagan Christie

Theses

A golden lamb sleeps peacefully in a quiet meadow, showcased in an intricate golden frame. She wakes up and slowly begins to stand, her knobby knees trembling all the way up. She steadies herself, turning toward the viewer, blinking. Catherine looks at her reflection in a grimy sink full of water. The sink drips, reflection dissipating. She looks up into the mirror above the sink in an endless bathroom, tucks a loose curl of hair back into her habit, and exits the bathroom. Catherine makes her way down a long spiral staircase, humming a hymn to herself. In the kitchen, …

Midlife, Michael Sevcik

Poetry MFA Theses

Abstract

Midlife by Michael James Sevcik is a collection of poetry that explores issues of age, gender, sexuality, identity, desire, family, and loss within a predominantly domestic space while addressing broader social, cultural, and philosophical issues using a phenomenological poetics grounded in everyday experience. The collection is organized into three distinct yet interrelated “movements:” the first movement, “Anchored,” establishes an existential yearning amidst professional and amorous stasis and familial pressures. The second movement, “Liminal,” explores temporality and its relationship to place and memory. The third movement, “Renewal,” incorporates travel, family history, and art, transforming them into critical modes of aesthetic …

Impact Of Small Group Reading Instruction On Student’S Academic Achievement, Celeste M. Cote

Graduate Teacher Education

Abstract

This paper reviews the effects and benefits of small group reading instruction on students’ academic achievement, a topic of increasing importance due to the growing achievement gap. Fifteen studies, including quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods, and meta-analyses, were examined. The review identified key themes, including the benefits of small group reading instruction, instructional strategies used to implement it with a focus on scaffolding, and the equity and access it provides. The findings indicate that small group reading instruction has a greater impact on student success compared to whole-class instruction. It has been shown to foster collaboration, critical thinking skills, and improved …