Digital Commons Network^™

Autologous T Cell Therapy For Prame, Martin Wermke, Dejka M Araujo, Manik Chatterjee, Apostolia M Tsimberidou, Tobias A W Holderried, Amir A Jazaeri, Ran Reshef, Carsten Bokemeyer, Winfried Alsdorf, Katrin Wetzko, Peter Brossart, Katrin Aslan, Linus Backert, Sebastian Bunk, Jens Fritsche, Swapna Gulde, Silvana Hengler, Norbert Hilf, Mohammad B Hossain, Jens Hukelmann, Mamta Kalra, Delfi Krishna, M Alper Kursunel, Dominik Maurer, Andrea Mayer-Mokler, Regina Mendrzyk, Ali Mohamed, Karine Pozo, Arun Satelli, Marilena Letizia, Heiko Schuster, Oliver Schoor, Claudia Wagner, Hans-Georg Rammensee, Carsten Reinhardt, Harpreet Singh-Jasuja, Steffen Walter, Toni Weinschenk, Jason J Luke, Cedrik M Britten

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

In contrast to chimeric antigen receptor T cells, T cell receptor (TCR)-engineered T cells can target intracellular tumor-associated antigens crucial for treating solid tumors. However, most trials published so far show limited clinical activity. Here we report interim data from a first-in-human, multicenter, open-label, 3 + 3 dose-escalation/de-escalation phase 1 trial studying IMA203, an autologous preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma (PRAME)-directed TCR T cell therapy in HLA-A*02+ patients with PRAME+ recurrent and/or refractory solid tumors, including melanoma and sarcoma. Primary objectives include the evaluation of safety and tolerability and the determination of the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and/or recommended dose …

Bayesian Inference Of Fitness Landscapes Via Tree-Structured Branching Processes, Xiang Ge Luo, Jack Kuipers, Kevin Rupp, Koichi Takahashi, Niko Beerenwinkel

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Motivation: The complex dynamics of cancer evolution, driven by mutation and selection, underlies the molecular heterogeneity observed in tumors. The evolutionary histories of tumors of different patients can be encoded as mutation trees and reconstructed in high resolution from single-cell sequencing data, offering crucial insights for studying fitness effects of and epistasis among mutations. Existing models, however, either fail to separate mutation and selection or neglect the evolutionary histories encoded by the tumor phylogenetic trees.

Results: We introduce FiTree, a tree-structured multi-type branching process model with epistatic fitness parameterization and a Bayesian inference scheme to learn fitness landscapes from single-cell …

The Landscape Of Malignant Transition: Unraveling Cancer Cell-Of-Origin And Heterogeneous Tissue Microenvironment, Ruihan Luo, Jiajia Liu, Tiangang Wang, Weiling Zhao, Yanfei Wang, Jianguo Wen, Hongyu Wang, Shanli Ding, Xiaobo Zhou

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Understanding disease progression and sophisticated tumor ecosystems is imperative for investigating tumorigenesis mechanisms and developing novel prevention strategies. Here, we dissected heterogeneous microenvironments during malignant transitions by leveraging data from 1396 samples spanning 13 major tissues. Within transitional stem-like subpopulations highly enriched in precancers and cancers, we identified 30 recurring cellular states strongly linked to malignancy, including hypoxia and epithelial senescence, revealing a high degree of plasticity in epithelial stem cells. By characterizing dynamics in stem-cell crosstalk with the microenvironment along the pseudotime axis, we found differential roles of ANXA1 at different stages of tumor development. In precancerous stages, reduced …

Spatial Clustering Of Immunosuppressive Macrophages In Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma, Mitchell T. Hayes, Jose Laborde, Alex Soupir, Anders Berglund, Jamie K. Teer, Kirill Sabitov, Nicholas H. Chakiryan, Taylor C. Peak, Jonathan Nguyen, Carlos Moran-Segura, Daryoush Saeed-Vafa, Neale Lopez-Blanco, Martina Molgora, Paola M. Ramos-Echevarria, Christopher Guske, Jodi Balasi, Jasreman Dhillon, Youngchul Kim, James Mule, Brooke L. Fridley, Brandon J. Manley

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Background

Papillary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC) is the second most common kidney cancer subtype, yet our understanding of its tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) remains limited.

Objective

We utilized multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) and spatial transcriptomics (ST) to evaluate immune cell architecture in pRCC contrasted with clear cell RCC (ccRCC).

Methods

Localized RCC tumors (16 pRCC, 70 ccRCC) underwent mIF using markers for T cells, B cells, and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Spatial data in both tumor and stromal compartments of the TIME were collected. A post hoc recurrence free survival analysis (RFS) was performed using Cox proportional hazard models. Single-cell ST was …

Seasonal And Landscape-Driven Variations In Forage Resources Of Apis Mellifera Scutellata: Implications For Pollination Sustainability And Colony Health In Taita Taveta County, Kenya, Mary Chege, Mbatha B. Wambua, Wambua J. Kilonzo, Sevgan Subramanian, Beatrice T. Nganso

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Seasonality and land-use change are key factors influencing forage availability for managed honey bee colonies, yet knowledge of forage identity and how these factors influence forage availability remains limited in Africa. To address these gaps, we used DNA metabarcoding to identify nectar and pollen plant species supporting the nutrition of the African savannah honey bee, Apis mellifera scutellata, across different land-use/land cover types and seasons in Taita Taveta County, Kenya. We identified 224 forage plant species from 65 families, with Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Myrtaceae being the top contributors. Forage availability was significantly influenced by landscape and season, with honey bees …

Enhancing Phenotyping Accuracy For Selection Of Urochloa Spp. Tolerant Genotypes To Red Spider Mite (Oligonychus Trichardti), Paula Espitia-Buitrago, José Miguel Cotes Torres, Luis Miguel Hernández, Juan Andres Cardoso, Frank Chidawanyika, Rosa N. Jauregui

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The red spider mites are a major biotic limitation to productivity for Brachiaria (Urochloa spp.) grasses in tropical Eastern Africa, causing severe economic losses mainly in the dry seasons. However, due to the lack of reports of integrated pest management strategies, genetic resistance can play a crucial role in Brachiaria-based livestock systems, minimising the impact of this pest. The objective of this study was to develop and validate a methodology for accurately categorising resistance responses in Urochloa genotypes to identify potential sources of resistance to the Western Kenya red spider mite Oligonychus trichardti (Meyer 1974). Accordingly, 25 genotypes of Urochloa …

Issues That Ministers Identify As Factors Contributing To Anxiety And Depression, Heather Sawtelle

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

Although mental health is an emerging topic within the church community, the stigmatization of mental illness within ministers’ lives can create a myriad of personal beliefs that can lead to shame and discontent in ministers’ lives. Many ministers have daily stressors that compromise their mental health, and these stressors can contribute to depression or anxiety. This study defined mental health issues and described mental illness’ influence on ministers’ lives and the factors that contribute to mental health issues. This health condition, described as mental illness, involves significant changes in thinking, emotion, behavior, distress, and problems functioning in social, work, or …

Benedictine Art And Design: How Color Psychology Can Positively Influence Department Enrollment, Claire Pauline Fink

Theses

This thesis examines how design strategies informed by color psychology and experimental aesthetics can be used to strengthen the visual identity and recruitment efforts of the Benedictine College Art & Design Department (BCAD). Following the recent addition of Graphic Design as a major and the department’s name change in 2021, there has been a noticeable gap in public awareness and printed promotional materials tailored to prospective students. Grounded in theoretical frameworks, such as D. E. Berlyne’s optimal arousal theory, and supported by survey responses from current Art & Design students, this project identifies key needs in marketing to prospective students. …

Elisabetta Sirani’S Timoclea: Baroque Agency And The Aesthetics Of Feminine Rage, Shaylen Grace Gardner

Theses

This thesis examines Timoclea Kills the Captain of Alexander the Great (1659) by Elisabetta Sirani as a foundational example of feminine rage within the Baroque period. By framing Timoclea’s violent act not as an outlier or solely reactive gesture, but as a deliberate, composed assertion of power, Sirani constructs a model of feminine agency that defies patriarchal expectations of female submission and passivity. Through interdisciplinary analysis grounded in feminist theory, formal visual analysis, and retrospective cultural studies, this research argues that Sirani’s Timoclea exemplifies the Baroque’s strategic use of socially acceptable iconography to veil explicit challenges to gendered expectations. This …

Through A Mother's Eyes: The Psychology Of Color, Katie Kutz

Theses

This project investigates the intersection of color psychology, maternal experience, and visual perception through a series of five artworks. Using a qualitative methodology, this project draws upon interdisciplinary research such as neuroscience, marketing, art history, and personal experiences as a mother. This work explores how sensory changes during pregnancy and postpartum influence the emotional perception of color, and how this can be represented in art. Inspired by artists that have explored the theme of motherhood such as Mary Cassatt, Käthe Kollwitz, Paula Modersohn-Becker, Jenny Saville, and Alice Neel, this project uses an emotionally charged approach to depicting motherhood. Color changing …

The Schools, Saint Mary's College Of California

Academic Catalog

No abstract provided.

Core-Designated Courses, Saint Mary's College Of California

Academic Catalog

No abstract provided.

Literature Review Of Reverse Electrodialysis Technoeconomic And Environmental Analysis, Kevin Allen Wear

Water Resources Science and Technology Theses and Graduate Research Reports (Archived)

This thesis presents a theoretical analysis of Reverse Electrodialysis (RED) for electricity generation using produced water—a high-salinity byproduct from oil and gas extraction. Drawing from over seventy peer-reviewed studies, this research explores the potential of RED as a sustainable energy solution for industrial wastewater streams. Chapter 1 outlines the environmental and economic implications of produced water. Chapter 2 reviews ion transport theories and membrane technologies. Chapter 3 evaluates past implementations of RED and related membrane systems. Chapter 4 delivers a comprehensive synthesis of current literature, modeling RED performance under realworld salinity gradients, ion compositions, and membrane constraints. Chapter 5 discusses …

Age And Sex Are Associated With Alzheimer's Disease Neuropathology In Down Syndrome, Elizabeth J. Andrews, Phong T. Ngo, Jesse R. Pascual, Freddy Gonzalez, Michael Phelan, Sierra T. Wright, Jordan Harp, Frederick Schmitt, Florence Lai, Patrick J. Lao, Adam M. Brickman, Julia Kofler, Milos D. Ikonomovic, Elizabeth Head

Psychology Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: This study investigates the association of age and biological sex with Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology in Down syndrome (DS). METHODS: We examined the frontal/occipital cortex in people with DS (n = 14/13, 1–39 years), DS with AD (DSAD) neuropathology (n = 18/19, 42–61 years), late-onset AD (n = 15/16, 72–96 years), and age-matched controls (n = 50/47)(n = 156). The area occupied by AT8 and 6E10 immunolabeling, representing tangle and plaque loads, respectively, was used for segmented linear regression analyses. RESULTS: There was elevated neuropathology after age 35 in DSAD, with inflection points at ∼31 years (amyloid-β [Aβ]) and …

Evaluating The Effects Of Row Spacing, Legume Intercropping, Fertilizer Source, And Fertilizer Timing On Intermediate Wheatgrass In Eastern Nebraska, Madeline M. Johnston

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Kernza^® is the trademarked name of the perennial crop intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium). In addition to its potential for dual-use as a grain and forage crop, Kernza is marketed to provide needed environmental services by increasing crop biodiversity, sequestering soil carbon, and reducing nitrate leaching. However, more work is needed in cultivar selection and crop management to increase total grain yields and prevent long-term grain yield decline. Furthermore, research in quantifying and understanding Kernza’s ability to affect soil properties and water dynamics is limited.

Two field experiments were conducted at the Eastern Nebraska Research Extension and Education …

Evaluating Biodegradable Mulch As A Soil Conservation Tool And The Impact On Soil Properties And Yield In Soybean (Glycine Max) Cropping Systems In Eastern Nebraska, Ana Clara Gomes

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This study, conducted during the 2024 growing season, evaluated short-term effects of soil management practices on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, soil microclimate, nitrogen dynamics, weed suppression, and soybean (Glycine max) yield. In addition to conventional tillage and no-till, this research included cereal rye (Secale cereale) cover cropping and a novel sprayable biodegradable mulch (BioWRAP®) to assess emerging strategies for sustainable soybean systems under contrasting moisture regimes.

Field trials were established at two eastern Nebraska locations: Havelock (dryland, silty clay loam) and ENREEC (irrigated, clay loam). A strip-block randomized design with four replications tested six soil management …

Effect Of Tai Chi Practice On The Adaptation To Sensory And Motor Perturbations While Standing In Older Adults, Arion Dey, Huiyeong Chang, Laila Shaaban, Armaan Suga, Genavieve Braden, Andres Bustamante, Jisang Park, Shenhua Zhang, Yang Hu, Manuel E. Hernandez

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Tai Chi provides an age-appropriate exercise to decrease fall risks in older adults. However, the exact mechanism underlying the benefits of Tai Chi practice remains an open question. Thus, this study examined how aging and Tai Chi practice impact adaptation to sensory and motor perturbations while standing. We hypothesized that older Tai Chi practitioners would exhibit a decreased reliance on visual processes as sensory and motor perturbations increased, relative to naive healthy older adults. Using rambling and trembling decompositions of the center of pressure (COP) and frequency-domain features, we examined changes in low (0–0.3 Hz), medium (0.3–1 Hz), and high …

Activation Of Toll-Like Receptor 2 Promotes The Expression Of Inflammatory Mediators And Cell Proliferation Of Human Polycystic Kidney Disease Cells, Yang Zhang, Matthew Plansinis, Sophia Peak, Elisabeth Weber, Aiping Wei, Yu Xu, Madelyn Ross, Abigail Leagjeld, Darren P. Wallace, Yan Zhang

Michigan Tech Publications

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is characterized by the progressive enlargement of fluid-filled cysts, leading to a decline in renal function. Toll-like receptors (TLR)-2 and TLR4 are pattern recognition receptors and components of the innate immune response. We found that mRNA levels for TLR2 and TLR4, an adaptor protein MyD88, and the transcription factor NF-κB were elevated in the kidneys of ADPKD patients and PKD mice. There was decreased expression of IκBα, an inhibitory protein sequestering NF-κB in the cytosol, and increased NF-κB nuclear translocation in human ADPKD kidneys compared with normal human kidneys (NHK). Pam3CSK4, a synthetic TLR2 …

Experimental Analysis Of Satellite Operator Training Using Game-Based Virtual Reality Simulation, Lana Laskey

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Satellite data plays a vital role in modern global infrastructure by enabling communications, navigation, and weather forecasting. As demand for satellite technology grows, so does the need for highly trained satellite ground operators. Traditional training regimens for satellite operators employ simulation using two-dimensional computer console displays paired with the varied ability of trainees to generate abstract mental imagery of the scenario. However, this development of mental imagery imposes a considerable learning curve and cognitive workload on the trainee, which may negatively impact the user experience and knowledge gained during the training scenario.

This experimental study investigated the effects of game-based …

Effect Of Vehicular Electrification On Transportation Emissions In Florida, Shreya Sapkota Dhakal

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Vehicular emissions from fuel-based passenger cars emit an array of gases and particles that are detrimental for human health and the environment. In that regard, electric vehicles (EVs) present a viable, sustainable solution. This study investigated the impact of electrification of passenger cars on air quality in Florida, in five major urban counties namely Miami-Dade, Duval, Hillsborough, Orange, and Leon. Between 2018 and 2022, these counties experienced a significant increase of 219.50 ± 52.32% in EV adoption, coupled with a 11.55 ± 6.13% decrease in fuel-based vehicle usage. Herein, we characterize five pollutants primarily generated from fuel-based passenger vehicles- carbon …

Pollination And Essential Oil Production Of Lavandula Angustifolia Mill. (Lamiaceae), Riley B. Jackson, Tyler M. Wilson, Joseph S. Wilson, Zabrina Ruggles, Lindsey Topham Wilson, Chris Packer, Jacob G. Young, Christopher R. Bowerbank, Richard E. Carlson

Biology Faculty Publications

Lavandula angustifolia Mill., lavender, is an aromatic plant in the Lamiaceae family. Lavender, which is native to the Mediterranean region but cultivated throughout the world, is an important economic plant. Several studies have investigated two aspects of this aromatic plant: (1) which pollinators, particularly bees, pollinate lavender, and (2) the composition of lavender essential oil. However, little research has been conducted to investigate how pollination affects either the yield or phytochemistry of lavender. The current study, which was conducted in North America, investigates which bee species visit lavender and how pollination affects plant chemistry, specifically the essential oil produced by …

Methane Removal Under The Paris Agreement, Romany M. Webb

Sabin Center for Climate Change Law

In the 2015 Paris Agreement, the international community agreed to “strengthen the global response to climate change” by limiting the “increase in global average temperatures to well below" 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and ideally to 1.5 degrees Celsius. As recognized in the Agreement, to stay within these limits, global greenhouse gas emissions must be rapidly reduced, “so as to achieve a balance between anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of greenhouse gases in the second half of this century” — a situation commonly described as “net zero.” The need to reach net zero has prompted growing …

Rehmannia Glutinosa For Perimenopausal Syndrome In Patients With Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Dejia Kong, Feixiang Huang, Wenhua Liu, Ma Lin, Zhumei Sheng, Junmiao Xu

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To carry out a quantitative assessment of the therapeutic effect of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), with Rehmannia glutinosa as the main ingredient, in treating perimenopausal syndrome (PMS) in breast cancer patients. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing CHM with Rehmannia glutinosa as the principal ingredient and Western medicine in treating PMS among breast cancer patients were retrieved from multiple databases. These databases included PubMed, Cochrane library, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and China Biology Medicine Database. The primary outcome was the change in the Kupperman index by the end of the …

Prevalence And Factors Associated With Functional Disability In Daily Activities Among Older Adults In Bisha, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study, Abdullah H. Alhalafi, Ibrahim A. Eljack, Shehab M. Almalki, Ahmed S. Doghish, Osama A. Mohammed, Abdullah F. Alhalafi, Saif M. Alqahtani, Hussain S. Alqahtani, Galaleldien M. Abdalla, Abubakar M. Jibo

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of functional disability among older people attending primary healthcare centers in Bisha, Saudi Arabia. Methods: The study used a cross-sectional design and gathered data from older adults (60 years and older) attending primary healthcare centers in Bisha. Data was collected using structured interviews based on the Katz Index of Independence in activities of daily living (ADL). Ordinal logistic regression models identified major ADL limiting variables. Results: A total number of 396 respondents, with 40.7% (n=161) females. The prevalence of functional disability using the Katz ADL Index scale was 54%. Nearly half (45.5%) of the respondents …

Effect Of Radial Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy Combined With Evidence-Based Physical Therapy For Adhesive Capsulitis Of The Shoulder: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Turki M. Sharahili, Hosam A. Alzahrani

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy (rESWT) combined with evidence-based physical therapy (EBPT) on adhesive capsulitis (AC). Methods: A total of 30 participants with AC were randomly assigned to receive either rESWT combined with EBPT (experimental group) or sham rESWT combined with EBPT (control group) over a 6-week intervention period. The primary outcomes included pain (assessed using the visual analogue scale) and disability (disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand questionnaire). The secondary outcomes were shoulder range of motion (ROM), psychological distress (depression anxiety and stress scale-12), and health-related quality of life (HRQoL; short form-12). Assessments …

Study Reveals Processes Important For Skin Cancer Aggressiveness And Identifies Two Classes Of Drugs That May Block Them

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Bonehead Non-Proliferation Redux, David A. Koplow

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

Since the publication of my 1993 Fletcher Forum article “Bonehead Non-Proliferation,” three vitally important international developments regarding nuclear weapons have materialized. First, the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, an essential linchpin for global security, was extended by its parties in 1995 into a permanent agreement—a tremendous outcome that was not certain when my original article was published. Second, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, globally prohibiting all nuclear explosions, was concluded in 1996—my article focused on the imperative for crafting such an instrument. Third, a group of distinguished senior U.S. government security officials succeeded in reviving the concept of the complete abolition …

Characterization Of Lactobacilli-Containing Catheter Segments Developed By Using Selective Laser Sintered Mold., Caden Maners

Master of Engineering Theses

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are a major healthcare burden with current prevention strategies offering limited success. This study presents a novel, self-coating biomaterial approach using a silicone-based bioink embedded with thermally sensitive probiotic strains (L. crispatus, L. rhamnosus, and L. reuteri). Catheter segments were fabricated via bio-injection molding using 3D-printed CAD molds. These Lactobacilli, selected for their probiotic and antimicrobial potential, serve as a non- antibiotic strategy to reduce infection risk. These segments were evaluated for mechanical strength (Shore A hardness), thermal stability (TGA/DSC), porosity and bacterial presence (SEM), biofilm formation (crystal-violet assay), as well as mass retention in …

The Miseducation Of Model Minorities: The Gospel Of ‘Schoolvation’ And The Myth Of The Schooled Society, Justin Kh Tse

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

The ‘model minority’, the phenomenon of some ‘minority’ communities (or some members within them) achieving social and economic advancement despite encountering the difficulties of assimilating into a mainstream society, is often described as a myth, especially as one of the central problematics in Asian American studies. Usually, the modern use of the word myth is pejorative: the model minority in this sense refers to a false empirical description of some minorities and should be quantitatively disaggregated and qualitatively debunked. In this article, I want to explore the model minority as another kind of myth, in the classical sense of mythos, …

Gallium-Containing Bioactive Glasses: Their Influence On Ion Release And The Bioactivity Of Resulting Glass Polyalkenoate Cements, Lana Margaret Placek, Danielle Lee Perry, Mark Robert Towler, Anthony William Wren

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A series of glasses (0.48SiO2 − [0.40-x]ZnO − 0.12CaO-xGa2O3, x = 0, 0.8, 0.16) was developed to formulate a series of Ga-containing glass polyalkenoate cements (GPCs). The solubility of GPCs was tested using DI water, and it was found that the sample containing the highest mol% of Ga, LGa-2, had the most Ga ion release. The GPCs were incubated in SBF, and SEM/EDS analysis revealed that the at% of P increased, while the at% of Si decreased, highlighting the CaP precipitation on the GPC surface. The at% of Ga also decreased, reinforcing the Ga release from the GPC. Cellular testing …