Digital Commons Network^™

Transdisciplinary Work-Integrated Learning’S Contribution To Societal Transition: A Scoping Review, Denise Jackson, Claire Lambert, Sonja Coetzee

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This scoping review explores the perceived value of transdisciplinary work-integrated learning (TWIL) for contributing to social change and the enablers of impactful TWIL offerings. TWIL is a pedagogy-based approach which connects students from diverse disciplines with external partners to engage in authentic, work-focused activities as a formal component of academic study. This review focuses on TWIL where students collaboratively explore and problem-solve on known local community and wider societal issues, such as climate, health, food, and water, to foster transformative practice. Thematic analysis of 31 academic sources highlighted the recognised worth of TWIL for fostering student skills for transformation, developing …

Zirconium-Based Amphoteric Metal–Organic Framework Membrane For Blue Energy Harvesting, Rockson Kwesi Tonnah, Milton Chai, Mohammad Khedri, Milad Razbin, Yasaman Boroumand, Reza Maleki, Huan Xiao, Amir Razmjou, Mohsen Asadnia

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Salination of solutions of salinity gradient releases large-scale clean and renewable energy, which can be directly and efficiently transformed into electrical energy using ion-selective nanofluidic channel membranes. However, conventional ion-selective membranes are typically either cation- or anion-selective. A pH-switchable system capable of dual cation and anion transport along with salt gradient energy harvesting properties has not been demonstrated in ion-selective membranes. Here, we constructed an amphoteric heterolayer metal–organic framework (MOF) membrane with subnanochannels modified with carboxylic and amino functional groups. The amphoteric MOF-composite membrane, AAO/aUiO-66-(COOH)2/UiO-66-NH2, exhibits pH-tuneable ion conduction and achieves osmotic energy conversion of 7.4 and 5.7 W/m^{2 …}

Maternal Nutriture And Concurrent Wasting And Stunting Among Under-Five Children: A Systematic Review, Aileen R. De Juras, Rodesa N. Forcadilla, Mary Ann M. Ingua, Angeline A. Bueno

Journal Article

Concurrent wasting and stunting (WaSt) is a severe form of child undernutrition associated with increased morbidity and mortality. While maternal nutritional status independently influences wasting and stunting, its role in their co-occurrence among children remains insufficiently explored. This systematic review aimed to examine associations between WaSt and maternal nutritional status and related determinants, as well how WaSt is defined, measured, and reported. It was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and registered with PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42024493969). Structured searches in Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases were …

Evaluation Of Bacterial Contamination On Flush Levers And Faucet Tap Handles In The Institute Of Biological Sciences Building Restrooms, University Of The Philippines Los Baños, Jan Patricia S. Estillore, Ronilo Jose D. Flores, Renard M. Jamora

Journal Article

Public restrooms provide convenience outside the home but are frequented by many users daily, creating a risk of microbial contamination on commonly touched surfaces such as flush levers and faucet handles. This study assessed microbial loads on these surfaces across genders and floors and aimed to isolate antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus species and characterize Enterobacteriaceae. Samples were collected from flush levers and faucet handles across three floors of Wing C, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. Results showed that faucet handles (7.9 × 109CFU/cm2) harbored higher microbial loads than flush levers (5.3 × 109CFU/cm2), and female …

Broader Consequences Of 17Α-Methyltestosterone-Induced Masculinization In Betta Splendens: Toxicological, Behavioral, And Morphometric Outcomes, Imee Rose E. Felipe, Alexandra May R. Rosario, Vijay Hanz A. Tuason

Journal Article

The 17α-methyltestosterone (MT) is a synthetic androgen widely applied in aquaculture, particularly in fish species like Betta splendens, where males have higher commercial value. While MT is effective for sex reversal, the broader physiological and behavioral consequences of MT exposure remain insufficiently characterized. This study evaluated toxicological, behavioral, and morphometric endpoints in B. splendens to provide an integrated assessment of the impacts of MT exposure. Immersion assays in fry (2 days post- hatch, dph) demonstrated clear dose- and exposure-dependent toxicity, with cumulative toxicity under continuous 48 h immersion while greater tolerance under discrete immersion (two 3 h immersion at 2 …

Use Of Telehealth For Measurement Of Anthropometrics In Toddlers And Their Parents, Sarah S Farabi, Cindy Schwarz, Bria Lee-Robinson, Lauren G Fiechtner, Victor Davila-Roman, Rachel G Tabak, Debra Haire-Joshu

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: The use of telehealth (e.g., live video calling) to collect anthropometric data in toddlers and their parents to increase participation in lifestyle interventions holds promise. But, there is limited evidence to support reliability of telehealth for the collection of these measures. This study aimed to determine the reliability of use of telehealth with parents to collect anthropometric and blood pressure measures on themselves and anthropometric measures on their toddler and determine the acceptability of instruction.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted as part of the developmental phase of a larger study. Research staff instructed parents via video call to …

A Multicenter Study To Assess Efficacy, Safety, And Tolerability Of Ropeginterferon Alfa-2b-Njft In Patients With Essential Thrombocythemia In The Us And Canada: Exceed-Et Trial, Lucia Masarova, Stephen T Oh, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

Case Report: Molecular Characterization Of Adult Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumor And Review Of The Literature, Miguel A Hernandez-Rovira, Michelle Connor, Robert C Osorio, Emilie Russler-Germain, Robert Schmidt, Gabrielle W Johnson, Julie Silverstein, Sonika Dahiya, Nyssa Fox Farrell, Mia C Weiss, Gregory J Zipfel, Jiayi Huang, Dimitrios Mathios

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE: Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors (ATRTs) are typically aggressive pediatric tumors with a median survival of 11 months. Due to the paucity of cases in adults, the clinical behavior of these pathologies is not well understood. Here we present the case of a 41-year-old female patient with postoperative hyperprogression of a sellar ATRT and provide a detailed description of the molecular composition of this tumor, the protocol used to treat this patient, and the ultimate outcome of this patient.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION: The patient is a 41-year-old woman who presented with headaches and double vision. MRI revealed a sellar/suprasellar …

Integrating Mapk Pathway Inhibition Into Standard-Of-Care Therapy For Pediatric Low-Grade Glioma, Erin E Crotty, Aimee A Sato, Mohamed S Abdelbaki

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Pediatric low-grade gliomas (pLGG) are a group of tumors largely driven by alterations in a single genetic pathway, known as the RAS-RAF-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Recent biologic insights and therapeutic targeting of MAPK-alterations have dramatically shifted the treatment approach in pLGG. While chemotherapy remains front-line therapy for unresectable pLGG in most scenarios (with the notable exception of

Identification Of Candidate Cardiomyopathy Modifier Genes Through Genome Sequencing And Rna Profiling, Malene E Lindholm, Gerald W Dorn, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Phenotypic heterogeneity is apparent among individuals with putative monogenic disease, such as familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Genome sequencing (GS) allows interrogation of the full spectrum of inborn genetic variation in an individual and RNA profiling provides a snapshot of the cardiac-specific pathogenic effects on gene expression.

OBJECTIVES: Identify candidate genetic modifiers of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy phenotype.

METHODS: We performed GS of 48 individuals with variants in

RESULTS: GS identified the

CONCLUSION: Evaluation of the whole genome, even in the case of alleged monogenic disease, leads to important new insights. The identified variants, regions, and genes are candidates to modify disease presentation …

Sensorimotor Faculties Bias Choice Behavior, Jan Kubanek, Lawrence H Snyder, Richard A Abrams

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Decision-making is a deliberate process that seemingly evolves under our own volition. Yet, research on embodied cognition has demonstrated that higher-order cognitive processes may be influenced, in unexpected ways, by properties of motor and sensory systems. Here we tested whether and how decisions are influenced by handedness and by asymmetries in the auditory system. Right- and left- handed participants performed an auditory decision task. In the task, subjects decided whether they heard more click sounds in the right ear or in the left ear, and pressed a key with either their right or left index finger, according to an instructed …

Case Report: Rosah Syndrome Presents Diagnostic And Therapeutic Challenges, Jenny Shunyakova, Margaret Reynolds, Amal Taylor, Erin G Sieck, James T Walsh, Lynn M Hassman

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Retinal dystrophy, optic nerve edema, splenomegaly, anhidrosis, and headache (ROSAH) syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by a heterozygous missense mutation in alpha kinase 1 (ALPK1). This series reports the presentation and treatment outcomes of three first-degree relatives with ROSAH syndrome.

METHODS: Retrospective chart review, whole exome sequencing.

RESULTS: A 16-year-old male presented with bilateral optic disc edema, macular edema, retinal degeneration, and vitreous inflammation. His mother and brother had similar clinical features. Whole exome gene sequencing identified a shared heterozygous mutation in the ALPK1 gene c.710C>T, consistent with ROSAH syndrome. Ophthalmic manifestations in this family included …

Defining Knowledge Gaps In Preterm Birth Research: Can Biomarkers Fill The Gaps?, Scott M Williams, Kevin P Rosenblatt, Sandra Reznik, Dawn P Misra, Shajila Siricilla, Nardhy Gomez-Lopez, Brandie D Taylor, Kristina M Adams Waldorf, Ramkumar Menon, Prebic North America 2024

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Preterm birth (PTB) is a syndrome arising from multiple etiologies that manifest as a final common phenotype, delivery before full term. Current knowledge gaps in epidemiologic, basic science, and clinical fields have limited our understanding of this complex pregnancy syndrome. Lack of insight into the cellular and molecular pathways underlying spontaneous PTB (PTB) has thus limited effective clinical management and restricted the investigation of novel treatments or druggable targets. Here, we examine several areas of domain-driven research that may lead to a better understanding of PTB, including infection and inflammation that drive early labor, social factors and their biological consequences …

Mechanisms And Environmental Factors Shaping The Ecosystem Of Brain Macrophages, Silvia Penati, Simone Brioschi, Zhangying Cai, Claudia Z Han, Marco Colonna

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Brain macrophages encompass two major populations: microglia in the parenchyma and border-associated macrophages (BAMs) in the extra-parenchymal compartments. These cells play crucial roles in maintaining brain homeostasis and immune surveillance. Microglia and BAMs are phenotypically and epigenetically distinct and exhibit highly specialized functions tailored to their environmental niches. Intriguingly, recent studies have shown that both microglia and BAMs originate from the same myeloid progenitor during yolk sac hematopoiesis, but their developmental fates diverge within the brain. Several works have partially unveiled the mechanisms orchestrating the development of microglia and BAMs in both mice and humans; however, many questions remain unanswered. …

Multidisciplinary Approach To Treating Complex Immune Dysregulation Disorders: An Adaptive Model For Institutional Implementation, Lauren A Henderson, Megan A Cooper, Anthony French, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Patients with immune dysregulation may present with varying combinations of autoimmunity, autoinflammation, immunodeficiency, atopy, lymphoproliferation, and/or malignancy, often with multisystem involvement. Recognizing specific patterns of immune dysregulation, coordinating and interpreting complex diagnostic testing, and choosing initial (often empiric) treatment can be challenging. Centers are increasingly assembling multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) to standardize evaluation and optimize treatment of patients with complex immune dysregulation (immune dysregulation MDTs [immMDTs]). However, published information on the composition and function of immMDTs is sparse, and there is little guidance for those seeking to establish or optimize an immMDT. To inform this review, we assembled a panel of …

The Evolution And Application Of Multi-Omic Analysis For Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumors, Sangami Pugazenthi, Shree S Pari, Ziyan Zhang, Julie Silverstein, Albert H Kim, Bhuvic Patel

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs) are a heterogeneous group of intracranial neoplasms that vary in hormonal activity, histological features, and clinical behavior. The rise of high-throughput sequencing and molecular profiling technologies has enabled multiomic approaches-including genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, proteomics, and metabolomics-to deepen our understanding of PitNET pathogenesis. These studies have identified key mutations, transcriptional lineages, epigenetic modifications, and proteomic features that contribute to tumor subtype classification, invasiveness, and treatment response. Integrative multi-omic analyses have further revealed distinct molecular subtypes, complex regulatory networks, and molecular profiles that can predict recurrence and therapeutic efficacy. These approaches hold strong potential for advancing personalized medicine …

The Role Of Complement In Normal Pregnancy And Preeclampsia, Richard M Burwick, Anuja Java, Jean F Regal

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Preeclampsia affects 3-4% of pregnancies with adverse effects for both mother and child. Minimal therapeutic options are available, and biomarkers are urgently needed to identify those at greatest risk early in the pregnancy. Both the innate and adaptive immune systems are well regulated during normal pregnancy including the complement system. A functioning complement system with some degree of complement activation participates in proper placental development, ensuring a healthy pregnancy and assisting with host defense. However, aberrant complement activation can lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preeclampsia. An overview of the complement system will be presented, along with review of …

Th9 Cells Provide Protective Tb Immunity, Mei Xia, Azra Blazevic, Huan Ning, Christopher S Eickhoff, Chad E Storer, Richard D Head, Jianguo Liu, Jessica Jarvela, David Stoeckel, Erin Rakey, Jan Tennant, Daniel L Miller, Kathleen R Holloway, Richard F Silver, Daniel F Hoft

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: CD4+ Th9 cells have been associated with inflammatory and allergic diseases. IL-9/Th9 can function as both positive and negative immune regulators, but their protective effects against

METHODS: To study TB-specific Th9 protective effects, we generated Th9 cells from ESAT6-specific TCR transgenic mice and healthy human donors.

RESULTS: Both murine and human Th9 cells significantly inhibited intracellular mycobacterial growth. In both

DISCUSSION: Th9 cells can provide important protection against Mtb infection, and should be targeted with future TB vaccine strategies. Furthermore, Th9 cells appear to utilize a novel protective mechanism independent from Th1-mediated protective responses.

Mapping Of Rorγt+ Dendritic Cells In Human Tissues Establishes Their Preferential Niche In Adult Lymph Nodes, Silvia Lonardi, Shitong Wu, Alina Ulezko Antonova, Yizhou A Liu, Marina Cella, Marco Colonna, William Vermi, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: The retinoic-acid-receptor-related orphan receptor gamma t (RORγt) isoform is required for the development of lymphoid organs, T-helper 17 cells (Th17), and innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s). Recent data in mouse and human have revealed non-T, non-ILC3 cell populations with antigen presenting features that express RORγt. This study maps the presence of RORγt cells with dendritic cell (DC) features in human adult and fetal lymphoid tissues.

METHODS: By combining multicolor flow cytometry, RNAseq of peripheral blood cells, analysis of lymph node scRNAseq datasets, and microscopic analysis on human tissue sections and single-cell suspensions, this study maps the presence of RORγt cells …

Genomic And Metabolic Network Properties In Thermophiles And Psychrophiles Compared To Mesophiles, Amal Saeed Alblooshi

Theses

Thermophiles and psychrophiles are extremophilic microorganisms that thrive in harsh conditions. Thermophiles are mostly located in hot springs, prosper in high temperatures. Psychrophiles thrive in extremely cold environments, including polar regions and deep-sea habitats. Although they play a crucial role in biotechnology and environmental research, their mechanisms of adaptation are still not well understood. The main objective of this thesis is to understand the genomic characteristics and metabolic network features in thermophiles and psychrophiles compared to mesophiles. The genomes of 59 species among thermophiles, psychrophiles, and mesophiles were collected from the NCBI database. These genomes were used to analyze their …