Digital Commons Network^™

Oral Pcsk9 Inhibitors: Can Novel Therapies Overcome Barriers To Effective Ldl-Cholesterol Management?, Christie M Ballantyne, Alberico L Catapano, Khurram Nasir

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Beyond The Surface: Mapping Dde's Metabolic Footprint On Adolescent Obesity, Zhenjiang Li, Shudi Pan, Brittney O Baumert, Jiawen Carmen Chen, Jesse A Goodrich, Hongxu Wang, Sarah Rock, Justin Ryder, Damaskini Valvi, Todd Jenkins, Stephanie Sisley, Xiangping Lin, Scott M Bartell, Thomas H Inge, Stavra Xanthakos, Brooklynn Mcneil, Anna R Robuck, Catherine E Mullins, Sandrah P Eckel, Rob S Mcconnell, Michele A La Merrill, Douglas I Walker, David V Conti, Lida Chatzi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Bariatric surgery is an intervention for severe obesity, leading to significant weight loss and metabolic improvements. However, the release of lipophilic chemicals accumulated in adipose tissue during weight loss presents a unique clinical challenge and research opportunity. Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) is a persistent organic pollutant increasingly recognized as obesogen, while the biological mechanisms through which DDE influences body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference remain underexplored.

Objectives: We aimed to identify metabolic signatures mediating the association between DDE exposure and weight loss by plasma and adipose tissue metabolomics.

Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study involving 60 adolescents with severe obesity …

Phage-Induced Protection Against Lethal Bacterial Reinfection, Yikun Xing, Haroldo J Hernandez Santos, Ling Qiu, Samantha R Ritter, Jacob J Zulk, Rachel Lahowetz, Kathryn A Patras, Austen L Terwilliger, Anthony W Maresso

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that target and infect bacteria. Due to a worldwide rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR), phages have been proposed as a promising alternative to antibiotics for the treatment of resistant bacterial infections. Up to this point in history, phage use in preclinical animal studies, clinical trials, and emergency-use compassionate care cases has centered around the original observation from 1915 showing phage as lytic agent, and thus a treatment that kills bacteria. Here, we describe an activity associated with phage therapy that extends beyond lytic activity that results in long-term protection against reinfection. This activity is potent, …

Mutant P53 Gain Of Function: Why Many See It, Why Some Do Not, Guillermina Lozano, Carol Prives, Kanaga Sabapathy

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Mutations in the TP53 tumor-suppressor gene in human cancer are unique in that 60% to 70% are of the missense variety, resulting in a full-length protein that is often highly expressed in patients' tumors. These missense mutant proteins often exhibit pro-oncogenic activities (referred to as gain of function) in mouse models and human cell lines and correlate with poor cancer prognosis in some cases.

Perceptions Of Spirituality And Of God: A Psychological Qualitative Study, Christopher E. Peck, Timothy B. Smith, Jamila Mastny

Faculty Publications

The majority of people living in the U.S. report that spirituality is an important part of their life that is influential to their well-being. However, individuals vary widely in how they conceptualize spirituality, which often stems from and overlaps with their conceptualizations of God or so-called “God image”. Examination of people’s experiences of spirituality and conceptualization of God can enable psychologists to improve their understanding of individuals’ core personal experiences. This study evaluates both spirituality and God image, as well as the relationship between these two constructs, using qualitative hermeneutic analysis of interviews with 63 adults (51% women, 49% men, …

Conversational Incident Reporting Using A Large Language Model, Chaim Zucker, Nitzan Jaitman, Alon Segal

Defensive Publications Series

Some digital map applications include road incident reporting features that enable users to report incidents along a path that a user is traveling on. Such features require specific phrasing or manual selection of options on a device screen which can be cumbersome and distracting. This disclosure describes techniques that enable intuitive and safe road-incident reporting using hands-free, free-form natural language conversations within a digital map application. A reporting button on the user interface (or spoken command) of a digital map application enables users to start the reporting of incidents. A large language model is deployed to interpret the spoken incident …

“This Is One Moment In Time, Sealed In Amber”: A Structural And Content Analysis Of Queer Characters And Themes In The Audio Drama Eos 10, Emma Renn

SUURJ: Seattle University Undergraduate Research Journal

Queer horror and science fiction (sf) audio dramas populate many podcasting platforms, from explicit calls for and queries about Queer representation to general forums discussing horror and sf audio dramas (or podcasts). In this study, I used the principles of a case study to explore the queer nature of EOS 10 (an sf audio drama). I listened to the podcast EOS 10 and coded transcriptions which focused on Queer themes, in reference to sexuality or in relationship to heteronormativity more generally. I focused primarily on the trope of found family, as well as how audio dramas can push back against …

Volume 151, Issue 151, 2018, Megan Alfaro, Ursula K. Le Guin, Ahmed Moneim, Keenan Norris, Meg Tinsley, T.C. Boyle, Willy Lizarraga, Sophie Anne Berti, Sativa January, Susan Lowell, Brian Barrientez Ii, Steve H. Vu, Ellen Bass, James K. Zimmerman, Cb Follett, Joyce Schmid, James Brasfield, Meredith Davies Hadaway, Gustavo Hernandez, Marin Nelson, Silvia Bonilla, Katherine Morgan, Tommy Mouton, Sally Ashton, Anna Bernstein, Genevieve Deguzman, Suzanne Rico, Peyton Harvey, William Finnegan, Margaret Mcmullan, Don George, Clare Frank, Grace Schaffer, Robert D. Kirvel, Kelly Grogan, Kelley Jhung, Marisa Murrow, Terry Phimister, Sharon Simonson, Susan Shillinglaw, Talia Adry, Noelle Brada-Williams

Reed Magazine

No abstract provided.

Aga Khan University Suggested Calligraphy

Old name/logo items (letterheads, seals, posters, etc.)

No abstract provided.

Speech By Hh The Aga Khan At The Inauguration Of The Aga Khan University's Faculty Of Health Sciences And Of The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi

Inaugural addresses and related documents

No abstract provided.

Developing Full Performance Interpreters: Cultivating Interdisciplinary Mindsets And Skillsets To Engage Audiences In Climate Change, Women's History, And Other Contested Heritage Topics, Delia A. Lister

Dissertations

Heritage sites immerse visitors in places where the impacts of climate change are readily apparent. They are also powerful places to elevate untold stories of women and girls. Heritage site interpreters interact daily with audiences who bring diverse lived experiences, different levels of subject matter knowledge, and multiple perspectives on climate change and the role of women in history. Every visitor interaction has a set of meanings, values, and narratives that visitors knowingly or unknowingly espouse. To interpret contested heritage topics, such as climate change and women’s history, interpreters must cultivate interdisciplinary mindsets and skillsets. The purpose of this basic …

Managing Values-Based Purchasing In School Nutrition Programs, Laura Lee Benavidez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

School nutrition managers face the challenge of balancing values-based purchasing (VBP) with maintaining student participation and budgetary stability. While VBP integrates sustainability, environmental impact, and animal safety, these priorities may sometimes compete with traditional goals, such as cost efficiency and meal accessibility. Grounded in program evaluation theory, the purpose of this mixed methods explanatory sequential study was to examine how school food service managers implement VPB, integrating procurement and nutrition transparency while managing participation and costs. The quantitative phase focused on participation trends, cost structures, and procurement metrics across diverse school districts to establish a foundation for understanding VBP’s measurable …

A Multimodal Therapeutic Strategy For Inflammatory Bowel Disease Using Microrna-146a Mimic Encapsulated In Lipid Nanoparticles., Kanika Suri, Vishnu Hosur, Rohit Panchakshari, Mansoor M Amiji

Faculty Research 2025

Dysregulated microRNAs (miRNAs) have significant potential as diagnostic tools for various chronic diseases; however, their therapeutic applications remain largely unexplored. Given their capacity to regulate multiple pathways, miRNAs are promising candidates for treating pleiotropic diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In our study, we conducted a comprehensive review of the literature of miRNA-146 levels in the inflamed tissues of IBD patients and murine colitis models. Initially, we quantified the expression of miRNA-146a and miRNA-146b in the colons of mice using the dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-inducedacute model of IBD. We selected miRNA-146a for further study due to its anti-inflammatory properties …

Interaction Between Casein And Tlr 4 On Neutrophil Surface Based On Molecular Dynamics, Tang Yang, Jiang Fei, Zhang Bo, Wen Li, Xie Yufei

Food and Machinery

［Objective］ To explore the activation effect of casein (CN) on neutrophils and its interaction with TLR 4 receptors on the neutrophil surface.［Methods］ The zebrafish model is adopted to study the activation effect of CN on neutrophil migration,with such methods as 3D model construction,molecular docking,and molecular dynamics simulations employed to study the interaction between TLR 4 receptors and CN subtypes.［Results］］ Treatment of 3 dpf zebrafish with 1 mg/mL of CN solution for 2 h can induce neutrophil migration and accumulation inside the body of the zebrafish.All subtypes of CN can form stable complexes with TLR 4.It is speculated that the key …

Optimization Of The Preparation Process Of Cordyceps Militaris Polypeptides Through Fermentation Technology And Evaluation Of Antioxidant Activity, Xin Ting, Wang Zhao, Li Changbin, Zou Jian

Food and Machinery

［Objective］ To prepare Cordyceps militaris polypeptides using fermentation and analyze their antioxidant activity.［Methods］ The most suitable strain was screened from four candidates.Based on single -factor experiments and combined with orthogonal experiments,the fermentation process conditions of the selected strain were optimized.The polypeptide solution was separated and purified by ultrafiltration,and the antioxidant activity of C.militaris polypeptides was analyzed.［Results］］ The optimal conditions for preparing polypeptides from C.militaris protein by fermentation with Bacillus subtilis were as follows:3% addition of C.militaris protein,fermentation temperature of 36 ℃,inoculation amount of 4%,and fermentation time of 24 hours.Under these conditions,the polypeptide yield was 67.95%.After ultrafiltration,the fraction with a relative …

Research Progress On The Functional Activity And Mechanism Of Action Of Porcine Peptides, Chen Qian, Chen Hong, Ge Yuxi, He Xiaoyu, Fang Zhengfeng

Food and Machinery

Porcine tissues and organs are rich in proteins.Bioactive peptides hydrolyzed from porcine tissue and organ proteins have been proven to possess various physiological activities,such as blood pressure reduction,antioxidation,antibacterial effects,and bone growth promotion.Differences in substrates and processing conditions result in variations in the functional activity and molecular size of these peptides.This article focuses on the acquisition of porcine bioactive functional peptides,analyzing their amino acid composition and sequence to elucidate their mechanisms of action.Furthermore,it explores the commonalities among different peptide fragments exhibiting the same functional activity and discusses the application prospects of porcine bioactive peptides.

Research Progress On Active Components In Different Parts Of Dendrobium Officinale And Their Processing And Utilization, Li Tongyu, Yu Youxiang, Yan Yuxiao, Yan Daoliang

Food and Machinery

Dendrobium officinale is a valuable medicinal material in China,with the stem being its main utilized part,while the use of its flowers and leaves has not been fully developed.This paper,based on recent research on the flowers,leaves,and stems of D.officinale in China and abroad,reviews the main active components and their functional differences in the flowers,leaves,and stems of D.officinale,and discusses the current research progress in the processing and utilization of these parts.

Research Progress On Functional Characteristics Of Lactic Acid Bacteria In Special Habitats, Huang Wanyan, Bi Xiufang, Ni Chunlei, Hao Gang, Huang Meigui, Tang Shanhu

Food and Machinery

A special habitat refers to the specific environmental conditions or unique geographical locations in which organisms survive,and microorganisms often exhibit specialized functions in such environments.Currently,lactic acid bacteria are mainly used in fermented foods,silage fermentation,intestinal inflammation regulation,and environmental remediation.Special -habitat lactic acid bacteria refer to those that thrive in unconventional environments or are isolated from extreme environmental conditions,playing a significant role in both human and ecosystem.This paper summarizes recent research on the functional characteristics of lactic acid bacteria inhabiting high -altitude,high -cold,high -temperature,and high -salinity environments and explores their application prospects in the development of novel fermented products and the bioremediation …

How Far-Right Populism Harms Ethnic Minorities’ Health: The Case Of The United States, Dina Rosenberg

Working Papers Series

Public health is a political issue, and the health of ethnic minorities is a key component of it. We argue that far-right populism, whether grassroots or elitist, harms the health of immigrants and minorities. Anti-minority attitudes and policies—such as health chauvinism promoted by far-right populists—along with hate rhetoric and ensuing personal and institutional discrimination create a climate of hostility that negatively affects health outcomes in underprivileged communities. We hypothesize that immigrants and ethnic minorities living in such a climate are more likely to experience health problems and underutilize healthcare. To test this, we leverage the significant variation between U.S. states …

Prescribed Fire Leads A Pine Flatwoods Specialist Tree Frog To Seek Local Refugia, Ian Biazzo, Pedro F. Quintana-Ascencio

Faculty Publications

Pine savannas of the southeastern United States evolved with frequent low-intensity wildfires. Today, land managers use prescribed fires to restore this ecological process while also controlling vegetative fuel accumulation. Given the ubiquitous application of this management tool, studies should consider impacts on target and nontarget taxa in these systems. During fires, animal populations persist in the landscape when individuals emigrate to unburned areas or seek refugia within the burn zone; otherwise, they experience local extirpation. We examined the effect of prescribed fires on a pine flatwoods specialist frog, the pinewoods treefrog Dryophytes femoralis, in a frequently burned pine landscape. …

Investigating The Obstacles Of K-12 Saudi Teachers In The Use Of Educational ‎Technology ‎, Mohammed Albaqami

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the obstacles that K-12 teachers in general education schools in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia face when implementing technology into their classrooms. This study was conducted within the city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The purpose of the current study is to identify the degree of use of educational technology by teachers in K-12 schools, in addition to investigating teachers' perceptions about the obstacles using educational technology in K-12 schools in relation to the teachers, administration, and technology. The questions of this study were, therefore, “What is the degree of use of educational …

The Supernatural Shadow Of The Philosophic Fallacy: A Critical Examination Of John Dew-Ey’S Experience And Nature, Danica Jenck

Center for Dewey Studies Essay Award

In Experience and Nature, John Dewey asserts the existence of the philosophic fallacy. He describes the philosophic fallacy as understanding reality through abstractions rather than material causes that are situated in experience. However, Dewey’s writings on moral and religious development, particularly his criticisms of the supernatural, puts his philosophic fallacy into question. I argue that Dewey’s rejection of the supernatural is a mistake that limits his ability to clearly articulate his metaphysical project, demonstrating that Dewey’s rejection of supernatural experience commits the philosophic fallacy and is based in a Eurocentric tendency that can be escaped by challenging Eurocentric metaphysical …

Arts-Based Sustainability: From New York To Malawi, Martha B. Lerski

Publications and Research

Recognizing that libraries serve multiple constituencies and subject areas, this chapter documents and advocates for development of transdisciplinary arts-based research (ABR) and culture-related projects linked to environmental challenges. Libraries contribute collections and spaces, as well as the research of library and information scientists. Libraries are currently among invisible contributors to sustainability planning and services. The chapter will link this invisibility to the value of what visual arts refer to as negative space elements in subjects ranging from traditional ecological knowledge to environmental science. Library collections, projects, and research contribute to education for sustainable development (ESD) as required to achieve the …

Having A Cow: Exploring The Economic And Mental Health Challenges Of Dairying In The Upper Valley, Ava J. Ori

Environmental Studies Senior Theses

Until late in the 20th century, the dairyman was an influential actor in the fabric of the Upper Valley consisting of Grafton, Orange, Sullivan and Windsor counties (Rozwenc, 1981 & Weld, 1905). Dairy farmers were critical to both the economic growth of the region and the construction of a local identity centered around distinctive high quality dairy products. However, the dairy farmers responsible for the bucolic feel and scrappy independence unique to the Upper Valley are being traded in for massive operations lacking both quality of milk and the cultural intricacy specific to local dairies. In 1905 there were 4,173 …

Molecular Insights Into The Role Of Estrogen Receptor Beta In Ecdysterone Mediated Anabolic Activity, Syeda Sumayya Tariq, Madiha Sardar, Muhammad Shafiq, Hendrick Heinz, Mohammad Nur-E-Alam, Aftab Ahmad, Zaheer Ul-Haq

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Ecdysterone, often dubbed a “natural steroid,” has garnered significant attention among athletes for its reputed growth-promoting and anabolic properties. Unlike synthetic anabolic steroids, which are classified as controlled substances, ecdysteroids remain largely unregulated in many countries and are widely marketed as dietary supplements. Notably, ecdysterone has been included in the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) monitoring program, highlighting its potential impact on athletic performance and raising questions about its regulation. Emerging evidence indicates that, unlike traditional anabolic steroids that act primarily via the Androgen Receptor (AR), ecdysterone’s anabolic effects may be mediated through Estrogen Receptors (ERs), particularly Estrogen Receptor beta (ERβ). …

What This Work Really Takes: Lessons, Tensions, And Student Perspectives In A Social Justice Math Classroom, Kathryn Elizabeth Roman

Dissertations and Theses

In recent years, there have been growing calls for mathematics instruction that engages students in understanding and critiquing injustice through mathematics. While resources for social justice math (SJM) lessons have become increasingly available, implementing these lessons in real classrooms--with real students, real time constraints, and real pressures--remains a challenge. This dissertation explores how teachers and students navigate this complexity through three connected papers.

The first paper introduces a framework to support teachers and mathematics teacher educators (MTEs) in selecting and modifying pre-designed SJM lessons (PSJMLs). The framework is organized around three guiding principles: (1) center student identity and teacher self-awareness, …

Breaking The Rules: Post-Translational Modifications And Proteome Dynamics During Anoxia, Chelsea Jordan Hughes

Dissertations and Theses

Most organisms are ill-equipped to survive anoxia, but some organisms have developed molecular strategies to mitigate the cellular stressors associated with a lack of oxygen. While it is established that anoxic survival is contingent on metabolic suppression, it is unclear what mechanisms support this change in gene expression. Gene expression is regulated by a variety of mechanisms within the cell, including alteration of chromatin structure through histone modifications and protein modifications which contribute to the ever-changing proteomic landscape of the cell. Protein modifications such as ubiquitylation can lead to the degradation of proteins, while modifications to transcription factors can change …

Identification Of A Seasonal Influenza Vaccine-Induced Broadly Protective Neuraminidase Antibody, Anders Madsen, Nisreen M A Okba, Tossapol Pholcharee, Hanover C Matz, Huibin Lv, Maria Ibanez Trullen, Julian Q Zhou, Jackson S Turner, Aaron J Schmitz, Fangjie Han, Stephen C Horvath, Sameer Kumar Malladi, Florian Krammer, Nicholas C Wu, Ali H Ellebedy

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Seasonal influenza viruses cause significant global illness and death annually, and the potential spillover of avian H5N1 poses a serious pandemic threat. Traditional influenza vaccines target the variable hemagglutinin (HA) protein, necessitating annual vaccine updates, while the slower-evolving neuraminidase (NA) presents a promising target for broader protection. We investigated the breadth of anti-NA B cell responses to seasonal influenza vaccination in humans. We screened plasmablast-derived monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) from three donors, identifying 11 clonally distinct NA mAbs from 268 vaccine-specific mAbs. Among these, mAb-297 showed exceptionally broad NA inhibition, effectively protecting mice against lethal doses of influenza A and B …

Irx2 And Nptx1 Differential Regulation Of Β-Catenin Underlies Mek-Mediated Proliferation In Human Neuroglial Cells, Alexander Chen, Hannah Wang, Xuanwei Li, Corina Anastasaki, David H Gutmann

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The two major genomic alterations in pediatric pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) are

Innate Lymphoid Cells In Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Xin Yao, Kaiming Ma, Yangzhuangzhuang Zhu, Siyan Cao

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract with rising incidence and an unclear etiology. Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) have recently emerged as key regulators of mucosal immunity and tissue homeostasis and are increasingly implicated in IBD. Unlike adaptive lymphocytes, ILCs do not require antigen recognition and clonal expansion to respond rapidly to environmental cues and shape immune responses. In a healthy gut, ILCs maintain intestinal homeostasis by guarding the epithelial barrier, protecting against pathogens, and mounting proper responses to external insults. However, their altered differentiation, proliferation, recruitment, activation, …