Digital Commons Network^™

Uncovering Hidden Prognostic Patterns In Colorectal Cancer Histology Using Unsupervised Learning: A Computational Pathology Study, Wen-Tong Zhou, Yong Liu, Gang Yu, Kuan-Song Wang, Chao Xu, Jonathan Greenbaum, Chong Wu, Lin-Dong Jiang, Christopher J Papasian, Hong-Mei Xiao, Hong-Wen Deng

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cause of cancer mortality globally, yet current histopathological diagnostics capture only limited features. This study aimed to discover subtle, prognostically significant histomorphological patterns in CRC tissues using unsupervised deep learning. We developed a framework integrating convolutional neural networks with deep clustering, trained on 23,341 image patches from 493 patients. We identified 30 distinct histomorphological clusters from CRC tissue images. Through univariate and multivariate survival analyses, three clusters (Cluster13, Cluster19, and Cluster24) were consistently associated with patient prognosis. These clusters were integrated with clinical factors (T stage, N stage, and differentiation degree) to construct a …

Telemedicine As A Gateway To Early-Phase Oncology Trials: Lessons From 14,000 Patients And Future Directions For Global Access And Equity, Carlos Torrado, Clark R Andersen, Lei Kang, Amanda L Brink, Taiwo Adesoye, Hung Le, Clover J Patterson, Anna Poullard, Jessica A Osburn, Harold N Tan, Mohamed A Gouda, Sheena Charles, Gabriele E Urschel, Tin-Yun Tang, David S Hong, Stephane Champiat, Aung Naing, Apostolia M Tsimberidou, Ecaterina E Dumbrava, Sarina A Piha-Paul, Jordi Rodon, Timothy A Yap, Paula R Pohlmann, Funda Meric-Bernstam, Siqing Fu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Telemedicine expanded rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic, but its role in early-phase oncology trials remains uncertain. We evaluated its impact on recruitment, enrollment, equity, and access in a large phase I program.

Patients and methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients seen for first consultation in the MD Anderson Phase I Program (2016-2023). Recruitment (consent) and enrollment (treatment initiation) were compared by visit type, race/ethnicity, and geography across pre-pandemic (2016-2019), pandemic (2020-March 11, 2023), and post-public health emergency (PHE; March-December 2023) periods. A chart review of 400 patients validated findings.

Results: Of 14,085 patients, 7,247 were evaluated post-pandemic, with 36% (n …

Pan-Cancer Evolution Signatures Link Clonal Expansion To Dynamic Changes In The Tumor Immune Microenvironment, Xinyu Yang, Wei Liu, Geoff Macintyre, Peter Van Loo, Florian Markowetz, Peter Bailey, Ke Yuan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cancer is an evolutionary process characterized by profound intratumor heterogeneity (ITH), which can be quantified using in silico estimates of cancer cell fractions (CCFs) of tumor-specific somatic mutations. We demonstrate a data-driven approach based on CCF distributions to identify 4 robust pan-cancer evolutionary signatures from 4,146 tumors across 17 cancer types in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). These signatures define a continuum of cancer cell fractions reflecting neutral evolution, clonal expansion, and clonal fixation. Correlating evolutionary signatures with mutational and biological programs reveals that tumors enriched for clonal expansion and fixation are associated with immune evasion and distinct changes in …

Pinocchio And The Tiny Pink Monkey (2026) | Program, Jacksonville State University

Department of Theatre & Film Performance Archive

Performed: 13-16 March 2026; "Pinocchio and the Tiny Pink Monkey" was written by Michael Boynton and the Members of the Flying Blink Theatre Ensemble. Artistic team were Carolyn Conover (director), Brayden Turner (stage manager), Addie Barnes and Ophelia Lazo (assistant stage managers), Eli Sims (assistant stage manager/tour manager), Corrine Todd (costume designer), Skye Strauss (puppet designer), Cheyenne Oliver (lighting designer), Ryan Godfrey (assistant lighting designer), Mike Long (fight choreographer). Production staff were Cheyenne Oliver (technical director), Ryan Godfrey (run crew), Akira Scott-Crough (light board operator), Liesl Cristy (spotlight operator), Ellie Boozer (costume shop manager), Molly Willingham (wardrobe head), Devin Knight …

Pd-L1, Tumor Mutational Burden, And Microbiome Signatures As Predictors Of Durable Immunotherapy Response In Metastatic Lung Cancer: A Multi-Omic Cohort Study, Wei Zhang, Li Chen, Minghao Liu, Xiaoyan Huang

Muthanna Medical Journal

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have significantly improved outcomes in metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), yet durable clinical benefit (DCB) is achieved in only a subset of patients. Established biomarkers such as PD-L1 expression and tumor mutational burden (TMB) incompletely predict response, while emerging evidence suggests that gut microbiome composition may further modulate immunotherapy efficacy. We conducted a prospective multi-center study in China to evaluate the independent and integrated predictive value of PD-L1, TMB, and microbiome signatures for durable immunotherapy response. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 286 patients with metastatic NSCLC receiving PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors were enrolled across three …

Heterocyclic‐Fused Squaramides: Anionophores With Antimicrobial Activity, Luke Edward Brennan, Chris Samuel Hawes, Kevin Kavanagh, Robert Brian Peter Elmes

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Antimicrobial resistance is regarded as one of the foremost public health risks of the 21st century, highlighting the need for new antimicrobial agents and chemical tools to interrogate their biological activity. Artificial transmembrane anion transporters have emerged as promising supramolecular scaffolds in this context, having demonstrated membrane activity in mammalian systems and showing growing potential in antimicrobial research. Here, we report a series of heterocycle‐fused squaramide anionophores capable of binding and transporting chloride. Several members of this series display measurable antimicrobial activity, alongside evidence of intracellular chloride modulation in bacterial cells. Taken together, these findings indicate that membrane localisation and …

The Collective Impact Of Physical Activity, Somatic Therapy, And Nature-Based Spirituality (Pastans) On Individuals Recovering From Substance Use Disorders (Suds), Sara R. Maddox

University Honors Theses

This correlation research study explores the collective impact of physical activities, somatic therapies, and nature-based spirituality (referred to as PASTANS, a term created by the researcher) on individuals recovering from substance use disorders (SUDs). The study aimed to evaluate how these practices enhanced emotional regulation and fostered community development, thereby supporting sustained recovery and overall well-being. PASTANS interconnected to alleviate cravings and rewire brain reward pathways, promoting cultural connections through activities that resonated with pre-colonial traditions and were accessible to atheists and agnostics.

Participants engaged in movement and somatic practices in natural settings, including yoga and hiking. Somatic therapies are …

Authors’ Response To Letter To The Editor From Aphale, P, Et Al., Resident Autonomy In Pathology: Bridging Gaps Between Training And Practice, Bronwyn H. Bryant, Balaram Puligandla, Hailey L. Gosnell, Kristen Johnson, Stephanie Barak, Mary P. Berg, Julie Karp, Amanda Lofgreen, Cindy B. Mccloskey, Barbara E. C. Knollmann-Ritschel, Kristie L. White, W. Stephen Black-Schaffer

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Glycative Stress Disrupts The Mitochondrial-Lysosome Axis And Promotes Geroconversion In Aging Cardiomyocytes, Diana Bou-Teen, Simonas Valiuska, Elisabet Miro-Casas, Chiara Rubeo, Elena Bonzon-Kulichenko, Zuzana Nichtova, Celia Fernandez-Sanz, Javier Inserte, Antonio Rodriguez-Sinovas, Begoña Benito, Eduard Ródenas-Alesina, Jesús Vázquez, Ignacio Ferreira-González, Marisol Ruiz-Meana

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Aging is a major risk factor for heart failure, yet the molecular mechanisms linking cardiac aging to the inflammatory pathophysiology of heart failure remain elusive. Mitochondrial dysfunction and defective organelle quality control are emerging hallmarks of the aging heart, but their biochemical underpinnings are poorly defined. Using comprehensive glycomics, we found that cardiac mitochondria from physiologically aged mice (≥ 20 months) are the major intracellular reservoirs of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), derived primarily from the chemical attack of some α-oxoaldehydes on proteins. This was associated with mild mitochondrial dysfunction and structural remodeling. Lysosomes in aged hearts were enlarged, more …

Gut Microbiota Modulation Via Repeated Donor Fecal Transplantation Improves Motor And Gastrointestinal Symptoms In Drug-Naïve Parkinson’S Disease: A Randomized Phase 2 Trial, Rui Zhang, Renyi Feng, Jiuqi Wang, Yongkang Chen, Han Liu, Qingyong Zhu, Haiyan Tian, Chi Qin, Junfang Teng, Beisha Tang, Min Wu, Jinsheng Zeng, Erxi Wu, Xuebing Ding, Xuejing Wang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The gut-brain axis is increasingly recognized as a critical contributor to Parkinson's disease (PD) pathogenesis, yet the therapeutic impact of microbiota modulation remains unclear due to lack of clinical trials in drug-naïve patients. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of repeated donor fecal microbiota transplantation (dFMT) in de novo PD. FMT was administered for seven days (200 mL on days 1-3; 50 mL on days 4-7) per 4-week cycle. Seventy-two patients were randomized 1:1 to receive dFMT or autologous FMT (aFMT), and 66 completed the trial. At 35 weeks, the …

Symptomatic Manifestations Of Hip Dysplasia In Young Adults: How Do Patients Present Before Or After Surgery? Results From A Social Media Cohort, John M. Gaddis, Amanda J. Wheeler, Erika Shults, Charles South, Stephen T. Duncan, Joel Wells

School of Medicine Publications

This study aimed to analyse the symptomatic differences of hip dysplasia before or after separate surgical interventions, including pain location and characteristics, severity, patient-reported outcomes, and a body pain diagram. A REDCap-based survey was distributed through social media from October 2023 to May 2024 and targeted individuals with current or past hip pain. The survey gathered data on demographics, comprehensive hip-specific history, and various patient-reported outcome measures. Of 509 completed surveys, 287 respondents reported a diagnosis of hip dysplasia and were divided into cohorts based on treatment history: no surgery (n = 65), post-periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) (n = 162), post-THA …

Cutaneous Rosai-Dorfman Disease Misdiagnosed As Granulomatous Dermatitis: A Diagnostic Pitfall, Sri Naidnur, Jamie Hedrick, Smaran Marupudi, Kara Asbury, Kelly Maedo, Bryan Gammon, Rick Lin

School of Medicine Publications

Cutaneous Rosai-Dorfman disease (CRDD) is an uncommon non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis that may occur without systemic involvement and lacks specific clinical features. We report a 17-year-old female with a slowly enlarging chest lesion initially diagnosed as granulomatous dermatitis on a 4-mm punch biopsy. The lesion was treated as an inflammatory process without improvement. Complete excision revealed a multinodular dermal and subcutaneous infiltrate of large histiocytes demonstrating emperipolesis, confirming CRDD. Systemic evaluation was negative. The initial limited biopsy did not capture defining features, delaying diagnosis.

Persistent nodular lesions that fail to respond to therapy should prompt reconsideration and more representative tissue sampling. …

Catherine Lin-Hendel V. Linton Turner

2026 Decisions

USDC for the District of New Jersey

Identification And Full Genome Sequencing Of Previously Unknown Sandfly-Borne Phleboviruses Using A Newly Established Capture-Based Next-Generation Sequencing Approach, Edwin O. Ogola, Inga Slothouwer, Gilbert Rotich, Anne Kopp, Armanda D. Bastos, Caroline Getugi, Julia Melchert, Terence C. Jones, Dorcus C. Omoga, Rosemary Sang, Baldwyn Torto, David P. Tchouassi, Sandra Junglen

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Sandfly-borne phleboviruses cause febrile illness and neuroinvasive disease in humans. While infections are reported in the Mediterranean region, the discovery of previously unknown phleboviruses in sandflies from Kenya suggests a wider geographic distribution. Detection and characterization of novel phleboviruses are often hindered by low-quality and low-viral-load samples. We developed a capture-based target enrichment next-generation sequencing approach that showed a 99%-100% fold enrichment of viral genomes from primary material and provides a robust tool for generating complete genomes of both known and previously unknown viruses. From a collection of 15,652 sandflies in Kenya, we recovered seven complete coding sequences of Embossos, …

Graphene For A Sustainable Future: Clean Energy, Environmental Remediation, And Green Pathways A Review, Ahmed Al-Amiery, Wan N. R. Wan Isahak

Terra Joule Journal

Graphene is a two-dimensional carbon nanomaterial whose exceptional properties high mechanical strength (Young's modulus ∼1 TPa; tensile strength >130 GPa), high carrier mobility (>200,000 cm²/V· s at room temperature), high thermal conductivity (∼5,000 W/m· K), and large theoretical specific surface area (∼2,630 m²/g) make it an attractive platform for sustainability-oriented technologies. In this review, we will critically discuss green and sustainable synthesis routes such as those derived from biomass/waste materials, electrochemical exfoliation, and green chemical vapor deposition innovations, and their associated sustainability based on life cycle assessment concepts, functional units, and impact category indicators such …

Toward More Reliable Uavs: Interpretable Machine Learning For Understanding Propeller Fault Separability, Saadi Turied Kurdi, Luttfi A. Al-Haddad, Latif Ibraheem

Terra Joule Journal

This study investigates the fundamental limits of UAV propeller fault discrimination using an interpretable XGBoost–SHAP framework applied to the high-resolution DronePropA dataset. Three fault types—edge-cut, structural crack, and surface erosion—were evaluated across three severity levels under constrained flight conditions to isolate the physical signatures of degradation. A curated subset of 1 kHz IMU and ESC telemetry from Drone 1 (trajectory t1, speed SP1) enabled analysis of fault separability independent of kinematic variability. Despite deploying a moderately complex XGBoost classifier (300 estimators, depth = 6) and a comprehensive multi-domain feature set, the model achieved a performance ceiling of 38.04% accuracy and …

Integrating Green Hr Practices To Enhance Organizational Sustainability: An Insight From Banking Sector Of Saudi Arabia, Asst.Prof. Adi Sudan Albaqami

UB Journal for Humanities

Green human resources (HR) is a crucial tactic for incorporating environmental management into HR procedures as businesses look for more sustainable ways to solve environmental issues. Thus, the main aim of this paper is to examine the influence of green HR practices on organizational sustainability, with a focus on the mediating roles of organizational culture, employee engagement, and top management commitment in the Saudi banking sector. To achieve these objectives, a questionnaire was designed and distributed to a study sample of 125 managers from Saudi banks at various levels. The results show that integrating green HR practices into Saudi banks …

The Effect Of Transcranial Near-Infrared Laser Therapy On Chronic Ischemic Stroke Patients: A Randomized, Single-Blind, Sham-Controlled Trial, Merna Hassan, Osama Al Balah, Ahmed Hegazy, El Sayed Satour

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Background: Transcranial photobiomodulation (TPBM) using near-infrared (NIR) light is a novel, non-invasive neuromodulation strategy with potential to enhance neurorecovery. While preclinical studies are promising, clinical evidence in chronic stroke remains limited and inconsistent.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 980 nm transcranial NIR laser therapy as an adjunct to standard rehabilitation in improving neurological function in patients with chronic ischemic stroke.

Methods: In this randomized, single-blind, sham-controlled trial, 40 chronic ischemic stroke patients (>6 months post-onset, NIHSS 7-22) were allocated to active treatment (n=20) or sham control (n=20). The active group received 980 nm laser therapy (6W, …

Synergistic Microbiome-Peptidome Therapeutics: Exploring Lactobacillus Reuteri Dsmz 17648 And Stem Cell-Derived Peptides For Immunomodulation And Tissue Repair Across Diseases, Hasan M. Agha, Mohammed A. Abdalqader, Abdullah Asad Siddiqui, Shafiq Aazmi, Jantson Hoh, Oh Chin Kin Michelle, Sabaa M. Agha, Amjad Abdulhadi Mohammed, Muneer Mohammed Saleh Alsayadi

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Chronic inflammatory and degenerative disorders are driven by interconnected immune dysregulation, metabolic instability, epithelial barrier disruption, and impaired tissue repair, limiting the durability of conventional single-target therapies. The global rise in chronic inflammatory, metabolic, and age-related degenerative diseases underscores an urgent need for multi-dimensional therapeutic strategies that move beyond isolated molecular targets. Despite rapid advances in microbiome science and regenerative medicine, these fields have largely evolved in parallel, with limited integration at the translational level. Emerging evidence identifies the gut microbiome as a central regulator of systemic immunometabolic homeostasis through microbial metabolites, barrier integrity modulation, and immune-cell education. In parallel, …

Sharing The Gold With The Mountain: A Proposed Quasi-Property Doctrine For Health Data Compensation, Taylor Col

Journal of Technology Law & Policy

This Note provides a legal answer to the moral question of whether a person should be compensated for lucrative health data that was collected from them. The moral question is examined through the lens of various doctrines in property, privacy, intellectual property, and ethics, in light of landmark cases concerning biomaterials and genetic information. A new doctrine for health data compensation is proposed, based on quasi-property and borrowing elements from equity, intellectual property, and profit-sharing. The proposed doctrine is evaluated by applying it to a hypothetical commercialization of one person’s health data via a precision medicine product.

Python Hunting: How Laws That Protect The Everglades From The Invasive Burmese Python, Including Eradication Programs, Can Inform The Regulation Of Objects Controlled By Artificial Intelligence, Kerri Lynn Stone, Joshua Stone

Journal of Technology Law & Policy

This Article explores the surprisingly apt analogy between the Burmese python problem in the Florida Everglades and abandoned objects that are controlled by artificial intelligence (AI). With few natural predators, the invasive Burmese python, which was likely introduced to the Everglades through abandonment by pet owners, has threatened native species with extinction. Objects controlled by AI, which we will likely increasingly share our environment with, such as autonomous taxis and food delivery robots, as well as a variety of objects that are used by the military, may be abandoned by their owners and continue to operate. Over time, these objects …

Preimplantation Genetic Testing For Adult Onet Conditions And The Mismatched Wrongful Birth Claim: Creating An Appropriate Negligence Cause Of Action, Evelyn M. Tenenbaum

Journal of Technology Law & Policy

Today, parents can choose to have the embryos they create using in vitro fertilization (IVF) tested for harmful genetic mutations they want to avoid passing along to their children. Through a process called preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), hundreds of genetic mutations can now be detected, allowing parents to select embryos for implantation without the tested-for mutation. But if, due to a healthcare provider’s negligence, the resulting child is born with a harmful mutation causing an adult-onset condition, neither the parents nor the child can recover damages. This conundrum arose because the wrongful birth cause of action was created to deal …

2023 Annual Report, Tennessee. Department Of Treasury.

Treasurer’s Report

No abstract provided.

2024 Annual Report, Tennessee. Department Of Treasury.

Treasurer’s Report

No abstract provided.

2025 Annual Report, Tennessee. Department Of Treasury.

Treasurer’s Report

No abstract provided.

Tennessee Student Fees Report 2024-2025, Tennessee. Higher Education Commission.

Tennessee Student Fees Report

No abstract provided.

Land Grant Report 2024-2025, Tennessee. Higher Education Commission.

Land Grant Funding Report

No abstract provided.

Tennessee Higher Education Fact Book 2025, Tennessee. Higher Education Commission.

Higher Education Fact Book

No abstract provided.

Tennessee State Museum Winter 2025 Newsletter & Calendar Of Events, Tennessee. State Museum.

Tennessee State Museum

No abstract provided.

Tennessee State Museum Fall 2024 Newsletter & Calendar Of Events, Tennessee. State Museum.

Tennessee State Museum

No abstract provided.