Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

A Joint Optimization-Based Novel Attack For Genomic Beacon Reconstruction, Kousar Saleem, Si̇nem Sav

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

Genomic data sharing has become an essential component of biomedical research, enabling large-scale collaborations and accelerating discoveries in human genetics. To balance the need for accessibility with privacy concerns, several controlled-access mechanisms have been proposed, including genomic beacons. Genomic beacons answer simple presence/absence queries about specific genetic variants. However, prior work has demonstrated that beacons remain vulnerable to genome reconstruction attacks, where an adversary can recover large portions of participants’ genomes using summary statistics. Building on insights from prior reconstruction attacks, we introduce an approach that unifies SNP correlation and allele frequency alignment objectives within a single-stage joint optimization framework. …

Optimal Network Reconfiguration Based On Discrete Metaheuristic Techniques For Reduction Of Power Loss And Carbon Emission In Distribution Networks, Asad Ali, Hazlie Mokhlis, Nurulafiqah Nadzirah Mansor, Hussain Shareef, Hasmaini Mohamad, Munir Azam Muhammad

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

Power distribution systems play a crucial role in transmitting electrical power from generation sources to end users. During transmission, significant power losses occur in the form of heat as the current flowing along the lines/cables has resistance. To minimize power losses, distribution network reconfiguration (DNR) has been widely adopted. This paper proposes optimal DNR based on metaheuristic techniques with discrete mutation feature targeting active power loss reduction, which subsequently lowers carbon emissions and operational costs. Through the discrete mutation feature, computational time to find optimal solution has been reduced significantly with fewer iterations compared to conventional mutation techniques. The proposed …

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 …

Impact Of Glass Powder As A Sustainable Material On The Workability, Strength, And Durability Properties In High-Performance Basalt Fiber Reinforced Concrete: A Statistical Analysis, Ahmed Fathi Mohamed Salih

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

The global construction sector is increasingly challenged to balance environmental sustainability with the growing demand for durable, high-performance materials. As cement production continues to be a major source of anthropogenic CO2 emissions, the incorporation of alternative, low-impact binders has become a key strategy for reducing the environmental footprint of concrete. In this context, glass powder (GP)—a finely ground industrial by-product rich in amorphous silica—has emerged as a promising partial replacement for Portland cement. Its pozzolanic reactivity contributes to improved hydration and matrix densification, while its use also supports circular economy principles by diverting waste glass from landfills. At the same …

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, …

Symmetry And Scale: The Precise Engineering Of Chitosan-Based Polyhedral For The Delivery Of Therapeutic Materials At The Nanoscale, Ahmed. J. Jasim, Noor Malik Saadoon

AUIQ Technical Engineering Science

Preparation of chitosan-based drug delivery carriers requires converting linear polysaccharide chains into individual 3D objects. By building on the natural structural properties of chitin-based polymers, in addition to control the geometry of organically derived raw material from feedstock to submicron polyhedral or spherical dimensions. This geometric change is governed by a surface area-to-volume ratio that maximizes the exposure of the therapeutic payload to the external environment. The approach centres on the development of such carriers using ion-complexation and emulsification methodologies, which involve electrostatic cross-linking of ion-binding pairs to define an impenetrable boundary separating a liquid from a solid phase. Critical …

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 …

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

Land Grant Funding Report

No abstract provided.

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

Tennessee State Museum

No abstract provided.

Polyherbal Phytochemicals As Multi-Target Inhibitors Of Key Breast Cancer Proteins: A Computational Approach, Nadia Wahyuningsih, Nashi Widodo, Sri Rahayu, Muhaimin Rifa’I

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Breast cancer is a primary worldwide health concern, and conventional therapies often cause side effects. This study was performed to investigate the therapeutic potential of a polyherbal formulation containing Curcuma longa, Phyllanthus niruri, Ziziphus mauritiana, Nigella sativa, and Annona muricata as multi-target inhibitors against breast cancer protein targets using molecular docking and molecular dynamics in silico approach. Bioactive compounds were analyzed using Liquid Chromatography High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (LC-HRMS) to identify the extract's phytochemicals. The compounds were examined for drug-likeness, membrane permeability, bioactivity, and toxicity. The inhibitory ability against the proto-oncogene pathway, which is commonly dysregulated and mutated in breast cancer, …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Ti-Enhanced F75/Ha Functionally Graded Materials Fabricated By Powder Metallurgy, Afrah M. Al Hussainey, Aseel Mustafa, Randa Kamel Hussain

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Functionally graded materials (FGMs) are a highly advanced class of biomaterials with graded structure and properties, enabling the fabrication of physiologically and mechanically compatible materials for use in various medical devices. This study aims to produce a functional-grade material based on a cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloy (F75) reinforced with 4% titanium (Ti) and hydroxyapatite (HA). This will enhance the material's mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and bioactivity, making it suitable for use as a bone substitute. The natural eggshells were washed, burnt, and chemically processed to form hydroxyapatite with a Ca/P proportion of 1.67. FTIR showed that phosphate and OH groups were separate, …

Stuck In The Dark: No Association Between Light, Sound, And Delirium In The Picu, Kara Greenfield, Oliver Karam, A. M. Iqbal O’Meara

Journal of Pediatric Intensive Care

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between sound and light variables and development of delirium in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients within the subsequent three days. Methods: Light and sound were continuously measured, and patient-specific data was collected daily. Outcomes included presence of delirium, determined by Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium (CAPD) score ≥ 9 on at least one day, and development of delirium in the subsequent 3 days. Results: 142 patients were enrolled, totaling 896 study days. Delirium prevalence was 31%. Neurologic diagnosis, younger age, longer PICU stay, restraints, benzodiazepines, opiate infusion, and …

Pulpal Chamber Floor Thickness Of First Molars In A Black South African Sample, Marisca Meyer, Casper Jonker, Sandeepa Singh, Federico Foschi, Anna Catherina Oettlé

Peninsula Dental School

Background/Objectives: Root canal procedures on multi-rooted teeth, including first molars, depend on experience, tactile perception, and anatomical knowledge to avoid perforation in the furcation region. Studies using various methodologies and populations have reported discrepant findings on pulpal floor thickness. No study using micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT), the gold standard, has been conducted on a Black South African sample to evaluate pulpal floor thickness. Methods: In this cross-sectional, descriptive,quantitative study, Micro-CT scans of 91 maxillary and 77 mandibular first molars were reconstructed in 3D and oriented according to a reference plane along the cemento-enamel junction using Avizo software. Measurements were taken from …

Periodontal Disease And Its Association With Porphyromonas Gingivalis: Current Understanding Of Microbial Dysbiosis, Immunopathology And Immune Evasion, Samantha Robins, Alex Strachan, Vehid Salih, Andrew Foey

Peninsula Dental School

Porphyromonas gingivalis is described as a keystone pathogen associated with periodontal disease (PD), which exhibits enhanced representation upon microbial dysbiosis in such a chronic inflammatory disease. This oral pathogen drives and contributes to a dysregulated immune response, resulting in stages of aggressive destructive immune activation and inflammation punctuated by immune suppression, which underlies the relapsing–remitting nature of this disease. The understanding of key mechanisms and balance between protective innate, adaptive immune responses and dysregulated responses, linked to changes in the oral mucosal microbial environment, will afford researchers the potential to manipulate oral mucosal environments for clinical benefit. This review focuses …

Physical Changes Of Biomacromolecules Upon Covalent Surface Immobilization, Bianca Mercado Velez, Vaishali Sharma, Seth Kriz, Erico Freitas, Paul Goetsch, Caryn Heldt

Michigan Tech Publications

Immobilization of large biomacromolecules is often required for analytical quantification and physicochemical characterization. However, immobilization can alter the structure and size of the particles being studied. Here, two exosomes (derived from HEK-293 and MDA-MB-231 cells) and three viral particles (Suid herpesvirus 1 (SuHV), xenotropic murine leukemia virus (XmuLV), and porcine parvovirus (PPV)) were immobilized to different covalent chemistries to understand how surface chemistry influences particle deformation during immobilization. The surface chemistries explored were: (i) NHS (N-hydroxysulfosuccinimide) and EDC (1-ethyl-3-(3-(dimethylamino)propyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride), and (ii) poly l-lysine (PLL) and glutaraldehyde (GA). Morphological changes in biomolecules following immobilization were quantified by …

Roadmap: Integrating Artificial Intelligence In Structural Health Monitoring Systems, Simon Laflamme, Erik Blasch, Flippo Ubertini, Zheng Liu, John Wertz, Christine Knott, Matthew Cherry, Eric Lindgren, Fu-Kuo Chang, Amrita Kumar, Jack Poole, Keith Worden, Austin Downey, Jie Wei, Patrick F. Musgrave, Adrian S. Wong, Guiseppe Quaranta, Marco Martino Rosso, Giuseppe Carlo Marano, Yu Chen, Et. Al.

Faculty Publications

Advances in computing and machine learning (ML) methods have led to a rapid rise in artificial intelligence (AI) research and applications in many fields. AI research benefitted from advances in computation hardware, collection and distribution of large data sets, and proliferation of software techniques. AI techniques include ML for provable results, deep learning for data exploration, reinforcement learning for control, and active learning for adaptive systems. Likewise, AI algorithms can handle large amounts of data, construct unknown representations, and provide a direct link between data and classification for decision making. These unmatched capabilities have been seen as a path to …

Vision 2033, Illinois Math And Science Academy

Vision 2033

In its unwavering pursuit of both excellence and equity, IMSA offers STEM-loving Illinois students from every socioeconomic background tuition-free educational offerings and opportunities they can’t find elsewhere in the state. Its world-class cadre of faculty and administrators and extensive range of STEM classes and research experiences transcend disciplinary boundaries.

The IMSA experience also distinguishes itself through its unparalleled network of students, alumni, and partners dedicated to progress in STEM and united to help such trailblazing students fulfill their academic and career potential. Whether in class with an instructor, in the residence hall under the guidance of a resident counselor, or …

Associational Inference With Many Potential Covariates: Bayesian Information Criterion Elastic Net, Farideh Bagherzadeh Khiabani, I-Chan Huang, Jose Miguel Martinez Martinez, Shizue Izumi, Sedigheh Mirzaei, Tiange Zheng, Irina Dinu, Yutaka Yasui

COBRA Preprint Series

Background: An emerging feature in modern biomedical research is collecting and analyzing numerous variables. In the presence of many potential covariates, inference becomes challenging requiring both distinguishing a set of covariates truly associated with an outcome and estimating their corresponding regression coefficients consistently. Traditional statistical inference typically focuses on estimating coefficients assuming a pre-specified set of covariates. Further, advanced machine/statistical learning methods performing both selection and estimation predominantly focus on outcome prediction rather than association inference.

Methods: Motivated by our epidemiological research on long-term childhood cancer survivors, where we aimed to investigate associations between a large pool of longitudinal symptom …

Etv2 Mediated Differentiation Of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Results In Functional Endothelial Cells For Engineering Advanced Vascularized Microphysiological Models, Shun Zhang, Zhengpeng Wan, Lei Wang, Caihong Wu, Junkai Zhang, Sarah Spitz, Xun Wang, Marie A. Floryan, Mark F. Coughlin, Francesca M. Pramotton, Liling Xu, Ron Weiss, Roger D. Kamm

Michigan Tech Publications

Patient-specific microphysiological models have become a valuable tool for broad applications, revolutionizing biomedical research. However, limitations persist, with functional vasculature being a significant challenge. With the discovery of ETV2's determinant role in specifying EC lineages during differentiation, researchers have adopted techniques involving ETV2 overexpression to produce h-iECs more efficiently and consistently. Here, we generated multiple h-iPSC lines with inducible ETV2 expression, and subsequently differentiated them into h-iECs, which were validated functionally and by key endothelial markers and RNA-seq analysis. These cells are capable of reproducibly self-organizing into stable microvascular networks (MVNs) in a microfluidic chip, forming lumenized and functional vessels …

Three Butterfly Genera Across The Central Texas Suture Zone, Qian Cong, Jing Zhang, Jinhui Shen, Leina Song, Nick V. Grishin

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Genome-scale analyses of butterfly specimens across the Central Texas Suture Zone revealed that several taxa currently treated as subspecies exhibit genomic differentiation similar to that observed between species. Further investigation and genomic sequencing of additional specimens from across the ranges of these taxa support this conclusion and result in the following changes to nomenclature and taxonomy. Two new subspecies of Nymphalidae Rafinesque, 1815 are described: Asterocampa louisa monterra Grishin, ssp. n. (type locality in Mexico: Nuevo León) and Asterocampa clyton plana Grishin, ssp. n. (type locality in USA: Texas, Denton Co.). The following taxa are recognized as species, not subspecies: …

Geo 170 - Earth Science And Society, Yuri Gorohkovich

Open Educational Resources

Syllabus for our new OER course

Transcription Factors Daf-16/Foxo And Hlh-30/Tfeb Form A Regulatory Axis To Control Tubular Lsysosomes Formation In C. Elegans, Cristian Ricaurte

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The development of therapies that can be applied in human health care to promote longer and healthier lives is one of the main goals of aging research. However, many of the interventions currently available have serious adverse effects that limit their translational potential. Thus, new strategies are urgently needed to promote healthy aging in humans. Here, we reveal a functional interaction between the insulin signaling pathway and mTOR pathway that promotes healthy aging in C. elegans via lysosomal tubulation. Their respective transcription factors, DAF-16/FOXO and HLH-30/TFEB cooperate, to drive the formation of tubular lysosomes (TLs) under various contexts, which contributes …

Biofilm Architecture Determines Proliferation Of Phages And Plasmids, James B. Winans

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

This thesis explores how biofilm architecture determines the spread and ecological consequences for the bacteria-dependent genetic elements phages and plasmids. Using Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae as model microbes, and the genetic elements T7 phages, λ phages, and conjugative plasmid pED208, we investigate how spatial structure influences phage infection dynamics, plasmid transfer, and interbacterial interactions within biofilms. We show that densely packed biofilms can protect sensitive bacteria from phage exposure and modulate competitive outcomes between obligately lytic and temperate phages. We find that entirely different outcomes can coöccur within microns of each other dependent on biofilm structure. We also demonstrate …

The Grizzly, March 12, 2026, Renee Washart, Alex Zelaya, Nico Yanzaguano, Claudia Tracy, Andrew Mihniak, Sophia Kumar, Hadley Whitman, Erin Ewing

Ursinus College Grizzly Newspaper, 1978 to Present

We Didn't Start the Fire (in New Hall) • Disability Day of Mourning at Ursinus College • Alumni Graduate Student Panel: Health Sciences • All-Recovery: What Does it Mean to Get Sober in College? • New Spades Club Shares, Teaches, and Tournaments! • Snow Days: Are They Only Fun for Students? • Bears Basketball Finishes Up Successful Season • Women's Lacrosse Winning Big to Start the Season

March 2026 Graduate Council Minutes, University Of Nebraska At Kearney Graduate Council

Graduate Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Autophagy In Intestinal Infection In Mice And C. Elegans, Gowri Kalugotla

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Although autophagy, which is the process by which cells reallocate nutrients and eliminate unwanted materials, has been studied for decades, the connections between autophagy, inflammation, and viral immunity are still under investigation. Our studies focus on two genes: murine Epg5, which is involved in fusion of the autophagosome and lysosome, and C. elegans atg-3, which is important for the elongation of the phagophore. Here, we find that Epg5 mutation protects against enteric viruses including norovirus and rotavirus. We identify IFN- responsive genes as a key alteration and observe that Epg5 mutant mice exhibit substantial alterations in the intestinal microbiota. Surprisingly, …

Energetic Heterogeneity In Retinal Ganglion Cells: Role Of Neuronal Activity And Implications For Resilience, Zelun Wang

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) form the only connection between the eye and the brain via their axons in the optic nerve. In diseases such as glaucoma, RGCs undergo irreversible neurodegeneration leading to vision loss. RGCs consist of multiple types differing in morphology, gene expression, and signaling properties. Moreover, these types exhibit differential survival after axon injury. What cellular properties vary between RGC types that could underlie their heterogeneous response to neurodegeneration? Given that energy metabolism is tightly optimized for the homeostatic and active functions of different neurons, physiologically distinct RGC types likely exhibit divergent energetic characteristics. Furthermore, energy metabolism is …