Digital Commons Network^™

Application Of Virtual Reality To Alter Sweetness Perception, Serena Wellbelove, John Gieng, Valerie A. Carr, Kate Mcleod, Xi Feng

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Regular consumption of excess sugar is linked to nutrition-based diseases, including gut problems, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Increasing sweetness perception is a novel technique to decrease sugar consumption. This experiment compared the sweetness perception of sweetened and unsweetened almond milk in response to different virtual environments with music and visuals. Two music types, the classical song Goldberg Variations, BMV. 998-Variation 13 and a jazz song generated by AI were used. Additionally, fall and spring forest backgrounds were generated by the Blockade Labs 3D image generator. Each participant tasted sweetened and unsweetened almond milk in music-only, …

Advancing Data-Driven Health Research From The All Of Us Data Training And Engagement Program, Kristi Sadowski, Debran Tarver, Jennifer Burnette, Allissa Dillman, Regina Renfro, Lafrancis Gibson, Kelli Bursey, Laura Bartlett, Nadine Bonds-Bishop, Lisa Connor, Efraín Flores-Rivera, Sarah Joseph, Yuqi He, Margaret Henderson, Savannah L. Kelley, Maletta Payne, Brett Porter, Kimberly Prosper, Melissa Rethlefsen, For Full Author List, See Comments Below

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Background: Fulfilling a recognized need in data skills training for academic librarians, the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health All of Us Research Program collaborated to enhance academic library workers’ skills in biomedical and public health data, as well as their library's research capacity, through the awareness and use of the All of Us Researcher Workbench. Case Presentation: The All of Us Data Training and Engagement Program for Academic Libraries (ALP) blended professional development training, hands-on learning, and peer-to-peer networking that focused on increasing knowledge of the All of Us Researcher Workbench. Activities were designed to …

Fostering Collaboration Through Learning Communities: A Case Report On Engaging With All Of Us Data Among Library Professionals, Faculty, And Students, Zachary Mcniece, Dawn Hackman, Nick Szydlowski, Yuqi He

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Background: Research data services (RDS) have expanded in academic libraries but can be challenging to develop, particularly in teaching-intensive and less-resourced institutions. Learning communities offer a promising model for building skills, fostering collaboration, and aligning services with local needs. Case Presentation: This case report describes the development and implementation of three learning communities—a library group, a faculty group, and a student group—at a teaching-focused institution. These communities brought together library professionals, faculty, and students from diverse disciplines—including health sciences, education, data science, and engineering—to collaboratively explore the All of Us dataset. By working with the same dataset, participants were able …

Book Review: Don’T Believe Everything You Think: Why Your Thinking Is The Beginning And End Of Suffering, Monique Salcido

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

This book review examines a recent publication on how individuals can learn to end negative thinking and spend more time living in abundance, peace, and joy. The review summarizes the central themes, highlights strengths and weaknesses, outlines contributions to mental health literature, and offers recommendations. Particular attention is given to how the author conveys his message, and examples from the book are provided. Although the book has several limitations, the review underlines how it can be incorporated into the mental health field through contributions to clinicians and their clients. Overall, the book provides a beneficial resource for social workers, counselors, …

The Exploration Of The Antidiabetic Potentialities Of Bottle Gourd (Lagenaria Siceraria) Fruits Through In Vivo, In Vitro And In Silico Approaches, Arifa Sultana, Fahima Aktar, Fabiha Noushin, Mariam Wahed, Jakir Ahmed Chowdhury, Abu Asad Chowdhury, Shaila Kabir, Md. Shah Amran

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research

Due to the ineffectiveness, side effects, and high cost of conventional drugs, medicinal plants grabbed the attention to treat diabetes, which has been a global health concern nowadays. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the antidiabetic potentialities of bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) fruits in in vivo, in vitro, and in silico methods. For the in vivo assessment, alloxan-induced diabetic rats were fed food mixed with bottle gourd powder for 21 days. For the in vitro assessment, the alpha-amylase inhibitory assay was used to determine the antidiabetic properties of an ethanolic extract of L. siceraria. For the …

Llm-As-A-Judge For Infection Prevention And Control And Antimicrobial Resistance Impact: Comparing Three Main Llms Vs. Human Experts' Assessment, Marcello Di Pumpo, Leonardo Villani, Maria Rosaria Gualano, Danilo Buonsenso, Francesca Raffaelli, Daniele Donà, Patrizia Laurenti, Vittorio Maio, Stefania Boccia, Walter Ricciardi

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly used to generate health information, yet their reliability as evaluators remains unclear. This study investigated the feasibility of an LLM-as-a-judge methodology in the context of infection prevention and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), comparing automated ratings with human expert benchmarks.

METHODS: We performed a secondary analysis of an expert-annotated dataset of health messages. Three leading LLMs (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) independently evaluated the same messages using an adapted DISCERN tool across five domains: information reliability, quality, AMR impact, persuasiveness, and overall score. We utilized descriptive statistics, intra-rater reliability tests, and mixed-effects ordinal regression to analyze divergence …

Bridging Pediatric To Adult Care In Cystinosis: A Scoping Review Of Healthcare Transition Of Care Protocols And A Roadmap For Future Practice., Sanat Subhash, Nicholas Pantelakis, Kyle Backston, Ruhaan Bajpai, Amir Safadi, Brandon Petrovich, Bradley A. Warady, Maria Diaz-Gonzalez De Ferris, Rupesh Raina

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Cystinosis is a rare lysosomal storage disorder that affects approximately 1 in 100,000 to 200,000 live births worldwide. Long-term graft success in cystinosis depends on cysteamine adherence and structured multidisciplinary transition, supported by protocols developed by both pediatric nephrologists and hospital organizations. This review explores institutional and regional care models, structured programs such as the RISE protocol and Got Transition's Six Core Elements, and major barriers including adult nephrology expertise, psychosocial stressors, and insurance coverage gaps. Additionally, we explore the impact of digital health tools for their role in supporting cysteamine adherence and maintaining continuity of care. Emerging technologies such …

Different Chitinase Activity In Nutrient-Enriched Multi-Antagonistic Streptomyces Sp. And Trichoderma Sp. Against Root-Knot Nematodes Meloidogyne Sp., Tri Mujoko, Penta Suryaminarsih, Safira Rizka Lestari

Baghdad Science Journal

The threat of root-knot nematodes to horticultural and plantation crops is a grave concern. To combat this issue, using bacteria and fungi as biological control agents is an effective and efficient approach. This research aims to evaluate the efficacy of Streptomyces sp. strains PS23104 and Trichoderma sp. when grown on nutrient-enriched media as a biological control agent for root-knot nematodes Streptomyces sp. PS23104 and Trichoderma sp. were cultured on enriched EKG media with malt extract, glucose nitrate, pure coconut water, and molasses, while potato extract media without nutrient addition served as the control. The findings indicate that both Streptomyces sp. …

Blood Biomarkers Predict Conversion From Cognitively Stable To Mild Cognitive Impairment Or Alzheimer's Disease In Down Syndrome At 16-Month Follow-Up In Abc-Ds, Fan Zhang, Melissa Petersen, Mark Mapstone, James Hall, Benjamin Handen, Brad Christian, Elizabeth Head, Herminia Diana Rosas, Florence Lai, Joseph H. Lee, Sharon J. Krinsky-Mchale, Frederick A. Schmitt, Jordan Harp, Christy Hom, Ira T. Lott, Sigan Hartley, Shahid Zaman, Beau M. Ances, Lauren Ptomey, Jeffrey M. Burns, Ann D. Cohen, Adam M. Brickman, Sid E.O’ Bryant

Psychology Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) face high risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet presymptomatic detection of cognitive decline is hindered by lifelong intellectual disability. METHODS: Using data from the Alzheimer's Biomarker Consortium–Down Syndrome (ABC-DS), blood samples from 246 participants were analyzed, yielding 404 longitudinal observations (45 Converters, 359 Stable) collected at 0, 16, and 32 months were analyzed. A Support Vector Machine was trained on 25 plasma biomarkers spanning neurodegeneration, inflammation, and vascular health, along with demographic factors (age, sex, ethnicity, karyotype, apolipoprotein E [APOE ε4]). Batch-effect correction and feature selection were applied, resulting in 13 key markers. RESULTS: …

Turning Policy Implications Into Policy Impact, Alycia Chin, Katherine G. Carman, Adam W. Craig, Jonathan A. Cook, David B. Zimmerman

Psychology Faculty Publications

We describe how research can inform policymaking. We begin by summarizing the policy formation process, offering a framework illustrating how interactions between scientists and policymakers can provide mutual benefits. We then describe four research initiatives from the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Investor Research (OIR) as examples of how behavioral sciences can help inform policymakers. The first initiative established a probability-based nationally representative survey panel focused on US investor behavior. The remaining three examined investor communications for mutual fund benchmarks, emerging annuities (known as registered index-linked annuities), and mutual fund fee visuals. We conclude by synthesizing our work and …

Pengembangan Diorama Dunia Mini Kita Sebagai Media Pembelajaran Ipas Pada Materi Denah Lingkungan Di Kelas Iii Sekolah Dasar, Sunya Tiara Putri, Aditya Pringga Satria, Leny Suryaning Astutik

Journal of Innovation and Teacher Professionalism

The present study aimed to develop the Dunia Mini Kita Diorama as a learning medium for the topic of neighborhood maps in Grade III Natural and Social Sciences (IPAS) and to determine its validity and practicality. This study employed the Research and Development (R&D) method using the ADDIE model, which consists of five stages: Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation. The participants included two media experts, two subject matter experts, one Grade III teacher, and 28 Grade III students of SD Negeri 1 Kalidawir. Data were collected through observations, interviews, documentation, expert validation sheets, and teacher and student response questionnaires. …

A Global Imprint Of Gadolinium-Based Contrast Agents Used In Magnetic Resonance Imaging In Drinking Water, Vanessa Hatje, Franciele Castro Novais, Anna Maria Orani, Maria Elisabete Machado, Pere Masque, Marc Metian

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Since the 1980s, rare earth elements (REE), particularly gadolinium (Gd) used in gadolinium-based contrast agents (GdCA), have revolutionized Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) diagnostics. However, the near-complete persistence of these compounds through wastewater treatment processes has led to widespread global environmental contamination. Here, we present a global assessment of REE concentrations and GdCA signatures in tap water from 148 cities across 89 countries and Antarctica, where anthropogenic Gd ranges from 0.1 to 61.2 ng L–1 and accounts for up to 99% of total dissolved Gd. Contamination hotspots are concentrated in Europe and North America. While Gd levels scale with MRI usage …

Mxene-Based Optical Fiber Sensors For Chemical And Biosensing: Review And Perspectives, Chen Zhu, Huaijun Guan, Chenxi Huang, Rex E. Gerald, Jie Huang

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Enhancing Resonance Wave–Matter Interaction In Finite-Size Dielectric Metasurfaces, Varsha Vijay Kumar, Elena Semouchkina

Michigan Tech Publications

We investigate the dramatic effects produced by the presence of physical boundaries of finite-size metasurfaces (MSs), composed of identical cylindrical dielectric resonators without broken symmetry, on the complexity of their responses, observed at normal plane wave incidence, when constituent particles can support only dipolar Mie resonances. We demonstrate the possibility to excite extra high-quality resonance modes in these finite structures, which are quite distinct from the modes in infinite structures. We explore the formation of different types of high-quality modes in MS fragments of different configurations and sizes, which makes it possible to provide guidance for configuring their optimal designs. …

Association Of Calcium-Sensing Receptor (Casr) Gene Polymorphisms With Calcium Stone Disease In Babylon Province, Iraq., Hadi Sajid Abdulabbas, Yasir Haider Al-Mawlah, Aamal Muhsen Kadhum

Baghdad Science Journal

In an effort to identify the polymorphism's ultimate function in calcium stone development, an evaluation of the link between calcium stone disease and CaSR polymorphism in the population of Babylon Province, Iraq, was performed. 60 patients were hospitalized at Hillah Hospital in the province of Babylon. Blood samples were collected between January and December 2020. Sixty patients diagnosed with renal stones and forty healthy controls were included in the study. CaSR single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped using the single-strand conformation polymorphism technique after a polymerase chain reaction. In order to confirm these DNA polymorphisms, DNA sequencing was employed. The findings …

Study Of The Correlation Between Asprosin And Insulin Resistance In Obese And Normal-Weight Pcos Patients, Walaa Najm Abdulwahid, Reem M. Obaid

Baghdad Science Journal

Fatty tissue is considered an endocrine organ that produces a type of hormone called Adipokine; this hormone is specifically secreted by adipose tissues, such as asprosin. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common hormonal condition throughout the years of reproduction in females, manifesting with a significant frequency of decreased glucose tolerance, increased serum androgen levels, and type 2 diabetes among female sufferers who are overweight or obese. The current investigation included 120 PCOS patients (40 obese, 40 normal weight) and 40 healthy women; samples were collected from July to December 2024 at Kamal al-Samarrai Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq. Serum …

Cytokine Profiles In Rheumatoid Arthritis: Relationship Of Tnf-Α , Il-17, And Il-13 With Autoantibodies (Rf And Anti-Ccp) And Clinical Disease Severity, Sonia Elia Ishaq, Taban Kamal Rasheed, Niaz Albarzingi

Baghdad Science Journal

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by synovial inflammation and autoantibody production. This study aimed to assess serum levels of TNF-α , IL-17, and IL-13 in RA patients and to explore their association with disease severity and autoantibody status in comparison to healthy controls. The study involved 67 RA patients and 20 healthy individuals. Patients were initially classified based on autoantibody status (RF-positive vs. RF-negative and anti-CCP-positive vs. anti-CCP-negative), and further categorized into low, moderate, and high disease activity groups. Cytokine levels were measured by ELISA, CRP and RF by turbidimetry, and anti-CCP levels by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. …

Foliar Application Of Methyl Jasmonate And Titanium Nanoparticles Mitigates The Negative Effects Of Salinity On Lettuce Plants, Tahani J. Hijazin

Baghdad Science Journal

Salinity stress is one of the major abiotic factors that significantly impact plant growth. In this regard, this work investigated a way to alleviate the adverse impacts by simultaneously spraying methyl jasmonate and titanium nanoparticles on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) plants, which are grown under induced salinity conditions. Two concentrations of salt (100 and 150 mM NaCl) were applied to the plants. After that, simultaneous spraying of methyl jasmonate (0.5 and 1 mM) and titanium nanoparticles (100 and 200 mg/L) was performed on lettuce leaves. Following the application of the previous treatments, the plants were collected, and various …

Evaluation Of Cytotoxic Effect From Clinacanthus Nutans Leaf Extract On Mda-Mb231 Cells Expressing Cd44+/Cd24–, Siti Syarifah, Tri Widyawati, Sri Melinda Kaban, Nor Adlin Md Yusoff

Baghdad Science Journal

Breast cancer prevalence and incidence are increasing globally every year. Medication resistance and recurrence are more likely in breast cancer cells that express CD44⁺/CD24^–. C.nutans leaves are a traditional medicinal herb with numerous pharmacological benefits, including antioxidant and antiproliferation properties, although the activity against breast cancer stem cells is still unclear. Method: In this study, C.nutans leaves were extracted using ethanol solvent with graded concentrations of 100%, 80%, 60%, 40%, 20%, and 0% (water), respectively, by maceration. We used isolated MDA-MB231 cells with high expression of CD44⁺/CD24^– by using magnetic-activated cell sorting …

Effects Of Modified Cryoprotectants On The Expression Of Heat Shock Protein 90 (Hsp90) And Zona Pellucida Ii (Zpii) Of Post-Thawing Sperm Quality, Silvia Werdhy Lestari, Manggiasih Dwiayu Larasati, Gita Pratama, Mulyoto Pangestu, Muhammad Thoriq, Dantha Rafael Sitompul

Baghdad Science Journal

Sperm cryopreservation is a basic element of assisted reproductive technology, yet it often compromises cell viability through thermal and osmotic stress. The cellular response involves HSP90, a stress marker and ZPII, which is essential for sperm-oocyte interaction and preventing polyspermy. In addition, this modified cryoprotectant combines glycerol and raffinose is expected to reduce damage and increase spermatozoa's recovery rate after cryopreservation. To address these challenges, we investigated the expression levels of HSP90 and ZPII to assess the protective capacity of modified cryoprotectant formulations. These parameters were analyzed pre- and post-cryopreservation to establish whether these novel mediums superiorly preserve sperm integrity …

Scientific Advances In Ecology Through The Lens Of Ecological Processes, Jiquan Chen, De Hui Zeng, Guillermo Martínez Pastur, João C. Azevedo, James A. Lutz, Raffaele Lafortezza, Andrew Burton, Et Al.

Michigan Tech Publications

In this perspective editorial, we analyzed publication trends and author-provided keywords across ten leading ecology journals from 2012 to 2025 to synthesize recent developments in ecological research. We identified six major trends that have shaped the field: (1) the shift from descriptive to mechanistic investigations, (2) the relevance of climate change and ecosystem feedbacks, (3) the growing integration of the human dimension into ecological research, (4) the application of advanced technologies and analytical methods, (5) the increasingly diverse contributions from the global scientific community, and (6) the rise of issue-focused research. Building on this synoptic overview, we discuss emerging frontiers …

Promises Fulfilled: 114-Year-Old Alelia Murphy’S Life Of Faith And Resilience, Jacqueline B. Koonce

The Journal of Faith, Education, and Community

Alelia Murphy was the oldest living person in the United States, turning 114 in July 2019 until her death in November 2019. She and her family credit her longevity to her faith in God. This premise is explored through her words as she stated she had not seen everyone she needed to see and compared that statement to Simeon from the Bible who did not die until he saw the Messiah. Alelia Murphy also had not seen everything. She was seeing the relative success of her much admired, former President Barack Obama, and she had just met me, her great …

Rural Women Rising To Leadership Positions: The Influence Of Their Christian Faith And Shepherding Style, Jose Carbajal, Bonita Sharma, Cherhonda Brown, Teresa Tarver, Emily Powell

The Journal of Faith, Education, and Community

Purpose. Men maintain the ability to exercise authority and gain a competitive edge in leadership positions, while women persistently endure adversity within the patriarchal system, deeply rooted in their religious beliefs and path of faith. This study explores how women’s faith influences their pursuit of leadership positions and whether their upbringing, especially from a patriarchal perspective, deters them from having leadership aspirations. Methods. We used a qualitative method to understand the lived experiences of women in leadership positions and how faith influenced their leadership ascension. We conducted semi-structured interviews with thirty-four (N = 34) female leaders in top …

Our Children Are Sacred: Faith, Disability Justice, And Educational Hope, Charles E. Becknell Jr., Pricella Morris, Monique Matute-Chavarria, Deirdre A. Williams

The Journal of Faith, Education, and Community

This manuscript examines how Black families interpret dis/ability through faith, caregiving, and communal life using Sacred Narrative Inquiry (SNI), a collaborative approach that treats family stories as sources of sacred and cultural knowledge. Grounded in disability theology and informed by Black liberation theology and Womanist epistemology, the study explores how families understand dis/ability as sacred and embodied, shaped by struggle, endurance, and hope. Through shared storytelling and collective interpretation, the analysis identifies recurring patterns of early moral formation, embodied knowledge that precedes institutional recognition, faith as a sustaining practice under constraint, and moments of recognition that affirm dignity and interrupt …

Navigating Identity, Finding Belonging: Exploring Muslim Students’ Experiences In Higher Education, Milie Majumder

The Journal of Faith, Education, and Community

This phenomenological, qualitative study explores how institutional experiences contribute to Muslim students’ sense of belonging in higher education institutions on the West Coast of the United States. The data presented are drawn from a subset of a larger dissertation study conducted in May 2024. Using an informational survey with open-ended questions and semi-structured interviews, the study examined students’ perceptions of belonging. The sample included 23 survey responses and 10 in-depth interviews. Grounded in the Minoritized Religious and Spiritual Campus Climate (MRSCC) framework, the study examines how participants interpreted the adequacy of institutional accommodations for their religious and spiritual needs and …

A Charism-Based Faculty Instruction Framework For Nursing Education: Integrating Values-Driven Pedagogy In Blended Learning Environments, Humprey G. Icban, Anele C. Mallari, Cherry B. Lazatin, Aurora R. Valencia, Lilibeth G. Sales, Ulysses J. Rengel, Marie Aileen L. Domingo

The Journal of Faith, Education, and Community

The evolution of nursing education in the Philippines is driven by dynamic global healthcare demands and an accelerated shift toward blended learning modalities. The central challenge lies in preserving the humanistic values of compassion and integrity within technology-mediated environments. This study addresses this issue by developing a Charism-Based Faculty Instruction Framework (CBFIF) designed to empower clinical instructors at the University of the Assumption College of Nursing and Pharmacy (UACONP) in their crucial role as "Formators of Catholic Leaders." The framework is intended to cultivate the institution's core graduate attributes: "Biasa" (academically competent), "Maganaca" (morally upright), and "Mayap" (socially responsible). A …

Beyond Preparation: Spiritual And Communal Formation For Urban Catholic School Teachers, Audrey A. Friedman, Myra Rosen-Reynoso, Charles T. Cownie Iii, Maria A. Moreno Vera, Cristina J. Hunter Phd

The Journal of Faith, Education, and Community

Urban Catholic schools face persistent challenges in teacher recruitment and retention, intensified by limited resources, demanding workloads, and structural inequities. Yet, many educators remain committed, sustained by spiritual identity, communal belonging, and mission‑driven work. This qualitative study examines how urban Catholic school teachers understand formation—intellectually, emotionally, socially, and spiritually—and the formative practices that support them. Drawing on interviews with sixteen urban Catholic school teachers, this study uses Palmer’s framework of holistic formation to analyze how faith-based practices, workplace spirituality, community, and solidarity shape teachers’ professional identities and well‑being. Findings reveal that teachers view formation as both professional preparation and …

Perceptions Of The Divine In Secular Spaces: A Study Of U.S. Public-School Teachers, Dennis Eastman, Nicholas Block

The Journal of Faith, Education, and Community

Teaching is often understood by Christian educators as a vocation shaped by divine purpose, yet little empirical research has examined how teachers perceive God’s active involvement in their daily professional practice. This qualitative study investigates how Christian teachers interpret perceived divine activity in their work, focusing on specific experiences of guidance, influence, and sustenance rather than general religious identity. Thematic analysis of open-ended survey responses from practicing teachers (N = 267) identified seven themes, including perceived impact on students’ lives, divine guidance in instructional and relational decisions, and endurance amid professional strain. Participants commonly described God’s activity as …

Teaching As Testimony: Examining The Relationship Between High School Teachers’ Faith Identity And Pedagogy, Candace M. Kyles

The Journal of Faith, Education, and Community

Teaching has long been understood within Christian theology as a vocational practice shaped by faith, moral formation, and lived discipleship. Yet within U.S. public schooling, the Separation of Church and State restricts explicit engagement with religion, often rendering educators’ faith identities invisible within school buildings and classrooms. This covertness does not eliminate the formative influence of faith; rather, it obscures how teachers’ faith identities inform their ethical reasoning, teaching practices, and pedagogical choices. When faith remains unexamined, it may operate implicitly, shaping classroom interactions without the benefit of critical reflection or institutional support.

Despite the prominence of culturally responsive pedagogy …

Reintegrating Wisdom: A Cultural-Sciences Framework For Linking Music, Faith, And Stem Education, Yoonil Auh, Minjeong Cho, Sang-Eun Hwang

The Journal of Faith, Education, and Community

This article proposes a theoretical model for integrating music and religious education into STEM by reframing them as cultural sciences, disciplines that generate symbolic, ethical, relational, and meaning-making forms of knowledge essential for 21st-century learning. While technocratic models of STEM emphasize quantification, efficiency, and innovation, they often marginalize the humanistic and spiritual dimensions of education that support ethical discernment, cultural literacy, and communal responsibility. Drawing on epistemic pluralism, transdisciplinary studies, educational philosophy, theology, and music pedagogy, this study outlines a four-dimensional framework, epistemic integration, transdisciplinary learning, ethical praxis, and spiritual-communal ways of knowing, that positions music and religious education not …