Digital Commons Network^™

The Use Of The Church Fathers In John Henry Newman’S An Essay On The Development Of Christian Doctrine, Salvador G. Agualada, Jr.

Landas

This paper offers a systematic summary of John Henry Newman’s An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine, with particular attention to his sustained and methodical use of the Church Fathers. It traces how Newman consistently appeals to patristic testimony in articulating and illustrating his seven “notes” of authentic doctrinal development, showing that the Fathers function not merely as historical witnesses but as integral components of his theological reasoning. By following the structure of the Essay itself, the study highlights the role of patristic sources in Newman’s distinction between genuine developments and corruptions of doctrine. The paper is primarily expository …

The Evolution Of Societies Of Apostolic Life: From The Early Church To The 19th Century, Arnaud Touré

Landas

This article is drawn from a broader thesis devoted to the Societies of Apostolic Life and presents a synthesized version of Part One, entitled “Historical Profile: From Antiquity to the Second Vatican Council.” Using the criteria articulated in canon 673 §1 of the 1917 Code of Canon Law—namely, life in common under the governance of superiors according to an approved constitution, and the absence of the three public vows of obedience, chastity, and poverty—the study seeks to reconstruct the historical development of Societies of Apostolic Life. Beginning with the biblical and early Christian experience, the article traces the emergence and …

The Colloquy In St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises As An I-Thou Encounter With Mary, Jesus, And God The Father In Seeking For What We Desire, Thomas Sherman

Landas

In the Spiritual Exercises (henceforth SpEx) of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the Colloquy is a conversation between the exercitant (the one engaged in the SpEx) and the persons of Mary, Jesus, and the Father in which the persons addressed are asked to help the exercitant obtain what s/he desires from God. Placed at the conclusion of practically all the meditations and contemplations throughout the SpEx, the Ignatian Colloquy can be considered of crucial importance in the SpEx and the summit of Ignatian prayer. Yet as important as the Ignatian Colloquy is in the SpEx, putting the Colloquy into practice by …

St. Ignatius Of Loyola’S Engagement With Mystagogy, Roberto Ma. R. Buenconsejo

Landas

Ignatius of Loyola’s spiritual progress unfolded as a transformative mystagogical journey shaped by two decisive conversions that prepared him for the illuminative stage and unitive life. His first conversion followed the battle of Pamplona, when he turned from a sinful past toward an initial desire to follow Christ to Jerusalem. This conversion, however, remained marked by narcissism and externalism. A second and more radical conversion occurred in Manresa, involving the purification of his self-propelled perfectionism. During this period, Ignatius entered the purgative stage through active asceticism and a painful passive purification characterized by scrupulosity and deep depression rooted in the …

Contextualizing Ecumenism In The Philippines Through Loob And Kapwa, Roy John R. Del Rosario

Landas

The two-fold ecumenical approach – inter-ecclesial ecumenism (Global North) and trans-ecclesial ecumenism (Global South) – reaches its limitations when viewed through the Philippine context. This gap refers to the distinct ecumenical challenges that need to be addressed. Thus, this study proposes a unique ecumenical model that integrates the inclusive ethos of loob and kapwa. Appropriating Stephen Bevans’ synthetic model of contextual theology, the author argues that this proposed framework takes advantage of the existing models’ contributory insights while addressing their conceptual deficiencies. It considers the shared charismatic experiences between Protestants and Catholics as loci theologici or resources of theology that …

Proposed Pathways For Renewal: Fabc Restructuring In The Light Of Synodality, Charles Bertille

Landas

Church organizations, like secular ones, face ageing, inertia, and the need for reform. Management scholars argue renewal is best pursued during an organization’s prime, when it is thriving. The Synod on Synodality offers such a pathway, continuing the vision of Vatican II. Renewal is urgent today, given shifting mission contexts and declining religious participation, with many Christians among the religiously disaffiliated. In the build-up to the FABC 50 assembly (November 2022), bishops’ conferences in Asia raised concerns about the Church’s internal life—its structures, ministries, relationships, and governance; and called for a review of the organizational framework of the FABC. For …

The Bombing Of Cities And Economic Sanctions: A Comparative Moral Analysis Using The Catholic Just War Tradition, Eric Marcelo O. Genilo

Landas

This essay analyzes two moral cases using the Church’s just war teaching: the Allied bombing of German cities during World War II and modern-day economic sanctions imposed by certain governments on other countries. The first part of this paper discusses the arguments used by moral theologian John C. Ford, S.J., in his article “The Morality of Obliteration Bombing,” to condemn the Allied forces’ policy of bombing civilian areas in Germany during World War II.1 The second part of this article discusses how economic sanctions are used in international relations as a non-violent means to punish or correct the behavior or …

Prayer And Self-Communication: Revisiting Joseph Ratzinger’S Eucharistic Ecclesiology, Antonio Esquillon

Landas

This article explores the Eucharistic Ecclesiology of Joseph Ratzinger, which takes its bearings from Christology. It discusses how Ratzinger understands the Church as fundamentally originating from the prayer of Jesus, which assumes its supreme expression in His Eucharistic self-communication. The communication and communicability of the Body of Christ finally draws out the intrinsic connection between Christology, Pneumatology, and Ecclesiology, so central in Ratzinger’s Eucharistic Ecclesiology.

A Critical Analysis Of The Protestant Principle Of Sola Scriptura In Light Of Catholic Arguments On The Temporal Precedence Of Tradition And The Formal Insufficiency Of Scripture, Salvador G. Agualada Jr.

Loyola Papers

This paper critiques the Protestant doctrine of Sola Scriptura from a Catholic theological perspective. It argues that Christian Tradition historically precedes Scripture and that, while Scripture is materially sufficient for revelation, it is formally insufficient apart from the living Tradition of the Church. The study further develops the Catholic position through the thought of the French Dominican theologian Yves Congar, particularly his notion of “the whole genius of tradition.” Drawing on the teaching of Dei Verbum of the Second Vatican Council, the paper emphasizes the intrinsic and inseparable relationship among Scripture, Tradition, and Magisterium.

Peace, Hope, And The Order Of Love: An Augustinian Perspective On Political Life, La Thi Thu Trang

Loyola Papers

This article examines the relevance of the political thought of Augustine of Hippo for contemporary social and political challenges. Focusing on Augustine’s concepts of peace, hope, and ordo amoris (the order of love), the study proposes a theological framework for responsible political engagement within the limitations of the earthly city. Engaging the interpretation of Michael Lamb, the paper highlights the dynamic relationship between hope and charity as guiding virtues that sustain civic responsibility while avoiding both despair and naïve optimism in political life.

The Experience Of Women’S Dignity In The Angolan Synodal Church: A Pastoral Critical Re-Reading Of Mulieris Dignitatem From Angolan Cosmology, José Abílio Praia

Loyola Papers

This article critically reexamines Mulieris Dignitatem within the context of Angolan cultural cosmology. The study highlights the tension between the symbolic reverence for women and their social marginalization in Angola. Employing feminist and pastoral perspectives, it explores how indigenous relational and life-giving concepts of womanhood can enrich theological reflection. By engaging African and Asian feminist insights, the paper proposes a synodal ecclesiology grounded in lived experience, co-responsibility, and structural transformation, emphasizing women’s dignity as integral to the Church’s identity and mission.

Where Christ Suffers Today: A Christological, Ecclesiological, And Missiological Reflection On Human Suffering From War, Christian R. Del Mundo

Loyola Papers

No abstract provided.

From Refuge To Communion: A Theological Synthesis Of A Missionary Experience In Guatemala, Nollen Jed D. Mendoza

Loyola Papers

No abstract provided.

Celltra: Aligning Cell Names With Gene Expression Via A Pathway-Informed Transformer, Zhao Li, Zaiyi Zheng, Rongbin Li, Wenbo Chen, Yuntao Yang, Meer A Ali, Jundong Li, W Jim Zheng

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Motivation: Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) technology enables detailed exploration of gene expression at the individual cell level, crucial for annotating cell types and understanding cellular diversity. Traditional methods for cell type annotation often rely on marker genes and manual labeling, posing challenges due to low data quality and incomplete reference datasets.

Results: We developed CeLLTra, a novel contrastive learning framework that leverages a Transformer-based model integrating biological pathway information to group genes into super tokens, effectively capturing comprehensive gene expression from scRNA-Seq data. By combining this pathway-informed Transformer with a pretrained domain-specific language model, CeLLTra accurately aligns cell-type annotations with …

Machine Learning Models Predict Long Covid Outcomes Based On Baseline Clinical And Immunologic Factors, Naresh Doni Jayavelu, Hady Samaha, Sonia Tandon Wimalasena, Annmarie Hoch, Jeremy P Gygi, Gisela Gabernet, Al Ozonoff, Shanshan Liu, Carly E Milliren, Ofer Levy, Lindsey R Baden, Esther Melamed, Lauren I R Ehrlich, Grace A Mccomsey, Rafick P Sekaly, Charles B Cairns, Elias K Haddad, Joanna Schaenman, Albert C Shaw, David A Hafler, Ruth R Montgomery, David B Corry, Farrah Kheradmand, Mark A Atkinson, Scott C Brakenridge, Nelson I Agudelo Higuit, Jordan P Metcalf, Catherine L Hough, William B Messer, Bali Pulendran, Kari C Nadeau, Mark M Davis, Linda N Gen, Ana Fernandez Sesma, Viviana Simon, Florian Krammer, Monica Kraft, Chris Bime, Carolyn S Calfee, David J Erle, Charles R Langelier, Leying Guan, Holden T Maecker, Bjoern Peters, Steven H Kleinstein, Elaine F Reed, Alison D Augustine, Joann Diray-Arce, Patrice M Becker, Nadine Rouphael, Matthew C Altman

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: The post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC), also known as long COVID, remain a significant health issue that is incompletely understood. Predicting which acutely infected individuals will develop long COVID is challenging due to the absence of established biomarkers, clear disease mechanisms, or well-defined sub-phenotypes. Machine learning (ML) models may address this gap by leveraging clinical data to enhance diagnostic precision.

Methods: Clinical data, including antibody titers and viral load measurements collected at the time of hospital admission, are used to predict the likelihood of acute COVID-19 progressing to long COVID. Machine learning models are trained and evaluated for predictive …

Anti-Csf-1r Therapy With Combined Immuno-Chemotherapy Coordinate An Adaptive Immune Response To Eliminate Macrophage Enriched Triple Negative Breast Cancers, Diego A Pedroza, Xueying Yuan, Fengshuo Liu, Hilda L Chan, Christina Zhang, William Bowie, Alex J Smith, Sebastian J Calderon, Nadia Lieu, Weiguo Wu, Paul Porter, Poonam Sarkar, Na Zhao, Constanze V Oehler, Ondrej Peller, M Waleed Gaber, Qian Zhu, Charles M Perou, Xiang H-F Zhang, Jeffrey M Rosen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Women diagnosed with metastatic triple negative breast cancer (mTNBC) have limited treatment options, are more prone to develop resistance and are associated with high mortality. A cold tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) characterized by low T cells and high tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) in mTNBC is associated with the failure of standard-of-care chemotherapy and immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) treatment. We demonstrate that the combination of immunomodulatory low-dose Cyclophosphamide (CTX) coupled with anti-CSF-1R antibody targeted therapy (SNDX-ms6352) and anti-PD-1 (ICB), was highly effective against aggressive metastatic Trp53 null TNBC transplantable syngeneic models that present with high macrophage infiltration. Mechanistically, CSF-1R inhibition along …

Sediment Grain Size Distribution And Composition From Coastal Enviroments At Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Puerto Rico, Xiomara Cruz-De León, Angelique Rosa Marín, Natalia B. López-Figueroa, Pamela Hallock

Making Waves REU

• Grain size analysis is an essential technique in sedimentology, providing vital information on sedimentary processes and depositional environments in coastal and marine systems.
• This study focuses on the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Reserve (JBNERR) in Guayama, Puerto Rico, an estuary significantly influenced by both natural and anthropogenic factors.
• The objective of this research is to compare the composition and textures of sediments collected from 16 sites across various habitats at Jobos Bay in December 2023.
• This study aims to support ongoing research initiatives and contribute to the effective management of the estuary.

Disease Burden Attributable To Intimate Partner Violence Against Females And Sexual Violence Against Children In 204 Countries And Territories, 1990–2023: A Systematic Analysis For The Global Burden Of Disease Study 2023, Luisa S. Flor, Cory N. Spencer, Jack Cagney, Gabriela Fernanda Gil, Hasan Aalruz, Samar Abd Elhafeez, Siddig Ibrahim Abdelwahab, Meriem Abdoun, Mesfin Abebe, Yonas Abebe, Armita Abedi, Roberto Ariel Abeldaño Zuñiga, Alemwork Abie, Olumide Abiodun, Richard Gyan Aboagye, Lucas Guimarães Abreu, Rana Kamal Abu Farha, Bilyaminu Abubakar, Sawsan Abuhammad, Meshack Achore, Lisa C. Adams, Babatope Oluwadamilare Adebiyi, Kamoru Ademola Adedokun, Oluwatobi E. Adegbile, Nurudeen A. Adegoke, Olumide Thomas Adeleke, Makinde Adebayo Adeniyi, Zahir Vally

All Works

Background Violence against women and against children are human rights violations with lasting harms to survivors and societies at large. Intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual violence against children (SVAC) are two major forms of such abuse. Despite their wide-reaching effects on individual and community health, these risk factors have not been adequately prioritised as key drivers of global health burden. Comprehensive x§and reliable estimates of the comparative health burden of IPV and SVAC are urgently needed to inform investments in prevention and support for survivors at both national and global levels. Methods We estimated the prevalence and attributable burden …

Bromodomain And Extra-Terminal Protein Inhibitors Modulate Natural Killer Cell Function And Differentiation., Eric S. Geanes, Gage Greening, Maria Aggelakopoulou, Linh Huyen Truong, Santosh Khanal, Cas Lemaster, Marc L. Herman, Rebecca Mclennan, Persephone Borrow, Todd Bradley

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Natural killer (NK) cells are integral to the innate immune system, playing a crucial role in immune surveillance and the rapid response to virally infected and tumor cells. Epigenetic gene expression regulation significantly influences NK cell function and differentiation. Using a high-throughput small-molecule drug screening approach, we identified bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) inhibitors (BETi) as potent modulators of NK cell function, reducing proinflammatory cytokine secretion while increasing markers of NK cell maturation and cytotoxicity. During NK lineage specification from hematopoietic stem cells, we demonstrated that BETi reduced NK cell fate and promoted increased myeloid cell differentiation. Moreover, differentiated NK …

Clinical And Radiological Outcomes Of Directed Treatment Transitions From Gilenya® To Generic Fingolimod, Mahi A. Patel, Tom G. Punnen, Kevin S. Shan, Morgan C. Mccreary, Crystal M. Wright, Shanan B. Munoz, Paula Hardeman, Katy W. Burgess, Benjamin M. Greenberg, Lindsay A. Horton, Peter V. Sguigna, Lauren M. Tardo, Olaf Stüve, Darin T. Okuda

Student Publications

Background: Gilenya® (fingolimod), a sphingosine-1-receptor agonist, is an effective treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS). However, increased relapse activity has been observed after transitioning to generic fingolimod despite prior prolonged disease stability.

Objective: To quantify the clinical and radiological impact of transitioning from Gilenya® to generic fingolimod in people with MS (PwMS).

Methods: Retrospective data were evaluated from a single tertiary MS care center. Time to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) activity and clinical relapse was assessed during Gilenya® and generic fingolimod treatment. Differences in absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) and side effects were also measured by treatment group.

Results: The cohort included …

Ms. Armetta Rich

African American Funeral Programs

Program for the funeral of Ms. Armetta Rich, held at Harmony Missionary Baptist Church on January 3, 2026.

Fundamental Rights Betrayed: How Pregnancy Exclusions In Advance Directive Statutes Silence Pregnant People’S Wishes, Molly Hill

American University Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law

INTRODUCTION: In 2013, Marlise Muñoz collapsed at her home and was rushed to the hospital, where the doctors informed her family that she had suffered a pulmonary embolism and was now brain-dead. Marlise had previously expressed to her family that she never wished to be kept on life support if she was left brain-dead, so her family wanted to honor her wishes. However, despite her irreversible brain death, because Marlise was fourteen weeks pregnant, Texas law required that her body remain on life-sustaining treatment until her fetus became viable. Her body lay in the hospital hooked up to machines against …

Extending Appellate Immigration Jurisdiction: Providing Additional Pathways Of Review For Discretionary Determinations Regarding Extraordinary Circumstances For Victims Of Spousal Abuse, Ayashah Anwar

American University Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law

INTRODUCTION: Lucila Magana-Magana lived a life marked by tragedy. At the age of fifteen, Lucila was sexually assaulted and became pregnant. As a young pregnant woman with no ability to leave, Lucila was forced to live with her assailant and had more children with him until his death. After several years on her own, she entered another relationship with her work supervisor, Rafael Camacho, but that relationship soon turned abusive. Camacho became addicted to drugs and alcohol, and eventually Lucila was forced to escape the relationship. Out of fear, Lucila fled Mexico to the United States. Once again, Lucila found …

A Probabilistic Modeling Analysis Of The Longitudinal Immune Response To Infection And Vaccination Across Demographic Groups And Pulmonary Symptoms, James O'Hanlon, Kaitlyn Sullivan, Lyndsey M. Muehling, Glenda Canderan, Jie Sun, Judith A. Woodfolk, Jeffrey M. Wilson, Rayanne A. Luke

Spora: A Journal of Biomathematics

Antibody and cytokine kinetics describe the dynamic response to immune events such as infection and vaccination. These dynamics are not fully understood, and mathematical characterization may help explain variability across demographic groups and pulmonary symptoms post-acute infection. We fit time-dependent probability models to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) data to obtain distributions of longitudinal antibody response and cytokine values. To assess differences between groups, an overlap metric is applied to the modeled response curves. Our antibody models suggest significant differences between male and female populations and demonstrate deficient antibody responses of less-healthy groups such as smokers. Our cytokine …

The Impact And Legacy Of The Kaplans, Craig Daniels

Journal of Math Circles

As we conclude this special issue on the Kaplans, we want to leave you with some reflections on their legacy. Craig Daniels attended seven week-long Math Circle Institutes organized by Bob and Ellen Kaplan at Notre Dame between 2009 and 2016, and was inspired to lead his own Math Circles for many years. Craig collected comments from many people who knew the Kaplans.

Bob And Ellen Kaplan's Brazilian Adventure: O Círculo Da Matemática Do Brasil, Angels Varea

Journal of Math Circles

Bob and Ellen Kaplan deployed their boundless energy to spread The Math Circle word in Brazil in what they called their “Brazilian adventure.” They are the inspiration for the project O Círculo da Matemática do Brasil and participated wholeheartedly in its implementation, travelling to Brazil six times over five years to train teams of young Math Circle leaders that taught over twenty-seven thousand underprivileged children within the framework of the project.

Can Physical Activity Improve Students' Stem Achievement? Results Of The Lithuanian Study Of Students In Grades 5–8, Agne Brandisauskiene, Julius Venskus, Egle Kemeryte-Ivanauskiene

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Abstract: Background: Recognising the importance of physical activity for students' overall well-being and cognitive functioning, this study aims to investigate the relationship between the achievement of students in grades 5–8 in STEM subjects and their non-formal physical activity. Materials and Methods: The data for this study were gathered from the Lithuanian school management system. To categorize the marks into STEM subjects and non-formal physical sport activities, a RoBeRTa pre-trained model, a tool based on Natural Language Processing (NLP), was utilized. For the hypothesis testing of non-normally distributed data, the Mann–Whitney U test was employed. Results: The results of study show …

Predicting The Peak Bloom Of Yoshino Cherry Blossoms In Washington, Dc With Random Forest Regression, James Watkins, Ian Forde, Rene Salinas

Spora: A Journal of Biomathematics

Springtime ushers in a bouquet of flowering arrangements that create ripe economic and social opportunities. Since the Japanese ambassador's gift of 3020 Yoshino cherry trees to the National Mall in Washington, DC, the National Cherry Blossom Festival has occurred annually beginning in 1935. This festival is unique in that over one million visitors parade the Capitol area each year, drawing inspiration from the peak blooming date of the characteristic cherry trees. The NPS provided data on the several stages of Yoshino cherry trees leading to peak bloom from 2004–2024, while local climate data exists for temperature, rainfall, and other factors …

Decoding Early Covid-19 Responses Using Mathematical Modeling Of Social Distancing Strategies Across Multiple Countries, Sri Gunturu, Suki Lewis, Katelyn Nguyen, Asma Azizi

Spora: A Journal of Biomathematics

During the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, before vaccines were available, countries implemented diverse combinations of social-distancing (SD) measures shaped by cultural norms and public acceptance. These differences produced varied outcomes in controlling viral spread, offering lessons for future health-crisis preparedness. We performed a reverse-engineering analysis of early COVID-19 case data from five socioculturally distinct countries—India, Vietnam, Italy, Finland, and the United States—selected to capture a range of initial prevalence levels. Using mathematical modeling and data fitting, we inferred the relative contributions of three SD interventions: face masking, quarantine, and isolation of infected individuals. We then employed an efficiency …

Optimal Intervention Strategies In Age-Structured Sirvd Model: Epidemiological And Economic Analysis Of Covid-19 In Korea, Joon Chun, Melisa Hendrata

Spora: A Journal of Biomathematics

This study employed an age-structured Susceptible-Infected-Recovered-Vaccinated-Deceased (SIRVD) model to design optimal COVID‑19 intervention strategies by integrating epidemiological dynamics with economic costs. Using empirical data from South Korea, we estimated transmission parameters and analyzed quarantine-based non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) alongside targeted vaccination scenarios. Our results indicated that a stronger form of mild NPI (upper range of Level I), when combined with targeted vaccination that prioritized seniors, achieved substantial reductions in infection peaks and overall economic burden. These findings underscore the effectiveness of age-specific strategies in epidemic management and offer critical insights for policymakers seeking balanced, resource-efficient approaches.