MDPI // Carolina Digital Repository

Works (1066)

71. Using DNA Metabarcoding of Cloacal Swabs to Elucidate the Diets of Four Coastal Shark Species

Title Tesim:: Using DNA Metabarcoding of Cloacal Swabs to Elucidate the Diets of Four Coastal Shark Species
Creator:: Bruno, John F., Wisely, Eldridge, Fodrie, F. Joel, Plumlee, Jeffrey D., Branham, Creed C., and Ryburn, Savannah J.
Date of publication:: March 9, 2026
Abstract Tesim:: The Atlantic sharpnose (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae), blacknose (Carcharhinus acronotus), blacktip (Carcharhinus limbatus), and bonnethead (Sphyrna tiburo) sharks are commonly encountered large mobile consumers found in the estuaries along the western North Atlantic coast. The bulk of the dietary data for these species has been coarsely recorded at a broad taxonomic level (e.g., “teleost fish”). Here, we used DNA metabarcoding of fecal DNA collected using non-lethal cloacal swabs to identify the species of prey contributing to the diets of these shark species and measure the degree of trophic overlap. Samples were collected from 24 Atlantic sharpnose, 33 blacknose, six blacktip, and 17 bonnethead sharks in the summer of 2020. Based on previous dietary research on these shark species, we targeted teleost fishes and crustaceans using two previously published primer sets. From the 80 sharks sampled off the coast of North Carolina, we identified 38 prey taxa, with 82% classified to the species level and all assigned to at least the genus and family levels. The most common prey taxa found in the diet of the bonnethead was Atlantic blue crab (Callinectes sapidus; 44.75%, based on percent of occurrence) followed by penaeid shrimp (Penaeus spp.; 24.41%), mantis shrimp (Squilla empusa; 20.34%), and spot (Leiostomus xanthurus; 4.75%). Atlantic sharpnose and blacknose sharks had the largest Levin’s niche overlap, with both species relying on the same two most frequently consumed prey taxa: penaeid shrimp (Atlantic sharpnose: 33.33%, percent of occurrence, and blacknose: 34.78%) and spot (Atlantic sharpnose: 32.70% and blacknose: 22.32%). Bonnetheads and blacktips had the least amount of overlap between all shark species, where blacktips primarily consumed menhaden (Brevoortia spp.; 58.62%) and penaeid shrimp (26.44%). Our findings highlight the value of DNA metabarcoding in refining our understanding of predator diets, moving beyond broad taxonomic classifications to identify species-level prey associations and trophic interactions. As coastal habitats undergo increasing alteration due to anthropogenic impacts, such information is crucial for fisheries management, helping to identify key prey dependencies and anticipate potential ecosystem shifts.
Resource type:: Article
Affiliation Label Tesim:: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biology, and Environment, Ecology, and Energy Program - Environmental Science
Type:: http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
DOI:: https://doi.org/10.17615/a4t0-5331
Edition:: Publisher
Identifier:: DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/wild3010014 and Dimensions ID: pub.1199198918
ISSN:: 3042-4526
Journal Issue:: 1
Journal Title:: Wild
Journal Volume:: 3
Keyword:: Carcharhinus acronotus, sharks, North Carolina, impact, metabarcoding, Sphyrna, taxonomic classification, species of prey, degree, blacktip, fisheries, family, diet, anthropogenic impacts, ecosystem shifts, Carolina, prey associations, coast, coastal shark species, Rhizoprionodon, research, Atlantic blue crab, predator diets, teleost fish, predators, penaeid, crabs, dependence, consumers, data, cloacal swabs, taxonomic levels, summer, estuary, fecal DNA, fish, prey-dependent, interaction, dietary research, shark species, habitat, bonnethead sharks, coastal habitats, mobile consumers, Rhizoprionodon terraenovae, fisheries management, prey taxa, North Atlantic coast, blue crabs, Sphyrna tiburo, dietary data, sets, samples, coast of North Carolina, findings, blacknose, niche overlap, menhaden, association, classification, genus, mantis, DNA, shift, species level, taxa, degree of trophic overlap, DNA metabarcoding, primer sets, Carcharhinus, prey, overlap, family level, trophic overlap, Atlantic coast, management, crustaceans, swabs, Levine, mantis shrimp, four, levels, primers, species, information, trophic interactions, teleost, Atlantic, shrimp, alterations, penaeid shrimp, Atlantic sharpnose, bonnethead, Carcharhinus limbatus, and blacknose sharks
License Label:: Attribution 4.0 International
ORCID:
Other Affiliation:: , Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA, School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA, and Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
Page Start:: 14
Person:: Bruno, John F., Wisely, Eldridge, Fodrie, F. Joel, Plumlee, Jeffrey D., Branham, Creed C., and Ryburn, Savannah J.
Publisher:: MDPI
Rights Statement Label:: In Copyright

72. Repeatability of Semi-Quantitative and Volumetric Features from Artificial-Intelligence-Guided Lesion Segmentation on 18F-DCFPyL PSMA-PET/CT Images: Results from a Test-Retest Cohort

Title Tesim:: Repeatability of Semi-Quantitative and Volumetric Features from Artificial-Intelligence-Guided Lesion Segmentation on 18F-DCFPyL PSMA-PET/CT Images: Results from a Test-Retest Cohort
Creator:: Pienta, Kenneth J., Milowsky, Matthew I., Islam, Md Zobaer, Bundschuh, Ralph A., Perk, Timothy G., Werner, Rudolf A., Gorin, Michael A., Whang, Young E., Rowe, Steven P., Wisniewski, Nicholas, Weisman, Amy, Pomper, Martin G., and Markowski, Mark C.
Date of publication:: March 11, 2026
Abstract Tesim:: Objectives: This study evaluated the test–retest repeatability of semi-quantitative and volumetric features derived from artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted lesion segmentation on 18F-DCFPyL Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA)-PET/CT imaging of patients with prostate cancer (PCa). Specifically, we assessed the reliability of maximum, minimum and total standardized uptake values (SUVmax, SUVmean, SUVtotal) and lesion volume measurements across varying lesion sizes and explored the implications of variability for clinical decision-making. Methods: We analyzed 18F-DCFPyL PSMA-PET/CT images from 22 patients with metastatic PCa. Lesion segmentation was performed using the AI-guided TRAQinform IQ technology, followed by a manual review to eliminate potential false-positive sites of uptake. Lesion-level test–retest repeatability was evaluated using 95% limits of agreement (LOA), intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), within-subject coefficient of variation (wCOV) and Bland–Altman analysis for SUV and volumetric parameters. Lesions were stratified by size (>1 cm3 and >1.5 cm3) to assess the impact of lesion volume cut-offs on measurement variability. Results: A total of 297 lesions were analyzed, including 191 lesions > 1 cm3 and 161 lesions > 1.5 cm3. Test–retest variability was higher in smaller lesions, with narrower LOA and lower wCOV for larger lesions. SUVmax and SUVmean exhibited lower variability than SUVtotal and lesion volume. The 95% LOA for SUVmax ranged from −33.81% to +38.02% for all lesions, improving to −31.82% to +31.01% for lesions > 1.5 cm3. Similar trends were observed for SUVmean, SUVtotal, and volume. Bland–Altman plots confirmed reduced variability in larger lesions, with no significant systematic bias. Conclusions: The test–retest repeatability of AI-assisted PSMA-PET/CT features varies by feature type, with semi-quantitative features demonstrating improved repeatability relative to volumetric features. Additionally, repeatability is influenced by lesion size, with larger lesions exhibiting greater reliability. These findings highlight the importance of lesion size-dependent thresholds in response assessment and variability-aware feature selection in prognostic models. Current algorithms may be better optimized for larger lesions and higher volumes of disease, with limitations remaining in the robust detection and segmentation of smaller/more subtle lesions.
Resource type:: Article
Affiliation Label Tesim:: School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, and Department of Radiology
Type:: http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
DOI:: https://doi.org/10.17615/jnjx-4471
Edition:: Publisher
Identifier:: DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/tomography12030038 and Dimensions ID: pub.1199279881
ISSN:: 2379-139X and 2379-1381
Journal Issue:: 3
Journal Title:: Tomography
Journal Volume:: 12
Keyword:: feature selection, lesion size, systematic bias, limits of agreement, size-dependent threshold, feature types, coefficient, within-subject coefficient of variation, technology, review, variables, PSMA-PET/CT imaging, values, robust detection, selection, disease, lesion volume, response assessment, correlation coefficient, segments, response, test-retest cohort, prostate cancer, impact, lesion volume measurements, volumetric features, limitations, lesion segmentation, study, site of uptake, uptake, Bland-Altman plots, trends, test-retest repeatability, test-retest, parameters, agreement, size, manual review, assessment, cancer, test-retest variability, uptake value, intra-class correlation coefficient, false-positive sites, threshold, volume, coefficient of variation, volume measurements, small lesions, volume cut-off, PSMA PET/CT, current algorithms, repeats, SUVmax, high volume, metastatic prostate cancer, model, volumetric parameters, SUV, decision-making, clinical decision-making, cut-off, plots, Bland-Altman analysis, larger lesions, standardized uptake value, lesions, analysis, detection, bias, variation, type, SUVmean, reliability, patients, cohort, minimum, volumetric, IQ technology, algorithm, prostate, maximum, findings, measured variables, semi-quantitative features, images, prognostic model, results, measurements, features, SUVtotal, and semi-quantitatively
License Label:: Attribution 4.0 International
ORCID:
Other Affiliation:: Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA, , Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus at the TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany, AIQ Solutions, Madison, WI, USA, Department of Nuclear Medicine, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany, and Milton and Carroll Petrie Department of Urology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
Page Start:: 38
Person:: Pienta, Kenneth J., Milowsky, Matthew I., Islam, Md Zobaer, Bundschuh, Ralph A., Perk, Timothy G., Werner, Rudolf A., Gorin, Michael A., Whang, Young E., Rowe, Steven P., Wisniewski, Nicholas, Weisman, Amy, Pomper, Martin G., and Markowski, Mark C.
Publisher:: MDPI
Rights Statement Label:: In Copyright

73. Assessing Willingness to Pay for Genetic Testing Among Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study Using Data from the Omnibus Survey 2022

Title Tesim:: Assessing Willingness to Pay for Genetic Testing Among Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study Using Data from the Omnibus Survey 2022
Creator:: Roberts, Megan, Navas, Angelo, and Hendy, Lauren
Date of publication:: March 7, 2026
Abstract Tesim:: Background: Population genetic screening (PGS) serves an essential role in identifying individuals at higher risk for hereditary cancer and cardiovascular disease. Nevertheless, the current lack of insurance coverage for screening costs might pose a barrier to its adoption. Health systems might contemplate covering these test expenses, but individuals covered by Medicaid and Medicare may not qualify for cost-free screening due to constraints related to the Beneficiary Inducement Statute. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was administered to 602 US adults in January 2023. Andersen’s model guided variable selection. An ordered probit model was deployed to explore the association between insurance type and willingness to pay (WTP) for PGS, controlling for demographic and healthcare characteristics. Results: Among the 602 respondents, 524 (87%) were included in our analysis. Over 70% (n = 373) of participants expressed WTP for genetic testing. A similar proportion of respondents with Medicare and Medicaid expressed WTP for screening (68%, and 70%, respectively). Insurance type was not significantly associated with WTP for genetic testing. Notably, lower trust levels and absence of family cancer history were associated with a lower probability of expressing high WTP compared to the reference categories (high levels of trust and having a family cancer history). Conclusions: WTP for genetic testing was not significantly associated with insurance type. Almost 30% of our sample were unwilling to pay for PGS, suggesting variability in WTP for PGS and adding to the limited literature on how individuals value genomic screening tests.
Resource type:: Article
Affiliation Label Tesim:: Eshelman School of Pharmacy and Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy
Type:: http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
DOI:: https://doi.org/10.17615/va8a-ff26
Edition:: Publisher
Identifier:: DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jpm16030154 and Dimensions ID: pub.1199198348
ISSN:: 2075-4426
Journal Issue:: 3
Journal Title:: Journal of Personalized Medicine
Journal Volume:: 16
Keyword:: population, statutes, model, high risk, cardiovascular disease, Omnibus, population genetic screening, ordered probit model, testing expenses, individuals, literature, selection, higher WTP, probability, online survey, cross-sectional study, genetic screening, expense, Medicare, adoption, respondents, association, cost, study, categories, WTP, proportion, health, family cancer history, cross-sectional online survey, reference, hereditary cancer, data, disease, US adults, cancer history, analysis, screening costs, Andersen model, type, risk, participants, absence, screening, beneficiaries, healthcare, insurance, characteristics, Medicaid, proportion of respondents, adults, health system, willingness, barriers, associated with WTP, associated with insurance type, Andersen, cancer, insurance type, samples, genetic testing, system, survey, history, variables, variable selection, healthcare characteristics, probit model, screening test, test, and reference category
License Label:: Attribution 4.0 International
ORCID:
Other Affiliation:
Page Start:: 154
Person:: Roberts, Megan, Navas, Angelo, and Hendy, Lauren
Publisher:: MDPI
Rights Statement Label:: In Copyright

74. Urban South African Adolescents’ Perspectives on Healthy and Unhealthy Foods and the Drivers of Their Food Choices in Their School Food Environment: A Pilot Study

Title Tesim:: Urban South African Adolescents’ Perspectives on Healthy and Unhealthy Foods and the Drivers of Their Food Choices in Their School Food Environment: A Pilot Study
Creator:: Khan, Alice Scaria, Dillman-Carpentier, Francesca, and Swart, Elizabeth Catherina
Date of publication:: 2026
Abstract Tesim:: Background: Childhood obesity is on the rise in South Africa and adolescents spend a substantial amount of time in the school food environment (SFE), which plays a role in shaping their food choices and provides a critical setting to improve diets. Objective: To investigate South African adolescent school-going learners’ knowledge and understanding of healthy and unhealthy foods and the drivers of their food choices in their (SFE). Design: Qualitative participatory research methods including workshops, photovoice and focus group discussions (FGDs). Setting: Two urban public high schools, one non-metropolitan and one metropolitan, in two separate provinces (Eastern Cape and Gauteng) in South Africa. Participants: Adolescents 14–18 years (n = 42). Results: Unhealthy ultra-processed foods (UPFs) were found to be rampant in the SFE, and healthy foods were scarce, limiting learners’ choices. Taste preference was a major driver of adolescent food choices as were satiety, value for money, affordability, convenience, visual appeal and seeming “cool or “rich” by purchasing branded franchise fast foods. Learners had some general nutrition knowledge, but this did not translate into healthy food choices. Banning unhealthy foods in the SFE and providing affordable and satiating healthy foods were proposed as solutions. Conclusions: UPFs such as packaged foods and fast food were considered tasty but unhealthy, yet were preferred. Interventions are needed to promote healthy diets by changing the SFE, and eventually adolescent food choices. This will require government regulation banning the sale of unhealthy food and beverages (F&Bs) in the SFE and subsidising healthy satiating foods to change dietary behaviour.
Resource type:: Article
Affiliation Label Tesim:: Hussman School of Journalism and Media
DOI:: https://doi.org/10.17615/a4sm-nt79
Edition:: Publisher
Identifier:: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23020208
ISSN:: 1660-4601
Journal Issue:: 2
Journal Title:: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Journal Volume:: 23
Keyword:: healthy and unhealthy foods, metropolitan and nonmetropolitan urban areas, adolescents, food choices, and school food environment
Language Label:: English
License Label:: Attribution 4.0 International
Other Affiliation:: School of Public Health, University of Western Cape, Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa, , and Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, University of Western Cape, Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa
Page Start:: 208
Person:: Khan, Alice Scaria, Dillman-Carpentier, Francesca, and Swart, Elizabeth Catherina
Publisher:: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Rights Statement Label:: In Copyright
Source:: 2c1eb921-9d8e-4f26-8add-7ff04b8273b7

75. Regulatory Stipulations and Scientific Underpinnings for Inhaled Biologics for Local Action in the Respiratory Tract—Part I: Development of Inhaled Therapeutic Protein Products

Title Tesim:: Regulatory Stipulations and Scientific Underpinnings for Inhaled Biologics for Local Action in the Respiratory Tract—Part I: Development of Inhaled Therapeutic Protein Products
Creator:: Singh, Gur Jai Pal and Hickey, Anthony J.
Date of publication:: 2026
Abstract Tesim:: The majority of approved drug products comprise formulations of either chemically synthesized small molecules or large molecular entities derived from living cells, commonly referred to as biologics. Over the past two decades, there has been remarkable growth in the approval of biologics for a variety of disorders, including respiratory diseases. The preference for biologics stems from their high target specificity, strong binding affinity, and favorable safety profiles. Most approved biologics are peptides or proteins, which are unsuitable for oral administration due to negligible bioavailability, resulting from their large molecular size, polarity, and susceptibility to enzymatic degradation in the gastrointestinal tract. Consequently, the majority of biologics are administered parenterally, delivering the drug systemically to reach target sites. However, achieving therapeutic concentrations of locally acting respiratory drugs in the lungs via systemic delivery often requires high doses, which increases the risk of adverse effects. For respiratory disorders, nasal and pulmonary drug deliveries are the preferred noninvasive routes. These routes bypass gastrointestinal and first-pass metabolism and deliver therapeutic agents directly to their local site of action. This approach enables a faster onset of action, reduces the required dose by orders of magnitude, and significantly lowers the risk of systemic adverse effects. These advantages have driven the successful development of inhaled formulations for certain rescue and maintenance medications that were originally administered orally or parenterally. Despite this, treatment options for respiratory diseases remain largely limited to small molecules, with only a single inhaled biologic approved in 1993, even though several parenterally administered biologics have since been approved for pulmonary disorders. The scarcity of inhaled biologics is primarily due to the inherent complexity of these drug substances, which impacts all stages of product development, including manufacturing, characterization, purification, stability, formulation design, delivery, and preclinical and clinical evaluations of safety and efficacy. Additionally, sponsors’ interest in developing inhaled biologics may be tempered by the lack of regulatory guidance addressing the multidisciplinary and intricate nature of their development. This article, together with the accompanying review, addresses both regulatory considerations and scientific challenges in the development of inhaled biologics. To the authors’ knowledge, these works represent seminal efforts to examine available regulatory guidance and the applicable literature across various phases of product development beyond safety and efficacy evaluations. We examined the formal regulatory expectations and summarized the requirements as they apply to inhaled products and inhaled biologic protein therapeutics. In parallel, we explored scientifically relevant considerations in the development of inhalation-specific protein therapeutics for which regulatory guidance remains limited, evolving, or absent. While they should not be considered definitive, it is hoped that these contributions will stimulate scientific and regulatory interest, ultimately promoting the identification and resolution of gaps to advance the development of locally acting biologics and address unmet patient needs.
Resource type:: Article
Affiliation Label Tesim:: Eshelman School of Pharmacy and Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics
DOI:: https://doi.org/10.17615/emc1-6n57
Edition:: Publisher
Identifier:: https://doi.org/10.3390/biochem6010006
ISSN:: 2673-6411
Journal Title:: BioChem
Keyword:: formulation, monoclonal antibodies, regulatory considerations, inhaled biologics, QbD, drug substance, biosimilars, devices, and excipients
Language Label:: English
License Label:: Attribution 4.0 International
Other Affiliation:: BBSG Pharm Associates, LLC, Corona, CA and
Person:: Singh, Gur Jai Pal and Hickey, Anthony J.
Publisher:: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Rights Statement Label:: In Copyright
Source:: 71b76953-7306-4766-a1e6-44810f0878c7

76. Reaction Diffusion Modelling of 3D Pillar Electrodes in Single-Catalyst CO2 Reduction Cascades

Title Tesim:: Reaction Diffusion Modelling of 3D Pillar Electrodes in Single-Catalyst CO2 Reduction Cascades
Creator:: Parsons, Gregory N., Fernandez, Pablo, Lopez, Rene, García-Batlle, Marisé, Shang, Bo, Cahoon, James F., and Wang, Hailiang
Date of publication:: 2026
Abstract Tesim:: Effective electrochemical CO2 reduction to liquid fuels requires that the local catalytic environment facilitates the desired reactivity, yet a microscopic understanding of this environment is difficult to achieve from experiment alone. In this work, a 3D reaction-diffusion model was developed to explore the effects of electrode surface area and local geometry on the performance of a heterogeneous catalyst that performs a two-step CO2 reduction cascade reaction to CO and then CH3OH under aqueous conditions. Kinetic parameters for the model were inspired by experimental results using a cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) catalyst. Three-dimensional architectures composed of arrays of square pillars with varying dimensions and either smooth or periodically modulated surfaces were tested, revealing the extent to which geometry modulates the performance of the cascade reactions. Although structural variations modulate local concentration gradients, we find that electrochemically active surface area predominantly governs the overall cascade reaction. Moreover, the results suggest that supersaturation of CO, with concentrations up to ten-fold higher than the equilibrium solubility limit, might be critical for more efficient conversion to CH3OH. For any given geometry, the spatially averaged ratio of [CO] to [CO2] is dictated by the electrochemically active surface area and determines the yield of CH3OH. For a fixed surface area, geometries that spatially confine the electrolyte yield moderate local [CO] to [CO2] ratios within small volumes. In contrast, less confining geometries result in a broader distribution of local ratios spread over larger volumes, with both configurations yielding the same spatially averaged [CO] to [CO2] ratio. These insights provide valuable design principles—highlighting the critical importance of surface area and possibly CO supersaturation—for engineering advanced electrode architectures that leverage intermediate trapping and CO supersaturation to enhance overall performance in tandem CO2 reduction systems.
Resource type:: Article
Affiliation Label Tesim:: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Chemistry, and Department of Physics and Astronomy
DOI:: https://doi.org/10.17615/4jwc-xn11
Edition:: Publisher
Identifier:: https://doi.org/10.3390/electrochem7010005
ISSN:: 2673-3293
Journal Title:: Electrochem
Keyword:: surface area, cobalt phthalocyanine, COMSOL, supersaturation, and cascade catalysis
Language Label:: English
License Label:: Attribution 4.0 International
Other Affiliation:: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, , and Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT
Person:: Parsons, Gregory N., Fernandez, Pablo, Lopez, Rene, García-Batlle, Marisé, Shang, Bo, Cahoon, James F., and Wang, Hailiang
Publisher:: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Rights Statement Label:: In Copyright
Source:: a774e629-7872-4463-9539-1b42fe219156

77. Nutrition Labelling Practices and the Healthiness of Packaged Food and Beverage Products Available in Kenya

Title Tesim:: Nutrition Labelling Practices and the Healthiness of Packaged Food and Beverage Products Available in Kenya
Creator:: Sakai, Moeno, Erzse, Agnes, Dunford, Elizabeth K., Kiige, Laura, Richardson, Leah, and Ngnie-Teta, Ismael
Date of publication:: 2026
Abstract Tesim:: Background/Objectives: Kenya’s diet-related non-communicable disease burden is rising alongside the consumption of ultra-processed foods. Kenya finalized a national nutrient profile model (KNPM) in 2025, drawing on the WHO African regional model (WHO NPM). The objective of this study was to examine labelling practices and the healthiness of packaged products available in Kenya, including domestically produced and imported items, to identify policy priorities to strengthen nutrient profiling, surveillance, and alignment with international standards. Methods: Packaged food and beverage data were obtained from Innova Market Insights. The proportion of products meeting minimum Codex nutrition labelling requirements was determined. The proportion of products that met the nutrient criteria set out under the KNPM (draft and final versions) and WHO NPM was examined overall and by category. Agreement between nutrient profile models was determined using Fleiss’ kappa. Results: Of 5587 products, 21% displayed minimum Codex nutrient requirements. Labelling was more complete among imported compared to domestic products (40% vs. 14%). Sales-weighted eligibility was low: 15% (WHO NPM and draft KNPM) and 17% (final KNPM). Agreement across models was 82% (k = 0.44) and was highest between the WHO NPM and the final KNPM (95%; k = 0.66). Beverage patterns reflected stricter thresholds in the WHO NPM and the final KNPM. Conclusions: Kenya’s packaged food supply is inadequately labelled, with a large proportion not meeting the nutritional requirements set out in the final KNPM or WHO NPM. Mandatory, Codex-aligned nutrition labelling is necessary to ensure full operationalization of the KNPM, with regular review to reflect evolving food environments.
Resource type:: Article
Affiliation Label Tesim:: Gillings School of Global Public Health and Department of Nutrition
DOI:: https://doi.org/10.17615/b55d-ap25
Edition:: Publisher
Identifier:: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18040566
ISSN:: 2072-6643
Journal Issue:: 4
Journal Title:: Nutrients
Journal Volume:: 18
Keyword:: nutrient profiling, processed foods, and nutrition labelling
Language Label:: English
License Label:: Attribution 4.0 International
Other Affiliation:: UNICEF Kenya Country Office, Nairobi, Kenya, UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office, Nairobi, Kenya, and
Page Start:: 566
Person:: Sakai, Moeno, Erzse, Agnes, Dunford, Elizabeth K., Kiige, Laura, Richardson, Leah, and Ngnie-Teta, Ismael
Publisher:: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Rights Statement Label:: In Copyright
Source:: b5a27b3e-45e0-42c7-88df-47441b3099f1

78. MtrR Regulates a Major Lytic Transglycosylase (ltgA) Responsible for Peptidoglycan-Derived Cytotoxin Release and Autolysis in Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Title Tesim:: MtrR Regulates a Major Lytic Transglycosylase (ltgA) Responsible for Peptidoglycan-Derived Cytotoxin Release and Autolysis in Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Creator:: Hackett, Kathleen T., Nicholas, Robert A., Telchy, Alaa I., McMillan, Ronald K., Dillard, Joseph P., Morgan, Tia, and Williams, Daniel
Date of publication:: 2026
Abstract Tesim:: The multiple-transferable resistance protein (MtrR) is a transcriptional repressor of the mtrCDE-encoded drug efflux pump and Type IV pilus biosynthesis (pilM), and an activator of penicillin-binding protein 1 (ponA) expression in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Previously published microarray data suggested that MtrR is also an activator of ltgA expression in the gonococcus. LtgA is a lytic transglycosylase responsible for approximately half of recycled peptidoglycan fragments and released peptidoglycan-derived cytotoxins, which cause ciliary damage and induce specific inflammatory responses. The fragments generated by LtgA during peptidoglycan remodeling can either be recognized by the permease AmpG for uptake into the bacterial cytoplasm and recycled for new cell wall growth and general metabolism or released into the external milieu. Therefore, we sought to define the capacity of MtrR to regulate LtgA expression in gonococci. We show that MtrR binds to the ltgA promoter region in a concentration-dependent manner, and that this binding results both in increased ltgA mRNA transcription and LtgA protein levels during exponential growth. Deletion of mtrR in N. gonorrhoeae decreased peptidoglycan monomer release from growing cells and increased autolysis. These results suggest that MtrR regulation of ltgA impacts peptidoglycan-derived cytotoxin release and autolysis in the gonococcus. This study suggests a central role of MtrR in coordinating aspects of the cellular envelope that may contribute to gonococcal pathogenesis.
Resource type:: Article
Affiliation Label Tesim:: School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
DOI:: https://doi.org/10.17615/nwh2-2316
Edition:: Publisher
Identifier:: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14020474
ISSN:: 2076-2607
Journal Issue:: 2
Journal Title:: Microorganisms
Journal Volume:: 14
Keyword:: autolysis, lytic transglycosylase, modulation, transcriptional regulator, cytotoxins, antibiotic resistance, and peptidoglycan
Language Label:: English
License Label:: Attribution 4.0 International
Other Affiliation:: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Madison, WI, , Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC, and Department of Biological Sciences, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL
Page Start:: 474
Person:: Hackett, Kathleen T., Nicholas, Robert A., Telchy, Alaa I., McMillan, Ronald K., Dillard, Joseph P., Morgan, Tia, and Williams, Daniel
Publisher:: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Rights Statement Label:: In Copyright
Source:: 293508c6-e66e-4342-9941-ffe867b4deea

79. GARD: Genomic Data-Based Drug Repurposing in Head and Neck Cancer with Large Language Model Validation

Title Tesim:: GARD: Genomic Data-Based Drug Repurposing in Head and Neck Cancer with Large Language Model Validation
Creator:: Tanikella, Pradham, Dai, Yifan, Osazuwa-Peters, Nosayaba, Deng, Qingying, Courtine, Christophe, Zou, Baiming, Nenad, William, Wu, Di, and Schrank, Travis P.
Date of publication:: 2026
Abstract Tesim:: Background/Objectives: Head and neck cancer (HNC) represents the seventh most common cancer diagnosis globally, yet current treatments, including surgery, radiation, and immunotherapy, have shown limited improvement in outcomes. Drug repurposing offers a cost-effective strategy to identify new therapeutic options by leveraging existing medications with known safety profiles. Within this study, we developed the GARD pipeline (Genomic Alteration-based Repurposing for Drugs), designed to uncover repurposing candidates for HNC using genomic and network-based approaches. Methods: GARD integrates multi-omics data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), including copy number variation (CNV) and somatic mutations (SOM). The cohort was stratified by human papillomavirus (HPV) status. Risk-associated genes were identified and then expanded via high-confidence protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks. Top candidate genes were filtered through comprehensive analysis of publicly available literature data in PubMed using LLMs to validate the relationship between the identified genes and HNC. The top risk genes and their network-expanded neighbors were mapped against DrugBank, and through statistical significance testing and literature validation, established significant drug–gene associations. Results: Significant genes associated with HNC, inferred by genomics alteration, were identified across HPV-positive and HPV-negative subgroups, such as PIK3CA, SOX2, TP53, EIF4G1, TLR7, CLDN1, PRKCI, and EPHA2. Further expansion through the PPI network identified other targetable genes such as EGFR, ERBB2, and the FGFRs. Literature-based validation efforts ensured confidence in the gene–disease association. Drug–gene mapping revealed candidates spanning those already in clinical trials for HNC (e.g., Afatinib, Cabozantinib, Dasatinib, Brigatinib, Lenvatinib, Capivasertib, and Erdafitinib) and emerging or repurposing candidates (Amuvatinib, XL765 (Voxtalisib), Golotimod, Artenimol, Quercetin, and Acetylsalicylic Acid), offering opportunities for precision repurposing. Conclusions: The GARD pipeline demonstrates a genomics-driven, network-informed framework for systematic drug repurposing in HNC. HPV stratification enhances precision, literature-based validation strengthens confidence, and integrated drug mapping enables refinement of existing therapies and discovery of novel candidates for personalized treatment strategies. Code Availability: The full implementation of the GARD pipeline, including preprocessing scripts, statistical analysis modules, and visualization tools, is publicly available on GitHub.
Resource type:: Article
Affiliation Label Tesim:: School of Medicine, Department of Genetics, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Biostatistics, Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, N.C. Cancer Hospital, and UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
DOI:: https://doi.org/10.17615/kv5e-sg33
Edition:: Publisher
Identifier:: https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18050757
ISSN:: 2072-6694
Journal Issue:: 5
Journal Title:: Cancers
Journal Volume:: 18
Keyword:: head and neck cancer, genomics, and drug repurposing
Language Label:: English
License Label:: Attribution 4.0 International
ORCID:
Other Affiliation:: and Department of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
Page Start:: 757
Person:: Tanikella, Pradham, Dai, Yifan, Osazuwa-Peters, Nosayaba, Deng, Qingying, Courtine, Christophe, Zou, Baiming, Nenad, William, Wu, Di, and Schrank, Travis P.
Publisher:: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Source:: 88fd770a-8b4b-4681-829b-1d3ee8eb236f

80. Enhancing Parent–Child Interaction and Self-Efficacy in Motor Skills Development for Young Children with Developmental Delays

Title Tesim:: Enhancing Parent–Child Interaction and Self-Efficacy in Motor Skills Development for Young Children with Developmental Delays
Creator:: Lee, I.-Huei, Chu, Szu-Yin, Lai, Yu-Lin, and Yang, Hsiu-Wen
Date of publication:: 2026
Abstract Tesim:: Background/Objectives: The present study investigated the effects of parental participation in home program intervention on parent–child interactions, parental self-efficacy, and the goal attainment of children with developmental delays in motor skills. Methods: While the interviews consisted of qualitative data, quantitative analyses were applied to the results, making this a mixed-methods study. Participants were 2–6-year-old young children and their families. Twenty-three parent–child dyads were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 13) or a comparison group (n = 10). Outcomes were evaluated using the Parent–Child Interaction Questionnaire and Parental Self-Efficacy Questionnaire. Results: Improvements in parental self-efficacy and in the Goal Attainment Scale scores of the children were evident in the posttest, whereas no evidence of differences in improvement was found in parent–child interactions between the intervention and comparison groups on the pretest and posttest. Conclusions: Parent collaboration with therapists has a significant impact on achieving functional goals for young children, and parental involvement in intervention programs effectively enhances parental self-efficacy.
Resource type:: Article
Affiliation Label Tesim:: Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute
DOI:: https://doi.org/10.17615/zseb-a855
Edition:: Publisher
Identifier:: https://doi.org/10.3390/children13020309
ISSN:: 2227-9067
Journal Issue:: 2
Journal Title:: Children
Journal Volume:: 13
Keyword:: parent participation, home program, parent–child interaction, children with developmental delays, and parental self-efficacy
Language Label:: English
License Label:: Attribution 4.0 International
Other Affiliation:: Department of Special Education, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsin-Chu Branch, Hsinchu, Taiwan, and
Page Start:: 309
Person:: Lee, I.-Huei, Chu, Szu-Yin, Lai, Yu-Lin, and Yang, Hsiu-Wen
Publisher:: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Rights Statement Label:: In Copyright
Source:: 41cb9ed8-2698-41ec-ae9a-93b3f8512644

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