About

Sen Wang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography at The Ohio State University. His areas of expertise include airline and airport economics, passenger mobility, and sustainability within the aviation industry. Wang holds a PhD from Purdue University, earned in 2024, with prior degrees including a Master of Science in Aviation and Aerospace Management from Purdue University in 2020, and a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management from Florida Institute of Technology in 2018. His research focuses on addressing challenges faced by airports and airlines, with applied and empirical studies on air travel demand, airport ground access, and passenger travel behavior. Wang aims to contribute both to academic knowledge and practical applications in aviation, leveraging his practical skills such as a Part 107 remote pilot certification.

Research topics

• Internal medicine
• Medicine
• Biology
• Oncology
• Pathology
• Microbiology
• Virology

Selected publications

• Performance of the low-cost phenotypic thin-layer agar MDR/XDR-TB Colour Test (first generation, 1G, Color Plate Test) for identifying drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates in a resource-limited setting

  BMC Microbiology · 2025-10-10

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: The accessible, easy to use and timely, diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) drug-susceptibility, is often challenging, particularly in resource-constrained settings. We therefore evaluated the phenotypic thin-layer agar based MDR/XDR-TB Colour Test, also known as the "First Generation (1G) Color Plate Test (TB-CX)" performance for detecting resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) isolates to selected anti-TB drugs versus other tests routinely used in our setting. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on Mtb clinical isolates stored at the Armauer Hansen Research Institute TB laboratory in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Drug-susceptibility testing was performed on 78 Mtb isolates for isoniazid, rifampicin, and moxifloxacin using the Colour Test and the Indirect Proportional Method (IPM) "in house" assay. Isoniazid and rifampicin were also evaluated by the Mycobacterial Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) commercially available assay. Test accuracy was calculated as % agreement with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). RESULTS: The median (range) times in days determining Mtb resistance or susceptibility for the Colour Test, IPM and MGIT assays were of 9 (5-18), 15 (13-18) and 19 (14-21) days, respectively. The Colour Test provided results significantly (p < 0.001) more rapidly than the IPM or MGIT assays. The colour test showed a sensitivity and specificity of 91%(95% CI: 87-96) and 87%(95% CI:75-95) for detecting isoniazid resistance,and 93%(95% CI:81-99) and 92%(95% CI:82-97) for detecting rifampicin resistance, respectively, when compared to MGIT DST. For detecting MDR-TB the sensitivity and specificity were 90%(95% CI:76-97) and 96%(95% CI:88-99),respectively. The colour test showed a sensitivity of 97%(95%CI = 87-100) and specificity of 89% (95%CI = 79-96) for detecting isoniazid resistance while for rifampicin resistance,it showed a sensitivity of 82%(95%CI = 64-93)and a specificity of 80%(95% CI = 68-90) rifampicin resistance. Colour Test accuracy compared to IPM to detect isoniazid, rifampicin resistance and MDR-TB was 92% (95%CI = 86-98), 81% (95%CI = 72-90), and 90% (95%CI = 83-96). IPM test accuracy compared to MGIT DST for detecting isoniazid and rifampicin resistance and MDR-TB was 91% (95%CI = 85-97), 83% (95%CI = 75-92), and 85% (95%CI = 77-93), respectively. Moxifloxacin drug-susceptibility testing could not be assessed because only two isolates showed evidence of resistance. CONCLUSION: The accuracy of Mtb drug-susceptibility testing was similar comparing: Colour Test versus IPM, Colour Test versus MGIT; and comparing IPM versus MGIT. The Colour Test was easy to use and determined drug-susceptibility significantly more rapidly than the IPM and MGIT assays. Thus, implementing the Colour Test in clinical settings could make drug-susceptibility testing more accessible and rapid in high TB burden, and resource-constrained settings, including in Ethiopia.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Performance of the low-cost phenotypic thin-layer agar MDR/XDR-TB Colour Test (first generation, 1G, Color Plate Test) for identifying drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates in a resource-limited setting

  Research Square · 2025-06-27

  preprintOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Analysis of Sensitivity and Accuracy of Transthoracic Echocardiography Right Heart Contrast Combined with Transcranial Doppler Bubble Test in the Diagnosis of Patent Foramen Ovale

  Cardiovascular Reviews · 2025-12-31

  article

  Objective: To analyze the diagnostic value of transthoracic right heart contrast echocardiography (c-TTE) combined with transcranial color-coded Doppler (c-TCCD) in patent foramen ovale (PFO). Methods: A total of 180 suspected PFO patients admitted from October 2023 to October 2025 were selected and evenly divided using a random number table. The observation group underwent c-TTE combined with c-TCCD for diagnosis, while the reference group underwent c-TTE alone. The diagnostic effects of the two groups were compared. Results: The detection rates of PFO in the observation group under both resting state and Valsalva maneuver were higher than those in the reference group (p &lt; 0.05). Apart from the aperture size and thickness of the secondary septum, there were differences in other anatomical indicators between the two groups (p &lt; 0.05). The detection rate of grade III shunt in the observation group was higher than that in the reference group (p &lt; 0.05). Using the diagnostic results of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) as the gold standard, the sensitivity and accuracy of the observation group were higher than those of the reference group, while the missed diagnosis rate was lower than that of the reference group (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: The diagnosis of c-TTE combined with c-TCCD can effectively detect PFO, fully assess changes in the cardiac anatomical structure of patients, and determine shunt conditions, demonstrating high diagnostic efficacy.

  PublisherDOI

• Costing approaches for vaccine-preventable disease surveillance: Lessons from Ethiopia and Nepal

  Vaccine · 2025-02-17 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Pressure-Driven Metallicity in Ångström-Thickness 2D Bismuth and Layer-Selective Ohmic Contact to MoS2

  ArXiv.org · 2025-06-05

  preprintOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Recent fabrication of two-dimensional (2D) metallic bismuth (Bi) via van der Waals (vdW) squeezing method opens a new avenue to ultrascaling metallic materials into the ångström-thickness regime [Nature 639, 354 (2025)]. However, freestanding 2D Bi is typically known to exhibit a semiconducting phase [Nature 617, 67 (2023), Phys. Rev. Lett. 131, 236801 (2023)], which contradicts with the experimentally observed metallicity in vdW-squeezed 2D Bi. Here we show that such discrepancy originates from the pressure-induced buckled-to-flat structural transition in 2D Bi, which changes the electronic structure from semiconducting to metallic phases. Based on the experimentally fabricated MoS2-Bi-MoS2 trilayer heterostructure, we demonstrate the concept of layer-selective Ohmic contact in which one MoS2 layer forms Ohmic contact to the sandwiched Bi monolayer while the opposite MoS2 layer exhibits a Schottky barrier. The Ohmic contact can be switched between the two sandwiching MoS2 monolayers by changing the polarity of an external gate field, thus enabling charge to be spatially injected into different MoS2 layers. The layer-selective Ohmic contact proposed here represents a layertronic generalization of metal/semiconductor contact, paving a way towards layertronic device application.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Accuracy of the First Prototype of the 2G Test for Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Detection and Drug Susceptibility Testing in Kinsasha, Democratic Republic of Congo

  SSRN Electronic Journal · 2025-01-01

  preprintOpen access
  PublisherDOI

• Association between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and specific depressive symptoms: an analysis of a population-based cross-sectional survey

  BMC Psychiatry · 2024-10-26 · 5 citations

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: The exact mechanisms underlying depression are not well understood. Chronic, low-grade inflammation is believed to play an important role in its development. The present study investigates the potential association between depressive symptoms and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). METHODS: Seven data cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were extracted. Multivariable logistic regression and a generalized additive model were employed to determine the association. RESULTS: Thirty thousand eight hundred ninety-six subjects were analyzed. The results indicated that anhedonia and fatigue were significantly associated with NLR. Additionally, the generalized additive model results indicated a non-linear relationship between anhedonia, sleep disturbance and NLR. Subgroup analyses demonstrated that the correlation between anhedonia and NLR was significant in the above-60-year-old group (OR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.14-2.33) and the male group (OR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.07-2.10). Sleep disturbance was associated with NLR in the female group (OR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.04-1.77). Fatigue was associated with NLR (OR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.02-1.67) in the female group, as was the case in the non-Hispanic White group (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.02-1.70). CONCLUSIONS: There were associations between NLR and specific symptoms, and these associations varied across demographic subgroups. There was a non-linear association between anhedonia, sleep disturbance and NLR. These findings could potentially contribute to the advancement of precision medicine within the field of mental health.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Color components determination and full-length comparative transcriptomic analyses reveal the potential mechanism of carotenoid synthesis during <i>Paphiopedilum armeniacum</i> flowering

  PeerJ · 2024-02-22 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Background Paphiopedilum armeniacum ( P. armeniacum ), an ornamental plant native to China, is known for its distinctive yellow blossoms. However, the mechanisms underlying P. armeniacum flower coloration remain unclear. Methods We selected P. armeniacum samples from different flowering stages and conducted rigorous physicochemical analyses. The specimens were differentiated based on their chemical properties, specifically their solubilities in polar solvents. This key step enabled us to identify the main metabolite of flower color development of P. armeniacum , and to complete the identification by High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) based on the results. Additionally, we employed a combined approach, integrating both third-generation full-length transcriptome sequencing and second-generation high-throughput transcriptome sequencing, to comprehensively explore the molecular components involved. Results We combined physical and chemical analysis with transcriptome sequencing to reveal that carotenoid is the main pigment of P. armeniacum flower color. Extraction colorimetric method and HPLC were used to explore the characteristics of carotenoid accumulation during flowering. We identified 28 differentially expressed carotenoid biosynthesis genes throughout the flowering process, validated their expression through fluorescence quantification, and discovered 19 potential positive regulators involved in carotenoid synthesis. Among these candidates, three RCP2 genes showed a strong potential for governing the PDS and ZDS gene families. In summary, our study elucidates the fundamental mechanisms governing carotenoid synthesis during P. armeniacum flowering, enhancing our understanding of this process and providing a foundation for future research on the molecular mechanisms driving P. armeniacum flowering.

  PublisherDOI

• The Dominant Effect of the Gut Microbiome on GvHD in Mouse Models of Allo-BMT

  Blood · 2024-11-05

  articleOpen access

  Introduction: The interaction between commensal microbiota and the mammalian intestinal immune system is crucial for health and disease, regulating the maturation of the host immune system and shaping immune responses in the gut (Zheng, Cell Research, 2020. 30: 492-506). The effects of gut microbes and their metabolites are key factors in regulating the development of acute intestinal graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD), a major factor in limiting the success of allogeneic bone marrow transplants (allo-BMT). Deconvoluting the microbiome in transplant recipients can predict GvHD severity and identify beneficial bacterial candidates. Using genetically identical mice with different gut microbiomes from different vendors, Jackson (JAX) and Taconic (TAC), allows for a direct comparison of the microbiome's effect on the incidence and severity of aGVHD in a mouse model. TAC mice harbor Segmented Filamentous Bacteria (SFB), which induce Th17 cell differentiation in the lamina propria, skewing the mucosal effector T cell balance (Ivanov, Mucosal Immunol. 2010 May; 3(3): 209-212). In contrast, the gut microbiome of JAX mice lacks SFB. We hypothesized that whole-genomic sequencing analysis of stool samples from TAC and JAX mice in an allo-BMT model would identify the bacterial species associated with more (or less) severe aGvHD. Methods: C57BL/6 mice were purchased from JAX and TAC Laboratories. Vendor-driven microbiota diversity was preserved or enriched by separate housing or a co-housing approach (3 mice from vendor 1 mixed with 2 mice from vendor 2) for 2 weeks. Non-cohoused mice and co-housed mice were lethally irradiated (9 Gy) then transplanted with 5 x 10E6 T cell-depleted bone marrow (TCDBM) cells with or without 0.5 x 10E6 T cells from MHC-mismatched FVB/FVB-luc+ mice and monitored for survival. Stool samples were collected prior to co-housing, after co-housing, and at serial time points post-transplant. Microbial diversity was analyzed with CosmosID following shallow shotgun sequencing. Results: Our study yielded a significant finding of higher GvHD-mortality rate (p&amp;lt;0.04) in non-cohoused TAC mice, with 50% mortality over 60 days post-allo-BMT, compared to 10% mortality in JAX mice. Taxonomic sequencing analysis revealed greater microbial diversity in the gut of TAC mice relative to JAX, with a higher Shannon index for alpha-diversity (p=0.002). The Bacillota to Bacteroidota ratio was significantly higher (p=0.007) in TAC mice compared to JAX. TAC mice had more Th17 and Th1-inducing bacterial strains than JAX mice, such as Prevotella, L. reuteri, M. schaedleri, and B. fragilis. In contrast, TAC mice had fewer Muribaculaceae species and Akkermansia muciniphila. Following the co-housing of JAX and TAC mice, the microbiota diversity of JAX mice shifted to a TAC phenotype as determined by the Jaccard dissimilarity matrix. JAX mice co-housed with TAC mice were more vulnerable to GvHD, with 40% mortality compared to non-cohoused JAX mice (p&amp;lt;0.04). Co-housed JAX mice that developed lethal aGvHD trended towards higher pre-transplant ratios of stool Bacillota to Bacteroidota compared with co-housed JAX mice that did not develop lethal aGvHD (p&amp;lt;0.10). Conclusion: The results indicate that murine GvHD survival is influenced by the ratio of Bacillota to Bacteroidota in the intestinal microbiome. Shotgun sequencing indicated an association of Prevotella, L. reuteri, M. schaedleri, and B. fragilis species with more severe GvHD. Profiling of metabolites involved in metabolic and catabolic pathways of the TAC and JAX microbiome will be analyzed in parallel with human plasma samples from BMT CTN studies of allogeneic transplants to identify metabolites and associated bacterial species that might provide clinical benefits in reducing aGvHD in transplant patients.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Clinical Association Between Hemogram and Oral Health Status in COVID-19: A Retrospective Study on Hospitalized Patients

  Research Square · 2024-05-02

  preprintOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• Sustainable One Health Research Training Capacity in Eastern Africa

  NIH · $2.9M · 2010–2028

• Biology of alveolar macrophages in aging and tuberculosis

  NIH · $18.0M · 2022

Frequent coauthors

• Wondwossen A. Gebreyes

  The Ohio State University

  43 shared

• Runping Gao

  First Hospital of Jilin University

  37 shared

• Kurt Stevenson

  Boise VA Medical Center

  31 shared

• Edmund K. Waller

  30 shared

• Larry S. Schlesinger

  Texas Biomedical Research Institute

  26 shared

• Joan-Miquel Balada-Llasat

  The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

  20 shared

• Jordi B. Torrelles

  Texas Biomedical Research Institute

  18 shared

• Julie E. Mangino

  The Ohio State University

  18 shared