Digital Commons Network^™

Antiviral Susceptibility Of Clade 2.3.4.4b Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5n1) Viruses Isolated From Birds And Mammals In The United States, 2022, Ha T. Nguyen, Anton Chesnokov, Juan De La Cruz, Philippe Noriel Q. Pascua, Vasiliy P. Mishin, Yunho Jang, Joyce Jones, Han Di, Andrei A. Ivashchenko, Mary Lea Killian, Mia K. Torchetti, Kristina Lantz, David E. Wentworth, Charles T. Davis, Alexandre V. Ivachtchenko, Larisa V. Gubareva

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Clade 2.3.4.4b highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) viruses that are responsible for devastating outbreaks in birds and mammals pose a potential threat to public health. Here, we evaluated their susceptibility to influenza antivirals. Of 1,015 sequences of HPAI A(H5N1) viruses collected in the United States during 2022, eight viruses (∼0.8%) had a molecular marker of drug resistance to an FDA-approved antiviral: three adamantane-resistant (M2-V27A), four oseltamivir-resistant (NA-H275Y), and one baloxavir-resistant (PA-I38T). Additionally, 31 viruses contained mutations that may reduce susceptibility to inhibitors of neuraminidase (NA) (n = 20) or cap-dependent endonuclease (CEN) (n = 11). A panel of 22 …

Roost Selection By Synanthropic Bats In Rural Kenya: Implications For Human-Wildlife Conflict And Zoonotic Pathogen Spillover, Reilly T. Jackson, Paul W. Webala, Joseph G. Ogola, Tamika J. Lunn, Kristian M. Forbes

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Many wildlife species are synanthropic and use structures built by humans, creating a high-risk interface for human–wildlife conflict and zoonotic pathogen spillover. However, studies that investigate features of urbanizing areas that attract or repel wildlife are currently lacking. We surveyed 85 buildings used by bats and 172 neighbouring buildings unused by bats (controls) in southeastern Kenya during 2021 and 2022 and evaluated the role of microclimate and structural attributes in building selection. We identified eight bat species using buildings, with over 25% of building roosts used concurrently by multiple species. Bats selected taller cement-walled buildings with higher water vapour pressure …

Effect Of Bovine Respiratory Disease On The Respiratory Microbiome: A Meta-Analysis, Samantha Howe, Beth Kegley, Jeremy Powell, Sicheng Chen, Jiangchao Zhao

Animal Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the most devastating disease affecting beef and dairy cattle producers in North America. An emerging area of interest is the respiratory microbiome’s relationship with BRD. However, results regarding the effect of BRD on respiratory microbiome diversity are conflicting.

Results: To examine the effect of BRD on the alpha diversity of the respiratory microbiome, a meta-analysis analyzing the relationship between the standardized mean difference (SMD) of three alpha diversity metrics (Shannon’s Diversity Index (Shannon), Chao1, and Observed features (OTUs, ASVs, species, and reads) and BRD was conducted. Our multi-level model found no difference in Chao1 …

Alkaline Pretreatment And Air Mixing For Improvement Of Methane Production From Anaerobic Co-Digestion Of Poultry Litter With Wheat Straw, Yuanhang Zhan, Jun Zhu, Yiting Xiao, Leland C. Schrader

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Alkaline pretreatment (AL) and air mixing (air) both have the potential to improve anaerobic co-digestion (Co-AD) of poultry litter with wheat straw for methane production. In this study, the effects of the combination of AL (pH 12 for 12 h) and air mixing (12 mL·d⁻¹) on the Co-AD process were investigated. The substrate hydrolysis was enhanced by AL, with soluble chemical oxygen demand increased by 4.59 times and volatile fatty acids increased by 5.04 times. The cumulative methane yield in the group of Co-AD by AL integrated with air (Co-(AL + air)), being 287 mL·(g VS_added) …

First Documentation Of Least Chub In The Snake River Drainage In Idaho, Eric J. Billman, Dallin Stokes, Isaac Calderwood, Cody Diehl

Western North American Naturalist

The Least Chub (Iotichthys phlegethontis) is a small minnow endemic to the Bonneville Basin in Utah, where the current distribution of extant populations is limited to a few small spring complexes. We report on the first documentation of Least Chub in the upper Snake River drainage in Idaho. In June 2021, October 2021, and June 2022, we surveyed for small-bodied fishes in off-channel habitat of lower Henrys Fork in Cartier Slough Wildlife Management Area west of Rexburg, Idaho. Small-bodied fishes were sampled at 17 sites in off-channel habitat; 5 baited minnow traps (galvanized steel) were set for approximately …

Role Of The Placenta In Developmental Programming: Observations From Models Using Large Animals, L. P. Reynolds, C. R. Dahlen, A. K. Ward, M. S. Crouse, P. P. Borowicz, B. J. Davila-Ruiz, C. Kanjanaruch, K. A. Bochantin, K. J. Mclean, K. L. Mccarthy, A. C.B. Menezes, W. J.S. Diniz, R. A. Cushman, J. S. Caton

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Developmental programming, which proposes that “insults” or “stressors” during intrauterine or postnatal development can have not only immediate but also long-term consequences for healthy and productivity, has emerged as a major biological principle, and based on studies in many animal species also seems to be a universal phenomenon. In eutherians, the placenta appears to be programmed during its development, which has consequences for fetal growth and development throughout pregnancy, and likewise has long-term consequences for postnatal development, leading to programming of organ function of the offspring even into adulthood. This review summarizes our current understanding of the placenta’s role in …

Willa Cather Ecological Prairie: An Ecological Overview, Harold G. Nagel

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: White Papers, Conference Presentations, and Manuscripts

This report includes data gathered on the ecology of a 610 acre mixed grass prairie in south-central Nebraska over a two year period.

An attempt was made to identify as many of the plant and animal species present and to determine density and standing crop biomass wherever possible, under the time and financial constraints present. Few attempts have been made to develop complete species checklists for both animals and plants in prairies. The data collected are considered baseline conditions against which comparisons can be made after a management plan is carried out.

This study of Cather Prairie had several objectives. …

The Flora Of Meadowlark Prairie, Northeastern Seward County, Nebraska, Steven B. Rolfsmeier

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: White Papers, Conference Presentations, and Manuscripts

This report is on the flora of the Meadowlark Prairie. The prairie is an approximately 7 acre remnant of virgin tall-grass prairie in extreme northeastern Seward County, Nebraska. The remnant is triangular in shape and lies on a gentle southeast-facing slope with a total relief of 50 ft., along the east boundary of the Meadowlark Recreation Area. The prairie is surrounded on the east side by a small brome-infested prairie remnant and cultivated field off the NRD property, and on the remaining sides by formerly cultivated fields now seeded to native warm-season grasses. Soils in the area are primarily derived …

Go Big Or Go Home: Divergence In Morphology And Behavior Between Island And Islet Populations Of The San Cristóbal Lava Lizard (Microlophus Bivittatus), Emilio J. Mancero

Masters Theses

Rapid divergence in body size is a well-documented phenomenon among island species, associated with macroevolutionary processes of diversification and adaptive radiation. The effect of insularity in determining larger body size as an optimal phenotype is primarily attributed to lower predation and greater intraspecific competition on islands. Our study examined interpopulation variation in morphology, social behavior and predator avoidance in Galápagos lava lizards endemic to San Cristóbal island (Microlophus bivittatus), and the nearby islet Isla Lobos. Islet populations have fewer competitors than those on the island, where native and introduced predators are abundant. We simulated interactions with predators and …

Observations Of The Association By Early-Juvenile Western Rock Lobster Panulirus Cygnus George, 1962 With Seagrass Assemblages (Decapoda: Achelata: Palinuridae), Daphne Oh, Tim J. Langlois, Michael A. Brooker, Hugo Salinas, Jason R. How, Simon De Lestang

Fisheries Research Articles

The fishery of the western rock lobster, Panulirus cygnus George, 1962, is Australia’s most valuable wild-caught single-species fishery. Recruitment in some regions of the fishery was observed to be significantly lower than expected after the 2010/2011 West Australian marine heatwave that caused extensive disturbance of dominant coastal habitats. This event generated interest in the study of the factors influencing survival and recruitment of post-larval benthic P. cygnus after settlement. The habitat associations of the highly cryptic post-settlement early-juveniles were previously unknown, with only anecdotal observations of individuals within limestone crevices in nearshore habitats. Our study used early-juveniles derived from …

Utility Of Body And Otolith Morphometry To Discriminate Cryptic Juveniles Of Two Sympatric Red Snappers (Perciformes: Lutjanidae), Miwa Takahashi, Corey B. Wakefield, Stephen J. Newman, Kyle B. Hillcoat, Benjamin J. Saunders, Euan S. Harvey

Fisheries Research Articles

The sympatric red snappers, Lutjanus erythropterus and Lutjanus malabaricus, are highly valued by commercial and recreational fishers along the tropical northern coasts of Australia and throughout their distribution. Studies on the life history and ecology of these congeners are confounded by difficulties in distinguishing the cryptic juveniles of each species (i.e., < 200 mm total length). This study aimed to validate a robust and cost-effective method to discriminate these juveniles using body and/or otolith morphometric data in a multivariate analysis. Juvenile samples were collected from the northwest (n = 71) and northeast (n = 19) coasts of Australia, and species identification was confirmed using DNA barcoding. The most parsimonious multivariate models achieved accurate species prediction rates of 98.8%, which consisted of just three body variables (dorsal fin length, the distance from the snout to the anterior edge of the eye, and either jaw length or distance from the snout to the preoperculum). The high level of discrimination for these cryptic juveniles highlights the robustness of this morphometric approach. The slightly lower rate of discrimination using otolith morphology (84.9%) was associated with greater regional variation in L. malabaricus between the northwest and northeast coasts. Slight variations in otolith shape are typically used to determine stock structure, which highlights the potential need to collect samples over a broader area of a species geographic range when using an otolith morphometric discrimination model. The method outlined in this study could be applied to distinguish other cryptic congeneric fish species, including from archived otolith collections. Moreover, this method has the potential to be utilized in assessing species compositions using body measurements from in situ stereo-video.

An Evaluation Of Canine Inguinal Hernias Containing The Uterus: Clinical Experience Of Four Cases (2017-2022) And Literature Review, Fi̇rdevs Bi̇nli̇, Fati̇h Büyükbudak, İpek İnan, Volkan Ferahoğlu, Anil Gürkan Aksu, Murat Findik, Serhan Serhat Ay

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The aim of this study is to identify and summarize the evidence and risk factors of canine inguinal hernia containing the uterus (Inguinal Hysterocele; IH) etiology by presenting our clinical experience with a literature review. A total of 18 canine IH cases were evaluated in the study. Of these, four have not yet been published anywhere, two have been published before, and 12 were obtained through a literature review. According to the findings, 81.3% of the cases were small/medium races, 83.3% were ≥5 years old, and 72.7% were multiparous. Totally 83.3% of the cases were chronic and 72.2% of the …

Determination Of Virulence Genes And Antibiotic Resistance Profiles Of Streptococcus Agalactiae Isolated From Buffalo Milk, Nevi̇n Tuzcu, Hasan Hüseyi̇n Hadi̇mli̇, Beatri̇z Padron

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Mastitis is a contagious disease that causes significant milk loss and serious economic damage in dairy animals. Streptococcus agalactiae causes clinical and subclinical mastitis in animals and infections in humans, especially adults, and newborns. This study aimed to confirm the identification of S. agalactiae isolates by PCR in buffalo milk; to determine the antibiotic resistance and virulence genes by multiplex PCR. The material of this study consisted of 30 (12%) S. agalactiae strains identified by phenotypic, biochemical, and PCR methods (rRNA-16S) from 250 isolates with bacterial growth from milk samples of buffaloes with mastitis. In addition, the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion …

Stereological Investigation Of Medulla Oblongata Volume In Norduz Sheep, Ozan Ertaş, Gamze Çakmak

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

In this study, it was aimed to stereologically examine the medulla oblongata volume of Norduz sheep in the Gürpınar District of Van Province. Upon receiving news from the sections in the Gürpınar region, we went to the region. A total of 12 Norduz sheep skulls, 6 females and 6 males, were received from the Norduz sheep slaughter in the region. After the brains of Norduz sheep were dissected, they were fixed as a whole in formaldehyde for 1 week. Medulla oblongatas were separated from the brain and kept in formaldehyde for 1 week. Tissues obtained by sequential random sampling from …

In Vitro Antimicrobial And Antibiofilm-Forming Activities Of Origanum Munzurense Plant Extract On Some Foodborne Gram-Negative Bacteria, Hali̇l Yalçin, Esra Zeybek, Oktay Özkan, Asim Kart

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

lants are an important source for the discovery of antimicrobial formulations due to the many biologically active components they contain. In this study, in vitro antimicrobial and antibiofilm forming activities of ethanolic extract of Origanum munzurense were investigated against some strains of foodborne pathogenic bacteria. To investigate the antimicrobial activity, the minimal inhibitory concentration values against the selected bacteria and antibiofilm-forming activity were tested with the liquid microdilution method and microplate method, respectively. MICs of Origanum munzurense extract against the bacteria tested are 32 mg/mL for Escherichia coli O157: H7 ATCC 35150, 32 mg/mL for Escherichia coli O157: H7 ATCC …

Expression Of Hif-1Α, Caspase-3, P53, Hsp70, Hsp90, And Nrf2 In The Canine Spleen With Siderofibrotic Nodules: An Immunohistochemical And Immunofluorescence Perspective On Apoptosis, Ferroptosis, And Oxidative Stress, Ali Babanezhad-Gajouti, Amir Amniattalab

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Splenic siderofibrotic nodules (SFNs) are benign tiny yellow-brownish foci found in dogs. Their pathogenesis is unclear whereas trauma and hemorrhage are assumed to be the possible causative factors. The spleen of 73 Iranian dogs of the mixed breed was examined for possible splenomegaly with SFNs. Ultrasonography, blood biochemistry, pathology, and immunohistochemistry revealed splenomegaly (n = 7), splenomegaly with SFNs (n = 6) and normal spleens (n = 60). There was no significant difference between the prevalence of splenomegaly with SFN among the examined dogs and their age or sex (p > 0.05). Ultrasonography represented a significant increase (p ≤ 0.01) in …

Impact Of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia Illucens) Fresh Meal On The Growth Performance, Digestive Enzymes, Hematology, And Intestinal Histology Of Cork Fish (Channa Striata), Boby Muslimin, Danang Yonarta, Eny Heriyati, Helmizuryani Helmizuryani, Meika Puspita Sari, Dewi Apriyanti, Rahmat Kurniawan

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Black Soldier Fly (BSF) is an alternative ingredient for Fish Meal (FM) which is expected to reduce aquaculture operational costs and positively impact fish growth and health. The effect of BSF fresh meal on growth response, digestibility, intestinal hematology, and intestinal histology of cork fish was investigated. The BSF experiment with mixed percentages as treatments, by 20%, 50%, 80%, and 100%, was repeated four times. Furthermore, there were 50 individuals/m3 cork fish with an average weight of 1.6 ± 0.05 g distributed in each treatment. An increase in BSF influences a significant decrease in the Relative Growth Weight (RGW) and …

Effect Of Feeding Frequency On Growth, Fecundity, And Meat Quality Of Abant Trout (Salmo Abanticus Tortonese, 1954) Broodstock, Mehmet Zeki̇ Alkan, Nadi̇r Başçinar

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

This study was carried out to investigate the growth data, egg production and changes in the biochemical structure of meat of Abant trout depending on feeding frequency (once a day, twice a day, three times a day, four times a day) in order to contribute to the economy through the private sector. All fish in the groups were planned to be of similar weight at the beginning of the study. Individual fish weights were measured at the beginning of the study, and the average was found to be 224.87 ± 0.69 g. At the end of the study, the weights …

Euscorpius Sulfur Sp. N. (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae), A New Cave Scorpion From Albania And Northwestern Greece, František Kovařík, Marek Audy, Serban M. Sarbu, Victor Fet

Euscorpius

A new species of cave scorpion, Euscorpius sulfur sp. n. (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae) from Albania and northwestern Greece is described, fully complemented with color photographs of both live and preserved specimens, as well as their habitats.

The Devil You Know And The Devil You Don’T: Current Status And Challenges Of Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication In The United States, Daniel J. O'Brien, Tyler C. Thacker, Liliana C.M. Salvador, Anthony G. Duffiney, Suelee Robbe‑Austerman, Mark S. Camacho, Jason E. Lombard, Mitchell V. Palmer

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Having entered into its second century, the eradication program for bovine tuberculosis (bTB, caused by Mycobacterium bovis) in the United States of America occupies a position both enviable and daunting. Excepting four counties in Michigan comprising only 6109 km2 (0.06% of US land area) classified as Modified Accredited, as of April 2022 the entire country was considered Accredited Free of bTB by the US Department of Agriculture for cattle and bison. On the surface, the now well-described circumstances of endemic bTB in Michigan, where white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) serve as a free-ranging wildlife maintenance host, may appear to be …

Resource Assessment Report For Western Australian Salmon In Western Australia, Rodney Duffy Dr., Bianca Brooks, Alex Hesp, Amber Quinn, Blaine Hodgson, Marcus Newman

Fisheries Research Reports

This document provides a cumulative description and assessment of the Western Australian Salmon Resource (Resource) and all fishing activities (i.e., fisheries / fishing sectors) affecting this Resource in WA. The overall Resource comprises a single species, Western Australian salmon, caught within WA, in both the WCB and SCB. This species is primarily captured during the annual autumn ‘salmon run’ by recreational fishers and commercial beach seine fishers that operate on the South Coast. The report contains information relevant to assist the assessment of the Resource against Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act export approval requirements / the Marine Stewardship …

Dna Methylation Networks Underlying Mammalian Traits, Amin Haghani

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: Comparative epigenomics is an emerging field that combines epigenetic signatures with phylogenetic relationships to elucidate species characteristics such as maximum life span. For this study, we generated cytosine DNA methylation (DNAm) profiles (n = 15,456) from 348mammalian species using amethylation array platform that targets highly conserved cytosines.

RATIONALE: Nature has evolved mammalian species of greatly differing life spans. To resolve the relationship ofDNAmwith maximum life span and phylogeny, we performed a largescale cross-species unsupervised analysis. Comparative studies in many species enables the identification of epigenetic correlates of maximum life span and other traits.

RESULTS: We …

Universal Dna Methylation Age Across Mammalian Tissues, A. T. Lu, Jessica Lynn Petersen, Steve Horvath, Et Al.

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Aging, often considered a result of random cellular damage, can be accurately estimated using DNA methylation profiles, the foundation of pan-tissue epigenetic clocks. Here, we demonstrate the development of universal pan-mammalian clocks, using 11,754 methylation arrays from our Mammalian Methylation Consortium, which encompass 59 tissue types across 185 mammalian species. These predictive models estimate mammalian tissue age with high accuracy (r > 0.96). Age deviations correlate with human mortality risk, mouse somatotropic axis mutations and caloric restriction. We identified specific cytosines with methylation levels that change with age across numerous species. These sites, highly enriched in polycomb repressive complex 2-binding locations, …

Desperate Larva Or Death Before Dishonor: Can Old Coral Larvae Replenish Degraded Reefs?, Nepsis García Lara

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

The recovery of coral populations depends largely on larval recruitment. Coral larvae settle in response to environmental cues that indicate habitat quality. Newly competent larvae typically avoid settling on substrates with high macroalgal cover and sedimentation, and thus might never recruit to degraded reefs, hindering their recovery. What is unknown is if settlement preferences change as larvae age. In the absence of suitable settlement cues, lecithotrophic larvae delay settlement and might do this until either dying (Death Before Dishonor Hypothesis) or becoming less discriminatory and settling regardless of their specific habitat requirements (Desperate Larva Hypothesis). To test these hypotheses in …

Ten Tips Taylored For Successful Talks With Landowners In Ranching And Range Management Landscapes, Taylor J. Linder, Susan N. Ellis-Felege, Christopher J. Felege

Biology Faculty Publications

Privately owned lands offer substantial land area that have the potential to contribute greatly to wildlife conservation. However, it is dubious for private landowners to engage in such programs that have not readily accepted their input. Given the future directions of wildlife conservation and needing to heavily integrate private lands into habitat objectives to meet wildlife population standards, it will be of growing importance to consider the needs and wants of private landowners to meet production goals and simultaneously wildlife habitat goals (and not the other way around). We recognize the important methodological research that has built foundations for current …

Use Of Comparative Genomics And In Vitro Screening Approach To Identify Vaccine Candidates For The Food-Borne Pathogen Campylobacter Jejuni, Sabin Poudel

Theses and Dissertations

Campylobacteriosis is a leading foodborne illness worldwide, primarily caused by Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) which is associated with poultry consumption. The emergence of antibiotic resistance has emphasized the need for alternative strategies to control C. jejuni colonization in poultry. To assess the prevalence of C. jejuni in poultry, 270 cloacal swab samples were collected from broilers raised under No-Antibiotics Ever system. Among these samples, 16.3% were identified as C. jejuni positive. Notably, these isolates exhibited a diverse range of virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance genes, with 61.36% of isolates showing hyper-motile and 20.45% demonstrating multidrug resistance. Following isolation, whole genome …

Evaluation Of Heat Abatement Use, Vaginal Temperature, And Activity Of Pregnant, Lactating Holstein Cows Housed On Pasture With Or Without The Choice Between Shade And Sprinklers For Heat Abatement., Kevin M. Braman

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this thesis was to determine how pregnant, lactating Holstein cows on pasture interact with shade and sprinklers when offered a choice or no-choice between methods. Authors hypothesized that cows would use shade more then sprinklers, but sprinklers would be more effective at cooling cows. Additionally, authors predicted cows using shade more would have decreased lying bouts and steps and an increase in time lying, compared to cows choosing sprinkler. Results indicate cows will use both methods when offered alone or together. However, cows will choose to be exposed or in shade at lower temperature humidity index values, …

The Effect Of Water Flow Rates On The Survival And Growth Rates Of Three Caribbean Bouldering Coral Species Juveniles In An Indoor Versus Outdoor Environment, Ian Michael Johnson

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Coral reefs are vital ecosystems for the world’s oceans and humanity; however, they are threatened by climate change, disease, and local anthropogenic stressors, and need assistance to recover. Traditional reef restoration efforts (fragmentation and outplanting are helping but are limited in effectiveness by not increasing genetic diversity. Ex situ sexual propagation for corals provides new, genetically different coral recruits. However, this process is laborious, expensive and time consuming, especially at the scale required to effectively contribute to the widespread recovery. To lower costs, two key parameters that require optimization to hasten the growth of coral recruits are water flow and …

A Survey Analysis Of Southeastern U.S. Dairy Producers’ Emotional States And Their Subjective Pain Perception Of Dairy Cows, Michelle M. Schuh

Theses and Dissertations

Dairy producers play a central role in evaluating and seeking treatment or care for animal pain. The primary aim of this study is to examine dairy producers’ emotional states and professional quality of life and analyze the relationship between these variables and their perception of pain in dairy cattle. Dairy farm owners and managers of 65 southeastern U.S. herds participated in a survey that included demographic information, the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale, a modified Professional Quality of Life Scale, and 23 items requiring participants to evaluate various painful conditions in cattle.

Non-Destructive Evaluation Of White Striping And Microbial Spoilage Of Broiler Breast Meat Using Structured-Illumination Reflectance Imaging, Ebenezer O. Olaniyi

Theses and Dissertations

Manual inspection is a prevailing practice for quality assessment of poultry meat, but it is labor-intensive, tedious, and subjective. This thesis aims to assess the efficacy of an emerging structured illumination reflectance imaging (SIRI) technique with machine learning approaches for assessing WS and microbial spoilage in broiler breast meat. Broiler breast meat samples were imaged by an in house-assembled SIRI platform under sinusoidal illumination. In first experiment, handcrafted texture features were extracted from direct component (DC, corresponding to conventional uniform illumination) and amplitude component (AC, unique to the use of sinusoidal illumination) images retrieved from raw SIRI pattern images build …