Digital Commons Network^™

Environmental Dna For Endangered Freshwater Mussel Monitoring: A Review On Global Synthesis Of Edna Methods, Challenges, And Innovative Strategies, Mizanur Rahman, Md. Saydur Rahman, Richard J. Kline

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Freshwater mussels (family Unionidae) are among the most endangered aquatic species worldwide, making effective monitoring vital for their conservation. Traditional surveys are laborious, time-consuming, and often miss rare or low-density populations. Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a highly sensitive, non-invasive approach for freshwater mussel detection and monitoring; however, uncertainties in ecological interpretation continue to limit its broader application in freshwater biodiversity monitoring. We conducted a systematic review of 49 peer-reviewed studies, identified through an extensive literature search, to assess temporal research trends, methodological advancements, ecological contexts, and regulatory readiness of freshwater mussel eDNA monitoring. Findings show that freshwater mussel eDNA research …

Finding Fish Families: Movement And Demography Of Loach Minnow (Tiaroga Cobitis) Inferred From Gt-Seq-Enabled Kinship Analysis, Patrick C. Baca

Biology ETDs

River fragmentation poses major threats to freshwater biodiversity by reducing connectivity and limiting persistence of imperiled desert fishes. Connectivity in streams is impaired by anthropogenic changes, including road crossings, prompting the installation of engineered fish passage structures at low-water road crossings and raising questions about the dispersal of aquatic species across these structures. This thesis investigates the movement of the threatened Loach Minnow (Tiaroga cobitis) by applying a close-kin mark-recapture (CKMR) framework in a restored stream (including a fish passage) and a stream without rehabilitation efforts. We developed and optimized a GT-seq panel for relatedness analysis and used it to …

Haptic Portable Robotic Device For Automated Guidewire Or Catheter Navigation In Endovascular Procedures, Vahid Mohammadi, Jason Mactaggart, Majid Jadidi, Alexey Kamenskiy

Journal Articles

Purpose

Endovascular therapy is preferred over open surgery due to its minimally invasive nature, faster recovery, and lower perioperative risk; however, fluoroscopy guided procedures are limited by radiation exposure, high equipment costs, and reliance on highly skilled operators. This study aims to develop and evaluate a lightweight, portable robotic system for autonomous guidewire navigation to improve safety, accessibility, and operator independence.

Methods

A compact 400 g robotic device was designed with millimeter scale positioning accuracy, servo current-based real-time haptic feedback, precise axial rotation, automated retraction advance control, and compatibility with standard endovascular tools. Miniature linear actuated servomotors replicate skilled manual …

Uv Damage Mapping Reveals Different Impacts Of Xpd Mutations On Global Genomic And Transcription-Coupled Dna Repair, Allyson Hoag

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Nucleotide Excision Repair (NER) is a fundamental cellular process that removes bulky and helical distorting lesions from the genome through the separate responses of its two subpathways – global genomic (GG-NER) and transcription coupled (TC-NER) DNA repair. The pathways converge with the recruitment of the TFIIH complex, a key step that is mediated by the translocase and helicase activities of  its XPD subunit. Germline mutations in XPD result in the clinical disorders, Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP) and XP combined with Cockayne Syndrome (XP/CS). The goal of this thesis was to understand if XPD XP and XP/CS mutations differentially impact GG-NER and …

Mapping And Modeling Threat-Evoked Brain States After Early Life Adversity, Taylor W. Uselman

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Early life adversity (ELA) increases lifelong neuropsychiatric vulnerability. Yet how ELA reorganizes brain-wide activity and circuit coordination across later experience remains unclear. This dissertation tests the hypothesis that ELA alters adult brain-wide activity and responses to threat through disrupted coordination among neural systems that regulate emotional experience, including prefrontal-limbic and monoaminergic systems. Longitudinal manganese-enhanced MRI of adult mice exposed to standard or fragmented early care, combined with computational processing and statistical modeling, quantified brain states before, during, and long after innate predator threat. These studies established that acute threat evokes large-scale, distributed brain activity that evolves over time. ELA potentiates …

Ionophore-Based Plga Nanosensor For Selective Ion Detection And Imaging, Zhiyu Tang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Accurate detection of electrolyte ions is essential for biological research, disease diagnosis, and the investigation of cellular function. In this study, we developed ionophore-based PLGA nanosensors for the optical detection of biologically important ions. The nanosensors were prepared by encapsulating ionophores, chromoionophore III, and ion exchangers within PLGA nanoparticles. The resulting nanosensors showed uniform morphology, good colloidal stability, and concentration-dependent optical responses toward Na⁺, K⁺, and Ca²⁺ over the range of 10⁻⁶ to 10⁻¹ M. Reversible fluorescence responses under repeated ion concentration changes confirmed the stability and robustness of the sensors. The nanosensors also demonstrated reliable analytical performance for K⁺ …

Artificial Intelligence-Driven Framework For Enhancing Risk Management In The Architectural Design Process In Egypt, Ayman Ahmed Ezzat Othman, Nadia Mohamed Algheetany, Fatma Othman Alamoudy

Mansoura Engineering Journal

The construction industry is crucial for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, it faces significant risks during the Architectural Design Process (ADP) that affect project quality, cost, schedule, and sustainability. Due to its limitations, traditional risk management (RM) is often inadequate for addressing these challenges. This study aims to develop a novel Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven framework to enhance RM practices in Egyptian Architectural Design Firms (ADFs) through proactive RM and improved data-driven decision making. A mixed methods research approach was adopted to achieve the research objectives. A comprehensive literature review examined RM, ADP, and AI applications …

Toxic Relationships: Characterization Of A Putative Virally Encoded Toxin In The Thermophilic Archaeal Fusellovirus Ssv1, Jonathan C. Abshier, Patrizia L. Alpapara, Guasåli Tomokane, Kenneth M. Stedman

Center for Life in Extreme Environments Publications

Mechanisms for the maintenance of chronic viruses are poorly understood, particularly for archaeal viruses. Here, we identify the product of Sulfolobus spindle-shaped virus 1 (SSV1) ORF a291 as a putative virally encoded toxin required for growth inhibition but dispensable for viral replication and virion production. Viruses lacking ORF a291 replicated their genomes and formed morphologically normal spindle-shaped particles, yet failed to inhibit the growth of uninfected Saccharolobus solfataricus. Substitution of residues at a predicted N-terminal signal peptide cleavage site abolished growth suppression without affecting replication, suggesting that secretion is essential for toxin function. Despite primary sequence divergence among fusellovirus …

Effects Of Extraction Methods On The Composition And Physicochemical Properties Of Flavonoids From Lycium Barbarum Leaves, Li Juanxia, Li Jianxin, Gao Jianying, Mai Wenting, Fan Yanli, Ma Jinchao, Meng Xuemei

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To investigate the effects of different extraction methods on the efficacy, chemical composition, and functional group characteristics of flavonoids in Lycium barbarum leaves. [Methods] This study comparatively analyzes the effects of three methods - ultrasound-assisted ethanol extraction (UAE), microwave-assisted ethanol extraction (MAE), and aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) - on the yield, composition, and in vitro antioxidant activity of flavonoids from L. barbarum leaves. [Results] UAE and MAE achieve the highest yield of flavonoids from dried L. barbarum leaves. The main components are rutin, quercetin, chlorogenic acid, and kaempferol. The antioxidant capacity of the flavonoid extract from dried L. barbarum …

Heat Transfer Analysis And Packaging Optimization Design Of Self-Heating Rice, Sun Haowen, Li Huan, Wu Xiaomeng, Mao Like

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To further understand the influence of the heat transfer process on the quality of self-heating foods and improve the heating rate of existing self-heating rice products. [Methods] A combination of virtual simulation and experimental methods was used to analyze the actual temperature variations during the heating process of self-heating rice and the effects of heat transfer on rice texture. A three-dimensional heat transfer model of self-heating rice was established using COMSOL software to investigate the heat transfer process, and the packaging design of self-heating rice was optimized with the objective of maximizing the heating rate. [Results] After reheating and …

Enhancing Rapid Reef Resilience Through Transplantation Of Thermally Tolerant Corals In OʻAhu, HawaiʻI, Allison M. Klein

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Coral reefs are increasingly threatened by marine heatwaves, disease outbreaks, and other anthropogenic stressors, leading to widespread declines in coral cover worldwide. As a result, efforts are increasingly focused on identifying thermally tolerant corals for reef restoration. However, it remains unclear whether thermal tolerance is maintained following transplantation and whether thermally tolerant corals perform differently in novel environments. This dissertation examined thermal tolerance, survivorship, symbiont communities, and growth in two dominant Hawaiian reef-building corals, Montipora capitata and Porites compressa, using a reciprocal transplant experiment between Kāneʻohe Bay and Ulupaʻu, Oʻahu. Initial heat-stress assays showed high thermal tolerance in both …

Microwave-Assisted Enzymatic Hydrolysis Of Tibetan Sheep Blood Protein And Analysis Of Product Characteristics, Yu Xilu, Gu Xuedong, Chen Yujin, Zhang Hongxin, Ciren Danzhu

Food and Machinery

[Objective] This study aims to utilize fresh Tibetan sheep blood as raw material, investigate the enhancing effect of microwave-assisted technology on enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency, and achieve high-value utilization of Tibetan sheep blood. [Methods] A microwave-assisted trypsin hydrolysis method is employed to enzymatically hydrolyze the proteins. The optimal hydrolysis conditions are established through single-factor experiments and response surface methodology. The resulting hydrolysates are characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a fully automated amino acid analyzer. [Results] The optimal hydrolysis conditions are determined as follows: microwave temperature of 40 ℃, microwave time of 50 min, enzymatic hydrolysis time of 240 min, …

Establishment Of An Indirect Competitive Elisa For Sulfadimethoxine, Han Lu, Huang Mingyue, Yu Xiang, Li Sijia, Cao Jinbo, Wang Yao, Kang Huaibin

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To establish an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ic-ELISA) for the detection of sulfadimethoxine (SDM) in animal-derived foods. [Methods] An artificial antigen is synthesized by conjugating SDM with carrier proteins by the diazotization method. A highly sensitive antibody against SDM is prepared by immunizing animals. Based on this, an ic-ELISA is established and the detection system is optimized. Its detection performance is characterized, and spiked recovery tests are carried out. [Results] When the concentration of the coating antigen is 0.500 μg/mL, the dilution ratio of the horseradish peroxidase-labeled goat anti-rabbit secondary antibody is 1:5000, the reaction time of the …

Authenticity Identification Of Camellia Seed Oil Based On Gas Chromatography And Chemometrics, Li Jingyan, Li Qin, Han Bo, Zhang Ruixue

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To establish a method for authenticity identification of camellia seed oil. [Methods] The fatty acid composition of camellia seed oil and six common vegetable oils are determined by gas chromatography. Principal component analysis (PCA) is employed to explore the distribution patterns of fatty acids among the vegetable oils and to screen for potentially adulterated oils. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) is applied to establish a model between fatty acid profiles and actual adulterated oils. Finally, multiple stepwise linear regression analysis is used to establish quantitative analysis models for adulteration in camellia seed oil. [Results] Among the six common …

A Surface Defect Detection Model For Fused Images Of Fruits Based On Improved Resnet 18, Si Haiping, Zhao Wenrui, Zhao Yuyang, Li Tingting, Fernado Bacao, Li Yanling

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To enhance the accuracy of detecting fruit surface defects caused by minor mechanical friction during transportation. [Methods] A surface defect detection model for fused images of fruits based on improved ResNet 18 is proposed. To address the challenge of multi-scale feature extraction, the model incorporates a MELA module designed to capture image details more comprehensively. Additionally, an energy function-based regularization loss function is introduced to collaboratively optimize the training process alongside the cross-entropy loss function. Furthermore, a transfer learning strategy is employed to mitigate overfitting. [Results] Experimental results demonstrated that the improved model exhibits exceptional performance in fruit surface …

Non-Destructive Detection Of Pork Loin Freshness Based On The Yolo V 11 Model, Deng Zhonghui, Xie Wei

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To develop an intelligent method for non-destructive recognition of pork loin freshness based on computer vision technology, which is to be achieved by establishing a classification model for accurate, fast, and non-destructive detection of pork freshness in the cold chain industry. [Methods] A classification detection model is proposed based on the YOLO v11 architecture. First, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) content and pH values are measured before the meat samples are divided into three categories: "fresh", "less fresh", and "spoiled". A dataset of 4 680 high-resolution images is constructed (generated from 1 247 original images enhanced through operations such …

Shrimp Freshness Indicator Film Based On Grape Seed Proanthocyanidin/Curcumin, Li Wenjing, Wang Hui, He Mingxing

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To develop a shrimp freshness indicator film with good amine responsiveness and stability for the rapid and non-destructive detection of shrimp quality changes. [Methods] Using sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and starch as film-forming substrates, indicator films were prepared with grape seed proanthocyanidins, curcumin, and their mixtures as indicators. The responses of the three indicator films to aqueous solution pH and trimethylamine were compared. The detection sensitivity and storage stability of the mixed indicator film were further evaluated. The indicator film was then applied to monitor the freshness of Litopenaeus vannamei, and the correlation and kinetics between total volatile basic nitrogen …

Effect Of Brewing Methods On Colloidal Particle Properties And Antioxidant Characteristics Of Coffee, Gao Guanzhen, Rao Pingfan, Han Cheng, Wang Huiqin, Shan Yunhui

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To investigate the effects of three typical brewing methods - hand drip, French press, and Turkish coffee - on the chemical composition, colloidal structure, and antioxidant activity of coffee, and to elucidate the mechanism of colloidal particles in the delivery of bioactive compounds. [Methods] Three types of coffee samples are prepared using the respective brewing methods. Their physicochemical components are determined and colloidal properties are characterized. The true solution phase and colloidal phase are separated by ultrafiltration, and their in vitro chemical and intracellular antioxidant activities are comparatively evaluated. [Results] Turkish coffee exhibits the highest extraction yield, but thermal …

Extraction Process Optimization Of Dunaliella Spp. Protein And Its Physicochemical Properties, Wang Xiaochen, Zhang Wei, Jing Yongkang, Xing Fengjie, Zhang Guodong, Zheng Xin

Food and Machinery

[Objective] Using Dunaliella spp. powder as the raw material, to explore the effect of pH value, alkali dissolution temperature, alkali dissolution time, and solid-liquid ratio on Dunaliella spp. protein extraction. [Methods] The optimal conditions are screened by single-factor experiments. Response surface experiments are designed by the Box-Behnken method to determine the optimal extraction process parameters for Dunaliella spp. protein with the Dunaliella spp. protein extraction rate as the indicator. Additionally, the group composition, secondary structure, amino acid composition, and functional properties of Dunaliella spp. protein are determined. [Results] The optimal extraction process conditions for Dunaliella spp. protein is pH 10.54, …

Dynamic Changes Of Major Non-Volatile Components During Gongfu Black Tea Processing, Deng Ming, Chen Liang, Liu An, Wei Dongning, Wu Wenliang, Wu Xiaofen, Qi Hui

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To investigate the dynamic changes in the major non-volatile chemical components during the processing of Jianghua Kucha 21-3 Gongfu black tea. [Methods] Fresh one-bud-two-leaf autumn tea leaves of Jianghua Kucha 21-3 were used as raw materials. Samples at different processing stages were obtained by liquid nitrogen pre-freezing and freeze-drying. The mass fractions of water extract, tea polyphenols, catechins, theaflavins (TFs), thearubigins (TRs), theabrownins (TBs), caffeine, theanine, free amino acids, and soluble sugars were determined. Additionally, sensory evaluation was conducted on Gongfu black tea processed with different fermentation durations. [Results] During processing, the mass fraction of water extract in Jianghua …

Numerical Simulation Of Humidity Field In Baijiu Fermentation Rooms And Influencing Factors, Hao Qi, Shi Yan, Yang Zhengquan, Lin Chunsong, Xu Guangqi, Wen Enhan

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To investigate the effects of ventilation conditions and Daqu stacking methods in the fermentation room on the humidity levels at various points within the room. [Methods] A three-dimensional unsteady gas-solid coupling model of a small-scale fermentation room is established. Then, the humidity field variation patterns in the room are analyzed using the height of the humidifying air supply outlet (H), the interlayer spacing of fermentation racks (h), and the gap between fermentation piles (δ) as variables. Additionally, multi-objective optimization is performed based on response surface methodology (RSM) and the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II). [Results] H, h, and …

Peeling Effect Of Three-Dimensional Turbulent Flexible Friction For Small Yellow Ginger, Sun Fang, Lu Kuirong, Jiang Shuiquan

Food and Machinery

[Objective] Aiming at the industrial bottleneck that the industrial peeling of small yellow ginger cannot balance high peel removal rate and low flesh damage rate due to its irregular shape, dense branches, thin and tender peel, a piece of peeling equipment based on three-dimensional turbulent flexible friction is developed. [Methods] Small yellow ginger is taken as the test material. With peel removal rate and flesh retention rate as evaluation indicators, single-factor and L9(34) orthogonal experiments are carried out to optimize three key parameters: processing time, material-water ratio, and stirring speed. Origin is used for data statistics and analysis. [Results] The …

Design And Application Of Low-Temperature Heat Pump Belt Drying Technology In Soy Sauce Residue Drying Process, Liu Shumo, Wang Liangliang, Qi Yan, Luo Zhiqiang, Cao Lei

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To address key issues in conventional soy sauce residue drying processes, including high energy consumption, severe equipment corrosion, and the susceptibility of heat-sensitive nutrients to degradation, a novel integrated drying system was designed and developed to achieve high efficiency, energy savings, and reliable product quality. [Methods] The system integrates key technologies such as spiral air-duct drying and two-stage dust removal. Based on the reverse Carnot cycle principle of a heat pump, a low-temperature drying environment of 40~75 ℃ was established, with the aim of reducing energy consumption while maximizing the retention of the material’s original quality. [Results] The system …

Effect Of Hot Air Drying Process On The Cracks And Quality Of Jujubes, Hu Linbin, Li Lin, Wang Long, Hu Can, Yi Xiaokang

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To investigate the crack occurrence in jujubes under different hot air drying conditions and the resulting quality differences. [Methods] Jujubes of Xinjiang are taken as the research objects. Based on hot air drying technology, three drying temperature and wind speed levels are set up to explore the drying characteristics and quality changes of crack-free and cracked jujubes under different drying conditions. [Results] Under hot-air drying conditions, the drying rate can be accelerated by increasing drying temperature and wind speed. Compared to crack-free jujubes, cracked ones are prone to moisture loss, thus requiring shorter drying times. Increases in temperature and …

Research Progress On Plant-Derived Metal Ion Chelating Peptides, Pei Hanzhe, Zhao Hongfei, Zhou Jiahua, Zhang Bolin, Chen Yonghao

Food and Machinery

Mineral element deficiency can cause many health problems. Traditional metal element supplements have many shortcomings. Food-derived metal element supplements have gradually become a research hotspot. Plant-derived polypeptides have significant advantages in terms of cost and raw material sources. Chelating peptides formed by chelating metal ions with plant-derived polypeptides have the physiological activity of peptides and the functional characteristics of metal elements, which makes them relatively ideal nutritional supplements, showing broad development prospects. This paper collects relevant research reports at home and abroad, and sorts out the preparation process, chelation mechanism and characteristics, and biological activity of plant-derived metal ion chelating …

Research Advances In Rice Bran Oil Bioactive Components And Antioxidant Technologies, Tu Yue, Guo Xiongchang, Zhang Wenhan, Cai Lichuang, Liu Jianping

Food and Machinery

Rice bran oil is a unique natural edible oil with healthy benefits and a reasonable fatty acid composition. Containing natural antioxidant components including phytosterols, oryzanol, tocotrienols, and squalene, rice bran oil is characterized by high nutritional value, diverse physiological functions, and excellent frying performance, thus demonstrating broad application potential. This study reviews the research advances in the bioactive components, physiological functions, factors influencing oxidative stability, and antioxidant technologies of rice bran oil, while providing prospects for future development.

Research Progress On Effect Of Salt On Pickling Vegetable Quality, Qi Kai, Li Ziyan, Cheng Wenbo, Fan Mingcong, Zuo Daoxi, Li Yan, Wang Li, Zhang Wenbin

Food and Machinery

Vegetable pickling is a time-honored food preservation and processing method, in which salt (primarily sodium chloride) plays an irreplaceable and core role. This paper systematically reviews the multidimensional effects of curing salt on vegetable quality. It comprehensively covers preservation mechanisms, textural transformations, the formation and conversion of flavor compounds, color stability, and nutritional value changes. Specifically, this article analyzes the decisive role of salt concentration gradients in final product characteristics. Furthermore, it examines the challenges posed by the low salinity, including microbial safety risks, textural deterioration, and flavor imbalances, while proposing corresponding strategies.

Research Progress In The Extraction And Purification Processes And Biological Activities Of Flavonoids From Cuscutae Semen, Li Renxin, Xiong Ying, Song Hui

Food and Machinery

Cuscutae Semen is a Chinese herbal medicine and a raw material for health foods in China, with flavonoids being a group of its main functional components. This article provides a systematic review of the extraction and purification techniques - reflux, ultrasonic, Soxhlet, microwave-assisted, flash, enzymatic hydrolysis, and supercritical CO2 extraction methods - of flavonoids from Cuscutae Semen. Furthermore, it elaborates on the biological activities such as reproductive protection, anti-tumor effect, anti-oxidative stress effect, liver and kidney protection, and immune regulation of flavonoids from Cuscutae Semen, as well as their related mechanisms. Moreover, this paper makes an outlook on the development …

Innovative Application Of Intangible Cultural Heritage Narrative Design In Agricultural Food Packaging, Chen Yanan, Chen Bingyan

Food and Machinery

cultural distinctiveness in current agricultural food packaging, this study puts forward an innovative approach to promote the upgrade of agricultural food packaging from functional consumption to cultural consumption through intangible cultural heritage (ICH) narrative design. In terms of methodology, the value of ICH narrative in food packaging is first analyzed, followed by the proposal of a design pathway encompassing three aspects: ICH content selection and story construction, narrative graphic and layout design, and material and process selection, with interactive experience being strengthened by integrating technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and augmented reality (AR). In terms of application …

Biomechanical And Talar Cartilage Responses To Running In Individuals With Chronic Ankle Instability, Minsub Oh

Theses and Dissertations

Context: Chronic ankle instability (CAI) has shown altered movement patterns and joint loading, which increase the risk of posttraumatic ankle osteoarthritis. Abnormal vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) during running may contribute to talar cartilage degeneration; however, the acute biomechanical and cartilage responses to running in individuals with CAI remain unclear. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare running biomechanics and changes in talar cartilage thickness and T2 relaxation times before and after running between individuals with CAI and healthy controls. Methods: Twenty individuals with CAI and 20 healthy controls completed running biomechanics and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sessions. …