Digital Commons Network^™

Balancing Root-Zone Oxygenation And Rhizosphere Stability: The Impact Of Aeration And Hypoxia On Hydroponic Plant Growth, Christian D. Baker

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

As the global population and food demand continue to increase, growers must look to innovative and sustainable methods for plant cultivation. Hydroponics is a popular method of sustainable plant cultivation where plant roots are suspended over a liquid nutrient solution. Hydroponics uses less water compared to traditional agriculture because there is no evaporation or solution runoff. It also maximizes land use, requires fewer pesticides and herbicides, and enables year-round cultivation in controlled environments. However, indoor hydroponic systems rely on artificial lighting, which has higher energy costs than traditional farming methods. Optimizing growing conditions is therefore critical to ensure long-term economic …

Wildfire And Fuel Treatments In Utah: A Practical Guide And Outcomes From An Oak-Maple Ecosystem, Annie E. Prescott

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Wildfire is a natural part of Utah’s landscapes, but as wildfires become more extreme and communities continue to expand into wildland areas, it is increasingly important to understand how wildfires behave and how their negative effects can be mitigated. One way to reduce wildfire risks and protect life, property, and ecosystem services is through fuel treatments — actions that reduce the amount and arrangement of flammable vegetation through mechanical removal, wildland fire, or other methods.

Information on wildfire behavior and fuel treatments is abundant but often scattered, ecosystem-specific and difficult to access. In addition, most research in the Western U.S. …

Autonomous Smart Vertical Farming: A Systems-Level Synthesis Of Iot And Solar Energy Integration For Sustainable Agriculture, Mahmuda Khatun Mishu, Md Rokonuzzaman, Boon Kar Yap, Tofan Agung Eka Prasetya, Md Arif Hossain, Asif Islam, Kazi Sajedur Rahman, Mohammad Nur-E-Alam

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Rapid urbanization, land degradation, and climate variability are increasingly constraining food production, especially in densely populated urban regions. Vertical farming (VF), which grows crops in stacked layers under controlled conditions, is gaining recognition as a potential solution for sustainable urban agriculture. However, high energy requirements and questions surrounding long-term resource efficiency continue to challenge its scalability and environmental viability. This review explores the potential of smart vertical farming (SVF) systems, enhanced by the Internet of Things (IoT), wireless sensor networks (WSNs), and hybrid green energy-harvesting systems such as photovoltaic (PV) and thermoelectric (TE) technologies. This research analyzes how real-time data-driven …

A Global High-Resolution Comprehensive Heat Indices Dataset From 1950 To 2024, Abdul Malik, Sateesh Masabathini, Mohsin Ahmed Shaikh, Qinqin Kong, Muhammad Usman, Dasari Hari Prasad, Ibrahim Hoteit

All Works

Heatwaves are becoming more intense and frequent as global temperatures rise, affecting vulnerable populations, particularly in low-income communities. Addressing the impacts of heatwaves requires high-resolution data to assess their influence on labour productivity, public health, and climate risk. We introduce the Comprehensive Heat Indices (CHI) dataset, a high-resolution (0.1° × 0.1°) hourly dataset from 1950 to 2024, derived from the ERA5 and ERA5-Land reanalyses. The CHI dataset encompasses thirteen heat stress indices, including wet-bulb temperature, universal thermal climate index, mean radiant temperature, wind chill, and lethal heat stress index (Ls). Thresholds for Ls are empirically linked to mortality, enabling the …

Harnessing Digital Twin (Dt) Technology For Food Security And Climate Resilience In Sub-Saharan Africa (Ssa), Henri E.Z. Tonnang, Francis Chianu, Siyabusa Mkuhlani, Francis Muthoni, John Michael Humphries Choptiany, Franck B.N. Tonle, Bonoukpoe M. Sokame, Mercy Lung’Aho

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces chronic food insecurity despite possessing approximately 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land. Field trials generate evidence but are costly and insufficiently scaled to address accelerating climate and demographic pressures. Digital twin (DT) technology, defined as the continuous, bidirectional virtual replication of physical systems using real-time data, supports monitoring, modelling, and optimisation of agrifood systems. To our knowledge, however, no published synthesis has examined DT agriculture research through the lens of SSA food systems or smallholder farming realities. A PRISMA-compliant systematic review was conducted across bibliographic databases using a pre-defined Boolean search and adapted PICOS eligibility …

Harnessing Insect-Derived Oils For Enhanced Efficacy Of Plant-Based Repellents Against Disease-Transmitting Mosquitoes, John Bwire Ochola, Cynthia M. Mudalungu, Hosea O. Mokaya, Xavier Cheseto, Gilvian N. Onsomu, Subramanian Sevgan, Segenet Kelemu, Baldwyn Torto, Chrysantus M. Tanga

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever pose a growing global health threat, worsened by resistance to synthetic pesticides. This study evaluated insect oils from Schistocerca gregaria, Ruspolia differens, and Macrotermes spp. as adjuvants in plant-based mosquito repellents. The formulations were tested for complete protection time (CPT) against Anopheles gambiae, Aedes aegypti, and Culex quinquefasciatus, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from treated volunteers were analyzed. Incorporating insect oils doubled CPT compared to essential oils alone. The most effective blend of Macrotermes oil with Cymbopogon nardus (1:1) achieved CPTs of 3.50 h for An. gambiae, 2.56 …

Producer Organizations, Productivity And Sustainable Intensification Practices In Oil Palm Production, Martin Paul Tabe-Ojong, Abebayehu Girma Geffersa, Kibrom T. Sibhatu

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Oil palm production is expanding in traditional farming and forested areas, especially in West and Central Africa around the Congo Forest Basin and mostly characterized by declining yields and yield gaps. Due to typically non-binding land access, independent producers tend to prioritize extensification over intensification, which has negative environmental consequences. Sustainable intensification (SI) of smallholder production is a guiding paradigm that aims to increase yields while minimizing negative environmental impacts. In this study, we examine the relationship between producer organizations (POs), sustainable intensification practices (SIPs), namely mulching and intercropping, and oil palm yields in Cameroon. We estimate actual and counterfactual …

In Adults Older Than 18 Years With Obesity Living In Massachusetts, Can Engaging In A Weight Loss Program Help Them Lose Weight After Insurance Stops Covering Their Weight Loss Medications?, Angel Nagawa

Capstones

Executive summary

The Problem

Obesity rates continue to rise sharply across the United States. Weight loss medications have high compliance but face major insurance restrictions. Strict clinical criteria leave many patients without accessible treatment options.

The Proposed Solution

Launch structured, lifestyle-focused clinical weight loss programs. Provide an effective, accessible alternative to restricted pharmaceutical therapies.

Supporting Evidence

Evaluated data from three distinct randomized controlled trials. Findings confirm successful long-term weight management for program participants. Results prove effective control over serious obesity-related comorbidities.

Policy recommendation

Implement structured lifestyle programs as a primary, frontline intervention modality. Improve broad-scale patient health outcomes across clinical …

A Journey To The Midwest For Migrant Farmwork: Women's Testimonies Examining Their Lived Experiences Using Autoethnography And Plática Research Methodologies, Yesenia G. Alcalá

Theses & Dissertations

A JOURNEY TO THE MIDWEST FOR MIGRANT FARMWORK: WOMEN’S TESTIMONIES EXAMINING THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCES USING AUTOETHNOGRAPHY AND PLÁTICA

RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES

Yesenia Garza Alcalá, Master of Business Administration

University of the Incarnate Word 2026

The purpose of my research was to share the stories of five women who experienced a yearly migratory routine from Del Rio, Texas, to work in farms and factories in the Midwest, and how that annual journey shaped and educated us. The women are four of my older sisters and me, all of whom traveled and worked in the Princeville, Illinois, migrant camp, where we experienced the …

Coastal Land Uplift And Intensified Land-Use Influence Seagrass Carbon And Nitrogen Sink Capacity Over Millennial Timescales, Martin Dahl, Sara Braun, Maria E. Asplund, Mats Björk, Joeri Kaal, Hans W. Linderholm, Elinor Andrén, Thomas Andrén, Žilvinas Ežerinskis, Madhavu Vidya Faizal, Sara C. Forsberg, Andrius Garbaras, Malin E. Kylander, Pere Masqué, Miguel A. Mateo, Justina Šapolaitė, Oscar Serrano, J. Robin Svensson, Olena Vinogradova, Martin Gullström

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Seagrass meadows store sedimentary carbon and nitrogen and thus play an important role in climate change mitigation and nutrient retention globally. Here we reconstruct the impact of land-use and coastal land uplift on millennial–scale seagrass (Zostera marina) blue carbon and nitrogen accumulation in the Baltic Sea based on a multiproxy paleoreconstruction approach. We show that increased landscape clearance resulted in higher terrestrial runoff and increased accumulation of carbon and nitrogen, whereas land uplift led to hydrodynamically sheltered environments facilitating seagrass colonization, occurring 1700 and > 4000 years ago. The establishment of the seagrass meadows resulted in enhancement of the quality of …

Comparative Analysis Of Amino Acid And Bioactive Peptide Profiles During Time-Resolved Fermentation Of Wheat And Stout Brewer's Spent Grain By Lactiplantibacillus Plantarum, Minh Quoc Ha, Angéla Juhász, Teguh Santoso, Mitchell G. Nye-Wood, Mathilde Berthevas, Zhiyu Zhao, Eileen Kitundu, Tony Chen, Michelle L. Colgrave, Thao T. Le

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Brewers’ spent grain (BSG), a protein- and fibre-rich brewing by-product, contains bioactive compounds, yet techniques to fully recover and utilise these bioactive fractions remain underdeveloped. This study investigated the proteolytic transformation of two BSG types, wheat and stout BSG, during 10 days of fermentation with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum . Discovery and targeted LC-MS/MS proteomics were used to characterise the proteome, peptide release, and free amino acid profiles of BSG throughout fermentation. Proteomic analysis identified 503 proteins in wheat BSG and 340 in stout BSG. Wheat BSG generated higher peptide diversity than stout BSG (1,227 vs. 436 peptides, respectively), with peptide release …

Stocks And Fluxes Of Carbon And Nitrogen In Northeastern Brazil Coastal Seascapes, Antoniwal A. Jatobá-Junior, Pere Masque, Carlos Eduardo De Rezende, Vanessa Hatje

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Quantifying carbon and nitrogen dynamics is essential for understanding the role of coastal ecosystems in climate change mitigation and habitat connectivity. We assessed organic carbon (OC) and total nitrogen (TN) stocks, accumulation rates, and isotopic composition (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) in sediment across diverse seascapes in northeastern Brazil, including high- and low-salinity mangroves, a tidal flat, a freshwater marsh, and an inundated forest. OC stocks in the upper meter of sediment were highest in the freshwater marsh (283 ± 64 Mg OC ha⁻¹) and tidal flat (266 ± 27 Mg OC ha⁻¹), and …

Infestation By Phorid Flies Disrupts Behavior And Immune Function In Honey Bees Monitored By Radio-Frequency Identification, Gloria Ruiz-Guzmán, Oliverio Delgado-Carrillo, Francisco J. Balvino-Olvera, María De Jesús Aguilar-Aguilar, Violeta Patiño-Conde, Paulo De Souza, Ulises Olivares-Pinto, Mauricio Quesada

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Honey bees (Apis mellifera Linnaeus) are important pollinators in natural and agricultural ecosystems and play a key role in global food production. However, colonies are increasingly affected by multiple stressors, including emerging parasites, which can compromise their health and performance. Among these, phorid flies (Diptera: Phoridae) have been observed in association with weak or collapsing honey bee colonies in various regions in Mexico, yet their effects on honey bee behavior and immune function under field conditions remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the impact of a phorid fly infestation on the behavior, survival, and immune defense of A. …

A Global Image-Based Data Repository Of Killer Whale Interactions With Elasmobranchs, Emma Luck, Isabella L. Reeves, Maeva Terrapon, Rebecca Wellard, Stephanie K. Venables, Alison V. Towner, Alison A. Kock, Charlotte Hussain, Molly Altschwager, Rosie Ballard, Evans Baudin, Nancy Black, Evan Brodsky, Jade Cantrall, Julio Cardoso, Matt I.D. Carter, Oliver Clarke, Santiago Diaz-Pazmino, David Donnelly, Georgina Cabayol Ferraz, Arlaine Francisco, Laura González García, Mark Jackman, Aimee Jan, Eric Martin, Dane Mcdermott, James Moskito, Blair Ranford, Jesús Erick Higuera Rivas, Jasmin O’Brien, Anton Oleynik, Hernán Orellana-Vásquez, Daniela Alarcón Ruales, Gemma Sharp, Jade Sharp, Alisa Schulman-Janiger, Colleen M. Talty, Paul Tixier, John A. Totterdell, Steve Truluck, Jennah Tucker, Tara Weberg, M. Fernanda Urrutia-Osorio, Machi Yoshida, Jochen R. Zaeschmar, Lauren Meyer

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Killer whales (Orcinus orca) are cosmopolitan apex predators that interact with numerous species, including sharks, skates, and rays (subclass Elasmobranchii). Interactions between killer whales and elasmobranchs have garnered attention from the scientific community, but the dynamics of these events are poorly understood, as interactions are often challenging to observe. In this study, we collated imagery of interactions between killer whales and elasmobranchs to create the first image-based repository of interspecific interactions between marine predators. A total of 320 photos and videos from 82 unique interactions were collected from 12 countries. A minimum of 18 elasmobranch species across 16 genera were …

Climate Change Impacts On Fish-Related Ecosystem Services: Synthesis, Network Analysis, And Strategic Pathways For Coordinated Adaptation, Ebenezer Afrifa-Yamoah, Awuah-Mensah, Stephen Bradshaw, Ute Mueller

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Climate change is rapidly disrupting fish-related ecosystem services that underpin global food security, economic livelihoods, and cultural identity across both marine and freshwater systems. While impacts are increasingly recognised, disciplinary fragmentation has hindered integrated understanding of how climate-driven changes in fish populations affect ecosystem service delivery. This review makes two integrated contributions: a hierarchical synthesis tracing causal pathways from physical climate drivers through biological and ecological responses to socioeconomic outcomes, and a qualitative network analysis that maps the interconnections, implementation readiness, and strategic sequencing of seven major adaptation strategies. Ocean warming, acidification, deoxygenation, and their increasingly frequent co-occurrence as compound …

In-Hospital Mortality Patterns And Readmissions In Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: An Analysis Of The Role Of Pulmonary Hypertension, Saad Afzal Khan, Trishna Parikh, Adishwar Rao, Akriti Agrawal, Aarohi Parikh, Farah Kazzaz, Sarah Shin, Harry Karmouty-Quintana, Maulin Patel, Kha Dinh, Bela Patel, Bindu Akkanti

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be complicated by pulmonary hypertension (PH). We aimed to understand the impact of PH on in-hospital mortality and quantify the 30-day readmission rate among patients with COPD. For this cross-sectional study, we used the Nationwide Readmissions Database from 2017-2020 to identify adults ≥18 years with COPD. Patients were stratified according to PH diagnosis. Baseline characteristics between groups were compared using the Pearson chi-square test and two-sample t-test. Predictors of in-hospital mortality were determined using multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for demographics and confounders. The 30-day readmission rate and prevalence of PH subgroups by baseline …

Over A Century Of Global Decline In The Growth Performance Of Marine Fishes, Helen F. Yan, Hannah V. Watkins, Alexandre C. Siqueira, David R. Bellwood

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Human-driven pressures are causing large-scale changes in the ecologies and life histories of fishes. Growth performance is a composite life-history trait that captures the trade-off between two fundamental traits: growth and body size. Here, we assess the impacts of fishing and temperature on the growth performance of marine teleost fishes globally over the last century. Using 7683 growth curves encompassing 1479 species, we find a global pattern of decline in growth performance from 1908 onwards, with the greatest declines in commercially valuable fishes. Indeed, managed fisheries experienced a 9% decline in growth performance over the last century, which can equate …

Green Waste Biochar And Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria Enhance Tomato Growth Under Combined Nutrient Deficiency And Salinity Stress, Soumaya Tounsi-Hammami, Munawwar Ali Khan, Mahra Alqemzi, Salama Ali Almehairi, Aneesa Rasheed Anwar

All Works

This study characterized a green-waste-derived biochar from date palms and ghaf trees and investigated its potential as a soil amendment with halotolerant Bacillus spp. to improve tomato seedling quality under dual stress of salinity and nutrient deficiency. Biochar was produced through pyrolysis at 450 °C and then characterized for yield, pH, electrical conductivity, proximate analysis, surface morphology, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and heavy-metal content. Its effectiveness was tested both alone and in combination with a Bacillus sp. mix, using a completely randomized design with varying NPK fertilizer levels and saline irrigation. Tomato seedlings were evaluated 45 days after planting for various …

Leveraging Mammal Mycophagy To Determine Environmental Drivers Of Truffle Diversity, Brittany Hartsock

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many mycorrhizal fungi are hypogeous (truffle-forming), producing underground fruiting bodies. Studying truffles is inherently challenging due to their hidden nature. However, mycophagous mammals provide a unique opportunity to study hypogeous fungi because they rely on truffles as a food source. Although several truffle species have recently been described in the southern Appalachian region, their fruiting patterns remain poorly understood. To address this, we quantified truffle richness and spore loads from 670 Peromyscus scat samples collected across 42 sites spanning an environmental gradient during 2024 in the Blue Ridge Mountains of East Tennessee. We found that truffle richness and spore abundance …

Academic Performance In College Students: The Roles Of Physical Activity, Perceived Academic Control, And Bmi, Erin Vanderbunt, Jenna Woolley

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Volume 7: Issue 1, Article 3, 2026.  Background: Health behaviors and motivational factors are increasingly recognized as contributors to academic performance in college students. Physical activity (PA), perceived academic control (PAC), and body mass index (BMI) have each been linked to academic outcomes, yet their combined effects remain understudied. Purpose: To examine the relationships between PA, PAC, BMI, and academic performance in undergraduate students. Methods: A total of 299 undergraduates from a regional Midwestern university participated in this study. Students completed a survey assessing demographic variables, physical activity (via IPAQ-SF), PAC, BMI, and self-reported academic performance on a …

Analyzing Accessibility And Efficacy Of One Research Survey Website To Test Readability Of Physical Activity Promotion Material Disseminated Online: A Mixed Methods Pilot Study, Jafra D. Thomas, Anuraj Dhillon, Yi Sheng Wu, Jasmine C. Wong, Regina F. Hockert

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Volume 7: Issue 1, Article 2, 2026.  Accessibility is the effort and ability required to access and navigate environments and participate in activities. Physical activity educational materials disseminated to the public and used within behavior change interventions may be hard to read and navigate, decreasing their accessibility and a study’s validity. This study documented, and addressed, issues that may hinder researchers’ ability to gauge accessibility of their online educational materials using the cloze procedure (a direct readability measure, requires guessing missing words from text passages). A multi-stage, mixed methods pilot study was utilized (August 2022 to May 2023). Phase 1: …

Cow Size And Reproductive Efficiency: A Western Ranch Perspective, David Secrist

All Current Publications

Production costs and reproductive efficiency are critical elements to the survival of cow-calf operations in the West. A cow’s ability to produce a healthy calf at a marketable weight is closely tied to her maintenance requirements and management’s ability to meet those needs from ranch resources at a low cost. This fact sheet explores public-land grazing, cow reproductive efficiency, and solutions for producers.

Outdoor Floral Hemp Research In Utah, Matt Yost, Tina Sullivan, Bruce Bugbee, Earl Creech

All Current Publications

Floral hemp producers in the Intermountain West face numerous management decisions: which cultivar to plant, which irrigation system to use, and how much water and fertilizer to apply. Utah State University field research near Logan, Utah, from 2020 to 2022 evaluated these questions in outdoor, irrigated conditions.

Associations Of Subclinical Hypothyroidism And Thyroid Autoimmunity With Insulin Resistance Independent Of Adiposity: An Analysis Of Nhanes, Iman Taher Hussein

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

A thyroid–inflammation–insulin pathway has been proposed in which thyroid dysfunction promotes inflammation and thereby reduces insulin sensitivity, but adiposity-adjusted population evidence is limited. This cross-sectional analysis examined whether subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and thyroid autoimmunity are associated with insulin resistance independently of body mass index (BMI), and whether C-reactive protein (CRP), the only inflammatory biomarker available, is associated with either, using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2012 data. Non-pregnant adults aged 18–60 years with fasting glucose < 126 mg/dL and normal free thyroxine were included; SCH was defined as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) 4.5–10 mIU/L, and insulin resistance was quantified by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). Linear regression of log HOMA-IR accounted for the complex survey design (strata, clusters, weights) and was adjusted for age, sex, BMI, and survey cycle, with sensitivity and interaction analyses. Among 2,434 adults (89 with SCH), no association with HOMA-IR was detected for TSH (β = 0.009 per mIU/L; 95% CI -0.014 to 0.032), SCH (β = -0.035; 95% CI -0.186 to 0.115), or thyroid peroxidase …

Calculation Of Alpha-Decay Half-Lives Using A Numerical Approach, Daniel Suescún-Díaz, Rosemberg Gómez-Noguera, Diego Rasero-Causil

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

This study introduces a numerical approach for estimating alpha-decay half-lives of alpha-emitting nuclei using a modified five-parameter Woods-Saxon potential. The radial Schrödinger equation is solved with the Numerov method to calculate the wave function and the barrier transmission probability, without relying exclusively on the WKB approximation. The calculations were performed for 398 nuclides taken from the NUBASE2020 database. Of these, 264 nuclides were used for the MWS5 parameter-adjustment stage, whereas the remaining 134 nuclides were reserved for an independent evaluation of the model. The results were compared with those obtained from two reference models: the modified Gamow-Like Model (MGLM) and …

Antioxidant, Anti-Tyrosinase, Anti-Elastase, And Anti-Collagenase Activities Of Propolis Extracts From The Stingless Bee Tetragonula Laeviceps (Smith, 1857), Tri Hadi Handayani, Dimas Andrianto, Sih Kahono, Pamungkas Rizki Ferdian, Raden Lia Rahadian Amalia, Muhamad Ridwan

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Stingless bees incorporate propolis into their nest as a structural and protective material. Information remains limited on how solvent fractionation affects the antioxidant and enzyme-inhibitory activities of propolis produced by Indo nesian Tetragonula laeviceps. This study examined a crude extract prepared with 70% ethanol together with the n- hexane, ethyl acetate, and water fractions obtained from it. The analysis comprised total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), three antioxidant assays (ABTS, CUPRAC, TBARS), and inhibition of tyrosinase, elastase, and collagenase. The largest TPC and TFC values were obtained from the ethyl acetate fraction, at 85.93 ± 1.28 mg GAE/g …

Advances In The Detection Of Ethyl Carbamate In Fermented Foods, Wang Yue, Zhao Yongpeng, Wang Siqi, Zhang Suyi, Ao Zonghua, Liu Shuliang, Li Jianlong

Food and Machinery

Ethyl carbamate, a group 2A carcinogen, has been widely detected in fermented foods and its safety has drawn increasing attention. Many countries have established limits for ethyl carbamate in fermented foods. This article reviews the contamination situation of ethyl carbamate, systematically summarizes and compares the detection methods of ethyl carbamate reported in both domestic and international literature in recent years, including chromatography, spectroscopy, electrochemical sensor method, paper strip colorimetry, and immunoassay. Finally, this article proposes the future development directions of residual detection technology for ethyl carbamate in fermented foods.

Research Progress On Protein Engineering Of Α-Amylase And Its Major Applications, Feng Yong, Ren Zhengwei

Food and Machinery

Alpha -Amylase is a glycoside hydrolase that efficiently catalyzes the hydrolysis of starch and is widely applied in various industrial fields such as food, textile, and paper industries. It plays a pivotal role particularly in food processing processes such as starch liquefaction, baking improvement, and juice clarification. However, natural α-amylases generally exhibit poor thermal stability, weak acid tolerance, and strong calcium ion dependency, which severely restrict their application in complex industrial environments. In recent years, protein engineering technologies, including directed evolution, rational design, and semi -rational design, have been extensively employed to the structural optimization and performance improvement of α-amylases. …

A Review Of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy For Pesticide Residue Detection In Fruits And Vegetables, Mai Xinyun, Hu Fangyang, He Lingling, Niu Junle, Wei Lanjie

Food and Machinery

Near -infrared spectroscopy (NIRS ) is valuable in pesticide residue detection for fruits and vegetables due to its nondestructive, rapid, and efficient nature. This review summarizes current research status in this field, compares the applicability of different spectral bands and imaging techniques, and analyzes challenges in single and mixed pesticide residue detection alongside enhancement strategies. Additionally, approaches to spectral preprocessing and feature wavelength selection are examined, with performance comparisons between chemometrics and deep learning models. Furthermore, the role of calibration transfer and transfer learning is discussed in improving model generalization across instruments and crop varieties. With continuous advancements in spectral …

Preparation Of Gleditsia Sinensis Polysaccharide Microemulsion And Their Hydrophobic Interactions With Quercetin, Xu Chenrui, Yao Qiuping, Deng Shenghui

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To investigate the formulation process of Gleditsia sinensis polysaccharide microemulsion and the hydrophobic interactions between the microemulsion and quercetin. [Methods] A pseudo -ternary phase diagram was drawn through compatibility experiments to optimize the formulation of the G.sinensis polysaccharide microemulsion. Based on the pyrene fluorescence probe technique, the effect of quercetin concentration on the I 1/I3 value in the microemulsion was examined to explore the hydrophobic and polar interactions between quercetin and the carrier in the G.sinensis polysaccharide microemulsion system. [Results] The prepared G.sinensis polysaccharide microemulsion was of the oil -in-water (O/W type ). The optimal formulation consisted of 35.4% …