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The Short And Sweet On Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter Inhibitors And Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists In Heart Failure, Jose L. Batista, Tracy Makuvire, Jonathan D. Davis, Salvatore Carbone

EVMS School of Health Professions Faculty Publications

Heart failure (HF) affects 6 million people in the US, and type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a significant risk factor for HF. Since 2008, regulatory agencies have required cardiovascular safety trials for new T2D therapies, and these have consistently demonstrated the cardiovascular benefits of glucose-lowering drugs. Sodium-glucose cotransporter inhibitors (SGLTi) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (RAs)/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) reduce major adverse cardiovascular events and deaths, regardless of diabetes status, and improve cardiorespiratory fitness. SGLTis, such as dapagliflozin and empagliflozin, benefit patients with reduced and preserved ejection fraction, significantly reducing HF hospitalizations and cardiovascular deaths. The DAPA-HF and EMPEROR-Reduced …

Body Composition In Patients With Obesity-Related Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Comparison Study, Hannah Salmons, Syed Imran Ahmed, Hayley E. Billingsley, Alex Reavey-Cantwell, Roshanak Markley, Michele Golino, Marco Giuseppe Del Buono, Juan Ignacio Damonte, Sebastian Pinel, R. Lee Franco, Antonio Abbate, Carrie P. Earthman, Salvatore Carbone

EVMS School of Health Professions Faculty Publications

Background

Appendicular lean mass index is a major determinant of cardiorespiratory fitness in patients with obesity-related heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Moreover, appendicular lean mass index can be used to diagnose sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity in this population. We aimed to validate the ability of segmental single-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (SF-BIA) to assess body composition compared with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in patients with HFpEF and obesity, with a focus on appendicular lean mass index for its critical role in diagnosing sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity.

Methods

We analyzed 62 euvolemic patients from a heart failure outpatient clinic with …

Association Between Neighborhood-Level Social Vulnerability And Hypertension Outcomes, John E. Brush Jr., Chungsoo Kim, Yuntian Liu, Xin Xin, Chenxi Huang, Iris J. Lundy, Jordan R. Asher, Mitsuaki Sawano, Patrick Young, Jacob Mcpadden, Mark Anderson, John S. Burrows, Harlan M. Krumholz, Yuan Lu

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background

Neighborhood-level social vulnerability is associated with hypertension prevalence and severity and with cardiovascular complications in conditions other than hypertension, but its association with cardiovascular complications in patients with hypertension is understudied.

Objectives

The aim of the study was to examine how the neighborhood-level social vulnerability index (SVI) influences cardiovascular outcomes in a large, diverse cohort of patients with hypertension.

Methods

We used electronic health data to examine the association between census tract-level rankings for the SVI with a composite endpoint of incident myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, or stroke.

Results

In a longitudinal cohort of 330,972 patients with hypertension …

Balancing Regeneration And Resistance: Targeting Dclk1 To Mitigate Gastrointestinal Radiation Injury And Oncogenesis, Landon L. Moore, Jerry Jaboin, Milton L. Brown, Courtney W. Houchen

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Ionizing radiation (IR) poses a dual challenge in medicine; while essential for cancer therapy, it inflicts collateral damage to normal tissues, particularly the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. High-dose IR triggers acute radiation syndrome (ARS), characterized by crypt stem cell depletion, mucosal barrier disruption, inflammation, and potential progression to fibrosis and secondary malignancy. Emerging evidence identifies the epithelial kinase doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1)—highly expressed in GI tuft cells and cancer stem-like cells—as a master regulator of post-IR responses. DCLK1 integrates DNA repair (via p53/ATM), and survival signaling (via NF-κB, TGF-β, and MAPK) to promote epithelial regeneration, yet these same mechanisms contribute to …

Screening And Addressing Food Insecurity At Free Clinics: A Scoping Review, Gautam Ramanathan, William Zak, Daiwik Munjwani, Robert Fisher, Esther May Sarino, Mary J. Scourboutakos

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Food insecurity (FI) is highly prevalent amongst patients seeking care at free, student-run health clinics. This study sought to examine the existing literature of food insecurity screenings and interventions at free clinics across the U.S. In this review, we provide the rate of FI screenings, the prevalence of FI, demographic information of patients screened, and interventions and barriers faced by clinics while implementing interventions to improve FI. Studies included in this review needed to implement a FI screening and intervention program in a free clinic within the United States. Additionally, eligible studies could address additional social determinants of health or …

Quantifying Links Between Phytoplankton Physiology And The Environment, Gabrielle M. Armin

Open Access Dissertations

Phytoplankton are microscopic, primary producers in aquatic ecosystems worldwide. They are key links in global biogeochemical cycles, converting inorganic compounds into bioavailable nutrients which fuel fisheries. Through photosynthesis, phytoplankton play an essential role in the carbon cycle and marine biological pump, drawing carbon from the atmosphere, which is eventually sequestered in the oceans, regulating our Earth’s climate. Due to their influential role in large scale processes, there have been many efforts to characterize and quantify phytoplankton impacts to ecosystem health and global nutrient cycles. Often, phytoplankton physiology has been highly simplified in global or ecosystem models, limiting their representation to …

More Than Just Food And Money: An Exploration Of College Students’ Challenges With Food Access And Insecurity, Orianna Duncan Carvalho

Open Access Dissertations

There has long been a popular prototypical image of the starving college student surviving on cheap ramen noodle meals, but research suggests there is more to this than meets the eye. Food insecurity, the condition in which individuals are unable to secure enough food to support a healthy lifestyle, has been investigated and reported with increasing frequency on college campuses, including the university at which the present study is conducted. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to delve further into college student food insecurity to gain a better understanding of how students experience and perceive it. To achieve …

The Effect Of Maternal Diet On Developmental Programming: A Cross Species Analysis, Lindsey Eileen Eaton

Open Access Dissertations

Maternal nutrition plays an important role in shaping offspring health through developmental programming, with lasting implications on metabolic function and disease susceptibility. This dissertation explores the molecular and physical consequences of maternal nutrition, particularly its effects on pancreatic development and function in offspring. Chapter one provides a comprehensive review of the literature, detailing the mechanisms of fetal development, epigenetic regulation, and metabolic programming. It highlights the thrifty phenotype hypothesis, the role of DNA methylation and histone modifications, and the impact of maternal nutrition, emphasizing how nutrient availability during pregnancy influences fetal organogenesis and long term metabolic health.

Chapter two examines …

Intersections Of Inattention: A Qualitative Inquiry Into The Experiences Of Multiply Marginalized Students In Community College Settings, Jana N. Knibb

Open Access Dissertations

Educational research has examined the impact of expanded access to higher education for historically marginalized groups. However, research on the experiences of students who are both racially minoritized and dis/abled is limited. Findings suggest that, due to their intersectional identities, multiply marginalized dis/abled students (MMDS) navigate policies and practices related to racist ableism, which further marginalize them and create additional barriers in their higher education experiences. Expanding this research requires theoretical frameworks that account for students' identities, experiences, and barriers in higher educational spaces and contexts. This qualitative study, grounded in Dis/ability Studies and Critical Race Theory in Education (DisCrit), …

Quantifying Mixotrophy Potential As A Function Of Environmental And Biological Drivers In Coastal And Estuarine Plankton Communities, Erica Ewton

Open Access Dissertations

The discovery of mixotrophic plankton has bridged gaps in nutrient cycling budgets and altered the understanding of food webs and energy transfer. Mixotrophic plankton are capable of simultaneous or sequential photosynthesis and heterotrophy, providing multiple avenues of nutrition and thus reducing limitations that affect specialists. These energy dense cells provide increased biomass for higher trophic levels, which may increase organism sizes throughout the food web. Additionally, they may be physically denser, which alters biogeochemical cycling including carbon sequestration. The work presented here uses LysoTracker Green, an acidotropic stain that attaches to phagocytic vacuoles within potentially phagotrophic small (< 20 µm diameter) phytoplankton communities (‘mixoplankton’), to better understand their abundance, relative abundance, and growth rates in relation to the matrix of natural conditions they inhabit. Understanding the prevalence and drivers of mixoplankton is vital to better parameterize biogeochemical cycling and energy transfer in the ocean and for models that predict the fate of future oceans.In the first study, I compared the abundance of mixoplankton in the Northeast U.S. Shelf (NES) and Coastal California Current System (CCS) during two cruises in the NES in summer 2021 and one cruise in the CCS in summer 2022. These two contrasting coastal systems span the breadth of environmental conditions observed in temperate marine ecosystems and thus provided an opportunity to examine indicators of mixoplankton across temperate coastal regions. I discovered higher mixoplankton abundance in the NES than CCS yet similar population sizes of nanoeukaryotic photosynthesizers, resulting in higher relative abundance of mixoplankton in the NES than CCS. Across both systems, I found increased mixoplankton abundance associated with decreasing temperature and combined nitrate + nitrite concentrations (N+N), and increasing light intensity and Synechococcus abundance …

Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (Pfas) Effects On Tissue Disposition, Proteome, And Health Effects, Juliana Agudelo Areiza

Open Access Dissertations

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are a class of nonbiodegradable synthetic aliphatic environmental toxicants that are ubiquitous in the environment. A small subset, specifically perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), have been designated as highly hazardous to human health by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). PFOA and PFOS-associated adverse health effects include, but are not limited to, immune suppression, thyroid dysfunction, increased serum cholesterol, liver damage (i.e., alanine aminotransferase (ALT)), and developmental toxicity (i.e., low fetal birth weight and neurotoxicity). In this doctoral dissertation, it was hypothesized that environmental PFAS …

A Socio-Ecological Investigation Of Ulithian Spearfishing, Joshua Pi

Open Access Dissertations

Coral reef socio-ecological systems (SESs) characterize the interconnected relationships between coral reef ecosystems and reef-dependent communities. One such SES exists in Ulithi Atoll, Federated States of Micronesia, where Ulithians fish, steward, and govern their reefs through customary marine tenure, traditional ecological knowledge, and cultural taboos. In recent decades, rapid modernization in Ulithi has introduced new fishing technologies, transformed fishing practices, and ultimately reshaped the functioning of Ulithi’s traditional SES. One significant change was the introduction of spearfishing during the mid-20^th century, which is more selective and individualistic compared to other community-centric fishing methods that have existed for generations. This …

“What’S Supp” Developing An In Vitro Model For Healthy Oral Biofilms, Alex Labossiere

Open Access Dissertations

The study of oral plaque has largely been influenced by the study of pathogens. Here in Chapter 1, I will discuss how this pathogenic focus has been dominant until the onset of microbiome research and begin to explain microbiomes in the context of supragingival plaque in homeostatic communities. From there we will then discuss the possible roots where dysbiosis may arise from plaque to cause disease and ways in which we can study healthy supragingival plaque by in vitro models.

In chapter 2, I will discuss molecular commensalism and how it can be viewed as a tool to further understand …

"Understanding Obesity Experiences And Treatment Decision-Making In Hispanic-Latino Communities”, Viviane Fornasaro-Donahue

Open Access Dissertations

Obesity disproportionately affects Hispanic-Latino adults in the United States, yet rates of metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) remain lower in this population compared with non-Hispanic White adults. This dissertation comprises three interconnected phases aimed to (I) explore perceptions of obesity, obesity treatment, and patient-provider communication, (II) inform the development of a culturally responsive bilingual educational material about obesity and MBS, and (III) evaluate its acceptability among Hispanic-Latinos adults with obesity.

Phase I involved a qualitative exploration using semi-structured interviews with Hispanic-Latino adults (n=26) recruited from a community and a clinical MBS setting. These interviews explored participants’ perceptions of …

Revised Final Multi-Pathway Residential Metals Abatement Program Plan, Atlantic Richfield Company, Butte Silver Bow

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Characterization Of Lipids In Tenebrio Molitor Larvae And Pupae Under Various Extraction Methods, Nariman A. Ktil

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Tenebrio molitor, or the yellow mealworm is an edible insect widely recognized and consumed for its rich nutritional value. Mealworms are known for their flexible nature of adapting to various environmental conditions and being able to thrive under harsh conditions and low-value wastes. In this paper, our main goal was to investigate the mealworm’s ability to grow and develop while being reared on apple pomace, the biowaste from apple production, and the effect it would have on its nutritional value specifically its lipid profile. Then these reared insects were used for oil extraction and analyzing their fatty acid profiles. …

Therapeutic Roles For Alkaline Phosphatases To Target Intestinal Dysfunction In Mouse Models Of Experimental Sepsis And Ischemic Stroke, Rhiannon V. Macom

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Abstract

Therapeutic Roles for Alkaline Phosphatases to Target Intestinal Dysfunction in Mouse Models of Experimental Sepsis and Ischemic Stroke

Rhiannon V. Macom

Stroke is a disease that primarily affects the brain; however, ongoing research continues to show that stroke has far reaching systemic effects that can affect both short- and long-term recovery. The gastrointestinal tract has been shown to be affected post-stroke, and these effects are likely due to the bidirectional communication between the gut and the brain via the gut-brain-axis. Alkaline phosphatases (APs) are common membrane bound enzymes that are known to have a role in mitigating inflammation. The …

The Impact Of Political Party Control On Health Outcomes In U.S. States, Trevor G. Samaha

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation examines the impact of political party control on health outcomes in U.S. states, focusing on three key indicators: infant mortality, Type II Diabetes deaths, and COVID-19 deaths. Using quantitative methods and data primarily from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this study investigates whether the party affiliation of governors and state legislatures significantly influences these health outcomes. While existing literature suggests that Democratic-led states may achieve better health outcomes due to greater public investment in healthcare, the findings of this dissertation challenge these assumptions. Across all three cases, the analysis reveals predominantly null results, suggesting that …

Sensory Evaluation And Consumer Acceptance Of A Protein Enriched Energy Bar, Brennah T. Groves

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

ABSTRACT

Sensory Evaluation and Consumer Acceptance of a Protein Enriched Energy Bar

Brennah Groves

This study evaluated the sensory properties and consumer acceptance of a protein enriched energy bar. The objectives of this study were to 1) formulate a high-protein energy bar containing at least 20 g of protein per 100 g serving, and 2) determine whether increasing the protein content in an energy bar would enhance the sensory evaluation and improve consumer acceptance among collegiate athletes. The control energy bar featured a shortbread base, date caramel with whey protein, a nougat layer, and a chocolate coating. Additional collagen protein …

Adminstrative And Programmatic Supports To Enhance Veteran-Service Dog Programming, Madison Davisson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: Service dogs have long served as a valuable resource to assist veterans in overcoming challenges such as transitioning to post-military life, re-engaging in life roles, and navigating the community. There is substantial research on the benefits and impacts that service dogs have on the lives of veterans. Because of this, the number of service dog-veteran partnerships is on the rise, and each service dog program has its individualized programmatic method to enhance its offerings. However, there is limited information on administrative and programmatic support for service dog training programs intended for veterans and staff members. The veteran perspective is …

Sensory Integration In The Intensive Care Unit Environment, Kara M. Lee

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Those admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) commonly experience deficits in areas linked with cognition, mental health, and physical functioning (Rapolthy-Beck et al., 2023). Delirium is the most common complication among individuals who are mechanically ventilated, which can be associated with adverse outcomes, including increased mortality, cognitive decline, and decreased functional outcomes (Martinez et al., 2017). The primary purpose of the capstone project was to create a sensory-based program for patients admitted into the ICU. The program aimed to enhance the quality and consistency of care, ultimately reducing the prevalence of delirium. By doing so, it seeks to improve …

Genomic Differences And Parentage In West Virginia's Reintroduced Elk (Cervus Canadensis), Adam A.V. Cook

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Elk (Cervus canadensis) reintroductions have been common in the 20th and 21st centuries, yet 40% have failed to establish self-sustaining elk populations due to a lack of post-reintroduction demographic monitoring. Elk were reintroduced to West Virginia in 2016 following more than a century of absence after the species was extirpated in 1875. Elk were translocated to West Virginia from Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area (LBL) in eastern Kentucky and from Arizona. The two groups of elk differ in their subspecies, physiology, reintroduction history, connectivity, and habitat. Reintroductions create genetic risks such as the founder effect and …

Microbiological Examination Of Yellow Mealworm (Tenebrio Molitor) Larvae Under Various Processing And Storage Conditions As Potential For Human Consumption, Rachel Midkiff

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) larvae have gained attention as a sustainable and nutritionally balanced food source, yet their high natural bacterial load raises food safety concerns. This study investigates the impact of pre-processing, processing, and storage conditions on microbial load and diversity in mealworms, comparing thermal (hot) and non-thermal (cold) treatments. These treatments include freeze-drying, wet heat treatments, dry heat treatments, and the combination of wet and dry heat treatments against untreated controls. Microbial loads were quantified by plate counts after day 0, day 10, and day 28 of vacuum-sealed refrigerated (4°C) storage. Water activity (Aw), pH, and moisture content …

Facilitating Independence: Developing A Hands-On Life Skills Program For Youth In Residential Treatment, Shayna Rexrode

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Life skills competency in adolescence can be an important predictor of success in adulthood. Educational and training programs focused on life skills can help youth develop the skills that they need to live independently. Though occupational therapy literature surrounding these types of programs is limited, occupational therapy practitioners are qualified to provide intervention in life skills based on the profession’s scope of practice.

This capstone project focused on the development and evaluation of a new life skills program, the Life Skills Practice Program, at a residential treatment facility for youth with substance use and behavioral diagnoses. Stakeholders at the facility …

Impact Of Whey And Soy Protein Supplementation On Resistance Training In Young Adults: A Systematic Literature Review And Meta-Analysis, Brandon Eric Davis

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: Whey protein is a popular supplement in sports nutrition. Soy protein is an alternative to whey protein, often marketed to individuals following a plant-based diet. Evaluating whey and soy protein supplementation's role in resistance exercise is essential for providing evidence-based nutrition guidance.

Objective: The study aim was to conduct a systematic literature review and meta-analysis on randomized control trials (RCTs) on the effectiveness of whey and soy protein supplementation on outcomes of lean body mass (LBM), squat, bench press, and plasma essential plasma amino acid (EAA) levels in young adult men and women.

Methods: The databases …

Microwave-Assisted Reduction Of Critical Metal Oxides From E-Waste Mixture, Kurundu Shavinka Jayasekera

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The efficient recovery of critical metals such as tantalum (Ta), manganese (Mn), gallium (Ga), and indium (In) from electronic waste (e-waste) is essential for resource sustainability and environmental protection. This research uses microwave-assisted treatment to investigate the carbothermal reduction of these four specific metals from their oxides in a simulated e-waste mixture, with carbon black serving as both a microwave coupling and reduction agent. Microwave processing is used specifically because it offers a rapid and energy-efficient alternative to conventional thermal methods, with the benefits of intrinsic heating and selective heating of materials. The first experiments centered on understanding the effects …

Implementation Of An Evidenced Based Enteral Nutrition Protocol For Mechanically Ventilated Patients: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Hannah R. Nuzum

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Abstract

Implementation of an Evidenced Based Enteral Nutrition Protocol for Mechanically Ventilated Patients: A Quality Improvement Initiative.

Hannah Nuzum

Background: Mechanically ventilated patients require supplemental nutrition as an important factor for their overall recovery. Malnutrition in hospitalized patients is reported as high as 35% (Ikram et al., 2022).

Purpose: Lack of an enteral nutrition (EN) protocol has contributed to variability in initiation of EN for post-intubated mechanically ventilated patients.

Intervention: The project interventions are threefold: the development of an EN protocol, EN initiated within 24 to 28 hours for post-intubation patients, and staff understands that EN should be initiated within …

Beyond The Byproduct: Exploring Approaches For The Sustainable Valorization Of Underutilized Food Streams, Ian Phillip Israelsen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Commercial food processing creates side-streams that are often underutilized yet hold significant potential for valorization into value-added products for consumer use. This study investigated and compared potential protein recovery and lipid removal potential from buckwheat (BW; Fagopyrum esculentum Moench), brewer’s spent grain (BSG), and coffee silverskin (CSS) using a one-step solvent defatting and a pH-shift protein extraction method. The extraction efficiency yields of extracted protein from CSS were significantly lower than all other samples (p < 0.05). The defatted BW had the highest extracted protein content of all samples (p < 0.05). The sizes of the proteins in the starting materials were observed using LDS-PAGE. These sizes were consistent with published values and were mostly unchanged by defatting or the pH-shift process. The presence of 13S globulins and 2S albumins was confirmed under reducing conditions. Protein extracted from all native samples had lower total free essential amino acids than the starting materials. Native CSS and extracted protein followed this trend, but in defatted CSS and respective extracted protein samples, the extracted proteins had higher free essential amino acid content than the starting materials, sometimes of twofold or greater (p < 0.05). After defatting, the percentage of lipids recovered compared to the original lipid content of the samples was measured. The crude fat content of native and hexane-defatted BW flour was higher than BW flour defatted with ethanol (p < 0.05). The lipid extraction efficiency of all samples ranged from 4.6 ± 1.26%–43.20 ± 14.21%. The mass of the native and defatted starting materials were recorded at each step of processing, with reasonable losses assessed. The major non-polar lipid classes in each starting material were separated using thin-layer chromatography. All samples also displayed the presence of polar lipids. When comparing starting materials, BW and BSG was the most effective for protein extraction, and BSG has the most promise for lipid removal and potential for upcycling. All the examined starting materials show promise for use in food supplementation, especially as native flours. These products are plentiful and considered underutilized or side-stream products.

Resilience In Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes: The Relation Between Grit, Benefit-Finding, Diabetes Distress, Hba1c And Health-Related Quality Of Life, Hannah Hardiman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a common pediatric chronic illness that requires complicated management by both the child and their caregiver. Research and clinical guidelines have highlighted adherence (as measured by HbA1c) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) as important outcomes particularly in adolescents with T1D. Notably, diabetes distress has been identified as a risk factor contributing to poor adherence and HRQOL outcomes in this population. Given these considerations, understanding what resilience factors contribute to optimal outcomes is vitally important to inform future interventions. Grit and benefit-finding are two novel resilience factors that have yet to be fully evaluated …

Efficacy Of Salmonella Surrogate Enterococcus Faecium In Poultry And Mash Broiler Feed, Corey Waitman Coe

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation investigates the efficacy of Enterococcus faecium as a surrogate for Salmonella in validating thermal inactivation processes during poultry feed manufacturing and meat processing. The research encompassed three studies evaluating microbial kinetics in mash broiler feed, reconstructed ground chicken, and predictive modeling approaches to improve food safety interventions. In the first study, the thermal resistance of nalidixic acid-resistant Salmonella Typhimurium and E. faecium was compared in mash broiler feed heated at 75–95°C. Results demonstrated that E. faecium exhibited significantly greater heat resistance than Salmonella, with longer shoulder times, greater tailing effects, and higher D-values, supporting its use as …