Digital Commons Network^™

Comparison And Optimization Of Glycoprotein Extraction Processes For Six Panax Medicinal Herbs Using Ultra-High Pressure Extraction Technology, Chang Fangyu, Zang Hao, Cheng Liye, Han Lusheng, Du Lianyun, Wang Enpeng

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To comprehensively compare and screen glycoprotein preparation processes for six representative medicinal materials from the genus Panax. [Methods] Glycoprotein yield, DPPH radical scavenging capacity, hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity, and Fe2+ chelation inhibition rate were used as evaluation indicators. Glycoprotein extraction rates and antioxidant activities of six medicinal materials, including P. ginseng, P. notoginseng, P. quinquefolius, P. japonicus (T. Nees) C. A. Mey., P. stipuleanatus H. T. Tsai & K. M. Feng, and P. bipinnatifidus Seem, were compared using traditional thermal extraction and ultra-high pressure processing (UHPP). The Box–Behnken response surface method was employed to optimize UHPP parameters for P. …

Optimization Of Probiotic Fermentation Process And Effects Of Drying Methods On The Quality Of Sea Buckthorn Leaves, Dong Xiaoyue, Yun Xueyan, Zhang Lu, Dong Tongliga, Zhao Chenxi, Te Jinwei, Wang Xiukuan, Hao Qian, Miao Meishu, Su Ke

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To investigate the effects of probiotic fermentation conditions and drying methods on the quality of fermented sea buckthorn leaf products. [Methods] Lactiplantibacillus plantarum is used for fermentation. The fermentation process of sea buckthorn leaves is optimized through single-factor experiments combined with response surface methodology. Fermented sea buckthorn leaf extract is prepared under the optimal fermentation conditions and subsequently processed into freeze-dried powder by direct freeze-drying and spray freeze-drying, with or without low-voltage electrostatic field assistance. The effects of different treatments on viable cell counts, flavonoid and polyphenol retention rates, water activity, and in vitro digestion characteristics are evaluated. [Results] …

Extraction Process Optimization Of Camellia Sinensis Flavonoids And Their Antioxidant Activity, Tu Jianqiu, Xu Danhe, Chen Long, Wang Yaxin, Xu Jiahui, Jing Lixiang, Li Jianfang

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To optimize the extraction process of flavonoids from Xinyang Camellia sinensis and to compare the in vitro antioxidant activities of total flavonoids before and after purification. [Methods] Using Xinyang C. sinensis as raw material, a one-factor test is conducted to investigate the effects of ethanol volume fraction, ultrasonic time, ultrasonic power, and material–liquid ratio on the yield of flavonoids. Subsequently, a three-factor, three-level optimization model is established based on the Box–Behnken experimental design. Additionally, a macroporous adsorption resin is utilized for the purification of flavonoid crude extracts. Finally, the in vitro antioxidant activity of the total flavonoids is evaluated …

Research Progress In Production Process And Flavor Modulation Mechanisms Of Cooking Wine, An Nan, Liu Gongliang, Bai Weidong, Tong Xing, Wang Hong

Food and Machinery

As a core condiment in traditional Chinese cuisine, the flavor modulation mechanisms of cooking wine are closely related to its production processes. This review systematically organizes the three major production systems of cooking wine, i.e., brewed, blended, and seasoned, comparing their differences in base-wine origin, flavor-formation pathways, and product stability. By integrating the latest developments in flavoromics, molecular interactions, and intelligent fermentation, it provides a systematic analysis of the relationship between production process differences and flavor formation mechanisms. The paper clarifies the multi-stage “dissolution–modification–suppression” mechanism for off-flavor removal and proposes a metabolic flux-directed process optimization pathway. Additionally, it explores the …

Progress On The Nutrient Components, Functional Activities, And Utilization Of Dictyophora Rubrovalvata, Zhang Lunqing, Wang Xianxing, Li Qiaoqiao, Xu Cunbin, Wang Yu

Food and Machinery

Dictyophora rubrovalvata, a valuable edible fungus in China, is rich in active components such as polysaccharides, proteins, amino acids, and vitamins, exhibiting significant efficacy in antioxidant, anti-fatigue, antitumor, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, and anti-inflammatory activities. This paper systematically reviews recent research progress on the nutritional components, functional activities, and utilization status of D. rubrovalvata, both in China and elsewhere, with an outlook on its future development directions and application prospects.

A Review Of Metabolic Mechanisms Of N-Nitroso Compounds And Measures For Their Reduction And Control, Wang Zhulin

Food and Machinery

N-nitroso compounds, as one of the major food contaminants, are widely present in food and pose hazards such as carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, and mutagenicity, thus being a key focus in food safety monitoring. Although significant progress has been made in the research on N-nitroso compounds, studies on their metabolic mechanisms and reduction and control measures are still disconnected to a certain extent. Through a review of the classification, detection methods, and toxic effects of N-nitroso compounds, this article analyzes the intrinsic connection between their metabolic pathways in the body and strategies for external reduction and control, aiming to provide theoretical references …

Comments Re: Regulation For Federal Financial Assistance, Fred D. Ledley, Edward Zhou, Brian C. Fox

CISI Publication

This comment focuses on the proposed modifications to §200.205 “Federal Agency Merit Review of Proposals” and §200.340 “Termination and suspension” of Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations. We argue that the pre-issuance review, discretionary termination provisions, and other constraints of federal research support that would be established under this proposal create impediments to the scientifically-driven process of discovery and innovation that has long provided the foundation for advances in American prosperity, influence, health, and wellbeing. Our comments focus specifically on federal support for biomedical research by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the purpose of advancing healthcare …

Maura Jenkins V. Harrisburg Rotary Club

2026 Decisions

USDC for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Using “You” As A Subject In Biology Assessment Questions: Examining Student Preferences For Second-Person Framing, Noelle Clark, Kate Hill, Jeremy L. Hsu

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

In college biology courses, exams and quizzes are often used to assess students’ knowledge and performance. Since assessments are a crucial part of biology classes, there has been a wide range of work examining how assessment questions are written, revealing that small changes in how such questions are worded may have large impacts on students’ reading comprehension and performance. One aspect that instructors consider when writing a question is subject framing, i.e., which individual, if any, is being placed as the focal point of the question. In this study, we focus on the following subject framings, an authentic scientist, a …

Sources And Potential Risks Of Micro- And Nanoplastics In Foods, Zhao Xinlong, Li Wei, Zhang Mengling, Xing Liwen, Tian Huafeng

Food and Machinery

Plastics are widely used in food packaging, storage, processing, and other food-related applications, playing a vital role in extending food shelf life, reducing material loss, and promoting food circulation. However, these plastic products that come into direct or indirect contact with foods can release micro- and nanoplastics through various physical and chemical processes. These micro- and nanoplastics can accumulate in the human body through bioaccumulation and other pathways and have become one of the emerging contaminants threatening food safety and human health. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the research progress on the generation pathways, release mechanisms, potential health …

Screening Of Weizmannia Coagulans With High Stress Tolerance, Xiao Xue, Yu Wendi, Hu Yuanliang, Zhang Xicai, Yu Xiang

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To isolate and screen novel Weizmannia coagulans strains with high stress tolerance. [Methods] Using commercially fermented pickle brine as the sample, W. coagulans strains were isolated, purified, and identified by selective culture medium methods, morphological observation, physiological and biochemical characterization, and 16S rDNA sequencing. Taking survival rate as the evaluation index, the stress tolerance of the isolated strains and three laboratory-preserved W. coagulans strains was determined under high-temperature (80–100 ℃), acidic (pH 2.0–3.0), and bile salt (0.1%–0.5%) conditions. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to comprehensively assess the stress tolerance of the tested strains. [Results] Two W. coagulans strains, …

Preparation Of Cellulose Nanocrystals From The Shells Of Camellia Oleifera Abel And Their Effect On The Stability Of Camellia Oil Pickering Emulsions, Jin Sheng, Xie Shuting, Xiao Zhihong, Li Changzhu, Wang Jianhui

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To prepare cellulose nanocrystals from the shells of Camellia oleifera Abel (SCOA–CNCs) for stabilizing camellia oil Pickering emulsions, and to investigate the storage stability and environmental stability of the resulting emulsions. [Methods] Cellulose is extracted from SCOA through bleaching and alkali treatment, and SCOA–CNCs are prepared by sulfuric acid hydrolysis and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The SCOA–CNCs are employed to stabilize camellia oil Pickering emulsions; the effects of the oil-to-water ratio and particle concentration on the emulsions are examined, and the stability of the emulsions under different environmental …

Advances In The Application Of Electroencephalography In Food Sensory Science, Li Wenbin, Hou Xiaoyi, Deng Na, Leng Tuo, Fu Haohua, Wang Jianhui

Food and Machinery

Traditional sensory evaluation of food is affected by subjectivity and other factors, resulting in significant limitations. Electroencephalography (EEG), owing to its advantages of high temporal resolution, non-invasiveness, and real-time dynamic monitoring, offers an objective neurophysiological perspective and analytical approach to address this issue, effectively advancing food science research from subjective descriptions to objective neural decoding. This paper systematically reviews the applications of EEG in food flavor recognition and prediction, objective evaluation of food quality, and analysis of food nutrition and consumer behavior. In light of the current state of technological development, it is proposed that multimodal technology integration and machine …

Metabolic Syndrome Is Associated With Increased Mortality In Patients With Breast Or Prostate Cancer, Jessica P Hwang, Ning Zhang, Mercy W Misoi, Sabhi Gull, Zayd A Razouki, Justin R Gregg, Natalia I Heredia, Sharon H Giordano

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

We investigated the association of metabolic syndrome (MetS) with mortality in patients with breast and prostate cancer. Breast and prostate cancer cohorts were created retrospectively using the SEER-Medicare database. Patients with first primary breast or prostate cancer diagnosed in 2008-2019 were identified using ICD-O-3 site and histology codes. Among those, patients with MetS were identified using ICD-9/10-CM codes, CPT/HCPCS codes, and prescription drug use from Medicare claims files. We defined continuous enrollment from 12 months before through 12 months after diagnosis, exposure during the first 12 months after diagnosis, and survival follow-up starting 12 months after diagnosis. We used multivariable …

Board Of Directors Meeting Minutes (July 13, 2026), Dmacc Board Of Directors

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

This file contains the minutes from the Des Moines Area Community College Board meeting held on July 13, 2026.

Hot And Bothered: Introduced Generalist Marine Snail Outperforms Native Specialist Under Gradual And Extreme Warming, Alysha B. Putnam, Adeline Dwyer, Danielle T. Weiss, Bethany A. Bradley, Michelle D. Staudinger, Paulette Peckol

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Climate change is reshaping coastal ecosystems through gradual warming and increasingly frequent extreme heat events, potentially affecting native and introduced species differently. We experimentally compared the native marine snail Littorina obtusata, a habitat and dietary specialist, to the introduced generalist Littorina littorea under sustained warming and short-term extreme heat. We measured survival and performance metrics, including grazing, growth, and attachment strength, under short- and long-term thermal stress in air and water. L. littorea consistently outperformed L. obtusata, maintaining or increasing function under warming and exhibiting greater survival during simulated heatwaves. Conversely, L. obtusata showed performance declines and higher …

Aligning Horizon Scanning Approaches With Differing Needs And Topics At The Science–Policy Interface On Chemicals, Waste, And Pollution, Gabriel Sigmund, Ricardo O. Barra, Michael G. Bertram, Miriam L. Diamond, Alex T. Ford, İPek İMamoğLu, Jinhui Li, Rainer Lohmann, Andreas SchäFfer, Martin Scheringer, KateřIna ŠEbková, Maria Clara V. M. Starling, Noriyuki Suzuki, Penny Vlahos, Roland Weber, Bryan W. Brooks

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

Knowledge on chemicals, waste, and pollution is shaped by geographical, financial, and disciplinary biases, which can cause blind spots for key emerging issues, including those relevant to low income countries and vulnerable communities. Scientists, practitioners, affected communities, and policy makers working in the areas of the newly established Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste, and Pollution (ISP-CWP) have interest in identifying issues of potential and emerging relevance that currently escape their attention. Horizon scanning offers a critical tool to identify such issues. Here, we provide guidance on aligning horizon scanning approaches with differing objectives, audiences, and thematic scopes. We structure …

An Automated Surrogate-Assisted Optimization Framework For Rapid Microfluidic Channel Design Of Point-Of-Care Diagnostic Devices, Ronald Jose, Yunjian Qiu, Lin Jiang, Yun Wang

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Saliva-based point-of-care diagnostic devices provide accessible, non-invasive health monitoring but face engineering challenges in ensuring reliable, cost-effective performance outside laboratory settings. Traditional design approaches rely heavily on repeated cycles of simulation, design, and prototyping, creating computational bottlenecks that slow innovation. This work introduces an automated surrogate-assisted optimization framework that integrates multiphysics simulation data, surrogate modeling, and multi-objective optimization to accelerate microchannel design. Synthetic datasets generated through multiphysics simulations are used to train a neural network surrogate model capable of predicting flow performance metrics, including the Dean number and pressure drop. This trained model achieved a mean squared error of 0.000012 …

Blue Economy In Madura: Research Trends And Structural Change, Herry Yulistiyono, Aditya Tri Prasetyo, Ari Warokka

Jurnal Ekonomi dan Studi Pembangunan

This study examines the development of the blue economy in Madura through bibliometric analysis, focusing on research trends and economic structural changes from 2020 to 2024, as well as analyzing gaps and potential areas for future research. The methodology employed is a quantitative approach utilizing bibliometric methods. Data were obtained from scientific publications and analyzed using metrics that measure the ratio of citations to publications.

The results indicate a significant increase in the number of publications on the blue economy in Madura, peaking in 2023 with 29 researchers focusing on diverse topics. Performance metrics analysis revealed Marine Policy as the …

Presentation On Scientific Activities Related To Environmental Law, Mahjoub El Haiba El Haiba

Revue Marocaine de Droit, d'Economie et de Gestion (Moroccan Journal of Law, Economics and Management)

Environmental problems have a global character due to the interdependence of biosphere components, yet they also have significant local dimensions. Climate change and the greenhouse effect, which have intensified in recent decades, pose serious threats to biological balance and endanger human, plant, and animal life. While these issues demand global solutions, local responsibility remains crucial, as the causes and impacts vary across regions. This presentation highlights the scientific activities of the Moroccan Association for Environmental Law, which organizes events—such as roundtables on ozone layer protection—aimed at bridging scientific knowledge and legal frameworks to address both global and local environmental challenges …

A Review Of Juvenile Solitary Confinement In The United States: Why Developmental Science Supports Banning Isolation Of Youth, Morgan R. Wagner, Krystia Reed, April Thomas

Northwestern Journal of Human Rights

The use of solitary confinement in carceral settings has been prevalent in the United States for as long as the justice system has been in place. The practice of isolating people who are incarcerated from the general prison population was adopted in the juvenile justice system as well, despite the system’s purported focus on rehabilitation. This paper reviews the developmental psychological literature suggesting that solitary confinement can harm adolescents in a variety of ways (psychological, psychosocial, and physical). We then discuss the prevalence of juvenile solitary confinement in federal and state courts. Finally, considering this research, we identify goals for …

Isolated Transverse Colon Perforation During Corticosteroid Tapering In Quiescent Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Histopathology-Supported Diagnosis Of Exclusion, Ridwan A. Lawal, Nestor Malaga, Nida Asif, Fatimah Bello, Juliana Yang

School of Medicine Publications

Gastrointestinal perforation in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is uncommon but potentially fatal, and attribution is clinically consequential because perforation may reflect lupus enteritis with mesenteric vasculitis, infection, diverticular or stercoral disease, malignancy, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), medication-related injury, or a combination of mechanisms. Corticosteroid-associated perforation is therefore best treated as a diagnosis of exclusion rather than as an isolated novel observation. We report a 62-year-old woman with SLE who developed sudden severe right-sided abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, leukocytosis, lactic acidosis, and radiographic pneumoperitoneum while tapering prednisone from 60 mg/day to 10 mg/day over three months, with 10 mg/day documented at …

Reflections: My Personal Journey, Jerry L. Pitts

Faculty Publications and Presentations

Reflections: My Personal Journey is the heartfelt and inspiring memoir of Jerry L. Pitts Jr., a man whose life was transformed by faith, perseverance, and God's grace. From a turbulent childhood marked by frequent moves, rebellion, and poor choices, to becoming a devoted husband, father, educator, and servant of God, this powerful testimony reveals how divine purpose can emerge from life's greatest struggles.

Through deeply personal stories, Jerry shares his journey from the "road to destruction" to a life dedicated to serving Christ. Readers will walk beside him through broken relationships, career setbacks, military service, family triumphs, heartbreaking loss, spiritual …

Occult Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma With No Identifiable Intrathyroidal Primary: A Case Report And Pooled Analysis Of 23 Published Cases, Michael J. Evans, Amanda M. Sonnenburg, Elijah Elliott, Alex Otto, Kent Mcintire

Student Publications

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) rarely presents as cervical lymph node metastasis without an identifiable intrathyroidal primary despite exhaustive imaging and histopathologic evaluation, representing the rarest form of occult thyroid carcinoma and posing distinct diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. We report a 27-year-old man who presented with a cystic lateral neck mass. Fine-needle aspiration confirmed metastatic PTC, yet ultrasonography, computed tomography, and positron emission tomography/computed tomography demonstrated no thyroid abnormality. Total thyroidectomy with modified radical neck dissection revealed metastatic PTC in two of the 21 lymph nodes (pN1b) without extranodal extension, while exhaustive sectioning of the thyroid demonstrated only chronic inflammatory changes …

Perpetual Purgatory: Lamennais's Religious Influence On The Persona And Music Of Franz Liszt, Matthew Peter Wood

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

For generations, musicological consensus has treated Liszt’s signature technique of “thematic transformation” as musical form born out of structural and sonic experimentation. This study argues that the impetus for Liszt to create his signature compositional device of thematic transformation proceeds from the influence of the post-Revolutionary liberal Catholicism of the French Abbé Félicité de Lamennais. By exploring the historical, cultural, and artistic intersections between Lamennais’s texts and Liszt’s manuscripts, this dissertation builds on existing scholarship to replace a conventional analysis of thematic transformation with new religio-philosophical analytical lens through which to view Liszt’s most significant contribution to the historical trajectory …

Slc Transporter-Mediated Functional Imaging In Cancer Diagnosis, Lumeng Zhang, Jun He

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Functional imaging has become an important approach for evaluating tumor physiology in vivo beyond morphologic assessment. Radiotracers used for cancer imaging are designed to mimic endogenous substrates or substrate analogues, and their accumulation can depend on membrane transport, intracellular metabolism, and clearance from normal tissues. Specifically, SLC transporters contribute to tracer uptake and signal formation, linking transporter activity with measurable imaging signals in cancer. While [18F]FDG PET/CT remains the most widely used example of transporter-associated metabolic imaging, SLC transporter-mediated imaging strategies have been developed to assess amino acid transport, sodium-dependent glucose uptake, redox metabolism, lactate exchange, nucleoside metabolism, choline metabolism, …

Depression And Anxiety In Pulmonary Hypertension Associated With Congenital Heart Disease: Pathophysiology And Clinical Implications Of The Heart–Brain Axis, Nicodemus N. Triatmojo, Valerinna Y.S. Putri

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Pulmonary hypertension associated with congenital heart disease or PH-CHD is an increasingly prevalent disorder in modern cardiology. It is characterized by progressive pulmonary vascular remodeling, chronic right ventricular (RV) pressure overload, and abnormal cardiopulmonary hemodynamic. Due to advances in congenital cardiology and treatments for pulmonary hypertension, survival rates have increased. As a result, the focus has switched to long-term functional status and quality of life. Depression and anxiety are currently recognized as prevalent and clinically significant manifestations in PH-CHD; nonetheless, they remain underdiagnosed and undertreated within cardiovascular care frameworks.

More study shows the disease's severity or symptom count cannot explain …

Feasibility Study Of An Artificial Intelligence Chatbot-Powered Cognitive-Behavioral Lifestyle Modification Program, Evans Forman, Charlotte Hagerman, Asher Hong, Zhuoran Huang, Hannah Mccausland, Jasmine Sun, Lauren Taylor, Meghan Butryn, Preetha Chatterjee, Ramtin Ehsani, Nawal Syed

Department of Family & Community Medicine Faculty Papers

Background: Approximately 2 billion adults seek lifestyle modification to improve their health and well-being. However, because of cost and access barriers, only a tiny fraction receive gold-standard lifestyle modification programs led by trained coaches. Digital programs without human coaches are more disseminable but have limited efficacy. Recent advances in large language model (LLM) AI chatbots have the potential to revolutionize digital programs by emulating human coaches, offering a safe, low-cost, and scalable lifestyle modification intervention. Yet, no studies have developed and tested such a program. Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and user engagement of a new …

A Phase Ii Trial Of Defactinib Combined With Avutometinib In Patients With Metastatic Uveal Melanoma, Rino S. Seedor, Mizue Terai, Sergei A. Koshkin, Andrew E. Aplin, Marlana Orloff, Erin Sharpe-Mills, Madeleine Naccarato, Aurora Mills, Alfredo A. Molinolo, J. Silvio Gutkind, Takami Sato

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

Background: Treatment options are limited, and outcomes remain poor for patients with metastatic uveal melanoma (MUM). We conducted an investigator-initiated, prospective, single-arm, single-institution, phase II study evaluating the combination of an FAK inhibitor (defactinib) with a RAF/MEK inhibitor (avutometinib) for the treatment of MUM. Methods: From February 2021 through January 2023, 12 patients with MUM were treated with the combination of defactinib and avutometinib. Defactinib was given 200 mg twice daily, and avutometinib was given 3.2 mg twice a week. Both drugs were given for 3 weeks on and 1 week off (28-day cycle). Disease control rate was the primary …

Ecological Footprint Assessment, Santina Benincasa

Open Educational Resources

This handout guides students through a structured ecological footprint assessment using the online Footprint Calculator. By following a series of steps—selecting their location, entering detailed lifestyle information, and reviewing personalized results—students evaluate how many planets would be required if everyone lived with their same resource consumption patterns. The activity prompts learners to identify the largest contributors to their footprint, quantify their impact in global hectares, and explore scenario-based changes that could reduce their environmental demand. Through reflection, students consider how everyday human behaviors influence Earth’s productive capacity and resource availability. Overall, the exercise encourages critical thinking about sustainability and personal …