Digital Commons Network^™

Development Of An Active Crosslinked Nanocomposite Film Based On Gelatin-Ethyl Cellulose, Trans-Cinnamaldehyde, And Silver Nanoparticles For The Preservation Of Sliced Meat, Elham Sarmast, Shiv Shankar, Stephane Salmieri, Sahra Amel Rahmouni, Monique Lacroix

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

This study aimed to develop a novel bioactive biobased packaging film combining gelatin (G) and ethyl cellulose (EC), cardanol and glycerol as plasticizers, trans-cinnamaldehyde (TCA) as a crosslinker/bioactive compound, and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as bioactive agents. The degree of crosslinking, mechanical and thermal properties, water solubility (WS), and water vapor permeability (WVP) of the films were analyzed. Molecular interactions within the film matrix were determined by FTIR spectroscopy. The G-EC film, in a 1:2 weight ratio, exhibited improved physicochemical properties compared to the pure G film, with a low WS (7.8%). The incorporation of TCA and AgNPs—to form bioactive nanocomposite …

Identification Of Microbial Hotspots And Biofilm-Forming Bacteria In A High Output Industrial Cheese Plant: Comparative Evaluation Of Enzymatic Versus Sodium Hydroxide-Based Cleaning-In-Place (Cip) For Biofilm Removal, Karan J. Pant, Martin G. Wilkinson, Murali Kumar, Hend Roshdy, Sai Ravi Chandra Nori, Vincenzo Fiore, Antonio Lourenco, Jamie A. Fitzgerald, Wiley Barton, Paul D. Cotter, Jeremiah J. Sheehan

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Effective cleaning and sanitation are essential in cheese manufacturing to control microbial contamination and prevent biofilm formation. A multi-step approach was undertaken to assess microbial persistence and cleaning-in-place (CIP) strategies at an industrial Cheddar cheese facility with a production capacity of ∼40,000 tonnes. Pre- and post-CIP environmental swabs were analysed using plate counts and high-throughput (16S rRNA amplicon and shotgun) sequencing to identify microbial hotspots. Traditional CIP was broadly effective, however residual contamination persisted in critical zones such as the Alfomatic weir, curd distribution tank (CDT), and block formers. Industrial-scale trials comparing caustic and acid-based CIP with an enzymatic alternative …

Exploration Of Best Practice Of Market Surveillance And Type Approval Of Internal Combustion Engines Emissions For Non-Road Mobile Machinery (Examine_Nrmm), Rita Hagan, Eoin Mcgillicuddy, Aoife Donnelly

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

This study examines market surveillance methods for engines in non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) in selected European Union (EU) Member States and the UK, to inform the development of an Irish NRMM market surveillance process in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/1628. The research found NRMM market surveillance approaches vary across Europe, with no uniform market surveillance strategy in place. Some countries, including Ireland, are currently developing an approach, while other countries have no set process in place. In countries, with an existing strategy, the process can be proactive, reactive or a combination of both.Findings highlight opportunities for Ireland to design a …

A Comparative Analysis Of The Efficacy, Safety And Mechanism Of Action Of Flebogamma Dif, Fostamatinib And Romiplostim In Immune Thrombocytopenia, Mary Akinyemi, Kamna Ravi, Furong Tian, Baljit Singh

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by immune-mediated platelet destruction, resulting in a platelet count below 100 × 10⁹/L and an increased risk of bleeding complications that significantly impair quality of life. Despite advances in ITP management, the unpredictable and heterogeneous nature of the disease continues to challenge treatment selection. This review compares the efficacy, safety, and mechanisms of action of Fostamatinib, Flebogamma DIF, and Romiplostim in adult and pediatric ITP patients. Peer-reviewed studies published over the past 20 years, including randomized and non-randomized clinical trials, observational studies, and real-world evidence, were screened for relevance, with …

Sustainable Remediation Of Antibiotic Contaminants Using Engineered Biochar And Composite Materials, Arvind Kumar, Prerna Sunar, Duraisamy Ramamoorthy, Swapnamoy Dutta, Ravikant Verma, Km Smriti Jaiswal, Krishna Kumar Jaiswal, Vinod Kumar, Amit K. Jaiswal, Mahaveer D. Kurkuri

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Antibiotic contamination is a growing global crisis due to widespread use and unregulated disposal, contributing to the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant microbes and ecological risks. This review critically evaluates antibiotic contamination and its impact on the environment and human health. Biochar and modified biochar modulate antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) dynamics and the destruction of ARG transfer. Optimization of biochar properties includes surface chemistry, structure, synthesis process, and surface engineering to enhance antibiotic adsorption and degradation. Therefore, a comprehensive evaluation of biochar and modified biochar for the adsorption and degradation of different antibiotics under diverse water and soil chemistry conditions is needed. …

Human-Centered Evaluation Of Control And Perception Interface Factors In A Teleoperational Cutting Task, Inês F. Ramos, Keerthi Sagar, Philip Long, Maria Chiara Leva, Ernesto Damiani, Gabriele Gianini

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Despite significant advances in teleoperated systems, optimal human performance remains a challenging task due to one key aspect, i.e. reduced situational awareness. Active telepresence is one of the major contributing factors affecting operator’s situational awareness. Providing the user with multiple perspectives of the remote environment can be very beneficial, although it may also introduce challenges in maintaining effective control. Prior work has largely examined discrete manipulation tasks using single-modality assessments, whereas this study applies a multimodal neuroergonomic approach to a continuous precision-cutting task, providing first insights into control–view alignment and multi-camera perception effects. In this work, we focus on two …

Decision Support Impact And Error Prediction In Control Room: A Behavioural Data Analysis, Chidera W. Amazu, Joseph Mietkiewicz, Ammar N. Abbas, Gabriele Baldissone, Davide Fissore, Micaela Demichela, Anders L. Madsen, Maria Chiara Leva

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Data from psychophysiological measures can offer new insight into control room operators’ behaviour, cognition, and mental workload status. This is particularly helpful when assessing capacity to respond to critical plant conditions such as alarm response scenarios. However, wearable tools such as eye tracking and electroencephalography caps can be perceived as intrusive and unsuitable for daily operations. Therefore, this article examines the potential of using real-time data from process and operator-system interactions during abnormal scenarios, recorded and retrieved from the distributed control system’s historian or process log, to provide insight into operator behaviour and predict their response outcomes without intruding on …

Valorisation Of Barley Straw For Sustainable Nanocellulose Production Via Subcritical Alkaline Hydrolysis And Hdes-Assisted Processing, Dileswar Pradhan, Swarna Jaiswal, Brijesh K. Tiwari, Amit K. Jaiswal

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

This study investigates a sustainable and efficient approach to valorising barley straw by producing nanocellulose via an integrated subcritical alkaline hydrolysis and HDES-assisted processing pathway. Subcritical alkaline pretreatment under best processing conditions (150 bar, 200 °C, 125 min) enabled effective biomass fractionation, achieving average hemicellulose and lignin solubilisation of 57.72% and 82.69%, respectively. Subsequent purification of the pretreated solid fraction yielded cellulose fibres with an average cellulose yield of 41.97% and a purity of 87.87%. Nanocellulose was then obtained using a sequential HDES treatment followed by high-intensity ultrasound (HIUS), producing a sample (NC-BTW-3) in which 66% of particles exhibited diameters …

Inorganic Nanoparticle-Bacteria Interaction Systems: Mechanistic, Functional And Agricultural Applications, Gouri Nilakshika Atapattu, Michelle Giltrap, Furong Tian

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

BackgroundInorganic nanoparticles (NPs) are capable of interacting with bacteria. Due to this interaction, the cell exterior and interior of bacteria maybe altered. As a result, bacterial growth inhibition might occur due to the antimicrobial properties exerted by inorganic nanoparticles. Inorganic nanomaterials with antimicrobial activity have been discussed within the literature under the food, pharmaceutical, biomedicine and agriculture sectors. Currently, nanoparticle-mediated control of plant bacterial pathogens is advancing in agriculture.AimThis review aims to highlight the potential of bacteria-inorganic nanoparticle systems in agriculture and how they may yield agricultural benefits beyond antimicrobial activity.MethodsWe analysed literature published between 2020 and 2024 on how …

Characterization Of Nutritional And Flavor Profiles Of Aromatic Black Rice, India, Babli Waribam, Raju Sasikumar, T. Selva Kumar, Phani Kumar Garlapati, Sandeep Janghu, S. Chakkaravarthi, Paul Mansingh, Vidisha Tomer, Amit K. Jaiswal

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Chakhao is an indigenous aromatic black rice variety from Manipur, India, valued for its distinctive flavor, high anthocyanin content, and associated health benefits. Despite its geographical indication status, limited information exists on how regional cultivation conditions influence its compositional attributes. This study characterizes and compares the nutritional composition, mineral content, volatile profile, and fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) composition of Chakhao sourced from five major cultivation regions in Manipur. Proximate analysis quantified moisture, protein, ash, fiber, fat, and carbohydrate content, whereas GC-MS/MS and ICP-MS were employed to profile volatile compounds, FAMEs, and mineral elements. Carbohydrates were the predominant macronutrient (73.88%–74.21%), …

Multifunctional Nanomaterials Coupled With Ai-Based Optimization For Advanced Wastewater Treatment, Ananya Tiwari, Isha Dharsandia, Shreedhar Tiwari, Gajendra Singh Vishwakarma, Budhi Sagar Tiwari, Narendra Kumar, Amit K. Jaiswal

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Conventional wastewater treatment performs reliably against routine contaminants but remains inconsistent for complex industrial effluents and for emerging pollutants such as pharmaceutical residues, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and micro/nano plastics. Engineered nanomaterials and artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) have each been reviewed extensively, but predominantly in isolation. The present review is distinguished from existing reviews in three specific respects. First, the nanomaterial-AI interface is treated as the unit of analysis rather than the two fields being surveyed in parallel: AI-guided material selection, dosing and pH control, membrane fouling prediction, nano sensor-assisted monitoring and regeneration scheduling are examined together. Second, evidence …

Thermophilic Microorganisms For Bioremediation Of Industrial Pollutants Including Hydrocarbons And Heavy Metals, Isha Dharsandia, Narendra Kumar, Ananya Tiwari, Amit K. Jaiswal

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Industrialization and urbanization have led to the constant discharge of hazardous pollutants such as effluents, hydrocarbons, and heavy metals, which pose a grave threat to ecological balance and human beings' well-being. Traditional physiochemical techniques for the treatment of environmental pollutants are energy-intensive, expensive, and inefficient in extreme environments. Hence, there is a need to explore alternative strategies to address the above problems. Thermophiles are microorganisms that grow in high temperatures, and they have recently been regarded as viable sources for bioremediation due to their metabolic resilience, enzyme stability, and resistance to industrial conditions. The current paper presents an in-depth literature …

Investigation Of Different Aeration Strategies For The Production Of Kombucha With Defined Co-Cultures, Marie Ludszuweit, Leon Bender, Gayatri Mehta, Martin Hageböck, Brian Gibson, Martin Senz

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Kombucha fermentation is a complex process influenced by many different process parameters and the dynamics of the microorganisms present. Since no universally established standards exist for large-scale production of kombucha, manufacturers still need to acquire the knowledge to establish controllable and reproducible processes. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent to which the kombucha fermentation process can be influenced by varying the oxygenation regime and the initial pH value. For this purpose, co-culture fermentations with the yeast Zygosaccharomyces bailii and the acetic acid bacterium Komagataeibacter hansenii were carried out under defined conditions, varying the type and intensity …

Graphene-Based Materials From Liquid Phase Exfoliation Of Graphite Using Mangosteen-Peel Extract : Experiments And Molecular Simulation, Piyaphat Thepphot, Narissara Karakate, Panu Danwanichakul

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

The conventional Hummers method for graphene production requires large quantities of hazardous chemicals, causing environmental impacts and sustainability concerns. This study investigated mangosteen-peel extract as a natural alternative in liquid phase exfoliation of graphite, exploiting the structural similarity between condensed tannins and graphite, which enables π−π interactions. Four exfoliation processes were studied: shear force via a homogenizer (9,500 rpm and 14,000 rpm for 41 min), sonication using an ultrasound bath (200 W and 400 kHz) for 2 h and 3 h at 50℃ and their sequential combinations. The results confirmed successful graphite exfoliation yielding samples with I2D/IG ratios of 0.51 …

Enhancing Aqueous Solubility Of A Psoralen Derivative Via Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexation : In Silico And In Vitro Study, Gulzaib Basharat, Saba Ali, Pattharamon Chaikhun, Choosak Jaroenrit, Kuakarun Krusong, Thanthapatra Bunchuay, Tanatorn Khotavivattana, Thanyada Rungrotmongkol

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

N-(4-Bromobenzoyl)-8-methoxypsoralen-4-amine (BNB) is a psoralen derivative with potent cytotoxic activity against breast cancer cells but with limited pharmaceutical application and therapeutic potential due to its extremely low aqueous solubility. To overcome this limitation, β-cyclodextrin (βCD) and its derivatives dimethyl-βCD (DMβCD), hydroxypropyl-βCD (HPβCD), and sulfobutylether-βCD (SBEβCD) were investigated as carriers to enhance BNB's aqueous solubility via cyclodextrin inclusion complexation. A combined computational–experimental strategy was employed, integrating molecular docking, 500-ns all-atom molecular dynamics simulations in quintuplicate runs (2.5 µs in total), and experimental validation by phase solubility analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Docking and simulations revealed …

Green Synthesis And Optimized Annealing Temperature Effects On Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Mango Peel Extract, Supamas Wirunchit, Natchayaporn Sakulpeeb, Woradech Meedech, Sutee Chutipaijit, Wantana Koetniyom

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

This study presents the green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) using mango peel extract (MgE) as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent. Phytochemical extraction was performed with deionized water, ethanol, and methanol for 1 h to 5 h, with deionized water at 4 h yielding the highest flavonoid content. Using zinc nitrate as a precursor, 25 mL of MgE successfully facilitated the synthesis of ZnO-NPs (ZnO-25MgE). It was found that annealing temperature at 400℃ for 6 h produced pure ZnO. The obtained nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and field emission scanning electron microscopy …

Eco-Friendly Pva-Walnut Shell-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator For Biomechanical Energy Harvesting And Self-Powered Touch Sensing, Sabita Tripathy, Gayatri Mohapatra, Arjun Kumar, Manoj Kumar Debnath

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

The growing demand for sustainable power in wearable electronics necessitates eco-friendly energy harvesting alternatives. Herein, a polyvinyl alcohol-walnut shell (PVA-WS) composite was developed as a biodegradable triboelectric active layer for a single-electrode triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG). Walnut shell powder, a lignocellulosic agricultural byproduct, was incorporated into PVA at an optimised 3 wt%, enhancing surface micro-roughness and charge trapping capability as confirmed by SEM and XRD analyses. The fabricated device yielded a peak output voltage of 130 V, short-circuit current of 390 nA, and maximum power of 20 μW at 500 MΩ under 1 Hz excitation, while also successfully harvesting biomechanical energy …

Surface Characteristics Of Montmorillonite Reinforced Cellulose Membranes Derived From Pineapple Waste, Naufal Rizky Amasda, Heru Suryanto, Aminnudin Aminuddin, Uun Yanuhar, Nanda Lidya Cinta Aulia Sari, Agus Suyetno, Komarudin Komarudin, Fajar Nusantara, Gaguk Jatisukamto, Aulia Surya Ramadhan

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

This study aims to investigate the effect of montmorillonite on the surface characteristics and porosity of bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) membranes derived from pineapple peel waste. The bacterial cellulose was synthesized using Acetobacter xylinum using pineapple peel extract as medium component. Bacterial nanocellulose membrane (BNC) was obtained by crushing and homogenizing bacterial cellulose in a high-pressure homogenizer. BNC membrane was reinforced with montmorillonite content of 2 wt% to 8 wt%. The membrane was characterized for its properties using SEM, FTIR, surface roughness tester, tensile tester, water holding capacity test, and BET analysis. The results showed that montmorillonite was well-dispersed within BNC …

Patent Law's Trade Remedy, Michael Doane

Akron Law Faculty Publications

Although a trade remedy, not an intellectual property rights statute, Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 plays an important and controversial role in the enforcement of intellectual property rights in the United States. As a trade remedy, Section 337 is designed and intended to promote innovation and investment in the United States through support of statutorily defined domestic industries against unfair competition from infringing imported products. This Article analyzes Section 337 as a trade remedy from the perspective of intellectual property rights owners and innovators such as start-up companies, universities, individual inventors, and other research and development-focused entities. …

Activist Judicial Restraints, Michael Gentithes

Akron Law Faculty Publications

For decades, jurists and scholars have touted the virtues of judicial restraint—a characteristic of judges who only adjudicate issues they are competent to resolve, thereby avoiding political thickets and preserving their authority. Judicial restraint is ingrained in justiciability doctrines that emanate from Article III of the Constitution. When applied evenhandedly, standing requirements, the political question doctrine, and prudential manageability prerequisites to litigation help the Court maintain an appropriately restrained docket.

The Roberts Court falls well short of this restrained ideal in potentially dangerous and destructive ways. The Court has changed justiciability doctrines into “activist judicial restraints” that, rather than avoiding …

Predictors Of Resilience Among East Asian American Adults: The Role Of Ethnic Identity, Parental Cultural Socialization And K-12 Experiences Of Stereotype-Related Stress, Regina Lee

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

This quantitative retrospective study examined predictors of resilience among East Asian American adults reflecting on their K-12 educational experiences of stereotype-related stress. Guided by Asian Critical Theory (AsianCrit), Ethnic Identity Theory, Resilience Theory, and Quantitative Critical Race Theory (QuantCrit), the study investigated whether ethnic identity and parental maintenance of heritage culture during K-12 schooling predicted adult resilience. Participants (N = 207) completed validated measures of ethnic identity (MEIM; Phinney, 1992; Roberts et al., 1999), parental maintenance of heritage culture subscale (AAPRES; Juang et al., 2016), stereotype-related stress (MMM Scale, Thompson & Kiang, 2010; Perpetual Foreigner subscale, Liang et al., 2004), …

Exposition Professionnelle Aux Agents D'Infections Nosocomiales En Milieux De Soins : Mieux Comprendre Et Contrôler La Voie De Propagation Par Aérosols, Caroline Duchaine, Yves Longtin, Marc Veillette, Adriana Larotta, Bianka Paquet Bolduc

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Ce projet, mené dans le contexte de la pandémie de COVID-19, visait à mieux comprendre les risques liés à la présence de virus et de bactéries dans l’air des milieux de soins et à identifier les meilleures façons de protéger le personnel de la santé. Ce projet s’est articulé autour de trois grands volets de recherche complémentaires, menés en milieux réels et en laboratoire. Le premier volet visait à documenter la présence de virus comme le SARS-CoV-2 (responsable de la COVID-19), l’influenza ou le norovirus dans l’air d’hôpitaux et de centres de soins de longue durée. Des prélèvements dans les …

Effets Respiratoires De L'Exposition Journalière Aux Particules Respirables, Fines Et Ultrafines Dans Divers Milieux De Travail, Audrey Smargiassi, Maximilien Debia, Eva Suarthana

Rapports de recherche scientifique

De très nombreux travailleurs sont exposés quotidiennement à des niveaux de particules dans l’air ambiant qui dépassent largement les concentrations auxquelles la population générale est exposée. Néanmoins, très peu d’études ont porté sur l’influence de l’exposition quotidienne des travailleurs aux particules respirables sur la santé respiratoire. La majorité des études se sont intéressées aux effets des expositions prolongées sur le développement de maladies respiratoires. Pourtant, les associations entre l’exposition journalière aux particules respirables et l’inflammation pulmonaire et la fonction respiratoire sont bien documentées pour la population générale. Les effets des particules respirables pourraient différer pour les travailleurs parce que les …

Play-Based Learning In Private International Preschools In Cairo: Teachers' Perspectives, Kesha L. Stovall

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores how play-based learning is practiced and contextualized in private, international preschools in Cairo, Egypt through the perspective of teachers. It calls upon both historical and contemporary theories of play and play pedagogies ranging from the times of Plato and Al-Farabi to the 21st century with Montessori and Dewey. Using a contemporary theory of play presented by Stuart Lester and Wendy Russell as a guiding framework, it examines how play and play-based learning are implemented, shaped and even challenged in a Cairene context. These contexts include sociocultural factors such as parents’ expectations and aspirations, institutional barriers, teacher development …

Human Rights Education For Children And Youth On Human Rights And Digital Technologies, Diane A. Desierto, Faisal Yamil Meneses, Notre Dame Global Human Rights Clinic

Journal Articles

AI Generated Summary

This document outlines the importance of human rights education for children and youth, particularly in relation to digital technologies, emphasizing the need for comprehensive, inclusive, and accessible educational frameworks.

Two Questions For School-Choice Funding After Carson, Nicole Stelle Garnett, John A. Meiser

Journal Articles

In a series of recent cases, the Supreme Court of the United States has made clear that the First Amendment's Free Exercise Clause prohibits religious discrimination in public benefit programs. That is, when the government creates a public benefit program, the Free Exercise Clause prohibits it from excluding private entities from participating because of their religious character or status or because they engage in religious conduct. This essay addresses two questions raised left unresolved by these cases and flags a third. The first question is, what is private? The religious nondiscrimination principle applies only when the government aids private conduct. …

Private Rights Of Action For Election Litigation In The Federal Courts, Derek T. Muller

Journal Articles

Election litigation is surging. But just as litigants pursue more election claims in federal courts than ever before, federal courts are growing more skeptical about their authority to hear them. This Essay, a contribution to the 2025 Arnold Lecture at the University of Arkansas Little Rock, William H. Bowen School of Law, examines the narrowing landscape of private rights of action in election law with a particular focus on claims brought ahead of the 2024 election. It traces the Supreme Court's shift toward formalism, the heavy emphasis on remedies found in federal statutes, and the diminishing avenues for private enforcement …

Slices And Lumps: Division And Aggregation In Law And Life, Lee Anne Fennell

Books

No abstract provided.

To Pursue Or Not To Pursue An Academic Doctoral Degree: Perceived Motivators And Barriers Of Women Working In Allied Health Educational Programs, Karen J. Honeycutt, Betsy Becker, Victoria Kennel, Sarah Mcbrien, Makayla Schissel, Tammy Webster

Journal Articles: Medical Laboratory Science

BACKGROUND: Women faculty in allied health education frequently transition from clinical roles without formal training in teaching or research methodologies. This study examined motivators and barriers of women faculty in an allied health educational setting when determining to pursue an academic doctoral degree. Data was collected from faculty working in 48 allied health programs in Nebraska representing 14 professions.

METHODS: Women faculty were invited to complete a confidential online survey. Using a four-point Likert scale, participants responded to perceived motivators (nine) and barriers (nine) related to their decision to pursue or not pursue a doctoral degree.

RESULTS: Responses from 142 …

What Church Planters Need : How Community, Training, & Intentional Relationships Fuel Church Growth, Carolina G. Miller

Heritage Material

No abstract provided.