Digital Commons Network^™

Pork Freshness Monitoring Based On Near-Infrared Spectroscopy And Random Forest Improved By Fruit Fly Optimization Algorithm, Zhang Li, Li Zhihui, Ma Mingxing

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To achieve rapid, non-destructive, and high-precision monitoring of pork freshness, addressing the low efficiency, high destructiveness, and insufficient prediction accuracy of single models in conventional monitoring. [Methods] A pork freshness monitoring model was proposed based on near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) combined with random forest (RF) improved by the fruit fly optimization algorithm (FOA). With the total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) content as the freshness indicator, near-infrared spectral data of pork samples at different storage stages are collected (scanning range: 1 000~1 800 nm). Spectral noise and baseline drift are eliminated via a preprocessing method combining multiplicative scatter correction (MSC) and …

Application Of Multi-Information Integration Technology In Nondestructive Detection Of Navel Orange Sugar Content, He Xiaotian, Wang Wenfan, Shen Jie, Tian Erlin

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To solve the problem of low detection accuracy in existing nondestructive detection methods for navel orange sugar content. [Methods] Based on the analysis of detection schemes, a multi-information integration method for nondestructive detection of navel orange sugar content is proposed. Data collection is conducted using spectral detection technology, machine vision technology, and electronic nose technology. Spectral data is obtained by competitive adaptive weighted sampling of 17 wavelength variables. The principal component analysis is applied to extract 6 features from machine vision data and 4 features from electronic nose sensor data, which are then used as inputs to an improved …

Trajectory Planning For Food Handling Robots Based On Hybrid-Improved Whale Optimization Algorithm, Huang Lixia, Li Wei, Yan Chuyu, Liu Mingqing

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To improve the motion efficiency and operational stability of food handling robots, a robot trajectory planning method is proposed using a hybrid-improved whale optimization algorithm. [Methods] Firstly, a "quintic-cubic-quintic" hybrid polynomial trajectory model is constructed to ensure smoothness during the start and stop phases. Secondly, a weighted comprehensive objective function is established, aiming to minimize both running time and the integral of Jerk, thereby quantifying the overall performance of the trajectory. Then, addressing the shortcomings of the standard whale algorithm, such as the high randomness of population initialization and the imbalance between global exploration and local development, the standard …

Research Progress On Immunomodulatory Effect Of Food-Derived Bioactive Peptides, Zhao Xinglu, Yang Xiongchao, Wang Yidan, Zhao Shenglan, Ma Yage

Food and Machinery

Immune system imbalance arises from a complex interplay of genetic,environmental,chronic disease, age, and emotional factors. It can lead to diseases including diabetes, obesity, atherosclerosis, and cancer, representing a critical threat to human health. Food-derived bioactive peptides possess immunomodulatory properties. As safe food resources, they are characterized by multi-targeting and high consumer acceptability. This review primarily focuses on the preparation technologies, structural analysis, structure-activity relationships, and mechanisms of bioactive peptides derived from food sources. Furthermore, current achievements are summarized in the field of immunomodulation by the peptides, while perspectives are offered.

Research Progress Of Anthocyanin-Loaded Aquatic Product Freshness Indicator Films, Zhao Zunle, Li Yun, Li Yu, Suo Jintie, Zhang Chun

Food and Machinery

Anthocyanin-loaded freshness indicator films can intuitively reflect the freshness of aquatic products through color changes. They are pH-sensitive and have characteristics such as natural safety and antioxidant properties. Although there have been a large number of studies on them, they still face huge challenges in aspects such as color development, stability, and sensitivity. This paper mainly summarizes the research on natural anthocyanins in pH-sensitive indicator films and their application in monitoring the freshness of aquatic products. The advantages of anthocyanins as indicators are analyzed, and measures to improve the performance of anthocyanin-loaded indicator films are further discussed. The focus is …

Intelligent Online Detection Method For Food Packaging Defects Based On Improved Deep Learning, Shen Gao, Wang Zijian, Wang Xiaofeng, Li Ruiwen

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To propose an intelligent detection method that balances detection accuracy and speed for the problems of low manual detection efficiency, high missed and false detection rates, and insufficient recognition ability of traditional machine vision algorithms for complex texture packaging and small defects in packaging defect detection at current food production lines. [Methods] Using Swin Transformer as the core feature extraction module, this study utilizes its modeling ability for global image information and multi-scale feature fusion advantages to accurately capture defect features, such as small wrinkles and printing offsets on the packaging surface. Simultaneously, the YOLOv 12 fast detection framework …

Feeding Performance And Survival Of Louisiana Poeciliid Fishes Exposed To Residential Wastewater Effluent, Jonathan Chapman

Masters Theses

Mosquitoes are a primary transmitter of vector-borne disease, and their larvae can thrive within shallow pools of stagnant water. Rainwater drainage ditches are a common sight in many communities, and in Louisiana, they are dually used as outlets for onsite residential wastewater discharge in neighborhoods disassociated from municipal sewage treatment. However, when discharge systems malfunction, the water becomes uninhabitable to mosquito predators, allowing mosquitoes to thrive. This research examines the predation performance of mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), sailfin mollies (Poecilia latipinna), and least killifish (Heterandria formosa), the primary biological control agents utilized to combat mosquitoes within ditch communities. Individuals were captured …

Classroom To Campus: A Qualitative Case Study Of Exemplary First-Year Seminar Instructors In Student Transitions At A Louisiana University, Brianna J. Doucet

Doctoral Dissertations

This qualitative case study examined how exemplary first-year seminar (FYS) instructors design and implement pedagogical strategies that support students’ transitions into higher education through the lens of Schlossberg’s (1981) Transition Theory. Conducted at a public university in Louisiana, the study explored how university-identified, award-winning instructors foster academic, social, and emotional adjustment among first-year students, a critical priority amid the impending enrollment cliff and the growing need to retain enrolled students. Using semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis, findings revealed exemplary instructors design intentional, relational, and reflective learning environments. They view transition as a shared institutional process, model adaptability and lifelong learning, …

Faculty, Staff, And Counselor Awareness Of The Challenges Faced By Autistic Students: A Quantitative Descriptive Study Of Resources, Training, And Support For Autistic Student Success In Higher Education, Erika Rosario

Doctoral Dissertations

Higher education institutions should establish two essential measures to support students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD): they need to implement standardized training for all personnel working on campus and create opportunities for hands-on experience through peer programs and collaborative educational events. The pursuit of equity in education demands nothing less. This study investigates the extent to which university faculty, staff, and counselors are aware of the challenges faced by autistic students, how knowledgeable they are about resources available to aid them, and the degree of their training, support, and collaboration in addressing students’ needs. By answering these research questions, the …

Understanding Inclusive Postsecondary Education Programs For Students With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Jade Viator Mcminn

Doctoral Dissertations

Inclusive Postsecondary Education programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are growing rapidly, and this is largely due to the legislative changes of the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (Higher Education Opportunity Act, 2008). This dissertation study will examine the current legislation under the Higher Education Opportunity Act (2008), opportunities for federal funding, and postsecondary education programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities as a whole. This review will also cover Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary programs, which are a direct result of the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008. These approved programs allow eligible students to receive …

“I’M A Figure-Outer!”: Connecting Through Self-Narratives Of Competence In A Community Of Literacy-Learners, Mckenzie Weddle-Coats

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation applies qualitative methods through intrinsic case study design to explore how one emerging literacy learner’s self-narrative of literacy competence manifested in a literacy-learning community. Drawing on multiple data collection and analysis methods, this dissertation investigates how a school-aged child with a history of literacy struggles used her self-narrative statements to position her identity within a 6-week summer literacy project. Findings revealed that the participant used self-narrative statements strategically to carry out different connecting mechanisms for the purposes of demonstrating competence or saving face in literacy contexts, ultimately demonstrating her prioritization of connection. The child’s orientation towards connection is …

Optimized Photoemission From Organic Molecules In 2d Layered Halide Perovskites, Muhammad S. Muhammad, Dilruba A. Popy, Hamza Shoukat, John M. Lane, Neeraj Rai, Vojtěch Vaněček, Zdeněk Remeš, Romana Kučerková, Vladimir Babin, Chenjia Mi, Yitong Dong, Mark D. Smith, Novruz G. Akhmedov, Daniel T. Glatzhofer, Bayram Saparov

Faculty Publications

In recent years, hybrid organic–inorganic metal halides have been at the forefront of materials research. Typically, the functional (e.g., optoelectronic) properties of hybrid halides are derived from the inorganic structural part, whereas the organic structural units can add extra advantages in terms of stability, rigidity, and processability. Here, we report the design, synthesis, and characterization of two new hybrid materials in which the outstanding photophysical properties originate from the organic structural part. The new compounds, (C₁₅H16N)₂CdCl₄ and((Br)C₁₅H₁₅N)₂CdCl₄, have 2D layered Ruddlesden–Popper-type perovskite structures. These hybrids are blue-white …

The Food Ethics, Sustainability And Alternatives Course: A Mixed Assessment Of University Students’ Readiness For Change, Charles Feldman, Stephanie A. Navarro Silvera

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Scholarship and Creative Works

Growing interest in food sustainability education aims to increase awareness of food distribution systems, environmental degradation, and the connectivity of sustainable and ethical food practices. However, recent scholarship has questioned whether such pedagogical efforts are meaningfully internalized by students or lead to sustained behavioral change. Prior studies document persistent gaps in students’ understanding of sustainability impacts and the limited effectiveness of existing instructional approaches in promoting transformative engagement. To address these concerns, the Food Ethics, Sustainability and Alternatives (FESA) course was implemented with 21 undergraduate and graduate students at Montclair State University (Montclair, NJ, USA). Course outcomes were evaluated using …

Strategies To Reduce Safety Accidents In Chemical Facilities, Travon Eshawn Herriotte

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Chemical-industry accidents remain a persistent threat capable of injuring workers, damaging communities, and destabilizing organizations, despite decades of safety regulations and technological advancements. Chemical facility managers, workers’ families, emergency responders, local communities, and entire supply chains bear the burden of every preventable failure. Grounded in human capital theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic research project was to identify and explore effective strategies that managers use to reduce safety accidents in chemical facilities. The participants were six managers from chemical facilities in the eastern United States. Data were collected using semistructured and publicly available documents. Through reflexive thematic analysis, five …

Lived Experiences Of Caregivers Navigating The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act For Their Disabled Children, Natasha Weber Holmes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was designed to guarantee equitable access to special education services for children with disabilities. Yet, disparities persist in how caregivers navigate protections. They often face barriers related to limited legal knowledge, inconsistent school support, and systemic inequities, leaving many unable to fully advocate for their children. The purpose of this interpretative phenomenological analysis study was to explore lived experiences of caregivers as they engaged with the IDEA to secure services for their children with disabilities. Guided by the legal consciousness and empowerment theories, the study involved examining how caregivers interpret and act upon …

Art In Communist China: Visualizing The People’S Republic Of China’S Changing Policy On Taiwan Through Propaganda Posters, Alden J. Rowe

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

This research paper is an analysis of the role of propaganda posters in visualizing the changing policy of the People’s Republic of China on reunification with Taiwan. The propaganda posters were obtained through Chineseposters.net, maintained and owned by the Chinese Posters Foundation and edited by Stefan Landsberger and Marien van der Heijden, which offers over 7,000 propaganda posters that serve as a visual history of China. Of these roughly 7,000 posters, six, released from 1949-1978, was analyzed regarding their role in promoting the Chinese Communist Party’s political stance on Taiwan. Prior to the 1960s, the propaganda posters illustrate armed violence …

Decoupling Of Reproduction And Lifespan Trade-Off In Caenorhabditis Elegans Through Microbial Programming, Nora M. Villafuerte

LSU Master's Theses

The microbiome is increasingly recognized as a major regulator of host physiology. Using the Caenorhabditis elegans model, we investigated how natural commensal bacteria modulate host reproduction and lifespan through internal egg hatching, a phenotype in which retained embryos hatch within the maternal body. Screening strains from the CeMbio collection identified four focal strains Ochrobactrum BH3, Lelliottia JUb66, Pantoea BIGb0393, and Enterobacter CEent1 that significantly increased internal egg hatching during the late reproductive period. This contrasts with pathogenic bacteria, which induce early-onset internal egg hatching. Across the focal strains, worms exhibited reduced total brood size but an expanded reproductive window relative …

Disease Burden Of Asthma Patients Utilizing Short-Acting Beta-2 Agonist-Only Inhalers As Rescue In The United States, Njira Lugogo, Rena C. Moon, Yen Chung, Joy David, Omar Motawakel, Ning A. Rosenthal, Neil Skolnik

Department of Family & Community Medicine Faculty Papers

Purpose: We aimed to describe the disease burden of asthma and examine relationships between short-acting beta-2 agonist (SABA) use and asthma exacerbations. Patients and Methods: This retrospective cohort study used geographically diverse Premier Healthcare Database (PHD) and linked insurance claims (10/01/2021-09/30/2022) for US patients aged ≥18 years with a SABA-only prescription and a history of asthma exacerbation within 12 months before index date (the earliest SABA prescription date). Three asthma control groups were defined based on SABA usage: well controlled-low (0–1 prescriptions), not well controlled-medium (2–3 prescriptions), very poorly controlled-high (≥4 prescriptions). Four asthma severity groups were defined using asthma …

Seminar: Playing As Inquiry At Rocket, Cristo Leon, Sarah Lynne Bowman, Kjell Hedgard Hugaas

STEM for Success Resources

This PowerPoint presentation presents Playing as Inquiry, a methods-forward account of the León Multimodal Protocol (LMP) for studying transformation in tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) at scale. The presentation is designed for scholarly audiences interested in qualitative methods, game studies, and transdisciplinary research design, with an explicit commitment to accessibility through consistent verbal description of visual materials.

The talk begins by situating TTRPGs as layered narrative, social, and material systems in which meaning emerges across embodied performance, language, rules negotiation, artifacts, platforms, and memory over time. From this foundation, the presentation identifies a core methodological problem: traditional qualitative approaches struggle …

Ai-Assisted Tailored Intervention For Nurse Burnout: A Three-Group Randomized Controlled Trial, Gumhee Baek, Chiyoung Cha

Individual Articles

Background: High-stress environments, heavy workloads, and the emotional demands of patient care, which are common challenges faced by nurses, are factors that can lead to burnout. Shift work can make traditional burnout interventions costly and difficult to implement. Artificial intelligence (AI) could offer solutions that are less constrained by time, resources, and labor.

Aim: To investigate the effectiveness of an AI-assisted intervention in reducing nurse burnout.

Methods: A single-blind, three-group, randomized controlled trial of 120 nurses (40 per group) was conducted from June 2023 to July 2023. The AI-assisted tailored intervention included two 2-week programs, delivering one of four programs …

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Burnout In Magnet Hospitals: Opportunities For Organizational Intervention, Lori Kennedy, Heather Brom, Karen B. Lasater, Nancy M. Albert, Barbara Holmes Gobel, Christi Delemos, Lisa M. Williams, Linda H. Williams, Linda H. Aiken

Individual Articles

OBJECTIVE: To determine modifiable organizational factors associated with advanced practice RN (APRN) burnout in Magnet®-designated hospitals to guide organizational interventions to improve APRN well-being and retention.

METHODS: Cross-sectional study of work environments of 50 US Magnet hospitals and the associated well-being of 21 855 of their clinicians (APRNs, physician assistants, physicians [MDs], RNs).

RESULTS: Overall, 37%of APRNs experienced high burnout compared with 34% of MDs (P < 0.05) and 49% of RNs (P < 0.001); additionally, 32%of APRNs intended to leave their jobs. APRN burnout was significantly lower in organizations that minimized chaotic working conditions, provided APRNs more control over their workloads, involved APRNs in shared governance, improved clinician and management relations, and improved interprofessional teamwork.

CONCLUSIONS:Well-being and retention of APRNs in Magnet hospitals require their greater engagement in organization processes and systems that improve work environments.

Personal And Work-Related Factors Associated With Nurse Resilience: An Updated Systematic Review Using Meta-Analysis And Narrative Synthesis, Fiona Yu, Deborah Raphael, Lisa Mackay, Melody Smith, Ritin Fernandez

Individual Articles

Background: Nursing shortages and increased workforce turnover have significantly increased nurses’ workloads, thus increasing the risk of burnout and stress, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. A systematic review published in 2019 suggested that resilience could act as a buffer to adversity; however, the factors associated with resilience during and after this global pandemic have not been identified.

Objectives: To identify personal and work-related factors associated with nurse resilience, including the period during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design: Systematic review.

Data Sources: The search was conducted between January and February 2024 in the following databases: CINAHL Plus, MEDLINE (Ovid), PsycINFO, …

The Intergenerational Impact Of Parental Immigration Status: Educational And Health Outcomes Among Children Of Undocumented Immigrants, Igor Ryabov

Sociology Faculty Publications

This study examines how parental legal status operates as a fundamental social determinant of health and educational equity, focusing on long-term outcomes among U.S.-born and foreign-born children of immigrants. We hypothesized that intergenerational stress and institutional exclusion associated with undocumented status would lead to lower educational attainment and poorer health. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), a nationally representative cohort, participants were classified by inferred parental legal status: native-born, documented immigrant, and undocumented immigrant. Outcomes included high school graduation, college enrollment, depression scores, and chronic health conditions. Children of undocumented parents exhibited …

Structural Logics Of Presidential Immunity, Aziz Z. Huq

Duke Law Journal

In Trump v. United States, the Supreme Court wrought two new presidential immunities from criminal prosecution. Supplemented by a pair of penumbral evidentiary rules, these immunities inhibit criminal indictment or conviction of the president, and indeed the criminal prosecution of a substantial number of subordinate officials, across many imaginable fact-patterns. The Court justified its interventions on consequentialist, and not originalist or precedential, grounds. But its analysis of immunity’s actual and likely effects was radically incomplete. It focused narrowly on the person of the president, eschewing any attempt to situate or relate that individual’s incentives and behavior to the wider institutional …

What Can Legal Knowledge Do For Access To Justice?, Kathryne M. Young, Heidi H. Liu

Duke Law Journal

Worker misclassification is one of the most pervasive and harmful civil justice problems in the U.S. The inaccurate and illegal categorization of workers as independent contractors costs U.S. workers billions of dollars annually in overtime pay and health benefits—a problem that has become even more pervasive with the expansion of the gig economy.

Yet, worker misclassification is only one dimension of the broader “access to justice crisis” in the United States—the unsolved legal problems and unmet legal needs that touch most people’s lives and livelihoods at many points, but especially impact low-income people and people of color. These legal issues …

From Womb To Wallet: Recognizing The Placenta’S Lawful Role In The U.S. Marketplace, Christina Moss

Duke Law Journal

Modern biotechnology has transformed the human placenta from medical waste into a lucrative commercial resource. Placental tissue is used across industries—from cosmetics touting antiaging effects to pharmaceuticals employing it as a raw material for wound therapies. Yet while hospitals and biotechnology companies profit from this growing placenta economy, the women from whom the placentas originate receive neither compensation nor complete information. Federal law provides little guidance, and most states lack explicit regulations, producing a legal vacuum that allows stakeholders to exploit ambiguity. For-profit companies routinely frame their placenta procurement as altruistic donation rather than commercial exchange, citing the federal law …

Fair And Balanced: Why We Need A Federal Anti-Slapp Law For Good-Faith Journalism, Christian H. Ross

Duke Law Journal

Strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) pose a serious threat to free expression, often targeting journalists and media outlets to intimidate or silence critical reporting. Many states have adopted anti-SLAPP statutes that provide procedural protections for speech to deter meritless, speech-chilling suits. But not all states have such laws, resulting in a patchwork of uneven speech protections across the United States. Even where such laws exist, SLAPP plaintiffs can often evade them by forum-shopping or removing to federal court, where state anti-SLAPP provisions do not always apply. In the absence of a federal anti-SLAPP law, journalists across the country remain …

Journal Staff

Duke Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Dynamic Changes Of Main Enzyme Activities During Processing Of Jiangxi Gougunao Black Tea, Hou Sitong, Li Donghuang, Huang Yanting, Guo Wenjuan, Teng Jie

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To investigate the trends in enzyme activity and structural changes during black tea processing, and to analyze the functional expression of polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), β-glucosidase (β-GC), and protease, aiming to optimize the processing technology of Gougunao black tea. [Methods] Using one bud and one leaf of the Gougunao population as raw materials, Gougunao black tea was prepared by traditional processing technology. The relative browning degree and tea polyphenol content during processing were measured. The activity and structural changes of PPO, POD, β-GC, and protease were analyzed, and the enzyme functional expression mechanisms were explored. [Results] The relative …

Communication Misalignment And Industry Reflections Of Pre-Made Dishes Based On Reports On Weibo, Cai Yingzhou, Du Shiyue

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To explore how the media report on pre-made dishes, and how targeted communication strategies can guide the public toward an objective and rational understanding of pre-made dishes. [Methods] Using semantic network analysis, this study extracts the issue frameworks from news reports by institutional media and public discussions on the Weibo platform. Semantic similarity analysis is then conducted to compare the differences in issue emphasis between media coverage and public attention regarding pre-made dishes. [Results] The findings indicate that the overall similarity between institutional media coverage and public discussions on pre-made dishes is low, with only a small number of …