Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

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 …

An Ai-Driven Safety Traceability And Monitoring System For Food Cold Chain, Zeng Xiaoqing, Zhang Yuyue, Xie Wenqing, Zhou Jianhua

Food and Machinery

Targeting the three major obstacles—information fragmentation, delayed risk response, and ambiguous accountability—in food cold chain safety governance, this study constructs an integrated cold chain safety traceability and monitoring system centered on artificial intelligence technology and incorporating the Internet of Things and blockchain. On the basis of a comprehensive risk analysis of the entire food cold chain process, and drawing on theoretical frameworks including supply chain resilience theory, information asymmetry theory, HACCP, and ISO 22000 food safety standards, this study designs a system architecture organized around five functional modules: multi-source data collection and traceability, dynamic food quality assessment, risk prediction and …

Terminal Control Method Of Parallel Food Sorting Robot With Multi-Algorithm Fusion, He Qing, Wu Tianfeng, Zhao Yini

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To address the problems of low trajectory tracking accuracy, delayed dynamic response, poor adaptability to external disturbances, and difficulty in meeting the requirements of high-speed and high-precision food sorting in the existing end-effector control of parallel food sorting robots. [Methods] A food sorting system based on a DELTA parallel robot was developed, and an end-effector control strategy integrating an improved whale optimization algorithm, adaptive fuzzy control, and nonsingular fast terminal sliding mode control was designed. Adaptive fuzzy control was used to adjust the output gain in real time to enhance controller tracking accuracy. The improved whale optimization algorithm was …

Effect Of Double-Bin Plansifter Motion Parameters On Sieving Efficiency, Li Shuang, Wang Fengcheng, Deng Xiangzhi, Li Xinze, Zhang Baowei, Fu Yunfeng, Xue Chunzhi

Food and Machinery

[Objective] The aim is to explore the effect of double-bin plansifter motion parameters on the material sieving efficiency of different systems after wheat milling. [Methods] The milled materials produced by the break system, tailing roll, and scratch system, obtained from a typical milling production line, were selected as raw materials. The double-bin plansifter was used to sieve different materials to investigate the variations in residence time inside the sieve body and in sieving performance under different motion parameters of milled materials in each system. The motion parameters with the optimal sieving performance for the milled materials from each system were …

Effect Of Modified Hemoglobin As A Substitute For Sodium Nitrite On The Quality Of Ham Sausage, Qu Shulei, Ma Chao, Yao Xianqi, Du Dongxu, Wang Wei, Liu Yunguo

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To improve the utilization rate of porcine blood and the safety of ham sausage. [Methods] Under specific conditions, hemoglobin in porcine blood is modified to produce glycosylated nitrosohemoglobin (GN-Hb). Different amounts of GN-Hb are added to replace sodium nitrite in heat-treated ham sausages. The quality characteristics of the sausages are evaluated through texture analysis, nutritional testing, color difference assessment, color acceptability, elasticity, chewiness, and overall acceptability. [Results] When the sodium nitrite dosage is 100 mg/kg and the GN-Hb dosage is 2.5 g/kg, high-temperature sterilized ham sausage containing the new pigment shows significant improvement in color and cohesion compared with …

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] …

Research Progress On Tubular Chain Conveyors And Their Applications In The Grain, Oil And Food Industry, Wu Weiwei, Xia Chaoyong, Sui Sai

Food and Machinery

Tubular chain conveyors have become core equipment in modern bulk material handling by virtue of their significant advantages, including highly efficient conveying, fully enclosed operation, and three-dimensional flexible spatial layout. This paper systematically reviews the current status and progress of research on tubular chain conveyors both domestically and internationally, and provides an in-depth analysis of their technological evolution, core theoretical framework, and industrial adaptability. Emphasis is placed on reviewing their engineering applications in the grain, oil, and food industry. In view of the remaining deficiencies in current research concerning adaptability to extreme operating conditions, multi-physics coupling mechanism modeling, large-scale implementation …

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 …

Mandating Proactive Algorithmic Accountability: A Study Of Legal, Economic, And Technological Challenges In Combating Human Trafficking On Chinese Social Media Platforms, Haoyu Dong

Northwestern Journal of Human Rights

Human trafficking increasingly relies on digital platforms, where algorithms connect traffickers with buyers, amplify illicit content, and facilitate transactions at an unprecedented scale. Yet China's legal framework remains largely reactive, imposing liability on platforms only after illegal content has been detected and removed. This Article argues that such a notice-and-takedown approach is no longer sufficient to combat trafficking in an algorithm-driven online environment.

This Article proposes a proactive model of algorithmic accountability. It contends that digital platforms should be held legally responsible when they fail to design, monitor, and refine their algorithms to prevent the dissemination and amplification of trafficking-related …

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 …

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 …

Direct Measurement Of Stem Position For Gas-Lift Valves While Flowing At High Pressure, Paulo E. Reitz

LSU Master's Theses

The present work challenges the idea of estimating the gas lift valves true dynamic stem position by providing an alternative capable of tracking the real stem position during flow tests. This is of interest for the improvement of performance determination tests and procedures that involve critical safety concerns, complex training and considerable investments, both in time and money. This scenario, together with the strong interest of industry for valve optimization and the scarcity of works available in literature, encouraged this study. An apparatus named Vision System was developed for tracking and measuring the stem position during flow tests. The developed …

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 …

Echoes Of Medieval Timekeeping In Middle-Earth And Valinor, Kristine Larsen

Journal of Tolkien Research

Throughout his six-plus decades of work spent tinkering with his invented world and its mythology, Tolkien experimented with numerous calendars and timekeeping schemes, some relying upon direct pre-telescopic observations of the heavens and others mathematical calculations. This paper investigates medieval resonances and echoes in a sample of his various schemes, demonstrating how Tolkien’s use of medievalist timekeeping is consistent with, and greatly adds to, his creation of a self-consistent invented world

The Role Of The Judiciary In Protecting The Wage Earner, Idriss Fajr

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

Legal rules alone are not sufficient to ensure social order; their effectiveness depends on a judicial apparatus capable of enforcing them. This article examines the judiciary as the ultimate recourse for every vulnerable party whose rights or dignity have been infringed, with particular attention to the wage earner within the employment relationship. It analyzes the precarious situation of workers who are abruptly dismissed by their employer—whether through reclassification of a permanent worker as temporary, dismissal justified by reduced physical capacity following illness or accident, or termination grounded in alleged serious misconduct, which always requires proof. The study further considers dismissals …

Medieval, Magical, Or Melodramatic? Depictions Of Elrond Half-Elven In Film And Television Adaptations, Kristine Larsen

Journal of Tolkien Research

Elrond Half-elven acts as an important bridge between the First, Second, and Third Ages of Middle-earth, as well as between multiple species (Maia, Elf, and Human). He thus presents writers and directors of film and television adaptations with both challenges and opportunities to investigate intersections between the medieval and the modern, myth and magic, fidelity to the original and creative exploration. Adaptations often condense and simplify plot points and scenes for the sake of time or story/telling. In the case of Elrond, this means that we should expect changes in his main scenes in The Hobbit (Elvish sword identification and …

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 …

A Quantitative Content Analysis Of Media Framing Of Illegal Mining In Ghana, Ebenezer Ato Kwamena Aidoo, Patrick Ansah, Fredrick Daoyenikye, Maame Aba Afful

Faculty Scholarship

Illegal mining in Ghana has attracted considerable public and policy attention due to its far-reaching environmental, social, and health consequences. Our study examines how Ghanaian news media frame illegal mining, the tone of media coverage, and the stakeholders represented in news narratives. Using a quantitative content analysis, 800 news articles were sampled from six widely read media outlets, Daily Graphic, Ghanaian Times, TV3 Ghana, GTV, Joy FM, and Citi Newsroom. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was employed to examine differences in framing, tone, and stakeholder representation across outlets. Findings indicate that news organizations emphasize distinct frames, resulting in varied …

Autonomic Dysregulation Attributed To Vertebral Artery Insufficiency Secondary To Subclavian Steal Syndrome: A Case Report, Lara Zargarian, Hoang Nguyen, Manbir Sanghera, Arman Megerdechyan, William S. Hughes

Student Publications

Anatomic malformation as seen in subclavian steal syndrome leads to an alteration in the body's autonomic regulatory pattern, influencing varying physical manifestations. The autonomic nervous system provides situational regulatory feedback to the body, maintaining the body’s desired point of homeostasis. We report the case of a 68-year-old male who initially came in with X-rays indicating retrolisthesis and calcifications in his carotids. A left-sided carotid bruit was also noted, as well as right-sided upper extremity weakness. Continued imaging studies indicated structural changes to his cervical regions and continued calcifications in the remainder of his arterial supply branching off of his carotid …

Reflections: The Journey Continues, Jerry L. Pitts

Faculty Publications and Presentations

Reflections: The Journey Continues is a deeply moving memoir of faith, loss, love, calling, and the quiet strength that carries a life forward when everything familiar has been shaken. In this powerful continuation of Reflections: My Personal Journey, Dr. Jerry L. Pitts invites readers into the chapters that followed his first book—the ones marked by profound suffering, unexpected grace, and a renewed sense of purpose.

This memoir traces the season when Jerry’s life was transformed by his late wife Janice’s four‑year battle with cervical cancer. With honesty and tenderness, he recounts the surgeries, treatments, setbacks, and moments of courage …

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 …

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 …

An Ecophysiological Approach To Improving Health Outcomes Of Ornamental Shrimp During Aquarium Trade And Transportation, Sancha Conway Holroyd, John Spicer, Robert P. Ellis, Lucy Turner

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Ecophysiology examines the interactions between an organism’s physiology and its environment. It seeks to understand how an organism functions and adapts under changing conditions. This has direct applications to live-trade aquaculture sectors, including the ornamental aquarium trade, where traded animals experience a variety of changing, and often stressful, environmental conditions that can threaten their health and survival. This review proposes a role for ecophysiology in managing organismal health, using Hatch (1962) theoretical framework of disease and dysfunction as a foundation for defining and distinguishing health. We focus on tropical (marine and freshwater) ornamental shrimp as an exemplar group to highlight …

Leveraging Health Information Exchange (Hie) Data To Demonstrate The Impact On Health Outcomes Of Community Based Organization Interventions: Case Studies Of Housing Placement And Medically Tailored Meal Program, Kevin Kramer, Harm Scherpbier, William Marella

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

Objective

Methods

Birth-Size Reference Charts For Normal Nursery Newborns Between 35.0 And 41.6 Weeks., Fu-Sheng Chou, Hung-Wen Yeh, Crystal Hsueh, Irene E. Olsen, Veeral N. Tolia, Reese H. Clark

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Current birth-size reference charts for nursery use may inaccurately categorize newborn size, impacting care. We aimed to develop new charts using data from uncomplicated newborns admitted to US nurseries.

METHODS: We analyzed de-identified data from newborns admitted to US normal newborn nurseries between 2021 and 2024. Statistical outliers were excluded, and gestational age was recorded in days. Birth weight, length, head circumference, and BMI models were developed by a randomly selected subset and validated by the remaining data. Proportions of newborns below the 10th percentile and above the 90th percentile were compared with the 2010 Olsen and 2013 Fenton …

Correlating High-Resolution Terrestrial Organic Carbon Isotope Records Across The Cretaceous-Paleogene Boundary, Gregory D. Price, Rhodri M. Jerrett, Lauren K. O'Connor, Emily Dearing Crampton-Flood, Bart E. Van Dongen, Sabine K. Lengger, Marc Davies

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

The Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary (∼66 million years ago) represents the most recent mass extinction event when an estimated 75% of all species became extinct, including all non-avian dinosaurs. Here we focus on the stable carbon isotope (δ¹³C) analysis of coal and coaly sediments across the terrestrial K/Pg boundary from 10 sites, between 42 and 64°N, USA and Canada. Our δ¹³C data set shows a statistically significant positive correlation with paleolatitude that we interpret as a consequence of our lower latitude sites being relatively warmer and more humid than our higher latitude sites. Temporally, our data indicates that …

Health Profile Of Brazilian Mothers, Carlos Eduardo Siqueira

Gastón Institute Publications

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Social Media-Driven Feeding Practices On The Gut Microbiome Of Captive Asian Elephants (Elephas Maximus) In Surin, Thailand, Pongpreecha Malaluang, Nuttapon Bangkaew, Jaruwan Chaiyakhot, Patinya Patikae, Nattaya Watwiengkam, Phimphanit Choklikitumnuey, Thanaphat Phupanna, Sudachanok Phowiset, Prim Chuesaard, Tarid Purisotayo

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

This study investigated the effects of social media-driven live-streaming dietary supplementation on the gastrointestinal microbial community of captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) at the Elephant Kingdom, Surin Province, Thailand. A hierarchical two-tier observational design was used: Tier 1 compared a minimal-supplementation control group (Group H, n = 6) with a frequent heterogeneous-supplementation group (Group L, n = 18); Tier 2 compared, within Group L, low-frequency (Group A, ≤ 3 sessions per week, n = 7) and high-frequency (Group B, > 3 sessions per week, n = 11) live-streaming sub-groups. Faecal microbial profiles were obtained by 16S rRNA gene (V3–V4) …

Dual-Channel Domain Data-Isolation, Gustavo Matthew Assuncao

Defensive Publications Series

In a multi-domain application monolith, data is partitioned one database schema per business domain. Strong isolation is normally pushed into the database (GRANT/REVOKE, per-schema connection roles, row-level security). When all domains share one connection pool, an application-layer contract is needed that (a) denies accidental or malicious cross-schema access on the general read/write path, while (b) still permitting deliberate, controlled cross-domain reads. This publication discloses a dual-channel contract: a deny-direct channel that statically analyzes every facade-emitted SQL string and hard-denies foreign-schema references, and an allow-through-a-constrained-compiler channel that re-admits cross-domain reads only via a read-only, mutation-free pipe-query language whose compiler resolves relation …

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