Digital Commons Network^™

Prokaryotic Expression Of Recombinant Plectasin Optimization Of High-Density Fermentation Conditions And Antibacterial Activity, Su Yan, Li Rong

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To construct a recombinant strain expressing the antimicrobial peptide Plectasin, optimize the high-density fermentation conditions of the recombinant strain, and evaluate the antibacterial activity of the purified recombinant peptide produced under optimized conditions. [Methods] To improve soluble expression of the target protein, the plectasin gene was synthesized and optimized based on codon preference of the prokaryotic expression system with signal peptide deletion. The optimized gene was cloned into the pET32a(+) expression vector to construct the recombinant plasmid pET 32a-plectasin, which was transformed into Escherichia coli BL21(DE3)/pLysS competent cells. Single-factor and orthogonal experiments were designed to optimize the parameters of …

Optimization Path For Criminal Governance Of Production And Sales Of Toxic And Harmful Food, Cao Ronggang

Food and Machinery

China has achieved notable progress in criminal governance of toxic and harmful food production and sales, yet the country still faces multiple challenges, including ambiguous definitions of "toxic and harmful non-food ingredients", unclear delineation of responsible entities, and low differentiation between similar offenses. To address these issues, it was suggested that China should optimize and reconstruct its criminal governance framework for toxic and harmful food product production and sales through three dimensions:clarifying identification criteria for "toxic and harmful non-food ingredients", establishing criminal liabilities for responsible entities, and defining key distinguishing elements between similar offenses.

Effect Of Composite Probiotic Tablet Candy On Oral Microbiome In Early Childhood Caries, Yu Xihua, Wang Yi, Li Liuruolan, Ren Yu, Cui Shumao, Xu Xianyin

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To investigate the effects of composite probiotic tablet candy containing Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus CCFM 1070 and Ligilactobacillus salivarius CCFM 1215 on Streptococcus mutans levels and the microbial community structure in children with early childhood caries (ECC). [Methods] Forty-three ECC patients are randomly assigned to either a probiotic group (n=21) or a placebo group (n=22). Following standard dental treatment, a 4-week intervention is administered. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) and 16S rRNA sequencing are used to systematically analyze microbial dynamics in saliva and dental plaque at baseline (Day 0) and post-intervention (Day 28). [Results] Following the intervention, the levels of S. mutans in …

Characteristics And Potential Indigenous Bacteria Isolated From Shallot Farming In Brebes Regency As Diazinon Pesticide Remediation Agents, Wahyu Purbalisa, Dian Hendrayanti, Wahida Annisa Yusuf

Makara Journal of Science

Diazinon is an organophosphate pesticide that is widely used by shallot farmers in Brebes Regency. Due to its toxicity, diazinon residue in agricultural lands as well as plants’ cultivation is harmful to humans and the environment. Using indigenous soil bacteria as a remediation agent is an alternative solution to overcome diazinon contamination. Firstly, this study aimed to characterize isolates from diazinon-contaminated shallot farming. The second objective was to test the diazinon tolerance of the isolates in various diazinon concentrations. Isolation was carried out using nutrient agar (NA) media containing diazinon concentrations of 5, 25, 50, and 100 ppm. The characterization …

National Rankings Recognize Um As Mississippi’S Leading University, Staff Report

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – The latest U.S. News & World Report "Best Colleges" rankings reaffirm the University of Mississippi as the top public university in the state and among the best in the nation.

Quality Improvement Project Empowering Nursing Instructors: Faculty Self-Efficacy & Consistency In Simulation Grading, April Guerin

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

This quality improvement (QI) project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of structured training on the Creighton Competency Evaluation Instrument (C-CEI) in improving nursing faculty self-efficacy and grading consistency in clinical student evaluations. Inconsistent clinical grading practices among nursing faculty create barriers to reliable competency evaluation and undermine student outcomes. Guided by the Donabedian Model and Lewin’s Change Theory, with implementation structured by the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle, a quasi-experimental pre-post intervention design was used. Participants include nursing faculty responsible for clinical evaluations, who completed structured C-CEI training delivered via self-paced modules in a learning management system. Faculty self-efficacy was measured using …

Predictors Of Success Among Accelerated Bachelor Of Science In Nursing Students: A Retrospective Study, Alison H. Davis, Jennifer Manning, Todd Tartavoulle, Adele Harrell, Kathleen Brennan, Mickey Pigg, Mary Dioise Ramos

School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Background: Accelerated second-degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs attract students with diverse academic backgrounds and experiences. Understanding the factors that contribute to student success is essential for improving retention and program effectiveness. While prior research has explored predictors of success in traditional BSN programs, limited data exists on accelerated BSN students. Aim: This study aimed to describe the factors predicting the success of students enrolled in an accelerated second-degree BSN program. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 273 accelerated BSN students. Descriptive statistics summarized demographic and academic characteristics. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to assess predictors …

Determination Of Residual Emamectin Benzoate In Rice By Sin-Quechers Nano-Uplc-Ms/Ms, Luo Kuanneng, Huang Zijie, Huang Pengmian, Liu Yong, Yang Shuping, Zhang Honggang

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To establish a new Sin-QuEChERS nano-triple quadrupole liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for detecting emamectin benzoate residues in rice. [Methods] After extraction with 0.1% formic acid-acetonitrile, the sample is purified with N-primary secondary amine (PSA) and multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNTs) fillers. The mobile phase is a gradient elution of 0.1% formic acid water and acetonitrile. Separation is performed using a C18 chromatographic column, and the detection is carried out using a triple quadrupole liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry system. [Results] The quantification limit of emamectin benzoate is 0.001 5 mg/kg, and the detection limit of the method is 0.000 5 …

Research On Tomato Comprehensive Quality Detection Method Based On Improved U-Net And Iwoa-Lssvm, Shi Lichun, Bian Keke, Wang Songwei, Wang Zhizhong

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To improve the detection accuracy and efficiency of non-destructive testing methods for tomatoes in food production. [Methods] Based on an automatic tomato sorting system, a comprehensive quality detection method for tomatoes was proposed, integrating machine vision, a multi-scale residual attention U-Net model, an improved whale optimization algorithm (IWOA), and a least squares support vector machine (LSSVM). Tomato image information was collected using machine vision. Tomato images were segmented using the multi-scale residual attention U-Net model to measure fruit diameter parameters. The parameters of the LSSVM model were optimized using an IWOA with chaotic mapping and an adaptive convergence factor …

Antioxidant And Anti-Inflammatory Activities And Molecular Mechanisms Of Procyanidin B 2, Yang Wenli, Qin Si, Lu Chenghao, Wang Yixue, Chen Shiyun

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To explore the mechanism by which procyanidin B2 (PB2) intervenes in inflammation and insulin resistance (IR) through multi-target modulation. [Methods] The potential of PB 2 in diabetes prevention was evaluated via in vitro antioxidant assays, and molecular biology techniques were used to reveal the regulatory effect of PB 2 on the NF-κB inflammatory signaling pathway during the progression of IR. [Results] PB2 significantly reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in HepG 2 cells by scavenging free radicals and inhibited the expression of inflammatory factors IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α. By suppressing the JNK/NF-κB signaling cascade, PB2 blocked excessive ROS production, …

Research Progress On The Effects Of Polyphenolic Compounds On The Formation Of Heterocyclic Amines, Hu Xiaoting, Jiao Ye, Cheng Yunhui

Food and Machinery

Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are harmful compounds generated during the thermal processing of food, possessing mutagenic and carcinogenic properties that increase the risk of multiple cancers in humans. Therefore, effectively inhibiting the formation of HCAs has long been a research focus in the field of food science. Focusing on research achievements from the past five years, this review systematically analyzes the effects of polyphenolic compounds, polyphenol-rich plant extracts, and spices on the formation of HCAs, as well as the regulatory mechanisms involved. Furthermore, the future development directions of polyphenolic compounds in the mitigation of HCAs are discussed.

Quantifying The Relative Importance Of Survival Threats To A Long-Lived Reptile Using Expert Elicitation, Jennifer F. Moore, J. Hardin Waddle, Fred Johnson, Julien Martin, Evan H. Campbell Grant, Jill Fleming, Thomas S. Akre, Donald J. Brown, Yu Man Lee, Jonathan Drescher-Lehman, John Kleopfer, Jeff Tamplin

Faculty Publications

Long-term survival of a conservation-reliant species requires understanding the impact of threats on population growth rate and the management actions that can help mitigate these threats. We used a threat assessment with expert-elicited estimates to determine the relative effect of each stage-specific threat on the population growth rate of the wood turtle Glyptemys insculpta. In addition, we offered potential management actions that could mitigate these threats and examined the relative cost and benefit of each. The experts responded that predators had the largest effect on hatchling and juvenile survival and that road mortality had the largest effect on adult survival. …

Postsurgical Pain, Psychosocial Functioning, And Cannabis Use Among Adolescents And Young Adults Undergoing Gender Affirming Surgery, Eleanor Battison, Emily A. Kenyon, Corrin Murphy, Eline Lenne, Danielle N. Moyer, Sarah W. Feldstein Ewing, Anna C. Wilson

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Purpose: Little is known about transgender and gender expansive (TGE) adolescents and young adults (AYAs) pain and psychosocial experiences in the acute postsurgical period following gender-affirming surgery (GAS). This study describes pain symptomatology and psychosocial functioning within 1 month after GAS among TGE AYAs, examines immediate postsurgical associations of cannabis use with pain symptomatology, pain catastrophizing, and psychosocial functioning, and explores pain persistence, cannabis use, and psychosocial functioning in a subgroup of individuals 6 months after surgery.

Methods: AYAs (N = 64) underwent GAS at a large academic medical center in the Pacific Northwest between March 2019 and June …

The Intersection Of Ethnomusicology And Special Education: An Exploration Of Aba-Infused World Music Play Facilitation In The Social-Emotional Development Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Jean-Pierre Ervelt Leroy

Masters Theses

Inspired by experiences across disciplines, this mixed-method study peered into a possible intersection of ethnomusicology and special education. An innovative ABA-infused world music play facilitation program for children was created to examine how culturally diverse musical intervention in combination with Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) principles could enhance the social-emotional development in children diagnosed with ASD. To gain an informed context on worldview and structure, this research was conducted within both sacred and secular communities. To gain a comprehensive understanding of how interdisciplinary intervention can impact the self-expression, self-regulation skills, and cultural awareness of children, both quantitative assessments and qualitative observations …

The Cowl - V. 89 N. 2 - September 25, 2025

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 89 No. 2 - September 25, 2025. 16 pages.

Re: Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Final Insufficiently Reclaimed Sites Field Sampling Plan (Fsp): Bres No. 26 – Cripple Dump, Mike Mcanulty

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Characteristics And Formation Processes Of Helium-Bearing Gas Reservoirs In Deep Strata In The Xujiaweizi Fault Depression, Songliao Basin, Ren Jiahao, He Yanxin, Tian Wei, Wang Lei

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective and Method The Xujiaweizi Fault Depression in the Songliao Basin contains multiple helium-bearing gas fields. However, the assessment methods for helium resources and helium accumulation patterns in the fault depression are yet to be determined. Using 3D seismic data and logs from 24 wells, this study optimized the helium resource assessment method based on natural gamma-ray spectral logging. Using the optimized method, this study quantitatively assessed the helium-generating potential and theoretical helium production of crust-derived helium in deep strata in the Xujiaweizi Fault Depression. By combining the geochemical characteristics of the helium-bearing gas reservoirs and the simulation results of …

Diagnosis, Prevention, And Control Of Liquid Accumulation In Horizontal Wellbores For Deep Coalbed Methane: A Case Study Of The Daning-Jixian Block Along The Eastern Margin Of The Ordos Basin, Zeng Wenting, Wang Zhiming, Zhang Lei, Tian Zhida, Zhen Huaibin, Dai Anna, Zeng Quanshu, Sui Tianyang

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective The Daning-Jixian block on the eastern margin of the Ordos Basin has achieved large-scale production of deep coalbed methane (CBM), with nearly 150 horizontal wells having been put into production. However, with a gradual decrease in formation energy during CBM production, gas wells exhibit declining liquid-carrying capacity. Consequently, liquid accumulation in wellbores has become a major factor affecting deep CBM production. Recovery of deep CBM shows the coexistence of free and desorbed gases, accompanied by significantly varying gas/liquid ratios. Moreover, gas production channels and techniques vary in different production stages. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop a …

A New Genesis Method-Based Methodology For Helium Resource Evaluation: Application To The Jinzhong Basin And Its Geological Implications, Zhang Qiao, Zhou Junlin, Ma Shangwei, Guo Wang, Li Yuhong, Zhang Yunpeng, Zhang Yuxuan, Xu Haihong, Wang Jiawei

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Helium, a strategic resource in short supply, primarily occurs in natural gas. In China, helium resource assessment remains in its nascent stage, and limited helium exploration and exploitation have been conducted in general. Most especially, for regions experiencing no natural gas exploration and basins where helium reserves remain unproven, it is essential to develop reliable methods for helium resource evaluation. Among various approaches, genesis methods, based on models of helium generation, migration, and enrichment processes, offer advantages including simple models, accessible parameters, and rapid assessment. However, existing genesis methods focus primarily on the estimation of the total amount of …

Sedimentary Environments And Microscopic Water Control Patterns In The Luohe Formation, Gaojiapu Coal Mine, Binchang Mining Area, Li Xiaolong

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective and Method The exploration of the Luohe Formation, located on the roof of the Huanglong Jurassic coalfield, faces challenges such as a lack of consensus on the sedimentary environments of sandstone aquifers and unclear lithologies with water yield properties in the aquifers. To address these challenges, this study investigated sandstones in the Luohe Formation in the Gaojiapu Coal Mine, Shaanxi Province. Specifically, a comprehensive analysis of core samples with different lithologies was conducted, including colors, lithologies, lithologic assemblages, the surface morphology of quartz grains, mineral components, and sedimentary structures and textures. Based on analytical results, as well as the …

Geothermal Resource Assessment Of The Eastern Da’An Area Based On 3d Geothermal Geological Modeling, Chen Wenwen, Rao Song, Meng Boyan, Guo Menghao, Luo Yang, Cai Jiahao, Li Wenjing, Zhang Qiaoran, Tang Yucong

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective The Da’an area in Jilin Province, located in the southwestern Central Depression of the Songliao Basin, exhibits significant geothermal anomalies, which suggest substantial potential for geothermal exploitation. However, there remains a lack of detailed geothermal resource assessment of this area. Among conventional assessment methodologies, the volumetric method fails to accurately characterize irregular stratigraphic geometries and the spatial heterogeneity of parameters, while the Monte Carlo method suffers from limitations such as heavy dependence on the probability distribution models of geothermal reservoir parameters. Methods To overcome the limitations of the conventional methods, this study established a 3D geothermal geological model by …

A Collocation Point Sampling Method For Solving The Helmholtz Equation Using Physics-Informed Neural Networks, Shan Lianpu, Yu Caixia, Wang Yanfei

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background In the field of seismic wavefield simulation, physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) have emerged as a new method for efficiently solving the Helmholtz equation due to their characteristic of grid-free computation. However, for the forward modeling of complex medium models using the Helmholtz equation, traditional uniform grid-based methods for collocation point sampling are insufficient to efficiently provide gradient information, leading to prolonged training time and high resource consumption. Objective and Method To improve the forward modeling efficiency and accuracy based on PINNs and overcome the anomalous concentration of collocation points in the seismic source during dynamic sampling, this study proposed …

Anomalous Responses Of Coal Seam Mining Face Floor Derived Based On Stress-Induced Failure Modeling And 3d Direct Current Electric Method, Gao Weifu, Zou Xu, Niu Chao, Xiao Lele, Zi Jianxiao

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective In recent years, floor water inrushes have frequently occurred in North China-type coalfields. To address this challenge, determining the anomalous responses of water inrushes from stope floors has emerged as a focus of research on water disaster prevention and control. Methods This study established a stress model of the stope floor based on the mine pressure theory. Using this model, it analyzed the stress distribution and failure characteristics of the stope floor. The floor failure characteristics revealed that the coal seam floor can be divided into three zones: the compression, expansion, and recovery zones. Through stress-resistivity tests, this study …

Technologies And Equipment For Efficient Drilling Rescue, Yao Ningping, Zou Zujie, Zhang Zhonghai, Zhao Jiyun, Hao Shijun, Fan Dong, Dou Bin

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective In China, mining operations are progressively extending to greater depths, with annual tunneling of mine roadways and tunnels nationwide reaching nearly 20000 km. In this context, mine (tunnel) accidents occur frequently, threatening the safety of state property and people’s lives. To meet the great demand for emergency rescue in mine (tunnel) accidents, drilling rescue, emerging as a hot topic, has been employed as an effective approach. Methods Techniques and equipment for efficient and safe drilling of surface and underground (tunnel) rescue boreholes were investigated by centering on two main roadmaps: (1) surface rescue equipment – forming techniques for search …

The Colby Echo (2025-09-25), Colby College

The Colby Echo

Published by the students of Colby College since 1877, The Colby Echo is the weekly, editorially independent student-run newspaper of Colby College in Waterville, Maine. Published monthly, 1877-1886; semi-monthly, 1886-1897; and weekly during the academic year, 1898-present.

Non-Invasive Detection Of Choroidal Melanoma Via Tear-Derived Protein Corona On Gold Nanoparticles: A Machine Learning Approach, Hakimeh Rakhshandeh, Ahmad Nasiraei, Hamid Riazi-Esfahani, Babak Masoomian, Fariba Ghassemi, Mojtaba Arjmand, Saeed Heidari Keshel, Fatemeh Atyabi, Rassoul Dinarvand

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

This study investigates the feasibility of using tear sample analysis, based on protein corona formation on gold nanoparticles combined with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and machine learning techniques, as a non-invasive approach for the detection of choroidal melanoma. The aim is to assess whether protein-nanoparticle interactions can support early and reliable identification of this ocular condition. Tear samples were collected using Schirmer strips from six healthy individuals and six patients diagnosed with choroidal melanoma, with subsequent augmentation to 18 samples per group. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs, ~ 20 nm) were synthesized via citrate reduction and incubated with tear samples to …

Approach To Ophthalmic Surgery Involving The Anterior Vitreous: A Clinical Practice Update From The American Society Of Retina Specialists, Matthew R Starr, Christina Y Weng, Lejla Vajzovic, Kevin J Blinder, Judy E Kim, J Michael Jumper

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

When encountering diseases of the anterior vitreous and peripheral retina (ie, the "middle segment" of the eye), vitreoretinal (VR) surgeons are specifically trained in surgical techniques for managing the vitreous and visualizing the peripheral retina during anterior vitrectomy, and therefore they are well equipped to address the complications of surgery involving the anterior vitreous space. This clinical update reviews and compares the current literature discussing techniques and patient outcomes related to complete pars plana vitrectomy versus incomplete, subtotal pars plana vitrectomy, and addresses the proposition of developing an abridged training curriculum for non-VR surgeons to acquire the knowledge and skills …

Smarcal1 Is A New Osteosarcoma Predisposition Gene, Maryam Rafati, Lillian M Guenther, Laura E Egolf, D Matthew Gianferante, Jung Kim, Kevin Wang, Bin Zhu, Logan G Spector, Nathan Anderson, Katherine A Janeway, Donald A Barkauskas, Douglas S Hawkins, Ana Patiño-Garcia, Philip J Lupo, Michael E Scheurer, Lindsay Morton, Gregory T Armstrong, Yadav Sapkota, M Monica Gramatges, Massimo Serra, Claudia Hattinger, Katia Scotlandi, Irene L Andrulis, Jay S Wunder, Mandy L Ballinger, David M Thomas, Meredith Yeager, Michael Dean, Douglas R Stewart, Aurelie Vogt, Jia Liu, Belynda D Hicks, Wen-Yi Huang, Maria Teresa Landi, Adriana Lori, W Ryan Diver, Sharon A Savage, Stephen J Chanock, Lisa Mirabello

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Osteosarcoma, the most common childhood bone tumor, can occur in rare cancer predisposition syndromes; however, most cases are sporadic with no known predisposing factors. We investigated the frequency of SMARCAL1 putative pathogenic variants in our large ongoing study of 2,119 osteosarcoma cases, their relation to patient characteristics, and the population prevalence. Our analysis uncovered a higher frequency of SMARCAL1 pathogenic variants across three osteosarcoma case sets (1.8%, n = 2,119) than in 2,625 comparably sequenced cancer-free controls (0.3%; P <  .001). Cases with SMARCAL1 pathogenic variants had significantly improved overall survival compared to cases without these variants (hazard ratio 0.36, 95% CI 0.14-0.96, P = .034). In the UK Biobank (469,557 exomes), there was a 33-fold increased risk of osteosarcoma in individuals with SMARCAL1 pathogenic variants. These results identify SMARCAL1 as a new osteosarcoma predisposition gene and thus warrant follow-up to identify the mechanisms by which SMARCAL1 contributes to the etiology of osteosarcoma.

Lysosomes Signal Through The Epigenome To Regulate Longevity Across Generations, Qinghao Zhang, Weiwei Dang, Meng C Wang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The epigenome is sensitive to metabolic inputs and crucial for aging. Lysosomes act as a signaling hub to sense metabolic cues and regulate longevity. We find that lysosomal metabolic pathways signal through the epigenome to regulate transgenerational longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Activation of lysosomal lipid signaling and lysosomal adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) or reduction of lysosomal mechanistic-target-of-rapamycin (mTOR) signaling increased expression of a histone H3.3 variant and increased its methylation on K79, leading to lifespan extension across multiple generations. This transgenerational pro-longevity effect required intestine-to-germline transportation of histone H3.3 and a germline-specific H3K79 methyltransferase, and was recapitulated by …

Synthesis, Structure-Activity Relationships, And Antitumor Activities Of Quinoxiline-Containing Inhibitors Of The Protein-Protein Interactions Between Transcription Coactivator Af9/Enl And Dot1l/Af4, Chandra Bhushan Mishra, Xin Li, Bala Krishna Moku, Sehun Kwak, Dnyaneshwar N Garad, Yongcheng Song

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene rearrangements cause ~75% of acute leukemia in infants and 5-10% in children and adults with poor clinical outcomes. Protein-protein interactions (PPI) between frequent MLL fusion partners AF9/ENL and AF4 or histone methyltransferase DOT1L are drug targets for MLL-rearranged (MLL-r) leukemia. Sixty-seven quinoxiline compounds were synthesized and tested for their ability to inhibit such PPIs. Compounds 16, 17, 59 and 63 were found to be potent inhibitors with IC50 values of 0.35-1.5 μM. Structure-activity relationships are discussed. Potent inhibitors can suppress expression of MLL target genes Myc and Meis1 and selectively block proliferation of MLL-r and …