Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring The Effectiveness Of Virtual Reality Learning Through Use Of Visual Eye-Tracking Analytics (Veta) And Biological Measurements, Mckinley Anne Sherman

Master's Theses

Virtual Reality (VR) offers an immersive and interactive platform for experiential learning. The purpose of this thesis was to evaluate the relationship between physiological responses and cognitive workload within a VR learning environment and to explore VR as an effective instructional tool. This research compared participant engagement, stress, and learning performance within a 6th-grade science module developed in VR by incorporating biometric data collected via Polar H10 heart rate monitor and Varjo Areo VR headset eye-tracking. Thirty-three participants completed a pre-lesson demographic survey, post-lesson survey, VR sickness questionnaire, and the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX). While completing the lesson, the …

Food Neophobia And Its Prevalence Among College Students In The United States, Joanne Mwendi Ponnappa

Master's Theses

Food neophobia “the reluctance to try unfamiliar foods” may influence diet variety and cultural food acceptance among young adults. College students represent a critical group for studying this behavior, as they are developing independent eating habits that can persist into adulthood. This study examined the prevalence of food neophobia among U.S. college students and evaluated how academic background, travel, cultural exposure, and demographic factors influence openness to trying unfamiliar foods. A cross-sectional online survey was administered via Qualtrics to 264 college students across the United States. The Food Neophobia Scale (FNS; Pliner & Hobden, 1992) was used to assess reluctance …

Rethinking Schedule Quality Risk Assessment, Michael E. Oliver, Patrick T. Rodjom

Beyond the Project Horizon: Journal of the Center for Project Management Innovation

Critical Path Method schedule reliability is dependent on exhibition of specific qualities. Failure to exhibit these qualities (i.e., schedule defects) increases project risk exposure. Although current schedule quality assessment methods provide diagnostic remediation insights, they do not provide a meaningful singular assessment value that characterizes the nature and magnitude of schedule quality risk nor do they enable parity when comparing schedule quality across multiple schedules of disparate size (e.g., number of tasks) or complexity (e.g., number of concurrent paths, degree of merge bias). This study employed a design science research approach to address current schedule quality assessment practice dilemmas through …

Acknowledgment, Yaljod 5.1, Florian Cyril Mshanga

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

Acknowledgment from Florian Cyril Mshanga, Vice President, Governance & Operations, Young African Leaders Forum (YALF)

Reviving Pan-Africanism For The 21st Century: A Framework For Youth-Led Continental Governance Reform, Ugochukwu Mercy Prince-Ifoh

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

This paper explores the historical trajectory, current stagnation, and potential revival of PanAfricanism with a strong emphasis on youth leadership as the engine of governance reform across the African continent. By tracing the intellectual and political contributions of renowned leaders such as Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, and Thomas Sankara, the study identifies foundational principles of unity, sovereignty, and collective progress. The paper critically evaluates the Agenda 2063 of the African Union (AU), highlighting opportunities and limitations for youth participation. It also conducts a comparative analysis of regional youth governance structures and proposes practical frameworks to institutionalize youth-led reforms. The paper …

Senior Recital: Vazquez-Barragan, Voice; November 15, 2025, Miguel Vazquez-Barragan, Pepe Guillen-Prados

School of Music Programs

This is the sixty-first program of the 2025-2026 season.

Kemp Recital Hall

November 15, 2025

Saturday Evening

6:30 p.m.

Senior Recital: Garcia, Voice; November 15, 2025, Emma Garcia, Nadia Jensen

School of Music Programs

This is the sixty-second program of the 2025-2026 season.

Kemp Recital Hall

Saturday Evening

7:30 p.m.

Synthesis Essay Assignment, Reema A. Rao

Open Educational Resources

The synthesis essay assignment is the second major assignment of ENGL 110, Freshman Composition Course. This assignment invites students to select a topic of personal interest and then do research to develop a well-supported cohesive argument. The assignment supports learner autonomy by allowing students to choose topics that resonate with their goals, curiosities, and motivations which fosters learning and meaningful engagement.

Students are encouraged to use a wide range of scholarly and non-scholarly sources. By integrating and synthesizing these sources, students build critical thinking and analytical skills. Students also present their research in class and respond to questions about their …

Community Banking, Tech Innovation Anchor Ole Miss Symposium, Marvis Herring

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – Community banks are critical to the nation's economic health, but they face unprecedented challenges from evolving technology, changing customer needs and economic headwinds, industry experts told participants at the University of Mississippi's 2025 Banking and Finance Symposium.

Analysis Of Aroma Volatile Compounds In Black Tea Produced From The Large-Leaf Variety In Northern Guangxi Based On Hs-Spme-Gc-Ms, Ting Chen, Chunyu Guo, Yingqi Wu, Min Li, Yuelan Pang, Yan Qing

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] This study explores the unique flavor characteristics and volatile compounds of black tea produced from the large-leaf variety in northern Guangxi,aiming to reveal the material basis of aroma formation of this variety.[Method ] Sensory evaluation,determination of biochemical parameters,headspace-solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS ),and odor activity value (OAV ) analysis were performed in combination with chemometrics analysis to analyze the flavor characteristics and volatile compounds of the black tea.[Result ] The black tea samples produced from the large-leaf variety in northern Guangxi had similar aroma properties and were characterized by distinct floral and fruity aromas.A total of 88 volatile …

Advances In The Discovery Of Active Natural Products By Large Fragment Cloning, Dandan Zeng, Jiayu Chen, Tianlu Mo

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

Active natural products have diverse structures and activities and can be a major source of small molecule drugs.Given the emergence of multi-drug resistant bacteria and superbacteria,there is an urgent need to develop new active natural products.Large fragment cloning has been an important tool for the discovery of active natural products in recent years,and it has demonstrated obvious advantages in obtaining the biosynthetic gene clusters of active natural products.This approach,combined with efficient cluster-targeted screening methods,has significantly accelerated the discovery of active natural products.This review summarizes a wide variety of active natural products.Furthermore,this paper elaborates on the principles and applications of several …

Preparation And Application Of A Polyclonal Antibody To Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii Rsp 10, Chan Lu, Yuanyuan Zhang, Ye Tao, Zhenchuan Fan, Yanxia Liu

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] This study aims to explore the cilium assembly of the radial spoke protein RSP 10 and develop a highly specific polyclonal antibody to RSP 10.[Method ] Firstly,the prokaryotic expression vector pMal-C 2X-rsp10 was constructed,and the expression of MBP-labeled RSP 10 was induced in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3).After the fusion protein was purified,and the MBP label was excised.The obtained protein was used to immunize New Zealand male white rabbits,and the antibody titer in the anti-serum was determined by indirect ELISA.[Result ] The rabbit anti- Chlamydomonas reinhardtii RSP 10 antibody with high specificity and high sensitivity was obtained after purification …

Fabrication And Antioxidant Property Characterization Of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester-Loaded Nanoparticles, Yaqiong Chen, Yumeng Li, Hui Wu, Hongdong Song, Xiao Guan

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] This study aims to improve the dispersion and utilization of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE ) in aqueous solutions.[Method ] CAPE-loaded hordein (CAPE-HD ) nanoparticles were constructed via an anti-solvent precipitation method.The physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles were characterized,and the antioxidant properties of the nanoparticles within Caco- 2 cells were investigated.[Result ] The components within the CAPE-HD nanoparticles interacted through non-covalent bonds,such as hydrogen bonding,resulting in an altered state of CAPE upon nanoparticle formation.The CAPE-HD nanoparticles exhibited near-spherical morphology with an average particle size of 193.93 nm,an average polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.26,and average Zeta potential of 14.50 …

Bacterial Diversity In Milk And Traditionally Fermented Dairy Products In Balin Right Banner, Lijuan Liu, Gaowa Bai, Jinghe Yu, Fang Wang, Youyi Zhang, Li Zhu, Dalai Wuyun

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] This study explored the bacterial diversity in milk and traditional fermented dairy products in Balin Right Banner,aiming to lay a foundation for the development and utilization of bacterial resources in the milk and traditional fermented dairy products in this region.[Method ] A total of 32 samples of cow milk,milk tofu,and sour fermentation supernatant of milk tofu were collected from Balin Right Banner,and their bacterial diversity was analyzed by 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing.[Result ] The diversity and abundance of bacterial communities varied among the milk and traditional fermented dairy products in Balin Right Banner.The dominant bacterial phyla were Firmicutes …

Antimicrobial Resistance And Transmission Risk Of Foodborne Escherichia Coli In Wet Markets, Sisi Li, Wei Zhou, Zhijin Zhou, Bin Wang, Chengjun Qiu, Zhangsheng Zhang, Qi Zhang, Yun Sun, Xu Xu, Tao Shen, Jianzhong Han, Daofeng Qu

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] To evaluate the antimicrobial resistance and transmission risk of foodborne Escherichia coli in wet markets,this study isolated E.coli from pork,aquatic products,vegetables,and wastewater collected from three wet markets in Hangzhou,Zhejiang.[Method ] The isolates were identified by 16S rRNA sequencing,and their antimicrobial resistance phenotypes were determined via the disk diffusion method.PCR was employed to detect antimicrobial resistance genes and integrons in the isolates.The antimicrobial resistance characteristics of E.coli were analyzed,and conjugation experiments were performed to assess the potential for horizontal transfer of antimicrobial resistance genes.Co-occurrence network analysis was conducted to evaluate the transmission risk of antimicrobial resistance among the isolates.[Result …

A Zif- 8 Electrode Immobilizing Enzyme For Detection Of Glucose Solution In Food, Tingmei Ma, Shouxin Tang, Wenpan Shi, Yuchen Ma, Haijun Du

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] The aim was to construct an electrochemical sensor based on a metal-organic framework-modified electrode for the highly sensitive detection of glucose solution in beverages.[Method ] An electrochemical sensor based on ZIF- 8 composite carbon nanotubes and immobilizing glucose oxidase (GOx ) was prepared by in-situ synthesis and immobilized enzyme technology.The microstructure and morphology of the material were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD ),scanning electron microscopy (SEM ),UV-Vis spectroscopy,and infrared spectrometry (IR).The electrochemical performance of the electrode immobilizing enzyme was tested by electrochemical workstation.[Result ] The prepared electrode immobilizing enzyme showed excellent detection performance for glucose solution,with a limit …

Establishment Of A Molecularly Imprinted Electrochemical Sensor Nh 2-Mwcnts@ 4-Fpba For The Detection Of Epidermal Growth Factor In Dairy Products, Ruyue Zhang, Yiwei Wang, Hongxiu Zeng, Bini Wang, Fuxin Zhang, Zhenquan Huo, Yufang Liu

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] This study aims to develop a rapid and accurate method for detecting epidermal growth factor (EGF ).[Method ] 4-Formylphenylboronic acid (4-FPBA ) was covalently anchored to the surface of aminocarbon nanotubes (NH 2-MWCNTs ) to synthesize nanocomposites (NH 2-MWCNTs@ 4-FPBA ),and NH 2-MWCNTs@ 4-FPBA was modified on a glassy carbon electrode.When EGF was present,4-FPBA captured the EGF template through benzaldehyde,and then the electrode was immersed in pyrrole solution to electropolymerize to form a pyrrole molecularly imprinted layer.Finally,after dissociation and removal of the EGF template in an acidic solution,a three-dimensional cavity complementary to the EGF template was formed.[Result ] …

Comparison Of The Bioactivities Of Ziziphus Jujuba Polysaccharide And Its Degradation Products, Chunling Zhou, Xiaoyan Huang, Xuan Zheng, Ju Zhang

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] This study aims to compare Ziziphus jujuba polysaccharide (ZJP) and its degradation products in terms of their chemical composition and bioactivities.[Method ] ZJP was degraded by α-L-rhamnosidase,cellulase,snail enzyme,and trifluoroacetic acid to prepare different degradation products (ZJP-R,ZJP-C,ZJP-S,and ZJP-T ),and the chemical composition and degradation effects were compared.On the basis of in vitro antioxidant and probiotic activities,the in vivo antioxidant,anti-aging,anti-stress,and neuroprotective activities of ZJP and its degradation products were compared with Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system.[Result ] The mass fraction of reducing sugar and average degree of polymerization of ZJP showed significant variations among different degradation treatments.In addition,Sephadex G- …

Immunomodulatory Effects And Marker Components Of Alcohol Extract From Acanthopanax Senticosus (Rupr . Et Maxim .) Harms- Ganoderma Applanatum (Pers.) Pat., Lihong Wang, Kairui Sheng, Ming Lu, Jin Su, Yang Ping, Yu Zhang, Ji Zhao, Yixia Gong

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] The aim of this study was to analyze the compositional changes of the alcohol extracts of Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr.et Maxim.) Harms (APS )-Ganoderma applanatum (Pers.) Pat.(GA) before and after compounding at a mass ratio of 5∶1 (mAPS∶mGA=5∶1) and to investigate the immunomodulatory effects and marker components of the extracts.[Method ] The mouse models of compromised immunity and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH ) were established with cytoxan (CTX ) and 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB ),respectively,to investigate the effects of the alcohol extracts on the immune system.Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS ) was used to analyze the changes of the active ingredients …

Effects And Differences Of (+)-Catechin And (-)-Epicatechin On Antioxidant Activity Of Hek 293t Cells, Chang Sun, Ning Xia, Chao Wang, Fengxian Qin, Chengyu Lyu, Jian Liu, Tiezhu Li

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] This study aims to investigate the effects and differences of the natural antioxidant (+)-catechin and its isomer (-)-epicatechin on the antioxidant activity of HEK 293T cells based on the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-antioxidant response element (ARE ) pathway.[Method ] The effects of (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin on the viability of HEK 293T cells were investigated via the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT ) assay.Reporter genes were employed to investigate the regulatory effects on the activation of ARE.The effects of (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin on the mRNA and proteins levels of the downstream factors [glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier subunit (GCLM …

Effects Of Α-Amylase Addition On The Characteristics Of Infant Rice Flour, Huihui Liu, Zhiyong Dai, Mengyi Li, Jiao Peng, Xing Meng, Luyan Liao, Rongbin Zhang

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] This study aims to investigate the effects of α-amylase addition on the characteristics of infant rice flour.[Method ] Infant rice flour samples with different α-amylase addition were prepared.The basic composition,relative molecular mass of starch,gelatinization properties,hydration properties,texture properties,in vitro digestion characteristics,and microstructure of infant rice flour were determined.Furthermore,the correlations between the physicochemical characteristics and quality characteristics of infant rice flour were analyzed.[Result ] The weight-averaged molecular weight and the number-averaged molecular weight of starch in infant rice flour decreased with the increase in α-amylase addition.The gelatinization curve of infant rice flour with α-amylase addition was relatively gentle,and the gelatinization …

Effects Of Spices On Microbial Community Structure And Volatile Flavor Components Of Fuling Pickled Mustard Tuber, Ting Ren, Yuling Liu, Zhiping Zhao, Xiaoyong Chen, Yumei Peng, Hong Tao, Yuanli Luo

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] This study aims to investigate the effects of spices on the microbial community structure and volatile flavor compounds of Fuling pickled mustard tuber and explore the correlations between dominant microbial genera and volatile components.[Method ] The effects of spices on microbial community structure and volatile flavor components of Fuling pickled mustard tuber were investigated by high-throughput sequencing and headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME ) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS ).Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to reveal the correlations between dominant microbial genera and volatile components.The mass fractions of total acids,nitrite,and reducing sugar were determined.[Result ] The dominant microbial …

Effects Of Shaping And Baking Processes On The Antioxidant Activity Of Round Roasted Green Tea, Jun Liu, Gong Feng, Rong Tan, Weihong Huang

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] This study investigated the effects of shaping and baking processes on the antioxidant activity of round roasted green tea,aiming to provide theoretical support and practical reference for improving the quality and optimizing the processing techniques of green tea.[Method ] The influences of different processing stages and key procedures such as shaping and baking on the antioxidant activity of round roasted green tea were studied.A zebrafish model (in vivo ) and multiple indexes including DPPH radical scavenging rate,ABTS ⁺ radical scavenging rate,and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP ) were employed for comprehensive evaluation of the antioxidant activity.[Result ] …

Effects And Mechanisms Of Phytosterol-Oil Bodies Emulsion On Lipid Metabolism Of Caenorhabditis Elegans, Jie Sun, Mengyuan Yuan, Yifei Liu, Fuyao Zhang, Zhuofan Yang, Guoyou Yin

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] This study aims to explore the lipid-lowering effects of the phytosterol-oil bodies emulsion (POE ).[Method ] Caenorhabditis elegans was taken as a model to evaluate the effects of POE on lipid metabolism,physiological indexes,and expression of genes associated with oxidative stress and fat metabolism.[Result ] Compared with the control group,different mass concentrations of POE reduced the mass fraction of fat (P<0.01) and the relative content of triglycerides (P<0.05),without toxicity to the growth and development of C.elegans (P<0.01).At the same time,it significantly reduced the level of reactive oxygen species and increased the levels of antioxidant enzymes.In addition,POE affected the expression levels of genes related to fat metabolism.qPCR results showed that POE up-regulated the mRNA level of sbp-1,while down-regulating the mRNA levels of fat-2,nhr-80,and fat-5 (P<0.05).[Conclusion ] POE may improve lipid metabolism by slowing fat deposition,regulating the fat peroxidation pathway,and alleviating oxidative stress in C.elegans.

Optimization Of Processing Technology And Analysis Of Volatile Components In Jinxuan Black Tea Cream, Yunxian Wang, Yunxiong Zhao, Lianfeng Luo, Baogui Liu, Jingjing Yang

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] This study is intended to optimize the preparation process of Jinxuan black tea cream,enhance the content of tea polyphenols,and compare the effects of different processing methods on the volatile components of the tea cream.[Method ] With dried Jinxuan black tea as the raw material,response surface methodology was adopted to examine the impacts of tea-to-water ratio,enzyme dosage,ultrasonic power,and ultrasonic duration on the mass fraction of tea polyphenols in the black tea cream.Furthermore,headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME ) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS ) was employed to detect and analyze the volatile components in the black tea cream samples processed …

Optimization Of The Fermentation Medium Of Aneurinibacillus Jxn- 1 For Caproic Acid Production, Guangdong Gan, Chunlin Zhang, Ting Huang, Junjun He, Chun Pu, Wei Shi, Mingye Peng, Tengfei Zhao

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] This study aims to increase the caproic acid yield of Aneurinibacillus JXN- 1.[Method ] First,a Plackett-Burman design was employed to screen the significant factors affecting caproic acid yield from eight medium components.Subsequently,the path of steepest ascent method was used to determine the optimal concentration ranges of these significant factors.Finally,a Box-Behnken design was utilized to establish a quadratic polynomial regression model,and the interactions among the significant factors were analyzed to predict the optimal medium composition.[Result ] The Plackett-Burman design identified the mass concentration s of sodium acetate and calcium folinate and the volume fraction of ethanol as significant influencing …

Artificial Light At Night Alters Seaweed Reproductive Phenology, Emma Moyse, Louise Firth, Tim Smyth, Thomas Davies

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a growing, globally prevalent environmental stressor. It is known to disrupt biological processes across taxa and biomes, including reproductive phenology in terrestrial plants, but its potential to alter reproductive timings in marine macroalgae remains unexplored. We used reflectance spectrometry to quantitatively assess changes in receptacle ripeness of three fucoid macroalgae species at four field sites along an ALAN gradient in Plymouth Sound, UK over a six-month period. At sites with elevated ALAN (measured using Sky Quality Meters, range 16.15–18.76 mag arcsec ⁻², equivalent to 3.75 × 10 ⁻²–3.38 × 10 ⁻³ cd/m …

The Impact Of Arginase1, Malondialdehyde Levels And The Activity Of Glutathione S-Transferase On The Development And Progression Of Diabetic Retinopathy In Some Iraqi Patients, Maha Faris Yaseen, Fayhaa M. Khaleel

Baghdad Science Journal

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the major cause of blindness due to microvascular damage from high blood glucose and lipid levels. Arginase1 is an enzyme that regulates β-cell activities, insulin resistance, and vascular complications, inflammatory responses, and oxidative stress. This study aimesto investigate the role of Arginase1 in Iraqi individuals with obesity, T2DM and DR and investigating the relationship with GST and MDA in the development of inflammation and oxidative stress that causes diabetic complication. This research included 120 participants: 40 obese controls, 40 diabetes Type 2 patients, and 40 diabetic retinopathy patients, aged 30–65, from both sexes. All groups …

Spectrophotometric And Flow Injection System For Sensitive Determination Of Hesperidin And Naringenin Using Chromogenic Reagent, Ali M. Salman, Sadeem Subhi Abed

Baghdad Science Journal

Methods with high precision and sensitivity have been developed to estimate Hesperiden (HSP) and Naringenin (NAR) levels in various samples, including capsules for medicines and urine. These techniques utilize a flow injection device and an alkaline medium to perform a coupling reaction using diazotized metoclopramide (DMP) as chromogenic reagent. The utilization of the diazotized reagent of metoclopramide is regarded as an environmentally friendly chromogenic reagent. The peak absorption wavelengths for HSP and NAR are 442 nm and 416 nm, respectively, indicating that yellow dyes exhibit the most outstanding absorption at these specific wavelengths. Calibration curves were generated using a range …

A Stability-Indicating Validated Rp-Hplc Method For The Determination Of Etoricoxib And It’S Degradants: Investigation Of Greenness And Functionality Of The Developed Method, Lama Ghazal, Iyad Allous, Mhd Amer Almardini

Baghdad Science Journal

Etoricoxib is a novel NSAID that belongs to selective COX-2 inhibitors. The aim of this research is to develop a precise, selective, cost-effective, and validated HPLC analytical method for the quantitative determination of Etoricoxib and its degradants. The analysis was implemented on a C18 column (150 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm particle size) using a mobile phase containing methanol and ammonium acetate (60:40) at a flow rate of 0.9 mL/min, with the Photodiode Array detector wavelength set at 234 nm. The method was validated according to USP43-NF38 guidelines and the International Conference on Harmonization recommendations. Linearity was established with …