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Integrative Effects Of Mycorrhizal Fungi, Azotobacter, And Azospirillum With Different Nitrogen Levels On Morphophysiological Responses And Drought Tolerance Of Maize (Zea Mays L.) ‘Sc706’ Under Varying Water Deficit Conditions, Nozar Shamohammadi, Mahdi Zare, Korosh Ordookhani, Farshid Aref, Shahram Sharafzadeh

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Under drought stress, soil fertility declines sharply, restricting nutrient availability and reducing plant productivity. This study evaluated the effects of mycorrhiza, Azotobacter, and Azospirillum combined with nitrogen on the morpho-physiological traits of maize (Zea mays L.) hybrid SC706 plants under different water deficit conditions. The experiment was conducted at a research field in Fars Province, Iran, over 2 consecutive years (2017–2018, 2018–2019) and applied a split-split plot design based on a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 3 replicates. It assessed the effects of the 3 biological fertilizers in 4 treatment groups (Control [B1], inoculation with mycorrhiza alone …

Vertical Price Transmission In The Philippine Rice Supply Chain: Responses To Shocks In The Post-Tariffication Period, Bates Bathan

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

In the post-Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) period, several protectionist policies and state interventions have reemerged in the Philippine rice market. Using national-level time series data from January 2018 to April 2025, the study applies autoregressive distributed lag models to assess the impact of policy changes and external shocks on unmilled rice (palay) and rice prices. Results show that National Food Authority (NFA) rice stocks significantly affect palay farmgate prices and special rice retail prices. Vertical price transmission flows from farmgate to wholesale levels for special rice, and from wholesale to retail levels for well-milled and regular-milled rice. Major …

Vertical Price Transmission In The Philippine Rice Supply Chain: Responses To Shocks In The Post-Tariffication Period, Bates Bathan

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

In the post-Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) period, several protectionist policies and state interventions have reemerged in the Philippine rice market. Using national-level time series data from January 2018 to April 2025, the study applies autoregressive distributed lag models to assess the impact of policy changes and external shocks on unmilled rice (palay) and rice prices. Results show that National Food Authority (NFA) rice stocks significantly affect palay farmgate prices and special rice retail prices. Vertical price transmission flows from farmgate to wholesale levels for special rice, and from wholesale to retail levels for well-milled and regular-milled rice. Major …

Improvement Of Forage Productivity By Intercropping Pakchong 1 And Napier Grass With Mungbean And Soybean In Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines, Paul Joshua C. Marquez, Eureka Teresa M. Ocampo, Menandro M. Loresco, Lourdes S. Edano Ma, Agapita J. Salces

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Forage demand is rising in the Philippines, and to sustainably boost agronomic performance, the beneficial impact of intercropping was investigated. This study characterized the performance of high-yielding forages, namely Napier grass (NG) and Pakchong 1 (PK), when intercropped with soybean (SB) and mungbean (MB) under rain-fed conditions in Los Banos, Laguna. The experiment was conducted in a repeated-measures RCBD replicated 3 times with grass species and cropping system as main factors, resulting in the following treatment combinations: Sole NG, Sole PK, NGSB, NGMB, PKSB, and PKMB. Grasses were ratooned, legumes were harvested, and legume seeds were re-sown every 45 to …

Women’S Roles In Philippine Agriculture In The Context Of Climate Change: A Meta-Synthesis Using The Gender Analysis Framework, Gemnmalyn M. Trespalacio, Nico Jayson C. Anastacio, Samantha Geraldine G. De Los Santos

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

This paper highlights the critical role of women, including their contribution to adapting to the effects of climate change on the Philippine agriculture sector. It provides an overview of women’s roles in agriculture in the context of climate change through the lens of the Gender Analysis Framework (GAF). A total of 1,823 relevant articles were collected from ScienceDirect, adopting the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. After 2 levels of screening process, 17 articles were synthesized guided by the domains of GAF: (1) access to assets; (2) practices and participation; (3) beliefs and perception; and (4) …

Integrative Effects Of Mycorrhizal Fungi, Azotobacter, And Azospirillum With Different Nitrogen Levels On Morphophysiological Responses And Drought Tolerance Of Maize (Zea Mays L.) ‘Sc706’ Under Varying Water Deficit Conditions, Nozar Shamohammadi, Mahdi Zare, Korosh Ordookhani, Farshid Aref, Shahram Sharafzadeh

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Under drought stress, soil fertility declines sharply, restricting nutrient availability and reducing plant productivity. This study evaluated the effects of mycorrhiza, Azotobacter, and Azospirillum combined with nitrogen on the morpho-physiological traits of maize (Zea mays L.) hybrid SC706 plants under different water deficit conditions. The experiment was conducted at a research field in Fars Province, Iran, over 2 consecutive years (2017–2018, 2018–2019) and applied a split-split plot design based on a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 3 replicates. It assessed the effects of the 3 biological fertilizers in 4 treatment groups (Control [B1], inoculation with mycorrhiza alone …

Beta-Casomorphin7 Detection In Milk From Dairy Species And Beta-Casein Protein Characterization In Cattle From Selected Provinces In The Philippines, Angelo M. Tapia, Maria Cynthia R. Oliveros, Queennie Hope D. Umipon, Hazel Marie E. Nicolas, Naoya Ogawa, Yasuyuki Kitaura

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

This study was conducted to detect β-casomorphin7 (BCM7) in dairy animals and to characterize the β-casein (CSN2) genotype among dairy cattle breeds in the Philippines. A total of 59 dairy animals, composed of 35 cattle (12 Holstein Sahiwal [HS16 Jersey × Holstein Friesian [JHF], and 7 Siquijor Native Cattle [SNC]), 15 buffaloes (Bulgarian Murrah and Brazilian Murrah), and 9 goats (Saanen and Anglo-Nubian) were collected with milk samples. Milk protein was extracted and subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS) analysis after stimulated gastrointestinal digestion. BCM7 was detected in cattle with an average concentration of 0.322 + 0.080, whereas …

Improvement Of Forage Productivity By Intercropping Pakchong 1 And Napier Grass With Mungbean And Soybean In Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines, Paul Joshua C. Marquez, Eureka Teresa M. Ocampo, Menandro M. Loresco, Ma Lourdes S. Edano, Agapita J. Salces

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Forage demand is rising in the Philippines, and to sustainably boost agronomic performance, the beneficial impact of intercropping was investigated. This study characterized the performance of high-yielding forages, namely Napier grass (NG) and Pakchong 1 (PK), when intercropped with soybean (SB) and mungbean (MB) under rain-fed conditions in Los Banos, Laguna. The experiment was conducted in a repeated-measures RCBD replicated 3 times with grass species and cropping system as main factors, resulting in the following treatment combinations: Sole NG, Sole PK, NGSB, NGMB, PKSB, and PKMB. Grasses were ratooned, legumes were harvested, and legume seeds were re-sown every 45 to …

Carotenoid Profiles Of Momordica Cochinchinensis (Lour.) Spreng. Aril And Leaves As Potential Dietary Caroteniod Sources [Research Note], Francis A. Aguilar, Antonio C. Laurena, Nerrisa K. Torreta, Vida Faith R. Galvez, Evelyn B. Rodriguez, Lourdes B. Cardenas

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Momordica cochinchinensis (Lour.) Spreng. or sweet gourd is a perennial, dioecious vine known to possess remarkable carotenogenic capacity. To explore its potential as a dietary carotenoid source, this study evaluated the carotenoids of aril from ripe fruits and of leaves of an accession from Laoag, Ilocos Norte, Philippines, through open-column chromatography. Data reveal that the optimal fruit ripeness for aril carotenoid quantification, determined by fruit skin redness (CIELAB a* value), was achieved 6 to 7 wk after pollination, at which time the aril was found to contain lycopene at 1,260.64 ± 56.17 μg g⁻¹ fresh weight (FW) and β-carotene …

Beta-Casomorphin7 Detection In Milk From Dairy Species And Beta-Casein Protein Characterization In Cattle From Selected Provinces In The Philippines, Angelo M. Tapia, Cynthia R. Oliveros Maria, Queennie Hope D. Umipon, Hazel Marie E. Nicolas, Naoya Ogawa, Yasuyuki Kitaura

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

This study was conducted to detect β-casomorphin7 (BCM7) in dairy animals and to characterize the β-casein (CSN2) genotype among dairy cattle breeds in the Philippines. A total of 59 dairy animals, composed of 35 cattle (12 Holstein Sahiwal [HS16 Jersey × Holstein Friesian [JHF], and 7 Siquijor Native Cattle [SNC]), 15 buffaloes (Bulgarian Murrah and Brazilian Murrah), and 9 goats (Saanen and Anglo-Nubian) were collected with milk samples. Milk protein was extracted and subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS) analysis after stimulated gastrointestinal digestion. BCM7 was detected in cattle with an average concentration of 0.322 + 0.080, whereas …

Characterization And Response To Exercise Training Of Hdl-Specific Phospholipid Efflux, Eric C. Leszcynski, Charles S. Schwartz, Kiani J.C. Jacobs, Prasun L. Dev, Sujoy Ghosh, Jeremy M. Robbins, Robert E. Gerszten, Anand Rohatgi, Timothy S. Collier, Robert J. Konard, Masaki Sato, Rafael Zubirán, Claude Bouchard, Edward B. Neufeld, Alan T. Remaley, Mark A. Sarzynski Facsm

Faculty Publications

The HDL-specific phospholipid efflux (HDL-SPE) assay is a novel cell-free measure of HDL function that is inversely associated with coronary artery disease. However, the effect of exercise training on HDL-SPE is unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of exercise training on HDL-SPE in a large, diverse cohort free of overt disease. Clinical and functional measures of HDL were taken before and after 20 weeks of endurance exercise training in 508 participants from the HERITAGE Family Study. Associations of HDL-SPE with HDL-related traits were examined using Pearson's correlations at baseline and following exercise training (significance: P …

Signatures Of The Anthropocene: Population Genomic Structure Detected In Pennsylvania Coyotes, Craig A. Marshall, Julia Halo, Kyle Van Why, Yeraldi Loera, Stavi R. Tennenbaum, Casey Burton, Ariana Di Landro, Dominic Dominguez, Daniel Duncan, Madison Machado, Catalina Posada, Stephen J. Gaughran, Madison Lichak, Kristin Brzeski, Elizabeth Heppenheimer, Bridgett Vonholdt

Michigan Tech Publications

Coyotes (Canis latrans) expanded across eastern North America in the last century and are ecological generalists capable of thriving across diverse habitats. Broad genetic surveillance has reported little spatial genetic patterning for this highly dispersive species. Here, we explore the genome-wide signatures of spatial patterns found in a 10-year study of 1199 coyotes from northeastern United States, with a temporal analysis of Pennsylvania coyotes. Despite their broad dispersal capability, we detected subtle but significant population structure, with two genetic clusters that have a weak clinal transition zone. This partitioning aligned qualitatively with patterns of human population density and activity. We …

Spatial Variability Of Nitrates And Nitrogen Mineralization Kinetics And Their Effects In Long-Term Tillage Systems, Bibash Rokaya

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Nitrogen (N) and water management are essential for water quality protection and crop production. However, soil N and water are spatiotemporally variable. Soil water spatial dependencies are described in the literature with known associations with preferential flows among other factors. In contrast, a knowledge gap exists on the spatial dependence of soil N mineralization kinetics. We hypothesize that soil N mineralization kinetics and soil water have distinct and cross-correlated spatial characteristics among soil management practices and climatic regions. For the field study, we measured soil-N mineralization kinetics, volumetric water content (VWC), and a suite of soil properties along ~70 m …

Resurgence Of Visceral And Cutaneous Leishmaniasis In Kajiado County, Kenya: A Coordinated Response And Entomological Survey, Damaris Matoke-Muhia, Barrack O. Owino, Steve Kiplagat, Hannah N. Mwangi, Johnstone M. Ingonga, Daniel Njenga, Benny B. Septer, Mwatela Kitondo, Daniel Mwiti, Charles Magiri, Hellen Nyakundi, Juliet Onditi, Sarah Weihl, Catherine Wenger, Abhay Satoskar, Jandouwe Villinger, Shaden Kamhawi, Joseph Ndungu, Richard Wamai, Daniel K. Masiga

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated emergence of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in 2021, in Kajiado County in Kenya, representing a newly recognized region of endemic transmission. METHODS: The investigation involved community sensitization, medical camps, and entomological surveys across eight villages. We screened 100 individuals with indicative symptoms of leishmaniasis, and also carried out an entomological survey. RESULTS: We found 10 patients of VL, predominantly in children under 15. Of 22 suspected cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) cases, eight were confirmed with Leishmania tropica. Entomological surveys identified 4781 sandflies, with Sergentomyia species being most abundant. DNA of Leishmania donovani was detected in multiple Sergentomyia species …

Evaluation Of Publicly Available Maize Germplasm Adaptation To Environments In Nebraska, Garrett Snodgrass

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Publicly available maize germplasm represents an important resource for breeding programs seeking to expand genetic diversity and improve hybrid performance. However, effective use requires characterization of per se phenotypic performance of parental lines and evaluation of the parental line’s hybrid progeny adaptation to a given target population of environments. Furthermore, understanding population structure and heterotic grouping is imperative for maximizing efficiency of breeding decisions. The objectives of this study were to (1) evaluate phenotypic performance of parental lines and hybrids across environments in Nebraska, and to (2) refine heterotic group classification of parental lines within the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Hybrid …

Determinants Of Agroecological Practices Adoption In Mango-Based Farming Systems: Evidence From Southern Ethiopia, Fasikaw Belay Mihretu, Melkamu Alemayehu, Mengistie Mossie, Yayeh Bitew, Tadele Tefera

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Agroecological practices are a promising strategy for improving the productivity of mango-based farming systems sustainably. However, their adoptions among farmers in Ethiopia remain low and inconsistent. Despite their potential benefits, little is known about the extent of adoption, the interdependent nature of these practices, and the determinants associated with the farmers' decisions to adopt multiple agroecological practices. Hence, this investigation explores the determinants associated with the adoption of agroecological practices in mango-based farming systems in southern Ethiopia. The study employed a mixed-methods design using 395 randomly selected households. The multivariate probit and Poisson regression models were used for data analysis. …

Wellness Connection Newsletter March 2026, Roger Williams University School Of Law

Life of the Law School (1993- )

No abstract provided.

Farmers Markets As Community Infrastructure: Evidence From A Three-Year Statewide Data Project In Utah, Jaclyn Pace, Roslynn Mccann, Blue Cook, Steven Price, Lorali Smith, Dianna Parkynn, Joshua Cafferty

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Utah farmers markets play a critical role in food access, small business viability, and community connection, yet limited statewide data document their impact. The Utah Farmers Market Network (UFMN) and Utah State University (USU) Extension conducted a mixed-methods evaluation (2023–2025) and found that farmers markets make valuable contributions to the community.

The Modern Sisyphus Blows Leaves: Attitudes And Impacts Regarding Leaf Litter Removal On A Suburban Campus, A. C. Nony, M. R. Mcclung, M. L. Reid

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Leaf litter habitat disruption in suburban spaces stems from the prevalence of “lawn culture,” that is, the accepted societal norm that land immediately surrounding humans or meant for human recreational use should be clean, tidy, controlled, and aesthetically pleasing, above other considerations. When leaf litter on residential and recreational lawns is cleared, it removes vital habitat for organisms of several taxa, especially species that rely on litter as a moisture and temperature-controlled substrate for overwintering. We administered an opinion survey to students, staff, and faculty at Hendrix College, a highly residential and suburban campus in Conway, Arkansas, to assess views …

Widespread Decline In The Abundance Of Sea Cucumber Assemblages In Atolls Of The Protected Rowley Shoals, Northwestern Australia, Inês Leal, Claire L. Ross, Simone Strydom, Richard D. Evans, Thomas H. Holmes, Graham J. Edgar, John K. Keesing

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The Rowley Shoals, off northwestern Australia, are renowned as a biodiversity hotspot. This remote system comprises three atolls, Clerke, Imperieuse and Mermaid, which in recent years have been increasingly targeted by illegal fishing, a pressure rising across the Indo-Pacific. The objective of this study was to quantify recent changes in sea cucumber assemblages across the Rowley Shoals. We surveyed nine sea cucumber species at monitoring sites in 2018 and 2023 to assess changes in their abundance. Total assemblage densities declined significantly across all atolls and habitats. Documented seizures of illegally harvested holothurians by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority over this …

Assessment Of Aluminum-Based Drinking Water Treatment Residuals From Multiple Utilities In The United States As Green Sorbents For Pfas, Parisa Javidan, Roxana Rahmati, Zhiming Zhang, Anshuman Satpathy, Steven Larson, Rupali Datta, Dibyendu Sarkar

Michigan Tech Publications

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental contaminants causing human health concerns. In this study, five aluminum-based drinking water treatment residuals (Al-WTRs) were evaluated as green adsorbents for the removal of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) from water. Al-WTRs are nonhazardous solid wastes generated during the coagulation process of water treatment using aluminum salts or polymers. Although high PFAS adsorption capacity of Al-WTRs generated in one facility in the US has been reported, no study exists assessing PFAS adsorption capabilities of WTRs generated in multiple facilities using various types of aluminum coagulants. Batch adsorption experiments of PFOA …

The Role Of Top-Down Appetite Self-Regulation In The Development Of Healthy Eating Behaviors Among Children: A Narrative Review And Socialization Framework, David J Bridgett, Sheryl O Hughes, Matthew Broussard, Daniela Mccourt, Christina M Croce, Jennifer O Fisher

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Appetite self-regulation (ASR) among children is thought to have a fundamental role in shaping the development of healthy eating behaviors, dietary intake, and growth during childhood. Parallel to developmental frameworks for understanding "general" self-regulation among children, ASR has been described as involving children's use of "top-down" cognitive processes to moderate "bottom-up" biological drives around food approach and avoidance in the interest of achieving desired eating behaviors or outcomes. Whereas bottom-up ASR processes during early childhood are well characterized, particularly in the context of dysregulation and obesity risk, the role of top-down ASR processes in the development of healthy eating behaviors …

Perceptions And Use Of Behaviour Change Interventions For Physical Activity In Chronic Respiratory Disease In The Republic Of Ireland, Ciara Hanrahan, Joseph G Mcveigh, Terence M O'Connor, Thierry Troosters, Julie Broderick

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Objectives: Behaviour change interventions may support physical activity behaviour in people with chronic respiratory disease. The most effective interventions for long-term physical activity behaviour change in this cohort remains unclear. This aim of this study was to explore the use and perceptions of behaviour change interventions by both providers of physical activity programmes for people with chronic respiratory disease and by people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in The Republic of Ireland.

Design: Two anonymous online and paper-copy cross-sectional surveys, piloted and mapped to the COM-B model of behaviour change, were distributed via social media and relevant gate-keepers …

Pre- And Postnatal Exposure To Pm2.5 And No2 And Blood Pressure In Children: Results From The Echo Cohort, Yu Ni, Andrew Law, Xingyu Gao, Adam A Szpiro, Christine T Loftus, Miranda Jones, Logan C Dearborn, Marnie F Hazlehurst, Allison R Sherris, Sindana Ilango, Kaja Z Lewinn, Nicole R Bush, Qi Zhao, Leonardo Trasande, Joseph T Flynn, Daniel A Enquobahrie, Ruby H N Nguyen, Tom O'Connor, Arpita K Vyas, Mingyu Zhang, Hooman Mirzakhani, Alison Hipwell, Anne Starling, Alicia K Peterson, Akhgar Ghassabian, Assiamira Ferrara, Judy Aschner, Scott Collingwood, Margaret R Karagas, Michelle Katzow, Annemarie Stroustrup, Mehtap Haktnair, Tina V Hartert, Brittney M Snyder, Sophia Jan, Anne Marie Singh, Dana Dabelea, Angela M Malek, Jennifer K Straughen, Carlos A Camargo, Miatta A Buxton, Rosalind Wright, Kecia Carroll, Keia Sanderson, Daphne Koinis Mitchell, Viren D'Sa, Christine Hockett, Anne L Dunlop, Shohreh F Farzen, Sunni L Mumford, Akram N Alshawabkeh, Hudson P Santos, Xueying Zhang, Zhongzheng Niu, Nan Ji, Carrie Breton, Donghai Liang, Catherine J Karr, Echo Cohort Consortium

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: There is growing interest in understanding the link between early life exposures to ambient air pollution and childhood blood pressure; however, existing findings, largely from single site/cohort studies, are inconclusive.

Methods: We examined the association between exposures to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and blood pressure measured at age 5-12 years in 4863 U.S. children from 20 pregnancy cohorts of the NIH ECHO cohort. Point-based residential exposures were derived from spatiotemporal models with a biweekly resolution and averaged over each trimester, the whole pregnancy, and child age 0-2 years. We converted systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood …

Barriers To Occupational And Physical Therapy Utilization For Children With Cancer, Maria C Swartz, Shiming Zhang, Donna Kelly, Clark R Andersen, Keri Schadler, Alakh P Rajan, Eduardo Gonzalez Villarreal, Stephanie J Wells, Amy Heaton, Karen Moody

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Occupational and physical therapy (OT/PT) referrals and utilization barriers for childhood cancer patients have not been adequately examined. The current study investigated factors influencing referrals to and utilization of OT/PT services among children with cancer at an NIH-designated cancer center.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included pediatric cancer patients (up to 18.99 years) presenting to the center over a 33.5-month period. Variables that could influence referrals to OT/PT were extracted from the electronic medical record (EMR) including OT and PT referrals (inpatient and outpatient), OT and PT consult completion, age at diagnosis, cancer type, sex, race/ethnicity, insurance, cancer treatment, …

Physical Activity In Osteosarcoma Patients During And Post Therapy: A Single Site Prospective Observational Study, Elysia R Cohen, Clark Andersen, Karen Moody, Maria C Swartz, Michael C Robertson, Alakh Rajan, Theresa Honey, Sandra Lugo, Grace Waterman, Keri Schadler

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE: Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone tumor in childhood and adolescence. Many patients face long-term impairments in their mobility and function after treatment, leading to a decrease in their quality of life. Exercise has been shown to improve functional recovery and improve quality of life in patients with cancer, though data specific to children with osteosarcoma are sparse. Exercise has also been shown to be feasible in patients undergoing chemotherapy, with numerous potential benefits to health and quality of life. To design the most effective exercise interventions for children and adolescents with osteosarcoma, we must first understand the …

Sexual Toxicity After Chemoradiation For Anal Cancer Among Men Who Have Sex With Men: A Mixed-Methods Analysis, Beck O Gold, Angie Arzola, Benjamin R Schrank, Van K Morris, Christophe Marques, Jaime Gilliland, Thomas M Atkinson, Emma B Holliday

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Chemoradiation (CRT) is the standard of treatment for localized anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCCA). Although cure rates are high, acute and late toxicities are common. There are increasing published data regarding vaginal stenosis and erectile dysfunction; however, the nature and impact of holistic sexual dysfunction after pelvic radiation, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM), remains poorly characterized. This study aimed to: (1) explore patient-reported sexual health outcomes among MSM as measured by existing patient-reported outcome tools, and (2) assess the applicability of these existing tools for this population.

Methods and materials: MSM who are at least …

Exploring Non-Conventional Substrates: The Role Of Hibiscus And Whey In Kombucha Fermentation, Benjamin J. Lee

Master's Theses

This study evaluated the impact of hibiscus and whey as alternative fermentation substrates on the physicochemical, phytochemical, and microbial properties of kombucha. A 2 × 2 full factorial design was used to compare four treatments: black tea + water (BW), black tea + whey (BH), hibiscus + water (HW), and hibiscus + whey (HH). The fermentation solvents (water or whey) were heated to 88 °C, infused with 0.6% (w/v) black tea or hibiscus for 10 minutes, sweetened with 10% (w/v) sucrose, cooled to 22 °C, and inoculated with 20% (v/v) kombucha starter culture. Fermentations were carried out at 22 °C …

Associations Between Nutrition-Related Chronic Disease And Food Insecurity: Data From The California State University, Elizabeth Ochoa

Master's Theses

Food insecurity is a growing public health concern consistently associated with elevated rates of nutrition-related chronic disease (NRCD) across the general population. Despite young adulthood being a critical window for dietary pattern formation, this relationship remains minimally explored among college students. This thesis examined associations between food insecurity and NRCD diagnosis, including hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular disease, among undergraduate students across the California State University (CSU) system. Cross-sectional data were drawn from the Spring 2021 CSU National College Health Assessment, administered across all 23 campuses. After exclusions, the analytical sample comprised 13,762 students. Bivariate analyses assessed relationships between key …

Trophic Structure And Mercury Bioaccumulation In Walleye And Yellow Perch In The Upper And Lower Red Lake Basins, Marissa Pribyl

Biology Graduate Theses

Mercury is a persistent global contaminant that biomagnifies through aquatic food webs, with dietary and environmental factors serving as the primary drivers of accumulation in fishes. Trophic structure and methylmercury dynamics in Walleye (ogaa; Sander vitreus) and Yellow Perch (asaawens; Perca flavescens) were investigated in the Upper and Lower Red Lake basins in Red Lake, Minnesota, during 2024-2025. Diets of Walleye and Yellow Perch were assessed through stomach dissections, and tissue samples from both species were analyzed for total mercury concentrations. Additional analyses included shiners (gigoozens; Notropis spp., Hudsonius spp.) along with a variety of freshwater fish and …