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Comparison Of Heavy Metal Accumulation In Soil And Wood Core Within Tallassee And Tuskegee, Alabama, Alicia R. Wilson, Brianna Smith, Latricia Miller, Rashidah Farid Mar 2026

Comparison Of Heavy Metal Accumulation In Soil And Wood Core Within Tallassee And Tuskegee, Alabama, Alicia R. Wilson, Brianna Smith, Latricia Miller, Rashidah Farid

Professional Agricultural Workers Journal

Heavy metals are natural components of the environment and can be relatively non-impactful in low concentrations. However, high concentrations of heavy metal toxicity can result in air, water, and soil contamination that adversely impacts environmental, human, and wildlife health. This study focuses on detecting the presence of heavy metals in soil, Loblolly Pine tree bark, and wood core samples from sites near a landfill in the Tallassee, Alabama, community and a post-agricultural site in Tuskegee, Alabama. It has been hypothesized that heavy metals are present in soil, tree bark, and the tree’s wood core from sampling sites. Samples were taken …


Impact Of In-Depth Adoption Of System Of Rice Intensification On Food Security Of Smallholder Farm Households In Mali, Moussa Macalou, John Baptist D. Jatoe Mar 2026

Impact Of In-Depth Adoption Of System Of Rice Intensification On Food Security Of Smallholder Farm Households In Mali, Moussa Macalou, John Baptist D. Jatoe

Professional Agricultural Workers Journal

The system of rice intensification (SRI) was implemented in Mali to boost rice productivity. The objectives of this paper are to identify the constraints faced by SRI adopters, estimate the food security index, and assess the impact of in-depth adoption of SRI on smallholder farm households’ food security. The study uses Kendall’s ranking to rank the six main constraints identified from the literature. The study uses the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale to estimate households’ food security index. Using primary data collected on rice farm households, the study combines the multivalued treatment effect inverse probability weighted regression adjustment and the …


Evaluation Of Two Varieties Of Okra (Abelmoschus Esculentus (L. Moench) Growth In A Wiregrass Tunnel House And Field, James E. Currington Sr, Victor Khan, Billie Grant, George X. Hunter, Raymon Shange, Cassandra Searight, Edward Sparks, Jeffery Moore, James E. Currington Iii Mar 2026

Evaluation Of Two Varieties Of Okra (Abelmoschus Esculentus (L. Moench) Growth In A Wiregrass Tunnel House And Field, James E. Currington Sr, Victor Khan, Billie Grant, George X. Hunter, Raymon Shange, Cassandra Searight, Edward Sparks, Jeffery Moore, James E. Currington Iii

Professional Agricultural Workers Journal

“Clemson Spineless” and “Jambalaya” okra were grown in a Tunnel House and field to compare yield and other growth parameters. A split-plot design with three replications/treatment was used; the Tunnel House and field were main plots, and varieties split plot. Plant height was significantly taller, and pod harvesting began two weeks earlier in the Tunnel House. Yield showed no significant differences between varieties, and Tunnel House vs. field-produced okra. However, “Clemson Spineless” produced 9% higher pod yield in the Tunnel House than “Jambalaya,” which had 23% higher field yield than “Clemson Spineless.” An enterprise budget analysis showed that Tunnel House …


Novelties In The Genus Aethionema (Brassicaceae) In Türkiye: Resurrections, New Combinations And Status, And New Synonyms, Kuddi̇si̇ Ertuğrul, Tuna Uysal, Hakki Demi̇relma, Emrah Şi̇ri̇n, Meryem Bozkurt, Burcu Yilmaz Çitak Mar 2026

Novelties In The Genus Aethionema (Brassicaceae) In Türkiye: Resurrections, New Combinations And Status, And New Synonyms, Kuddi̇si̇ Ertuğrul, Tuna Uysal, Hakki Demi̇relma, Emrah Şi̇ri̇n, Meryem Bozkurt, Burcu Yilmaz Çitak

Turkish Journal of Botany

The genus Aethionema in Türkiye was investigated through a comprehensive taxonomic study including morphological, seed micromorphological, and molecular methods. This study led to the synonymization of 11 taxa: A. annuum, A. dincii subsp. baytopiae, A. alidaghenicum, A. bingoelicum, A. dumelicum, A. ertughrulii, A. fruticulosum, A. gypsicola, A. huber-morathii, A. maraschicum, and A. turanicum. Conversely, seven species were resurrected: A. levandowskyi, A. sintenisii, A. acarii, A. pallidiflorum, A. pseudoarmenum, A. pulchellum, and A. recurvum. Four new combinations and status changes (comb. et stat. nov.) were proposed. Reevaluation of synonymous species resulted in the reclassification of A. cardiophyllum and A. lacerum as …


Synthetic Lethality Between Rb-Loss And E2f3 Inhibition In Small Cell Cancers Targeted By Pyrimidine Synthesis Blockade, Evan R. Abt, Liang Wang, Grigor Varuzhanyan, Jack Freeland, Tian He, Guadalupe M. Peña-Garcia, Lauryn Ruegg, Jami Mclaughlin, Donghui Cheng, Nikolas G. Balanis, Chia-Chun Chen, Yang Xu, Yi Xing, Sanaz Memarzadeh, Caius G. Radu, Thomas G. Graeber, Owen N. Witte Mar 2026

Synthetic Lethality Between Rb-Loss And E2f3 Inhibition In Small Cell Cancers Targeted By Pyrimidine Synthesis Blockade, Evan R. Abt, Liang Wang, Grigor Varuzhanyan, Jack Freeland, Tian He, Guadalupe M. Peña-Garcia, Lauryn Ruegg, Jami Mclaughlin, Donghui Cheng, Nikolas G. Balanis, Chia-Chun Chen, Yang Xu, Yi Xing, Sanaz Memarzadeh, Caius G. Radu, Thomas G. Graeber, Owen N. Witte

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

Small cell carcinoma is a highly lethal cancer variant often found with neuroendocrine (NE) features, as exemplified by small cell lung cancer and small cell NE prostate cancer (SCPC). A genome-wide CRISPR dependency screen using SCPC models generated through human prostate cell transformation identifies a requirement for the transcription factor E2F3. E2F3 dependency is linked to RB inactivation, a near universal occurrence across small cell cancers. The requirement for E2F3 is shared by RB-deficient cells originating from the prostate, lung, and adnexa. In RB-deficient cancer cells, E2F3 inhibition restrains cell cycle progression, proliferation, and tumor growth in vivo. Inhibition of …


Transcriptome Profiling Of Silique Lncrnas Reveals Novel Insights Into Silique Length In Radish (Raphanus Sativus L.), Xiaomin Yu, Yuxin Zhu, Zhoubo Guan, Shisheng Li Mar 2026

Transcriptome Profiling Of Silique Lncrnas Reveals Novel Insights Into Silique Length In Radish (Raphanus Sativus L.), Xiaomin Yu, Yuxin Zhu, Zhoubo Guan, Shisheng Li

Turkish Journal of Botany

Radish is a widely cultivated vegetable with known medicinal value and produces siliques that differ significantly in number and size. The present study compares normal Duanye-13 radish (CK-type) siliques with mutant radish siliques induced by chemical mutagenesis at the young (YS), short (SS), and long (LS) silique stages. Differences in long noncoding ribonucleic acid (lncRNA) expression were investigated using high-throughput RNA sequencing and bioinformatic analyses, revealing 45 324 new lncRNAs in radish siliques. lncRNA expression was higher in YS and LS mutant lines than in CK-type lines, and expression in SS mutants tended to be lower than in CK-type lines. …


Genome-Wide Crispr Screen Identifies A Cytokine-Enhancer Circuit Driving Hif-2Α Activation In Renal Cancer, Jun Fang, Jeremy M Simon, Tao Wang, Yunpeng Gao, Xianju Bi, Lianxin Hu, Chengheng Liao, Cheng Zhang, Yayoi Adachi, Jin Zhou, Hongyi Liu, Qian Liang, James A Nathan, Ram Mani, James Brugarolas, Qing Zhang Mar 2026

Genome-Wide Crispr Screen Identifies A Cytokine-Enhancer Circuit Driving Hif-2Α Activation In Renal Cancer, Jun Fang, Jeremy M Simon, Tao Wang, Yunpeng Gao, Xianju Bi, Lianxin Hu, Chengheng Liao, Cheng Zhang, Yayoi Adachi, Jin Zhou, Hongyi Liu, Qian Liang, James A Nathan, Ram Mani, James Brugarolas, Qing Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Resistance to HIF-2α inhibitors such as Belzutifan underscores the need to better understand how HIF-2α is transcriptionally regulated in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Here, we uncover a cytokine-driven enhancer mechanism that sustains HIF-2α expression through the JAK1-STAT3 signaling pathway. Using a genome-wide CRISPR screen in VHL-deficient ccRCC cells, we identified SOCS3 as a key negative regulator of HIF-2α. Mechanistically, loss of SOCS3 activates JAK1-STAT3 signaling, leading to the recruitment of STAT3 to distal enhancers upstream of EPAS1 that physically loop to its promoter to drive HIF-2α transcription. This cytokine-enhancer circuit was recapitulated in ccRCC patient samples and functionally …


The Do-It-Yourself Guide To Backyard Drip Irrigation, Jaydee Gunnell, Taun Beddes, Burdette Barker Mar 2026

The Do-It-Yourself Guide To Backyard Drip Irrigation, Jaydee Gunnell, Taun Beddes, Burdette Barker

All Current Publications

This guide promotes efficient backyard drip irrigation as a vital strategy for water conservation in Utah, the third-driest state in the U.S. It explains evapotranspiration (ET), drip system components, and provides formulas to calculate a plant’s water needs. The guide provides practical advice on converting traditional irrigation systems to drip systems, particularly in flower beds and around shrubs and trees. By implementing drip irrigation, homeowners can contribute to water conservation while enhancing the health of their landscapes.


Artificial Intelligence In Mycology: A Systematic Review Of Species Identification, Biotechnological Assessment, And Explainable Deep Learning Methods, Fati̇h Eki̇nci̇, Mehmet Serdar Güzel, Ilgaz Akata Mar 2026

Artificial Intelligence In Mycology: A Systematic Review Of Species Identification, Biotechnological Assessment, And Explainable Deep Learning Methods, Fati̇h Eki̇nci̇, Mehmet Serdar Güzel, Ilgaz Akata

Turkish Journal of Botany

This review offers a comprehensive analysis of the expanding role of artificial intelligence (AI) in mycological research. It highlights how AI supports the identification of fungal taxa at both microscopic and macroscopic levels, facilitates the detection of toxic species, contributes to ecological mapping, aids in discovering new fungal bioproducts, and enhances precision agriculture practices. Advanced techniques such as convolutional neural networks, you only look once, U-shaped network (UNet), and residual network have demonstrated strong performance in classification, segmentation, and object detection tasks. Additionally, explainable AI (XAI) methods like gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM), local interpretable model-agnostic explanations (LIME), and SHapley …


Global Transcriptomic Insights Into Nla-Dependent Boron Toxicity Responses In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Doğa Seli̇n Kayihan Mar 2026

Global Transcriptomic Insights Into Nla-Dependent Boron Toxicity Responses In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Doğa Seli̇n Kayihan

Turkish Journal of Botany

Boron (B) toxicity disrupts multiple metabolic and signaling processes in plants, yet its interaction with post-translational regulators remains poorly understood. The E3 ubiquitin ligase NITROGEN LIMITATION ADAPTATION (NLA) is known to control nutrient transporter turnover, but its role in B toxicity responses has not been previously characterized. Here, we present the first genome-wide transcriptomic analysis of nla mutant Arabidopsis thaliana exposed to mild (1 mM) and moderate (2 mM) B toxicity. Loss of NLA caused a profound reprogramming of gene expression, marked by constitutive activation of ribosome- and translation-related pathways and strong repression of MAPK signaling, α-linolenic acid metabolism, and …


Ethnobotanical Study Of Medicinal Plants Used By The Local Population In And Around Kozak Plateau (Bergama, İzmir, Türkiye), Şükrü Arasan, Hasan Yildirim Mar 2026

Ethnobotanical Study Of Medicinal Plants Used By The Local Population In And Around Kozak Plateau (Bergama, İzmir, Türkiye), Şükrü Arasan, Hasan Yildirim

Turkish Journal of Botany

This research was conducted between 2020 and 2022 in 21 villages located on the Kozak Plateau and its surroundings, in the Bergama district of İzmir province, Türkiye. The main aim of the study is to document the medicinal uses of plants by the local population and to contribute to the preservation and transmission of ethnobotanical knowledge—passed down through generations— to future generations before it disappears. Interviews were conducted with 159 informants, and the traditional medicinal uses of 126 plant taxa belonging to 54 families were identified. Among these, the therapeutic uses of 37 taxa were recorded for the first time. …


Design Of Experiments Based Reversed-Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Method For Estimation Of Metformin And Glimepiride In Combined Dosage Forms, Neela Manish Bhatia, Rachana Patil, Harinath More, Rutuja Dattatray Chougale Mar 2026

Design Of Experiments Based Reversed-Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Method For Estimation Of Metformin And Glimepiride In Combined Dosage Forms, Neela Manish Bhatia, Rachana Patil, Harinath More, Rutuja Dattatray Chougale

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: The present study aimed to systematically develop and validate a robust, rapid, and stability-indicating reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method for the simultaneous estimation of metformin and glimepiride in fixeddose combination tablets. Method development was guided by a design of experiments (DoE) approach using the Box-Behnken design (BBD) to ensure optimal analytical performance.
Materials and Methods: Chromatographic separation was achieved on a Cosmosil C18 column using an optimized mobile phase of acetonitrile and water (80:20, v/v) adjusted to pH 3.5. The flow rate was 1 mL/min, and detection was performed at 221 nm. The BBD approach systematically evaluated the …


Bacteriophage Therapy For Antibiotic-Resistant Infections, Shiva Pariyar Mar 2026

Bacteriophage Therapy For Antibiotic-Resistant Infections, Shiva Pariyar

Best Integrated Writing

Pariyar examines bacteriophage therapy as a promising alternative to antibiotics for treating multidrug-resistant infections, highlighting its targeted mechanism, ability to disrupt biofilms, and synergy with antibiotics. While challenges such as regulation, immune response, and limited clinical trials remain, the study argues that advances in biotechnology and global collaboration position phage therapy as a future cornerstone in combating antimicrobial resistance.


Role Of Na⁺/K⁺-Atpase And Sodium–Calcium Exchanger In Digitoxin-Induced Cytotoxicity In Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells, Alyson Sotomayor Quispe, Marilyn Odom Phd Mar 2026

Role Of Na⁺/K⁺-Atpase And Sodium–Calcium Exchanger In Digitoxin-Induced Cytotoxicity In Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells, Alyson Sotomayor Quispe, Marilyn Odom Phd

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is characterized by the absence of estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors, limiting targeted treatment options. Digitoxin, a drug used to treat heart failure and atrial fibrillation through Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase inhibition, has demonstrated anticancer effects in TNBC cells, including apoptosis via the NF-κB pathway. This study investigates whether the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase and sodium–calcium exchanger contribute to the mechanism of action of digitoxin in TNBC cells. We hypothesize that these transporters mediate digitoxin-induced cytotoxic effects. To test this, MDA-MB-468 cells were treated with digitoxin, and protein localization and expression were analyzed using immunofluorescence and Western blot. Digitoxin treatment resulted …


Tlr3 Mediated Type I Interferon Response In Mammalian Cell Defense Against Cryptosporidium Parvum Infection., Anjelica Matias Mar 2026

Tlr3 Mediated Type I Interferon Response In Mammalian Cell Defense Against Cryptosporidium Parvum Infection., Anjelica Matias

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Cryptosporidium parvum is a major cause of a diarrheal disease which affects many children in the USA as well as the rest of the world, yet the contribution of its double stranded RNA (dsRNA) viral symbiont, Cryspovirus (CSpV1) to host innate immunity remains unclear. This study investigated whether CSpV1 activates Toll Like Receptor 3 (TLR3) signaling pathways and downstream Interferon type I (IFN I) responses in mammalian intestinal epithelial cells. Confluent Human Ileocecal Colorectal Adenocarcinoma cells (HCT8) were exposed to CSpV1, and the expression levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated Factor 3 (TRAF3), Nuclear Factor-𝜅-light chain enhancer of activated B-cells …


A Retrospective Analysis Of Taxane-Based Chemotherapy In Small Bowel Adenocarcinoma, Mir Lim, Nikhil Grandhi, Preksha Shah, Kanwal Raghav, Victoria Serpas, Maria Pia Morelli, Katrina Pedersen, Aparna Kalyan, Mohamed Salem, Ryan Huey, John Paul Shen, Huamin Wang, Hua Wang, Anjali Vinocha, Jane Thomas, Robert Wolff, Michael J Overman Mar 2026

A Retrospective Analysis Of Taxane-Based Chemotherapy In Small Bowel Adenocarcinoma, Mir Lim, Nikhil Grandhi, Preksha Shah, Kanwal Raghav, Victoria Serpas, Maria Pia Morelli, Katrina Pedersen, Aparna Kalyan, Mohamed Salem, Ryan Huey, John Paul Shen, Huamin Wang, Hua Wang, Anjali Vinocha, Jane Thomas, Robert Wolff, Michael J Overman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) is molecularly distinct from colorectal and gastric cancers, yet treatment typically parallels colorectal cancer. We evaluated the activity of taxane-based therapy in the largest SBA cohort to date.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed SBA patients treated with taxane-based chemotherapy at MD Anderson Cancer Center from 1994-2024. Eligible patients had pathologic confirmation, received >1 treatment cycle, and had tumor response evaluation. Survival analyses were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard models.

Results: Seventy patients were identified. Median age was 57, and 59% were male. Primary sites were duodenum (44%), jejunum (34%), and Ileum (16%). Metastatic sites …


Aquifer Characteristics And Groundwater Flow Modeling For Sustainable Water Resources Development And Planning Using Modflow Software In India, Ravi Sharma Mar 2026

Aquifer Characteristics And Groundwater Flow Modeling For Sustainable Water Resources Development And Planning Using Modflow Software In India, Ravi Sharma

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

MODFLOW is one of the most commonly used numerical models for simulating groundwater flow. Its structured data design and compatibility with GIS tools make it suitable for groundwater assessment and planning. Groundwater forms an important part of the hydrological cycle and occurs within the pore spaces of sedimentary rocks or within fractures in hard rock terrains. Although its distribution beneath the surface is not always uniform or predictable, it is still considered one of the cleanest, most accessible, and quickly available freshwater sources. Numerical groundwater models help convert complex subsurface processes into simplified relationships that describe flow behavior. Even though …


Contribution Of G4 Structure To Alzheimer’S Disease And Tau Pathology, Lena Michaela Kallweit Mar 2026

Contribution Of G4 Structure To Alzheimer’S Disease And Tau Pathology, Lena Michaela Kallweit

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The occurrence of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is rapidly increasing as our global population ages. With the majority of therapeutic drugs in the last couple of decades failing clinical trials, new molecular targets are needed to combat the expected influx of new AD cases. AD pathogenesis is associated with abnormal protein aggregation, characterized in part by intracellular accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau) in neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). RNA has been identified as a major non-proteinaceous component of NFTs and has been implicated as an active cofactor in tau aggregation and spread. Recent work has shown that aggregates from AD brains contain almost …


Session Ia: Natural Sciences Presentation 3 - Review Of Dihydroartemisinin And Its Potential As A Neutral Chemotherapeutic, Matthew Mccoy Stowe Mar 2026

Session Ia: Natural Sciences Presentation 3 - Review Of Dihydroartemisinin And Its Potential As A Neutral Chemotherapeutic, Matthew Mccoy Stowe

Life of the Scholar Multidisciplinary Conference

No abstract provided.


Session Ia: Natural Sciences Presentation 1 - Elucidating Elimia: Affinities Of North Carolina Freshwater Snails, Andrew Wilson Mar 2026

Session Ia: Natural Sciences Presentation 1 - Elucidating Elimia: Affinities Of North Carolina Freshwater Snails, Andrew Wilson

Life of the Scholar Multidisciplinary Conference

Study of Pleuroceridae snail variation and evolutionary relationships.


Antibacterial Activity Of Sapium Ellipticum, Securidaca Longepedunculata, And Allophylus Africanus Against Drug-Resistant Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Isolates, Eleonora A. Mbare, Rose J. Masalu, Cyprian B. Mpinda Mar 2026

Antibacterial Activity Of Sapium Ellipticum, Securidaca Longepedunculata, And Allophylus Africanus Against Drug-Resistant Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Isolates, Eleonora A. Mbare, Rose J. Masalu, Cyprian B. Mpinda

Tanzania Journal of Science

Pseudomonas aeruginosa poses a major clinical challenge due to its high levels of antibiotic resistance. This study evaluated the antibacterial activity of three medicinal plant extracts Allophylus africanus (leaves), Securidaca longepedunculata (root bark), and Sapium ellipticum (stem bark), against 30 drug-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates. Antibacterial screening was conducted using the agar well diffusion method, followed by determination of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) via a 96-well microtiter plate assay. All three plant extracts demonstrated inhibitory activity against three resistant P. aeruginosa strains (gentamicin-resistant strains F4 and GR4RAU-AI, and ceftazidime-resistant strain 19-10), with inhibition zones of varying diameters. MIC values showed strain-specific …


Fenced And Feral: Farming And Spread Of Flowerhorn (Amphilophus Spp.) In Lake Sampaloc, Philippines, Janice A. Ragaza, Hannah Nicole Gasmen Mar 2026

Fenced And Feral: Farming And Spread Of Flowerhorn (Amphilophus Spp.) In Lake Sampaloc, Philippines, Janice A. Ragaza, Hannah Nicole Gasmen

Environmental Sustainability

This study examines the spread and ecological impact of invasive Flowerhorn cichlids (Amphilophus spp.) in Lake Sampaloc, Philippines, driven by both accidental release and intentional aquaculture practices. Field observations and literature reveal that these highly adaptable and aggressive fish outcompete native species, contributing to biodiversity decline amid increasing pollution, eutrophication, and microplastic contamination. Their phenotypic plasticity allows them to thrive in degraded environments, further exacerbating ecological imbalance. While local communities have begun utilizing Flowerhorns for ornamental trade and potential aquafeed production, such practices risk reinforcing their proliferation. The study highlights the need for integrated management strategies combining biosecurity, pollution control, …


Effects Of Substrate–Supplement Interactions On Yield Performance Of Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus Ostreatus), Charles O. Joseph, Faraja Makwinja Mar 2026

Effects Of Substrate–Supplement Interactions On Yield Performance Of Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus Ostreatus), Charles O. Joseph, Faraja Makwinja

Tanzania Journal of Science

Different substrates and supplements are used in mushroom production, however their interaction effects and growth variables affected is little known. This study was conducted to compare the effects of substrate-supplement interactions on growth and yield of oyster mushrooms Pleurotus ostreatus. Two substrates (banana leaves and sawdust) and two supplements (chicken manure and sugar) were investigated. The substrates were reduced to 2 cm pieces and steam sterilized at 80–100°C for 3 hours. In each bag containing specific substrate, the supplements were added as 2% of the total substrate. The spawn was inoculated from each bag; misting was applied to maintain constant …


Heavy Metal Contamination In Agricultural Soils And Potential Human Health Risks, Debora Michael Mwenda, Leonard Masesa Jumanne, Daudi Salvius Mgaya, Amos Vincent Ntarisa Mar 2026

Heavy Metal Contamination In Agricultural Soils And Potential Human Health Risks, Debora Michael Mwenda, Leonard Masesa Jumanne, Daudi Salvius Mgaya, Amos Vincent Ntarisa

Tanzania Journal of Science

Heavy metal contamination in agricultural soils is a growing concern due to potential human health risks via ingestion, dermal contact, and inhalation. However, data on fertiliser-related contamination in rural Tanzanian settings remain limited. This study assessed contamination levels and associated health risks in Kibwabwa village, Iringa, Tanzania. A total of 48 soil samples were collected from eight farms at a depth of 0–15 cm. Concentrations of Cu, Zn, Ni, Cd, Cr, and Pb were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). Health risks were evaluated using chronic daily intake (CDI), hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI), and carcinogenic risk (CR) models …


Honey Bees (Apis Mellifera) Pollination Enhances Watermelon (Citrullus Lanatus) Yield In Kibaha Tanzania, Beatrice Tonola, Charles Olambo Joseph, Mkabwa L.K. Manoko, Shibonage K. Mashilingi Mar 2026

Honey Bees (Apis Mellifera) Pollination Enhances Watermelon (Citrullus Lanatus) Yield In Kibaha Tanzania, Beatrice Tonola, Charles Olambo Joseph, Mkabwa L.K. Manoko, Shibonage K. Mashilingi

Tanzania Journal of Science

Honey bees are essential pollinators of the world’s food crops. However, information on the influence of honey bee pollination on watermelon yield is limited in Tanzania. This study assessed efficiency of honey bee pollination on watermelon yield. The study tested three improved watermelon varieties (Zebra F1, Candy F1 and Sukari F1) and three pollination environments: (Caged with Apis mellifera (CAM), Caged without insects (CW) and Open pollination (OP) in two seasons. The experiment was arranged in a split-plot design in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Results showed no significant interaction between pollination environment and varieties. Significant difference …


Targeting Hypothalamic Oxidative Stress And Neuroinflammation: A Novel Neuroprotective Role For Annona Muricata Seed Extract In Aluminium- Induced Alzheimer-Like Neurodegeneration, O. A Bamgbose, O. D Akanji, P. B Fakunle, D. O Taiwo-Ola, K. O Odubela, E. O Olayemi, B. A Akanbi, B. M David Mar 2026

Targeting Hypothalamic Oxidative Stress And Neuroinflammation: A Novel Neuroprotective Role For Annona Muricata Seed Extract In Aluminium- Induced Alzheimer-Like Neurodegeneration, O. A Bamgbose, O. D Akanji, P. B Fakunle, D. O Taiwo-Ola, K. O Odubela, E. O Olayemi, B. A Akanbi, B. M David

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is increasingly recognized as a multisystem neurodegenerative disorder involving oxidative stress and neuroinflammation beyond classical hippocampal pathology. The hypothalamus, a key regulator of metabolic and neuroendocrine homeostasis, remains comparatively underexplored in experimental AD models. This study investigated the effects of aqueous Annona muricata seed extract (SSE) on hypothalamic oxidative injury in an aluminium chloride (AlCl3)-induced Alzheimer's disease–like model in Wistar rats. Adult Wistar rats of both sexes were randomly assigned to five groups (n = 5): control, AlCl3 (100 mg/kg), SSE alone (200 mg/kg), AlCl3 + SSE, and AlCl3 + donepezil (10 …


Phased-Genome Assemblies Of Saltgrass Reveal Structural Dynamics And Genomic Basis For Extreme Salt Tolerance And Dioecy., Kashif Nawaz, Izamar Olivas Orduna, Dal-Hoe Koo, Francisco Molina-Freaner, Hester L. Bell, Mara Miculan, Victor Llaca, Judith Harrington, Sarah M. Eppley, Jesse Poland Mar 2026

Phased-Genome Assemblies Of Saltgrass Reveal Structural Dynamics And Genomic Basis For Extreme Salt Tolerance And Dioecy., Kashif Nawaz, Izamar Olivas Orduna, Dal-Hoe Koo, Francisco Molina-Freaner, Hester L. Bell, Mara Miculan, Victor Llaca, Judith Harrington, Sarah M. Eppley, Jesse Poland

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

The climate crisis poses a critical challenge to agriculture, with freshwater scarcity becoming a major constraint on crop production. Harnessing halophytic adaptations for growth in saline environments offers a promising path for neodomestication of salt-tolerant crops. Distichlis spp. (saltgrass)-a genus of dioecious, halophytic C4 grasses in the PACMAD clade-thrives in extreme saline conditions, making it a compelling species to understand salinity tolerance and adaptation. Here, we present high-quality phased genome assemblies of four Distichlis genets, revealing an allotetraploid genome (576-610 Mb) with two highly syntenic but degenerate subgenomes, each exhibiting over 30% gene loss across orthologous pairs. Comparative genomic analyses …


Immunoregulatory Effects Of Choerospondias Axillaris (Roxb.) B.L.Burtt & A.W.Hill Fruit Extract In Mice With Insights On In Vitro Mechanism, Ravi Gautam, Anju Maharjan, Jaehee Lee, Sujeong Yang, Jihun Jo, Manju Acharya, Daeun Lee, Narayan Prasad Ghimire, Saroj Lamichhane, Byungsun Min, Changyul Kim, Hyoungah Kim, Yong Heo Mar 2026

Immunoregulatory Effects Of Choerospondias Axillaris (Roxb.) B.L.Burtt & A.W.Hill Fruit Extract In Mice With Insights On In Vitro Mechanism, Ravi Gautam, Anju Maharjan, Jaehee Lee, Sujeong Yang, Jihun Jo, Manju Acharya, Daeun Lee, Narayan Prasad Ghimire, Saroj Lamichhane, Byungsun Min, Changyul Kim, Hyoungah Kim, Yong Heo

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Lapsi (Choerospondias axillaris), a plant native to Nepal, has been traditionally used in Asian countries to treat cardiovascular conditions. However, its effects on immune regulatory function remain largely unexplored. This study aimed to in vivo evaluate the immunoregulatory properties of Lapsi fruit extract in mice on immunotoxic responses with analysis on in vitro mechanism for immune suppression, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response. Male Balb/c mice were intragastrically administered various doses of the extract for 21 days. In some mice, immune suppression was induced with cyclophosphamide, and subsequent immune recovery was assessed. In addition, RAW264.7 cells and THP-1-derived macrophages were …


Louisiana Species Of The Genus Xestia Hübner And The Genus Agnorisma Lafontaine, Vernon Antoine Brou Jr., Charlotte Dozar Brou Mar 2026

Louisiana Species Of The Genus Xestia Hübner And The Genus Agnorisma Lafontaine, Vernon Antoine Brou Jr., Charlotte Dozar Brou

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

We address three species of the genus Xestia Hübner recorded for the state of Louisiana: Xestia dilucida (Morrison), Xestia elimata (Guenée) and Xestia c-nigrum (Linnaeus), and we also address new state capture records for Agnorisma badinodis (Grote) and Agnorisma bollii in Louisiana.


Culvert Retrofit With Green Filter Media For The Removal Of Phosphorus From Stormwater Runoff, Somdipta Bagchi, Zhiming Zhang, Olayinka Olayiwola, Bharadwaj Mandala, Rupali Datta, Subhasis Giri, Richard Lathrop, Dibyendu Sarkar Mar 2026

Culvert Retrofit With Green Filter Media For The Removal Of Phosphorus From Stormwater Runoff, Somdipta Bagchi, Zhiming Zhang, Olayinka Olayiwola, Bharadwaj Mandala, Rupali Datta, Subhasis Giri, Richard Lathrop, Dibyendu Sarkar

Michigan Tech Publications

Phosphorus is a ubiquitous contaminant in urban and agricultural landscapes. A retention basin located in the southern part of Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, was identified as receiving stormwater runoff with elevated phosphorus concentrations. The basin is surrounded by expanding urban development, contributing to the progressive degradation of water quality in the bay, which is already highly eutrophic. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a culvert retrofit with a green filter media composed of granulated-aluminum-based drinking water-treatment residuals (Al-WTR) and granular carbon (5:1 ratio, w/w) for the removal of phosphorus and suspended sediments from stormwater runoff. The performance of the filter …