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Jackfruit Peel Valorization Through An Integrated Biorefinery Approach, Rohil Kumar K Mr

Theses and Dissertations

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) peel (JFP), an abundantly available lignocellulosic biomass, remains largely underutilized despite being rich in cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and pectin. In India, approximately 13,460 hectares are under jackfruit cultivation, with Panruti in Tamil Nadu as a major production zone. The discarded peel often contributes to environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The present study emphasizes sustainable valorization of JFP through an integrated biorefinery framework for generating value-added bioproducts.

Major biopolymers, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and pectin were extracted and fractionated, followed by detailed physicochemical characterization using FTIR, NMR, XRD, SEM, TGA, DSC, GPC, and BET analyses. Pectin extraction with …

Ectopic B Lymphocyte Follicles Exacerbate Ischemic Brain Damage Via Mif-Cd74/Cxcr4 And Interferon Signaling, Sheng Yang, Hang Zhang, Lu-Lu Xu, Luo-Qi Zhou, Yun-Hui Chu, Lian Chen, Xiao-Wei Pang, Lu-Yang Zhang, Li-Fang Zhu, Ming-Hao Dong, Ke Shang, Jun Xiao, Long-Jun Wu, Wei Wang, Dai-Shi Tian, Chuan Qin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Neuroinflammation, encompassing both innate and adaptive immune responses, plays a crucial role in ischemic stroke. Although B lymphocytes are central to adaptive immunity, their contributions to ischemic stroke remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrated that B lymphocytes accumulate in ischemic lesions, forming germinal center-like structures at the later stage after stroke, which mainly depended on in situ proliferation. This accumulation correlated with worsened neuroinflammation and ischemic injury, whereas B cell depletion reduced chronic brain damage during stroke. Mechanistically, microglia recruited B cells into ischemic lesions through MIF-CD74/CXCR4 signaling during the early phase of stroke, while IFN-related pathways in B cells …

Cultivation Of Arthrospira Platensis (Spirulina) In Food-Based Industrial Wastewater For High-Yield Phycocyanin Extraction, Pavithira Sathinathan

Student Works (2020-2029)

Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) is a filamentous cyanobacterium valued for its nutritional profile, particularly the pigment–protein phycocyanin, with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Despite its industrial significance, large-scale commercialization remains constrained by high cultivation costs and inefficient extraction methods. This study investigated the use of food-based industrial wastewater as an alternative nutrient medium for Spirulina cultivation, aiming to reduce production costs, enhance phycocyanin yield, and support sustainable wastewater remediation. Three types of food-based wastewater with different nutrient composition (WW1, WW2, WW3) was diluted with Kosaric medium (1:1) and used for Spirulina cultivation. The highest biomass concentration was achieved in WW2 (1.93 …

Biomechanical Characterization Of Porcine Lower Limb Arteries For Preclinical Evaluation Of Peripheral Vascular Devices, Barbara Batista De Oliveira, Frazer Heinis, Anastasia Desyatova, Jason Mactaggart, Alexey Kamenskiy

Journal Articles

Purpose Peripheral artery disease (PAD) predominantly affects the lower extremities, where complex biomechanical deformations during limb flexion contribute to disease progression and treatment failure. While human and cadaver studies have characterized these deformations, preclinical device testing requires large-animal models that replicate human arterial anatomy and biomechanics. Swine are commonly used, yet their biomechanical comparability to humans remains poorly defined. Methods We performed a detailed morphometric and biomechanical analysis of the external iliac (EIA), superficial femoral (SFA), and popliteal (PA) arteries in 20 Yucatan and 16 domestic swine using computed tomography angiography. Arteries were evaluated in straight and flexed limb postures …

Dna Methylation Is Associated With Von Willebrand Factor And Coagulation Factor Viii Plasma Levels: The Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities Study, Julie Hahn, Jan Bressler, Myriam Fornage, Eric Boerwinkle, Nicholas L Smith, Alanna C Morrison, Paul S De Vries

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Limited information is available on how DNA methylation of cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) sites across the genome regulate circulating von Willebrand Factor (VWF) and factor VIII (FVIII) levels.

Methods: We performed an epigenome-wide association study to examine the association of leukocyte DNA methylation levels at 483,735 CpG sites with VWF antigen plasma levels and FVIII activity in 2,597 Black and 1,011 White participants from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. VWF antigen levels and FVIII activity were measured at the baseline exam, while DNA methylation was measured with the Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip array at visit 2 or 3. Discovery analysis …

Poly(Adp-Ribose) Glycohydrolase Enforces P21 Degradation Via Deparylation To Promote Gastric Cancer Progression, Yangchan Hu, Qimei Bao, Yixing Huang, Yan Wang, Xin Zhao, Junjun Nan, Yuxin Meng, Mingcong Deng, Yuancong Li, Zirui Zhuang, Hanyi He, Dan Zu, Yuke Zhong, Chunkai Zhang, Bing Wang, Ran Li, Yanhua He, Qihan Wang, Min Liu, John A Tainer, Yin Shi, Xiangdong Cheng, Ji Jing, Zu Ye

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Dysregulation of cell cycle checkpoints is a cancer hallmark, with ubiquitination-controlled protein stability playing a pivotal role. Although p21, a key cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, is tightly regulated by ubiquitin-mediated degradation, the key upstream modulators of its ubiquitination remain incompletely defined. Here, we identify poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) as a regulator of p21 stability in gastric cancer (GC) cells. We show that PARG expression is markedly upregulated in GC tissues and correlates with poor patient prognosis. Functional assays revealed that genetic depletion of PARG triggers G2/M phase arrest and impairs GC cell proliferation. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that PARG loss enhances p21 PARylation, …

Mechanometabolism Instructs Hematopoietic Stem Cell Specification, Paulina D Horton, Alina Syed, Michelle Winkler, Abishek B Vaidya, Michael Rariden, Neha Arora, Yong Zhou, Michihiro Kobayashi, Momoko Yoshimoto, Hyun Jung Lee, Hyun-Eui Kim, John P Hagan, Catherine Denicourt, Travis I Moore, Pamela L Wenzel

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Mechanical force generated by blood flow stimulates emergence of the first hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that populate the blood system. Force drives the transition of HSC precursors from an endothelial to hematopoietic identity, yet the molecular regulation of this fate switch remains poorly understood. We report that shear stress triggers adaptation in mitochondrial composition, ultrastructure, and function, which are essential for hematopoietic fate and engraftment potential. Shear stress remodels mitochondria in hemogenic endothelium by promoting mitochondrial gene transcription and protein synthesis. Laminar flow selectively initiates translation of 5' terminal polypyrimidine (5'TOP) motif-containing transcripts, which commonly encode ribosome and translation machinery. …

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (Saf) From Used Cooking Oil (Uco) In Egypt: Opportunities And Challenges., Lamiaa Abdallah

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Global aviation sector contributes nearly 2.5% of global CO2 emissions. Aviation is hard-to-decarbonize sector due to the high energy densities required for aircraft. Commercial aviation is fueled by kerosene-based jet fuel. Alternatives for this carbonbased fuel include electric batteries, hydrogen fuel, and SAF. Electric batteries have very low energy densities. Hydrogen would require a complete change of the aviation system, including fuel & airport infrastructure. SAF is the only viable option in the short to medium term. SAF is produced from sustainable feed-stocks (like agricultural oils), with no embodied carbon. Existing airplanes can use traditional fuel blended with up to …

The Need For Developing Psychologically Informed Physical Therapy Education, Dustin Cox

Journal of Applied Disciplines

Chronic pain presents a multifaceted challenge for healthcare providers, often impacting patients' physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. Research indicates that individuals with chronic pain process pain through emotional and reward pathways in the brain, underscoring the need for integrative treatment approaches. Evidence supports the effectiveness of combining psychological interventions with physical rehabilitation to improve outcomes. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a mindfulness-based behavioral therapy, has shown promise in addressing the psychological dimensions of chronic pain. However, physical therapists often lack formal training in ACT. This study protocol was designed to explore effective methods for educating physical therapists in ACT principles …

Plaster Creek Watershed Management Plan: Chloride Addendum, Plaster Creek Stewards

Watershed Reports

This addendum complements the 2008 Plaster Creek Watershed Management Plan (WMP), which tells the full story of the Plaster Creek Watershed’s current condition, impairments, and need for restoration. This addendum focuses on chloride, an emerging pollutant of concern in Michigan that was not addressed in Plaster Creek’s 2008 WMP. This addendum meets the nine elements required by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a watershed management plan to be officially approved; as such, its content and layout are intended for a technical audience.

(Si16-21) Dynamical Study Of A Hassell-Varley Model With Nonlinear Harvesting And Fear Effect In Prey, Aditya Bhattacharya, Anindita Bhattacharyya

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

In this article, a one predator-one prey model incorporating Richards’ type growth in prey population, Hassell-Varley type functional response and Michaelis-Menten type prey harvesting is proposed and analyzed. Richards’ type growth with fear factor is incorporated in the proposed model to generalize the reduction effect of predator-induced fear on the rate of growth of the prey population. Positivity and boundedness of the system’s solutions are first established to ensure biological feasibility of the model. Existence and stability conditions of various types of equilibrium points associated with the model such as trivial equilibrium, axial (predator–free) equilibrium and coexistence equilibrium are obtained …

Circuit And Synaptic Mechanisms Of Methamphetamine Induced Cognitive Deficits During Abstinence: Roles Of The Perirhinal-Prefrontal Pathway And The Nucleus Reuniens, Sarah Goldsmith

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Cognitive deficits during abstinence are a hallmark of methamphetamine (meth) use and indicative of negative treatment outcomes. In rats, both long access meth self-administration and meth binge produce recognition memory deficits due to drug-induced plasticity within the perirhinal cortex (PRH). PRH projections are numerous and include the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the Nucleus Reuniens (NRe). In the first study, the role of the PRH-mPFC reciprocal circuit in novel object recognition memory was investigated by infusing an rgAAV encoding GFP-tagged Cre recombinase into the PRH or the mPFC. Following surgery, rats explored objects. During exploration, PRH neurons receiving input from …

Species Sorting And Spatial Effects In Hyporheic Invertebrate Functional Groups, Benjamin T. Hutchins, Zoey B. Chanin, Kathryn E. Perez, Peter H. Diaz, Benjamin F. Schwartz

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Invertebrate communities in the hyporheic zone are structured by metacommunity processes including environmental filtering and spatial effects (e.g., dispersal). We investigated how these processes differentially influence two functional groups: groundwater-obligate invertebrates (stygobionts) and benthic insects. We predicted that environmental filtering would dominate for insects, while spatial effects would prevail for stygobionts. We collected 76 samples from 28 hyporheic sites along 109 km of the Rio Grande, Texas, USA, enumerating 54,508 individuals across 80 taxa. Concordance analysis and RDA revealed two communities: one dominated by insects, and another by crustaceans and soft-bodied organisms, including all stygobionts. In linear models, insect richness …

Stemflow Dynamics In The Jamari National Forest (Brazilian Amazon): Ii. Solute Concentrations And Flux Dynamics, Jeferson Alberto De Lima, John T. Van Stan Ii, Karolina Lewińska, Agnieszka Dradrach, Jakub Ceglarek, Kelly Cristina Tonello

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Trees can redirect large volumes of rainwater to the base of their stems. This stemflow not only redistributes water but also channels canopy-derived solutes to the forest floor. Building on research showing canopy geometry and bark properties govern stemflow volumes, we examined how those same traits modulate the biogeochemical side of this flux. Over a 12-month period in Jamari National Forest (Brazil), we quantified stemflow volume and solute chemistry for 19 trees grouped by diameter at breast height (D: < 10, 10-20 and > 20 cm), crown area (CA: < 30, 30-60 and > 60 m(2)) and bark texture (smooth, fissured and rough). Small-stemmed, smooth-barked trees produced the greatest stemflow …

Alfred Russel Wallace Notes 39. What About Wallace's 'Agnosticism'...?, Charles H. Smith

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Alfred Russel Wallace (1823−1913) seems to have distinguished his earlier years of agnosticism from his later period as a spiritualist, but a closer look at the situation suggests he actually remained an agnostic all the way through to the end of his life. The confusion is occasioned by a lack of terminology that can be applied to his position, which most closely resembles a Spinozian manner of thinking.

Differential Effects Of Neighborhood Ambient Pm2.5 Exposure And Social Vulnerability On Cancer-Related Systemic Inflammation By Race In A Large Health Care System Population From 2000 To 2020, Benjamin A. Rybicki, Zihan Lin, Amber L. Pearson

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

BackgroundThe environment can impact cancer risk both directly, such as through the air we breathe, and indirectly, through the neighborhoods we live in. These risk factors often work in concert but can have disparate effects.MethodsTo understand how air pollution, as measured by ambient particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) levels and neighborhood disadvantage based on a geographically assigned social vulnerability index (SVI), may act together to impact cancer risk, we used 2000-2020 statewide cohort data from a large health system based in metropolitan Detroit, MI, USA (n = 245,438). Systemic inflammation was used as a surrogate indicator of cancer risk among study …

A Bacillus Pumilus Isolate With Promising Antimycobacterial Properties, Cody M. Pfaff

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens, particularly Mycobacterium tuberculosis, highlights the urgent need for new antimicrobial agents. Tuberculosis remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, claiming over a million lives annually and posing increasing challenges due to the thick, lipid-rich, acid-fast cell wall of Mycobacterium species that renders them naturally resistant to many antibiotics. In this study, a soil sample collected from the Campus of Fort Hays State University yielded a bacterial isolate exhibiting strong antimicrobial activity. Initial screening against Escherichia coli MM294 showed a 10 mm inhibition zone, and subsequent testing identified the isolate as Bacillus pumilus …

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 …

Anaemic Streams: Iron And Essential Trace Metals Frequently Limit Primary Producer Biomass, David M. Costello, Olufemi J. Akinnifesi, Renn C. Schipper, Paisley Kostick, Jordyn T. Stoll, Scott D. Tiegs, Amy Marcarelli, Sally A. Entrekin, Raven L. Bier, Krista A. Capps, Dean E. Fletcher

Michigan Tech Publications

Metals are essential for microbial metabolism, yet their role as limiting nutrients in freshwater streams remains poorly understood. We quantified the prevalence of metal and nutrient (co-)limitation of primary producers in 41 streams. Metal limitation was widespread with Fe limitation eliciting the strongest and most consistent biomass responses (50% of streams). Zn limitation was also common (33% of streams), marking the first evidence of Zn-limited stream biofilms at this spatial scale. Metals were often co-limiting with N and P, highlighting interactions between macro- and micronutrients. Diatoms were more responsive to Zn and cyanobacteria reached higher biomass with N and P …

In Vitro Pharmacological Evaluation Of Novel Cmpi Derivatives As Selective Positive Allosteric Modulators Of The Alpha4 Beta2 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor, Josue Gaona, Nataly Sanchez, Wilder Felix, Nathalia Menegasso, Brisa Cea, Ganesh Thakur, Ayman K. Hamouda

School of Medicine Student Publications and Presentations

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), where degeneration of dopaminergic and cholinergic neurons disrupts neurotransmission. The (α4)₃(β2)₂ nAChR subtype is expressed on affected neuronal populations and represents a promising therapeutic target. Positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) may enhance receptor function while preserving endogenous signaling. We evaluated chemical derivatives of CMPI [3-(2-chlorophenyl)-5-(5-methyl-1-(piperidin-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)isoxazol] as selective PAMs of (α4)₃(β2)₂ nAChRs. Two-electrode voltage-clamp recordings were performed in Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing defined receptor stoichiometries to assess potentiation and generate dose–response curves. Cytotoxicity was assessed in HEK cells using the MTT assay. Substitutions at the pyrazole …

The Emerging And Evolving Evidence Supporting Creatine As An Ergogenic Aid: History And Applications, Chad Kerksick, Drew Gonzalez, Jeffrey Stout, Scott Forbes, Darren Candow, Tim Ziegenfuss, Ronald Marshall, René Schwesig, Richard Kreider

Faculty Scholarship

Background

Creatine is one of the most extensively studied ergogenic aids, with over three decades of research supporting its role in exercise performance, recovery, and health.

Methods

This narrative review summarizes the historical development of creatine supplementation and evaluates evidence regarding its mechanisms, efficacy across active, athletic populations (e.g. strength, endurance, team-sport), and tactical (e.g. military, law enforcement) populations, and its safety profile.

Results

The evidence suggests that creatine enhances phosphocreatine resynthesis and cellular energy availability, resulting in consistent improvements in high-intensity exercise performance, training adaptations, lean body mass, strength, and power. Additional findings indicate that creatine may attenuate exercise-induced …

College Of Natural Sciences 2025 Year-End Publication, College Of Natural Sciences

College of Natural Sciences Newsletters and Reports

Page 2 Dean's Message 
Page 3 Department Highlights 
Page 4 One Day for State 
Page 5 Ice cores reveal volcanic eruptions in 13th century 
Page 5 How do our cells interpret stress 
Page 6-7 Faculty Excellence
Page 8 New chemical biology consortium will accelerate cancer research
Page 9 SDSU to combat crop disease, biofilms in new NSF-back project 
Page 9 Science as Art Competition 
Page 10-11 Student Excellence  
Page 12 SDSU researcher developing natural alternative to synthetic dyes
Page 12 Browning Retired
Page 13 Quantum technologies through NSF-backed project
Page 13 NASA Funds CNS Development of Model
Page 14 GGS …

Improvements To Fisheries Compensation Processes And Valuation Methodologies In Western Australia, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Fisheries Published Reports

This report has been prepared by the Compensation Working Group (WG) to provide advice to the Minister for Fisheries on improving Western Australia’s (WA) fisheries compensation processes under two key legislative frameworks:

• Fisheries adjustment schemes, under the Fisheries Adjustment Scheme Act 1987
• (FAS Act), and 
• Statutory compensation under Fishing and Related Industries Compensation (Marine Reserves) Act 1997 (FRICMA).

This work has been undertaken as a precursor to the larger scale adjustment and compensation processes that will be required as part of the implementation of several marine parks throughout the Kimberley and South Coast of WA.

Fisheries Occasional Publication No. 150 - Response To 2024 External Review Of Integrated Stock Assessments For Key Wa Demersal Indicator Stocks, Rubie Evans-Powell, S. A. Hesp, Ainslie Denham, Emily A. Fisher, Rachel Marks, Fabian I. Trinnie, Brett Crisafulli

Fisheries Occasional Publications

In Western Australia (WA), stock assessments for key demersal species, including snapper and red emperor, have traditionally used bespoke integrated models developed in-house by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD). In line with other Australian jurisdictions, DPIRD is transitioning to Stock Synthesis (SS) as its primary platform for integrated stock assessments of WA finfish. To support this transition, DPIRD commissioned an independent expert review of recent integrated models applied to three demersal stocks. This publication responds to recommendations from Professor André Punt (University of Washington and CSIRO) in his 2024 review, which examined assessments for Pilbara red …

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) …

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 …

Characterization Of Syntaxin 18 In Peregrinus Maidis And In Vitro Dsrna Synthesis For Potential Rnai-Mediated Control Of Maize Mosaic Alphanucleorhabdovirus (Mmv) Transmission, Hannah Corinne T. Cantaros, Charlene Niebres, Ruth Alessandra Banasihan, Argel L. Arenas, Karen B. Alviar

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

The plant virus known as Maize mosaic alphanucleorhabdovirus (MMV) is a persistent, propagative pathogen transmitted by the corn planthopper Peregrinus maidis Ashmead (Hemiptera: Delphacidae). It is the causal agent for a mosaic disease that can cause significant loss in corn yield. Currently, disease management is focused on controlling its insect vector population. The molecular mechanisms of virus transmission by the insect vector are not yet fully understood. Previously, P. maidis syntaxin 18 (PmSTX18) was identified as a receptor for MMV. PmSTX18 interacts with the viral glycoprotein and potentially facilitates MMV recognition and entry into the vector, enabling virus …

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 …

The Dual Nature Of Weedy Rice (Oryza Sativa F. Spontanea): From A Noxious Weed To An Important Genetic Resource For Rice Improvement, Rica M. Rentino, Vanessa Sernicula, May O. Palanog, Roselyn G. Alfetche, Dan Michael A. Angay, Francis L. Tejada, Dexter G. Balboa, Shaireen M. Angay, Fatima-Nasra A. Sahadain, Teodora E. Mananghaya, Karl Vincent J. Jose, Liezel C. Llanes, Jonathan M. Niones, Karla Mae R. Nonog, Frodie F. Waing, Leonilo Gramaje, Albert Christian S. Suner, Ommal H. Abdulkadi, Norvie L. Manigbas, Jose E. Hernandez, Alvin D. Palanog

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Weedy rice (Oryza sativa f. spontanea) is becoming a serious threat to rice production in the Philippines, especially in direct-seeding rice areas, owing to its high competitiveness and its similarity to cultivated rice in morphology and ecological requirements. However, weedy rice can be considered both a threat that endangers rice production and an opportunity, as it offers a potential source of novel genes for rice improvement. This study evaluated the extent of weedy rice infestation in direct-seeding areas in the Visayas, measured the phenotypic and genotypic diversity of collected weedy rice ecotypes using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, and …