Life Sciences Commons^™

Progress On The Nutrient Components, Functional Activities, And Utilization Of Dictyophora Rubrovalvata, Zhang Lunqing, Wang Xianxing, Li Qiaoqiao, Xu Cunbin, Wang Yu

Food and Machinery

Dictyophora rubrovalvata, a valuable edible fungus in China, is rich in active components such as polysaccharides, proteins, amino acids, and vitamins, exhibiting significant efficacy in antioxidant, anti-fatigue, antitumor, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, and anti-inflammatory activities. This paper systematically reviews recent research progress on the nutritional components, functional activities, and utilization status of D. rubrovalvata, both in China and elsewhere, with an outlook on its future development directions and application prospects.

A Review Of Metabolic Mechanisms Of N-Nitroso Compounds And Measures For Their Reduction And Control, Wang Zhulin

Food and Machinery

N-nitroso compounds, as one of the major food contaminants, are widely present in food and pose hazards such as carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, and mutagenicity, thus being a key focus in food safety monitoring. Although significant progress has been made in the research on N-nitroso compounds, studies on their metabolic mechanisms and reduction and control measures are still disconnected to a certain extent. Through a review of the classification, detection methods, and toxic effects of N-nitroso compounds, this article analyzes the intrinsic connection between their metabolic pathways in the body and strategies for external reduction and control, aiming to provide theoretical references …

Intelligent Detection Method For Food Packaging Defects Based On Improved U-Net And Machine Vision, Qi Guohong, Zhang Jing, Li Lili

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To address the issues of weak generalization, insufficient accuracy, and poor anti-interference ability in existing intelligent detection methods for food packaging defects. [Methods] On the basis of the intelligent sorting system for food packaging defects, a method for intelligent detection of food packaging defects is proposed, which combines machine vision and an improved U-Net model. By introducing a multi-scale residual convolution module into the convolution module, the method reduces the computational complexity of the model and improves the training effect. By integrating channel attention, spatial attention, and multi-scale attention, a lightweight hybrid attention module is constructed to achieve the …

Sustainable Design Strategies For Regional Food Packaging Based On The Dual Circulation Of Matter And Culture, Jin Yuhan, Wang Chao, Hou Zhigang

Food and Machinery

In response to the current focus on material circulation in regional food packaging research and the lack of mechanisms for the dissemination of regional culture, this study explores a sustainable design pathway for the coordinated development of cultural and material circulation in the context of new retail. Taking a high-end apple gift box as a practice-based validation object, a dual-circulation packaging system integrating material and cultural circulation was constructed and validated from four aspects, i.e., material selection, structural innovation, visual narrative, and interactive experience, based on the triple bottom line (TBL) and cradle-to-cradle (C2C) theories. The use of locally sourced …

Tips For Growing Garden Vegetables In Utah: Soil Preparation, Gastone Makalaya, Josh Martin, Milena Oliveira

All Current Publications

To help Utah gardeners maintain healthy soils and enhance early vegetable production, this fact sheet provides practical guidance and tips on soil preparation for vegetable gardening.

Tips For Growing Garden Vegetables In Utah: Soil Fertilization, Gastone Makalaya, Josh Martin, Milena Oliveira

All Current Publications

A successful vegetable garden requires precise nutrient management to achieve maximum yields. Fertilization must provide adequate nutrients to support plant growth throughout the season. Fertilizer applications should be based on soil test recommendations and crop nutrient requirements. This fact sheet provides Utah gardeners with practical guidance and tips on soil fertilization for vegetable gardening.

Recent Advances In Sustainable Production Of Enriched Chicken Eggs: A Mini Review, Karim El-Sabrout, Ayman Abd El-Aziz

Jurnal Ilmu Ternak Universitas Padjadjaran

Enriched or “designer” chicken eggs have emerged as an important category of functional foods aimed at improving human nutrition through dietary manipulation of laying hens. This mini-review summarizes recent advances in egg enrichment strategies, focusing on omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant compounds. Omega-3 enrichment remains the most widely adopted approach, achieved through supplementation with flaxseed, fish oil, or microalgae, resulting in significant increases in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in egg yolk. Multi-nutrient enrichment, including selenium, vitamin E, and carotenoids, has also gained attention due to its potential in enhancing antioxidant capacity and health of hens …

Effect Of Dietary Onion Peel Powder (Allium Cepa L.) As A Feed Additive On Production Performance In Broiler, Della Ariesba Putri Dulia, Edhy Sudjarwo, Osfar Sjofjan

Jurnal Ilmu Ternak Universitas Padjadjaran

This study aims to evaluate the use of onion peel powder (Allium cepa L) as a feed additive on feed intake, weight gain, Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), Production Index, and Income Over Feed Cost (IOFC) in broilers. A total of 144 Lohmann strain broiler (unsexed) were treated from 1 to 35 days of age. There were 6 treatments with 4 replicates, consisting of 24 experimental cages, each filled 6 broilers. The experimental design used completely randomized design (CRD). The treatment groups were as follows: basal feed without antibiotics (P0-), basal feed + 0.1% antibiotics (zinc bacitracin) (P0+), basal feed + …

Effect Of Gowok (Syzygium Polycephalum) Fortification On The Physical Properties And Color Of Goat Milk Yogurt, Siti Rahmawati Zulaikhah, Triana Setyawardani, Juni Sumarmono

Jurnal Ilmu Ternak Universitas Padjadjaran

This study aimed to determine the effect of adding parts of gowok fruit (Syzygium polycephalum) on the physical properties of goat’s milk yogurt. A completely randomized design was applied with treatments consisting of fruit parts (rind, flesh of fruit, and whole seedless fruit) and addition levels (1, 2, and 3%) with three replications. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance followed by Duncan’s multiple range test (DMRT). The results showed that gowok addition had a significant effect (P<0.05) on viscosity, syneresis, and color parameters, but no significant effect (P>0.05) on firmness and work of penetration. Yogurt viscosity ranged from 349.33 to 825 mPa·s and decreased with increasing gowok levels, while …

Stephen Baenziger, Unl Agronomy & Horticulture, Breeding New Wheat Varieties, Mark Griep, P. Stephen Baenziger

UNL ORCA Interview Series

Stephen Baenziger awarded the ORCA in 2011. He was born in 1951 in Toronto, Canada. When he was an infant, his family immigrated to the U.S., where he grew up in Des Plaines, Illinois. He earned a bachelor's in biological chemistry magna cum laude from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Next, he earned a master's and doctorate in plant breeding and genetics at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Over the next decade, he worked for the USDA at Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Maryland and then at the Monsanto Corporation in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1986, he joined the …

Survey Increases Understanding Of United States Sweetpotato Producer Clean Seed Needs, Lorin Harvey, Mark Shankle, Rachael Carter, Kelsey Harvey

Journal of Extension

A needs assessment of sweetpotato producers across the United States was conducted as part of a strategic planning process to enhance the applicability of research and education. A national survey and a 2-day grant-planning workshop were also used to engage stakeholders to develop a USDA–NIFA Specialty Crop Research Initiative Proposal to improve and promote clean seed programs. Ninety-five U.S. sweetpotato producers completed the survey, representing more than 73,000 acres of production. Therefore, the survey respondents are estimated to account for nearly half of U.S. sweetpotato production, underscoring the importance and relevance of the results.

Financial Analysis Tool (Ct-Ft) For Western North Carolina Christmas Tree Growers, Sam Blumenfeld, Solomon Ghezehei, Justin G.A. Whitehill, Elizabeth G. Nichols

Journal of Extension

Western North Carolina is a major national Christmas tree (CT) production region, yet the CT industry faces numerous challenges that threaten its financial sustainability. Little economic research has been done, and limited decision-making tools exist to assist producers, Extension agents, and associated industry stakeholders. We developed an Excel-based financial analysis tool (CT-FT) to assist small and midsize wholesale CT producers in operational planning and financial assessment. The publicly available financial tools will enable CT growers to better understand their finances and operations, interact with financial stakeholders, assess alternative management scenarios, and track yearly costs to improve operational financial sustainability.

Assessing Knowledge Levels And Learning Preferences Among Organic Grain Farmers And Professionals; The Experience Of The University Of Wisconsin Ograin Program, Lauren Asprooth, Claire G Stedden, Evelyn Hammond, Ayse Okur, Erin Silva

Journal of Extension

With lagging domestic supplies of organic grains, transitioning from conventional to organic grain production is needed, but can be a daunting challenge for farmers. The OGRAIN program began at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2015 to support increased organic grain production in the Midwest. We surveyed 429 OGRAIN participants to assess the most accessed resources, areas of knowledge change, and areas for program improvement. Participants highlighted the importance of networking and the need for additional marketing resources. Differences were found in programming preferences by organic farming experience. These results can improve our understanding of how to best support organic grain …

Attracting Extension Program Participants: Tips For Extension Educators, Suzanna R. Windon, Theodore R. Alter

Journal of Extension

Extension educators hold a competitive advantage by delivering educational programs tailored to their communities' unique circumstances and perspectives. This article enhances the understanding of the proactive Extension program model and contributes to the literature on Extension educators' competencies. It offers tips for attracting participants to Extension programs and sustaining their engagement. Additionally, the proposed rubric is a practical tool for educators to assess and ensure that all aspects of their programs are well-prepared for successful implementation and meaningful participant involvement.

Cultivating Narratives: A Critical Discourse Analysis Of Higher Education Student-Led Farms And Gardens, Maximilan Sherard, Marc T. Sager

Publications

Despite extensive research on community agriculture, little attention has been paid to student-led farms or gardens (SFGs) in higher education contexts. SFGs represent a unique site for community agriculture due to their diverse stakeholders, academic affiliations, and the institutional policies they navigate. This study examines online promotional materials from 42 SFGs located on land-grant higher education campuses across the United States. Using critical discourse analysis, we (1) map these organizations’ practices and (2) identify competing discourses about community and agriculture within their promotional narratives. We identify and explain four core practices (membership, growing, distribution, and purpose) and connect these practices …

Purdue University Extension Program Evaluation Professional Development Pilot Study To Assess Evaluation Competencies Among Educators, Mariah K. Awan, Rama Radhakrishna, Hui-Hui Wang

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

For the first part of this study, we conducted a descriptive research study with Purdue Extension educators to determine their evaluation competencies and their perceived level of importance for evaluation activities. We also asked about their competence in evaluation methods. For part two, we interviewed Purdue Extension administrators about their perceptions of Program Evaluation as a whole within Indiana Extension. The interview protocol questions were related to perceived roles of administrators, perceived strengths and opportunities for Purdue Extension Program Evaluation efforts, evaluation knowledge needed by educators, and possible future evaluation directions for Purdue Extension. We found that educators indicated mid-level …

Needs Assessment For Evaluation Competencies Among Extension And Outreach Professionals, Mariah K. Awan, Hui-Hui Wang, Rama Radhakrishna

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

We conducted an extensive literature review to develop an assessment tool with both quantitative and qualitative items that can be used to conduct a statewide needs assessment of professional development needs in program evaluation for Extension educators and similar non-profit organizations. This tool can be used to identify priority topics for evaluating professional development trainings and materials. It can be easily distributed via Qualtrics. The results of the literature review and the needs assessment survey instrument are shared.

Making Digital Connections: Extension Educators’ Perceptions And Use Of Qr Codes, Kobina D. Fanyinkah, Jefferson D. Miller, Casandra Cox, Will Doss

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

While Extension educators recognize the potential of digital tools for outreach, there are still barriers to adoption, effective implementation, and acceptance. The goal of this study was to evaluate Extension educators’ perceptions concerning quick-reponse (QR) codes in outreach activities, including their effectiveness, integration, and barriers faced when using them. The study used a qualitative approach in the form of semi-structured interviews of twelve Extension professionals purposely sampled from the Ozark region of the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. Participants perceived the effective use of the technology to be related to their target clients’ age and technological proficiency. Additionally, Extension professionals reported …

Nebraska And The Midwest Agtech Ecosystem: Benchmarking Innovation Investment And Translation Gaps, Ankit Chandra, Ishani Lal, Brennan Costello

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Presentations and White Papers

Agricultural innovation is central to the sustainable transformation of food systems, yet the capital that finances it is unevenly distributed relative to where food is produced. This paper develops a diagnostic framework for measuring this mismatch and applies it across the U.S. Midwest from 2021 to 2025, with particular emphasis on Nebraska's structural position within this landscape. Drawing on venture capital deal-flow data, 17 stakeholder interviews, and a novel strength-weakness-opportunity-gap (SWOG) ecosystem mapping methodology, we document $736 million in tracked Midwest AgTech funding across eight states (Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, North Dakota, and South Dakota). We introduce three …

Evaluating Fungicide Programs For Grapevine Disease Management And Fungicide Sensitivity Monitoring, Abraham Ahumada

Master's Theses

Grapevine diseases, such as powdery mildew and Botrytis bunch rot, require repeated fungicide applications to maintain fruit quality and reduce yield losses. However, fungicide performance can vary among products, application programs, disease pressure, and pathogen sensitivity. This thesis evaluated fungicide programs for control of powdery mildew in ‘Chardonnay’ grapes and assessed fungicide sensitivity of Botrytis cinerea isolates collected from California vineyards.

Powdery mildew, caused by the fungal pathogen Erysiphe necator, is a major threat to the production of Vitis vinifera grapes worldwide. Because powdery mildew management relies heavily on fungicide applications, field evaluations are needed to compare the efficacy …

The Gravity Of The Ukraine War: Measuring Conflict Impacts On European Grain Trade, Stefan Bonchis

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the heterogeneous structural disruptions caused by the war in Ukraine on the European Union’s agricultural trade architecture, focusing on three critical commodities: wheat, maize, and sunflower seeds. Employing a structural gravity model framework across all 27 EU Member States, the study evaluates two conflict episodes, the 2014 Crimea annexation and the 2022 full-scale invasion, to identify the net beneficiaries and heavily impacted nations within the EU agricultural trade network. The empirical strategy utilizes a dual-test design to capture the full scope of the disruption. Test A (Ukraine towards the EU trade) reveals a distinct geographic logic in …

The Unexpected Role Of Conditionality In Shaping Relational Values: Insights From An Incentive-Based Conservation Program In Bolivia, Brooke Mcwherter, Will Munger, Zhao Ma, Claudia Radel, Laura Zanotti, Jonathan Bauchet, Ricardo Godoy

Department of Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

As global change accelerates, Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) programs have become increasingly important tools for addressing the interconnected challenges of land degradation, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, and climate change. PES programs provide incentives to individuals or communities, conditional on people adopting sustainable natural resource management practices to support or increase ecosystem service provisioning. Although conditionality is considered a “PES-defining feature,” little is known about how conditionality is perceived by community members and how such perceptions influence their participation in and experience with PES programs. To address this gap, we conducted an extensive qualitative study of Watershared, an incentive-based conservation …

Farm Workers And The Structural Basis Of Climate Change Perceptions, Cody Mortell, Anna Erwin, Zhao Ma, Dongkyu Kim, Elizabeth Rodriquez, Marla Perez-Lugo

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Farm workers are particularly vulnerable to climate change, especially from extreme heat; however, little is known about how they perceive this risk. This study examines climate change perceptions (CCP) among 404 farm workers surveyed in person in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas from April to May 2024. Guided by Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of practice, we conducted a latent class analysis of economic, cultural, social, and symbolic capital indicators to identify distinct class profiles. We then assessed CCP by latent profile, using two primary outcome variables: (1) perceived temperature trends in the region (assessed alongside NOAA data) and (2) perceived …

Corn Yield And Tissue-Potassium Response To Potassium Fertilization, Wyatt A. Rongey

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Potassium (K) deficiency is an increasingly important yield-limiting factor for irrigated corn (Zea mays L.) in Arkansas, where below optimum soil-test K (STK) acreage is increasing and visible K deficiencies or hidden K hunger threaten yield and profitability. Improving K management for modern, high-yielding hybrids require refining soil-test-based fertilizer recommendations and defining growth-stage-specific tissue-K sufficiency ranges that diagnose deficiency before irrecoverable yield loss occurs. This research aimed to i) quantify corn grain yield and yield component responses to K fertilization across a wide range of STK levels; ii) determine the frequency and magnitude of agronomically and economically meaningful yield responses …

The Role Of Speculators In The Agricultural Futures Market And Their Impact On Prices, Clement Asamoah

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The study evaluates the impact of speculative activity on agricultural commodity returns, specifically in the corn, soybeans, rice, and oats markets. The study also analyzed the influence commodity returns have on speculative positions. Weekly data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission were used as a proxy for speculative activity, and futures data were also retrieved from Barchart. Vector Autoregressive models and the Granger Causality tests were estimated to identify the relationships between returns and speculation. The paper found that speculative positions do not Granger-cause returns over the course of a week except for rice Tuesday results, which recorded a statistically …

Guide To The Erath Winery Collection, Linfield College Archives

Linfield Archives Finding Aids

The collection was donated by Richard (Dick) Erath, the founder of the Erath Winery in Dundee, Oregon. The collection contains financial information about the Winery, publicity found in newspapers and magazines, personal plans, details of the wine-making process, multiple drafts of the biographical book The Boys Up North; among much other information, and a bottle of the first commercial wine produced by the Erath Winery in 1972.

Evaluation Of Thresholds For Adult Tarnished Plant Bug, Lygus Lineolaris (Beauvois), In Thryvon® Cotton, William Anderson Fletcher

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Tarnished plant bug (TPB) is the most economically damaging insect pest of Mid-South cotton. TPB reduces yield is reduced by damaging squares, terminal growth, and small bolls, resulting in reduced yield. Currently, cotton grown in the Mid-South averages 1-6 insecticide applications per year for control of TPB. The introduction of ThryvOn® cotton technology provides a new management strategy for TPB control. ThryvOn® technology produces the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) protein Mpp51Aa2, which has insecticidal activity on TPB. A field study was conducted at five locations in 2024 and seven locations in 2025 across the Mid-South to evaluate different threshold levels for …

Sheep And Goat Industry Funding Scheme 2024-25 Annual Report, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity published reports

The Sheep and Goat IFS addresses pest and disease threats relevant to the biosecurity of WA sheep and goat industries and currently operates across the whole of WA. The IFS contribution is paid on the sale of sheep and goats (0.17 cents per head/carcass) produced within the state. The Sheep and Goat IFS fund the following programs.

• Virulent Footrot (VFR) Program: The Footrot Control Program (FCP) facilitates the early detection of VFR. This contagious bacterial disease is caused by virulent strains of Dichelobacter nodosus. Early detection of this disease manages the spread and impact through control or eradication.
• Wild Dog …

Lesson-1 On Mni Wiconi (Water Is Life): Understanding The Problem Of Water Contamination, Reycel Jugo, Madhav P. Nepal

iLEARN Teaching Resources

Students investigate a scenario of water contamination in a fictional community. They define the engineering problem of dirty water and explore the cultural and ecological significance of water through the lens of indigenous principles. This lesson introduces students to the concept of water contamination and the need for purification, grounding the learning in a real-world problem and connecting to Indigenous knowledge about the land and water.

Problem-Based Learning (PBL) Scenario: Students receive a letter from a fictional community whose water source has become cloudy and is making people sick. They are tasked with becoming “Water Engineers” to investigate the …

A Review On Nanoparticles: Classification And Roles In Plant Systems, Muhammad Junaid Zafar, Muhammad Shafiq, Muhammad Azeem Rana

Journal of Bioresource Management

Nanotechnology has been a new paradigm of the twenty-first century with several good breakthroughs. These tiny particles, known for their outstanding qualities, are enjoying an increasing influence in many research fields concerning foodstuff, cosmetics, electronics, and pharmacology. Synthesis of nanoparticles includes utilizing chemical processes with reducing agents, alongside employing physical techniques such as top-down and bottom-up approaches for NP formation. The biological approach, known as green synthesis, utilizes plant extracts to ensure increased safety. Biological methods also involve bacteria and fungi, known as the major sources of nanoparticles. It is acknowledged as the most effective and environmentally conscious approach, attributed …