Articles tagged with Crop Science
Research by USDA scientists found that oat compounds called avenanthramides decrease inflammatory molecules and inhibit proinflammatory cytokines. This suggests potential health benefits for heart disease prevention beyond lowering blood cholesterol levels.
Researchers have developed a barley protein concentrate that can meet the protein needs of trout and other commercially produced fish, potentially replacing fishmeal and soy protein concentrate. The concentrate is produced through an enzymatic method and has been shown to be effective in feeding trials.
Agricultural Research Service scientist Peggy Tomasula has written a chapter on using dairy ingredients to produce edible films and biodegradable packaging materials. The research focuses on improving the water-vapor barrier properties of dairy proteins, such as casein and whey.
Experts will discuss emerging developments in plant and soil sciences, including drought-tolerant sorghum and biotechnology. The meeting also addresses climate change, energy, and sustainable development.
Australia's top scientists will present on using mathematical models to understand complex systems, including climate change and agricultural sustainability. The conference will feature models assessing water availability, predicting aircraft distances for safer skies, and evaluating coral bleaching impacts.
A study by Cardiff University scientists has revealed that common earthworms in the UK are composed of multiple distinct species, each with unique roles in food chains and soil ecology. The discovery, published in Molecular Ecology, sheds new light on the importance of earthworms in agriculture.
The USGS conducted a holistic study on agricultural chemicals in the environment, collecting field data and employing numerical models to simulate water and chemical transport. The results show that modifications to agricultural practices can profoundly alter chemical transport rates, affecting contaminant dilution and transformation.
A new microarray chip can detect up to 300 different viruses infecting farm animals, birds, and insects. The chip has already been successfully used to identify a coronavirus and foot-and-mouth disease virus.
A team of Swedish scientists has discovered a key gene controlling tree growth and development, shedding light on the complex mechanisms behind flowering and dormancy. The findings hold promise for revolutionizing forest tree breeding and improving pulp, paper, construction, and bioenergy production.
Scientists have discovered that ancient genes, including Constans (CO) and Flowering Locus T (FT), dictate flowering and fall bud set in trees. This finding has significant implications for understanding tree maturation and adaptation to climate change, as well as speeding up tree breeding.
A study by Cornell University found that farm-raised salmon in Europe contained higher levels of organic contaminants than those from North America and South America. The analysis revealed 13 out of 14 organochlorine contaminants were present in farmed salmon, highlighting the need for safer farming practices.
An environmental epidemiologist from UGA aims to investigate how air pollution affects pregnant women and their unborn babies, building on his earlier research in Peru. He plans to measure personal pollution exposure of 100 pregnant women in Trujillo and analyze blood, urine, and cord blood samples.
A new field of ecology explores how humans influence urban ecosystems, raising questions about accountability and stewardship. Cities are increasingly recognized as significant ecological systems with diverse conditions, energy-intensive operations, and a substantial ecological footprint.
Researchers at Virginia Tech found that the amount of lead in the environment from bullets on battlefields is not a significant concern for water quality, with no contamination detected off range. However, they discovered that shot impacts cause significant damage to trees up to 140 meters beyond the range.
A team of scientists from Montana State University designed an experiment to study the role of gravity on infection-fighting white blood cells. The goal is to understand why astronauts are more vulnerable to infections in space and develop pharmaceuticals to boost immune responses.
The Aldo Leopold Leadership Program has selected its first cohort of 20 Fellows, including experts in water and air quality, diseases, and global climate change. The five-year program aims to enhance their ability to communicate environmental science effectively among various audiences.
Fresh berries can significantly reduce LDL cholesterol buildup by exhibiting antioxidant activities comparable to those found in grapes and wines. Research is ongoing to determine the optimal berry consumption amount for antioxidant benefits.
The Oregon State University-led program aims to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and public perception on environmental issues. The five-year grant-funded initiative will train 20 tenured scientists in effective communication skills, enabling them to share their expertise with local communities, media, and policymakers.
A task force of scientists concludes that smoked foods sold in the US are virtually safe due to limitations in epidemiological studies. The researchers suggest other factors may cause correlations between cured meats and childhood cancers, such as diet composition.
The Weizmann Institute is launching an international bioinformatics network to bridge the gap in technology and training between Western countries and developing regions. The network, coordinated by the institute, will provide access to comprehensive bioinformatics data banks and facilitate collaboration among scientists.
A new species of frog, Eleutherodactylus iberia, has been discovered by scientists funded by the US National Science Foundation. The one-centimeter-long frog is the smallest of its kind in the Northern Hemisphere and part of a group that includes all animals with backbones except fishes.
A team of scientists from the US, France, Italy, CAR, and Congo conduct a rare study of the African atmosphere, exploring biomass burning, rainforest-savanna boundaries, and global air chemistry. The EXPRESSO project collects chemical data to understand how vegetation and fires interact with the atmosphere.
The NCAR research program is testing a new cloud-seeding technique using pyrotechnic flares to enhance rainfall in drought-stricken Coahuila, Mexico. The technique has shown promising results in South Africa and Arizona, but its effectiveness remains uncertain.