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Item Mutagenesis treatment of Mortierella alpina for PUFA production enhancement for future food development(Elsevier B.V., 2025-06) Alhattab M; Lebeau J; Singh S; Puri MRandom mutagenesis has been identified as a key tool for improving microbial and fungal strains enabling the development of isolates with improved traits suited for industrial scale metabolite production to enhance the nutritional value of future foods. Presented here, is a random mutagenesis strategy employed to assess the effect of 5-fluorouracil (20-200 µg/ml), alone and in combination with the secondary agents octyl gallate and nocodazole, and diethyl sulfate (0.1 to 1 %) chemical mutagenic agents, on the biomass and lipid production as well as the FAME profile. Interestingly, a correlation was demonstrated between 5-fluorouracil exposure time and the arachidonic acid content, which was also influenced by the concentration used. 5-fluororuracil of 100 µg/ml treatment for 48 h resulted in the highest arachidonic acid (% TFA) content in isolates. Mutant M5F047 isolated with 5-fluororuracil (100 µg/ml) alone, proved to be most superior in terms of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and arachidonic acid production, as compared to the Mortierella alpina wild type strain, with enhancements that doubled that of the parent strain. These improvements are more favorable for industrial scale production of arachidonic acid, a precursor of meaty flavour to improve plant-based meats in future food development.Item Common misinterpretations of statistical significance and P-values in dairy research(Elsevier B.V., 2025-11) Laven R; Yang DACareful communication of results is integral to dairy research. However, many published studies contain misinterpretation of the results of statistical analysis, which can lead to conclusions being drawn which are not consistent with the data. Many of these interpretations have arisen because of a focus on P- values rather than on the potential range of effects that are compatible with the study data. This review focuses on 3 misinterpretations: the use of levels of statistical significance to compare results between or within studies, overinterpretation of nonsignificant results, and the use of “trend” to describe results that are “close” to a significance threshold. All of these misinterpretations can be avoided by paying more attention to the range of effects that are compatible with the data. Such a focus will have many benefits—not least, making it clearer when studies have insufficient power to accurately characterize their outcomes. Focusing on compatible effects is not a panacea but will improve statistical inference and provide more thoughtful descriptions of study outcomes.Item Oleaginous Microbial Lipids’ Potential in the Prevention and Treatment of Neurological Disorders(MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2024-02-06) Alhattab M; Moorthy LS; Patel D; Franco CMM; Puri M; Zhang TThe products of oleaginous microbes, primarily lipids, have gained tremendous attention for their health benefits in food-based applications as supplements. However, this emerging biotechnology also offers a neuroprotective treatment/management potential for various diseases that are seldom discussed. Essential fatty acids, such as DHA, are known to make up the majority of brain phospholipid membranes and are integral to cognitive function, which forms an important defense against Alzheimer’s disease. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have also been shown to reduce recurrent epilepsy seizures and have been used in brain cancer therapies. The ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 PUFAs is essential in maintaining physiological function. Furthermore, lipids have also been employed as an effective vehicle to deliver drugs for the treatment of diseases. Lipid nanoparticle technology, used in pharmaceuticals and cosmeceuticals, has recently emerged as a biocompatible, biodegradable, low-toxicity, and high-stability means for drug delivery to address the drawbacks associated with traditional medicine delivery methods. This review aims to highlight the dual benefit that lipids offer in maintaining good health for disease prevention and in the treatment of neurological diseases.Item Economic viability of yield monitoring systems in potato farming : a comparative study between New Zealand and India : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agribusiness at Massey University, School of Agriculture and Environment, Palmerston North, New Zealand(Massey University, 2025) Kodali, Praneeth RayuduIndia is one of the largest global producers of potatoes by volume. At the same time, New Zealand, with its significantly smaller land area and farming population, consistently achieves higher yields, better produce quality, and greater per-hectare productivity. This study investigates the economic viability of adopting Yield Monitoring Systems (YMS) in potato farming across both countries to determine whether such precision agriculture technologies can enhance profitability and efficiency in India. The research draws on secondary data from official sources, including Potato New Zealand and the Government of India, covering regional potato yields in Canterbury, Pukekohe, and Manawatu (NZ), and six Indian states. Using economic evaluation metrics—Return on Investment (ROI), Payback Period (PP), and Cost-Benefit Ratio (CBR)—the study compares outcomes across two adoption models: individual farmer-based adoption and service-based adoption via contractors or Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs). Findings reveal that while YMS significantly improves farm-level profitability and efficiency in New Zealand due to larger landholdings and advanced mechanisation, direct replication of this model in India is economically unfeasible for smallholder farmers. The high initial investment, lack of economies of scale, post-harvest losses, and limited access to institutional credit act as significant barriers. The study concludes that for YMS to be viable in India, adaptation is essential—either through modular integration of YMS into existing machinery or via collective access through FPOs and Custom Hiring Centres. This comparative analysis offers a pathway for scalable YMS adoption in India, promoting precision agriculture not by direct transfer but through context-specific adaptation, institutional support, and strategic policy reallocation.Item Identifying owner management decisions surrounding end-of-life care and euthanasia of geriatric horses in New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Agricultural Science, School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand(Massey University, 2025) Anderson, LilyA geriatric horse is defined by its chronological, functional, or demographic age. Despite advancement on veterinary care and improved husbandry practice, death is inevitable, and geriatric horses will progressively have a decreased quality of life as they age. Regardless of a horses functional or productive benefit to humans, moral and legal responsibilities are placed on the owner to make management and end-of-life decisions in the best interest of the horse’s welfare. Few studies have explored characteristics of New Zealand horse owners, identification of the national geriatric horse population, or factors which influence owner decision making. There is also greater attention needed on the common practice of euthanasia and disposal methods in New Zealand with increasing international legislation and regional restraints. Therefore, this study aimed to describe owner management decisions surrounding end-of-life care and euthanasia of geriatric horses in New Zealand. An online survey collected data from 1,207 respondents. Over half (53%) of owners were based in Auckland, Waikato, and Manawatu-Wanganui. Most respondents identified as female (n=1,178, 98%), and nearly two thirds owned a geriatric horse (60%). Geriatric horses (>15 years) were a median of 17 years old (IQR 16-22) and were visited by their owner twice a day (n=454, 70%). Most respondents had thought about a euthanasia plan for their horse (n=821, 77%), with veterinary administered overdose of barbiturates (n=886, 83%), and burial (n=774, 72%) preferred methods for euthanasia and disposal. On a scale from 0–5 (with 5 most influential) pain and poor prognosis were rated by owners as most influential when making end-of-life decisions for their horse (median score = 5/5, IQR 5–5). This study highlighted that owners are driven by their emotional bond with their horse and are largely dependent on veterinarian support when making end-of-life, euthanasia, and disposal decisions.Item Health management and pruritic behaviour in New Zealand working dogs : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Veterinary Studies without specialisation at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand(Massey University, 2025) Chonglomkrod, BongkochPruritus is the most common sign of skin diseases, which is a common problem in working dogs. This sign can be observed by the handler, but it is often not reported to veterinarians. As a result, the skin problem progresses to a severe condition and requires high-cost care. This makes it difficult to find a new owner after the retirement of working dogs. This thesis aims to provide information on health management and pruritic behaviour in New Zealand working dogs. The data used in this thesis was derived from a cross-sectional survey conducted between October 2018 and June 2021. The data was collected from the handler-reported questionnaire and the physical examination by two veterinarians. The questionnaire asked about the health management and the pruritic behaviour in working dogs. The severity of pruritus and the skin lesions were recorded during physical examination. The survey data included 340 responses from 252 working dogs’ handlers. The first research chapter described the population features, health management and frequency of pruritic behaviour of 252 working dogs. Police dogs were the major population of working dogs (83%), and German Shepherd were the most common breed of working dogs (80.2%). The median age and body weight were 2.9 years and 32 kg, respectively. Most working dogs spent most of time outdoors (66%). Seventy-two percent of working dogs received flea and worm prevention, but only 26% received vaccination in the last six months. Most of the working dogs were fed with dry food (84%) and received treats at least a few times a year (73%). Ninety-five percent and sixty-nine percent of working dogs were bathed and received ear cleaning at least a few times a year, respectively. The most common pruritic behaviour was head shaking (72.2%), followed by facial rubbing (62.3%), paw licking (46.4%), eye rubbing (39.5%), and leg licking behaviour (39.3%), which working dogs exhibited at least a few times a year. Seventy-five percent of working dogs exhibited sneezing, and 45% showed signs of conjunctivitis at least a few times a year. The second research chapter assessed the level of pruritus using the PVAS and evaluated the skin lesions using CADESI-04 in working dogs. Moreover, this chapter investigated the association of each pruritic behaviour, the level of pruritus, and the presence of skin lesions. Twenty-seven dogs whose handlers completed the questionnaire on the same day as the physical examination were included in this chapter. Seven dogs exhibited an abnormal level of pruritus, and six dogs presented with skin lesions. Dogs older than four years were 7.9 times more likely to exhibit an abnormal level of pruritus compared to younger dogs (p = 0.0297). The level of pruritus was not associated with the presence of skin lesions. In addition, there was no significant association between pruritic behaviour and the level of pruritus or the presence of skin lesions. This thesis provides baseline information on health management, pruritic behaviour, intensity of pruritus, and the prevalence of skin lesions in working dogs. Further research should investigate the underlying skin problems and the risk factors of pruritic behaviour in working dogs.Item Food Security and Transition towards Sustainability(MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2021-11-11) Rabbi MF; Hasan M; Kovács S; Djekic I; Jambrak ARIn the light of linkages in various scales and targets, the complex and nuanced design of the sustainable development goals (SDG) raises more challenges in their implementation on the ground. This paper reviewed 25 food security indicators, proposed improvements to facilitate operationalization, and illustrated practical implementation. The research focused on three essential blind spots that arise from the potential interactions between sustainable food production, consumption, and domestic material consumption (DMC). Projection of latent structure regression was applied to link food security and sustainable development goals. Findings revealed that the key target in reducing trade-offs was the integration of DMC with sustainable food production and consumption. DMC was positively correlated with the creation of coherent SDG strategies and sustainable food security. Practical implications were discussed by highlighting how to achieve food security across contrasting development contexts and the challenges of addressing the links between targets and indicators within and beyond SDGs 2 and 12. The results are useful for setting a proper strategy for sustainable production and consumption that can improve the efficient use of resources in the eight Central European countries.Item How does financial literacy impact on inclusive finance?(Springer Nature on behalf of the Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, 2021-12-01) Hasan M; Le T; Hoque AInclusive finance is a core concept of finance that makes various financial products and services accessible and affordable to all individuals and businesses, especially those excluded from the formal financial system. One of the leading forces affecting people's ability to access financial services in rural areas is financial literacy. This study investigated the impacts of financial knowledge on financial access through banking, microfinance, and fintech access using the Bangladesh rural population data. We employed three econometrics models: logistic regression, probit regression, and complementary log–log regression to examine whether financial literacy significantly affects removing the barriers that prevent people from participating and using financial services to improve their lives. The empirical findings showed that knowledge regarding various financial services factors had significant impacts on getting financial access. Some variables such as profession, income level, knowledge regarding depositing and withdrawing money, and knowledge regarding interest rate highly affected the overall access to finance. The study's results provide valuable recommendations for the policymaker to improve financial inclusion in the developing country context. A comprehensive and long-term education program should be delivered broadly to the rural population to make a big stride in financial inclusion, a key driver of poverty reduction and prosperity boosting.Item Factors Influencing the Quality of Life of Empty Nesters: Empirical Evidence from Southwest China(MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2021-03-02) Wang C; Zhang B; Oláh J; Hasan M; Appolloni AQuality of life is a widely accepted concept based on the notion that people’s lives have been subject to rapid development and industrialization. This study aims to explore the impact of different factors on the quality of life of empty nesters in Southwest China. The main factors explored are resilience and social supports (SS), highlighted here from different perspectives. Moreover, the correlations between other variables and quality of life are shown here. This study experimented with a hierarchical multiple regression model from survey data with 3583 valid responses. It argued that both resilience and social supports, including family members and friends, are significantly correlated with the Chinese empty nesters’ quality of life. Family support and friend support play a significant mediating role in the association between resilience and quality of life. However, neither government nor nongovernmental support significantly influences the quality of life. Therefore, the hypothetical recommendations of this study have been partially confirmed. The findings of this study provide a more comprehensive understanding of the overall mental and physical health of Chinese empty nesters.Item Energy economic expansion with production and consumption in BRICS countries(Elsevier Ltd, 2022-11-18) Hasan MGlobal energy demand for energy consumption is increasing day by day, and it seems complicated for most countries to meet energy demand with total energy production. In this regard, this study investigates the comparative impact of energy production and consumption on economic growth in the BRICS countries. This study conducts panel data modelling, more specifically, the fixed-effects model, random-effects, and panel FMOLS model, to find the impact of energy production and consumption on economic growth in the BRICS countries. This study finds that energy production and consumption significantly impact the economic development of the BRICS countries. More specifically, dry natural gas production and consumption, electricity generation and consumption, biofuel production, petroleum production, capital formation, and trade openness positively impact on economic growth, while coal production significantly and negatively impacts on economic growth. This research is of great significance to the economic integration of the BRICS economies.
