NDSU Office of Research and Creative Activity

R1-ranked top 100 research university with the most innovative researchers you'll meet ... multi-year championship sports teams ... the best faculty, staff, and students anywhere. Yep, North Dakota State University has much to be proud of and is a true jewel in our region! Forum of Fargo/Moorhead story: "NDSU among top 100 nationally in research expenditures" https://lnkd.in/exUGAWZK (photo courtesty Forum Communications)

Finding ways to accurately predict canola yield is a priority for growers. In particular finding ways to enhance and further develop existing technology without having to start from scratch is a goal of researchers. Xin (Rex) Sun, North Dakota State University associate professor in precision agriculture, was part of a group that was published in the Smart Agricultural Technology Journal. The article was titled “A case study on canola potential yield prediction using remote sensing imagery and advanced data analytics.” The study investigates using small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) imagery and vegetation indices (Vis) to predict canola yield. The study examined the challenges of applying Vis to different agronomic settings and the variability of their performance across diverse farms. Collaborators on the study with Sun included Nitin Rai, Harsh Pathak, Maria Villamil Maheca, Dennis R. Buckmaster, Yanbo Huang and Paul Overby. #canola #agtechnology #sUAS #vegetation https://lnkd.in/gK-2rTc4

Sunflowers are an important oilseed crop across the world as they play a critical role in helping meet the demand for edible oils and biofuel production. More than 55 million tons were produced in 2023-24 with one million tons coming from the United States. The states of North Dakota and South Dakota produce 85 percent of the U.S. production. However, some diseases can often lead to a substantial drop in yield. Febina Mathew, North Dakota State University associate professor of plant pathology, co-authored a research article titled Mycovirome of Diaporthe helianthi and D. gulyae, causal agents of Phomopsis stem canker of sunflower for the Science Direct Virus Research Volume 351. Phomopsis stem canker is a fungal disease that reduces yield in sunflowers. The paper further examines virome diversity of the causal agents of the Phomposis stem canker. Chien-Fu Wu, Elizabeth Regedanz, Ruchika Kashyap, Karthika Mohan and Shin-Yi Lee Marzano were co-authors of the paper. #stemcanker #sunflower #virome #research #phomopis https://lnkd.in/gXRS_daP

Registration for the first-ever North Dakota State University Bison to the Bakken summer program opens on Feb. 19, 2025. The program will take place in western North Dakota from May 19-30, 2025. The program's aim is to connect students in agriculture, business and engineering with the top employers in North Dakota's energy sector. The program will provide students with social and cultural experiences, academic credits and increased opportunities to secure jobs within the state after graduating. The program is funded by the Economic Diversification Research Funds (EDRF) that were initiated by the North Dakota Legislature in 2023 to help the state economy generate additional revenue streams, particularly through investment into the state's research universities. #EDRF #Bison #Bakken #energy #research More info: https://lnkd.in/gbD-DCCC

The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, released in 1986, focused on several strategies to promote public health, encouraging health systems to prioritize not just treating illnesses but also improving overall health through proactive, health-promoting measures. North Dakota State University associate professor of public health Mary Larson, PhD MPH studied this issue and had a manuscript published recently in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine titled “A Compelling Health Promoting Primary Care Clinic Using a Settings-Based Approach: A Demonstration Project.” Larson’s research piece focuses on a case where a primary care clinic that serves a diverse ethnic and economic population adopted a settings-based approach to health promotion. That included redesigning the clinic’s systems, policies and environment to foster better health outcomes. The integration of lifestyle medicine was a key part of the piece. #publichealth #primarycare #research #lifestyle https://lnkd.in/g7mdXfaz

Research has examined the interactions between phenolic acids and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) have the potential to mask bitterness in wheat bran-associated ligands. Bakhtiyor Rasulev, North Dakota State University associate professor of coatings and polymeric materials, was co-author on a paper published by the MDPI Foods Journal titled “Phenolic Acid–β-Cyclodextrin Complexation Study to Mask Bitterness in Wheat Bran: A Machine Learning-Based QSAR Study.” The researchers employed a combination of genetic algorithm (GA) and multiple linear regression (MLR) approaches to develop three distinct models—one for each binding constant. These models demonstrated strong performance, as evidenced by high correlation coefficients (0.969 for the training set and 0.984 for the test set), reflecting both their predictive accuracy and generalizability. The findings from the machine learning models revealed several key factors that contribute to the binding affinity between the phenolic acids and β-CD. Positive contributions toward the binding were associated with the presence of six-membered rings in the molecule, the branching of the compound, electronegativity values, and the polar surface area. These insights provide valuable knowledge for the design and optimization of β-CD-based encapsulation systems, particularly in applications such as bitterness masking in foods or pharmaceuticals. #encapsulation #phenolic #MDPI #binding

Sustainability in agriculture is a constant challenge in a changing world. North Dakota State University associate professor of agribusiness and applied economics and director for agricultural policy and trade studies Sandro Steinbach and Claire Citeau, Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute distinguished fellow, contributed a guest blog to the Farm Foundation website titled “Rethinking Trade for Sustainable Agriculture in a Changing World.” Steinbach is a 2024 Farm Foundation Agricultural Economics Fellow. The blog’s focus is on the July 2024 Global Forum on Farm Policy Innovation’s second workshop in Paris which examined the topic of measuring sustainability outcomes to facilitate agricultural trade. https://lnkd.in/gDuUGb94

Child malnutrition is increasing on the continent of Africa and as a result, long-term consequences impact a child’s growth, overall health and development occur. Ramona Danielson, North Dakota State University assistant professor of public health, and NDSU graduate research and teaching assistant Samuel Faraday Saidu had a study recently recently published in the Frontiers in Nutrition Journal titled "Social Determinants of Health Associated with Increased Prevalence of Childhood Malnutrition in Africa.” The research focused particularly underweight and stunting in children under five years of age. Through an analysis of data from 50 African countries, the study explores the associations between these forms of malnutrition and six social determinants of health. The results underscore significant regional differences, as well as the influence of factors such as access to sanitation, drinking-water services, literacy rates, and political stability on child nutrition outcomes. The study provides insights into the complex relationship between childhood malnutrition and social determinants of health in Africa. It suggests that by addressing these underlying factors—especially improving sanitation, access to water, education, and political stability—significant progress can be made in reducing childhood malnutrition across the continent. #childnutrition #malnutrition #health #research https://lnkd.in/g8jWHeTi

The Peltier Institute for Advancement in Agricultural Technology's establishment will foster greater collaboration among faculty across different disciplines to tackle some of the region's most pressing challenges. By focusing on the efficiency and sustainability of agricultural production and food systems in the northern Great Plains, the Institute will provide opportunities for faculty to engage in interdisciplinary research that addresses the evolving needs of society. This research will contribute to developing innovative solutions that enhance food security, environmental stewardship, and sustainable agricultural practices in this vital region.

A team led by Jeremy Straub, North Dakota State University associate professor of computer science, has had a patent application published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office USPTO. The patent is regarding advanced cybersecurity systems for infrastructure and network vulnerability analysis technology. The systems could provide enhanced security for vital infrastructure without the risks involved with traditional penetration testing. https://lnkd.in/gvUWwaM4