Raymond Thomas

Memorial University of Newfoundland · https://www.grenfell.mun.ca/academics-and-research/Pages/school-of-science-and-the-environment/People/Faculty/thomas.aspx

Aluminum (Al) is the third most ubiquitous metal in the earth’s crust. A decrease in soil pH below 5 increases its solubility and availability. However, its impact on plants depends largely on concentration, exposure time, plant species, developmental age, and growing conditions. Although Al can be beneficial to plants by stimulating growth and mit...

Anaerobic liquid dairy digestate is a by-product of dairy waste anaerobic digestion from dairy operations and is associated with environmental risks if not handled properly, particularly nutrient leaching losses, water contaminations, and greenhouse gas emissions. We tested the applications of anerobic digestate (AD) as a biofertilizer and water so...

There is a diverse array of berries found wild in tropical, temperate and arid ecosystems or cultivated in both field and control environments across the globe. It is evident berry genetics, species, growth environment, cultivation techniques, postharvest management practices, packaging and processing affect the nutritional and functional propertie...

Microgreens are immature young plants grown for their health benefits. A study was performed to evaluate the different mixed growing media on growth, chemical composition, and antioxidant activities of four microgreen species: namely, kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala), Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris var. cicla), arugula (Eruca vesicaria ssp. sa...

Upon exposure to cold stress (CS), crop plants face an array of detrimental effects on growth, development, and final yield. Seed germination, seedling emergence, leaf number, root morphology, photosynthetic activity and metabolism are all disrupted by CS. Plants have evolved various mechanisms to avoid or induce cold tolerance from the cellular le...

Breast milk is the ideal source of nutrients for infants in early life. Lipids represent 2–5% of the total breast milk composition and are a major energy source providing 50% of an infant’s energy intake. Functional lipids are an emerging class of lipids in breast milk mediating several different biological functions, health, and developmental outc...

Communication between gut microbiota and the brain is an enigma. Alterations in the gut microbial community affects enteric metabolite levels, such as short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). SCFAs have been proposed as a possible mechanism through which the gut microbiome modulate brain health and function. This study analyzed for the first time the effec...

Pyroligneous acid (PA) contains bioactive compounds that can be utilized in agriculture to improve plant productivity and quality of edible parts. In this study, we investigated the biostimulatory effect of varying PA concentrations (i.e., 0%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, and 2% PA/ddH2O (v/v)) on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum ‘Scotia’) plant growth and fruit q...

Moss plays an important role in boreal forest ecosystems as an understory bryophyte species. Clearcut harvesting is a common boreal forest regeneration method that can expose understory vegetation to abiotic stressors impeding their recovery following post-harvest conditions. Very little is known concerning how moss remodel their chloroplast lipido...

Purpose Ethanolamine-containing plasmalogens (pPEs) are a unique class of breastmilk (BM) glycerophospholipids containing a vinyl-ether at the sn-1 and a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) at the sn-2 position of the glycerol moiety. pPEs are present in the milk fat globule membrane, accumulate in the infant brain, and have been implicated in infant...

The study aimed to investigate the effects of biochar (BC) application on hydraulic properties and resulting nitrogen (N) transport in a podzolic soil profile. Soil samples were collected from an agricultural research field in Pasadena, Newfoundland, Canada. Three types of leaching columns were prepared: (1) topsoil, (2) top and E-horizon soil, and...

Pyroligneous acid (PA) is a reddish-brown liquid obtained through the condensation of the smoke formed during biochar production. PA contains bioactive compounds that can be utilized in agriculture to improve plant productivity and quality of edible parts. In this study, we investigated the biostimulatory effect of varying concentrations of PA (i.e...

Boreal forests across Canada and other geographic areas globally have vast networks or densities of seismic lines, pipelines, access roads, utility corridors, and multipurpose trails collectively termed “linear disturbances” or “linear features.” Additionally, large areas of disturbances attributed to resource harvesting represent a major anthropog...

Maternal body mass index is associated with breast milk (BM) fatty acid composition. This study investigated the effects of BM omega (n)-6:n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) from non-obese women and women with obesity on the process of adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. BM samples were collected from non-obese women (BMNO) and women with ob...

Background Monoacetyldiglycerides (MAcDG), are acetylated triglycerides (TG) and an emerging class of bioactive or functional lipid with promising nutritional, medical, and industrial applications. A major challenge exists when analyzing MAcDG from other subclasses of TG in biological matrices, limiting knowledge on their applications and metabolis...

Chilling stress is one of the major abiotic stresses which hinder seedling emergence and growth. Herein, we investigated the effects of chilling/low temperature stress on the morphological, physiological, and biochemical attributes of two silage corn genotypes during the seedling establishment phase. The experiment was conducted in a growth chamber...

Mosses play important roles in the regulation of environmental or metabolic conditions in boreal forest ecosystems. Sphagnum and feathermoss are the two main bryophytes found in boreal forest understory. Clearcut harvesting (common method of boreal forest regeneration) can expose understory vegetation to water and light stress. Water and light stre...

Aluminum (Al) toxicity in acidic soils is a major constraint for seed germination and crop growth. Pyroligneous acid (PA) is rich in bioactive compounds that can enhance crop growth and tolerance to environmental stresses including toxic trace elements, but under studied. In this study, we investigated the effect of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L....

Background and objectives Organic waste management in environmentally sustainable way is important not only to reduce the negative impacts on ecosystems but also valorizing the waste resources. Herein we evaluated the potential of wood ash (WA) and paper sludge (PS) wastes from a pulp and paper mill as potting media and their effects on the physico...

This data in brief article represents the data set associated with a research article published in Geoderma [1]. The data set represents figures showing the spatial distribution of selected macro and micronutrients, and their quantification in different crop or nutrient management systems practiced in the boreal ecosystem. Spatial distribution of n...

Berry fruits are known as “superfoods” due to health benefits associated with the high content of bioactive compounds or phytonutrients. Organic extraction solvents are fundamentally volatile compounds acquired from non-renewable resources, i.e petroleum-based solvents are presumed to be harmful to both human health and the environment. Owing to th...

White chanterelles (Basidiomycota), lacking the orange pigments and apricot-like odour of typical chanterelles, were found recently in the Canadian provinces of Québec (QC) and Newfoundland & Labrador (NL). Our phylogenetic analyses confirmed the identification of all white chanterelles from NL and QC as Cantharellus enelensis; we name these forma...

Currently, there is increased interest in finding appropriate food-grade green extraction systems capable of extracting these bioactive compounds from dietary mushrooms for applications in various food, pharmacological, or nutraceutical formulations. Herein, we evaluated a modified Swiss water process (SWP) method using alkaline and acidic pH at lo...

Introduction Honey bees (Apis mellifera) play key roles in food production performing complex behaviors, like self-grooming to remove parasites. However, the lipids of their central nervous system have not been examined, even though they likely play a crucial role in the performance of cognitive process to perform intricate behaviors. Lipidomics ha...

IntroductionMonoacetyldiglycerides (MAcDG), are acetylated triglycerides (TG) and an emerging class of bioactive or functional lipid with promising nutritional, medical, and industrial applications. A major challenge exists when analyzing MAcDG from other subclasses of TG in biological matrices, limiting knowledge on their applications and metaboli...

A combination of vermicast and sawdust mixed medium is commonly used in horticulture, but the added benefit of microbial inoculation and mechanism of nutrient availability are unknown. This study was done to determine nutrient mineralization and nutrient release patterns of different combinations or a mix of vermicast-sawdust growing media amended...

Mushrooms have long rich history in folk medicine, traditional and functional foods due to high content of dietary myco-nutrients. Currently, there is increased interest in finding appropriate food-grade green ex-traction systems capable of extracting these bioactive compounds from dietary mushrooms for applica-tions in various food, pharmacologica...

Soybean is one of the most cultivated crops globally and a staple food for much of the world's population. The annual global crop losses due to infection by the Phytophthora sojae are currently estimated at approximately $2B USD, yet we have limited understanding of the role of lipid metabolism in the adaptative strategies used to limit infection a...

Soybean is one of the most cultivated crops globally and a staple food for much of the world's population. The annual global crop losses due to infection by the Phytophthora sojae are currently estimated at approximately $2B USD, yet we have limited understanding of the role of lipid metabolism in the adaptative strategies used to limit infection a...

Communication between gut microbiota and the brain is an enigma. Alterations in the gut microbial community affects enteric metabolite levels, such as SCFAs. SCFAs have been proposed as a possible mechanism through which the gut microbiome modulate brain health and function. This study analyzed for the first time the effects of SCFAs at levels repo...

Intercropping systems could be a potential source of nutrient-rich forage production in cool climates on podzolic soils common in boreal ecosystems. In this study, we evaluated the effects of corn–soybean intercropping (IC) on the nutritional quality of forage. Two silage corn varieties were cultivated as monocropping (MC) or were intercropped with...

Plasmalogens are important phospholipids essential for maintaining cardiovascular and brain health. Ruminant meats are excellent dietary sources of plasmalogens. Globally, grilling remains a popular technique for preparing meats. However, little is known concerning how marination affects retention and quality of plasmalogens in grilled ruminant mea...

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are microbial metabolites, mainly generated by the action of gut microbiota on dietary fibers. Acetate, propionate, and butyrate are the three main SCFAs produced typically in a 60:20:20 molar ratio in the colon. Acetate, propionate, and butyrate, when given individually as supplements, have shown a protective role i...

Plasmalogen deficiency is associated with increased risks for diabetes mellitus, cancer, cardiac and respiratory diseases, and more recently Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Diet remains one of the most important sources of plasmalogen for humans. There is increasing interest in finding unique natural sources of plasmalogen to be used in the development o...

White chanterelles (Basidiomycota), lacking the orange pigments and apricot-like odour of typical chanterelles, were found recently in the Canadian provinces of Québec (QC) and Newfoundland & Labrador (NL). Phylogenetic analyses confirmed all samples of white chanterelles from NL and QC as Cantharellus enelensis ; we name these forma acolodorus. We...

Land degradation as a result of unregulated mineral exploration and mining, negatively impacts local communities and vulnerable ecosystems. Phytoremediation is used as a progressive rehabilitation strategy to stabilize tailings sites, reduce soil erosion and immobilize heavy metal contaminants. However, in order to develop successful and sustainabl...

Little is known about how maternal obesity impacts breast milk (BM) composition and how BM composition may impact growth. We sought to determine the role of maternal body mass index (BMI) on BM inflammatory and oxidative stress markers and to delineate the role of these BM markers on infant growth. This was a secondary analysis of 40 mother-infant...

Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is a versatile analytical technique that can create qualitative images delineating the spatial distribution of elements in different samples. However, there is no demonstration of this technique in imaging the spatial distribution of elements in soil cores. Herein, we developed...

Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is a versatile analytical technique that can create qualitative images delineating the spatial distribution of elements in different samples. However, there is no demonstration of this technique in imaging the spatial distribution of elements in soil cores. Herein, we developed...

Background The chemical composition of Handal (Citrullus colocynthis L.) seed oil cultivated in Jordan deserts was characterized, and its bioactivity was evaluated. Methods The oil was extracted from the grinded seeds in 500 ml Soxhlet extractor for 24 hr using n‐hexane, and the recovered fatty acids were methylated with methanolic‐HCL. The fatty...

Research into biochar, as an amendment to soil, has increased over the last decade. However, there is still much to understand regarding the effects of biochar type and rates on the physicochemical properties of different soil types. This study aimed to investigate the effects of biochar application on the physicochemical properties of podzolic soi...

Plant pathogens pose a significant threat to the food industry and food security accounting for 10–40% crop losses annually on a global scale. Economic losses from plant diseases are estimated at $300B for major food crops and are associated with reduced food availability and accessibility and also high food costs. Although strategies exist to redu...

Plant pathogens pose a significant threat to the food industry and food security accounting for 10–40% crop losses annually on a global scale. Economic losses from plant diseases are estimated at $300B for major food crops and are associated with reduced food availability and accessibility and also high food costs. Although strategies exist to redu...

This article presents the associated data set in the research article entitled "Assessing beer-based marinades effects on ether and ester linked phosphatidylcholines and phosphatidylethanolamines in grilled beef and moose meat" published in Meat Science [1], demonstrating the use of unfiltered beer-based marinades in improving the nutritional quali...

Application of the nanopriming technique to alleviate seed dormancy has shown promising results in various agricultural crop species. However, there is a dearth of knowledge regarding its potential use in native peatland boreal forest species to alleviate seed dormancy and improve their propagation or vigor for forest reclamation activities. Herein...

Root membrane lipids are important biomolecules determining plant’s ability to adapt to different growing environmental or climatic conditions. Herein, we demonstrate the potential use of root membrane lipids as biomarkers to discriminate silage‐corn genotypes based on herbicide and insect/pest resistance genetic traits when cultivated on podzolic...

Ruminant meats contain ester and ether-linked phosphatidylcholine-(PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine-(PE) enriched with ω3 and ω6 polyunsaturated fatty acids-(PUFA) essential for human health and nutrition. Oxidative degradation of these lipids during grilling compromises meat quality and safety. The effect of marinades containing unfiltered session...

Dairy polar lipids (PL) seem to exhibit antiplatelet effects. However, it is not known what molecular species may be responsible. In this study, we confirmed using C30 reversed-phase (C30RP) ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled to high resolution accurate mass tandem mass spectrometry (HRAM-MS/MS) that fermentation of yoghur...

The average fatty acid (FA) composition of canola oil is made up of 62% oleic acid (C18:1n9), 20% linoleic acid (C18:2n6), 10% linolenic acid (C18:3n3) and 7% saturated FA. We investigated whether boreal climate (7.5 – 17.2 °C) favorably altered the FA composition of canola. Results indicate that canola cultivated in boreal climatic conditions had...

About 11% of the global anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions result from agricultural practices. Dairy manure (DM) application to soil is regarded as a best management practice due to C sequestration and improvement of soil physiochemical properties. However, GHGs emissions from the soil following the DM application could offset its adva...

Nanopriming has been shown to significantly improve seed germination and seedling vigor in several agricultural crops. However, this approach has not been applied to native upland boreal forest species with complex seed dormancy to improve propagation. Herein, we demonstrate the effectiveness of carbon nanoparticles functionalized with carboxylic a...

Grilled meat consumption is associated with exposure to carcinogenic compounds and increased risk factors for cancers. We investigated the efficacy of novel formulations of unfiltered India session ale and Wheat ale based-marinades enhanced with antioxidant-rich herbs and spices to suppress formation of carcinogenic heterocyclic amines (HCAs) while...

Phosphorus (P) is the second most important macronutrient that limits the plant growth, development and productivity. Inorganic P fertilization in podzol soils predominantly bound with aluminum and iron, thereby reducing its availability to crop plants. Dairy manure (DM) amendment to agricultural soils can improve physiochemical properties, nutrien...

Antioxidants are important bio-regulators and suppressors of oxidation and are useful in enhancing the shelf life of consumer products. Formulated natural herbal soaps contain ingredients with antioxidant activities, but it is unknown how this influences shelf life. Herein, we evaluated whether natural additives or wild berry extracts were effectiv...

Mosses dominate the understory of black spruce forest, and changes in moss community composition and functional traits may influence many important ecosystem processes, particularly paludification due to accumulation of peat (mainly Sphagnum). To understand performance and fitness of ground-cover mosses in early forest succession following clearcut...