Digital Commons Network^™

Telomere-To-Telomere Genome Assembly And A Pangenome For The Rat., Kai Li, Julia L Ciosek, Sergey Koren, Adam M Phillippy, Yaming Zhu, William A Lauer, Shelise Y Brooks, Gerard G Bouffard, Brandon D Pickett, Beth L Dumont, Melissa L Smith, Theodore S Kalbfleisch, Peter A Doris

Faculty Research 2026

We report a complete rodent telomere-to-telomere genome assembly from the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus. Annotation was enriched with multi-tissue long-read RNA sequencing and uncovered numerous novel genes. Assembly of both sex chromosomes reveals the absence of gene coding in the presumed pseudo-autosomal regions and the presence of centromeric satellite repeats on distal chromosome Y (chrY). We provide evidence of meiotic conjunction between Xp and Yq. The genome assembly reveals several expanded autosomal regions enriched for testis-expressed genes. Finally, we have generated a pangenome from recent high-quality assemblies of 8 distinct inbred rat strain genomes. This allows the strain-specific distribution of …

Multidimensional Total Quality Management And Its Effects On Sustainability And Performance In Industrialized Building System Projects, Felix Delmonte

Mechanical and Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

This study develops and tests a multidimensional total quality management (TQM) framework to explain how distinct quality practices influence environmental sustainability, construction quality, cost and schedule performance, waste reduction, energy efficiency, stakeholder satisfaction, and overall project performance in industrialized building system (IBS) projects. Soft and hard TQM dimensions such as leadership commitment, customer focus, employee involvement, training and continuous improvement, process management, supplier quality, and data driven decision making are operationalised and linked to eight outcome constructs. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS SEM) is used to estimate direct effects and to examine mediation by waste reduction and energy …

Listening, Learning, Accommodating: A Critical Look At Inclusive Research Help, Michelle Lee, Laura Beane, Kristina Lang, Jillian Speck, Kristina Clement

Faculty Articles

Research consultations continue to be a valuable means of connecting with users and supporting their research needs. As we’ve received an increasing number of research consultations where one or more accommodations have been requested, the Kennesaw State University Libraries have been exploring ways to provide accommodations in research consultations. Since there is a lack of research on this specific facet of research consultations, this literature review focuses on the related topics of assistive technology in libraries, accommodations in library services and spaces, and library anxiety to show how these topics relate to providing accommodations in research consultations. The objective of …

Usa V. Frank Monte, Iii

2026 Decisions

USDC for the District of New Jersey

Carlos Baires-Rivas V. Attorney General United States Of America

2026 Decisions

Agency

Scott Phillips V. Archdiocese Newark

2026 Decisions

USDC for the District of New Jersey

Analysis Of R2 Data Services Within The Lids Dataset, Chad Kahl, Joshua Newport

Faculty and Staff Publications – Milner Library

Introduction: This is a discussion of data services at R2 libraries in the United States. Environmental scan data was collected from summer 2021 through 2023.

Objectives: Our paper focuses on comparisons within four Carnegie Classification categories due to the limited literature about data services at R2 institutions. This analysis was done on a subset of the more comprehensive Library Data Services (LiDS) dataset (Kahl, Skaggs, and Newport 2025). Our research question was broad and general—what does the data service landscape of R2 institutions look like?

Methods: Data gathering was done by utilizing website analysis, after which we …

Systematic Contextual Biases In Segmentnt Potentially Relevant To Other Nucleotide Transformer Models, Mark T.W. Ebbert, Anna Ho, Madeline L. Page, Bram Dutch, Blake K. Byer, Kristen L. Hankins, Hady Sabra, Bernardo Aguzzoli Heberle, Mark E. Wadsworth, Grant A. Fox, Bikram Karki, Caylin Hickey, David W. Fardo, Cody Bumgardner, Yasminka A. Jakubek, Cody J. Steely, Justin B. Miller

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

Recent advances in large language models have extended to genomic applications, yet model robustness relative to context is unclear. Here, we demonstrate two intrinsic biases (input sequence length and nucleotide position) affecting SegmentNT results, a model included with the Nucleotide Transformer that provides nucleotide-level predictions of biological features. We demonstrate that nucleotide position within the input sequence (beginning, middle, or end) alters the nature of SegmentNT’s raw prediction probabilities, which can be standardized to improve prediction consistency. While longer input sequence length improves model performance, diminishing returns suggest a surprisingly small input length of ∼3072 nucleotides might be sufficient for …

Shadow Learning And Knowledge Redistribution: How Workers Appropriate Generative Ai Outside Formal Organisational Systems, Eduardo Carlos Dittmar, Martin Sposato

All Works

Organisations are ceding visibility over how their employees develop knowledge. As generative AI tools become widely accessible, workers are steadily building capabilities and co-producing knowledge through informal AI engagements that operate entirely outside sanctioned training systems. This paper theorises shadow learning, the informal and autonomous appropriation of AI by workers for knowledge expansion beyond managerial design, as a process that fundamentally reconfigures how knowledge authority is distributed in organisations. Integrating critical management learning with sociomaterial and post-human perspectives, and drawing on current debates in AI ethics and human–AI interaction, the paper conceptualises shadow learning through a recursive model of constraint, …

Psychotropic Medication Prescribing To Children And Young People Mental Health Inpatient Services: An English National Study, David Branford, Anne Webster, Marinos Kyriakopoulos, Shermin Imran, Prathiba Chitsabesan, Tina Irani, Teresa Randon, Kirsten Peebles, Rohit Shankar

Peninsula Medical School

Background:Mental disorders frequently begin in childhood or adolescence. Worldwide, psychotropics are commonly prescribed for under-18s to stabilise behaviour, mood or thoughts. Psychotropics could cause long-term effects on children and young people (CYP) health, growth and development. There is a knowledge gap about psychotropic prescribing in CYP mental health inpatient units.Aims:To understand and compare psychotropic prescribing patterns in England mental health inpatient units for CYPs and to solicit CYP and their parents’ and carers’ views of it.Method:A national Quality Improvement programme authorised by National Health Service (NHS) England invited all English CYP mental health inpatient units to participate. The programme included …

Agenda 2026-08-12, Sherrie Mortensen

Executive Board

No abstract provided.

Co-02 - Bylaws And Procedures 2026-07-08 - Proposed Association Bylaws Revision 2026, Mpla

Committees

No abstract provided.

Admiral's Visit Connects Students To Global Ocean Challenges, Clara Turnage

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – University of Mississippi students recently got an inside look at how science, technology and international cooperation informs the world's maritime policy during a visit from Rear Adm. Luigi Sinapi, an international leader in hydrography.

Philosophical Education As A Vision For Lasting Peace: Keynote Address At The Phase 1 Workshop Of “Ethics, Society, And Education: Empowering Early Career Philosophers In The Philippines”, Armin A. Luistro Fsc

SDRC Media Releases

Background

This keynote address was delivered by Br. Armin A. Luistro, FSC, during the Phase 1 Workshop of Ethics, Society, and Education: Empowering Early Career Philosophers in the Philippines on 12 August 2026 at De La Salle University.

The project aims to strengthen the research, writing, and professional capacities of early career philosophers in the Philippines. It is supported by the British Academy International Writing Workshops 2025 Programme under the United Kingdom Government’s International Science Partnerships Fund. The initiative is led by Dr. Hazel T. Biana of the De La Salle University Department of Philosophy, in partnership with Durham University …

Midweek Memo, Georgia Southern University

Midweek Memo

• Applaud 
• Remember 
• Share 
• Experience 
• Around the Nest

Instruction Guide, Mark C. Hall

Analytical Biochemistry: A Practical Handbook for Undergraduates

The instruction guide provides useful information for setting up and running the lab activities each week and assessing student preparation, performance, and comprehension.

Reducing Live Discharges Using A Tiered Protocol In A Rural Hospice: A Quality Improvement Project, Jemma Lowak

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose: To reduce 30-day caregiver-driven hospice revocations by implementing a tiered post-admission nursing visit protocol based on caregiver preparedness. Background: Caregiver distress and inadequate support contribute to hospice revocations and interruptions in care. Increased nursing contact during the first week of enrollment may improve caregiver preparedness and reduce crisis-driven hospitalizations. Methodology: An eight-week quality improvement project using the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework was implemented at a rural hospice agency. Caregivers completed a Caregiver Preparedness Survey to assign preparedness tiers and guide additional nursing visits during the first week. Process measures included survey completion and protocol adherence. Outcome measures included caregiver preparedness and …

Sustainability Challenges And Opportunities In A University Police Fleet: A Case Study Of Idling, Emissions, And Electrification Potential, Van Slusser

School of Political Science, Public Affairs, Legal and Security Studies Faculty Publications

This case study examines fleet sustainability challenges within the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Police Department, a multicampus public safety agency operating aging gasoline vehicles central to daily patrol and administrative functions. Rising maintenance costs, increased vehicle downtime, and extensive idling created both operational strain and avoidable environmental impacts. Aging internal-combustion vehicles contributed to elevated emissions and fuel consumption, particularly under high-heat conditions and equipment demands typical of campus policing. Telematics monitoring indicated that approximately 48% of total engine-on time consisted of idling, highlighting a substantial source of avoidable fuel use and emissions. The study employed a qualitative case …

Brandon Timmons V. Bohinski

2026 Decisions

USDC for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Lessons Learned In Improving Comprehension And Retention Of Content, Mark Johnson

PD Day 2026

In this highly dynamic presentation, participants will recognize key factors to delivering content that will help students understand the content more easily and retain concepts faster. Participants will learn about the detrimental effect of latency on learning and how teachers can overcome it with a few simple steps. Participants will identify how to increase learning and retention for all their students. not just some.

Teaching Research Writing With Ai: Practical Strategies Using M365, Onedrive, And Copilot, Phil Rudd

PD Day 2026

This interactive session demonstrates practical strategies for integrating Microsoft 365, OneDrive, and Copilot into undergraduate research writing courses. Drawing on ENGL 299, participants will explore how AI can support topic development, source analysis, drafting, and revision while reinforcing critical thinking and academic integrity. Attendees will participate in hands-on activities and leave with adaptable assignment ideas for their own courses.

Your Research Partner: Discovering The Services Of The Office Of Research And Sponsored Programs, Megan Whitney, Glenn Storey, Brighid Dawson

PD Day 2026

Join us for an informative session introducing the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) and the comprehensive services available to support faculty. From pre-awards to post-awards, ORSP provides the administrative support that allows researchers piece of mind in the submission/management process. We will cover strategies to find funding, proposal preparation and submission, budget development, and post-award management and compliance. Our goal is to demonstrate how ORSP serves as a collaborative partner in the research process by providing administrative expertise and guidance that allows investigators to focus on conducting high-quality research.

Engaging University Students In A Non-History Course With History, Cynthia Huffman Ph.D., William Huffman

PD Day 2026

Incorporating history into a non-history university classroom builds real-world relevance, sharpens critical thinking, and boosts engagement. By anchoring abstract theories in historical case studies, origin stories, and ethical dilemmas, educators bridge the gap between textbook concepts and professional practice. In this session, we will discuss reasons for using history in non-history courses and provide examples of a variety of subject-specific implementation strategies.

Partner With Entrepreneurship: Assign Student Trade Shows For High Impact, Experiential Education, Jane Talkington

PD Day 2026

Want students to shift from passive learners to active advocates for their ideas? Partner with the Entrepreneurship Program to harness high-impact experiential education as we build interdisciplinary problem-solvers.

By assigning (or incentivizing) your students to participate in our low-stakes campus trade shows—the Wicked Problems Forum (October 29) and The Idea Fest: Ventures, Side Hustles, and Pop-ups (March 25)—you push them to think on their feet and engage directly with the public. Last year, 33 student teams participated in inaugural Idea Fest and were delighted by how deeply impactful the experience was for their professional growth, networking with 50 judges who …

Small Teaching, Big Impact: Igec Cohort 1 Faculty Roundtable, Rebeca Book, Goldie Prelogar, Chris Anderson, Janet Lewis, Grant D. Moss, Tim Bailey, Catherine Hooey, Donna Zerr

PD Day 2026

Faculty from the first IGEC (Innovative General Education Course) cohort will share practical teaching strategies they learned about, selected, and implemented in general education courses. In this interactive panel/roundtable discussion, participants will hear brief examples of small teaching changes designed to strengthen student engagement, learning, reflection, and success. Panelists will discuss what they tried, what worked well, what they adjusted, and what they would recommend to colleagues interested in making meaningful, manageable changes in their own courses. Participants will leave with realistic, adaptable ideas they can apply across disciplines and course levels.

Green Open Access: Publishing Research For Peer Review And Reach Of Scholarship, Madison Price

PD Day 2026

In this session, Madison Price will present the idea of hosting pre-prints on PSU’s institutional repository for the purpose of open access and peer review. A common concern faculty in and outside of PSU have with open access works and adopting open education resources [OER] in the classroom is the uncertainty of its quality. Implementing a peer review process at PSU with Digital Commons, a platform all faculty have access to, could assist in the quality assurance of the materials that we create. Plus, some research grants require pre-prints be deposited in an open access or institutional repository [IR] for …

State Legislatures: Guardians Of The Federal Balance, Practical Strategies For Monitoring, Strengthening, And Sustaining American Federalism (Remarks), Christian G. Fritz

Faculty Scholarship

My remarks today are drawn from my book, Monitoring American Federalism: The History of State Legislative Resistance, and from an essay I wrote this year for the Center for the Study of Federalism about the responsibility of state legislators to sound the alarm when the federal government overreaches its constitutional authority.

Anglada V. Bradford

All Decisions

In this action to quiet title, the Appellate Division, 2nd Department affirmed an order granting plaintiff leave to enter a default judgment, rejecting defendant's challenges to personal jurisdiction and request to serve a late answer. Defendant argued she was improperly served because she was residing in Aguilla with her husband and children at the time of service. The court found the process server's affidavit established prima facie proper service at the defendant's Brooklyn home. Respondent's evidence did not establish that she had ceased residing in Brooklyn. The court emphasized that a person may have more than one residence and concluded …

Telomere-To-Telomere Genome Assembly And A Pangenome For The Rat, Kai Li, Julia L Ciosek, Sergey Koren, Adam M Phillippy, Yaming Zhu, William A Lauer, Shelise Y Brooks, Gerard G Bouffard, Brandon D Pickett, Beth L Dumont, Melissa L Smith, Theodore S Kalbfleisch, Peter A Doris

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

We report a complete rodent telomere-to-telomere genome assembly from the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus. Annotation was enriched with multi-tissue long-read RNA sequencing and uncovered numerous novel genes. Assembly of both sex chromosomes reveals the absence of gene coding in the presumed pseudo-autosomal regions and the presence of centromeric satellite repeats on distal chromosome Y (chrY). We provide evidence of meiotic conjunction between Xp and Yq. The genome assembly reveals several expanded autosomal regions enriched for testis-expressed genes. Finally, we have generated a pangenome from recent high-quality assemblies of 8 distinct inbred rat strain genomes. This allows the strain-specific distribution of …

Documents From The August 12, 2026 Meeting Of The University Of Montana Staff Senate, University Of Montana--Missoula. Staff Senate

University of Montana Staff Senate Meeting Minutes

Agenda and minutes from the University of Montana Staff Senate August 12, 2026 Meeting. Highlights include a guest presentation from Internal Communications and Employee Engagement as well as senator reconfirmations.