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Une Library Services Quarterly Report November 2025, Une Library Services

Quarterly Reports

Highlights of accomplishments of the University of New England's Library Services department.

Impact Of Lignin Content On Decomposition Rates, Lindsey Powell, Olivia Fawkes, Moses Elijah Cadawas, Isaac Paul Dent, Darlene Panvini

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

This study aimed to analyze decomposition rates of plants containing different amounts of lignin. Lignin can be found within cell wall structures in plants and aids in natural rigidity. Opuntia humifusa was chosen to represent plants with high levels of lignin, and Allium schoenoprasum was chosen in contrast because of its significantly lower levels of lignin. Due to these characteristics, A. schoenoprasum is hypothesized to decompose at a quicker rate than O. humifusa. To test this hypothesis, eight samples of O. humifusa and eight samples of A. schoenoprasum were placed in litter bags to prevent macroorganisms from aiding in …

Assessment Of Nature Based Solutions Through Soil Microbial Community Diversity Using Biolog Ecoplates™, Roma C. Brassell, Lili M. Wrenne, Darlene Panvini

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Nature-based solutions (NBS) mimic the functions of natural environments to promote ecosystem services beneficial to society and biodiversity, which is especially crucial to urban environments. On a college campus in an urban landscape, how do NBSs affect soil microbial diversity? Three soil samples were collected from seven locations across Belmont University’s campus in Nashville, TN: a community garden, rose garden, indigenous-people’s garden, manufactured creek, two green roofs, and an alley-berm as the control. To characterize each site, the pH, nitrogen and phosphorus level, percent moisture, and soil type were determined. Plant diversity and percent coverage were assessed using a 1 …

An Update & Exploration Of The Herbarium At Belmont University, Corinne Parker, Darlene Panvini

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

The Belmont University Herbarium is a collection of plant samples used to catalogue species for research and teaching. These specimens have been collected by Belmont students since 1973, helping to document the flora of Middle Tennessee. This semester the specimens have been organized, and identifications have been confirmed. An Excel spreadsheet was developed to record the specimens. This allowed for analyses of the 1,790 specimens by phylum and family. The updated organization of the herbarium and spreadsheet allows for faster specimen retrieval and identification of target species for future collection.

November 2025 Library & Learning Newsletter, Minnesota State University, Mankato. Library & Learning Dean’S Office Communications Team

Library & Learning Newsletters

PDF version of the November 2025 (Volume 4, Issue 4) Library & Learning Newsletter.

Single-Fibril Förster Resonance Energy Transfer Imaging And Deep Learning Reveal Concentration Dependence Of Amyloid Β 42 Aggregation Pathways, Sara Sohail, J. Yoo, H. S. Chung

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Works

Amyloid fibril formation is a highly heterogeneous process as evidenced by polymorphism in fibril structure. It has been suggested that different polymorphs are associated with different diseases or disease subtypes. Detailed characterization of this heterogeneity is a key to understanding the aggregation mechanism and, possibly, the disease mechanism. In this work, we develop Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) imaging of amyloid fibril formation in real time and investigate the concentration-dependent heterogeneous fibril formation of amyloid β 42 (Aβ42). We incubated a mixture of unlabeled and labeled (5% donor and 5% acceptor) Aβ42, followed aggregation, and characterized individual fibrils in terms …

Fisheries Research Report No. 357: Recreational Fishing For Marron In South-West Western Australia In 2025 - Estimates Of Participation, Effort And Catch, Claire B. Smallwood, Karina L. Ryan, Eva Lai

Fisheries Research Reports

The smooth marron (Cherax cainii) (‘marron’) is endemic to freshwater dams and rivers of south-west Western Australia. Marron are managed as a single stock within the South-West Recreational Freshwater Resource and are highly vulnerable to over-exploitation due to the biological characteristics of the species (e.g., low fecundity, localised populations) as well as environmental (e.g., habitat loss, reduction in rainfall) and human (e.g., fishing, land clearing) pressures on freshwater ecosystems.

Due to this vulnerability, this species has been the focus of research, monitoring and management since the 1970’s. Since 2000, annual phone-recall (2000 – 2021) and online-recall (2022 – 2025) surveys …

Direct-In-Nod Genetic Ablation Of Bcl3 Leads To Complete Type 1 Diabetes Protection., Jeremy Racine, Jennifer R Dwyer, Harold D Chapman, Amy Bell, Raymond F. Robledo, David V. Serreze

Faculty Research 2025

It was previously reported that genetic ablation of the NF-κB atypical inhibitor Bcl3 through congenic introduction of a 129P2-embryo derived knockout allele (Bcl3tm1Ver) accelerated autoimmune diabetes in the NOD mouse model. Conversely, we found that direct CRISPR-mediated ablation of this gene in the NOD/ShiLtDvs substrain completely inhibited diabetes development. Our CRISPR approach excised exons 3-7 within the NOD Bcl3 gene. These new NOD-Bcl3-/- mice had very low levels of insulitis, indicating protective mechanisms elicited early in the disease process. Dissimilar to reports of Bcl3 ablation in nonautoimmune C57BL/6-background mice, we found that splenic and lymph node B cells were not …

From Human To Mouse And Back Again: Genetic And Genomic Ta(I)Les Of Islet Dysfunction In Type 2 Diabetes., Romy Kursawe, Khushdeep Bandesh, Sai Nivedita Krishnan, Kevin S Liu, Redwan M Bhuiyan, Michael L. Stitzel

Faculty Research 2025

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a complex genetic disease with substantial environmental inputs leading to glucose homeostasis defects. Insulin production is central to proper glucose control, and islet cell dysfunction and death lie at the nexus of T2D genetics and pathophysiology. Comprehensive identification of genes and pathways contributing to these processes is essential for mechanistic understanding and therapeutic targeting. Here, we summarize the latest human and mouse T2D genetic and genomic studies and assess how these parallel variant-to-function efforts and associated data contribute convergent or complementary insights and new opportunities to dissect T2D islet (dys)function. We distill mechanistic and phenotypic …

Complete Genome Assemblies Of Two Mouse Subspecies Reveal Structural Diversity Of Telomeres And Centromeres., Bailey A Francis, Landen Gozashti, Kevin Costello, Takaoki Kasahara, Olivia S Harringmeyer, Jingtao Lilue, Tianzhen Wu, Katarzyna Zoltowska, Mohab Helmy, Tadafumi Kato, Anne M Czechanski, Iraad F Bronner, Emma Dawson, Michael A Quail, Anne Ferguson-Smith, Laura G Reinholdt, David J Adams, Thomas M Keane

Faculty Research 2025

It has been more than 20 years since the publication of the C57BL/6J mouse reference genome, which has been a key catalyst for understanding the biology of mammalian diseases. However, the mouse reference genome still lacks telomeres and centromeres, contains 281 chromosomal sequence gaps and only partially represents many biomedically relevant loci. Here we present the first telomere-to-telomere (T2T) mouse genomes for two key inbred strains, C57BL/6J and CAST/EiJ. These T2T genomes reveal substantial variability in telomere and centromere sizes and structural organization. We thus add an additional 213 Mb of new sequence to the reference genome, which contains 517 …

Neurometabolic And Vascular Dysfunction As An Early Diagnostic For Alzheimer's Disease And Related Dementias., Juan Antonio K Chong Chie, Scott A Persohn, Ravi S Pandey, Gregory W. Carter, Olivia R Simcox, Paul Salama, Paul R Territo, The Alzheimer’S Disease Neuroimaging Initiative

Faculty Research 2025

INTRODUCTION: Recent studies suggest that the brain undergoes anatomical and functional restructuring, resulting in neurometabolic and vascular dysregulation (MVD) prior to amyloid beta accumulation, which begins at an early age and leads to the onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODS: Using a retrospective clinical population (n = 403) from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, cerebral perfusion and metabolism changes across 59 brain regions were evaluated from clinical studies. Results were verified by transcriptomic signatures and clinical cognitive assessments.

RESULTS: Our findings suggest that disease progression follows a stage-dependent MVD pattern that can identify at-risk regions. Although each region progresses at …

The Ecological Genome Project And The Promises Of Ecogenomics For Society: Realising A Shared Vision As One Health., Benjamin Capps, Ruth Chadwick, Yann Joly, Claire Lajaunie, Iva Hauptmannova, Susannah Mackenzie, John J Mulvihill, Elizabeth Mumford, Sonja A Rasmussen, Kunal Sanghavi, Donrich W Thaldar, James Yeates, Maud C Quinzin, Zohar Lederman

Faculty Research 2025

This paper develops a vision for The Ecological Genome Project: an aspirational, global endeavour to connect human genomic sciences with the ethos of ecological sciences. The Project's goal is to strengthen interdisciplinary networks that relate to diverse initiatives using genomic technologies, with respect to shared ethical frameworks and governance structures. To this end, this paper proposes a practical definition of ecogenomics to align various methodologies and values in a single environmental field using principles used to safeguard all forms of life in their habitats. We achieve this by using a One Health approach as a pretext for disparate disciplines to …

The Ecological Genome Project And The Promises Of Ecogenomics For Society: Realising A Shared Vision As One Health., Benjamin Capps, Ruth Chadwick, Yann Joly, Claire Lajaunie, Iva Hauptmannova, Susannah Mackenzie, John J Mulvihill, Elizabeth Mumford, Sonja A Rasmussen, Kunal Sanghavi, Donrich W Thaldar, James Yeates, Maud C Quinzin, Zohar Lederman

Faculty Research 2025

This paper develops a vision for The Ecological Genome Project: an aspirational, global endeavour to connect human genomic sciences with the ethos of ecological sciences. The Project's goal is to strengthen interdisciplinary networks that relate to diverse initiatives using genomic technologies, with respect to shared ethical frameworks and governance structures. To this end, this paper proposes a practical definition of ecogenomics to align various methodologies and values in a single environmental field using principles used to safeguard all forms of life in their habitats. We achieve this by using a One Health approach as a pretext for disparate disciplines to …

Tremblings, November 2025, Western Aspen Alliance

Tremblings

An Aspen Community: Roots, on Roots, on Roots

Paul C. Rogers, Director, Western Aspen Alliance; Dept. of Environment & Society; Ecology Center; Utah State University

In a flicker of foliage, a glimmer of light, time passes and a career senesces. Dappled highlights alongside stochastic frustrations, bureaucratic pathologies, and unforeseen opportunities tremble across the forest floor of one’s vocation. We call that an occupation, but it could be seen as a succession of disturbances, recoveries, and, well, growth. I have been fortunate to spend the bulk of my career focused on the aspen sciences and spending time with many of …

Icipe Monthly Digest – Volume 1, Issue 11, November 2025, International Centre Of Insect Physiology And Ecology (Icipe)

icipe Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Resource Assessment Report No.6: Western Rock Lobster Resource - 2025 Update Assessment, Simon De Lestang, Emma-Jade Tuffley

Resource Assessment Reports

Executive Summary

The western rock lobster (WRL) fishery is considered sustainable with catches being slightly below those associated with the maximum economic yield (MEY) proxy (39% harvest rate), which ensures the large lobster biomass and economical catch rates are maintained. The marine environment continues to be the biggest driver in stock dynamics with post larval recruitment (puerulus) and adult behaviour, including catchability, strongly influenced by oceanic conditions. Recent seasons have seen strong Leeuwin Currents and warm ocean conditions. Over the past few seasons, puerulus settlement levels have been below average at numerous locations and it has been almost 10 years …

Bioaccumulation Pattern Of Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (Pfas) In Fish Tissues From Two Freshwater Systems, Margaret D. Taiwo, Husam Kafeenah, David D. Duvernell, Michael O. Eze

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are known for their persistence, ubiquity, bioaccumulation in different matrices of the environment and their detrimental effect on human health. In this study, we used EPA 1633 to examine the prevalence of ten PFAS compounds in two freshwater systems and investigated their bioaccumulation pattern across different tissues of grass carp fish (Ctenopharyngodon idella), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), and flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris). Among the PFAS compounds analyzed, PFBS exhibited the highest concentration in the freshwater sample, exceeding the U.S. EPA regulatory limit of 4 ng/L for drinking water. The total PFAS concentrations in the muscle, …

A Comprehensive Overview Of Chronic Wound Infections And Current Treatment Methods, Sarah Fakher, David J. Westenberg

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Chronic wound infections pose significant healthcare challenges due to persistent biofilms, antibiotic resistance, and impaired healing pathways. These wounds are characterized by prolonged inflammation, microbial colonization, and disrupted tissue regeneration, leading to substantial morbidity and healthcare costs. This article reviews current knowledge on chronic wound types, their pathophysiology, and the mechanisms underlying biofilm formation to examine the latest advancements in antimicrobial-based strategies aimed at addressing these challenges. It highlights how diverse materials and technologies have been engineered to improve infection management, enhance tissue regeneration, and overcome the limitations of traditional treatments as well as advances that leverage innovations such as …

Klf1 Coordinates Specialized Transcriptional Networks Required To Maintain The Integrity Of Terminal Erythropoiesis, Merlin N. Gnanapragasam, Peng Jiiang, Anita R. Dhara, Parina N. Patel, Mahesh Ramamoorthy, Roberta B. Nowak, Velia M. Fowler, James J. Bieker

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Kru ppel-like factor 1 [KLF1; also known as erythroid Kru ppel-like factor (EKLF)] is a C2H2 zinc finger transcription factor that plays a crucial role in all aspects of erythropoiesis. Mutations in KLF1 lead to diverse phenotypes ranging from mild to severe anemias. Individuals with a (CDA) type IV] exhibit impaired erythroid terminal differentiation and increased presence of binucleate erythroblasts. We have previously shown that KLF1 is necessary for cell cycle exit and enucleation in mouse primary cells. In the present study, we discovered that genes involved in cell motility, cell division and mitotic pathways are all directly regulated by …

U.S. Climate Litigation During The Biden Years, Margaret Barry

Sabin Center for Climate Change Law

Using cases collected in the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law’s Climate Litigation Database, this report analyzes the 630 climate change lawsuits filed in United States courts while President Joseph R. Biden was in office. During the Biden administration, the federal government reversed course on the first Trump administration’s climate deregulation and embarked on a “whole-of-government approach to combatting the climate crisis.” Many states and municipalities pursued their own efforts to mitigate and prepare for climate change, while other states undertook climate deregulatory efforts. During the four years of the Biden administration, many areas of the U.S. experienced disasters linked …

Prenatal Cocaine Exposure, Perinatal Risks, And Mediators To Preadolescent Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Adhd), Thitinart Sithisarn, Carla M. Bann, Barry Lester, Seetha Shankaran, Toni Whitaker, Rosemary D. Higgins, Henrietta Bada

Epidemiology and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Highlights: What are the main findings? Prenatal cocaine exposure increases the risk of ADHD in preadolescence, with effects largely mediated through attention problems and impulsivity at 4–5 years of age. Male sex is an independent risk factor with a direct path to the ADHD diagnosis. What is the implication of the main finding? Screening for behavioral problems before 4 years of age in prenatal cocaine exposure would make possible early intervention to mitigate later diagnosis or severity of ADHD. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common behavioral problem in children. Multiple risk factors, including prenatal substance exposure, have been associated …

The Neighborhoods Study, Grace C. George, Sarah A. Keller, Erin Abner, Sara Adar, Michael L. Alosco, Liana G. Apostolova, Kelly Bakulski, Lisa L. Barnes, James R. Bateman, Stuart Batterman, Thomas G. Beach, Barbara B. Bendlin, David A. Bennett, Tobey J. Betthauser, James Brewer, William Buckingham, Carmen I. Carrión, Joshua Chodosh, Suzanne Craft, Raina Croff, Anthony Fabio, Sarah Tomaszewski Farias, Eva L. Feldman, Felicia Goldstein, Stephen A. Goutman, Gina Green-Harris, Victor Henderson, Thomas K. Karikari

Epidemiology and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: The Neighborhoods Study (TNS) is a novel investigation of adverse social exposome and brain health leveraging 22 Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers (ADRCs). TNS aims to understand if the adverse social exposures increase Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) risk. METHODS: TNS uses innovative methods to determine lifetime addresses of living (n = ≈ 3116) and brain bank cohorts (n = ≈ 8637). Addresses are linked to time-concordant adverse social exposome using the Area Deprivation Index (ADI) and summarized over time. Brain health measures are provided by the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center. RESULTS: We highlight a general overview and methodology …

Intelligent Real-Time Flotation Froth Stability Monitoring Using Embedded Computer Vision: Lead (Pb) Processing Case Study, Ahmed Bendaouia, Taha Ismaili, Ismail Najib, Oussama Hasidi, Intissar Benzakour, Jianzhi Li, El Hassan Abdelwahed

Manufacturing & Industrial Engineering Faculty Publications

Froth stability in flotation refers to the ability of the froth layer to remain intact and avoid collapsing during the flotation process. A stable froth layer is crucial to maximizing mineral recovery and ensuring the efficient operation of flotation cells. Several factors influence the stability of the froth, including the depth of the froth, the crowding, the size of the bubbles, and the rate of movement of the froth. In this study, our main objective is to analyze and evaluate froth stability in real time, since it plays a critical role in process optimization for flotation-based mineral processing. We propose …

Frequency Dependence Favours Social Plasticity And Facilitates Socio-Eco-Evolutionary Feedback In Fluctuating Environments, Jordan S. Martin, David F. Westneat, Alastair J. Wilson, Niels J. Dingemanse, Yimen G. Araya-Ajoy

Biology Faculty Publications

Increasing attention is being devoted to the study of phenotypic plasticity in social environments. However, much remains unknown about the selection pressures driving the evolution of social plasticity, as well as the pathways by which social plasticity may facilitate or constrain feedback between ecological and evolutionary dynamics. Here, we explore these questions using quantitative genetic models, providing general results regarding the causes of selection on social reaction norms, as well as their consequences for adaptive microevolution in fluctuating environments. We model the fitness effects of character states expressed across spatially heterogeneous microhabitats, with variation in the degree to which trait …

Marriage, Labor Supply And The Dynamics Of The Social Safety Net, Hamish Low, Costas Meghir, Luigi Pistaferri, Alessandra Voena

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

The 1996 US welfare reform introduced time limits on welfare receipt. We use quasi-experimental evidence and a rich life-cycle model to understand the impact of time limits on different margins of behavior and well-being. We stress the impact of marital status and marital transitions on mitigating the cost and impact of time limits. Time limits cause women to defer claiming in anticipation of future needs and to work more, effects that depend on the probabilities of marriage and divorce. They also cause an increase in employment among single mothers and reduce divorce, but their introduction costs women 0.7% of lifetime …

Regulating The Unseen In A Borderless World: Digital Currency And Its Socioeconomic Impact On Industry, Paolina H. Engibegian

University of the Pacific Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Micro-Communities Of Trees, Nicholas Davis, Lily Boysworth, Westen Wilburn

Fall Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

This study investigated how tree species diversity influences the variety of organisms living on or around trees across different habitat types. Field data were collected through random tree selection, measurement of tree diameter, identification of species, and estimation of surrounding ground cover types such as grass, herbaceous plants, woody plants, and leaf litter. Biodiversity associated with each tree was analyzed using the Shannon Diversity Index across several ecosystems, including grassland, woodland, and pond environments. Results indicated that the pond ecosystem exhibited the highest species diversity, followed by woodlands and then forests. A range of organisms, including lichens, mites, fungi, and …

Dusky Grouse Seasonal Resource Selection In The Great Basin Isolated Mountain Ranges Of Nevada, Usa, Stephanie Landry, Brian Smith, Erica Stuber, Shawn Espinosa, David Dahlgren

Aspen Bibliography

Dusky grouse Dendragapus obscurus are a montane forest grouse species with a paucity of information regarding their temporal and spatial resource use during critical times of high mortality and reproductive output. This lack of vital data may leave dusky grouse at risk of sub-optimal management in many areas of their distribution, especially in the isolated ‘sky island’ mountain ranges of the Great Basin, where high elevation habitats are surrounded by sagebrush and salt desert shrub land flats. Many of these high elevation habitats are being altered and lost rapidly from increasing disturbance events and effects of climate change. Our objective …

Associations Of Estrogen With Modifiable And Non-Modifiable Risk Factors For Dementia: A Narrative Review, Sarah Gregory, Katie Bridgeman, Hannah Darwin, Mariapaola Barbato, Laura Booi, Anna Serrat, Antonella Chadha, Francesca Farina, Natalie Jenkins, Beverly Cheserem

Brain and Mind Institute

Female sex is associated with higher incidence and risk of dementia. Estrogen may rep-resent one important mechanism contributing to the increase in incidence rates. In thisreview, we synthesize narratively the evidence for associations between estrogen—across the life course from menarche to menopause, estrogen-containing hormonalcontraception and hormone replacement therapies, and pregnancy—with potentialmodifiable risk factors for dementia. These include education, hearing loss, traumaticbrain injury, hypertension, alcohol use, obesity, smoking, depression, physical inactiv-ity, diabetes, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, social isolation, air pollution,and untreated visual loss, as well as apolipoprotein E ε4. In addition, evidence is sum-marized for associations with sleep, diet, and stress. …

Examining Gender And Ethnic Disparities In Scientific Authorship To Promote A Culture Of Equity, Diversity And Inclusion At A University School Of Public Health, Paula Christen, Julia Michalow, Tristan Naidoo, Hillary Topazian, Sabine An Elsland, Abeer Arif, Marc Baguelin, Gemma Clunie, Sarah Essilfie-Quaye, Chinedu Momoh

Brain and Mind Institute

In public health research, diverse perspectives are vital to identify biases that homogenous teams might miss. Since publication metrics influence career progression, we investigated publication rate disparities within a School of Public Health. We analysed 18 322 peer-reviewed publications by 513 affiliated researchers between 2014 and 2023 using multivariable regression models and network analysis to assess the impact of gender, ethnicity, job level and centrality in the School’s research network on publication rates. We found a persistent gender gap in publication rates across job levels and ethnicities, with men publishing more than women (incidence rate ratio 1.30, 95% confidence interval …