Digital Commons Network^™

Simulated Complex Cells Contribute To Object Recognition Through Representational Untangling, Mitchell B Slapik, Harel Z Shouval

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The visual system performs a remarkable feat: it takes complex retinal activation patterns and decodes them for object recognition. This operation, termed "representational untangling," organizes neural representations by clustering similar objects together while separating different categories of objects. While representational untangling is usually associated with higher-order visual areas like the inferior temporal cortex, it remains unclear how the early visual system contributes to this process-whether through highly selective neurons or high-dimensional population codes. This article investigates how a computational model of early vision contributes to representational untangling. Using a computational visual hierarchy and two different data sets consisting of numerals …

Manta Munchies: Plankton Dynamics And Feeding Behaviour Of Reef Manta Rays (Mobula Alfredi) Around D'Arros Island In The Seychelles, Dillys K Pouponeau, Joanna Harris, Henriette M.V Grimmel, Ellie E Moulinié, Robert W Bullock

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

The reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) is a threatened filter-feeding elasmobranchthat requires immediate management and protection across large parts of itsrange. Despite being well-studied, a detailed understanding of their feedingecology, which shapes their residency, movement patterns, and behaviour,remains underexplored. Both global and site-specific research is required to fillsignificant knowledge gaps essential for designing effective conservationstrategies for this species and their habitats. This study investigated M. alfredifeeding behaviour in relation to plankton biomass dynamics at D’Arros Island inthe Seychelles, the largest known M. alfredi aggregation site in the country and agazetted marine protected area. Plankton samples were collected, along withcorresponding environmental …

Ionic Mechanisms Of Two-Pore Channel Regulation Of Vesicle Trafficking, Heng Zhang, Michael X Zhu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The endolysosomal system plays a pivotal role in cellular function. Before reaching lysosomes for degradation, the endocytosed cargoes are sorted at various stages of endosomal trafficking for recycling and/or rerouting. The proper execution of these processes depends on tightly regulated ion fluxes across endolysosomal membranes. Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of two-pore channels (TPCs), including TPC1 and TPC2, in endolysosomal trafficking. These channels are expressed in the membranes of distinct populations of endosomes and lysosomes, where they respond to nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) and phosphatidylinositol 3,5-bisphosphate [PI(3,5)P2] to conduct Ca2+ and Na+ release from these acidic organelles. …

January 20, 2026, The Daily Mississippian

Daily Mississippian (all digitized issues)

No abstract provided.

For Whom Do Labels Work? Heterogeneous Effects Of Popularity And Environmental Information In Coffee Choice, Dede Long, Joaquín Gómez-Miñambres, Hongxing Liu

ESI Publications

We examine the impact of two common food labels on consumers’ choices: environmental certification and popularity cues. In a randomized experiment, participants chose between two similar coffee products, with treatments varying the presence of environmental and/or popularity information. We also collected measures of conformity preferences, environmental concern, political identity, and demographics. At the aggregate level, the environmental and combined labels significantly increased the selection of the target coffee, whereas popularity information alone had no effect. These averages conceal substantial heterogeneity: high-conformity participants responded to all labels, especially popularity cues, while those with domain-specific environmental concerns responded only to environmental and …

2026 4-H Presents Multimedia Pilot Description, Alison Coleman

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Action Scoresheet 4-H Presents 2026, Alison Coleman

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

The Evolution Of Public Health Statistical Modeling Approaches And How To Advance Their Incorporation Into Modern Arboviral Surveillance, Maggie Mccarter, Stella C W Self, Alex Ewing, Mufaro Kanyangarara, Sarah M Gunter, Melissa S Nolan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Statistical modeling of infectious disease transmission patterns has been in existence since the mid-1700s, evolving in their utility as the scientific and technological revolutions progressed. Despite the expansion of emerging mathematical and statistical methodologies over the past 250 yr, their usage has largely remained restricted to academic settings. This forum article will discuss the evolution of disease modeling techniques, the most common types of models in use today, and recommendations on how key archetypes can be incorporated into future public health practice. With the recent global impetus to predict and forecast novel pathogens, this article raises the question: Why are …

Natural And Reduced Anthropogenic Injuries Rates In Reef Manta Rays (Mobula Alfredi) From The Chagos Archipelago, Central Indian Ocean, Jessica Savage, Heather Koldewey, Tom Letessier, David Morritt, M Rowcliffe, Guy M.W. Stevens, Joanna L. Harris

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) accounts for nearly two-thirds of plastic debris in the open ocean and can entangle marine megafauna. Reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) are susceptible to entanglement in ALDFG, with consequences ranging from sublethal injuries to mortality. Mobula alfredi are listed as Vulnerable to extinction on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, in part, due to their slow reproduction rate and susceptibility to unsustainable fishing pressures. Their exposure to ALDFG could further hinder their survival; therefore, it is essential to quantify the impacts of ALDFG. This study assesses a photographic identification database for …

Optimal Drought Management Actions For Cattle Operations On The Laguna Pueblo And Zuni Pueblo Indian Reservations, Tatiana Drugova, Kynda R. Curtis, Man-Keun Kim

All Current Publications

In this fact sheet, we examine the drought management options available to cattle operations on the Laguna Pueblo and Zuni Pueblo reservations in New Mexico. Specifically, we discuss the results of a study that evaluated the economic outcomes of two common drought response strategies: herd reduction and supplemental hay purchases. We also provide recommendations for ranchers regarding optimal strategies, i.e., those which would maximize profits, for two rancher types, differentiated by their willingness to accept risk (risk-neutral) or avoid it (risk-averse).

Optimal Drought Management Actions For Cattle Operations On The Duck Valley And Pyramid Lake Indian Reservations, Kynda R. Curtis, Tatiana Drugova, Man-Keun Kim

All Current Publications

In this fact sheet, we examine the drought management options available to cattle operations on two Native American reservations in Nevada, the Duck Valley and Pyramid Lake Indian reservations. Specifically, we discuss the results of a study that evaluated the economic outcomes of two common drought response strategies: herd reduction and supplemental hay purchases. We also provide recommendations for ranchers regarding optimal strategies, i.e., those which would maximize profits for two rancher types, differentiated by their willingness to accept risk (risk-neutral) or avoid it (risk-averse).

Optimal Drought Management Actions For Cattle Operations On The Uintah And Ouray Indian Reservation, Kynda R. Curtis, Tatiana Drugova, Man-Keun Kim

All Current Publications

In this fact sheet, we examine the drought management options available to cattle operations on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, the largest Native American reservation in Utah. Specifically, we discuss the results of a study that evaluated the economic outcomes of two common drought response strategies: herd reduction and supplemental hay purchases. We also provide recommendations for ranchers on optimal strategies, i.e., those that maximize profits for two rancher types, differentiated by their willingness to accept risk (risk-neutral) or avoid it (risk-averse).

Political Economy Of Cross-Border Trade Between Indonesia And Malaysia: Local Product Opportunities And Challenges In West Kalimantan, Shanti Darmastuti, Nurfarah Nidatya, Dini Putri Saraswati, Alfiyah Nur Rahmalia

Jurnal Wacana Politik

As a key element of the political economy, cross-border trade makes a substantial contribution to community welfare while also supporting national economic growth. West Kalimantan, which borders Sarawak, Malaysia, serves as a strategic economic corridor in Indonesia, facilitating the movement of people and goods through the National Border Post. Although local products are the main commodities traded at this border, issues of product competitiveness, market stability, and border security pose major challenges to trade. Within the framework of cross-border political economy, this study examines both the opportunities and challenges in trading local products. It emphasizes how government initiatives, institutional coordination, …

Credit Card Fraud Detection Using Metaheuristic Techniques, Narges Sabry Anwer Mohammed, Mohammed Sabry Saraya, Amr M. Thabet, Labib M. Labib

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Credit Card Fraud Detection (CCFD) has become a critical challenge to financial security due to increasingly sophisticated fraudulent activities. This study investigates the effectiveness of Meta-Heuristic (MHT) optimization techniques in improving fraud detection (FD) through feature selection (FS) and model optimization. To address class imbalance, Random Under-Sampling (RUS) was applied. The selected feature subsets were evaluated using three machine learning (ML) classifiers—Decision Tree (DT), KNearest Neighbours (KNN), and XGBoost (Xgb-Tree)—across four benchmark datasets: European, Statlog (Australian Credit Approval), PaySim, and Credit Card Transactions Fraud Detection (CCTFD). Eleven binary MHT algorithms were implemented and compared. The comparative analysis shows that the …

Enhancing Deep Learning And Workload Management In Online Education: The Power Of Scaffolded Weekly Assessments, Maryam Mohammad Zadeh, Rebecca Ferrari

International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

This study investigates the use of scaffolded weekly assessments with individual feedback in promoting deep learning and managing workload among engineering students in online education. The research focuses on how these assessment strategies shape students’ learning approaches and workload distribution. The study involved the implementation of weekly assessments aligned with intended learning outcomes, complemented by personalized feedback. Data collection comprised student surveys and qualitative feedback to assess the impact on learning approaches and workload management. The qualitative results show that 91.9% of the students adopted deep learning, where only 8.1% engaging in surface learning. Students reported that this approach not …

Preventive Health Behaviors Among Vegetable Farmers In Indonesia: An Application Of The Extended Theory Of Planned Behavior, Aria Gusti, Wira Iqbal, Fitrahul Afifah

Journal of Health Research

Background: Farmers in low- and middle-income countries face serious occupational and environmental health risks, including pesticide exposure, musculoskeletal disorders, and skin diseases. In Indonesia, limited evidence exists on the psychosocial factors that shape preventive health behaviors, hindering the design of effective interventions. This study applies an extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) framework to analyze preventive practices among vegetable farmers.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 254 vegetable farmers in Koto Laweh Village, West Sumatra, Indonesia, during July–August 2025. Data were collected using a validated TPB-based questionnaire and analyzed with Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM).

Results: Knowledge …

The Role Of Economic Parasitism In Protecting Industrial Property, Karima Karroumy

Revue Marocaine de Droit, d'Economie et de Gestion (Moroccan Journal of Law, Economics and Management)

The paper analyzes economic parasitism as a behavior addressed by law to protect industrial property rights. It defines parasitism as the act of placing oneself in another’s wake to appropriate the results of their financial, intellectual, or promotional efforts. By focusing on links with trademark law and, more broadly, industrial property, the article explains how actions based on parasitism can complement traditional IP remedies to prevent usurpation of goodwill and to preserve fair competition.

Interaction Between Patent Law And Consumer Law, Laila El Bennissi

Revue Marocaine de Droit, d'Economie et de Gestion (Moroccan Journal of Law, Economics and Management)

This article explores the relationship between patent law and consumer protection in a context where innovation drives corporate competitiveness. It discusses how patents grant innovators market exclusivity, while consumer law imposes rules aimed at protecting consumers in professional–consumer relations. The study highlights the need to reconcile firms’ innovation and commercialization strategies with consumer protection requirements, and proposes considering consumer law constraints when developing and exploiting patented innovations.

Parasitism: A Tool For Consumer Protection?, Meriem Benis

Revue Marocaine de Droit, d'Economie et de Gestion (Moroccan Journal of Law, Economics and Management)

This article examines the notion of commercial parasitism and its relevance as a legal instrument for protecting consumers. It discusses how parasitic practices distort fair competition by allowing an operator to benefit from another’s investments, reputation, and know-how, and explains the market-disrupting effects of such conduct. The paper argues that combating parasitism helps ensure a loyal competitive environment and, indirectly, safeguards consumers’ interests through better market discipline.

The Implications Of Integrating Naturalised Refugees On National Security In Tanzania: Insights From Katumba Old Settlement, Adventina Lauren

Tanzania Journal of Sociology

The threats of flight-related factors of the integrated refugees on Tanzania’s national security have not been given serious attention. The article examined the effect of the 162,156 integrated refugee who fled their country of origin due to ethnic, economic, political, and religious conflicts. The study adopted a case study design mixing both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The data were collected through; a survey, in-depth interviews, direct observation, focus group discussion, and document review. It drew data from a sample of 397 involving both naturalised refugees (IRs) and native Tanzanians (NTs) who have been living in the study area and 31 …

Capitalist Social Relations And The Environment: A Hyena—Baby Gazelle Acquaintance, Nelson Mwesiga Ishengoma

Tanzania Journal of Sociology

Despite playing a critical role in the survival of living beings, several empirical findings all around the world suggest that the planet Earth is now in a perilous state. Whilst acknowledging the influence of several superficial humanistic factors upon which the conventional discourses on the current environmental concerns have long been affixed, this analytical paper contends that such aspects are deficient in comprehending and remedying the problem. Contrarily, attempts to identify the underlying causes and cures of the environmental problem should recognise the modus vivendi of the prevailing capitalistic social relations, which serve as the basis for existing exploitative and …

Land Use Cover Changes And Household Livelihoods Adaptation Strategies In Mbulu And Karatu Districts, Tanzania, Leonia John Raphael

Tanzania Journal of Sociology

The interactions between the human and the biophysical factors at different spatial scales have triggered Land Use Cover Changes (LUCC). The study uses both qualitative (indepth interviews and focus group discussions) and quantitative techniques (household survey and spatial data analysis through the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to acquire information and data for the study. The results have shown that overall LUCC is decelerating in both districts, Mbulu and Karatu across the two-time intervals. In the period between 1987and 2001, cultivation, settlements, wetland, grasslands and bare soils gained at the expense of forest, woodland, bush-land, and water. However, in …

From De-Emphasizing Public Health And Social Measures For Covid-19 To Vaccine Acceptance: An Analysis Of Two Tanzanian Administration’S Responses To Covid-19, Simon Mutebi

Tanzania Journal of Sociology

Recent global public health literature on politics and pandemics has explored the diversity of African political leaders’ responses to COVID-19. In this article, analysis is done of two Tanzanian administrations’ responses to COVID-19 to show how they departed from each other. For instance, the late President John Magufuli’s administration promoted ‘Afrocentric’ medical knowledge, endogenous initiatives, and spiritual prowess while de-emphasizing ‘Western’ biomedical and public health measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. His successor, President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration, however, favoured and promoted public health and social interventions and authorized the importation and use of COVID-19 vaccines in Tanzania. Drawing …

Exploration Of The Child Domestic Workers’ Lived Experiences In Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, Magolanga Shagembe, Thomas Ndaluka

Tanzania Journal of Sociology

This qualitative study, based on a phenomenological design, explored the lived experiences of child domestic workers aged 15 to 18 years in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Children in this age group are above the national and international legal minimum age for admission into light work. The findings of our study indicated that although domestic work is perceived by the child domestic workers as a method for impoverished children between the ages of 15 and 18 to earn money, get experience, and learn new life skills, it also entails loneliness, challenges in assimilating into an unfamiliar social context, and child sexual …

Side Effects Of The Coexistence Of Tradition Medicine With Biomedicine In Primary Health Service Delivery In Rural Areas Of Tanzania, Matrona Kabyemela

Tanzania Journal of Sociology

It is approximated that 60-80 per cent of Tanzanians use Traditional Medicine (TM) as their primary source of health services alongside biomedical services. However, there is little information on the side effects of the co-existence of TM with biomedical system to primary health services delivery in Tanzania. By using Helmke and Levitsky’s Model of co-existence of formal and informal institutions in comparative politics, this article argues that the coexistence of TM and biomedicine undermine the delivery of primary health services in rural areas of Tanzania due to abrupt stoppage of using biomedicine among users, concurrent use of TM and biomedicine …

From De-Emphasizing Public Health And Social Measures For Covid-19 To Vaccine Acceptance: An Analysis Of Two Tanzanian Administration’S Responses To Covid-19, Simon Mutebi

Tanzania Journal of Sociology

Recent global public health literature on politics and pandemics has explored the diversity of African political leaders’ responses to COVID-19. In this article, analysis is done of two Tanzanian administrations’ responses to COVID-19 to show how they departed from each other. For instance, the late President John Magufuli’s administration promoted ‘Afrocentric’ medical knowledge, endogenous initiatives, and spiritual prowess while de-emphasizing ‘Western’ biomedical and public health measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. His successor, President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration, however, favoured and promoted public health and social interventions and authorized the importation and use of COVID-19 vaccines in Tanzania. Drawing …

Exploration Of The Child Domestic Workers’ Lived Experiences In Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, Magolanga Shagembe, Thomas Ndaluka

Tanzania Journal of Sociology

This qualitative study, based on a phenomenological design, explored the lived experiences of child domestic workers aged 15 to 18 years in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Children in this age group are above the national and international legal minimum age for admission into light work. The findings of our study indicated that although domestic work is perceived by the child domestic workers as a method for impoverished children between the ages of 15 and 18 to earn money, get experience, and learn new life skills, it also entails loneliness, challenges in assimilating into an unfamiliar social context, and child sexual …

Side Effects Of The Coexistence Of Tradition Medicine With Biomedicine In Primary Health Service Delivery In Rural Areas Of Tanzania, Matrona Kabyemela

Tanzania Journal of Sociology

It is approximated that 60-80 per cent of Tanzanians use Traditional Medicine (TM) as their primary source of health services alongside biomedical services. However, there is little information on the side effects of the co-existence of TM with biomedical system to primary health services delivery in Tanzania. By using Helmke and Levitsky’s Model of co-existence of formal and informal institutions in comparative politics, this article argues that the coexistence of TM and biomedicine undermine the delivery of primary health services in rural areas of Tanzania due to abrupt stoppage of using biomedicine among users, concurrent use of TM and biomedicine …

Longitudinal Analysis Of Body Weight Reveals Homeostatic And Adaptive Traits Linked To Lifespan In Diversity Outbred Mice., G V Prateek, Zhenghao Chen, Kevin Wright, Andrea Di Francesco, Vladimir Jojic, Gary Churchill, Anil Raj

Faculty Research 2026

Dense temporal measurements of physiological health, using simple and consistent assays, are essential to characterize biological processes associated with aging and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions on these processes. We measured body weight in 960 genetically diverse female mice, every 7-10 days over the full course of their lifespan. We used a state space model to characterize the trajectories of body weight throughout life and derived novel traits capturing the dynamics of body weight, 10 of which were both heritable and associated with lifespan. Genetic mapping of these body weight-derived traits identified 5 genomic loci, none of which were previously …

Longitudinal Analysis Of Body Weight Reveals Homeostatic And Adaptive Traits Linked To Lifespan In Diversity Outbred Mice., G V Prateek, Zhenghao Chen, Kevin Wright, Andrea Di Francesco, Vladimir Jojic, Gary Churchill, Anil Raj

Faculty Research 2026

Dense temporal measurements of physiological health, using simple and consistent assays, are essential to characterize biological processes associated with aging and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions on these processes. We measured body weight in 960 genetically diverse female mice, every 7-10 days over the full course of their lifespan. We used a state space model to characterize the trajectories of body weight throughout life and derived novel traits capturing the dynamics of body weight, 10 of which were both heritable and associated with lifespan. Genetic mapping of these body weight-derived traits identified 5 genomic loci, none of which were previously …