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Transition Metal Nitrides As High-Performance, Cost-Effective Alternatives To Noble Metals In Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensing, Wafa Said Al-Haraidh, Moustafa Ahmed

The Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Science

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors using noble metals like gold face critical limitations in cost, thermal stability, and spectral tunability, despite their strong plasmonic response. This study demonstrates that refractory metal nitrides-titanium nitride (TiN) and zirconium nitride (ZrN) achieve competitive sensing performance, while addressing these drawbacks. Employing the transfer matrix method in a Kretschmann prism coupling configuration, we systematically evaluate TiN and ZrN against gold across key metrics, such as surface plasmon quality factor, penetration depth, and propagation length. Results reveal that metal nitride-based SPR sensors achieve sensitivity up to 155.3 deg/RIU and detection accuracy of 0.077 deg^–1, …

Fisheries Science Update - Western Australian Shark Resource: 2024 Stock Assessment Outcomes, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Fisheries Science Updates

The Western Australian (WA) shark resource includes more than 100 species of sharks and rays.

Key shark species are sustainably harvested in two commercial shark fisheries that provide fresh, local, affordable seafood to the WA community.

The WA shark resource has been in recovery since the 1990s–2000s when stocks were found to be at risk.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) tracks stock status by undertaking periodic weight of evidence stock assessments of indicator species.

Gummy, whiskery, dusky whaler, and sandbar sharks, are the indicator species for the WA shark resource, and make up ~80% of the …

Flea News 96 (November 2025), R. L. Bossard

Flea News

Flea News is a twice-yearly newsletter about fleas (Siphonaptera). Before including in publications any of the citations given here, please review for accuracy and correct formatting. Many of our sources are abstracting journals and current literature sources, and editors have not necessarily checked citations.

Announcements

Obituary: Lane Douglas Foil (June 16, 1949 - June 22, 2025)

Siphonaptera Literature (2025): Taxonomy, Conservation, Hosts and Distributions, Physiology and Morphology, Evolution, Ecology, Pathology and Control, Microbial Symbionts

Identifying Superior Finger Millet (Eleusine Coracana L.) Landraces Using The Multi-Trait Genotype-Ideotype Distance Index (Mgidi), Sujan Chapagaina, Bishnu Prasad Kandela, Sudikshya Shresthaa, Ankur Poudela, Shubh Pravat Singh Yadavb

Extension Publications

Genetic variability and selection are crucial for finger millet breeding programs to maximize genetic gain and productivity. This study evaluated 18 finger millet landraces cultivated in the mid-hills of Nepal, along with ‘Kavre Kodo 2’ as a check variety, assessing 14 agro-morphological traits. The objective was to identify superior finger millet landraces using a multivariate approach based on the multi-trait genotype– ideotype distance index (MGIDI). The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Principal component analysis revealed that the first five components collectively accounted for 80.8% of the total variation, reflecting the genetic relatedness …

Reverse Auction As Purchasing Tool: Literature Review And Research Agenda, Jaroslav Urminsky, Marketa Zajarosova

European Management Studies

Purpose: The study aims to organize and analyse the fragmented knowledge base on reverse auctions that has emerged across multiple disciplines due to global digitization. It seeks to identify key research themes, methodologies, and trends in both private and public sector applications.

Design/methodology/approach: A systematic literature review was conducted covering two decades of research indexed in the Web of Science and Scopus databases. Hundreds of articles addressing diverse aspects of reverse auctions were examined and categorized through network and content analysis to uncover thematic clusters and methodological tendencies.

Findings: The analysis indicates a growing academic interest in reverse …

Characterization Of Colorectal Cancer Cell Responses Using A Wound-Healing Scratch Assay Model On Wild-Type (P53 +/+) And Knockout (P53 -/-), Mehrael Faragalla, Karen Barsoum, Erick Spears

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Colorectal cancer progression is driven in part by dysregulated signaling pathways that alter cell growth and migration. One key pathway is the Wnt signaling pathway, a key regulator in colorectal tumorigenesis, which promotes MYC overexpression, leading to uncontrolled proliferation. Interestingly, in the absence of p53, MYC has been found to induce expression of the tumor suppressor gene EGR1, shifting the cellular response toward apoptosis rather than growth. This study investigates the MYC–EGR1 pathway in HCT116 colorectal cancer cells with either wild-type (p53+/+) or knockout of the TP53 gene (p53−/−). Early findings indicate that p53+/+ cells exhibit faster initial growth compared …

Impact Of Height On Primrose Leaf Litter Decomposition, Lilianna Wrenne, Jacey Cardenas, Danner Brown, Wyatt Fooks, Darlene Panvini

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Decomposition is a crucial process in nutrient cycling, where dead organic matter turns into nutrients for the environment. Height is a significant abiotic factor that can influence these factors. Dried primrose was chosen for this experiment to test how much height affects decomposition; 8 mesh bags were filled with 4.0g of dried primrose leaves. Four bags were placed at ground level, and four were placed on top of a plant, 2ft above the ground. Using the fishing line, the bags at each site were tied together to prevent them from blowing away. By changing the height of the plants, the …

Comparative Decomposition Rates Of Prickly Pear And Sage Using Litterbags, Curtis Jang, Vy Ly, Ashlyn Reagan, Ellie Sebaugh, Darlene Panvini

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Litterbags are used to study nutrient cycling and track the rate of decomposition over time. Decomposition rates may vary between plant species due to various factors. One factor includes the abundance of lignin, or a structural component that provides support to a plant, which can slow the rate of decomposition. This study compared the decomposition rate of sage (Salvia officinalis), which has higher lignin levels, and prickly pear (Opuntia humifusa), which has higher water content and thus lower lignin levels. Four samples of each species, with two replicates each, were initially weighed and then placed in …

Presence Of Ophiognomonia Clavivignenti-Juglandacearum On Juglans Cinerea At Beaman Park In Nashville, Tennessee, Corinne Parker, Kidist Aklile, Darlene Panvini

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Butternut trees, (white walnut, Juglans cinerea), are infected by a fatal canker, Ophiognomonia clavigignenti-juglandacearum (O-cj), which impacts the survival and population density of the species. Once found throughout the eastern United States, the species has decreased considerably. Due to its uncommon occurrence in Middle Tennessee, the conditions of J. cinerea were investigated at Beaman Park in Nashville, TN. All butternut trees were hypothesized to be infected by O-cj. Each known tree in the park was examined to assess its bark health and determine the presence of the canker. Ecosystem analyses around each tree included surveys of soil characteristics, …

A Convolutional Neural Network Approach To Breast Cancer Tumor Boundary Detection, James Leah Matlosz

Master's Theses

Breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer and often goes undetected in its initial stages due to its subtle symptoms. As the tumors grow, they become more difficult to surgically remove with clean borders. To minimize the chance of recurrence, a 2D convolutional neural network is developed in this work for delineating tumor boundaries. Specifically, the U-shaped network model is trained, validated, and tested with longitudinal MRI scans of patients diagnosed with breast cancer and undergoing neoadjuvant therapy. For training, image masks were generated as ground truths using signal enhancement ratio segmentation, thresholding, and contour detection. The …

Compassion, Connection, And Capacity: Outcomes Of A Yearlong Contemplative Medicine Fellowship, Anne Kennard, Jennifer Clinkenbeard, Erin Gillespie, David Iozzi

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Objective: To evaluate how a year-long Contemplative Medicine Fellowship impacts physician burnout, moral injury, work-life integration, meaning, capacity for compassion, and professional resilience.

Design: A pre–post survey observational study using a combination of validated survey tools and questionnaire items authored by the research team.

Setting: The New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care (NYZC), an educational nonprofit in the US, offers a year-long, remote learning fellowship in contemplative medicine that integrates mindfulness, compassion training, reflective inquiry, community engagement, and other contemplative approaches to the practice of medicine.

Intervention: Participation in the Contemplative Medicine Fellowship, which includes experiential contemplative practice, didactic …

Inventory Assortment Model For Retailers With Multi-Level Substitution Of Products, Gian Paolo G. Guiao, Gabriel John L. De Leon, John Kenneth P. Punongbayan, Kathleen L. Baldoz, Ven-Rem Bill A. Pasion, Angelo C. Ani

Journal Article

Ensuring a sufficient inventory level at the retail stage of the supply chain is essential to meet customer demand. However, determining the ideal quantity of products to be ordered by a retailer is challenging when there is a substitution of products. This study addresses the occurrence of customers substituting products in the store in case of product unavailability by developing a two- phase stochastic optimization model. The first phase created a discretized demand profile, one of the novelties of this study, that allows customers to substitute up to two attempts. The second phase developed a mixed-integer program (MIP) model that …

Energy-Harvesting Concurrent Lora Mesh With Timing Offsets For Underground Mine Emergency Communications, Hilary Kelechi Anabi, Samuel Frimpong, Sanjay Madria

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Underground mine emergencies destroy communication infrastructure when situational awareness is most critical. Current systems rely on centralized network infrastructure, which fails during emergencies when miners are trapped and require rescue coordination. This paper proposes an energy-harvesting LoRa mesh network that addresses self-powered operation, interference management, and adaptive physical layer optimization under severe underground propagation conditions. A dual-antenna architecture separates RF energy harvesting (860 MHz) from LoRa communication (915 MHz), enabling continuous operation with supercapacitor storage. The core contribution is a decentralized scheduler that derives optimal timing offsets by modeling concurrent transmissions as a Poisson collision process, exploiting LoRa's capture effect …

Numerous Emerging Applications In N-Cylindrical Fuzzy Neutrosophic Topological Spaces, Basker P, Vennila J, Prakash V S, Ranjitha M, Shivakumar B. N, Thenmozhi K

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

No abstract provided.

Finding Better Solutions: How Algorithms Tackle Complex Problems, Mahmoud El-Hashash

Bridgewater Review

Have you ever tried to solve a puzzle, only to realize that every time you got close, you ended up stuck in the same dead end? Mathematicians and scientists face a similar challenge when trying to solve optimization problems, finding the “best” solution among countless possibilities. These problems arise everywhere, from designing airplanes to training artificial intelligence systems.

Correctional System Involvement And Health Outcomes, Sarah Mason Eck ,Ph.D

All Materials

The Institute for Health Policy and Practice (IHPP) at the University System of New Hampshire commissioned Scientific Health to conduct an evidence-based review of the relationship between criminal justice system involvement and health outcomes. This research synthesized findings from recently published, peer-reviewed academic literature and relevant reports to examine how correctional system involvement affects physical health, mental health, and overall well-being among incarcerated individuals, their families, and communities. The review identified common themes related to behavioral health, chronic conditions, and systemic impacts, providing insight into the broader health implications of mass incarceration and deinstitutionalization. These findings aim to inform policy …

The Resource Characteristics Of Small And Medium-Sized Enterprises (Smes) And The Impact Of Platform Participation On Business Performance, Xue Tan

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

Against the backdrop of deeply integrated digital and platform economies, the resource characteristics of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and platform participation’s impact on business performance have emerged as key interdisciplinary research focuses between strategic management and digital economy studies. Building upon the resource-based view (RBV) and dynamic capabilities theory (DCT), the study establishes a theoretical framework of “resource characteristics-platform participation-business performance.” It systematically examines the relationships and moderating mechanisms among SMEs’ resource endowment, platform embedding strategies, and performance outcomes.

The study adopts a mixed-method design, combining quantitative analysis with qualitative case studies. Using valid samples of 333 Chinese SMEs, …

2025 November - Tennessee Monthly Climate Report, Tennessee Climate Office, East Tennessee State University

Tennessee Climate Office Monthly Reports

Hi All,

The month of November 2025 averaged warmer than normal by 2-4°F across most of the state. The northeastern corner of TN was closer to average, with a few areas even slightly cooler than normal. Additionally, November was drier than normal for most areas, with the exception of a few parts of the Cumberland Plateau and in East TN where heavier bands of precipitation set up while most of the state recorded only light rainfall.

The main weather and climate story of November 2025 was the early taste of winter that impacted the state November 9-12, which also coincided …

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.

“The Role Of Machine Learning In Social Media Content Moderation”, Bethaney A. Mallory-Smothers

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

The majority of the world's over one billion active users depend on large-scale machine learning based social media platforms to personalize content through various methods of curation. Recommendation systems use many types of machine learning model including collaborative filtering, content-based filtering and deep learning to find what a specific user is likely to be interested in, and therefore increase user engagement. As beneficial as this is to the user experience, it has also generated a significant amount of concern about both bias in recommendations and the dissemination of false information on the web, as well as issues related to the …

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 …

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 …

Composition Pedagogy As Ai‑Native Coding: From Design Kit To Scholarly Framework, Daniel Plate, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

This article advances a field-ready framework that reconceives first-year composition as AI-native coding, translating a complete “design kit” into scholarly method, evaluative protocol, and curriculum architecture. Background: Contemporary composition pedagogy emphasizes process, genre awareness, and collaborative revision; meanwhile, modern software practice operationalizes iteration through version control, test-driven development, and continuous integration. The uploaded kit demonstrates that these cultures are isomorphic: writing stages align with SDLC phases, and automated pipelines can lint prose, execute argument “tests,” and publish artifacts with auditable histories. Approach: The study systematizes that kit into (1) a conceptual map that recasts authorship as orchestration and verification, (2) …

Reliability Of Vertical Jump Force-Time Metrics In Collegiate Athletes Compared To Recreationally Active Individuals, Dimitrije Cabarkapa, Robert Smith, Luke Chowning, Tyler Neltner, Quincy R. Johnson, Yang Yang, Thayne A. Munce

Faculty Scholarship

As neuromuscular performance assessment has become a fundamental component of athlete monitoring, ensuring strong measurement reliability is essential for supporting accurate data-driven decision-making. Thus, the purpose of this study was twofold: (i) to examine the reliability of countermovement vertical jump (CMJ) force-time metrics obtained using a portable force plate system (Hawkin Dynamics) and (ii) to determine whether absolute and relative reliability scores differ between well-trained individuals (i.e., athletes) and those less familiar with CMJ force-plate testing (i.e., non-athletes). Seventy-four participants volunteered to take part in this investigation, of whom thirty-nine were NCAA Division-I baseball and track-and-field athletes and thirty-five age-matched …

Perspectives On Firearm Storage Conversations: Summary Of Health Care Provider Interviews And Parent Focus Group, Rachel M. Gallo Mph

Publications

This report summarizes perspectives from Maine parents who own firearms and health care providers on safe firearm storage and related conversations in health care settings. Through interviews and a parent focus group, the project explored how firearms are stored, what influences storage decisions, and how families and providers feel about discussing firearm safety. Parents emphasized the importance of responsible ownership, education, and individualized storage solutions, while identifying cost as a key barrier to safer storage options. Many health care providers expressed interest in addressing firearm safety but cited limited time, lack of training, and concerns about patient trust as challenges. …

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 …

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.