Supplementary Files: Apalachicola Redhorse Description

A new species is being described for the Apalachicola Redhorse, which is found in the Apalachicola River basin of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia as well as Econfina Creek in Florida. The files include 1) mensural data for the species (there is also included a separate file with definitions of codes used in the main file), 2) measurements of skeletal characteristics, and 3) the model for determine interconnectedness of eastern Gulf of Mexico tributaries.In pressYe

Implementing Virginia's Cell Phone Policy

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Survey Instrumentation Using Intercept Methods

Agricultural mechanics instruction is crucial for preparing students for agricultural careers, emphasizing safety practices with potentially hazardous equipment. While overall safety culture in agricultural education has progressed, hearing safety remains a concern, particularly among younger individuals. This study aimed to develop and field-test an instrument to assess agricultural mechanics teachers' awareness and perceptions of hearing protection practices during a statewide skill development event. Utilizing an intercept survey methodology, grounded in Ajzen's theory of planned behavior, allowed for the collection of in-the-moment feedback from experienced agriculture teachers (n=12). The initial questionnaire, framed by existing hearing safety research, underwent a field test which identified areas for improvement in clarity, readability, and response format. Key revisions included refining the instrument title, adding a personal hearing rating question, adjusting font and spacing, reorganizing question formats into a two-column layout, and modifying the response format for decibel-level inquiries to a scaled approach to mitigate user fatigue and pattern response. This iterative instrument development process, informed by pilot testing, is a critical step towards collecting valid and reliable data on hearing protection awareness among agricultural mechanics educators, ultimately contributing to enhanced safety practices in agricultural education.N

Comprehensive Analysis of Tariff Effects on the United States Economy

This study examines the multifaceted impacts of U.S. tariff policies, tracing their historical evolution, theoretical foundations, and practical implications across economic, political, and social dimensions. It highlights how tariffs influence trade flows by altering relative prices, affecting consumption, production, and resource allocation within interconnected global value chains. The analysis covers sector-specific effects, including manufacturing, agriculture, energy, and technology, emphasizing the interplay between direct protection, input cost increases, and retaliatory measures. Attention is given to firm-level responses such as sourcing adjustments, supply chain reconfiguration, and investment decisions, alongside broader macroeconomic outcomes including GDP growth, inflation, employment, and capital formation. The role of market structure, imperfect competition, and strategic pricing in shaping tariff incidence and welfare consequences is explored. Additionally, the study addresses the political economy of tariff formulation, stakeholder influence, public opinion, and electoral dynamics. Emerging trends such as increased tariff granularity, integration with geopolitical strategy, and the interaction with preferential trade agreements are discussed. The work underscores the challenges posed by policy uncertainty and the need for adaptive strategies in supply chain management. Opportunities for further research are identified, particularly in areas linking tariffs to innovation, environmental considerations, and global trade governance. Overall, the analysis provides a comprehensive assessment of how tariff measures function as instruments of economic policy within a complex international trade environment. keyword: Global Value Chains (GVCs), Trade Protectionism, Retaliatory Tariffs, Supply Chain Resilience, Tariff Incidence, Geopolitical Economy, Trade Diversion, Distributional Consequences, Tariff-Jumping FDI, Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs

Intersection Ahead: The Discussion of Generative AI in Popular Press Versus Scholarly Works

The release of ChatGPT has significantly impacted the way marketers engage with their current and potential customers. Our study explores how generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) is discussed in the popular press as well as scholarly articles. Using a systematic approach, we conduct a review of the popular press literature for the first year Gen AI was widely adopted (2023) to identify pros, cons, and use cases of Gen AI, resulting in the four overarching themes of content creation and efficient personalization, operational optimization & data-driven efficiency, customer experience enhancements, and ethical concerns, trust, and regulations. Next, we examine scholarly works through a targeted literature review. Lastly, we synthesize our findings for each of our overarching themes. Overall, our research indicates that while Gen AI is a novel approach to reach customers, the technology needs to be used with caution and care in order to preserve authenticity and minimize fear and skepticism.Ye

Alabama Livestock Research Report 2024

The livestock industry continues to be a foundation of the state’s agricultural economy, supporting communities, driving innovation, and providing high-quality animal protein for a growing population. Cattle are produced in every county and cattle production represents a $2.5 billion industry in Alabama. With significant contributions from hay, poultry, pork, dairy, and goat production, our animal agriculture sector remains strong, dynamic, and essential. In a recent impact assessment for Alabama agriculture and forestry, the economic contribution of Alabama’s food, fiber, forestry, and green industries was$77.3 billion and 273,271 jobs, which accounts for 10% of Alabama’s workforce. As global demand for high-quality animal protein continues to rise, so do the challenges facing our producers. Innovative, targeted research is needed to ensure the long-term efficiency and resilience of food animal production systems. The Department of Animal Sciences at Auburn University remains committed to meeting these challenges. Our faculty, staff, and students continue to develop collaborative, multidisciplinary research and extension programs that support producers and consumers. They are engaged in cutting-edge work that spans nutrition, genetics, reproduction, meat science, animal health, and beyond. We are committed to developing tools and knowledge that not only improve production efficiency but also strengthen the long-term sustainability of Alabama’s livestock systems. It is with great excitement that we introduce the third edition of the Alabama Livestock Research Report. This publication continues our goal of sharing impactful research and outreach conducted by our department, on campus and through our affiliated experiment stations. Inside these pages, you will find highlights from ongoing projects, updates from the field, and insights into the ways we are working alongside producers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to shape the future of animal agriculture in Alabama. We are proud to share this report with you and grateful for the support of our funding partners and stakeholders who make this work possible. Most of all, we thank the faculty, staff, and students whose efforts and curiosity drive the progress you will read about here. We invite you to engage with this work, ask questions, share ideas, and join us as we continue to serve Alabama’s livestock industry through research, education, and innovation. This is our work. Sincerely, Kim Mullenix, Ph.D. Professor and Head Department of Animal Sciences 210 Upchurch Hall, Auburn Univ, AL 36849 [email protected]

Identification of transcriptome markers in blue catfish cryopreserved sperm to predict male reproductive performance for catfish aquaculture

In hybrid catfish aquaculture, hatch success varies significantly using cryopreserved sperm from different males, but current phenotypic assays only explain a fraction of observed variations. We profiled the sperm transcriptome of 30 blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) males, whose cryopreserved sperm yielded a hatch success from 14 to 63%. Transcriptome study through RNA sequencing identified 3,850 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between high-hatch-success (HHS) and low‑hatch‑success (LHS) groups (log2(fold change) > 2 and FDR < 0.05). More than 95% of these DEGs were retained in fresh sperm, demonstrating that intrinsic molecular differences, rather than cryopreservation, drive fertility variation. In LHS sperm, upregulation of mitophagy, autophagy, RNA degradation, and cilium‑assembly pathways was observed, consistent with cellular stress and motility deficiencies. Spearman correlation across all males identified 27 annotated DEGs strongly associated with hatch success, of which the positive marker trpm4a and negative markers kmt2b and zbtb33 were validated by qRT‑PCR (P < 0.05). A random‑forest regression model combining the six most informative transcriptomic markers with testosterone level and initial motility achieved high predictivity with ρ = 0.77 between predicted and observed hatch success (P < 0.001), outperforming models based on either data type alone. These findings establish a compact panel that can be implemented as a multiplex qPCR assay to guide broodstock selection, reduce gamete wastage, and enhance fry output. Our work continues to build the foundation to extend marker validation across hatcheries, explore causal mechanisms via functional genomics, and incorporate epigenetic features to further refine predictive accuracy. Ultimately, this framework will support profitable and sustainable catfish aquaculture operations

A New Name for a Hybrid Bog Clubmoss from the Southeastern United States

A previously unnamed hybrid between Lycopodiella alopecuroides (L.) Cranfill and L. prostrata (R.M. Harper) Cranfill is formally described as L. × shortii D.D. Spaulding. The specific epithet honors pteridologist John W. Short, whose contributions to the study of Alabama ferns and lycophytes span over five decades. This hybrid displays an intermediate morphology, combining traits of both parental species. It is currently known from scattered populations in the southeastern United States, primarily within the Coastal Plain from Florida to Texas and north to North Carolina.PublishedYe

AI in Elementary English Language Arts: Perceptions, Concerns, and Imperatives For Teacher Education

The rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into K-12 education necessitates a proactive examination of teacher preparedness, particularly in elementary English Language Arts (ELA) instruction. This quantitative, descriptive study investigated Auburn University pre-service elementary education students' dispositions and attitudes regarding AI adoption and diffusion for writing instruction. Utilizing a researcher-developed Likert-type interval measurement scale (α=0.906) grounded in Rogers's Theory of Adoption and Diffusion and Davis's Technology Acceptance Model was provided to the participants (N = 32). Key findings revealed strong AI awareness (M=4.61) and high personal access to AI (M=4.48), alongside confidence in AI-enhancing lesson planning (M=4.00) and learning AI writing skills (M=3.97). However, significant apprehensions emerged, including concerns about student dependency on AI (M=4.72), compromised academic integrity (M=4.66), and a lack of clear ethical guidelines (M=4.38). Participants expressed skepticism regarding AI's capacity to benefit critical thinking (M=2.6). The study underscores the need for structured support in teacher education, advocating for comprehensive AI literacy, including technical, pedagogical, and ethical considerations, and developing clear guidelines to foster responsible AI integration. Thoughtful implementation of AI can serve as a powerful partner, tutor, and scaffolding tool to strengthen, rather than diminish, students' critical thinking skills

Décollement controls on the Dauki Fault System in the Shillong Plateau and the Bengal Basin

The Dauki Fault System is a major thrust at the northern rim of the Bengal Basin. The mechanism of faulting and how strain is accumulated and distributed along the system still need to be understood. We present an analysis of 1 m resolution digital elevation models created from tri-stereo-pair high resolution Pleiades images, geomorphological-geological fieldwork data and subsurface reflection seismic data to better document the geometry and activity of the various faults composing the fault system. We document and mapped 6 main fan/terrace levels that are attributed to Pleistocene to Holocene ages in the Sylhet area. These terraces were uplifted from 1.5 m to 72 m above the main riverbed, with an estimated uplift rate of 1.5 mm/yr. The Dauki Fault System stretches E-W for 320 km and consists of three subparallel thrusts. The northern one is the North Dauki Fault responsible for the ~2 km topographic elevation of the Shillong Plateau and monoclonal folding of the Garo-Jaintia-Khasi Hills at the northern border of the Surma Basin. The middle one is the Jamuna-Lubha Fault, which is responsible for the uplift of the Pleistocene-Holocene terraces-hillocks all along the Jamuna River to the Lubha River. The southern one is the Sunamganj Fault that limits the southern extension of the alluvial fans in the Surma Basin. Given the extension over a length of 320 km of this thrust system, we estimate it can produce magnitude Mw 7.5-8 earthquakes that could impact northeastern India and Bangladesh.https://doi.org/10.35099/3st0-yz3