Professor receives pilot funding to conduct study to increase forest farming in Appalachia

Virginia Tech

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(From left) Katie Trozzo, Shannon Bell, and John Munsell.

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Credit: Photo by Jasmine Rorrer for Virginia Tech.

Appalachia is globally recognized as a key supplier of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) with growing demand for its resources. Nearly half of the woodland medicinal species in the global nutraceutical market come from the region, contributing to a multibillion-dollar industry.

Species such as ginseng, slippery elm, and black cohosh are prominent understory sources of medicinal material. Appalachian edible products are also gaining popularity beyond the region. Ramps, a wild Appalachian plant, can sell for more than $20 per pound in places such as New York City.

Spanning 205,000 square miles, Appalachia is home to over 100 marketable species, including botanicals such as ginseng and black cohosh as well as mushrooms and valuable understory tree and shrub species used in crafts and landscaping. These species traditionally are wild harvested, but interest in cultivating them using an agroforestry practice known as forest farming is on the rise.

As demand for Appalachian NTFPs grows, forest farmed material is becoming increasingly sought after by both domestic and international consumers. John Munsell, professor in the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation in the College of Natural Resources and Environment and a Virginia Cooperative Extension specialist, received a $500,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission to conduct a preliminary study on a natural economic solution for the region.

“To scale a cultivation economy, it's essential that people have access to affordable resources, and that the supply chain — from planting to processing and distribution — is well established,” Munsell said. “Formalizing forest farming businesses and developing the workforce are key to ensuring that the entire system runs efficiently. Additionally, cultural aspects like tourism and traditional knowledge should be integrated into the business planning process to create a more sustainable and comprehensive economy.”

To better understand the culture around these NTFPs, Munsell is collaborating with Shannon Bell, professor of environmental sociology in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. Bell conducted research with Appalachian wild harvesters and local buyers of medicinal roots and herbs to study the stark inequities in the woodland herbal supply chain and to develop strategies for addressing these challenges. The work’s aim is to help Central Appalachian communities retain more of the profits from the herbal industry by using forest farming techniques to help populations of native at-risk forest botanicals survive and thrive in the wild.

“Our mission is to harness the region's sustainable ‘green wealth’ – a true, culturally resonant resource — through stewardship, moving it into a competitive market without the exploitative practices often seen in extractive industries,” Munsell said. “We've spent years engaging and training woodland owners and wild-harvesting communities, helping them transition to traceable, sustainable forest farming practices. But to truly scale, we now need to invest in processing facilities, attract companies to the region, and formalize businesses that can fully utilize cultivated raw materials, from medicinal plants like ginseng and black cohosh to culinary and decorative products.”

The effort is complex and Munsell assembled a broad partnership of 11 Appalachian universities and nonprofit organizations to address specific facets of the value chain. For example, workforce development is essential, as skilled labor is needed for processing, chemical testing, and maintaining high-quality standards, while tourism can offer an experiential way to highlight these efforts and the Appalachian region's cultural heritage. Munsell and Katie Trozzo, program associate in the Department of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, are working together to develop and guide complementary initiatives among project partners.

This collaborative work identifies tangible and actionable opportunities for scaling forest-farmed materials in the global NTFP market. There’s a focus on quality over quantity, with companies willing to pay higher prices for superior, sustainably sourced raw and value-added material. The work is part of a broader economic development strategy emphasizing local Appalachian stewardship and control over natural resources management and production.

 

Genes may influence our enjoyment of music

Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics

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Music is central to human emotion and culture. Does our ability to enjoy music have a biological basis? A genetic twin study, published in Nature Communications, shows that music enjoyment is partly heritable. An international team led by scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, uncovered genetic factors that influence the degree of music enjoyment, which were partly distinct from genes influencing general enjoyment of rewarding experiences or musical ability.

Music plays an important role in human emotion, social bonding, and cultural expression. As Darwin already noted, music "must be ranked amongst the most mysterious with which he is endowed". But why do people enjoy music?

“The answer to this big question has the potential to open a window into more general aspects of the human mind, such as how experiences become pleasurable”, says first author and PhD candidate Giacomo Bignardi. “We wanted to understand whether genetic differences between individuals can result in differences in the pleasure that people derive from music and what these differences can tell us about human musicality in general”.

To determine whether genetic factors contribute to music enjoyment or ‘music reward sensitivity’, the researchers used the twin design, which compares similarities between identical twins and fraternal twins. Put simply, if identical twins are more similar than fraternal twins, genetics should play a role.

In collaboration with the MPI for Empirical Aesthetics in Germany and the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, the team was able to use data from more than 9,000 twins, including self-reported music reward and general reward sensitivity, as well as their ability to perceive musical features such as pitch, melody and rhythm.

The results show that the ability to experience pleasure from music is partly heritable: using the twin design, the researchers were able to estimate that 54% of the variability in the Swedish sample is associated with DNA differences between individuals.

The team also found genetic influences on music reward sensitivity to be partly independent of general reward sensitivity and music perceptual abilities, and discovered that distinct genetic pathways influenced different facets of music enjoyment, such as emotion regulation, dancing along with a beat or playing music with others.

“These findings suggest a complex picture  in which partly distinct DNA differences contribute to  different aspects of music enjoyment”, concludes Bignardi. “Future research looking at which part of the genome contributes the most to the human ability to enjoy music has the potential to shed light on the human faculty that baffled Darwin the most, and which still baffles us today.”

Publication

Giacomo Bignardi, Laura W. Wesseldijk, Ernest Mas-Herrero, Robert J. Zatorre, Fredrik Ullén, Simon E. Fisher & Miriam A. Mosing (2025). Twin modelling reveals partly distinct genetic pathways to music enjoyment. Nature Communications. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58123-8

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Journal

Nature Communications

DOI

10.1038/s41467-025-58123-8 

Method of Research

Survey

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Twin modelling reveals partly distinct genetic pathways to music enjoyment

Article Publication Date

28-Mar-2025

 

Global patterns in seed plant distribution over millions of years

International research team investigates how environment and barriers to dispersal shape biodiversity

University of Göttingen

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The interplay of environmental conditions and geographical barriers such as mountains and lakes determine where plants thrive – an international study shows how these patterns have developed over millions of years.

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Credit: Holger Kreft

Why do some plants thrive in specific regions but not in others? A study led by researchers at the University of Göttingen explores the factors shaping plant distributions and how these patterns have changed over millions of years. Analyzing nearly 270,000 seed plant species worldwide, the research highlights the roles of environmental conditions and dispersal barriers in influencing global plant diversity. The results were published in Nature Ecology & Evolution.

 

Using advanced methods that integrate plant distributions with phylogenetic information – meaning data about the evolutionary relationships among plant species – researchers combined modern environmental data with historical reconstructions of Earth’s climate and geography spanning millions of years. The team examined how variations in climate, soil, and other environmental factors determine where plants can thrive and how physical barriers – such as oceans, mountain ranges, and areas with inhospitable climates – restrict plant dispersal.

 

The findings show that environmental conditions, particularly climate, are important factors in shaping plant distributions, with their influence remaining consistent across evolutionary timescales. Physical barriers like oceans and mountains played a significant role in limiting the spread of more recently evolved plant groups but had a much smaller effect on ancient plant groups, which have had longer periods to disperse widely. Past tectonic plate positions and movements, reconstructed from geological data, were found to have only a modest impact on plant diversity, with their strongest effects occurring between 20 and 50 million years ago.

 

“These findings reveal a fundamental process in nature,” says Dr Lirong Cai from the University of Göttingen and the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv). “Given enough time, plants can overcome the barriers of vast distances and geography, but they often remain limited by the environments they encounter.”

 

Original publication: Cai, L., et al. (2024). Environmental filtering, not dispersal history, explains global patterns of phylogenetic turnover in seed plants at deep evolutionary timescales. Nature Ecology and Evolution. DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02599-y

 

The research showed that with enough time, plants can overcome the barriers of vast distances and geography, but they often remain limited by the environments they encounter.

Credit

Holger Kreft

Contact:

Professor Holger Kreft

University of Göttingen

Biodiversity, Macroecology and Biogeography Research Group

Büsgenweg 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany

Email: hkreft@uni-goettingen.de

www.uni-goettingen.de/en/128741.html

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Journal

Nature Ecology & Evolution

DOI

10.1038/s41559-024-02599-y 

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Environmental filtering, not dispersal history, explains global patterns of phylogenetic turnover in seed plants at deep evolutionary timescales

 OF MICE AND MEN

Intermittent fasting increases sex drive in male mice: an approach for low libido in humans?

Current findings could point the way for new therapy option / Serotonin plays key role

DZNE - German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases

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Long-term fasting in 24-hour cycles increases the sex drive of male mice by lowering the concentration of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain. This effect is linked to a diet-induced deficiency of the precursor substance tryptophan – an amino acid that must be obtained through food. Researchers from DZNE report on this in the journal Cell Metabolism, together with a Chinese team from Qingdao University and the University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. They suggest that similar mechanisms may exist in humans and view fasting as a potential approach for treating unwanted loss of sexual desire.

Fasting is a recurring subject of research because reduced food intake and thus calorie restriction has a variety of effects on the organism beyond the commonly observed weight loss. Dr. Dan Ehninger, research group leader at DZNE and lead author of the current study, and his team have also been working on this topic for quite some time. “We are interested in the effects of fasting on aging. Using mice as a model, we investigate the underlying biological mechanisms. Our aim is to gain insights that may also be relevant to humans,” says the Bonn-based scientist.

More offspring than expected

The research results now published are based on a fortuitous discovery, as Ehninger and his colleagues had originally set out to investigate something else. Their aim was to examine how fasting affects the offspring of male mice. However, one particular finding steered their research in a new direction: aged male mice – senior individuals by human standards – that had fasted for extended periods produced an unusually large number of offspring. Contrary to initial hypotheses, this phenomenon was not due to fasting effects on reproductive organs or the endocrine state of the animals. Age-related changes in the testes, reduced sperm quality and lower testosterone levels, for example, argued against high fertility. “It was a bit of detective work to uncover the real cause,” says Ehninger, whose research group collaborated on the current study with experts from Qingdao University and the University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences led by Prof. Yu Zhou. “Eventually, we realized: it is a matter of behavior. The fasting males had significantly more sexual contacts than mice that could eat freely. In other words, these animals had an unusually high frequency of mating and, as a result, an unusually high number of offspring for their age. Their mating behavior more than compensated for the age-related physiological limitations.”

Fasting in a 24-hour rhythm

Starting at two months of age, these male mice were subjected to a specific form of intermittent fasting. Their access to food followed a recurring 24-hour pattern: the animals were allowed to feed ad libitum for 24 hours, followed by 24 hours with access to water only. During the 22-month fasting regimen, the males were housed together without any contact with females. They were later introduced to three-month-old females that had been raised without dietary restrictions.

Effect takes time

Increased mating behavior was also observed in younger mice. These males had also started intermittent fasting at the age of two months, but had followed this diet for only six months before being introduced to females. They, too, were more sexually active than age-matched peers that had been fed ad libitum. However, the effect was absent in other experimental groups – both young and old – that fasted for only a few weeks. “For intermittent fasting to increase sex drive, it takes some time,” says Zhou. “Based on our experiments, the minimum duration appears to be somewhere between six weeks and six months.”

A question of serotonin

In the course of investigating the causes, the attention eventually turned to neurotransmitters that influence sexual behavior. Some have a stimulating effect, while others act as inhibitors. Among the sexually active male mice, one factor stood out: serotonin – a chemical messenger generally associated with inhibitory effects – was present at unusually low levels. “These mice were, so to speak, sexually uninhibited, the usual regulatory restraint was diminished,” says Ehninger. Serotonin is primarily produced in the gastrointestinal tract, but also in the brain, where it acts as a neurotransmitter mediating communication between neurons. However, its synthesis depends on the amino acid tryptophan, which must be obtained through the diet or released through the breakdown of the body’s own protein stores, such as those found in muscle tissue. Tryptophan is considered an essential amino acid, meaning that neither mice nor humans can synthesize it on their own. As a result, dietary intake plays a key role in regulating tryptophan levels in the body. It is, in fact, found in many common foods. “The lack of serotonin was clearly a result of fasting,” explains the DZNE researcher.

Is the fasting regimen relevant?

“All in all, the fasting mice consumed almost fifteen percent fewer calories than the animals in the control group. This also roughly applies to their intake of tryptophan,” says Zhou. “However, it is currently unclear whether the reduction in serotonin levels is linked to our specific feeding regimen or would also occur with other types of fasting. Future studies will need to clarify this.” As the scientist notes, it is also possible that the effect could occur under a general caloric restriction, where food is continuously available but in reduced amounts.

A potential approach for therapy

“Chemical messengers also play an important role in regulating sexual behavior in humans. This applies in particular to serotonin,” says Ehninger. As he points out, this is evident, for example, in the use of SSRIs, a class of antidepressant drugs that increase serotonin levels. A potential side effect of this therapy is reduced libido. Conversely, lower serotonin levels are known to promote sexual desire. “In view of this, I consider it very plausible that sexual desire in humans can be influenced by fasting – possibly not only in men, but also in women, since serotonin affects their libido as well.” According to Ehninger, there are actually only a few scientific studies on the effects of fasting on human libido. “In my opinion, it would make sense to investigate this in more detail. I see potential for therapeutic application. A lack of sexual desire is not necessarily perceived as problematic – but some people suffer from it. This condition is known as ‘hypoactive sexual desire disorder’ and particularly affects older adults. Fasting could potentially serve as a useful addition to existing treatment options.”

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About Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, DZNE (German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases): DZNE is one of the world’s leading research centers for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS, which are associated with dementia, movement disorders and other serious health impairments. These diseases place an enormous burden on patients and their families, but also on society and the economy of healthcare. DZNE contributes significantly to the development and translation into practice of novel strategies for prevention, diagnosis, care and treatment. DZNE comprises ten sites across Germany and collaborates with universities, university hospitals, research centers and other institutions in Germany and throughout the world. DZNE is state-funded and a member of the Helmholtz Association and of the German Centers for Health Research. www.dzne.de/en

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Journal

Cell Metabolism

DOI

10.1016/j.cmet.2025.03.001 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Intermittent fasting boosts sexual behavior by limiting the central availability of tryptophan and serotonin

Article Publication Date

28-Mar-2025

 

Discrimination-related depression, anxiety pronounced among multiracial, White, Asian populations

Boston University School of Public Health

A new study found that more than half of US adults encounter some form of discrimination, and that this mistreatment may fuel higher chances of depression and/or anxiety among specific racial and ethnic groups due to cultural, social, and systemic factors. 

A growing body of research has drawn connections between everyday discrimination—the routine and often subtle forms of mistreatment that people experience on a day-to-day basis—and poor mental health. A new study by Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) and Brown University suggests that higher exposure to discrimination increases a person’s chances of developing depression and/or anxiety, and that this outcome varies by race and ethnicity. 

Published in JAMA Network Open, the study found that over half of US adults experienced some form of discrimination, and individuals with high exposure to discrimination have more than five times the chances of screening positive for depression, and five times the chances of screening positive for  anxiety. Compared to adults who do not experience discrimination, adults who do experience this mistreatment have nearly nine times the odds of screening positive for both depression and anxiety. 

These observations were similar for men and women, but more pronounced among multiracial, White, and Asian adults, populations that are often overlooked in research and discussions about the effect of discrimination on health. 

The nationally representative findings provide valuable insight into the relationship between discrimination and mental health among multiple populations, building upon previous research on this subject that has been restricted by smaller study groups or limited comparisons between Black and White populations, or Hispanic or Latino and non-Hispanic or non-Latino populations. The researchers hope this data provides a deeper understanding of the mental health consequences of discrimination among a wider range of  demographic groups, and encourages mental health screenings and support to mitigate these racial disparities.

“Our study expands our understanding beyond typical Black-White comparisons, showing that everyday discrimination is a widespread issue that negatively impacts mental health across all racial and ethnic groups,” says study lead and corresponding author Dr. Monica Wang, associate professor of community health sciences at BUSPH.

For the study, Dr. Wang and study senior author Dr. Marie-Rachelle Narcisse, assistant professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown, assessed 2023 national survey data to gauge experiences of discrimination, depression, and anxiety among nearly 30,000 adults ages 18 or older. This sample population was weighted to represent more than 258 million US adults. To measure discrimination, the researchers utilized standardized scales that capture the frequency of mistreatment, such as receiving poor service or being harassed. They also utilized standardized scales to quantify experiences with depression (such as feeling down or hopeless, or having little interest in doing things) and anxiety (such as feeling nervous or experiencing an inability to stop worrying). 

Nearly 56 percent of adults experienced a form of discrimination, and 3.6 percent of this group reported experiencing high levels of discrimination, most prevalent among Black adults, followed by multiracial or other adults, Hispanic or Latino adults, White adults, and Asian adults. Discrimination was also more common among adults experiencing certain health disadvantages such as disabilities, obesity, and food insecurity, as well as immigrants and women.

The researchers theorize that a combination of social, cultural, and systemic factors may be driving discrimination-related depression or anxiety among specific racial and ethnic groups. Multiracial individuals may navigate unique experiences of mistreatment based on their multiple racial identities, while White individuals may experience mental health challenges that stem from mistreatment related to their income or educational levels. Asian adults may experience depression or anxiety stemming from language barriers or the “model minority” stereotype, which assumes all Asian individuals are high-achieving and successful.

These perceived experiences carry real psychological weight, says Dr. Narcisse.

“Studies have shown that discrimination shapes mental health most deeply when left unacknowledged,” she says. I hope this study creates more awareness. As in awareness, there is strength and the ability to seek healing more intentionally.”

Dr. Wang and Dr. Narcisse also caution that these findings do not suggest that discriminatory experiences and any related adverse mental health problems are less significant among Black, Hispanic, and Latino populations, as these groups continue to experience multiple health challenges driven by systemic racism and a long history of oppression.

“Our results are a powerful reminder that discrimination is everyone’s issue—and addressing it benefits society as a whole,” Dr. Wang says.

Dr. Wang is supported in part by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; Dr. Narcisse is supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences and the Bradley Hospital COBRE Center for Sleep and Circadian Rhythms in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. The funding sources had no role in the design or conduct of the study; collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the funders. 

**

About Boston University School of Public Health 

Founded in 1976, Boston University School of Public Health is one of the top ten ranked schools of public health in the world. It offers master's- and doctoral-level education in public health. The faculty in six departments conduct policy-changing public health research around the world, with the mission of improving the health of populations—especially the disadvantaged, underserved, and vulnerable—locally and globally.

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Journal

JAMA Network Open

DOI

10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.2404 

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Discrimination, Depression, and Anxiety Among US Adults

Article Publication Date

28-Mar-2025

 

Endocrine Society statement on HHS restructuring, mass firings, and scientific review

The Endocrine Society

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WASHINGTON—A major reorganization of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)—including massive cuts to the federal workforce—threatens scientific progress that drives our economy and improves the public’s health.

Slashing federal funding and staff will hobble the very agencies that fuel medical discoveries and approve new treatments.

In addition, the administration is introducing a new level of administrative review of grants at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that will politicize the process of awarding scientific grants.  

These actions reflect a disregard for congressional appropriations and authorizing processes as well as stakeholder experience, and will allow politicians, not scientific experts, to set research priorities.

The Endocrine Society is concerned actions of this scale will hinder HHS’s important public health functions and research related to chronic diseases like diabetes and obesity and other endocrine conditions, including thyroid disease, osteoporosis, infertility, endocrine cancers, and growth disorders.

After recent efforts to freeze and rescind federal funding, the Endocrine Society worries the plan to reorganize HHS is another example of the administration unilaterally deciding not to spend funds that Congress lawfully appropriated. It is not clear that consideration was given to the impact on programs with proven records of protecting the public’s health.

Laying off 1,200 NIH staff members will affect the agency’s ability to fulfill its research responsibilities and slow advancements in endocrine science and other fields. Reduced staffing will impede the NIH’s ability to review grant applications, fund research and run needed programs.

Biomedical research performed at and supported by the NIH is responsible for improving the public health of millions of Americans and people around the world. The loss of staff will leave a gap of knowledge, institutional history, and expertise that will damage the research landscape.

The Society also is alarmed by media reports that NIH research grants will be reviewed by HHS and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Research funding decisions should be made based on scientific merit and public health priorities, not the politics of the day. Introducing political influence into the research process creates an environment where scientists cannot rely on consistent, stable funding sources.

Impeding scientific research and the development of new treatments will ultimately harm millions of people who need medical care for endocrine conditions.

The Endocrine Society calls on the administration to work with Congress and the health and research communities to improve the efficiency of health-related agencies in a transparent, thoughtful manner. The current unilateral approach risks harm to the public’s health and research enterprise.
 

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Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world’s oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions.

The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia.