Digital Commons Network^™

Three Essays On Conservation-Oriented Community Land Use Management, Yong Jiang

Open Access Dissertations

Urban sprawl is a pervasive phenomenon. Public concern on its potential to degrade the quality of life motivates conservation-oriented land use management as one of the policy priorities for local authorities. My dissertation research contributes to this policy issue by developing a model for nature reserve design, demonstrating the policy application of conservation models to ecosystem-integrated land use management, and by exploring the potential of tax increment financing for open space preservation. The first study develops an ecological function-based design method for cost-efficient selection of critical land to be preserved, and expects the established system of nature reserves to maintain …

Rapid Whole-Body Hypothermia: Analysis And Modeling, Julia Cathy Klock

Open Access Dissertations

For subjects stricken by sudden cardiac arrest outside a medical facility, the overall survival rate approaches 25% (best scenario case) with advanced life support and only 5% without. Often survivors face sequelaes such as brain damage. Prior studies have revealed that resuscitative mild hypothermia (core temperature ranging from 34°C to 32°C) can alleviate damage to vital organs, including the brain. Although, the delayed cooling (up to several hours with no blood flow) has proven to be effective, time is believed to be critical to achieve maximum efficiency. A new cooling device, the Thermosuitâ„¢ System (TSS) induces hypothermia rapidly with direct …

Community-Based And Collaborative Management Of Coral Reefs And Coastal Resources In Palau, Elizabeth Matthews

Open Access Dissertations

This study examines community-based and collaborative management of coral reefs in Palau through three manuscripts, each examining particular coastal resource management activities at a different scale of partnership and interaction: local protected area management at the state level, ecosystem management at the inter-state level, and migratory species (marine turtles) management at the state/national government level. In each instance, the social context of resource management was described using factors drawn from Richard Pollnac's Rapid Assessment of Management Parameters (RAMP) for coral reefs, among others. Ethnographic methods, especially key informant interviews and targeted questionnaires, were used in this study. A comparative analysis …

A Different Sort Of Invader: The Second Manatee To Visit Rhode Island, Robert D. Kenney

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Noise Level Correlates With Manatee Use Of Foraging Habitats, Jennifer L. Miksis-Olds, Percy L. Donaghay, James H. Miller, Peter L. Tyack, Jeffrey A. Nystuen

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

The introduction of anthropogenic sound to coastal waters is a negative side effect of population growth. As noise from boats, marine construction, and coastal dredging increases, environmental and behavioral monitoring is needed to directly assess the effect these phenomena have on marine animals. Acoustic recordings, providing information on ambient noise levels and transient noise sources, were made in two manatee habitats: grassbeds and dredged habitats. Recordings were made over two 6-month periods from April to September in 2003 and 2004. Noise levels were calculated in one-third octave bands at nine center frequencies ranging from 250 Hz to 64 kHz. Manatee …

Habitat Correlates Of Reproductive Effort In Wood Frogs And Spotted Salamanders In An Urbanizing Watershed, Dennis E. Skidds, Francis C. Golet, Peter W. C. Paton, Jonathan C. Mitchell

Natural Resources Science Faculty Publications

Wildlife biologists and managers are concerned about the effects of forest fragmentation and habitat loss on pond-breeding amphibian populations. Most research has assessed the effects of habitat composition at multiple spatial scales on the presence or absence of amphibians at breeding ponds. We were interested in the effects of habitat characteristics on amphibian population size and used Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica) and Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) egg mass counts as an index. Between 2001 and 2005, we monitored 65 seasonal ponds within forested landscapes in the Pawcatuck River watershed of Rhode Island. Both species were detected …

Roles And Strategies Of Nurses Facilitating Diabetes Support Groups: An Exploratory Study, Joanne Fawcett Costello

Open Access Dissertations

Diabetes is a pervasive health problem with potentially devastating but preventable consequences. Although technological advances and new treatments have resulted in great optimism for controlling the disease, research indicates that the challenges of diabetes self-management are overwhelming for many. One creative intervention which has beginning empirical support and which seems to be helping many living with diabetes to sustain management of the disease and quality of life is diabetes support groups. Nurse diabetes educators have been frequent facilitators in these groups, yet little is known about how these nurses perceive their role and the strategies they use as well as …

Juvenile Abundance In A Summer Nursery And Ontogenetic Changes In The Distribution And Migrations Of Sandbar Sharks, Camilla Thomas Mccandless

Open Access Dissertations

Delaware Bay is one of two principal nursery grounds for the sandbar shark, Carcharhinus plumbeus, in United States coastal waters. Tagging studies were conducted for juvenile sandbar sharks in Delaware Bay during their summer nursery seasons from 1995 to 2000 using gillnet (1995-2000) and longline (1997-2000) gears. These studies were designed to aid fishery managers in defining essential fish habitat for juvenile sandbar sharks tagged in Delaware Bay by determining spatial and temporal distributions, overwintering nursery areas, and if natal homing occurs in sandbar sharks born in Delaware Bay. In 2001, the distribution data from these tagging studies were used …

Strategies For The Optimization Of Immunotherapy In Kidney Transplantation, Anisha E. Mendonza

Open Access Dissertations

The success of kidney transplantation is dependent upon a life-long maintenance therapy with immunosuppressants. Immunosuppressants are narrow therapeutic index drugs that exhibit high intra and inter-individual variability in their pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD). Immunosuppressant doses are adjusted by their concentrations, a practice referred to as 'therapeutic drug monitoring'. This dissertation aimed to devise novel strategies/methods to improve the monitoring of immunosuppressive agents and to compare their PK/PD between diabetic (D) and non-diabetic (ND) kidney transplant recipients. A liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometric assay was developed and validated to analyze the concentrations of mycophenolic acid (MPA) in saliva over a …

Increasing The Adoption Of Environmentally Friendly Products: Who Are The Non-Adopters, And What Will Get Them To Buy Green, Jason D. Oliver

Open Access Dissertations

This resistance towards green products is not new; similar to the last oil crisis in the late seventies early eighties, this problem was addressed by academics relatively early in the environmental movement. Thirty years later consumers still find it difficult to pay a premium for a usually inferior green product. The one thing that has changed is a few manufacturers have been able to reduce the price or increase the quality of environmentally friendly products. This specific research begins with a comprehensive review of literature in the area of environmental or green marketing. Key constructs relative to this field are …

Personal Energy Management Styles And Their Influence On Work Performance, Catherine L. Pastille

Open Access Dissertations

Expectations for work performance have extended beyond the traditional confines of the work place and beyond a forty-hour work week as communication technologies have made work possible any time and anywhere. At the same time as expectations for work performance are increasing, the energy workers need to perform their work is remaining relatively fixed in the short-term. This study explored the question of how workers manage their personal energy. It was proposed that employees stay energized for their work by developing energy management styles (EMS) which are relatively stable patterns of behavior through which they manage their personal energy relative …

Patterns Of Fuel Use And Storage In Songbirds In Relation To Diet Composition And Food Availability During Migration, Susan B. Smith

Open Access Dissertations

Migration is energetically demanding for small songbirds and requires frequent stops to rest and replenish energy reserves. Food quality and availability at migration stopover sites may influence the length of time birds spend refueling, and could therefore be used to predict the quality of habitats for migrating birds. The objectives of my research were (1) to determine the effects of dietary macronutrient composition on plasma indicators of fuel use and body composition of birds, (2) to compare the nutrient composition and adequacy of seasonal fruit resources for satisfying the nutritional requirements of songbirds, and (3) to evaluate patterns of fuel …

Trace Determination Of The Flame Retardant Tetrabromobisphenol A In The Atmosphere By Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry, Zhiyong Xie, Ralf Ebinghaus, Rainer Lohmann, Olaf Heemken, Armando Caba, Wilhelm Püttmann

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

A simple and effective method has been developed for analysis of the flame retardant tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) in environmental samples by using modified soxhlet extraction in combination with silica gel clean-up, derivatization with silylation reagent and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) in selected ion monitoring mode (SIM). Satisfactory recoveries were achieved for the large volume sampling, soxhlet extraction and silica gel clean-up. The overall recovery is 79 ± 1%. The derivatization procedure is simple and fast, and produces stable TBBPA derivative. GC–MS with electronic impact (EI) ionization mode shows better detection power than using negative chemical ionization (NCI) mode. EI gives …

Stuart Chases's Use Of Jules Verne's The Mysterious Island, (1874), Richard Vangermeersch

Special Collections (Miscellaneous)

There are two very specific reasons why this piece was researched and written. The first is a continuation of my work done on Stuart Chase (various publications). I am still hopeful my efforts will inspire an historian to do a 1000 page biography on Stuart Chase. The second is further example why my idea of using Verne’s book as the basis for a one-day management seminar is worth trying.

An Exploratory Look At The Four Addresses On Accounting In The 10th Edition Of John C. Colt's The Science Of Double Entry Bookkeeping, Richard Vangermeersch

Special Collections (Miscellaneous)

Four public addresses , written by convicted murder John C. Colt from about 1836 to 1841 have not been noted in the accounting history literature. This paper explores the importance of these addresses compiled in the 10th edition of The Science of double entry book keeping and brings them into current literature.

Idcr: Infectious Diseases In Corrections Report, Vol. 9 No. 10, Infectious Diseases In Corrections

Infectious Diseases in Corrections Report (IDCR)

No abstract provided.

Reference Database Usage Statistics 2005-2006, Andree J. Rathemacher

Technical Services Reports and Statistics

Statistics on the use of online reference databases at the University of Rhode Island during the period from July 2005 through June 2006. Includes COUNTER-compliant data on sessions, searches, turnaways, full text articles downloaded, cost per search, and other metrics.

The Concept And Use Of Beauty Within The Church, Patrick Greene

Senior Honors Projects

An empty room with a table at one end and some chairs facing this table hardly sounds like a church. And if a room similar to this were to be used for a church there would doubtless be decorations brought in, altar cloths, candles and a cross or crucifix. It seems to be that the employment of beauty within church services may be more than just a common element of a church service. Through my senior project I plan to come to a better understanding of how and why beauty is used within church services. I plan on looking at …

A Comparison Of The Imapct Of Environmental Stressors On Blood Parameters Of Captive Harbor Seals (Phoca Vitulina), Maura Allard

Senior Honors Projects

Little research has been established in determining blood chemistry values for harbor seals in Alaska. It has been suggested that various environmental factors can influence the blood chemistry values due to temperature, day length, precipitation, constraint and diet amongst other variables. Currently there are no guidelines for veterinarians and rehabilitators to refer to when analyzing blood chemistry values for sick animals. The hope for this research is that it will aide in establishing guidelines for specific circumstances due to environmental stressors. It is hoped that in the future, this study will be used to create values for which veterinarians can …

Parasitism And A Shortage Of Refuges Jointly Mediate The Strength Of Density Dependence In A Reef Fish, Graham E. Forrester, Rachel J. Finley

Natural Resources Science Faculty Publications

Various predator-prey, host-pathogen, and competitive interactions can combine to cause density dependence in population growth. Despite this possibility, most empirical tests for density-dependent interactions have focused on single mechanisms. Here we tested the hypothesis that two mechanisms of density dependence, parasitism and a shortage of refuges, jointly influence the strength of density-dependent mortality. We used mark recapture analysis to estimate mortality of the host species, the bridled goby {Coryphopterus glaucofraenum). Sixty-three marked gobies were infected with a copepod gill parasite {Pharodes tortugensis), and 188 were uninfected. We used the spatial scale at which gobies were clustered naturally (~4 m^{2 …}

Indian Names Of Places In Rhode Island, Usher Parsons M.D.

Special Collections (Miscellaneous)

Pamphlet documenting Indian place names of Rhode Island compiled by Usher Parsons, M.D. for the Rhode Island Historical Society; Providence: Knowles, Anthony & Co., Printers, 1861.

Analysis Of Distal-Less Gene Expression In Ciona Intestinalis, Michelle Cangiano

Senior Honors Projects

Several homeobox-containing genes related to Distal-less (Dlx/Dll) have been isolated from a wide variety of organisms and have been shown to function as developmental regulators. In Drosophila only one Distal-less gene has been identified so far, and in vertebrates many components of the Distal-less family have been characterized. This suggests that, during the evolution of the Chordate phylum, the Dlx genes arose from an ancestral Distal-less gene via gene duplication. Three Dll homeoboxes have been isolated from the protochordate Ciona intestinalis and their clustered arrangement has been described. Since Ciona is regarded as one of the most primitive extant chordates, …

Toward Synthesizing A Selective Dopamine Binding Magnetic Resonance Contrast Agent, Judy Lau

Senior Honors Projects

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive diagnostic methodology used to provide a two-dimensional view of an internal organ or structure, especially the brain and spinal cord. Magnetic resonance contrast agents are usually injected into necessary parts of the body prior to imaging to increase the differences between different tissues or between normal and abnormal tissue, making it easier for a radiologist or doctor to interpret the image that is taken. The development of new and more efficient, effective, and selective contrast agents for various biological processes or chemicals is a growing field of research and study. My project allowed …

Explorations Of Self: A Philosophical Inquiry, Meredith Rathbun

Senior Honors Projects

Asking “Who am I?” seems to be something that everybody ponders. This concept of “I”—what is it? We all have an individual and unique “I”—something that has been with each of us since birth, something that has changed and grown, but also stayed the same in many ways. My question “What is The Self?” is imperative. What is it that experiences life, if not The Self? When a 99-year-old man watches his last sunset, reflecting on his life, what inside of him is doing that reflecting? As you read my ideas on this page, what inside of you is processing …

Bringing The Market To Life: Screen Aesthetics And The Epistemic Consumption Object, Detlev Zwick, Nikhilesh Dholakia

College of Business Faculty Publications

This article argues that the new ‘visuality’ (Schroeder, 2002) of the Internet transforms the stock market into an epistemic consumption object. The aesthetics of the screen turn the market into an interactive and response-present surface representation. On the computer screen, the market becomes an object of constant movement and variation, changing direction and altering appearance at any time. Following Knorr Cetina (1997, 2002b) we argue that the visual logic of the screen ‘opens up’ the market ontologically. The ontological liquidity of the market-on-screen simulates the indefiniteness of other life forms. We suggest that the continuing fascination with online investing is …

Cooperation Between Mef2 And Pparγ In Human Intestinal Β,Β-Carotene 15,15'-Monooxygenase Gene Expression, Xiaoming Gong, Shu-Whei Tsai, Bingfang Yan, Lewis P. Rubin

Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Background:

Vitamin A and its derivatives, the retinoids, are essential for normal embryonic development and maintenance of cell differentiation. β, β-carotene 15,15'-monooxygenase 1 (BCMO1) catalyzes the central cleavage of β-carotene to all-trans retinal and is the key enzyme in the intestinal metabolism of carotenes to vitamin A. However, human and various rodent species show markedly different efficiencies in intestinal BCMO1-mediated carotene to retinoid conversion. The aim of this study is to identify potentially human-specific regulatory control mechanisms of BCMO1 gene expression.

Results:

We identified and functionally characterized the human BCMO1 promoter sequence and determined the transcriptional regulation of the …

Workplace Romance And Fraternization Policies, Helena P. Amaral

Seminar Research Paper Series

With the ever increasing number of hours Americans spend at work, many are finding romance at the workplace. What should the employer consider when deciding whether and to what extent it should control romantic relationships between supervisors and subordinates and among co-workers? This paper addresses some of the social and legal issues surrounding these relationships and whether fraternization policies are a viable tool for handling the complex human issue of romance in the workplace.

Division Of Research And Economic Development Annual Report For Fy2006, Uri Division Of Research And Economic Development

Reports (Research and Economic Development)

Annual report for the Division of Research and Economic Development of the University of Rhode Island for the year 2005-2006.

Includes statistics of project proposals, expenditures, URI Foundation Awards, previous annual report summaries and awards received by individual academic and administrative departments.

Reservoir Competency Of Goats For The Ap-Variant 1 Strain Of Anaplasma Phagocytophilum, Robert F. Massung, Thomas N. Mather, Michael L. Levin

Past Departments Faculty Publications (CELS)

Field-collected ticks were used to infect goats with either Ap-ha, a strain associated with human disease, or a variant strain, Ap-Variant 1, of Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Goats were shown to be competent as a reservoir for Ap-Variant 1, and challenge and immunosuppression studies were used to further examine infection in the goat model.

Metabolic Routing Of Dietary Nutrients In Birds: Effects Of Diet Quality And Macronutrient Composition Revealed Using Stable Isotopes, David W. Podlesak, Scott R. Mcwilliams

Natural Resources Science Faculty Publications

During fall migration many songbirds switch from consuming primarily insects to consuming mostly fruit. Fruits with more carbohydrates and less protein may be sufficient to rebuild expended fat stores, but such fruits may be inadequate to replace catabolized protein. We manipulated the concentrations and isotopic signatures of macronutrients in diets fed to birds to study the effects of diet quality on metabolic routing of dietary nutrients. We estimated that approximately 45% and 75%, respectively, of the carbon in proteinaceous tissue of birds switched to high‐ or low‐protein diets came from nonprotein dietary sources. In contrast, we estimated that approximately 100% …