Digital Commons Network^™

Global Inventory Of Fluoropolymer Production Plants And Their Associated Pfas Environmental Contamination, Anna J. Miller, Kevin Kleemann, Juliane Glüge, Rainer Lohmann, Ian T. Cousins, Dorte Herzke, Mark F. Miller, Amanda Rensmo, Xenia Trier, Zhanyun Wang, Martin Scheringer

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

Fluoropolymers are widely used across sectors, but their production is associated with emissions of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), which are mobile, persistent, and toxic. In this work, we compiled a global inventory of fluoropolymer production plants (FPPs) and assembled PFAS concentration measurements for various media in their vicinity. We identified 52 currently operating FPPs across 11 countries and 41 cities. For 12 FPPs, in 12 different cities, there are peer-reviewed site-specific PFAS measurements specifically attributed to the FPP. At these 12 sites, at least 236 individual PFASs have been detected across multiple environmental media, including surface water, groundwater, air, …

Preliminary Cruise Report: Tn452 Eastern Lau Spreading Center And Northeastern Lau Basin, Kingdom Of Tonga, April 19, 2026 – May 18, 2026, Roxanne A. Beinart, Shawn Arellano

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Optimizing Poultry Production And Enhancing Egg Nutrient Composition Through Kelp Supplementation In Laying Hens, Meghan Clifford

Open Access Dissertations

The development of sustainable feed supplements is a crucial component in addressing the current global need for resilient and environmentally responsible food systems. This dissertation has explored the potential of brown algae (Saccharina latissima) as a sustainable feed supplement for poultry with the potential to benefit production efficiency, product quality, and the global food supply. With both controlled feeding trials and a producer-based survey, the work in this dissertation investigates the nutritional, biological and practical implications of adopting kelp into poultry diets.

Chapter one provides a comprehensive overview of the current literature surrounding the use of marine sources …

Investigating The Effects Of Nucleopore Defects On The Cellular Response To Stress In Als/Ftd Ipsc-Derived Neurons, Alicia Christine Collins

Open Access Dissertations

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/frontotemporal dementia (ALS/FTD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease spectrum characterized by motor dysfunction, cognitive decline, and death within a few years of clinical onset. Hallmark features of ALS/FTD include defects in nucleocytoplasmic transport (NCT) and abnormal cytoplasmic mislocalization and aggregation of the RNA-binding protein TDP-43, both of which have been shown to be exasperated by oxidative stress (OS). It remains unclear how these processes are connected and how they collectively contribute to neurodegeneration. To fill this gap of knowledge, we used human embryonic kidney cells, neuroblastoma cells, and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cortical neurons harboring the ALS/FTD C9ORF72 …

Prostitution In Video Games: Stigma, Violence And Male Pleasure, Laura Aguilera-Ávila, Lara Escobar Hernández

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

Prostitution has traditionally been framed in society as a space significantly determined by patriarchal hierarchies, in addition to being affected on many occasions by stigmatisation and violence. The representation of prostitution and of those who practice it in the media is a topic of special interest, since the discourses and messages disseminated by the media play a fundamental role in socialisation. Video games are not exempt from this debate: with millions of players worldwide and a special reach among young people, they are among the most influential media outlets today. This qualitative research analyses a series of titles, both AAA …

Digital Competence In Early Childhood Formal And Informal Education: Findings From A Systematized Review, Davide Cino, Claudio D’Antonio, Federica Ranzani, Silvia Demozzi, Cosimo Di Bari

Journal of Media Literacy Education Pre-Prints

This article reports on findings from a systematized literature review on digital competence in early childhood (age range, 0-6). Through a quantitative and qualitative analysis of 31 empirical studies, the article provides: 1) a mapping of key information contained in the dataset based on relevant variables inductively and deductively identified (i.e., children’s age, type of educational context, type of digital skill, caregiving actors, description of relevant activities, screen time discourse, risks and opportunities discourse, reference to wellbeing); and 2) a narrative in depth account of digital competence in early childhood in relation to the type of educational context investigated, i.e., …

Aging And The Screen: Toxic Commodification Of The Female Body In The Substance (2024), Damlasu Uyug Sengun, Tuncer Mert Aydın, Zeynep Ozdamar Ertekin

Markets, Globalization & Development Review

Representations of the aging female body have increased in media, but their presence is still shaped by social norms and market-driven ideals. On the contrary, The Substance (2024), an absurd, postmodern body horror, provides us a provocative critique of contemporary society’s obsession with youth and beauty and the way our culture defines and commodifies aging, especially in relation to women’s bodies and identities. Our review of The Substance incorporates consumer culture theory with Julia Kristeva’s concept of the abject (1982), Laura Mulvey’s theory of the male gaze (1975), and Barbara Creed’s notion of the monstrous-feminine, (1993) to explore the toxic …

Situating Media Literacy With A Theory Of Change: “Mapping Jmle”, Julian Mcdougall

Journal of Media Literacy Education Pre-Prints

This article uses a theory of change to identify the difference media literacy work makes to people’s lives, based on work published in the Journal of Media Literacy Education in 2024. This is a pilot study stage towards a global field mapping, aiming to make the case for media literacy as an essential element in the health of the communication ecosystem (forthcoming, 2025).

This is an exploratory pilot sharing provisional evidence, but this is the point of the the broader work this article is a part of which seeks to is describe how media literacy can make a difference to …

Constructivist Media Decoding In Elementary School: Media Literacy Instruction Across A School Year, Faith Rogow, Bridget Crossman, Michele Coolbeth, Janet Balk

Journal of Media Literacy Education

In 2021, Ithaca College’s Project Look Sharp conducted a pilot project to demonstrate that school librarians were in a unique position to provide media literacy instruction and function as building and district leaders to mentor teachers in media literacy integration. The initiative taught librarians to use constructivist media decoding (CMD) – an inquiry-based, curriculum driven approach to media analysis and production. This article, informed by the evaluation of that effort, offers a qualitative view from three elementary school librarians who were part of the pilot cohort. They describe how they implemented CMD in ways that can be duplicated by other …

How To Shape Digital Competences Among Pre-Service Teachers: A Global Expert Analysis, Łukasz Tomczyk, Francisco David Guillén-Gámez, Maria Lidia Mascia, Julio Ruiz-Palmero

Journal of Media Literacy Education

The article explores how to shape digital competences among pre-service teachers within the university education system. It addresses the challenges posed by the rapid development of the information society and the growing digitisation of education, necessitating the redefinition of existing teacher education models. Using the Delphi method, 36 media education experts from six continents were interviewed between June and August 2022. They identified 12 versatile solutions to enhance the effectiveness of digital competence formation in academia. These solutions aim to improve the content, methods, and forms of teacher education, ensuring future pedagogical staff are better prepared to integrate ICT into …

Alma Link Resolver Subject Report 2024-2025, Andrée J. Rathemacher

Technical Services Reports and Statistics

Statistics for 2024-2025 on the number of OpenURL requests by Library of Congress classification code made to the Ex Libris Alma link resolver for items held by the University of Rhode Island Libraries.

Information provided includes Classification Code, Classifications, Number of Requests, Number of Clicked Requests, and % Clicks from Requests.

Alma Link Resolver Title & Issn Report (Top 500) 2024-2025, Andrée J. Rathemacher

Technical Services Reports and Statistics

Statistics for 2024-2025 on the total number of OpenURL requests by journal title and ISSN made to the Ex Libris Alma link resolver for items held by the University of Rhode Island Libraries. Includes only the top 500 journals.

Information provided includes journal Title, ISSN, EISSN, Number of Requests, Number of Clicked Requests, % Clicks from Requests.

Capstone Final Report: Coal To Nuclear – Nuclear Power Solutions, Owen Horiagon, James Russell, Thomas Scorpio, Nate Segar

Mechanical Engineering Capstone Design Projects

This project focuses on repurposing the retired Brayton Point coal plant into a next-generation clean energy facility by integrating a small modular reactor (SMR) to power a 250 MW AI data center. The purpose is to demonstrate a sustainable and technically sound solution that addresses both the rising demand for computational power and the need to decarbonize legacy infrastructure. Our objectives include designing and validating the NuScale SMR process, ensuring reliable integration with existing site assets, maintaining strict safety and licensing standards, and achieving zero net carbon emissions. The scope of work encompasses the complete system design, site retrofit planning, …

The Role Of O-Glcnacylation In Mitochondrial Biomass In Bpaecs, Danielle Warila

Senior Honors Projects

O-GlcNAcylation, a post-translational modification of proteins with sugar molecules, plays an important role in a variety of cellular processes, including energy production. Disrupted regulation of O-GlcNAcylation is associated with the pathology of diabetes and can lead to potential damage to the endothelial cells of blood vessels. The current study investigated the effect of manipulating O-GlcNAcylation on mitochondrial biomass in such endothelial cells. Briefly, bovine pulmonary aortic endothelial cells (BPAECs) were grown to confluency and then exposed to pharmaceutical agents that either impair (OSMI-1) or enhance (Thiamet-G) O-GlcNAcylation. Following 24 hours of treatment, the BPAECs were then stained with MitoTracker™ fluorescent …

The Bones: A Novel-In-Progress, Chris Stark

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

No abstract provided.

Nutrition And Cardiovascular Disease, Sarah Gover, Sarah Gover

Senior Honors Projects

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death globally, with poor dietary habits among its most significant risk factors. While past research has focused on individual nutrients, there is a growing interest in how overall dietary patterns contribute to CVD risk and prevention. This project explores six dietary patterns: vegan, vegetarian, ketogenic, low-fat, intermittent fasting, and Mediterranean. Each diet’s impact on cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure, lipid profiles, and inflammation is evaluated, along with their benefits, limitations, and long-term sustainability. Through this investigation, I found that diets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy …

Cartoons From The 2000s: The Representation Of Disability And A Culture Of Inclusion, Alessia Rosa, Claudia Chellini

Journal of Media Literacy Education

Representations of diversity and otherness in cartoons offer metaphors for identity that can affect children’s perceptions and attitudes towards the potential and challenges associated with various forms of disability. This contribution analyses a corpus of animations made up of feature films, series, and short films with a focus on how disability is represented. It examines the role that characters with physical or mental disabilities play in the story, the structure of narratives in which disability is presented as an integral part of reality, and the types of disability explored in the stories. The image that emerges is one in which …

Assessing The Impact Of Media And Information Literacy On Creative Video Content Production, Reem M. Al-Zou’Bi

Journal of Media Literacy Education

This study explores the impact of Media and Information Literacy (MIL) on developing creative video production skills among undergraduate students at Al al-Bayt University, Jordan. The sample consisted of 60 students divided into an experimental group (MIL course) and a control group (Educational Foundations course). Using a quasi-experimental design, students’ video production skills were evaluated using a rubric covering nine key criteria, weighted based on expert input. Results showed that the experimental group significantly outperformed the control group in creative video production, highlighting MIL’s role in enhancing these skills. Notably, both groups emphasized content integrity similarly, while the MIL group …

Empathetic Teaching: Why Authentic Blind Representation In Curricula Matters, Olivia Thomakos

Oral Presentations

Understanding the lived experience of blindness is challenging for sighted individuals. While literature can provide insights into this experience, many portrayals are written by sighted authors who rely on metaphor or their own fears of blindness. For blind authors, the challenge of connecting with sighted readers is compounded by the fact that reading itself is performed differently by sighted and non-sighted individuals. This essay explores how authentic authorship can foster empathy and understanding of blindness, and how introducing students to literature with genuine blind representation in school curricula can positively influence perceptions of blindness. Mark Paterson's article "Blindness, empathy, and …

Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes March 6, 2025, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes

No abstract provided.

Streaming Media Platforms And Film/Video Arts Distribution, Aras Ozgun, Andreas Treske

Markets, Globalization & Development Review

Streaming media platforms have emerged as new and natively digital forms of content delivery for mainstream news and entertainment media over the past decades. Underlying technologies also unfold new possibilities for the circulation artistic/creative digital video works. Yet, such potential remains relatively underexplored, due to the complexities involved in the public distribution of such works. In this study, we analyze these complexities and critically evaluate emerging models, such as open access streaming media platforms, subscription-based platforms, and cryptocurrency and NFT-based platforms that feature new administrative forms and governance strategies. We finally discuss the possible roles of traditional public cultural institutions …

A Reconstruction Of Gender: Implications Of Social Construct And Gender Structure Theories, Bethany Rozario Steinhagen

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

The relationship between gender and social construction has long been discussed in feminist and gender studies scholarship. However, the current discussion on gender has run up against a blockage of misapplication of social construct theory. To untangle this blockage, my analysis applies the philosophy of social construction as explained by Ian Hacking in his 1999 book The Social Construction of What? and the framework of gender as a social structure as put forth by feminist sociologist Barbara Risman since the early 2000s. I apply these frameworks to elucidate better the logical implications that follow from a social construct thesis about …

Alma Link Resolver Subject Report 2023-2024, Andrée J. Rathemacher

Technical Services Reports and Statistics

Statistics for 2023-2024 on the number of OpenURL requests by Library of Congress classification code made to the Ex Libris Alma link resolver for items held by the University of Rhode Island Libraries.

Information provided includes Classification Code, Classifications, Number of Requests, Number of Clicked Requests, and % Clicks from Requests.

Alma Link Resolver Title & Issn Report (Top 500) 2023-2024, Andrée J. Rathemacher

Technical Services Reports and Statistics

Statistics for 2023-2024 on the total number of OpenURL requests by journal title and ISSN made to the Ex Libris Alma link resolver for items held by the University of Rhode Island Libraries. Includes only the top 500 journals.

Information provided includes journal Title, ISSN, EISSN, Number of Requests, Number of Clicked Requests, % Clicks from Requests.

Usage Statistics: Project Counter R5 Tr_J1 Report Fy2024 - Journal Requests (Excluding Oa_Gold) By Title, Andrée J. Rathemacher

Technical Services Reports and Statistics

Project COUNTER R5 Report TR_J1 for the University of Rhode Island for the period from July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024. The TR_J1 report is defined as "Journal Requests (Excluding OA_Gold)." This report presents an annual total only and only includes those platforms successfully configured for automated harvesting via SUSHI.

File for download is Excel spreadsheet generated by Alma Analytics.

Results:

Total Item Requests - 805,131

Unique Item Requests - 602,267

Usage Statistics: Project Counter R5 Dr_D1 Report Fy2024 - Database Search And Item Usage, Andrée J. Rathemacher

Technical Services Reports and Statistics

Project COUNTER R5 Report DR_D1 for the University of Rhode Island for the period from July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024. The DR_D1 report is defined as "Database Search and Item Usage." This report presents an annual total only and only includes those platforms successfully configured for automated harvesting via SUSHI.

File for download is Excel spreadsheet generated by Alma Analytics.

Results:

Searches Automated - 30,626

Searches Federated - 918

Searches Regular - 1,049,169

Total Item Investigations - 554,019

Total Item Requests - 235,329

Sylvan Rhetoric In The Planes Of Plato’S Phaedrus, Madison Jones

Professional and Public Writing Faculty Publications

Over the past few decades, Plato’s Phaedrus has become an important text for scholars interested in tracing new materialist approaches to the history of rhetoric and writing. Drawing on rhetoric and plant studies scholarship, this essay contributes to this conversation by arguing that trees disclose an important layer of irony in the dialogue, producing a deep, if not ambivalent, unity that brings together rhetoric, writing, and discourse. Through a study of trees in the dialogue, this essay demonstrates how the Phaedrus offers rich connections between spatial, nonhuman, and ecological dimensions of writing, rhetoric, and discourse.

High Organofluorine Concentrations In Municipal Wastewater Affect Downstream Drinking Water Supplies For Millions Of Americans, Birdger J. Ruyle, Emily H. Pennoyer, Simon Vojta, Jitka Becanova, Minhazul Islam, Thomas F. Webster, Wendy Heiger-Bernays, Rainer Lohmann, Paul Westerhoff, Charles E. Schaefer, Elsie M. Sunderland

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

Wastewater receives per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from diverse consumer and industrial sources, and discharges are known to be a concern for drinking water quality. The PFAS family includes thousands of potential chemical structures containing organofluorine moieties. Exposures to a few well-studied PFAS, mainly perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA), have been associated with increased risk of many adverse health outcomes, prompting federal drinking water regulations for six compounds in 2024. Here, we find that the six regulated PFAS (mean = 7 to 8%) and 18 measured PFAA (mean = 11 to 21%) make up only a small fraction of the extractable organofluorine …

Toxicokinetics And Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid-Induced Liver Protein Expression Are Markedly Altered In Mice Lacking Albumin, Emily M. Kaye, Jitka Becanova, Simon Vojta, Rainer Lohmann, Fabian Fischer, Angela Slitt

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) is a ubiquitous perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) linked to liver disease and obesity in humans. Binding studies suggest that albumin is a crucial blood protein influencing PFOS toxicokinetics and hepatotoxicity; however, its role has not been mechanistically tested in vivo. This study used an albumin-deficient mouse model to investigate the relevance of albumin in PFOS tissue distribution and liver disease end points. Adult male C57BL/6J wild-type (Alb^+/+) and albumin-deficient (Alb^–/–) mice were orally gavaged daily for 7 days with either vehicle or PFOS at 0.5 or 10 mg/kg body weight. The measured PFOS concentrations …

Investigating The Role Of Fnci-1 In The Development And Function Of The C. Elegans Nervous System, Meagan Collins

Open Access Master's Theses

Fanconi Anemia (FA) is a rare human genetic disease caused by mutation of any of twenty-three genes on the FA pathway, which functions in the repair of DNA damage and the maintenance of genome stability. FA is clinically characterized by congenital abnormalities and a predisposition to aplastic anemia and malignancies. Recently, progressive neurological symptoms and abnormal neurological findings on imaging have been noted in FA patients, including cerebral and cerebellar lesions, calcification, necrosis, gliosis, and associated acute and chronic neurological symptoms; this constellation of symptoms has been termed Fanconi Anemia-Associated Neurological Syndrome (FANS).

To elucidate the molecular etiology of FANS, …