Digital Commons Network^™

Developing A Method For Quantifying Hip Joint Angles And Moments During Walking Using Neural Networks And Wearables, Megan V. Mccabe, Douglas W. Van Citters, Ryan M. Chapman

Kinesiology Faculty Publications

Quantifying hip angles/moments during gait is critical for improving hip pathology diagnostic and treatment methods. Recent work has validated approaches combining wearables with artificial neural networks (ANNs) for cheaper, portable hip joint angle/moment computation. This study developed a Wearable-ANN approach for calculating hip joint angles/moments during walking in the sagittal/frontal planes with data from 17 healthy subjects, leveraging one shin-mounted inertial measurement unit (IMU) and a force-measuring insole for data capture. Compared to the benchmark approach, a two hidden layer ANN (n = 5 nodes per layer) achieved an average rRMSE = 15% and R²=0.85 across outputs, subjects …

Cotton Inc., Mark Messura

Seminar in Textiles and Clothing

Cotton Incorporated is the only nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the demand for and profitability of cotton through research and promotion. Cotton Inc. is a science-based organization that shares research and knowledge worldwide. Out of the 77 countries that grow cotton, just five countries produce 75% of the world's cotton: India, China, the United States, Pakistan, and Brazil. The United States is the third largest producer of cotton and the number one exporter of cotton. The pandemic put pressure on the supply chain beginning in March of 2020. Everyone in the supply chain was caught off guard by …

The Interactive Effects Of Temperature And Nutrients On A Spring Phytoplankton Community, Stephanie I. Anderson, Gayantonia Franzè, Joshua D. Kling, Paul Wilburn, Colin T. Kremer, Susanne Menden-Deuer, Elena Litchman, David A. Hutchins, Tatiana A. Rynearson

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

A complex interplay of environmental variables impacts phytoplankton community composition and physiology. Temperature and nutrient availability are two principal factors driving phytoplankton growth and composition, but are often investigated independently and on individual species in the laboratory. To assess the individual and interactive effects of temperature and nutrient concentration on phytoplankton community composition and physiology, we altered both the thermal and nutrient conditions of a cold-adapted spring phytoplankton community in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, when surface temperature was 2.6°C and chlorophyll > 9 μg L−1. Water was incubated in triplicate at −0.5°C, 2.6°C, and 6°C for 10 d. At each temperature, …

Sexual Coercion, Unintended Pregnancy, And Poor Reproductive Health Among Adolescent Girls (Aged 13 - 19) In Mexico, Arun Kumar Acharya, Maria Luisa Martinez

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

In Mexico, nearly 23,000 adolescents between the ages of 12-17 years suffer sexual coercion every year. This group also has a high birth rate of 77/1,000 adolescents, which indicates that one in every five pregnant women is an adolescent. This study describes the sexual coercion of victims and their views regarding the experience based on data collected from 37 Mexican girls between the age of 13 to 19, selected purposively using the snowball method in Monterrey city, Mexico. Results indicate that sexual coercion among adolescents is a serious problem, where 70% of adolescents experienced vaginal sexual coercion, nearly 22% experienced …

Forest Structure And Seasonally Inundated Grassland Shape Tropical Mammal Communities Under Moderate Disturbance, Juliana Masseloux, Quy Tan Le, Jessica Burr, Brian D. Gerber

Natural Resources Science Faculty Publications

Tropical biodiversity is threatened globally by anthropogenic disturbances, particularly forest degradation and overhunting. Where large mammals have been extirpated, smaller bodied “mesomammals” may play an important ecological role (e.g., as seed dispersers). However, these species are disproportionally affected by overhunting for wildlife trade markets and are routinely understudied as they tend to be rare, cryptic, and nocturnal. Few studies have examined spatiotemporal responses to anthropogenic disturbance by mesomammals at the community level, which may identify imbalances within an ecosystem that could threaten species persistence. We deployed camera traps throughout Cat Tien National Park (i.e., Nam Cat Tien area), southern Vietnam, …

New Opportunities And Untapped Scientific Potential In The Abyssal Ocean, Jeffrey J. Marlow, Rika E. Anderson, Anna Louise Reysenbach, Jeffrey S. Seewald, Timothy M. Shank, Andreas P. Teske, V. Dorsey Wanless, S. Adam Soule

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

The abyssal ocean covers more than half of the Earth’s surface, yet remains understudied and underappreciated. In this Perspectives article, we mark the occasion of the Deep Submergence Vehicle Alvin’s increased depth range (from 4500 to 6500 m) to highlight the scientific potential of the abyssal seafloor. From a geologic perspective, ultra-slow spreading mid-ocean ridges, Petit Spot volcanism, transform faults, and subduction zones put the full life cycle of oceanic crust on display in the abyss, revealing constructive and destructive forces over wide ranges in time and space. Geochemically, the abyssal pressure regime influences the solubility of constituents such as …

Democratic Belonging As Informed Citizenry - Empowering Faculty To Empower Learners Via Information Literacy, Anna Santucci, Amanda K. Izenstark, Mary C. Macdonald

Public Services Faculty Presentations

Presentation at the AAC&U 2022 Annual Meeting as a Pre-Meeting Workshop.

Responsible citizens need the agility to navigate a changing information landscape. Intentionally designing learning experiences that integrate accessible Information Literacy (IL) skills for all students is a crucial step towards educational justice, a paramount responsibility in the democratic mission of our institutions. With this goal, the University of Rhode Island’s Office for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning has partnered with instruction librarians since 2018 in developing and facilitating a High Impact Teaching Seminar for faculty. Participants will learn about the seminar’s theoretical framework, impact and structure, engage in …

Association Between Initial Opioid Prescription Diagnosis Type And Subsequent Chronic Prescription Opioid Use In Rhode Island: A Population-Based Cohort Study, Benjamin D. Hallowell, C. Chambers, Luke Barre, Nancy Diao, Collette Onyejekwe, Alexandra Banks, Jeffery Bratberg, Heidi Weidele, Samara Viner-Brown, James Mcdonald

Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Objective To identify initial diagnoses associated with elevated risk of chronic prescription opioid use. Design Population-based, retrospective cohort study. Setting State of Rhode Island. Participants Rhode Island residents with an initial opioid prescription dispensed between 1 April 2019 and 31 March 2020. Primary outcome measure Subsequent chronic prescription opioid use, defined as receiving 60 or more days' supply of opioids in the 90 days following an initial opioid prescription. Results Among the 87 055 patients with an initial opioid prescription, 3199 (3.7%) subsequently became chronic users. Patients who become chronic users tended to receive a longer days' supply, greater quantity …

Momentum: Research & Innovation For Spring 2022, University Of Rhode Island

Publications (Research and Economic Development)

The Spring 2022 issue of Research & Innovation, a periodical focused on research at the University of Rhode Island.

Regulation Of Genetically Engineered (Ge) Mosquitoes As A Public Health Tool: A Public Health Ethics Analysis, Zahra Meghani

Philosophy Faculty Publications

Background: In recent years, genetically engineered (GE) mosquitoes have been proposed as a public health measure against the high incidence of mosquito-borne diseases among the poor in regions of the global South. While uncertainties as well as risks for humans and ecosystems are entailed by the open-release of GE mosquitoes, a powerful global health governance non-state organization is funding the development of and advocating the use of those bio-technologies as public health tools.

In August 2016, the US Food and Drug Agency (FDA) approved the uncaged field trial of a GE Aedes aegypti mosquito in Key Haven, Florida. The …

The Disconnect Between Knowledge And Perceptions: A Study Of Fishermen’S Local Ecological Knowledge And Their Perception Of The State Of Fisheries And How These Are Managed In The Dominican Republic, Elizabeth Layli Mclean, Graham E. Forrester, Carlos G. Garcia-Quijano

Natural Resources Science Faculty Publications

Understanding what fishers know about the ecology of the fish they catch, and how they perceive the state and management of their fisheries can guide efforts towards more sustainable fishing practices. We tested relationships between fishers’ local ecological knowledge (LEK) and their perceptions of their fisheries and of marine protected areas in the Dominican Republic. A qualitative-quantitative methodological sequence using data from interviews with 152 multi-species fishers revealed variable, but generally high levels of LEK, particularly of habitat use and predator–prey interactions. The majority reported negative perceptions of the state of their fishery and were aware of local management actions. …

Online Sale Of Small Turtles Circumvents Public Health Regulations In The United States, Lauren E. Montague, Juliana M. Macrotrigiano, Niamh E. Keane, Hannah E. Marquardt, Jennifer A. Sevin, Nancy E. Karraker

Natural Resources Science Faculty Publications

In the United States (U.S.), pet turtles have been associated with outbreaks of salmonellosis, a serious and sometimes-fatal intestinal illness caused by Salmonella bacteria, with nearly 300,000 people being infected in some years. Children are particularly susceptible because of their propensity to put items, including small turtles, in their mouths. In 1975, a U.S. federal regulation prohibited the sale of turtles <4 inches (101.6 mm) in size, except for the purposes of export, scientific, or educational purposes. This regulation was established to reduce the incidence of salmonellosis, particularly in small children. Previous research has not evaluated the availability of turtles <4 inches in size on websites selling wildlife. We monitored 16 websites in 2021 and quantified listings of small turtles. We determined whether information on Salmonella, the 1975 federal regulation, or related state regulations were provided on the websites and determined legality of sales of small turtles by state regulations. We found that all 16 websites openly advertised and sold turtles <4 inches in size, but only half of these websites provided information about Salmonella and/or …

Conceptual And Methodological Advances In Habitat-Selection Modeling: Guidelines For Ecology And Evolution, Joseph M. Northrup, Eric Vander Wal, Maegwin Bonar, John Fieberg, Michel P. Laforge, Martin Leclerc, Christina M. Prokopenko, Brian Gerber

Natural Resources Science Faculty Publications

Habitat selection is a fundamental animal behavior that shapes a wide range of ecological processes, including animal movement, nutrient transfer, trophic dynamics and population distribution. Although habitat selection has been a focus of ecological studies for decades, technological, conceptual and methodological advances over the last 20 yr have led to a surge in studies addressing this process. Despite the substantial literature focused on quantifying the habitat-selection patterns of animals, there is a marked lack of guidance on best analytical practices. The conceptual foundations of the most commonly applied modeling frameworks can be confusing even to those well versed in their …

Forest Degradation Drives Widespread Avian Habitat And Population Declines, Matthew G. Betts, Zhiqiang Yang, Adam S. Hadley, Adam C. Smith, Josée S. Rousseau, Joseph M. Northrup, Joseph J. Nocera, Noel Gorelick, Brian Gerber

Natural Resources Science Faculty Publications

In many regions of the world, forest management has reduced old forest and simplified forest structure and composition. We hypothesized that such forest degradation has resulted in long-term habitat loss for forest-associated bird species of eastern Canada (130,017 km²) which, in turn, has caused bird-population declines. Despite little change in overall forest cover, we found substantial reductions in old forest as a result of frequent clear-cutting and a broad-scale transformation to intensified forestry. Back-cast species distribution models revealed that breeding habitat loss occurred for 66% of the 54 most common species from 1985 to 2020 and was strongly …

Potential Impacts Of Climate Change On Agriculture And Fisheries Production In 72 Tropical Coastal Communities, Joshua E. Cinner, Iain R. Caldwell, Lauric Thiault, John Ben, Julia L. Blanchard, Marta Coll, Amy Diedrich, Tyler D. Eddy, Jason D. Everett, Christian Folberth, Didier Gascuel, Jerome Guiet, Georgina G. Gurney, Ryan F. Heneghan, Jonas Jägermeyr, Narriman Jiddawi, Rachael Lahari, John Kuange, Wengfeng Liu, Olivier Maury, Christoph Müller, Camilla Novaglio, Juliano Palacios-Abrantes, Colleen M. Petrik, Ando Rabearisoa, Derek P. Tittensor, Andrew Wamukota, Richard B. Pollnac

Marine Affairs Faculty Publications

Climate change is expected to profoundly affect key food production sectors, including fisheries and agriculture. However, the potential impacts of climate change on these sectors are rarely considered jointly, especially below national scales, which can mask substantial variability in how communities will be affected. Here, we combine socioeconomic surveys of 3,008 households and intersectoral multi-model simulation outputs to conduct a sub-national analysis of the potential impacts of climate change on fisheries and agriculture in 72 coastal communities across five Indo-Pacific countries (Indonesia, Madagascar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, and Tanzania). Our study reveals three key findings: First, overall potential losses to …

The Influence Of The Environmental Quality Incentives Program On Local Water Quality, Pengfei Liu, Yu Wang, Wei Zhang

Environmental and Natural Resource Economics Faculty Publications

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is the primary conservation program on working agricultural land. The United States Department of Agriculture obligated over $15 billion through EQIP cost-sharing contracts during the fiscal years 2009–2019. The voluntary nature of the program and the lack of performance assessment have led to speculations regarding the effectiveness of the program in delivering environmental benefits, in particular for improving water quality. This study provides quantitative estimates of the influence of EQIP payments on local water quality at a national scale. We link monitoring station level water quality readings with EQIP contract data and exploit the …

Inhibitory Effects Of Cannabinoids On Acetylcholinesterase And Butyrylcholinesterase Enzyme Activities, Tess Puopolo, Chang Liu, Hang Ma, Navindra P. Seeram

Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Introduction: Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) are two cholinergic enzymes catalyzing the reaction of cleaving acetylcholine into acetate and choline at the neuromuscular junction. Abnormal hyperactivity of AChE and BChE can lead to cholinergic deficiency, which is associated with several neurological disorders including cognitive decline and memory impairments. Preclinical studies support that some cannabinoids including cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) may exert pharmacological effects on the cholinergic system, but it remains unclear whether cannabinoids can inhibit AChE and BChE activities. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the inhibitory effects of a panel of cannabinoids including CBD, Δ8-THC, cannabigerol (CBG), cannabigerolic …

The Expanded Inhibitor Of Apoptosis Gene Family In Oysters Possesses Novel Domain Architectures And May Play Diverse Roles In Apoptosis Following Immune Challenge, Erin M. Witkop, Dina A. Proestou, Marta Gomez-Chiarri

Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Apoptosis plays important roles in a variety of functions, including immunity and response to environmental stress. The Inhibitor of Apoptosis (IAP) gene family of apoptosis regulators is expanded in molluscs, including eastern, Crassostrea virginica, and Pacific, Crassostrea gigas, oysters. The functional importance of IAP expansion in apoptosis and immunity in oysters remains unknown.

Results: Phylogenetic analysis of IAP genes in 10 molluscs identified lineage specific gene expansion in bivalve species. Greater IAP gene family expansion was observed in C. virginica than C. gigas (69 vs. 40), resulting mainly from tandem duplications. Functional domain analysis of oyster …

Sold Out Or Bought In? Complexities Of The X Swatch As Subcultural Accessory For The Straight Edge Scene, Monica Sklar, Jessica Strübel, Ross Haenfler

Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design Faculty Publications

This research explores lifestyle consumerism and inquires into a subcultural community’s use of a mainstream fashion object to express alternative values. The ‘X-rated Swatch Watch’ is extremely popular within straight edge, a clean-living punk offshoot in which participants abstain from alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs. Swatch first released the watch in 1987 with a black band and white face featuring a large black ‘X’, a prominent symbol in the straight edge scene visible on clothing, in tattoos and drawn on hands. The limited-edition watch became highly collectable on the second-hand market and was re-released by Swatch in 2018 with design …

Mechanisms Of Cannabidiol (Cbd) In Cancer Treatment: A Review, Camren G. Heider, Sasha A. Itenberg, Jiajia Rao, Hang Ma, Xian Wu

Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Cannabis sativa L. (Cannabis) and its bioactive compounds, including cannabinoids and non-cannabinoids, have been extensively studied for their biological effects in recent decades. Cannabidiol (CBD), a major non-intoxicating cannabinoid in Cannabis, has emerged as a promising intervention for cancer research. The purpose of this review is to provide insights into the relationship between CBD and cancer based on recent research findings. The anticancer effects of CBD are mainly mediated via its interaction with the endocannabinoid system, resulting in the alleviation of pain and the promotion of immune regulation. Published reviews have focused on the applications of CBD in cancer pain …

Urinformed Fall 2022, Urinformed

URInformed: The URI Employees' Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Urinformed Summer 2022, Urinformed

URInformed: The URI Employees' Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Uri Libraries' Ai Lab--Evolving To Meet The Needs Of Students And Research Communities, Harrison Dekker, Angel Ferria, Indrani Mandal

Technical Services Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Reference-Free Discovery Of Nuclear Snps Permits Accurate, Sensitive Identification Of Carya (Hickory) Species And Hybrids, Robert A. Literman, Brittany M. Ott, Jun Wen, L. J. Grauke, Rachel S. Schwartz, Sara M. Handy

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Premise: DNA-based species identification is critical when morphological identification is restricted, but DNA-based identification pipelines typically rely on the ability to compare homologous sequence data across species. Because many clades lack robust genomic resources, we present here a bioinformatics pipeline capable of generating genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data while circumventing the need for any reference genome or annotation data. Methods: Using the SISRS bioinformatics pipeline, we generated de novo ortholog data for the genus Carya, isolating sites where genetic variation was restricted to a single Carya species (i.e., species-informative SNPs). We leveraged these SNPs to identify both full-species and hybrid …

Estimating Road Mortality Hotspots While Accounting For Imperfect Detection: A Case Study With Amphibians And Reptiles, Noah Hallisey, Scott W. Buchanan, Brian Gerber, Liam S. Corcoran, Nancy E. Karraker

Natural Resources Science Faculty Publications

Wildlife road mortality tends to aggregate spatially at locations commonly referred to as road mortality hotspots. Predictive models can be used to identify locations appropriate for mitigation measures that reduce road mortality. However, the influence of imperfect detection (e.g., false absences) during road mortality surveys can lead to inaccurate or imprecise spatial patterns of road mortality hotspots and suboptimal implementation of mitigation measures. In this research, we used amphibians and reptiles as a case study to address imperfect detection issues when estimating the probability of road mortality hotspots using occupancy detection modeling. In addition, we determined the survey effort needed …

Rethinking Habitat Occupancy Modeling And The Role Of Diel Activity In An Anthropogenic World, Kimberly Rivera, Mason Fidino, Zach J. Farris, Seth B. Magle, Asia Murphy, Brian Gerber

Natural Resources Science Faculty Publications

Current methods to model species habitat use through space and diel time are limited. Development of such models is critical when considering rapidly changing habitats where species are forced to adapt to anthropogenic change, often by shifting their diel activity across space. We use an occupancy modeling framework to specify the multistate diel occupancy model (MSDOM), which can evaluate species diel activity against continuous response variables that may impact diel activity within and across seasons or years. We used two case studies, fosas in Madagascar and coyotes in Chicago, Illinois, to conceptualize the application of this model and to quantify …

Making The Argument For Intact Cord Resuscitation: A Case Report And Discussion, Judith S. Mercer, Debra A. Erickson-Owens, Heike Rabe, Karen Jefferson, Otis Andersson

College of Nursing Faculty Publications

We use a case of intact cord resuscitation to argue for the beneficial effects of an enhanced blood volume from placental transfusion for newborns needing resuscitation. We propose that intact cord resuscitation supports the process of physiologic neonatal transition, especially for many of those newborns appearing moribund. Transfer of the residual blood in the placenta provides the neonate with valuable access to otherwise lost blood volume while changing from placental respiration to breathing air. Our hypothesis is that the enhanced blood flow from placental transfusion initiates mechanical and chemical forces that directly, and indirectly through the vagus nerve, cause vasodilatation …

Tracking Memes In The Wild: Visual Rhetoric And Image Circulation In Environmental Communication, Madison Jones, Aaron Beveridge, Julian R. Garrison, Abbey Greene, Hannah Macdonald

Professional and Public Writing Faculty Publications

Drawing on recent scholarship in environmental communication and rhetoric, this essay examines the role of visual circulation in digital environmental discourse. We argue that while environmental image circulation is often viewed as an ambivalent, or even performative, practice for environmental citizenship, it is also an important space for cultivating participatory culture online. Adapting a version of Laurie Gries' “Iconographic Tracking” method, we offer three case studies that demonstrate how the digital circulation of environmental memes and iconic images offers important tactics for engaging digital publics that can be deployed by public communication practitioners. Subsequently, we argue for a more nuanced …

Tree Climber Inventor, Chris Gaipo, Gage Coburn, Steven Rebori, Brendan Maymon

Mechanical Engineering Capstone Design Projects

Team 16 was tasked with the problem of developing a device to climb a tree with the ability to work freely while the device is in the tree. To accomplish this, previous designs were thoroughly researched, specific materials and tree types were inspected by team members and a preliminary patent search was conducted to further the knowledge base of previous designs and ideas for the device. Conducted literature searches brought information about frame shape, orientation and weight as well as specific types of metals that should be used for a lightweight but durable design. The team generated 120 design concepts, …

Identification Of Sars-Cov-2 Main Protease Inhibitors From A Library Of Minor Cannabinoids By Biochemical Inhibition Assay And Surface Plasmon Resonance Characterized Binding Affinity, Chang Liu, Tess Puopolo, Huifang Li, Ang Cai, Navindra P. Seeram, Hang Ma

Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

The replication of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is mediated by its main protease (M^pro), which is a plausible therapeutic target for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Although numerous in silico studies reported the potential inhibitory effects of natural products including cannabis and cannabinoids on SARS-CoV-2 M^pro, their anti-M^pro activities are not well validated by biological experimental data. Herein, a library of minor cannabinoids belonging to several chemotypes including tetrahydrocannabinols, cannabidiols, cannabigerols, cannabichromenes, cannabinodiols, cannabicyclols, cannabinols, and cannabitriols was evaluated for their anti-M^pro activity using a biochemical assay. Additionally, the binding affinities …