Digital Commons Network^™

Investigating The Inhibitory Properties Of Candidate Probiotics Towards Vibrio Parahaemolyticus, Jacqueline Hilary Camm

Open Access Master's Theses

Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND) causes more than a billion dollars of losses to the shrimp farming industry annually. In 2013, strains of the marine pathogen Vibrio parahaemolyticus containing genes for the PirA^vp/B^vp toxins, encoded on a 70 Kb plasmid, were identified as the causative agent of AHPND. Antibiotics have been used to attempt to reduce losses, however their use in aquaculture is controversial. Additionally, the pathogen has demonstrated the ability to rapidly acquire antibiotic resistances through genetic mutation and lateral gene transfer. Probiotics, often used to prevent disease in aquaculture, may offer the opportunity to mitigate …

How Modified Trophic Interactions Create Socio-Ecological Tradeoffs: A Case Study Of Narragansett Bay Fisheries, Anne A. Innes-Gold

Open Access Master's Theses

Marine fisheries represent a social-ecological system driven by both complex ecological processes and human interactions. Fisheries management requires an understanding of both the biological and social components, and management failure can occur when either are excluded. Despite the significance of both, most research has focused on characterizing biological uncertainty rather than on better understanding the impacts of human behavior. In this study, we use the fisheries in Narragansett Bay (Rhode Island, USA) as a case study to understand how fisher behavior influences food web dynamics. Narragansett Bay holds both a commercial fishery for forage fish (i.e. menhaden) and a recreational …

The Effects Of Antioxidant Supplementation, Migratory Season, And Flight Training On Key Components Of The Antioxidant System Of Migratory European Starlings (Sturnus Vulgaris), Abigail E. Frawley

Open Access Master's Theses

Migratory birds engage in two periods of endurance flight as they travel from summer breeding to overwintering grounds, and these flights likely increase the production of reactive species that can degrade biologically important molecules. Fall and spring likely represent different oxidative challenges, as many females prepare to breed shortly after spring migration, and antioxidant-rich fruits are plentiful in fall but not spring. I examined the effects of season, anthocyanin supplementation, and flight training on the antioxidant system of female European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) to determine how each of these factors effects enzymatic antioxidant activity, non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity, and levels of …

Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (Pfos) As A Potential Risk Factor For Late-Onset Alzheimer’S Disease, Veronia Basaly

Open Access Master's Theses

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that accounts for about 60 to 80% of dementia cases worldwide. AD is characterized by two important physiological features: extracellular senile plaques consisting of β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide that is cleaved from a larger protein called the amyloid precursor protein (APP), and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) containing hyperphosphorylated tau protein. The pathogenesis of sporadic or late-onset AD (LOAD) which represents 95% of the cases appears to not be heritable and may be related to epigenetic programming and environmental factors acquired earlier in life. Apolipoprotein allele 4 (ApoE4) protein is encoded by the ApoE …

Influence Of Pfas On The Thermodynamic Membrane Properties And Growth Of A. Borkumensis, Aleksandra Naumann

Open Access Master's Theses

Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of emerging contaminants which are persistent in nature and hazardous for living organisms. They have an anthropogenic origin and have unique properties which have the disadvantage of bioaccumulating in organisms.

This work aims at the investigation of the influence of different relevant PFAS on the membrane properties of A. borkumensis. This information is one important piece on the way to evaluate the overall response of the bacterium in the presence of these molecules. First, the lipids were extracted with a solvent-based method. Afterwards, they were spread at an air-water interface within …

How Landscape Change Affects Commercial And Recreational Fishermen’S Perceptions And Place Meanings, Talya Syvann Ten Brink

Open Access Dissertations

It is critical to plan for environmental change in order to mitigate its adverse effects on human wellbeing. This series of manuscripts examines the impacts of landscape change on commercial and recreational fishermen. Each manuscript provides a unique perspective on place meaning and place change. Using a mixed methods approach, data were collected and analyzed on fishermen’s perceptions of familiar places and on the changes that these places undergo. The first manuscript investigates the impact of offshore wind farms on commercial and recreational fishermen, using the first offshore wind farm in North America – the Block Island Wind Farm (Rhode …

Deep Learning For Data-Driven Decision-Making, Zhiqiang Wan

Open Access Dissertations

As we are entering the big data era, data are becoming high-volume, complex, and heterogeneous. Nowadays, almost every field and sector of the modern society is being impacted by big data, ranging from energy system to health care, and from business to government. The excessive amount of data contains potential and highly useful values. Extracting values from these data and utilize it to support the decision-making process is of paramount importance to improve productivity in business and enhance the well-being of our society. However, data-driven decision-making also arises with many challenges, such as feature selection, data fusion, and real-time decision-making. …

The Relationships Between Total Protein Intake, Protein Sources, Physical Activity, And Lean Mass In A Representative Sample Of The Us Adults, Furong Xu, Jacob E. Earp, Maya Vadiveloo, Alessandra Adami, M. J. Delmonico, Ingrid E. Lofgren, Mary L. Greaney

Kinesiology Faculty Publications

Background: Although dietary protein and physical activity play essential roles in developing and preserving lean mass, studies exploring these relationships are inconsistent, and large-scale studies on sources of protein and lean mass are lacking. Accordingly, the present study examined the relationship between total protein intake, protein sources, physical activity, and lean mass in a representative sample of US adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 2011–2016 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and corresponding Food Patterns Equivalents Database (n = 7547). Multiple linear regression models were performed to examine the sex-specific associations between total protein intake, protein …

The (En)Tangled Web They Weave: Stakeholder Perceptions Of The Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Process, Kimberly P. Ohnemus

Open Access Master's Theses

Negotiated rulemaking is a decision-making process that has been integrated into U.S. regulatory processes within the last three decades. Amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1994 mandated the creation of Take Reduction Teams, stakeholder committees that use negotiated rulemaking to develop regulations to reduce marine mammal interactions with commercial fishing operations. The largest and least successful of these teams is the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team (ALWTRT), which is tasked with developing regulatory measures to protect the highly endangered North Atlantic right whale, as well as other large whale species. This study used semi-structured interviews with members …

Mpas And Marine Citizen Science: Accessibility In The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Christina Marie Hoenow

Open Access Master's Theses

The use of marine citizen science in the management of marine protected areas has grown increasingly popular over the past two decades for a variety of reasons. These include increased monitoring and enforcement capacity, increased engagement with the public, and chances for increased social acceptance hopefully leading to more effective conservation overall. California has taken this a step further and included marine citizen science as part of the Marine Life Protection Act (1999) in an effort to increase public access to marine protected areas as well as access to education and information about marine protected areas and conservation in the …

Public Perceptions Of Single-Use Plastic Bans In Rhode Island, Kasie Costa

Open Access Master's Theses

Single-use plastic debris is becoming more abundant in the ocean, and is having adverse impacts on the environment and human health. According to Pennington (2016), it is predicted by 2050, there will be more plastic debris in the ocean than there are fish. Some in Rhode Island seek to have a series of statewide single-use plastic bans to be implemented in the near future to lessen Rhode Island’s role in creating plastic debris. The objective of this study is to gain attitudinal knowledge of the residents of Rhode Island, towards the single-use plastics initiative and to gain insight on what …

Native American Marine Resource Management In Rhode Island Pre And Post Contact, Sarah Bowen

Open Access Master's Theses

This study examines Native American marine resource management as a coastal adaptation in Rhode Island. It argues that marine resource management techniques were developed by indigenous people between the Archaic and the Late Woodland period, and uses Rhode Island’s salt pond region as a case study. It then looks at how European settlement altered Native American coastal adaptations and changed marine resource management through commodification and eventually loss of access to subsistence bases. The study contrasts Native American management practices with European resource use through the end of the colonial period, and relates how indigenous conservation efforts are applicable to …

Underlying Values In Coral Restoration: Responses To The Coral Crisis, Cassandra Wilson

Open Access Master's Theses

Controversy has long existed among global coral experts over how to solve the coral crisis. This problem extends to the U.S. and its coral reef areas, but research on how this controversy influences restoration efforts in Florida is lacking. This study focused on Florida as an important and accessible case study to gain a closer look at the motivations behind coral conservation efforts taking place in real time. Due to a history of national and local coral legislation and consistent threats to Florida’s coral reef tract, coral restoration has emerged as a legitimate form of coral-care that some reef proponents …

Tracking Migratory Birds: Applying A Passive Tracking Technique Using Direction Of Arrival From Vhf Radio Tags, Jesse Moore

Open Access Master's Theses

As the offshore wind power industry grows along the U.S Atlantic Coast, biologists need to assess potential conflicts between birds and wind turbines. There is a pressing need to develop accurate tracking systems that can evaluate movements of volant (flying) organisms near offshore wind facilities during both the pre-construction and post-construction phase in U.S. waters. Based on research in Europe, turbines at offshore wind facilities can present a collision risk to birds, as well as a migration barrier. Available tracking technology has difficulties tracking fine-scale temporal and spatial movements of small (<200 >g) volant organisms. The functionality of a direction …

“The Skipping King”: Masculinity And Effeminacy In Early Modern Drama, Danielle Johanna Sanfilippo

Open Access Dissertations

This dissertation analyzes depictions of effeminacy and anxiety surrounding masculinity in early modern drama. Effeminacy is a frequently used term in the literature of the period, occurring seven times in Shakespeare alone. For my research, I combine literary analysis and performance criticism. I consulted the National Theatre Archives in London and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in Stratford to analyze performances of early modern plays. Effeminacy is a wide-reaching mode of being that makes several layers of meaning. For royals and men of rank, the presumption of effeminacy is a danger to the realm. In Roman historical drama, effeminacy stands in …

Individual Differences Among Snapchat Users: Uses And Motivations, Nicole Baker

Open Access Dissertations

Social media has become a routine part of daily life, changing the ways people interact with one another. Prior research on social media in the field of psychology and communications has focused on the use of Facebook and Instagram, but little has focused on Snapchat, despite its fast growth and increasing popularity (Grieve, 2017). Thus, the current study examined how and why individuals use Snapchat. Undergraduate students (N=210) at the University of Rhode Island were recruited and asked to complete online surveys. Surveys examined background information, Snapchat activities and motives for use, as well as psychological factors like body image, …

Chemical Investigation Of Bacterial Interactions Involving Pathogens, Hilary Joan Grant Ranson

Open Access Dissertations

Chemical communication mediates the vast majority of collective bacterial behaviors, orchestrating gene expression and community functions. A fundamental understanding of how pathogens are able to do this underlies the philosophy of natural product chemistry, providing insights into novel mechanisms for controlling pathogenic bacterial infections. To increase the effectiveness of antibiotics, alternative therapeutic approaches can be used that target bacterial phenotypes associated with infections, including swarming motility and quiescence. This dissertation explores molecules that interfere with such phenotypes in two different pathogens: uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Increased understanding of how bacterial behaviors can be modulated in pathogens …

Continuing Education For Public Library Staff: Valued Competencies And Preferred Delivery Format, Mary Moen, Lauren H. Mandel, Valerie Karno

Graduate School of Library and Information Studies Faculty Publications

As the nature of public library services expands and transforms, continuing education (CE) for both degreed and non-degreed library staff is critical. An ongoing challenge for the LIS community is to identify the key areas in which to increase professional knowledge and skills. The purpose of this study was to identify what working library staff considered valued competencies for youth services, reference services, director, and non-degreed library staff positions, as well as their preferred delivery format for CE. Open-ended survey activities were conducted via four research sessions, with a total of 57 library staff members participating in the study. The …

Microplastic In Water And Wastewater, Dounia Elkhatib

Open Access Dissertations

This thesis addresses three challenges related to the microplastic contamination in water and wastewater treatment plants. The first challenge is the multiple methodologies used to collect, quantify, and characterize microplastics in both wastewater and drinking water. Our study shows a lack of consensus regarding the techniques used at all of the stages (from collection to characterization) required for the quantification of microplastics in urban water systems. This represents a barrier to accurately determine the loads of microplastic contamination and to the comparison of the results obtained among different studies. Our results indicate large discrepancies in the concentrations reported in both …

Control System For Low-Cost Miniature Isopycnal Floats (Minions)' Targeting Distributed Observations Of The Oceanic Biological Carbon Pump, Jackson Sugar

Open Access Master's Theses

The flux and attenuation of Particulate Organic Carbon (POC) export through the mid-water column has been a subject of oceanographic research for decades. The methods to sample sinking particles have remained largely unchanged, and interpretation of the data is challenged by uncertainty and sparse measurements. This need prompted our efforts to develop a standalone sensor platform for subsurface timelapse photography of accumulated particles as a proxy for carbon export, combined with simultaneous measurements of dissolved oxygen, temperature and pressure. The use of a flexible Linux single board computer with power cycling enabled the float to be; low power (for long …

Fundamental Understanding And Applications Of Nanoemulsions For Ultrasensitive Electrochemical Analysis, Shashika Gunathilaka Sabaragamuwe Jayasundarakorale

Open Access Master's Theses

We demonstrate a new electroanalytical approach for the ultrasensitive electrochemical analysis using nanoemulsions (NEs) uniquely combined with single entity electrochemistry (SEE). First, we investigate the relationship between the structure and relevant electrochemical activity of NEs. We employ SEE to elucidate the interfacial structure of NEs and their corresponding electrochemical activities, which cannot be unequivocally defined by general microscopic techniques. Throughout this work on nanostructural effect of NEs, we could optimize the most suitable composition of NEs, showing facile electron transfer kinetics across the NE interface as well as a high monodispersity. Particularly, the application of SEE for optimized NEs allowed …

Spike Frequency Adaptation In Motor Neurons And Joint Resistance In Rabbit Model Of Cerebral Palsy, Preston Steele

Open Access Master's Theses

Cerebral palsy (CP) is caused by a variety of factors attributed to early brain damage, resulting in permanently impaired motor control, marked by weakness and muscle stiffness. To find out if altered physiology of spinal motoneurons (MNs) could contribute to movement deficits, we performed whole cell patch clamp in neonatal rabbit spinal cord slices after developmental injury at 79% gestation. After preterm hypoxia-ischemia (HI), rabbits are born with motor deficits consistent with a spastic phenotype including hypertonia and hyperreflexia. There is a range in severity, thus kits are classified as severely affected, mildly affected, or unaffected based on modified Ashworth …

Trophic Niche Overlap Of Atlantic Cod And Black Sea Bass In Relation To Warming Southern New England Waters, Nina Santos

Open Access Master's Theses

In southern New England (SNE), a new ecological interaction is occurring as temperate black sea bass abundance increases in the home range of the iconic Atlantic cod as a result of climate-induced ocean warming. In this study, we examined the diet and trophic dynamics of both SNE Atlantic cod and black sea bass using a multi-tracer approach of stomach content analysis as well as bulk and compound-specific amino acid isotope analyses. We reveal a highly selective diet (0.01-0.43 Levin’s index) with decapod crustaceans occurring in 82-89% of stomachs and making up 72-79% of the total wet weight for both species, …

Taxonomic Profiling Of Metagenomic Reads Using Deep Learning, Cecile Cres

Open Access Master's Theses

The field of metagenomics studies microbes from environmental samples in a process generating millions of short DNA sequences called reads. The final outcome is to discover the diversity as well as the function of complex microbial communities using computational tools. The general idea adopted by most taxonomic classifiers, which aim to assign taxonomic groups to individual reads, is to compare the target DNA sequences to a reference database and identify the taxon of the best match. This method has many disadvantages including the necessity for large computing resources in order to process large sequence databases. The current project aims to …

“The ‘Real Cost’ Of Campaigns: Ends Campaign Effectiveness In Terms Of Awareness And Content”, Brandon Donohue

Open Access Master's Theses

Over the past few years, the use of electronic cigarettes and other vaping related products has spiked. This has quickly become an epidemic amongst the younger generations. These people did not smoke cigarettes before but are now addicted to nicotine. In an attempt to fight off the companies that are marketing these devices to teens and young adults, various anti-vaping campaigns have been launched. Two of the most notable and prevalent campaigns are the FDA’s “The Real Cost” and the Truth Initiative’s “Truth”. Using previously tested methods, this study compares and attempts to account for the short-term effectiveness, or lack …

Climate Change Increases The Risk Of Fisheries Conflict, Elizabeth Mendenhall, Cullen Hendrix, Elizabeth Nyman, Paige M. Roberts, John Robison Hoopes, James R. Watson, Vicky W. Y. Lam, Rashid Sumaila

Marine Affairs Faculty Publications

The effects of climate change on the ocean environment – especially ocean warming, acidification, and sea level rise – will impact fish stocks and fishers in important ways. Likely impacts include changes in fish stocks’ productivity and distribution, human migration to and away from coastal areas, stresses on coastal fisheries infrastructure, and challenges to prevailing maritime boundaries. In this paper, we explore these and other related phenomena, in order to assess whether and how the impacts of climate change on fisheries will contribute to the risk of fisheries conflict. We argue that climate change will entail an increase in the …

Non‐Marine Turtle Plays Important Functional Roles In Indonesian Ecosystems, Nancy E. Karraker, Mirza Dikari Kusrini, Jessica R. Atutubo, Ryan M. Healey, Aini Yusratul

Natural Resources Science Faculty Publications

The Southeast Asian box turtle (Cuora amboinensis) is numerically the most important turtle exported from Indonesia. Listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, this turtle is heavily harvested and exported for food and traditional medicine in China and for the pet trade primarily in the United States, Europe, and Japan. Despite its significance in global markets, relatively little is known about the species’ ecology or importance to ecosystems. We conducted our research in a national park in Sulawesi, Indonesia, and our objectives were to quantify trophic breadth, capacity for seed dispersal between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and whether ingestion …

Assessing Year-Round Habitat Use By Migratory Sea Ducks In A Multi-Species Context Reveals Seasonal Variation In Habitat Selection And Partitioning, Juliet S. Lamb, Peter W. C. Paton, Jason E. Osenkowski, Shannon S. Badzinski, Alicia M. Berlin, Tim Bowman, Chris Dwyer, Luke J. Fara, Scott G. Gilliland, Kevin Kenow, Christine Lepage, Mark L. Mallory, Glenn H. Olsen, Matthew C. Perry, Scott A. Petrie, Jean-Pierre L. Savard, Lucas Savoy, Michael Schummer, Caleb S. Spiegel, Scott R. Mcwilliams

Natural Resources Science Faculty Publications

Long-distance migration presents complex conservation challenges, and migratory species often experience shortfalls in conservation due to the difficulty of identifying important locations and resources throughout the annual cycle. In order to prioritize habitats for conservation of migratory wildlife, it is necessary to understand how habitat needs change throughout the annual cycle, as well as to identify key habitat sites and features that concentrate large numbers of individuals and species. Among long-distance migrants, sea ducks have particularly complex migratory patterns, which often include distinct post-breeding molt sites as well as breeding, staging and wintering locations. Using a large set of individual …

The World Coral Conservatory: A Noah's Ark For Corals To Support Survival Of Reef Ecosystems, Didier Zoccola, Nadia Ounais, Dominique Barthelemy, Robert Calcagno, Françoise Gaill, Stephane Henard, Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, Max Janse, Jean Jaubert, Hollie Putnam, Bernard Salvat, Christian R. Voolstra, Denis Allemand

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Global change causes widespread decline of coral reefs. In order to counter the anticipated disappearance of coral reefs by the end of this century, many initiatives are emerging, including creation of marine protected areas (MPAs), reef restoration projects, and assisted evolution initiatives. Such efforts, although critically important, are locally constrained. We propose to build a “Noah's Ark” biological repository for corals that taps into the network of the world’s public aquaria and coral reef scientists. Public aquaria will serve not only as a reservoir for the purpose of conservation, restoration, and research of reef-building corals but also as a laboratory …

Remote Sensing Applications In Monitoring Of Protected Areas, Yeqiao Wang, Zhong Lu, Yongwei Sheng, Yuyu Zhou

Natural Resources Science Faculty Publications

Protected areas (PAs) have been established worldwide for achieving long-term goals in the conservation of nature with the associated ecosystem services and cultural values. Globally, 15% of the world’s terrestrial lands and inland waters, excluding Antarctica, are designated as PAs. About 4.12% of the global ocean and 10.2% of coastal and marine areas under national jurisdiction are set as marine protected areas (MPAs). Protected lands and waters serve as the fundamental building blocks of virtually all national and international conservation strategies, supported by governments and international institutions. Some of the PAs are the only places that contain undisturbed landscape, seascape …