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The Good 5 Cent Cigar (4/9/2013), University Of Rhode Island

The Good 5 Cent Cigar (Student Newspaper Archives)

This is a digitized, downloadable version of the University of Rhode Island school newspaper.

On Design And Implementation Of An Embedded System For Neural-Machine Interface For Artificial Legs, Xiaorong Zhang

Open Access Dissertations

According to limb loss statistics, there are over one million leg amputees in the US whose lives are severely impacted by their conditions. In order to improve the quality of life of patients with leg amputations, neural activities have been studied by many researchers for intuitive prosthesis control. The neural signals collected from muscles are electromyographic (EMG) signals, which represent neuromuscular activities and are effective bioelectrical signals for expressing movement intent. EMG pattern recognition (PR) is a widely used method for characterizing EMG signals and classifying movement intent. The key to the success of neural-controlled artificial limbs is the neural-machine …

Energetic Salts: Degradation And Transformation, Sravanthi Vadlamannati

Open Access Dissertations

The first part of this work mainly focuses on distinguishing and characterizing two white solids namely urea nitrate (UN) and nitrourea (NU) with similar melting point (~160oC). Urea Nitrate is an inorganic salt. It has found use as an improvised explosive and was used in the first world trade center bombings. Nitrourea, a dehydrated product of UN, is an organic salt. In this study we reported and compared two routes to NU synthesis. We also proposed a decomposition route for UN.

The second part of the work investigates perchlorate contamination in soils following fireworks displays. A total of two hundred …

The Effects Of N-Butonol On The Model And Reconstituted Membrane Of Clostridium Pasteurianum, Yogi Kurniawan

Open Access Dissertations

During n-butanol fermentation, n-butanol partitions into microbial membranes result in destabilizing cellular lipid membranes by altering their lipid composition (generally the ratio of saturated to unsaturated lipids) whereas adapted microorganisms respond by altering the ratio of unsaturated to saturated lipids. The mechanism of how microbes achieve a high adaptation in response to n-butanol is barely known. This dissertation describes the role of unsaturated lipids and charged lipid composition in modulating n-butanol partition into membrane using model bacteria (i.e. lipid bilayer vesicles or liposomes and Langmuir monolayers) and those studies were compared with reconstituted membranes (Clostridium pasteurianum) that represented …

Model-Based Approaches To Characterize Clinical Pharmacokinetics Of Atorvastatin And Rosuvastatin In Disease State, Joyce Macwan

Open Access Dissertations

Cardiovascular disorders are the leading cause of death in the United States. Members of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) class of lipid-lowering drugs are used worldwide for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disorders. Cardiovascular disorders are the primary cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus and obesity as well as renal and liver transplantation. The rising global burden of these chronic disorders has resulted in long-term use of statins to prevent and treat cardiovascular disorders in diverse patient populations. Several statins are commercially available; however, atorvastatin calcium (Lipitor^®, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, NY) is the …

Asleep Behind The Wheel: Experiences Of Night Shift Nurses On The Commute Home, Shirley A. Sargent

Open Access Dissertations

Aim: The aim of this study was to obtain descriptions of nurses’ perceptions and experiences of falling asleep behind the wheel on the drive home after a worked night shift.

Background: While the evidence suggests that the problem of drowsy driving and fall asleep driving is a strong contributor to vehicular accidents, little is known about nursing perceptions of the issue.

Methods: The design of the study is qualitative and descriptive. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 12 registered nurses who had experienced falling asleep behind the wheel on the drive home from work after a worked night shift. The interviews …

Community Annotation And Bioinformatics Workforce Development In Concert—Little Skate Genome Annotation Workshops And Jamborees, Qinghua Wang, Cecilia N. Arighi, Benjamin L. King, Shawn W. Polson, James Vincent, Chumching Chen, Hongzhan Huang, Brewster F. Kingham, Shallee T. Page, Marc Farnum Rendino, William Kelley Thomas, Daniel W. Udwary, Cathy H. Wu

Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Recent advances in high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies have equipped biologists with a powerful new set of tools for advancing research goals. The resulting flood of sequence data has made it critically important to train the next generation of scientists to handle the inherent bioinformatic challenges. The North East Bioinformatics Collaborative (NEBC) is undertaking the genome sequencing and annotation of the little skate (Leucoraja erinacea) to promote advancement of bioinformatics infrastructure in our region, with an emphasis on practical education to create a critical mass of informatically savvy life scientists. In support of the Little Skate Genome Project, the …

On Design And Implementation Of Neural-Machine Interface For Artificial Legs, Xiaorong Zhang, Yuhong Liu, Fan Zhang, Jin Ren, Yan (Lindsay) Sun, Qing Yang, He Huang

Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

The quality-of-life of leg amputees can be improved dramatically by using a cyber-physical system (CPS) that controls artificial legs based on neural signals representing amputees' intended movements. The key to the CPS is the neural-machine interface (NMI) that senses electromyographic (EMG) signals to make control decisions. This paper presents a design and implementation of a novel NMI using an embedded computer system to collect neural signals from a physical system-a leg amputee, provide adequate computational capability to interpret such signals, and make decisions to identify user's intent for prostheses control in real time. A new deciphering algorithm, composed of an …

Characterizing The Advanced Glycation Endproducts Formation Of Proteins And Nucleotides By Methylglyoxal And Glyoxal, Praveen Kumar Pampati

Open Access Dissertations

Advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) are a heterogeneous group of molecules formed from the nonenzymatic reaction of reducing sugars with free amino groups of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. The initial product of this reaction is called a Schiff base, which rearranges itself into an Amadori or glycation product which can further rearrange to AGEs. The reaction is called Maillard reaction and is the basis for all protein glycation studies. AGEs accumulate in tissues and associate with the pathology of various diseases like Diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, renal failure, aging, etc. Methylglyoxal, 3-Deoxyglucosone and glyoxal (oxoaldehydes or α-dicarbonyls) have recently been proposed …

An Investigation Of Cardiac Dynamics And Substrate Metabolism In An Animal Heart Failure Model, Anna Stanhewicz

Senior Honors Projects

Heart failure (HF) is a condition in which the working heart is unable to meet the blood flow demands of the body. It is the leading cause of early death in the United States and is a progressive, debilitating disease that presently, can only be detected in late, irreversible stages. The progression of HF is complex and poorly understood, involving a number of molecular mechanisms. It is characterized by a complex of symptoms including cardiac hypertrophy and a shift in myocardial substrate utilization, all leading to reduced pumping efficiency of the heart and decreased systemic blood flow. In HF, the …

Division Of Research And Economic Development Annual Report For Fy2008, 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 2007-2008.

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

A Sequential Algorithm For Biological Event Detection Using Statistical Nonstationarity, John Dicecco

Open Access Dissertations

High dimension complex dynamical systems, such as those found in physiological processes, produce time series which are often accompanied by nonstationarity. In many cases, the nonstationarity is caused by a physiologically significant event such as the prelude to ventricular fibrillation in cardiac arrest or the change of stasis by introducing pharmaceuticals. A need exists to be able to detect and monitor this change. Most conventional attempts at addressing this problem involve segmenting the time series and evaluating the statistics of the segments. The difficulty with this approach is that the nature of the nonstationarity can be transient, such that it …

Study On The Nonenzymatic Glycation Of Nucleosides/Nucleotides And Proteins With Sugars: An In Vitro Investigation Of Advanced Glycation Endproducts (Ages) Formation, Yuyuan Li

Open Access Dissertations

Advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) are a complex and heterogeneous group 1 of compounds formed by the nonenzymatic reactions of the carbonyl groups of reducing sugars with the free amino groups of biomolecules. Nonenzymatic reactions can occur in vitro and in vivo and affect the structure, function and conformation of many biomolecules, and AGEs has been suggested to associate with the pathogenesis of various disease such as diabetes and Alzheimer disease. The increased number of reports on the nonenzymatic glycation of proteins and nucleic acids has generated great interest in the methods for characterization of AGEs. The lack of universally applicable …

Analyses Of Parent And Teacher Responses On The Stress Survey Schedule For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Lisa A. Femia

Open Access Dissertations

To date, the Stress Survey Schedule (SSS) is the only survey that comprises items that are highly relevant to problems often experienced by people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). Information regarding the validity of this instrument, however, is limited. The current study collected information from parents and teachers of children between the ages of 3-18 with a primary diagnosis of ASD from multiple sites using the SSS. Convergent and divergent validity estimates were examined using Pearson product-moment correlations coefficients framed in a multi-trait--multi-method matrix. In addition, reference samples were developed for teacher and parent ratings, providing means and standard deviations …

Requirement Of Integrin α5β1 And Tyrosine Phosphorylation Of Shc For Prohb-Egf Release By Gpr30, A Seven Transmembrane Receptor For Estrogen, Jeffrey Alan Quinn

Open Access Dissertations

Estrogen acts via a seven transmembrane receptor (7TMR), GPR30, to stimulate an HB-EGF autocrine loop. Here, evidence is provided that integrin α5β1 is a necessary transmembrane signaling intermediary required for matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-mediated release of proHB-EGF by GPR30. Estrogen stimulation of human SKBR3 breast cancer cells, which lack ERα and ERβ, resulted in recruitment of integrin α5β1 to focal adhesions, formation of actin stress fibers, and assembly of fibronectin (FN) fibrils. Expression of a GPR30 mutant in SKBR3 cells selectively abrogated FN matrix assembly and EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation by estrogen. Disruption of cytoskeletal integrity or inhibition of integrin α5β1 with …

The Four Hundred Thirty-Second Report Of The Curricular Affairs Committee, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Bills

No abstract provided.

Curricular Affairs Committee Report #432, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Committee Reports and Appendices

No abstract provided.

Curricular Report No. 2004-05-3a: Proposal For A Doctor Of Physical Therapy Degree From The Graduate Council To The Faculty Senate, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Bills

No abstract provided.

Advanced Glycation Endproducts Analysis Of Glucosamine With Reducing Sugars, Dna Nucleosides And Serum Proteins, Udayan Dutta

Open Access Dissertations

Advanced glycation endproducts (AGE) are a complex and heterogeneous group of compounds formed by the nonenzymatic reactions of reducing sugars with amino acids and proteins. The reaction is called the Maillard reaction and is central to all protein glycation studies. Accumulation of AGE in human tissue has been associated with the pathology of various diseases like diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, renal failure and ageing and has generated great interest in methods for characterizing the glycated products. Glucosamine GlcN is an unregulated high profile dietary supplement used for the treatment of osteoarthritis with few side effects. There is very little understanding on …

Graduate Council Report No. 2004-2005-3a, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Committee Reports and Appendices

No abstract provided.

Forensic And Biological Applications Of Vibrational Spectroscopy, Edita Botonjic

Open Access Dissertations

Determination of the age of a bloodstain can be used to establish the time when a crime was committed. As blood ages, deoxyhemoglobin (HbO 2) is converted into methemoglobin (MetHb), which is evident by the color change from red to brown. Fluctuations in temperature will cause blood to age at a non-constant rate. It has been shown that higher temperatures cause deoxyhemoglobin to oxidize more rapidly to methemoglobin. Human blood from vein and capillary vessels was used in this investigation. The samples were prepared by placing blood on various substrates such as gauze and watch glasses. Mid-IR and near-IR spectra …

Curricular Report No. 2002-2003-9 From The Graduate Council To The Faculty Senate, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Bills

No abstract provided.

Graduate Council Report No. 2002-2003-9, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Committee Reports and Appendices

No abstract provided.

The Three Hundred And Eighty-Sixth Report Of The Curricular Affairs Committee, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Bills

No abstract provided.

Formation Of Advanced Glycation End Products By Glyceraldehyde And Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate With Proteins, Paula F. G. De Sa

Open Access Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Study Of Academic Procrastination In College Students, Janee K. Mcfadden

Open Access Master's Theses

As competition in the work force steadily increases, higher education in the twentieth and twenty-first century is of extreme importance. Academic success entails persistence as well as effective work habits. Despite the undeniable importance of a strong, successful college education, there is one recurring behavior directly related to one's college experience and success that has been consistently overlooked--the behavior termed procrastination. It is estimated that between 75 to 95 percent of all college students engage in academic procrastination. It is this same common behavior that may severely impact one's potential for success in college and subsequently in future endeavors.

This …

The Three Hundred And Thirty-First Report Of The Curricular Affairs Committee, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Bills

No abstract provided.

The Three Under And Twenty-Ninth Report Of The Curricular Affairs Committee, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Bills

No abstract provided.

The Psychological Modulation Of The Immune System: A Meta-Analysis, Sara D. Cottrill

Open Access Dissertations

In the mid seventies, Robert Ader and Nicholas Cohen (1975) conducted and published a series of experiments that are generally recognized as a major turning point for the behavioral and physical sciences. In classical conditioning experiments, Ader and Cohen were able to weaken the immune system reaction against foreign material in rats. The experiments demonstrated that the "self-regulating and autonomous" immune system was vulnerable to behavioral factors. These experiments seemed to galvanize a community of scientists who had hypothesized like scientists and philosophers before them the role of emotional states in influencing physiological processes.

The preeminent discipline which has evolved …

The Analysis Of Amino Acids And Peptides By High Performance Liquid Chromatography And Capillary Electrophoresis Using The Novel Derivatizing Agent, 6-Aminoquinolyl-N-Hydroxysuccinimidyl Carbamate, Kathryn Marie De Antonis

Open Access Dissertations

No abstract provided.