Digital Commons Network^™

A History Of University Of Rhode Island Partnerships In The Philippines With Marine Resources And Fisheries Management As Primary Drivers, Michael A. Rice, Donald D. Robadue, Brian Crawford

Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Disrupting The Bonded Economy Of Sex Buying, Sex Trafficking, And Organised Crime Through Policy Change, Dellene Clark

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

Emerging criminological research underscores how the economic drivers of trafficking for sexual exploitation reinforce organised criminal markets while reproducing the structural vulnerabilities of those in prostitution. Using South Africa as a case study, this article argues that evidence-based legislative reform is necessary to confront the systemic conditions that enable exploitation. It contends that achieving substantive equality requires recognising the criminogenic role of sex‑buyer demand in sustaining trafficking pipelines and criminal profitability. The Swedish/Nordic demand‑reduction model illustrates how asymmetrical criminalisation can suppress demand, reduce reliance on trafficked persons, and diminish the financial incentives that underpin organised crime. Such an approach reorients …

Cognitive Media Literacy In The Digital Age: Structural And Behavioral Dimensions Of Inequality, Elif Pınar Aciyan Şen, Murad Karaduman

Journal of Media Literacy Education Pre-Prints

The expansion of digital technologies has not only transformed media production and consumption but also reshaped the cognitive conditions through which individuals interpret information. Drawing on W. James Potter’s (2004) cognitive model of media literacy, this study explores how cognitive dimensions of media literacy relate to digital inequalities among adults. To operationalize the model, index variables were developed for its four subdimensions, knowledge structures, personal locus, competencies, and skills, using multiple theoretically defined item domains. Based on a stratified face-to-face survey with 400 adults in Antalya, Türkiye, multiple regression analyses reveal that age and education are the strongest predictors of …

How To Incorporate Media Literacy Into General Education Curricula, Dennis O. Frohlich, David Magolis

Journal of Media Literacy Education

Media literacy scholars have long championed the inclusion of media literacy courses in all levels of education, from K-12 to collegiate levels. Universities’ general education curricula are one possible site for inclusion of a media literacy course. However, with each discipline vying for a spot in a university’s general education system, a course in media literacy can easily be overlooked or excluded. In this paper, we detail our efforts to successfully incorporate several media literacy courses into our university’s general education curriculum. This is a process we went through twice under two different general education systems. This paper will detail …

“Subjugated Knowledge And Narrative Justice”: An Interview With Grace M. Cho, Anupama Arora, Yuni Kim

Journal of Feminist Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Wic Staffs’ Perspectives On Underutilization Of Wic In Rhode Island, Ophelia Xorlali Mensah, Fred B. Addo, Kathryn Roy, Ann Barone

Poster Presentations

Background and Objectives: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) improve food security, nutrition, and overall health for low income pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and young children in the U.S. However, continuous participation and retention drop as children age in the WIC program. Very few studies have assessed these challenges faced by caregivers from the perspectives of the WIC staff. We therefore explored perspectives of WIC staff on caregivers’ participation and early dropout from WIC. Methods: We conducted in-depth interviews among 3-4 staff from each of the major WIC agencies in Rhode Island (n=20). By …

Depression And Hypertension Among U.S. Adults: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Of Nhanes Data, Abimbola Sola-Aremu

Poster Presentations

Objectives

Depression and hypertension are prevalent chronic conditions in the United States and may co-occur due to shared behavioral and physiological risk factors. This study examined the association between depression and hypertension among U.S. adults using nationally representative survey data.

Methods

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the 2021–2023 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Depression was defined as a Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score ≥10. Hypertension was defined by measured systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg, self-reported physician diagnosis, or antihypertensive medication use. Participant characteristics were compared by depression status using …

Usage Statistics: Project Counter R5 Tr_J1 Report Fy2025 - Journal Requests (Controlled) By Title, Andrée Rathemacher

Technical Services Reports and Statistics

Project COUNTER R5 / 5.1 Report TR_J1 for the University of Rhode Island for the period from July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025. The TR_J1 report is defined as "Journal Requests (Controlled)." 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 - 850,324

Unique Item Requests - 628,581

Usage Statistics: Project Counter R5 Tr_B1 Report Fy2025 - Book Requests Controlled) By Title, Andrée Rathemacher

Technical Services Reports and Statistics

Project COUNTER R5 / 5.1 Report TR_B1 for the University of Rhode Island for the period from July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025. The TR_B1 report is defined as "Book Requests Controlled)." 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 - 194,197

Unique Title Requests - 60,001

Presence Of Legacy And Emerging Pfas In Human Liver Specimens Banked In The United States From 2000 To 2024, Juliana Agudelo Areiza, Jitka Becanova, Simon Vojta, Johanna Ganglbauer, Udayan Apte, Luigi Brunetti, Sean Kumer, Faiz Haque, Euna Kim, Elsie M. Sunderland, Rainer Lohmann, Fabian C. Fischer, Angela L. Slitt

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent, bioaccumulative chemicals linked to liver toxicity and metabolic disease. 54 PFAS were measured in 211 adult human livers collected between 2000 and 2024 to reveal temporal trends, relative PFAS abundance, and demographic predictors of hepatic burden. PFAS were detected in 210 individuals, with 15 compounds found in ≥30 livers. Total summed PFAS concentrations decreased by 94% over the 24-year period in weighted linear regression, and by 68% after adjusting for age, sex, and liver health in multivariate models. Since 2019, a ∼950-fold variability in concentration was observed, and the PFAS profile in the …

The Role Of Parenting In Mitigating Epigenetic Cardiometabolic Risk In Predominantly Latino Preschoolers, Adamari López

Open Access Master's Theses

Background: Childhood obesity is a highly prevalent public health concern with significant consequences for health and development across the lifespan. Risk is disproportionately elevated among children from marginalized racial and ethnic groups and socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, highlighting persistent disparities in long-term health outcomes. Epigenomic mechanisms, including DNA methylation (DNAm), have emerged as a promising approach for understanding the biological embedding of metabolic risk; however, prior research has largely emphasized deficit-based models, with limited attention to protective family-level factors. The present study examined whether participation in a positive parenting intervention was associated with epigenetic cardiometabolic risk among preschool-aged children. Methods …

Women Shellfishers’ Role In Managing ‘Women’S Forest’ And Conservation Challenges In Youtefa Bay, Indonesia, Helmawaty E. Rumbiak

Open Access Master's Theses

Mangrove forests in Youtefa Bay hold critical ecological and cultural significance for the Enggros community, particularly for women. Known as the “women’s forest,” this area is where Enggros women harvest shellfish and collect firewood. Women shellfishers have a close relationship with the forest, where they connect with their children and other women. However, rapid urban development and pollution around the mangrove ecosystem have negatively impacted the women shellfishers and their role in managing the mangrove forest. Shellfishing activity will likely decrease as urban development around the forest increases, and more waste flows into the forest. This research examines the role …

Coral Holobiont Lipidome Response To Global Change, Lauren Zane

Open Access Dissertations

Climate change is fundamentally restructuring macro-scale marine ecosystem structure and function by altering microscale metabolic processes and patterns of energy allocation. Scleractinian corals, as major ecosystem engineers, play outsized roles in ecosystem structure and function. They also occupy diverse habitats that differ in temperature regimes, light environments, hydrodynamics, and other environmental conditions, exposing corals to substantial spatial variation in stress and resource availability. Their fragile nutritional symbiosis with algal endosymbionts helps them navigate these environmental variations, but are also highly sensitive to environmental stress, particularly the timing and magnitude of water temperature changes. As pressure from environmental changes increases, the …

Assessing Fisheries Dependence Of Coastal Communities In Managed Mangrove Forests In Latin America, Ariel Alexander Quintanilla Magana

Open Access Dissertations

Fisheries dependency refers to the action of a person, community, or society linking their social, cultural, and economic actions to different ecosystem services (ES) for covering their food system with essential marine species, developing a governance system to conserve these fishing areas, their local ecological knowledge, and guaranteeing food security in the coastal areas. In Latin America, most fishing activities are practiced within three nautical miles of the shoreline, estuaries, lagoons, and mangrove forest channels, using small vessels and traditional gear such as hooks, trammel nets, and gill nets. Some coastal communities have developed their subsistence and livelihood activities in …

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 …

A Children’S Rights Approach To Critical Media Literacy In Language Education: Developing Children’S Agency In A Digital Networked World, Frauke Matz, Jeff Share

Journal of Media Literacy Education

Children are growing up in a culture of digitality, one infused in digital communication in and out of school (Faverio & Sidotti, 2024; Stalder, 2018). They are immersed in a digital networked world, which plays a significant role in how they develop their literacies and identities (Cannon et al., 2022) across languages. To help them participate as “active thinkers and citizens in their own right” (Wall, 2016, p. 86), educators could consider the potential of critical media literacy in language education as a pedagogical response to the commercial exploitation of information, and the liberatory potential of critical thinking and creative …

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.

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 …

Predictors Of Caregiver Satisfaction With The State Of Rhode Island Special Supplemental Nutrition Program For Women, Infants And Children, Ophelia Mensah

Oral Presentations

Background and Objectives: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) has been linked to positive health outcomes. However, caregiver perspectives on WIC in Rhode Island remain unexplored. This study examines factors influencing caregiver satisfaction with WIC. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 163 caregivers receiving WIC services (online or in-person) in Rhode Island was conducted using a selfadministered questionnaire. Data included sociodemographics, WIC experiences, service awareness, 20 and satisfaction ratings (customer service, appointment duration, overall satisfaction) on a 3- item Likert scale. Ordered logistic regression identified predictors of satisfaction. Results: The mean caregiver age was 30 years; …

Urinformed March 2025, Urinformed

URInformed: The URI Employees' Newsletter

No abstract provided.

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 Tr_B1 Report Fy2024 - Book Requests (Excluding Oa_Gold) By Title, Andrée J. Rathemacher

Technical Services Reports and Statistics

Project COUNTER R5 Report TR_B1 for the University of Rhode Island for the period from July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024. The TR_B1 report is defined as "Book 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 - 130,532

Unique Title Requests - 54,592

Moving From ‘Managing Stakeholders’ To ‘Managing For Stakeholders’: The Imperative For Responsible Business, Meena Raghunathan, Kara Li Liu

Markets, Globalization & Development Review

Gone are the days when it was accepted that shareholders were the ones for whose benefit business was done, and that the purpose of business was to maximize returns to shareholders. Today, it is universally accepted that a business has to look beyond maximizing profits. It has to take into account the needs all stakeholders, including the environment.

Several frameworks and approaches have been advocated to achieve the objective of optimizing the value of the corporation from multiple angles, including Triple Bottom Line, Responsible Business, Sustainability, Corporate Social Responsibility, etc. At the heart of all these concepts is the issue …

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 …

Introducing Sustainable Development Goals In College Curricula: A Way Forward, Christy Ashley, Jason D. Oliver, Hillary Leonard

Markets, Globalization & Development Review

The commentary proposes a blueprint to help guide curriculum innovations, partnerships, and teaching interventions that incorporate the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs) into the curriculum. It suggests the utilization of AACSB’s Societal Impact Canvas with Ancona et al.’s (2007) Leadership Capabilities (Sensemaking, Relating, Visioning, Inventing) to provide a blueprint for mission-aligned SDG integration at a local level. It provides an illustrative example from the University of Rhode Island (USA), where the focus is on the Blue Economy. It aims to provide practical guidance for how a college or university can efficiently organize to gain stakeholder input that helps enhance …

The Politics Of (Mis)Perception: Understanding Americans’ Beliefs About Immigrant Welfare Usage, Ping Xu, Belinda Davis, Michael Henderson, James Garand

Political Science Faculty Publications

Background

Public concerns about immigrants' use of welfare programs have long influenced U.S. immigration and social policy. During the Trump administration, claims that immigrants exploit the American welfare system became central to the political agenda, amplifying perceptions that immigrants are economic burdens. These perceptions, whether grounded in reality or not, can shape public support for both immigration and the welfare state.

Aims

Few studies have systematically examined how closely Americans' perceptions of immigrants' welfare usage align with actual usage patterns, and how individual and contextual factors moderate this relationship. In this study we explore these connections.

Materials and Methods

We …

Association Between Vitamin D Status And Cortisol Concentration Among Pregnant Women, Kenneth Addae

Open Access Master's Theses

Objective: Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and high circulating cortisol during pregnancy have each been linked to adverse maternal and child outcomes such as preterm birth. However, limited research has explored the association between vitamin D status and cortisol concentration during pregnancy. Our objective for this study was to determine the association between vitamin D status and cortisol concentration among pregnant women.

Methods: The Prenatal Health and Nutrition (PHAN) study was a pilot cross-sectional study of 30 healthy pregnant women conducted in targeted areas in Rhode Island. Data was collected on sociodemographic characteristics, substance use, perceived stress scale, household food security, …

The Role Of Socioeconomic Indicators On Child Behavior And Academic Outcomes During Elementary School, Ashlee Mineau

Open Access Master's Theses

The impact of a child's socioeconomic status (SES) impacts all aspects of development. Children’s SES will be examined to determine the potential impact they may have on children's academics and behavior. The SES variables that will be examined are parent education, parent occupation, and household income. Parent education is one of the strongest predictors of child school achievement (Martinez et al., 2022). Children who come from a lower SES household are more likely to display externalizing behaviors (Barry et al., 2022). This study in particular looks at its impact for academic achievement in reading, math, and science and external problem …