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Research & Innovation For 2012-2013, University Of Rhode Island

Publications (Research and Economic Development)

The 2012-2013 issue of Research & Innovation, a periodical focused on research at the University of Rhode Island.

Feeding Styles And Evening Family Meals Among Recent Immigrants, Alison Tovar, Erin Hennessy, Aviva Must, Sheryl O. Hughes, David M. Gute, Sarah Sliwa, Rebecca J. Boulos, Emily Kuroos Vikre, Christina Luongo Kamins, Kerline Tofuri, Alex Pirie, Christina D. Economos

Nutrition Faculty Publications

The protective effect of family meals on unhealthy weight gain and diet has been shown across multiple age groups; however, it is unknown whether a similar effect is present among diverse immigrant populations. In addition, little research has focused on factors associated with the frequency of evening family meals, such as feeding styles (how parents interact with their child around feeding). Therefore the goals of this paper are to explore the 1) association between the frequency of evening family meals and child weight status among new immigrant families, and 2) influence of immigrant mothers’ feeding styles on the frequency of …

Wellness Incentives: Can The Use Of Financial Incentives And Penalties Be Effective For Motivating Participation In Wellness Programs And Sustaining Health Behavior Modification?, Donna Moschetti

Seminar Research Paper Series

Employer-based health promotion programs have been around for about four decades, but in recent years increasing attention is being given to the use of financial incentives and penalties as ways to encourage employees to become more accountable for their own health. The use of wellness incentives has been gaining traction, and employer-sponsored programs that incorporate these types of strategies have been growing rapidly. With the passage of the Affordable Care Act, the upcoming change to federal rules on wellness incentives is likely to drive up participation rates. However, this is not without controversy and it has raised some very important …

An Escherichia Coli Nissle 1917 Missense Mutant Colonizes The Streptomycin-Treated Mouse Intestine Better Than The Wild Type But Is Not A Better Probiotic, Jimmy Adediran, Mary P. Leatham-Jensen, Matthew E. Mokszycki, Jakob Frimodt-Møller, Karen A. Krogfelt, Krystyna Kazmierczak, Linda J. Kenney, Tyrrell Conway, Paul S. Cohen

Cell and Molecular Biology Faculty Publications

Previously we reported that the streptomycin-treated mouse intestine selected for two different Escherichia coli MG1655 mutants with improved colonizing ability: nonmotile E. coli MG1655 flhDC deletion mutants that grew 15% faster in vitro in mouse cecal mucus and motile E. coli MG1655 envZ missense mutants that grew slower in vitro in mouse cecal mucus yet were able to cocolonize with the faster-growing flhDC mutants. The E. coli MG1655 envZ gene encodes a histidine kinase that is a member of the envZ-ompR two-component signal transduction system, which regulates outer membrane protein profiles. In the present investigation, the envZ _P41L gene was …

Measuring The Processes Of Change For Increasing Blood Donation In Black Adults, Nicole R. Amoyal, Mark L. Robbins, Andrea L. Paiva, Caitlin Burditt, Debra Kessler, Beth H. Shaz

Cancer Prevention Research Center Faculty Publications

Background: Blacks have significantly lower blood donation rates than whites. Many views, experiences, and behaviors associated with blood donation are unique to black culture. Evidence suggests that culturally tailored health promotion programs help with increasing black blood donation. To be effective, tailored interventions should be based on valid and reliable measures. The Transtheoretical Model's (TTM) Processes of Change (POC) construct provides an assessment of participants' covert and overt activities and experiences in blood donation. This study describes development and validation of POC for increasing blood donation tailored to blacks.

Student Design and Methods: Cross‐sectional measure development with online …

Caloric Restriction-Mediated Induction Of Lipid Metabolism Gene Expression In Liver Is Enhanced By Keap1-Knockdown, Supriya R. Kullkarni, Laura E. Armstrong, Angela L. Slitt

Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Purpose: CR increases fatty acid oxidation to decrease tissue lipid content. The Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-Kelch like ECH associated Protein 1 (Keap1) pathway is an antioxidant gene regulatory pathway that has been previously investigated in weight gain. However, limited interaction of Nrf2/Keap1 and CR exists. The purpose of this study was to determine how Keap1 knockdown (Keap1-KD), which is known to increase Nrf2 activity, affects the CR response, such as weight loss, hepatic lipid decrease, and induction of fatty acid oxidation gene expression.

Methods: C57BL/6 and Keap1-KD mice were maintained on 40% CR or fed ad libitum for …

Effect Of Caloric Restriction And Ampk Activation On Hepatic Nuclear Receptor, Biotransformation Enzyme, And Transporter Expression In Lean And Obese Mice, Supriya R. Kulkarni, Jialin Xu, Ajay C. Donepudi, Wei Wei, Angela L. Slitt

Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Purpose: Fatty liver alters liver transporter expression. Caloric restriction (CR), the recommended therapy to reverse fatty liver, increases Sirtuin1 deacetylase activity in liver. This study evaluated whether CR and CR mimetics reversed obesity-induced transporter expression in liver and hepatocytes.

Methods: mRNA and protein expression was determined in adult lean (lean) and leptin-deficient obese (OB) mice fed ad libitum or placed on 40% (kCal) reduced diet. Hepatocytes were isolated from lean and OB mice, treated with AMP Kinase activators, and gene expression was determined.

Results: CR decreased Oatp1a1, Oatp1b2, and Abcb11 mRNA expression in lean, but not OB mice. CR increased …

Keap1 Knockdown Increases Markers Of Metabolic Syndrome After Long-Term High Fat Diet Feeding, Vijay R. More, Jialin Xu, Prajakta C. Shimpi, Clyde Belgrave, James P. Luyendyk, Masayuki Yamamoto, Angela L. Slitt

Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

The nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)–Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) pathway upregulates antioxidant and biotransformation enzyme expression to counter cellular oxidative stress. The contributions of Nrf2 to other cellular functions, such as lipid homeostasis, are emerging. This study was conducted to determine how enhanced Nrf2 activity influences the progression of metabolic syndrome with long-term high-fat diet (HFD) feeding. C57BL/6 and Keap1-knockdown (Keap1-KD) mice, which exhibit enhanced Nrf2 activity, were fed a HFD for 24 weeks. Keap1-KD mice had higher body weight and white adipose tissue mass compared to C57BL/6 mice on HFD, along with increased inflammation and lipogenic gene …

Pregnancy Represses Induction Of Efflux Transporters In Livers Of Type I Diabetic Mice, Lauren M. Aleksunes, Jialin Xu, Eugenia Lin, Xia Wen, Michael J. Goedken, Angela L. Slitt

Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Purpose: To determine whether down-regulation of transcription factor signaling during pregnancy disrupts the induction of efflux transporters in type I diabetic mice.

Methods: Type I diabetes was induced in female C57BL/6 mice with multiple low dose intraperitoneal injections of streptozotocin (STZ) at least 2 weeks prior to mating with normoglycemic male mice. On gestation day 14, livers were collected from vehicle- and STZ-treated non-pregnant and pregnant mice for quantification of efflux transporter and transcription factor signaling.

Results: STZ treatment up-regulated expression of Mrp1-5, Mdr1, Abcg5, Abcg8, Bcrp, and Bsep mRNA and/or protein in the livers of non-pregnant mice. Interestingly, little …

Multiple Environmental Chemical Exposures To Lead, Mercury And Polychlorinated Biphenyls Among Childbearing-Aged Women (Nhanes 1999–2004): Body Burden And Risk Factors, Marcella Remer Thompson, Kim Boekelheide

College of Nursing Faculty Publications

Background: Lead, mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are neurotoxicants with intergenerational health consequences from maternal body burden and gestational exposures. Little is known about multiple chemical exposures among childbearing-aged women.

Objectives: To determine the percentage of women aged 16–49 of diverse races and ethnicities whose body burdens for all three xenobiotics were at or above the median; to identify mixed exposures; and to describe those women disproportionately burdened by two or more of these chemicals based on susceptibility- and exposure-related attributes, socioeconomic factors and race-ethnicity.

Methods: Secondary data analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999–2004).

Results: The best-fit …

Factors Influencing The Implementation Of Organized Physical Activity And Fruit And Vegetable Snacks In The Hop'n After-School Obesity Prevention Program, Tanis J. Hastmann, Melissa Bopp, Elizabeth A. Fallon, Richard R. Rosenkranz, David A. Dzewaltowski

Public Health Faculty Publications

Objective: To identify barriers and facilitators for improving the after-school organized physical activity (PA) and snack quality.

Methods: After-school staff (Year 1, n = 20; Year 2, n = 17) participated in qualitative, semistructured interviews about the implementation of an after-school obesity prevention intervention. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, coded for common themes, and analyzed using NVivo software.

Results: Several factors influencing implementation of PA and fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption were revealed. Facilitators for PA included: staff training, equipment/gym space, and scheduling organized PA. Physical activity barriers included prioritizing PA and lack of school administration support. Fruit and vegetable facilitators …

Assessment Of The Dining Environment On And Near The Campuses Of Fifteen Post-Secondary Institutions, Tanya M. Horacek, Maria B. Erdman, Carol Byrd-Bredbenner, Gale Carey, Sarah M. Colby, Geoffrey W. Greene, Wen Guo, Kendra K. Kattlemann, Melissa Olfert, Jennifer Walsh, Adrienne B. White

Nutrition Faculty Publications

Objective:

The present study evaluated the restaurant and dining venues on and near post-secondary campuses varying in institution size.

Design:

The Nutrition Environment Measures Survey for Restaurants (NEMS-R) was modified to evaluate restaurants as fast food, sit down and fast casual; and campus dining venues as dining halls, student unions and snack bar/cafés. ANOVA with post hoc Tukey's B and T tests were used to distinguish differences between dining venues and associated institutions by size.

Setting:

The study was conducted at fifteen US post-secondary institutions, 2009–2011.

Subjects:

Data presented are from a sample of 175 restaurants …

Urinformed Fall 2013, Urinformed

URInformed: The URI Employees' Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Annual Report Honors Program And Visiting Scholars Committee 2012-2013, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Committee Reports and Appendices

No abstract provided.

Study Of Glycation And Advanced Glycation On A Humanized Monoclonal Antibody, Hong Liu

Open Access Dissertations

In the presented work, we reviewed the protein glycation effect on recombinant monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), and demonstrated an in vitro glycation model on rhuMAb A was a successful tool to evaluate site-specific glycation. We also implemented this model to study MAb glycation in three aspects: the formation of glycation, the change of glycation adducts under thermal stress, and the control of glycation adducts stability by formulation compositions.

A protein characterization study demonstrated that the in vitro forced glycation model generated seven glycated amino acid sites on rhuMAb A. The lysine residue K49 was the preferably site, while others sites were …

Uri Undergraduate And Graduate Course Catalog 2013-2014, University Of Rhode Island

URI Course Catalogs Archive

This is a downloadable PDF version of the University of Rhode Island course catalog.

Maternal Hydration And Infant Weight: A Case-Control Study In Breastfeeding Infants Delivered By Cesarean Section, Diane J. Thulier

Open Access Dissertations

Growing evidence suggests that infants may experience increased weight loss due to maternal medical interventions during labor such as intravenous fluid hydration. When breast fed infants lose ≥ 7% of their birth weight, formula supplementation is often initiated. Formula supplementation is a variable unequivocally associated with shorter breastfeeding duration. Supplementation should not be initiated if the cause of infant weight loss is unrelated to breastfeeding adequacy. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of intrapartum maternal hydration and regional anesthesia on infant weight.

A retrospective, case-control research study was designed. Data was collected from maternal and infant …

The Impact Of Predator-Prey Relationships On The Formation Of Harmful Algal Blooms In Heterosigma Akashiwo, Elizabeth L. Harvey

Open Access Dissertations

Heterotrophic protists are the primary grazers of phytoplankton in the marine environment, and changes in the rates of consumption will influence phytoplankton abundance, community composition, and ecological function. The objective of this research was to investigate the influence of predators on the formation and promotion of harmful algal blooms (HABs), specifically blooms of the toxic raphidophyte alga, Heterosigma akashiwo. To observe microscopic predator-prey interactions and their macroscopic distributions, video and image analysis were used to simultaneously quantify population distributions and individual 3D movements of both protistan predators and prey cells in laboratory tanks with realistic salinity structures. In behavioral experiments, …

Probiotic Strains For Shellfish Aquaculture: Protection Of Eastern Oyster, Crassostrea Virginica, Larvae And Juveniles Againsl Bacterial Challenge, Murni Karim, Wenjing Zhao, David C. Rowley, David R. Nelson, Marta Gomez-Chiarri

Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Faculty Publications

Bacterial pathogens, including several Vibrio spp. and Roseovarius crassostreae, cause severe mortality of larval and juvenile eastern oysters. The introduction of beneficial bacterial isolates in oyster hatcheries and nurseries for the biocontrol of bacterial diseases is a good alternative to the use of antibiotics. The goal of this study was to screen and characterize marine bacterial isolates as potential agents to prevent larval and juvenile mortality by the oyster pathogens Vibrio tubiashii and R. crassostreae. Screening of bacterial isolates from Rhode Island marine organisms and environment using agar-based assay methods for detection of antimicrobial activity against oyster pathogens led …

Middle School Food Environments And Racial/Ethnic Differences In Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption: Findings From The Healthy Choices Study, Tracy K. Richmond, Jennifer L. Spadano-Gasbarro, Courtney E. Walls, S. Bryn Austin, Mary L. Greaney, Monica L. Wang, Solomon Mezegebu, Karen E. Peterson

Kinesiology Faculty Publications

Background: Prior studies have demonstrated disproportionate clustering of fast food outlets around schools.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine if racial/ethnic differences in middle school student self-reported sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption is explained by differential distributions of food outlets surrounding their schools.

Methods: Baseline (2005) data were analyzed from 18,281 middle school students in 47 Massachusetts schools participating in Healthy Choices, an obesity prevention program. Linear mixed effects models were used to examine the association of individual race/ethnicity and daily SSB consumption and the potential mediating effect of the density of food outlets (the number of fast …

Post-Menopausal Effects Of Resistance Training On Muscle Damage And Mitochondria, Thomas G. Manfredi, Michael Monteiro, Linda S. Lamont, Maria Singh, Mona Foldvari, Sebrina White, Arthur Cosmas, Maria L. Urso

Kinesiology Faculty Publications

Manfredi, TG, Monteiro, MA, Lamont, LS, Singh, MF, Foldvari, M, White, S, Cosmas, AC, and Urso, ML. Postmenopausal effects of resistance training on muscle damage and mitochondria. J Strength Cond Res 27(2): 556–561, 2013—The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of a 12-month progressive resistance training intervention on muscle morphology and strength gains in postmenopausal women. Skeletal muscle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis of 5 independent community-dwelling women (mean age: 75.6 ± 4.28 years; mean height: 163 ± 5.34 cm; mean weight: 72 ± 17.5 kg) before 6 months and 12 months after progressive resistance …

South County Food, Fitness, And Fun Program: A Comprehensive Intervention On Childhood Obesity, Amanda S. Tassoni

Open Access Master's Theses

Recently, obesity in children had risen to epidemic levels. There is an urgent need to develop primary prevention strategies to prevent current and future unhealthy weight gain. Physical activity and nutrition have been linked to the increased prevalence of childhood obesity. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of a comprehensive intervention developed to help maintain BMI in overweight and obese children aged 7 to 11 years while improving physical activity levels, fitness levels, and psychosocial behavior. METHODS:Twenty obese children and their parents from South County, Rhode Island participated in a 16-week intervention that met …

Soil Quality In Rhode Island Pastures Grazed By Different Types Of Livestock, Alissa H. Becker

Open Access Master's Theses

Historically, much of the New England landscape was converted to pasture for grazing animals and harvesting hay. Today, consumer demand for local, sustainably produced food, the number of livestock farms and the land area used for farming are increasing in Rhode Island. In order to make sound management decisions, it is important to characterize the effects of livestock on the quality of pasture soils. Although pastures remain a fairly common part of the New England landscape, little research has been published on the effects of grazing animals on pasture soil quality. To assess this, I examined soil quality in farms …

Effects Of A Community-Based Tai Chi And Dietary Weight Loss Intervention On Body Composition In Obese Older Women, Jillian M. Bekke

Open Access Master's Theses

Background: Obesity is a risk factor for many chronic diseases in older women. Tai Chi is an alternative exercise that has not been thoroughly investigated in this population in a community setting for its effects on body fat mass when combined with dietary weight loss. Methods: A 16-week community-based intervention using Tai Chi and behaviorally-based dietary weight loss (TCWL, n=29) in older (68.2 ± 1.5 yr) obese (BMI=35.4 ± 0.8kg/m²) women was conducted compared to a control group (CON, n=9; BMI=38.0 ± 1.5 kg/m²; age=65.5 ± 2.7 yr). Primary and exploratory outcomes included were …

Locus Of Control As A Predictor Of Maternal Feeding Style, Anna G. Lubiner

Open Access Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was twofold: To investigate the association between parental feeding styles (authoritarian, authoritative and permissive) and maternal locus of control orientation, and to determine whether depression moderated the relationship between feeding style and locus of control. Participants were 68-English speaking mothers of preschool age children (3 to 5), who participated in two previous studies. Measures of parental feeding style, maternal depression, and locus of control, as well as basic demographic data were drawn from larger interview batteries administered as part of the previous studies.

It was hypothesized that a more internal locus of control orientation would …

A Qualitative Study Of The Perceived Value Of Membership In The Oley Foundation By Home Parenteral And Enteral Nutrition Consumers, Katelyn Patricia Chopy

Open Access Master's Theses

Background: Support and educational organizations have been shown to improve quality of life in consumers of home parenteral nutrition (HPN) and home enteral nutrition (HEN). One such organization, The Oley Foundation, offers resources for the home parenteral and enteral nutrition (HPEN) consumer. Research has shown that the Oley Foundation has lead to positive outcomes for members. No studies have determined what services consumers value, how they were introduced to the organization, and how this impacted them individually. This study used qualitative methodology to gain a deeper understanding of the perceived value of membership in the Oley Foundation for HPEN consumers. …

Using Seaweed As A Soil Amendment: Effects On Soil Quality And Yield Of Sweet Corn (Zea Mays L.), Angela R. Possinger

Open Access Master's Theses

Application of seaweed to manage soil fertility is a traditional practice in many coastal regions, utilizing an inexpensive, abundant, and nutrient-rich resource. As a practice that re-purposes waste materials, diversifies inputs, and relies on coastal resources, seaweed amendment may be an effective and inexpensive means of strengthening and supporting agriculture in coastal agroecosystems. Putatively, seaweed biomass may be a useful amendment for crop production and soil quality improvement due to provision of plant nutrients (e.g. N, P, K, Ca), and promotion of microbial activity, among other benefits. However, limitations of seaweed application include high sulfur (S), salt, and heavy metal …

Nicu Sodium Administration To Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants: Relationships With Recommendations And Growth, Donna Kelly

Open Access Master's Theses

Title: NICU sodium administration to extremely low birth weight infants: Relationships with recommendations and growth.

Objectives. To determine the amount of sodium being administered in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) from all sources including parenteral and enteral nutrition, medications, and intravenous solutions to extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants -- those weighing less than or equal to 1000 grams. It was hypothesized that there are variable amounts of sodium given, but those amounts are not adequate when compared to the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) (3-5 mEq/kg/d).

Study design. The study design was …

Ecology Of Menidia Menidia Larvae In Two Temperate Estuarine Littoral Habitats, Miranda Lopez

Open Access Master's Theses

The Atlantic silverside (Menidia menidia) is one of the numerically most abundant fish species in estuaries along the East Coast of North America, but its ecology during the first two weeks post-hatch has not been described. Therefore ecological investigations into appropriate sampling methods, preferred habitats, feeding ecology and growth of these larvae will contribute valuable information to our knowledge base for this species. The upper reaches of two Rhode Island, USA, estuaries, with differing levels of anthropogenic inputs, were the study sites for this project. Previous studies have shown that during early spring M. menidia adults ripen for …

Gluconeogenesis And Colonization Of The Mouse Intestine By E. Coli Edl933 And E. Coli Nissle 1917, Silvia Anna Christina Schinner

Open Access Master's Theses

Previous studies in this laboratory have indicated that E. coli Nissle 1917 can act as a probiotic and is able to prevent the pathogenic E. coli EDL933 from growing to high numbers in the mouse large intestine. This study evaluated the influence of gluconeogenesis in E. coli Nissle 1917 and E. coli EDL933 to compete against each other and for their maintenance in the intestine. Knockout mutants of both strains were created for the analysis of the importance of gluconeogenesis in colonization experiments in the mouse large intestine. To knock out the ability to use gluconeogenesis and therefore metabolizing substrates …