Digital Commons Network^™

13c Labeling For Cho Cell Metabolism Tracing And Ms Based Analysis For Advanced Upstream Culture Monitoring To Support Cqa Understanding, Xin Bush

Open Access Dissertations

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) make up a large part of biopharmaceutical sales due to their great success in treating cancer, autoimmune, and cardiovascular diseases. Due to an increasing number of mAbs using innovative approaches in drug development, combined with changes in the drug market, there is an increased need for optimizing process intensification and quality control. Thus, a profound understanding of cellular metabolism and how this impacts the protein product’s critical quality attributes (CQA) would be of great value. Among the quality attributes of mAbs, post-translational modifications such as N-linked glycosylation are of particular importance as they affect the activity, efficacy, …

Salinity Effects On Growth And Nutritional Content Of Newly Isolated Microalgal With Potential Use In The Shrimp-Hatcheries, Wa Iba, Abdul Muis Balubi, Lenore M. Martin, Michael A. Rice, Gary H. Wikfors

Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Faculty Publications

A two-week batch experiment was conducted on three newly isolated Indonesian microalgal strains (Kb1-2 identified as Chaetoceros sp., Kb1-3 and Kb1-5) and Tisochrysis lutea to determine salinity effects upon the growth, proximate composition and ω-3, eicosapentaenoic acidand docosahexaenoic acid, (EPA and DHA) and ω-6 (arachidonic acid /ARA) fatty acids. Salinity within each strain growth of all microalgae tested. The highest cell densities were observed in Indonesian strains, Kb1-3 on day 8 at 25 psu and Kb1-5 on day 10 at 35 psu. Salinity significantly affected the lipid, protein and carbohydrate content in all microalgae cultured. The highest total lipid content …

Considerations Of Low Carbohydrate Availability (Lca) To Relative Energy Deficiency In Sport (Red-S) In Female Endurance Athletes: A Narrative Review, Melissa T. Lodge, Christie L. Ward-Ritacco, Kathleen Melanson

Kinesiology Faculty Publications

The purpose of this narrative review is to identify health and performance consequences associated with LCA in female endurance athletes. The intake of carbohydrates (CHO) before, during, and after exercise has been demonstrated to support sport performance, especially endurance activities which rely extensively on CHO as a fuel source. However, low energy availability (LEA) and low carbohydrate availability (LCA) are common in female athletes. LEA occurs when energy intake is insufficient compared to exercise energy expenditure, and LEA-related conditions (e.g., Female Athlete Triad (Triad) and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S)) are associated with a myriad of health and performance …

Organic Culture Media For Sustainable Carotenoid Production From Microalgae, Wa Iba, Nur Illyin Akib, Ilham, La Ode Muhammad Jumardin, Bolo Arif, Nursainuddin, Sendry Yosalina, Jumtrisnanda Asmin Andas

Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Faculty Publications

Antioxidants, particularly those carotenoid produced in microalgae, can be increased by induced stress, including light, nutrients, and salinity. Nutrient stress can be achieved by using imbalanced nutrients to boost antioxidant production without compromising the growth, that is, biomass. Culture media is an important factor in microalgae production because it is affecting growth and biomass production, as well as the biochemical content of microalgae. Synthetic or conventional culture media is considerably expensive for mass culture and the supply is limited, especially for developing countries. Therefore, there is a need for cheap and easily available culture media. This chapter discusses the use …

The Moderating Role Of Service Utilization Between Newborn Mothers Financial Worries And Depression, Alysia Carcieri

Open Access Master's Theses

The experience of pregnancy and childbirth is both an exciting and stressful time in a woman’s life. New mothers, particularly those experiencing depression, can experience difficulty handling life’s daily activities, including increases in financial stressors during pregnancy and after childbirth. Women are more likely to experience depression compared to men; and women of child-bearing age are even more at risk, regardless what their race or economic status is (Cadigan & Skinner, 2015). Moreover, financial worry occurs when a person has difficulty meeting basic needs including housing, food, health care, or having late and skipped bills. The United States provides a …

The Relation Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Health Behaviors In Adult Women, Karina Tavares

Open Access Master's Theses

Individuals who experience adversity during childhood are at a higher risk of negative health outcomes in adulthood. This study aims to identify whether adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) influence health lifestyles throughout adulthood. This was accomplished by collecting data from 233 women aged 18-25 and 65-85 who reported either no ACEs or three or more ACEs. Demographic indicators, the 10-item ACEs questionnaire (Felitti et al., 1998), and the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP-II; Walker, Sechrist, & Pender, 1987) were examined. ACEs were categorized into three variables: abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction. The HPLP-II was categorized by its six subscales: health responsibility, …

Anxiety And Depression In Middle Eastern And North African First-Generation College Students: Implications For Academic Success, Merna Naguib

Open Access Master's Theses

Mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression are highly prevalent among first-generation college students, and can hinder their academic performance (BlackDeer et al., 2021).The current study sought to examine the prevalence of anxiety and depression among first-generation Middle Eastern/North African (ME/NA) college students and how that may impact academic performance. The data for this study came from the American College Health Association National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA), which is a leadership organization that advances the health of college students and campus communities through education, research, and advocacy. The sample in this study included 37,869 participants who identified themselves as …

Positive Feeding Practices, Total Fruit Intake, Total Vegetable Intake, And Overall Diet Quality In Children Of Ethnically And Racially Diverse Families, Jordan E. Young

Open Access Master's Theses

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between child involvement in meal preparation, responsiveness to child’s fullness cues, and regular meal and snack times with total vegetable intake, total fruit intake, and overall diet quality in 2-5-year-old children of low-income, ethnically and racially diverse families.

Design: This study is a cross sectional secondary data analysis of the Strong Families Start at Home study.

Participants: Participants are parents and 2-5-year-old children of low-income, ethnically and racially diverse families of Rhode Island that participated in the Strong Families Start at Home study.

Methods: The Strong Families Start at Home study …

Antibiotic Tolerance In Quiescent Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli, Daniel Alexander Banas

Open Access Master's Theses

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) are the leading cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs). In about a quarter of these cases the patient experiences reoccurring infection after treatment with antibiotics. The prevalence of reoccurrence may be attributed to the ability of some UPEC populations to enter a growth state where they are tolerant to antibiotic treatment. In reduced metabolic, dormant, and quiescent states bacteria are less susceptible to antibiotics that target critical growth pathways, allowing for prolonged survival. In Manuscript I, we investigate antibiotic tolerance in the quiescent UPEC strain CFT073 in vitro. We demonstrate that during quiescence UPEC are tolerant …

Cell Stress, Protein Quality Control, And Activation Of Toxin Antitoxin Systems In Escherichia Coli, Benjamin Piraino

Open Access Dissertations

Responding to environmental stress is critical for all organismal survival, including in bacteria. One of the key bacterial responses to stress is protection of proteins within the cell, which helps to maintain proteins in a functional state. Protection of the proteome is done through a collaborative network of proteins and systems, all functioning to protect the cell. Within Escherichia coli (E. coli), three main proteomic protection systems are chaperones, proteases, and toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems. They work together, with overlapping functions, to regulate stress responses. Chaperones, such as DnaK(Hsp70) and SecB, are major regulators of protein folding within the cell, …

Associations Between Stress, Intuitive Eating, And Adiposity In A Cohort Of Midlife Women, Bridget A. Owens

Open Access Dissertations

Stress and eating behaviors can influence the health of midlife women, a population at risk for weight gain and redistribution of fat to the abdominal area related to shifts in reproductive hormones and aging. Higher stress is associated with negative health outcomes such as increased abdominal adiposity, depression, and chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease. Women report higher stress and more emotional and physical side effects from stress than men and are more likely than men to engage in emotional eating in response to stress. Further, the desire to lose weight and the prevalence of body dissatisfaction is high among …

Impacts Of Seasonal Variations On Phytoplankton Growth And Grazing In Narragansett Bay, Andria M. Miller

Open Access Master's Theses

Primary production by phytoplankton is essential to global biogeochemical cycles and is the base of the aquatic food web. One of the major impacts on phytoplankton production in the global ocean is grazing by microzooplankton. While there are well known factors (e.g., light availability, nutrients, and temperature) that impact phytoplankton abundance and distribution, factors that drive microzooplankton grazing pressures are more poorly constrained. Phytoplankton primary production is high in temperate estuaries, and these ecosystems are subject to large seasonal variations in abiotic factors such as temperature and biotic factors such as plankton assemblages, making them an ideal area to study …

Opioids And Opioid Use Disorder Treatment In Pregnancy: Spontaneous Abortion And Childhood Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Mennatullah Hasan

Open Access Master's Theses

Opioids, recognized for their efficacy in pain management, have seen a marked increase in prescription rates for use during pregnancy over the last two decades. Opioid utilization in this context is primarily attributed to the management of pain, a prevalent condition in pregnancy. Notably, over 70% of pregnancies are associated with low back and pelvic pain, while other frequent pain conditions include myalgia, joint pain, and migraine. The predominant indication for prescribing opioids during pregnancy is the treatment of acute pain. This trend is expected to persist or even escalate, considering the rising maternal age and the concomitant increase in …

Identification Of A Fungal Pathogen Of Invasive Swallow-Worts And Exploration Of The Implications For Hypena Opulenta, A Biocontrol Agent Of Swallow-Worts, Alexandra Johnson

Open Access Master's Theses

Two species of invasive swallow-worts (Vincetoxicum nigrum and V. rossicum) have become problematic in unmanaged areas and agricultural settings in the Northeastern United States. Traditional methods of mechanical and chemical control are inadequate or unfeasible to implement so in 2017, the defoliating moth Hypena opulenta was approved for release in the United States for biological control of swallow-worts. Since 2017 the URI Biocontrol Lab has been releasing and studying the establishment of the species in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. In 2018 a fungal pathogen was observed infecting V. nigrum plants at H. opulenta release sites. To …

Hypoglycemia Screening In Term Normal Birth Weight Newborns: A Retrospective Electronic Health Record Review, Michelle G. Palmer

Open Access Dissertations

A gap in the evidence exists regarding screening of term normal birth weight newborns without identified risk factors for the presence of hypoglycemia. The purpose of this retrospective electronic health record review was to examine factors leading to and results associated with blood glucose screening of term normal birth weight newborns without previously identified risk factors for hypoglycemia.

The specific aims of this study were to: (a) determine if there were statistically significant differences between screened and unscreened full term, normal birth weight newborns without pre-existing identified risk factors for hypoglycemia by: gender, race, delayed cord clamping, skin-to-skin initiation and …

An Integrative Approach For Evaluating Compliance With Vessel Regulations To Reduce Disturbances To Killer Whales (Orcinus Orca), Nikol J. Damato

Open Access Master's Theses

Recovery of the endangered Southern Resident killer whales of the Salish Sea is impeded by threats such as vessel disturbances and noise. Reduction of vessel disturbances is a key component for recovering the population, but recreational vessel operators have high rates of noncompliance with rules intended to reduce noise. Noncompliance with regulations has traditionally been explained using an instrumental approach for compliance, but this approach is insufficient for fully explaining compliance with regulations in the Salish Sea. This study derived factors from two commonly-used and well-established approaches for understanding compliance behavior—instrumental and normative approaches—and combined them into an integrative or …

The Impact Of Artisanal Fishers On Food Security And Socio-Ecological Systems In Rhode Island, Jami Marie Miller

Open Access Master's Theses

While on-shore fishers in Rhode Island fish recreationally, a large portion also fish for food, and many are fishers from marginalized racial and ethnic backgrounds. However, communities of color are significantly underrepresented in environmental studies in Rhode Island, particularly in coastal and marine research, so there is little known about these groups’ uses, behaviors, and perceptions towards coastal and marine resources. Through participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and photography, this ethnographic study investigated the impact of artisanal fishers on food security and socio-ecological systems in Rhode Island. The findings show that the top three reasons to fish are to relax, to …

Early Life History Of American Lobsters (Homarus Americanus) In Coastal Southern New England Waters, Declan James Mccormick

Open Access Master's Theses

The Southern New England (SNE) American lobster (Homarus americanus) stock, previously one of the largest fisheries in the region, has suffered a significant decline since the early 2000s and is now severely depleted. The SNE lobster stock has struggled to recover and is currently experiencing recruitment failure, with a population bottleneck occurring between the spawner and recruit life stages. The objective of this project was to quantify the abundance and spatial distribution of larval and early benthic phase lobsters in coastal Rhode Island (RI) waters to investigate current recruitment processes. Field sampling for larval and juvenile lobsters occurred during the …

Best Management And Egg Washing Practices For Small-Scale Poultry Producers To Improve Food Safety, Julie Bosland

Open Access Dissertations

The goal of this dissertation research was to determine the best management and egg washing practices for small-scale egg producers and backyard chicken owners to help improve food safety. The main goals were to establish the most effective management and egg washing procedures to reduce total coliform bacteria load on eggshells and increase egg cleanliness. To determine the methods used for experiments in chapters 3-5, a survey was conducted on egg handling, washing and management techniques in backyard poultry and small-scale producers within the Northeastern U.S. The effect of management practices and egg washing methods on the eggshell cuticle was …

Bee Visitation To Three Clover Species (Trifolium Spp.), Common Selfheal (Prunella Vulgaris) And Creeping Thyme (Thymus Serpyllum), Julia J. Vieira

Open Access Master's Theses

Native bees are experiencing global declines due to multiple factors including habitat loss, pesticide use, pathogens, and climate change. Several recent bumble bee studies across New England have documented declines in species richness throughout the region. Bee visitation to different flower species in bloom concurrently can be influenced by actual floral preferences, timing of nectar and pollen presentation, relative abundances of the flower species, and other factors. I assessed bee abundance, diversity, and selective foraging patterns in southern Rhode Island on four planted flower species: white clover (Trifolium repens L.), medium and mammoth red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), …

Glacial Southern Ocean Expansion Recorded In Foraminifera-Bound Nitrogen Isotopes From The Agulhas Plateau During The Mid-Pleistocene Transition, B. A. Marcks, T. P. Dos Santos, D. V.O. Lessa, A. Cartagena-Sierra, M. A. Berke, A. Starr, I. R. Hall, R. P. Kelly, Rebecca S. Robinson

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

The emergence of 100-Kyr glacial cycles (The Mid-Pleistocene Transition [MPT]) is attributed in part to slower global overturning circulation and iron stimulation of biological carbon drawdown in the Southern Ocean. We present foraminifera-bound nitrogen isotope values and polar planktic foraminifera abundances from the Agulhas Plateau that show that increases in biogenic sediment accumulation coincide with northward migrations of the Subtropical Frontal Zone (STFZ) and elevated foraminifera-bound nitrogen isotope values during MPT glacial episodes. The nitrogen isotope values of two planktic foraminifera species, Globigerina bulloides and Globorotalia inflata show remarkable coherence amongst the sea surface temperature gradient between the STFZ and …

Associations Between Oyster Consumption And Iron, Zinc, And Cadmium Concentrations In Ghanaian Women, Alyssa Abreu

Open Access Dissertations

Background: Oysters are an excellent source of iron and zinc but may be contaminated by heavy metals such as cadmium. The micronutrient and metal content of smoked, dried oysters as well as the impact of oyster consumption on iron, zinc, and cadmium concentrations in Ghana is unknown.

Objectives: Our objectives were to 1) determine the micronutrient and metal content and health risk of dried, smoked oysters, 2) determine the associations between dietary iron intake with hemoglobin or ferritin concentrations and anemia, 3) determine the associations between oyster consumption and iron, zinc and cadmium concentrations in Ghanaian women living near the …

Cranberry Vine And Its Effects On The Periparturient Ovine And Her Offspring, Delaney Smith

Open Access Dissertations

Gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) are a major health concern globally, particularly for small ruminant producers. The most deadly of these GIN is an anemia-inducing parasite called Haemonchus contortus. Infections of H. contortus are most severe during what's known as the periparturient period (PPP), which is the last 6 weeks of gestation and first 8 weeks of lactation in maternal animals. Widespread genetic resistance of H. contortus to the traditionally used chemical dewormers have led producers and researchers alike to turn to the plant kingdom for answers. Plant based compounds have been used as bioactive compounds for centuries to cure a …

Elucidating The Mechanisms Of Stress Tolerance In Reef-Building Coral Holobionts, Emma Strand

Open Access Dissertations

Coral reefs worldwide are threatened by climate change effects like increasing ocean warming and ocean acidification. These increased pressures cause a dysbiosis between the coral host, algal endosymbionts, and associated coral microbiome that results in the coral host expelling algal endosymbionts, leaving the coral host with a stark white ‘bleached’ appearance. Without their endosymbionts, coral hosts are forced to sustain themselves energetically with heterotrophy instead of relying on the autotrophic carbon and energy sources that once came from the algal endosymbionts. When this response, termed ‘coral bleaching’, happens reef-wide during an extreme wave of increased ocean temperatures, this is called …

A Group Respite Intervention For Family Caregivers Of Children Living With Special Needs, Christine Mcgrane

Open Access Dissertations

Family caregiver stress is a growing healthcare concern as more and more families are providing a large portion of care at home. As a family caregiver, parents of children living with special needs are taking on this role as a lifelong journey with their child. Due to the provision of continuous caregiving, these parents are at higher risk for exhaustion, stress, and social isolation, and the challenges can impact both the child and family’s physical and emotional well-being. The demands of caregiving can impact their physical, mental, social, and financial health. As a society, the importance of caring for the …

The Effect Of Acceptance And Commitment Therapy On Value Consistency During A Weight Loss Program, Leah Dorfman

Open Access Dissertations

In the last decade, the prevalence of obesity has increased significantly in populations worldwide. It is well established that overweight and obesity are associated with a host of deleterious health consequences. Standard Behavioral Therapy (SBT) for weight loss has been demonstrated to yield only modest outcomes with poor long-term maintenance. Therefore, efforts must be made to improve upon what is currently considered to be best practices in weight loss interventions, especially with a goal of improving retention and long-term maintenance. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a behavioral and cognitive intervention that implements both acceptance and mindfulness processes, and commitment …

Biochemical And Genetic Mechanisms Underpinning Escherichia Coli Cell Cycle And Growth Transitions, Josiah Morrison

Open Access Dissertations

Bacterial cell division and the decision to divide is a process that requires a wide variety of factors. In bacterial cells, such as the widely studied Escherichia coli, a large protein complex, termed the Z-ring, assembles at midcell to enable division. The Z-ring is subject to many regulators which govern the spatiotemporal positioning of the ring. The Z-ring is made up of the eukaryotic tubulin homolog FtsZ, which polymerizes to recruit division proteins to the midcell. FtsZ polymers are tethered to the cytoplasmic membrane by the actin homolog FtsA. Together, FtsZ and FtsA act as the first step in …

Analyzing The Distinction Between Protectionism And Empowerment As Perspectives On Media Literacy Education, W. James Potter

Journal of Media Literacy Education

It has become a common practice to categorize the different perspectives on media education as following either a protectionist approach or an empowerment approach. However, the way scholars write about these two categories can be confusing and sometimes misleading. A critical analysis is presented where these writings are examined along 10 analytical dimensions that include how authors conceptualize the power differential between the media and audiences, purpose of media education, nature of instruction (scope, stance, extent, and content), role of the instructor, and outcome assessment (type of measures, timing, and indicators of success). The findings from this critical analysis indicate …

Global Patterns In Marine Organic Matter Stoichiometry Driven By Phytoplankton Ecophysiology, Keisuke Inomura, Curtis Deutsch, Oliver Jahn, Stephanie Dutkiewicz, Michael J. Follows

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

The proportion of major elements in marine organic matter links cellular processes to global nutrient, oxygen and carbon cycles. Differences in the C:N:P ratios of organic matter have been observed between ocean biomes, but these patterns have yet to be quantified from the underlying small-scale physiological and ecological processes. Here we use an ecosystem model that includes adaptive resource allocation within and between ecologically distinct plankton size classes to attribute the causes of global patterns in the C:N:P ratios. We find that patterns of N:C variation are largely driven by common physiological adjustment strategies across all phytoplankton, while patterns of …

Rapidly Declining Body Size In An Insectivorous Bat Is Associated With Increased Precipitation And Decreased Survival, Christina M. Davy, Valerie Von Zuben, Pila M. Kukka, Brian D. Gerber, Brian G. Slough, Thomas S. Jung

Natural Resources Science Faculty Publications

Reduced food availability is implicated in declines in avian aerial insectivores, but the effect of nutritional stress on mammalian aerial insectivores is unclear. Unlike birds, insectivorous bats provision their young through lactation, which might protect nursing juveniles when prey availability is low but could increase the energetic burden on lactating females. We analyzed a 15-year capture–mark–recapture data set from 5312 individual little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus) captured at 11 maternity colonies in northwestern Canada, to test the hypothesis that nutritional stress is impacting these mammalian aerial insectivores. We used long-bone (forearm [FA]) length as a proxy for relative access to …