Digital Commons Network^™

Association Between Dietary Magnesium Intake And Glycemic Markers In Ghanaian Women Of Reproductive Age: A Pilot Cross-Sectional Study, Helena J. Bentil, Alyssa M. Abreu, Seth Adu-Afarwuah, Joseph S. Rossi, Alison Tovar, Brietta M. Oaks

Nutrition Faculty Publications

Low magnesium intake has been shown to be associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in several studies conducted in high-income countries. However, very few studies have been performed in Africa, where many countries have a growing rate of T2DM. We conducted a pilot cross-sectional study among 63 women in Ghana to investigate the association between magnesium intake and glycemic markers. We assessed dietary magnesium using a food frequency questionnaire and glycemic markers using fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Our findings showed that the mean magnesium intake was 200 ± 116 mg/day. The …

Momentum: Research & Innovation For Spring 2021, University Of Rhode Island

Publications (Research and Economic Development)

The Spring 2021 issue of Momentum: Research & Innovation, a periodical focused on research at the University of Rhode Island.

Momentum: Research & Innovation For Spring 2021, University Of Rhode Island

Publications (Research and Economic Development)

The Spring 2021 issue of Research & Innovation, a periodical focused on research at the University of Rhode Island.

Rural-Urban Differences In Caregiver Burden Due To The Covid-19 Pandemic Among A National Sample Of Informal Caregivers, Steven Cohen, Zachary J. Kunicki, Caitlin C. Nash, Megan M. Drohan, Mary L. Greaney

Public Health Faculty Publications

The objective of this exploratory study was to explore potential associations between changes to caregiver burden (CB) due to the COVID-19 pandemic and rural-urban status using a nationally representative sample of 761 informal caregivers. Tertiles of two measures of rural-urban status were used: Rural-Urban Commuting Areas (RUCAs) and population density. Bivariate and multivariable binary and ordinal logistic regression were used to asses study objectives. Using RUCAs, rural informal caregivers were more than twice as likely as urban informal caregivers to report a substantial increase in CB due to COVID-19 (OR 2.27, 95% CI [1.28–4.02]). Similar results were observed for population …

3d Bioprinted Implants For Cartilage Repair In Intervertebral Discs And Knee Menisci, Kalindu Perera, Ryan Ivone, Evelina Natekin, Cheryl Wilga, Jie Shen, Jyothi Menon

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Cartilage defects pose a significant clinical challenge as they can lead to joint pain, swelling and stiffness, which reduces mobility and function thereby significantly affecting the quality of life of patients. More than 250,000 cartilage repair surgeries are performed in the United States every year. The current gold standard is the treatment of focal cartilage defects and bone damage with nonflexible metal or plastic prosthetics. However, these prosthetics are often made from hard and stiff materials that limits mobility and flexibility, and results in leaching of metal particles into the body, degeneration of adjacent soft bone tissues and possible failure …

Neuroendocrine Response To Exogenous Ghrelin Administration, Combined With Alcohol, In Heavy-Drinking Individuals: Findings From A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Human Laboratory Study, Mehdi Farokhnia, Kelly M. Abshire, Aaron Hammer, Sara L. Deschaine, Anitha Saravanakumar, Enoch Cobbina, Zhi-Bing You, Carolina L. Haass-Koffler, Mary R. Lee, Fatemeh Akhlaghi, Lorenzo Leggio

Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Accumulating evidence has established a role for the orexigenic hormone ghrelin in alcohol-seeking behaviors. Accordingly, the ghrelin system may represent a potential pharmacotherapeutic target for alcohol use disorder. Ghrelin modulates several neuroendocrine pathways, such as appetitive, metabolic, and stress-related hormones, which are particularly relevant in the context of alcohol use. The goal of the present study was to provide a comprehensive assessment of neuroendocrine response to exogenous ghrelin administration, combined with alcohol, in heavy-drinking individuals.

Methods: This was a randomized, crossover, double-blind, placebo-controlled human laboratory study, which included 2 experimental alcohol administration paradigms: i.v. alcohol self-administration and i.v. alcohol …

Urinformed Commencement 2021, Urinformed

URInformed: The URI Employees' Newsletter

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Maternal Education And Child Gender On Children’S Fine Motor Skill Development, Beatrix Anne Lavigueur

Open Access Master's Theses

Maternal education has been found to be a proximal measure of household income and has been directly linked to a child’s cognitive, social, and academic outcomes (Augustine et al., 2009; Harding, 2015; Kalil et al., 2012). Additionally, several studies examining children’s development found that children’s fine motor skills are the skillset that have a higher likelihood of experiencing delays when correlated with household socioeconomic status (Doulabi et al., 2017). The present study examined the relationship between children’s fine motor skills and maternal education and contributes to the literature in that it strictly examined a low-income sample population. The first wave …

Training Graduate Students In Multiple Genres Of Public And Academic Science Writing: An Assessment Using An Adaptable, Interdisciplinary Rubric, Erin R. Harrington, Ingrid E. Lofgren, Caroline Gottschalk Druschke, Nancy E. Karraker, Nedra Reynolds, Scott R. Mcwilliams

Natural Resources Science Faculty Publications

There is an urgent need for scientists to improve their communication skills with the public, especially for those involved in applying science to solve conservation or human health problems. However, little research has assessed the effectiveness of science communication training for applied scientists. We responded to this gap by developing a new, interdisciplinary training model, “SciWrite,” based on three central tenets from scholarship in writing and rhetoric: 1) habitual writing, 2) multiple genres for multiple audiences, and 3) frequent review and created an interdisciplinary rubric based on these tenets to evaluate a variety of writing products across genres. We used …

Dietary Vitamin E Reaches The Mitochondria In The Flight Muscle Of Zebra Finches But Only If They Exercise, Clara Cooper-Mullin, Wales A. Carter, Ronald S. Amato, David Podlesak, Scott R. Mcwilliams

Natural Resources Science Faculty Publications

Whether dietary antioxidants are effective for alleviating oxidative costs associated with energy-demanding life events first requires they are successfully absorbed in the digestive tract and transported to sites associated with reactive species production (e.g. the mitochondria). Flying birds are under high energy and oxidative demands, and although birds commonly ingest dietary antioxidants in the wild, the bioavailability of these consumed antioxidants is poorly understood. We show for the first time that an ingested lipophilic antioxidant, α-tocopherol, reached the mitochondria in the flight muscles of a songbird but only if they regularly exercise (60 min of perch-to-perch flights two times in …

Urinformed Fall 2021, Urinformed

URInformed: The URI Employees' Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Urinformed Summer 2021, Urinformed

URInformed: The URI Employees' Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Combined Responses Of Primary Coral Polyps And Their Algal Endosymbionts To Decreasing Seawater Ph, Federica Scucchia, Assaf Malik, Paul Zaslansky, Hollie M. Putnam, Tali Mass

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

With coral reefs declining globally, resilience of these ecosystems hinges on successful coral recruitment. However, knowledge of the acclimatory and/or adaptive potential in response to environmental challenges such as ocean acidification (OA) in earliest life stages is limited. Our combination of physiological measurements, microscopy, computed tomography techniques and gene expression analysis allowed us to thoroughly elucidate the mechanisms underlying the response of early-life stages of corals, together with their algal partners, to the projected decline in oceanic pH. We observed extensive physiological, morphological and transcriptional changes in surviving recruits, and the transition to a less-skeleton/more-tissue phenotype. We found that decreased …

Balance In Life As A Prerequisite For Community-Dwelling Older Adults’ Sense Of Health And Well-Being After Retirement: An Interview-Based Study, Catharina Gillsjö, Maria Nyström, Lina Palmér, Gunilla Carlsson, Ann-Charlotte Dalheim-Englund, Irene Eriksson

College of Nursing Faculty Publications

Purpose: This study aimed to describe community-dwelling older adults’ perceptions of health and well-being in life after retirement.

Methods: This study is part of a larger project using a mixed-methods design to address lifestyles’ influence on community-dwelling older adults’ health. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 older adults in age 70 to 95 years. Data were analysed according to a phenomenographic approach.

Results: The results encompass four categories describing variations in community-dwelling older adults’ perceptions of health and well-being after retirement: feeling well despite illness and disease, interacting with and being useful for oneself and others, independently embracing opportunities …

Preferences Of Seniors Living In Selected Baltic Sea Region Countries Towards The Use Of Indoor Public Space Furniture, Beata Fabisiak, Anna Jankowska, Robert Klos, Catharina Gillsjö, Igor Kuprienko, Lyudmila Vidasova, Anja Poberznik, Vineta Kreigere

College of Nursing Faculty Publications

Demographic changes can be observed all over the world. The number of seniors located in the societies of well-developed countries continues to rise. Both enterprises and governments need to be prepared for such changes. Consequently, public spaces need to evolve to reduce problems related to ageism and be friendly to all. Much attention is currently being paid to finding solutions for redesigning public spaces and adjusting them to the needs and requirements of senior citizens. To identify the preferences of seniors in relation to the characteristics of furniture in indoor public spaces, a survey study with 1539 respondents aged 60+ …

How Well Can We Assess The Validity Of Non-Randomised Studies Of Medications? A Systematic Review Of Assessment Tools, Elvira D'Andrea, Vinals, Elisabetta Patorno, Jessica M. Franklin, Dimitri Bennett, Joan A. Largen, Daniela C. Moga, Hongbo Yuan, Xuerong Wen, Andrew R. Zullo, Thomas P. A. Debray, Grammati Sarri

Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Objective To determine whether assessment tools for non-randomised studies (NRS) address critical elements that influence the validity of NRS findings for comparative safety and effectiveness of medications.

Design Systematic review and Delphi survey.

Data sources We searched PubMed, Embase, Google, bibliographies of reviews and websites of influential organisations from inception to November 2019. In parallel, we conducted a Delphi survey among the International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology Comparative Effectiveness Research Special Interest Group to identify key methodological challenges for NRS of medications. We created a framework consisting of the reported methodological challenges to evaluate the selected NRS tools.

Study selection Checklists …

Effectiveness Of Message-Framing To Improve Oral Health Behaviors And Dental Plaque Among Pregnant Women, Masoumeh Divdar, Marzieh Araban, Akbar Babaei Heyddarabadi, Bahman Cheraghian, L.A.R. Stein

Psychology Faculty Publications

Background: Oral health is considered a prominent factor that contributes to quality of life. Hormonal changes during pregnancy can influence oral health. Message framing can play an important role in oral health. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of message framing on oral health and dental plaque among pregnant women.

Methods: The study was conducted in 2017 on 108 pregnant women in Izeh county, Iran. Participants were randomly assigned to gain-framed, loss-framed, and control groups. The research instrument included a two part questionnaire containing demographic information and oral health knowledge, attitude, behavioral intention, self-efficacy, practice, …

Physicochemical Implications Of Cyanobacteria Oxidation With Fe(Vi), Erika L. Addison, Kyle T. Gerlach, Charles D. Spellman Jr., Grace Santilli, Alyson R. Fairbrother, Zachary Shepard, Jeanine D. Dudle, Joseph E. Goodwill

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Increases in harmful algal blooms has negatively impacted many surface-sourced drinking water utilities. To control these blooms, many water utilities implement pre-oxidation with ozone, chlorine, or permanganate; however, pre-oxidation of algae has both positive and negative water quality outcomes. This study investigated ferrate (Fe(VI)) as an alternative oxidant by measuring its effect on cell lysing, surface characteristics, and coagulation in waters containing the cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa. Bench scale studies were conducted to examine the complex combination of processes in a Fe(VI)-algae system. These processes were characterized by fluorescence index, surface charge, collision frequency modeling, particle counts and sphericity, total …

Antecedents Of Childhood Obesity Risk Factors, A Self Determination Theory Perspective, Katelyn Fox

Open Access Dissertations

Overweight and obesity effect one in three children in the US, with significant disparities for Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic/ Latinx children. Factors such as rapid weight gain, non-responsive feeding practices, and poor diet quality in infancy and early childhood can contribute to the development of obesity. An in depth understanding of what predicts these factors is necessary to inform and improve obesity prevention and treatment efforts. This is especially important to understand in the communities disproportionately impacted by childhood obesity. Therefore, the objective of this dissertation was to explore the contextual factors that influence rapid weight gain, non-responsive feeding practices, …

Uri Undergraduate And Graduate Course Catalog 2021-2022, University Of Rhode Island

URI Course Catalogs Archive

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

Vibrio Coralliilyticus Re22 Type Vi Secretion Systems Contribute To Temperate Coral Lysis And Endosymbiont Death, Nathaniel Awkerman

Open Access Master's Theses

Astrangia poculata is a facultatively symbiotic temperate coral that is being explored as a model system for studying the physiology and ecology of cnidarian-microbe symbiosis. Vibrio coralliilyticus is a known causative agent of a class of coral diseases called “white syndromes” that result in bleaching in tropical coral species. It is an effective pathogen due to a wide array of virulence factors including two Type 6 Secretion Systems (T6SS1 and T6SS2). In this study, we investigated the pathogenic potential of V. coralliilyticus RE22Sm in A. poculata and in cultures of its endosymbiont, Breviolum psygmophilum. To independently gauge the antagonistic …

Dietary Fermentable Carbohydrate (Fc) Consumption And Associations With Diet Quality And Health Parameters, Ajita Jadhav

Open Access Dissertations

Excessive body fat and related dysmetabolic complications concern both emerging and developed countries. An important environmental cause of these conditions is the altered composition of gut microbiota, which is influenced by the host diet. A number of clinical trials target gut microbiome composition or functions with fermentable carbohydrates (FCs) to promote a healthier profile. Total dietary fiber, which includes both FC and non-fermentable carbohydrates, is considered a promising tool for the prevention of chronic diseases. This has led to significant changes in food and health recommendation with an increase in dietary fiber intake advised. However, reference to other FCs such …

A Quasi-Experimental Study To Improve Health Service Quality: Implementing Communication And Self-Efficacy Skills Training To Primary Healthcare Workers In Two Counties In Iran, Hossein Shahnazi, Marzieh Araban, Mahmood Karimy, Mansooreh Basiri, Ali Ghazvini, L. A.R. Stein

Psychology Faculty Publications

Background: Service satisfaction ratings from clients are a good indicator of service quality. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of communication skills and self-efficacy training for healthcare workers on clients’ satisfaction.

Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted in health centers of Saveh University of Medical Science in Iran. Primary Healthcare (PHC; N = 105) workers and service recipients (N = 364) were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. The intervention group received four 90-min training sessions consisting of lecture, film screening, role-playing, and discussion group. Before and 3 months after the intervention, a multi-part questionnaire (including …

Program Development Using Intervention Mapping In Primary Healthcare Settings To Address Elder Abuse: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study, Sonia Oveisi, Lynda A. Stein, Forozan Olfati, Shima Jahed

Psychology Faculty Publications

Background: Abuse of elderly women is of great concern and yet relatively little is known about interventions.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop and test a culturally informed treatment, based on Intervention Mapping (IM), for primary healthcare settings. The intervention targets family members of elderly women and seeks to reduce elder abuse.

Methods: N = 80 family members of elderly women were randomized to intervention or control. Elderly women completed assessment prior to randomization. Elder abuse was measured by self-reported frequency of neglect, physical, psychological, and financial abuse in the last 2 months across 16 items. Intervention …

The Art And Science Of Drug Titration, Aisling R. Caffrey, P. Borrelli

Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Research Faculty Publications

A “one-size-fits-all” approach has been the standard for drug dosing, in particular for agents with a wide therapeutic index. The scientific principles of drug titration, most commonly used for medications with a narrow therapeutic index, are to give the patient adequate and effective treatment, at the lowest dose possible, with the aim of minimizing unnecessary medication use and side effects. The art of drug titration involves the interplay of scientific drug titration principles with the clinical expertise of the healthcare provider, and an individualized, patient-centered partnership between the provider and the patient to review the delicate balance of perceived benefits …

An Apple Extract Beverage Combined With Caffeine Can Improve Alertness, Mental Fatigue, And Information Processing Speed, Christie L. Ward-Ritacco, Alissa R. Wilson, Patrick J. O'Connor

Kinesiology Faculty Publications

The psychological effects of low-dose caffeine combined with polyphenols from apples have rarely been explored scientifically yet synergistic effects are plausible. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over experiment was used to test the psychological effects of apple extract beverages combined with 10, 20, 37.5, and 75 mg caffeine. Comparisons were made to both a placebo drink that was artificially sweetened and colored to mimic the test beverages and a positive control drink with 75 mg caffeine but without apple extract. Compared to placebo, it was hypothesized that dose-dependent improvements in cognitive performance, mood, and motivation would be realized after consuming the …

Managing Aquaculture In Multi-Use Freshwater Bodies: The Case Of Jatiluhur Reservoir, D. A. Taskov, T. C. Telfer, D. A. Bengtson, Michael A. Rice, D. C. Little, F. J. Murray

Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Faculty Publications

The pressure on scarce freshwater resources from intensifying human activity is rising across the globe. This study presents the case of Jatiluhur—Indonesia's largest reservoir, where unregulated aquaculture expansion has contributed to environmental degradation and associated conflicts with other water-users. Aiming to identify a strategy to improve the sustainability of cage aquaculture within Jatiluhur reservoir and other freshwater bodies facing similar challenges, this study consisted of an initial analysis of time bound satellite images of the reservoir and a systematic survey of 112 aquaculture farms. The results revealed that, with more than 45 000 production units in 2020, more than half …

Assessing Indicators And Limitations Of Food Security Objectives In Coral Reef Restoration, Jessica Vandenberg, Austin Humphries, Carlos Garcia-Quijanoa, Amelia Moore, Richard Pollnac, Suparman Abdullah

Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Faculty Publications

Coral reef restoration is often presented as a marine conservation solution that provides 'win-win' outcomes. However, most studies on reef restoration have focused on the biological success, while little is known about whether social objectives are ever achieved. This study investigates a reef restoration initiative in the Spermonde archipelago, Indonesia, where food security was initially presented as an intended social outcome. We utilised an ethnographic mixed-methods approach to investigate: 1) perceived sociocultural benefits of coral restoration to the local community; 2) impacts of reef restoration on local food security; and 3) local sociocultural barriers and limitations of reef restoration as …

Maternal Under- And Over-Nutrition During Gestation Causes Islet Hypertrophy And Sex-Specific Changes To Pancreas Dna Methylation In Fetal Sheep, Maria L. Peterson, Mary Gauvin, Sambhu Pillai, Amanda Jones, Katelyn Mcfadden, Katelynn Cameron, Sarah Reed, Steven Zinn, Kristen Govoni

Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Faculty Publications

The mechanisms by which fetal programming predisposes offspring to reduced β-cell function later in life are poorly understood. We hypothesized that maternal under- and over-nutrition during gestation would negatively affect offspring pancreas development and alter DNA methylation patterns. Pregnant ewes (n = 78) were fed 100, 60, or 140% of NRC requirements beginning at d 30.2 ± 0.2 of gestation. The fetuses are referred to as CON, RES, and OVER, respectively. Fetal pancreas tissue was collected at d 90 or 135 of gestation or within 24 h of birth. Tissue was preserved for histological (n = 8 to 9 offspring …

The Relationship Between Oral Health Deficits And Oral Health Related Quality Of Life In The Older Adult Population, Lisa Proffitt

Open Access Master's Theses

Oral comfort plays a vital role in the older adult population in which social events and participation require adequate oral health to avoid pain and discomfort. Oral discomfort may discourage social experiences and decrease an individual’s overall quality of life. Evaluating the relationship between one’s oral health and quality of life is dependent on a variety of influences, including oral health deficits, such as using a denture appliance or having inadequate number of teeth to function and maintain oral comfort. The current study aims to examine the relationship between one’s oral health status and Oral Health Related Quality of Life …