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Curriculum And Standards Committee Report #2019-20-7: Transfer Health And Physical Education Track From Kinesiology To Education In The Alan Shawn Feinstein College Of Education And Professional Studies, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Bills

No abstract provided.

Avian Bornaviral Ganglioneuritis: Current Debates And Unanswered Questions, Susan Boatright-Horowitz

Psychology Faculty Publications

Avian bornaviral ganglioneuritis, often referred to as parrot wasting disease, is associated with a newly discovered avian virus from the taxonomic family Bornaviridae. Research regarding the pathogenesis and treatment for this disease is ongoing, with implications for understanding other emerging human and nonhuman diseases, as well as the health and ecology of wildlife. At this time, numerous questions remain unanswered regarding the transmission of the disease, best practices for diagnostic sampling and testing, and whether currently used drug therapies are effective or harmful for afflicted birds. The pathogenesis of the disease also remains unclear with many birds showing resistance to …

Fruit Syndromes In Viburnum: Correlated Evolution Of Color, Nutritional Content, And Morphology In Bird-Dispersed Fleshy Fruits, Miranda A. Sinnott-Armstrong, Chong Lee, Wendy L. Clement, Michael J. Donoghue

Nutrition Faculty Publications

Premise

A key question in plant dispersal via animal vectors is where and why fruit colors vary between species and how color relates to other fruit traits. To better understand the factors shaping the evolution of fruit color diversity, we tested for the existence of syndromes of traits (color, morphology, and nutrition) in the fruits of Viburnum. We placed these results in a larger phylogenetic context and reconstructed ancestral states to assess how Viburnum fruit traits have evolved across the clade.

Results

We find that blue Viburnum fruits are not very juicy, and have high lipid content and large, …

Communication With Family Child Care Providers And Feeding Preschool-Aged Children: Parental Perspectives, Noereem Z. Mena, Patricia Markham Risica, Kim M. Gans, Ingrid E. Lofgren, Kathleen Gorman, Fatima K. Tobar, Alison Tovar

Nutrition Faculty Publications

ABSTRACT

Objective

To describe parent communication about child nutrition–related topics with family child care providers (FCCPs).

Design

Five focus groups conducted from December, 2016 to July, 2017.

Participants

Parents (n = 25) of 2- to 5-year-old children attending family child care homes in Rhode Island.

Phenomenon of Interest

How and what parents communicate about with FCCPs related to feeding young children.

Analysis

Recordings were transcribed verbatim. Two independent coders employed content analysis to analyze transcripts. Reflections, emerging themes, and final themes were discussed.

Results

Participants were recruited through FCCPs and were mostly Hispanic and female. Parents mainly communicated with FCCPs …

Sub-Lethal Predatory Shell Damage Does Not Affect Physiology Under High Co2 In The Intertidal Gastropod Tritia Reticulata, Leonardo Querobim Yokoyama, Alexander Turra, Coleen Suckling, Gabriela Torres, Andrew Davies, Ian Mccarthy

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Ocean acidification (OA) poses a major threat to marine animals, especially marine shelled invertebrates such as molluscs. Although many organisms are capable of compensating for the effects of OA, this can impose physiological costs and impact performance (e.g. through increased metabolism and decreased growth). Sublethal injuries on shells may provoke changes in energy allocation. Under acidified conditions, organisms would spend less energy on reproduction and somatic growth to repair the damage. Therefore, we analysed the physiological responses of the intertidal gastropod Tritia reticulata during shell regeneration under OA conditions. We simulated a sub-lethal predation event (a notch in the outer …

The Effects Of Dietary Linoleic Acid And Hydrophilic Antioxidants On Basal, Peak, And Sustained Metabolism In Flight‐Trained European Starlings, Wales A. Carter, Kristen J. Demoranville, Barbara J. Pierce, Scott R. Mcwilliams

Natural Resources Science Faculty Publications

Dietary micronutrients have the ability to strongly influence animal physiology and ecology. For songbirds, dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and antioxidants are hypothesized to be particularly important micronutrients because of their influence on an individual's capacity for aerobic metabolism and recovery from extended bouts of exercise. However, the influence of specific fatty acids and hydrophilic antioxidants on whole‐animal performance remains largely untested. We used diet manipulations to directly test the effects of dietary PUFA, specifically linoleic acid (18:2n6), and anthocyanins, a hydrophilic antioxidant, on basal metabolic rate (BMR), peak metabolic rate (PMR), and rates of fat catabolism, lean catabolism, and …

Plant Genome Size Influences Stress Tolerance Of Invasive And Native Plants Via Plasticity, Laura A. Meyerson, Petr Pyšek, Magdalena Lučanová, Sarah Wigginton, Cao‐Tri Tran, James T. Cronin

Natural Resources Science Faculty Publications

Plant genome size influences the functional relationships between cellular and whole‐plant physiology, but we know little about its importance to plant tolerance of environmental stressors and how it contributes to range limits and invasion success. We used native and invasive lineages of a wetland plant to provide the first experimental test of the Large Genome Constraint Hypothesis (LGCH)—that plants with large genomes are less tolerant of environmental stress and less plastic under stress gradients than plants with small genomes. We predicted that populations with larger genomes would have a lower tolerance and less plasticity to a stress gradient than populations …

Community Forestry: Sustainability And Equity Issues, Bill Buffum

Natural Resources Science Faculty Publications

Governments around the world are increasingly handing over the authority for the management of national forests to the local communities. By 2016, governments in 62 countries had given communities legal rights to manage 732 million hectares of national forest. This approach has been particularly widespread in South Asia. Nepal and India have the oldest and largest programs in the region: community forest user groups in Nepal managed 22 million hectares of national forest in 2016, while forest protection committees in India managed 17 million ha of national forest in 2011. The experience of Nepal and India in the 1980s and …

Development And Validation Of The Short Healthy Eating Index Survey With A College Population To Assess Dietary Quality And Intake, Sarah Colby, Wenjun Zhou, Chelsea Allison, Anne E. Mathews, Melissa D. Olfert, Jesse Stabile Morrell, Carol Byrd-Bredbenner, Geoffrey Greene, Onikia Brown, Kendra Kattelmann, Karla Shelnutt

Nutrition Faculty Publications

Because diet quality (DQ) is associated with risk of chronic disease and is a common construct assessed in health-related research, validated tools to assess DQ are needed that have low respondent and researcher burden. Thus, content experts develop the Short Healthy Eating Index (sHEI) tool and an associated scoring system. The sHEI scoring system was then refined using a classification and regression tree (CRT) algorithm methodology with an iterative feedback process with expert review and input. The sHEI scoring system was then validated using a concurrent criterion validation process that included the sHEI DQ scores (calculated from responses from 50 …

Grow Well/Crecer Bien: A Protocol For Research On Infant Feeding Practices In Low-Income Families, Ann M. Cheney, Tanya Nieri, Ana Ramirez Zarate, Gretel Garcia, Lucero Vaca, Esmirna Valencia, Colleen Versteeg, Arlene Molina, Michael Castillo, Alison Tovar

Nutrition Faculty Publications

Background

The prevalence of obesity among children remains high. Given obesity’s significant lifelong consequences, there is great interest in preventing obesity early in life. There is a need to better understand the relation of common infant feeding styles and practices to obesity in infants using longitudinal study designs. There is also an urgent need to understand the role of caregivers other than mothers in feeding. A better understanding of variation in feeding styles and practices can inform the identification of risk groups and the tailoring of interventions to them.

Methods

In partnership with Early Head Start programs across four counties …

Healthy Sleep Leads To Improved Nutrition And Exercise In College Females, Sue K. Adams, Elizabeth Dimond, Matthew J. Delmonico, Emily Sylvester, Chelsea Accetta, Carley Domos, Ingrid E. Lofgren

Nutrition Faculty Publications

Diet, sleep quality, and exercise are important determinants of physical, mental, and emotional health. College students are particularly vulnerable to impaired health, as they experience multiple unique stressors associated with college life that impact their ability to engage in healthy sleep, diet, and exercise habits. Our results found that exercise significantly mediated the association between sleep quality and diet. Improved sleep habits may increase a young woman's ability and desire to exercise, thus impacting her diet and nutrition. Findings suggest that clinicians can use a person's motivation in any one domain, or multiple domains, to impact other health domains.

Food Insecurity Is Associated With Increased Risk Of Obesity In Us College Students, Aseel El Zein, Sarah E. Colby, Wenjun Zhou, Karla P. Shelnutt, Geoffrey W. Greene, Tanya M. Horacek, Melissa D. Olfert, Anne E. Mathews

Nutrition Faculty Publications

Background

Food insecurity affects millions of Americans and college students are especially vulnerable. Little is known about the relation of food insecurity with weight status and dietary intake during this critical phase of emerging adulthood. Objectives

We aimed to examine the sex-specific associations of food insecurity with obesity and dietary intake among college students. The study also explored these associations by meal plan (MP) enrollment. Methods

This cross-sectional study included 683 second-year students at 8 universities in the United States. Food security status and dietary intake were assessed using the USDA Adult Food Security Survey and the Dietary Screener Questionnaire, …

Dietary Contributors To Food Group Intake In Preschool Children Attending Family Childcare Homes: Differences Between Latino And Non-Latino Providers, Andrea Ramirez, Maya Vadiveloo, Patricia M. Risica, Kim M. Gans, Mary L. Greaney, Noreem Z. Mena, Kristen Cooksey Stowers, Alison Tovar

Nutrition Faculty Publications

While there are several factors that contribute to the diet quality of children in childcare, one contributing factor in Family Childcare Homes (FCCHs) is the provider’s ethnicity. However, research examining the food items provided in this setting is limited; in particular, with regards to differences between FCCHs of Latino and non-Latino providers. The aim of this study was to identify and describe the food items that contribute to food group intake in preschool-aged children attending FCCHs, and to examine differences by provider ethnicity. This secondary data analysis used baseline data from Healthy Start/Comienzos Sanos: a cluster-randomized trial. Children’s dietary intake …

Intraindividual Double Burden Of Overweight And Micronutrient Deficiencies Or Anemia Among Preschool Children, Reina Engle-Stone, Junjie Guo, Sanober Ismaily, O. Yaw Addo, Tahmeed Ahmed, Brietta M. Oaks, Parminder S. Suchdev, Rafael Flores-Ayala, Anne M/ Williams

Nutrition Faculty Publications

Background: Child overweight prevalence is increasing globally, but micronutrient deficiencies persist.

Objectives: We aimed to 1) describe the prevalence and distribution of intraindividual double burden of malnutrition (DBM), defined as coexistence of overweight or obesity (OWOB) and either micronutrient deficiencies or anemia, among preschool children; 2) assess the independence of DBM components, e.g., whether the prevalence of DBM is greater than what would be expected by chance; and 3) identify predictors of intraindividual DBM, to guide intervention targeting.

Methods: We analyzed data from 24 population-based surveys from the Biomarkers Reflecting Inflammation and Nutritional Determinants …

Intraindividual Double Burden Of Overweight Or Obesity And Micronutrient Deficiencies Or Anemia Among Women Of Reproductive Age In 17 Population-Based Surveys, Anne M. Wiiliams, Junjie Guo, O. Yaw Addo, Sanober Ismaily, Sorrel M.L. Namaste, Brietta M. Oaks, Fabian Rohner, Parminder S. Suchdev, Melissa F. Young, Rafael Flores-Ayala, Reina Engle-Stone

Nutrition Faculty Publications

Background: Rising prevalence of overweight/obesity (OWOB) alongside persistent micronutrient deficiencies suggests many women face concomitant OWOB and undernutrition.

Objectives: We aimed to 1) describe the prevalence of the double burden of malnutrition (DBM) among nonpregnant women of reproductive age, defined as intraindividual OWOB and either ≥1 micronutrient deficiency [micronutrient deficiency index (MDI) > 0; DBM-MDI] or anemia (DBM-anemia); 2) test whether the components of the DBM were independent; and 3) identify factors associated with DBM-MDI and DBM-anemia.

Methods: With data from 17 national surveys spanning low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and high-income countries from the Biomarkers Reflecting Inflammation …

Sociodemographic Differences In The Dietary Quality Of Food-At-Home Acquisitions And Purchases Among Participants In The U.S. Nationally Representative Food Acquisition And Purchase Survey (Foodaps), Maya Vadiveloo, Haley W. Parker, Filippa Juul, Niyati Parekh

Nutrition Faculty Publications

Insufficient research has explored whether sociodemographic differences in self-reported, individual-level diet quality are similarly reflected by grocery purchase quality. This cross-sectional analysis of n = 3961 U.S. households from the nationally representative Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey (FoodAPS) compared Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015 scores from 1 week of food-at-home acquisitions across self-reported demographic factors (race/ethnicity, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation, food security, and household-level obesity status). Multivariable-adjusted, survey-weighted regression models compared household HEI-2015 scores across sociodemographic groups. Respondents were primarily White and female, with a mean age of 50.6 years, 14.0% were food insecure, and 12.7% were SNAP-participating. Mean …

Modeling The Potential Productivity Of Urban Agriculture And Its Impacts On Soil Quality Through Experimental Research On Scale-Appropriate Systems, John R. Taylor

Plant Sciences and Entomology Faculty Publications

Urban agriculture could play a central role in local and regional food sovereignty in developed countries, but in many cities, a lack of space and competition with other land uses limit production. Options for meaningfully advancing food sovereignty goals include sustainable intensification of existing urban farms and gardens; (2) expansion of production into interstitial and other underutilized spaces undevelopable for other purposes; and (3) expansion of production in protected environments. Observational studies suggest that–like smallholder agriculture in the Global South–urban home, community, and market gardens in the developed world can be highly productive–but often are not. Research on scale-appropriate systems …

Compost And Black Polyethylene Mulches Improve Spring Production Of Romaine Lettuce In Southern New England, Rahmatallah Gheshm, Rebecca Brown

Plant Sciences and Entomology Faculty Publications

Romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is the most popular leafy vegetable in the United States. Organic and synthetic mulch materials are applied by farmers to reduce their weeding expenditures, manage soil temperatures, and increase the yield and quality of their crops. This study examined the impacts of using black polyethylene, compost, and shredded leaves as surface mulches in spring open field romaine lettuce by using data regarding the soil temperature, lettuce growth, and yield parameters. Mulch treatments were compared to determine effects on soil temperature, lettuce growth rates, leaf area index (LAI), yield, and plant size. Experiments were conducted …

Assessing Health Professionals’ Perception Of Health Literacy In Rhode Island Community Health Centers: A Qualitative Study, Mary L. Greaney, Sherrie F. Wallington, Sankeerth Rampa, Vivian S. Vigliotti, Carol A. Cummings

Public Health Faculty Publications

Background: Limited health literacy is linked with poor health behaviors, limited health care access, and poor health outcomes. Improving individual and population health outcomes requires understanding and addressing barriers to promoting health literacy.

Methods: Using the socio-ecological model as a guiding framework, this qualitative study (Phase 1 of a larger ongoing project) explored the interpersonal and organizational levels that may impact the health literacy levels of patients seeking care at federally qualified community health centers (FQCHCs) in Rhode Island. Focus groups were conducted with FQCHC employees (n = 37) to explore their perceptions of the health literacy skills of …

Sex-Segregated Range Use By Black-And-White Ruffed Lemurs (Varecia Variegata) In Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar, Andrea L. Baden, Jelisa Oliveras, Brian Gerber

Natural Resources Science Faculty Publications

Ranging behavior is one important strategy by which nonhuman primates obtain access to resources critical to their biological maintenance and reproductive success. As most primates live in permanent social groups, their members must balance the benefits of group living with the costs of intragroup competition for resources. However, some taxa live in more spatiotemporally flexible social groups, whose members modify patterns of association and range use as a method to mitigate these costs. Here, we describe the range use of one such taxon, the black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata), at an undisturbed primary rain forest site in Ranomafana …

Expanding The Evolutionary Explanations For Sex Differences In The Human Skeleton, Holly M. Dunsworth

Sociology and Anthropology Faculty Publications

While the anatomy and physiology of human reproduction differ between the sexes, the effects of hormones on skeletal growth do not. Human bone growth depends on estrogen. Greater estrogen produced by ovaries causes bones in female bodies to fuse before males' resulting in sex differences in adult height and mass. Female pelves expand more than males' due to estrogen and relaxin produced and employed by the tissues of the pelvic region and potentially also due to greater internal space occupied by female gonads and genitals. Evolutionary explanations for skeletal sex differences (aka sexual dimorphism) that focus too narrowly on big …

Seasonal Changes In Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga Canadensis) Foliar Chemistry, Ian G. Kinahan, Chad M. Rigsby, Suzanne K. Savage, Nick L. Houseman, Andrew S. Marsella, Anita Oppong, Brenton L. Deboef, Colin M. Orians, Evan L. Preisser

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carriére; hemlock) is an eastern North American conifer threatened by the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae Annand). Changes in foliar terpenes and phenolics were evaluated in new (current year growth) and mature (1-year old growth) hemlock needles during the growing season and into plant dormancy. From April through September, foliar concentrations of non-volatile soluble phenolics, condensed tannins, lignin, mono- and sesquiterpenes α-pinene, camphene, isobornyl acetate, and diterpene resin were quantified. After September, additional analyses of metabolites that continued to differ significantly in new versus mature foliage were carried out. Total soluble phenolic …

The Double Burden Of Malnutrition: A Systematic Review Of Operational Definitions, Jennie N. Davis, Brietta M. Oaks, Reina Engle-Stone

Nutrition Faculty Publications

Background

Despite increasing research on the double burden of malnutrition (DBM; i.e., coexisting over- and undernutrition), there is no global consensus on DBM definitions. Objectives

To identify published operational DBM definitions, measure their frequency of use, and discuss implications for future assessment. Methods

Following a structured search of peer-reviewed articles with terms describing “overnutrition” [e.g., overweight/obesity (OW/OB)] and “undernutrition” (e.g., stunting, micronutrient deficiency), we screened 1920 abstracts, reviewed 500 full texts, and extracted 623 operational definitions from 239 eligible articles. Results

We organized three identified DBM dimensions (level of assessment, target population, and forms of malnutrition) into a framework for …

A Recommended “Minimum Data Set” Framework For Sd-Oct Retinal Image Acquisition And Analysis From The Atlas Of Retinal Imaging In Alzheimer’S Study (Arias), Jessica Alber, Edmund Arthur, Stuart Sinoff, Delia Cabrera Debuc, Emily Y. Chew, Lori Douquette, Wendy V. Hatch, Chris Hudson, Amir Kashani, Cecelia S. Lee, Stephen Montaquila, Sima Mozdbar, Leonardo Provetti Cunha, Faryan Tayyari, Gregory Van Stavern, Peter J. Snyder

Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Introduction: We propose a minimum data set framework for the acquisition and analysis of retinal images for the development of retinal Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers. Our goal is to describe methodology that will increase concordance across laboratories, so that the broader research community is able to cross‐validate findings in parallel, accumulate large databases with normative data across the cognitive aging spectrum, and progress the application of this technology from the discovery stage to the validation stage in the search for sensitive and specific retinal biomarkers in AD.

Methods: The proposed minimum data set framework is based on the Atlas of …

Thymocid®, A Standardized Black Cumin (Nigella Sativa) Seed Extract, Modulates Collagen Cross-Linking, Collagenase And Elastase Activities, And Melanogenesis In Murine B16f10 Melanoma Cells, Huifang Li, Nicholas A. Dasilva, Weixie Liu, Jialin Xu, George W. Dombi, Joel A. Dain, Dongli Li, Jean Christopher Chambeu, Navindra P. Seeram, Hang Ma

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Black cumin (Nigella sativa) seed extract has been shown to improve dermatological conditions, yet its beneficial effects for skin are not fully elucidated. Herein, Thymocid^®, a chemically standardized black cumin seed extract, was investigated for its cosmeceutical potential including anti-aging properties associated with modulation of glycation, collagen cross-linking, and collagenase and elastase activities, as well as antimelanogenic effect in murine melanoma B16F10 cells. Thymocid^® (50, 100, and 300 µg/mL) inhibited the formation of advanced glycation end-products (by 16.7–70.7%), collagen cross-linking (by 45.1–93.3%), collagenase activity (by 10.4–92.4%), and elastases activities (type I and III by 25.3–75.4% …

Attractiveness Of Carbon Removal Technologies For Consumers In Germany And The Usa, Dominik Rüdiger Daniel Brysch

Open Access Master's Theses

In recent times, millions of people realized the urgency to act against the threat of climate change through protests around the world. Achieving the goal of carbon neutrality as defined in the Paris climate agreement while the world population is growing and consumption is increasing with rising wealth, will only be possible with the large-scale implementation of carbon removal technologies. Thus, carbon removal will not only become an important issue for governments, but also for manufacturing companies and private consumers.

The aim is to identify possible carbon removal technologies, compare them with each other and highlight the respective advantages and …

Does Providing Scientific Information Affect Climate Change And Gmo Policy Preferences Of The Mass Public? Insights From Survey Experiments In Germany And The United States, Emily Diamond, Thomas Bernauer, Frederick Mayer

Communication Studies Faculty Publications

The use of information provision has been criticized as an ineffective way to increase support for evidence-based environmental policies, but it remains a dominant strategy among policy communicators. Using a survey experiment on climate change and genetically modified food (GMO) policy preferences in Germany and the United States (N = 3,000 total), we investigate how information provision shapes environmental policy attitudes and whether this effect is moderated by trust in science and trust in the source of messages. Findings show that information provision significantly shifted policy preferences towards the prevailing scientific opinion, but primarily among individuals whose prior attitudes conflicted …

University Manual 2019-2020, Uri Faculty Senate

University Manual Archive

No abstract provided.

Associations Between Age, Menopausal Status, And Physical Function In Middle-Aged Women, Sydney Sweck

Open Access Master's Theses

Importance and Objective: Physical function limitations affect approximately one fifth of middle- aged women. However, correlates of these limitations are poorly understood; limited research investigates the associations between menopausal status, physical function, physical activity, and body composition, and the research available is equivocal about these associations. Methods: Using a cross-sectional approach, 107 (53.31 ± 6.14 yr) middle-aged women completed six objective assessments of physical function (transfer task, 8-foot up-and-go, 30-second chair stands, 6-minute walk test, lift and carry, and lower extremity physical function composite score) and one subjective assessment of physical function (36-Item Short Form Survey physical functioning subscale). Muscular …

Highlighting Fit Issues Of Welding Personal Protective Equipment Through Anthropometry, Kelly L. Domogala

Open Access Master's Theses

Accommodating a target population in garment design is extremely important, especially when the garment is personal protective equipment (PPE) that keeps the user safe only if it fits correctly. Welders face many risks and hazards on a day to day basis, and proper fit of their PPE is essential to avoid sparks and spatter from entering and causing burns. It is also important that the PPE is comfortable so that welders are able to wear it during their daily tasks. The welding population is often overlooked in research that analyzes fit and comfort of suits despite the fact that they …