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The Five Hundred And Forty-Eighth Report Of The Curricular Affairs Committee, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Bills

No abstract provided.

The Five Hundred And Forty-Eighth Report Of The Curricular Affairs Committee: Curricular Proposals, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Bills

No abstract provided.

Curricular Report No. 2017-18-11 From The Graduate Council To The Faculty Senate: Graduate Certificate In Aquaculture And Fisheries, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Bills

No abstract provided.

The Five Hundred And Forty-Eighth Report Of The Curricular Affairs Committee: New Concentration In Naval Science And Technology Available In All Engineering Degrees, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Bills

No abstract provided.

Curricular Report No. 2017-18-10 From The Graduate Council To The Faculty Senate: M.S. Mathematics - Applied Mathematics Track, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Bills

No abstract provided.

Curricular Report No. 2017-18-9 From The Graduate Council To The Faculty Senate, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Bills

No abstract provided.

Curricular Report No. 2017-18-9 From The Graduate Council To The Faculty Senate, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Bills

No abstract provided.

Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes April 19, 2018, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes

No abstract provided.

Addendum: Comparative Genomic Analysis Of The Class Epsilonproteobacteria And Proposed Reclassification To Epsilonbacteraeota (Phyl. Nov.), David W. Waite, Inka Vanwonterghem, Christian Rinke, Donovan H. Parks, Ying Zhang, Ken Takai, Stefan M. Sievert, Jörg Simon, Barbara J. Campbell, Thomas E. Hanson, Tanja Woyke, Martin G. Klotz, Philip Hugenholtz

Cell and Molecular Biology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Clinician Perceptions Of The Nicu Infant Experience: Is The Nicu Hospitalization Traumatic?, Amy L. D'Agata, Mary Coughlin, Marilyn R. Sanders

College of Nursing Faculty Publications

Objectives: Infants cared for in a newborn intensive care unit (NICU) experience pain, parental separation and stress that may approach toxic levels, thus are potentially traumatic. Lack of accepted clinical terminology to describe the infant experience may result in under appreciation of NICU hospitalization on infant and family outcomes. This study explored NICU clinician perceptions of the infant experience and how the terms trauma/traumatic would impact their clinical roles and practices.

Study Design: Semi-structured focus group interviews and thematic analysis were used to describe professionals’ perceptions of the infant’s experience and terminology. Focus groups were organized by professional …

Evaluating How Variants Of Floristic Quality Assessment Indicate Wetland Condition, Thomas E. Kutcher, Graham E. Forrester

Natural Resources Science Faculty Publications

Biological indicators are useful tools for the assessment of ecosystem condition. Multi-metric and multi-taxa indicators may respond to a broader range of disturbances than simpler indicators, but their complexity can make them difficult to interpret, which is critical to indicator utility for ecosystem management. Floristic Quality Assessment (FQA) is an example of a biological assessment approach that has been widely tested for indicating freshwater wetland condition, but less attention has been given to clarifying the factors controlling its response. FQA quantifies the aggregate of vascular plant species tolerance to habitat degradation (conservatism), and model variants have incorporated species richness, …

Draft Genome Sequence Of Bowmanella Denitrificans Jl63, A Bacterium Isolated From Whiteleg Shrimp (Litopenaeus Vannamei) That Can Inhibit The Growth Of Vibrio Parahaemolyticus, Jason P. Laporte, Edward J. Spinard, Marta Gomez-Chiarri, David C. Rowley, John J. Mekalanos, David R. Nelson

Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Faculty Publications

Bowmanella denitrificans strain JL63 was isolated from a whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and was determined to have antibacterial activity against an acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) strain of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of this strain and identify genes that are potentially involved in its antibacterial activity.

Asymmetric Biotic Interactions And Abiotic Niche Differences Revealed By A Dynamic Joint Species Distribution Model, Nina K. Lany, Phoebe Zarnetske, Erin M. Schliep, Robert N. Schaeffer, Colin M. Orians, David A. Orwig, Evan L. Preisser

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

A species’ distribution and abundance are determined by abiotic conditions and biotic interactions with other species in the community. Most species distribution models correlate the occurrence of a single species with environmental variables only, and leave out biotic interactions. To test the importance of biotic interactions on occurrence and abundance, we compared a multivariate spatiotemporal model of the joint abundance of two invasive insects that share a host plant, hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA; Adelges tsugae) and elongate hemlock scale (EHS; Fiorina externa), to independent models that do not account for dependence among co‐occurring species. The joint model revealed …

Iodine To Calcium Ratios In Marine Carbonates As An Indicator Of Oxygen Levels, Angela Stahl

Senior Honors Projects

ANGELA STAHL (Marine Biology)

Iodine to Calcium Ratios in Marine Carbonates as an Indicator of Oxygen Levels

Sponsor: Rebecca Robinson (Graduate School of Oceanography)

The Earth goes through natural cycles of warm and cool periods. In the past,

warmer oceans during interglacial periods have been shown to hold less oxygen

in their waters compared to cooler, glacial oceans. For this research, we are

studying an area in the Eastern Tropical Pacific where it is known to have

variable concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the waters due to the influence of

the climate. Oxygen is a vital component for most organisms …

Microbial Diversity In The Eukaryotic Sar Clade: Illuminating The Darkness Between Morphology And Molecular Data, Jean David Grattepanche, Laura M. Walker, Brittany M. Ott, Daniela L. Paim Pinto, Charles F. Delwiche, Christopher E. Lane, Laura A. Katz

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Despite their diversity and ecological importance, many areas of the SAR—Stramenopila, Alveolata, and Rhizaria—clade are poorly understood as the majority (90%) of SAR species lack molecular data and only 5% of species are from well-sampled families. Here, we review and summarize the state of knowledge about the three major clades of SAR, describing the diversity within each clade and identifying synapomorphies when possible. We also assess the “dark area” of SAR: the morphologically described species that are missing molecular data. The majority of molecular data for SAR lineages are characterized from marine samples and vertebrate hosts, highlighting the need for …

Cloning And Functional Analysis Of The Escherichia Coli Cell Division Protein Zape, Katherine Kellenberger

Senior Honors Projects

During bacterial cell division, a large, dynamic cytoskeletal structure called the Z-ring assembles at the site of division. The Z-ring is comprised of the major cell division protein FtsZ, a tubulin-like GTPase that utilizes GTP to assemble into linear polymers. In Escherichia coli, there are several cell division proteins that interact with FtsZ and regulate Z-ring assembly, constriction, and disassembly. The accessory proteins that interact with FtsZ are called Z-ring associated proteins (ZAPs). The Zaps which include ZapA, ZapB, ZapC, ZapD and ZapE are recruited to the divisome and influence Z-ring assembly and stability. Specifically, ZapE was identified to be …

Screening For Traumatic Brain Injury In Prostituted Women, Melissa Farley, Martha E. Banks, Rosalie J. Ackerman, Jacqueline M. Golding

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

Violence is pervasive in prostitution and can cause traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study estimated the prevalence and demographic correlates of TBI among 66 women and transwomen in prostitution. Ninety-five percent had sustained head injuries, either by being hit in the head with objects and/or having their heads slammed into objects. Sixty-one percent had sustained head injuries in prostitution. The women described acute and chronic symptoms resulting from head injury and/or concussions. These included dizziness, depressed mood, headache, sleep difficulty, poor concentration, memory problems, difficulty following directions, low frustration tolerance, fatigue, and appetite and weight changes. Screening for TBI is …

Diagnostic Value Of Kras Mutation In Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma, Julianna Mastroianni

Senior Honors Projects

The kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene (KRAS) is found to be one of the most common mutated genes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Decades have passed and researchers are still faced with difficulties understanding how the KRAS oncogene works and ways that it can be inhibited to provide NSCLC patients with a better prognosis. The three most common molecular methods for detecting the presence of KRAS are circulating free DNA (cfDNA), Sanger capillary sequencing and next generation sequencing (NGS). The specificity and sensitivity for detecting KRAS mutants has markedly improved and continues to advance by reducing cost and amount …

Curricular Report No. 2017-18-8 From The Graduate Council To The Faculty Senate: Graduate Certificate In Science Writing And Rhetoric, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Bills

No abstract provided.

Curricular Report No. 2017-18-7 From The Graduate Council To The Faculty Senate: Curricular Changes, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Bills

No abstract provided.

Researchgate Vs. The Institutional Repository: Competition Or Complement?, Julia Lovett, Andrée Rathemacher

Technical Services Faculty Presentations

Slides from a Breakout Session, "ResearchGate vs. the Institutional Repository: Competition or Complement?," presented at the NERCOMP Annual Conference 2018 on March 27, 2018 at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, Rhode Island.

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Date: Tuesday, March 27 | 2:00pm - 2:45pm ET | Room 553

Session Type: Breakout Session

Delivery Format: Interactive Presentation

Abstract: What does the popularity of academic social networks mean for open access? To librarians tasked with implementing open access policies, it can seem as if faculty prefer to share their work through ResearchGate and Academia.edu instead of the institutional repository. But is that really …

Cellulose Microfibril Structure: Inspirations From Plant Diversity, Alison Roberts

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Cellulose microfibrils are synthesized at the plasma membrane by cellulose synthase catalytic subunits that associate to form cellulose synthesis complexes. Variation in the organization of these complexes underlies the variation in cellulose microfibril structure among diverse organisms. However, little is known about how the catalytic subunits interact to form complexes with different morphologies. We are using an evolutionary approach to investigate the roles of different catalytic subunit isoforms in organisms that have rosette-type cellulose synthesis complexes.

Thermus Thermophilus As A Model System For The Study Of Ribosomal Antibiotic Resistance, Steven T. Gregory

Cell and Molecular Biology Faculty Publications

Ribosomes are the intracellular ribonucleoprotein machines responsible for the translation of mRNA sequence into protein sequence. As an essential cell component, the ribosome is the target of numerous antibiotics that bind to critical functional sites to impair protein synthesis. Mutations causing resistance to antibiotics arise in antibiotic binding sites, and an understanding of the basis of resistance will be an essential component of efforts to develop new antibiotics by rational drug design. We have identified a number of antibiotic-resistance mutations in ribosomal genes of the thermophilic bacterium Thermus thermophilus. This species offers two primary advantages for examining the structural basis …

Curricular Report No. 2017-18-8 From The Graduate Council To The Faculty Senate: Graduate Certificate In Science Writing And Rhetoric, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Bills

No abstract provided.

The Five Hundred And Forty-Seventh Report Of The Curricular Affairs Committee, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Bills

No abstract provided.

Curricular Report No. 2017-18-7 From The Graduate Council To The Faculty Senate, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Bills

No abstract provided.

Curricular Report No. 2017-18-7 From The Graduate Council To The Faculty Senate: Curricular Changes, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Bills

No abstract provided.

Curricular Report No. 2017-18-7 From The Graduate Council To The Faculty Senate, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Bills

No abstract provided.

Ixonnexin From Tick Saliva Promotes Fibrinolysis By Interacting With Plasminogen And Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator, And Prevents Arterial Thrombosis, Teresa C. Assumpcao, Daniella M. Mizurini, Dongying Ma, Robson Q. Monteiro, Sydney Ahlstedt, Morayma Reyes, Michail Kotsyfakis, Thomas N. Mather, John F. Andersen, Jan Lukszo, Jose Mc Ribeiro, Ivo Mb Francischetti

Plant Sciences and Entomology Faculty Publications

Tick saliva is a rich source of modulators of vascular biology. We have characterized Ixonnexin, a member of the “Basic-tail” family of salivary proteins from the tick Ixodes scapularis. Ixonnexin is a 104 residues (11.8 KDa), non-enzymatic basic protein which contains 3 disulfide bonds and a C-terminal rich in lysine. It is homologous to SALP14, a tick salivary FXa anticoagulant. Ixonnexin was produced by ligation of synthesized fragments (51–104) and (1–50) followed by folding. Ixonnexin, like SALP14, interacts with FXa. Notably, Ixonnexin also modulates fibrinolysis in vitro by a unique salivary mechanism. Accordingly, it accelerates plasminogen activation by tissue-type …

Molecular Modeling Of Ionic Liquids And Deep Eutectic Dolvents In The Bulk And Inside Nanoporous Materials, Francisco R. Hung

Amgen Seminar Series in Chemical Engineering

In this talk, I will give an overview of our recent efforts on modeling liquid and solid phases of ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DESs), both in the bulk and inside nanoporous materials. These systems are relevant to potential applications as electrolytes in electrochemical double-layer capacitors and dye-sensitized solar cells, and in CO₂ capture and separations. In addition, mixtures of ILs or DESs with hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants could be used in absorption refrigeration systems that are partially powered by waste or solar heat. Furthermore, solidification of ILs in the bulk and inside nanopores is one step in the …