Digital Commons Network^™

Further Insights Into The Regulation Of The Fanconi Anemia Fancd2 Protein, Rebecca Anne Boisvert

Open Access Dissertations

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare autosomal and X-linked recessive disorder, characterized by congenital abnormalities, pediatric bone marrow failure and cancer susceptibility. FA is caused by biallelic mutations in any one of 16 genes. The FA proteins function cooperatively in the FA-BRCA pathway to repair DNA interstrand crosslinks (ICLs). The monoubiquitination of FANCD2 and FANCI is a central step in the activation of the FA-BRCA pathway and is required for targeting these proteins to chromatin. Despite their critical role in ICL repair, very little is known about the structure, function, and regulation of the FANCD2 and FANCI proteins, or how …

Food- And Health-Related Correlates Of Self-Reported Body Mass Index Among Low-Income Mothers Of Young Children, Karen Mccurdy, Tiffani S. Kisler, Kathleen S. Gorman, Elizabeth Metallinos-Katsaras

Human Development and Family Science Faculty Publications

Objective: To examine how income-related challenges regarding food and health are associated with variation in self-reported maternal body weight among low-income mothers.

Design: Cross-sectional design.

Setting: Two Northeastern cities. Seven day care centers and a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program outreach project.

Participants: Sample of 166 mothers; 67% were overweight or obese, 55% were Hispanic, and 42% reported household food insecurity (HFI).

Main Outcome Measures: Maternal self-reported height and weight to calculate body mass index (BMI). Independent variables were food program participation, supermarket use, 8-item food shopping practices scale, HFI, maternal depressive symptoms, and self-rated health.

Analysis: Hierarchical multiple regression analysis …

Awaken Your Agepotential, Exploring Chosen Paths Of Thrivers, Skye N. Leedahl

Human Development and Family Science Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Cellulose Synthase (Cesa) Gene Expression Profiling Of Physcomitrella Patens, Mai L. Tran, Alison Roberts

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The Cellulose Synthase (CESA) gene family of seed plants comprises six clades that encode isoforms with conserved expression patterns and distinct functions in cellulose synthesis complex (CSC) formation and primary and secondary cell wall synthesis. In mosses, which have rosette CSCs like those of seed plants but lack lignified secondary cell walls, the CESA gene family diversified independently and includes no members of the six functionally distinct seed plant clades. There are seven CESA isoforms encoded in the genome of the moss Physcomitrella patens. However, only PpCESA5 has been characterized functionally and little information is available on the expression …

Three Essays On Shellfish Management In Rhode Island, Pratheesh Omana Sudhakaran

Open Access Dissertations

Shellfish resources are the main fishery resources commercially harvested and cultured in Rhode Island. Wild shellfish management in Rhode Island is undertaken by the RI Department of Environmental Management (DEM) aiming to achieve, among other objectives, conserving naturally occurring shellfish populations in RI waters and managing public health outcomes due to, water quality issues. However, for any management scheme or regulation to be effective, policy must recognize the economic forces at work when evaluating proposed intervention or regulation of shellfishing. Regulations would influence the harvesters’ behavior through the change in the harvested quantity or market price of the product and …

Fair Fishing Human Rights And Sustainability In Bilateral Fishing Agreements Between The Eu And Developing Countries, Anna S. Antonova

Open Access Master's Theses

This project investigates bilateral fishing agreements between the European Union and developing states in order to assess the extent to which these agreements are as successful at implementing international law principles as European Union officials have claimed they are. Over the past two decades, European Union rhetoric has communicated an intent to take on a normative power role in advancing human rights and sustainable development approaches in the context of global fisheries policy. Officials have propagated an image of a “new Europe,” conscientious of its colonizing heritage, committed to promoting good maritime governance, and ensuring responsible fishing worldwide as part …

The Recreational Use Of Provincetown Harbor And Attitudes Towards Shellfish Aquaculture, Daniel Maggio

Open Access Master's Theses

Aquaculture refers to the breeding, rearing, and harvesting of plants and animals in all types of water environments including ponds, rivers, lakes, and the ocean (NOAA, 2014). In the United States shellfish aquaculture of mollusks experienced significant economic growth from 2005-2013. In 2005 the mollusk shellfish aquaculture industry was worth approximately $203,183,000, which grew to $328,567,000 in 2013 (USDA;NASS, 2013). In Provincetown, Massachusetts the interest of growth and development of shellfish aquaculture from local fishermen and town officials is increasing (Wisbauer, 2015).

Surveys were administered to four categories of users, as defined by the town's definitions: residents, non-residents, occupants, and …

C3d Adjuvant Effects Are Mediated Through The Activation Of C3d-Specific Autoreactive T Cells, Anne S. De Groot, Ted M. Ross, Lauren Levitz, Timothy J. Messitt, Ryan Tassone, Christine M. Boyle, Amber J. Vincelli, Leonard Moise, William Martin, Paul M. Knopf

Institute for Immunology and Informatics Faculty Publications

Complement fragment C3d covalently attached to antigens enhances immune responses, particularly for antigens lacking T cell epitopes. Enhancement has been attributed to receptor cross-linking between complement receptor CR2 (CD21) and polysaccharide antigen to surface IgM on naïve B cells. Paradoxically, C3d has still been shown to increase immune responses in CD21 KO mice, suggesting that an auxiliary activation pathway exists. In prior studies, we demonstrated the CD21-independent C3d adjuvant effect might be due to T cell recognition of C3d T helper epitopes processed and presented by MHC class II on the B cell surface. C3d peptide sequences containing concentrated clusters …

A Plasmid-Based Reporter System For Live Cell Imaging Of Dengue Infected Cells, Carey L. Medin, Sierra Valois, Chinmay G. Patkar, Alan Rothman

Institute for Immunology and Informatics Faculty Publications

Cell culture models are used widely to study the effects of dengue virus (DENV) on host cell function. Current methods of identification of cells infected with an unmodified DENV requires fixation and permeablization of cells to allow DENV-specific antibody staining. This method does not permit imaging of viable cells over time. In this report, a plasmid-based reporter was developed to allow non-destructive identification of DENV-infected cells. The plasmid-based reporter was demonstrated to be broadly applicable to the four DENV serotypes, including low-passaged strains, and was specifically cleaved by the viral protease with minimal interference on viral production. This study reveals …

A Comparison Of Satellite-Derived Sea Surface Temperature Fronts Using Two Edge Detection Algorithms, Yi Chang, Peter C. Cornillon

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

Satellite-derived sea surface temperature (SST) fronts provide a valuable resource for the study of oceanic fronts. Two edge detection algorithms designed specifically to detect fronts in satellite-derived SST fields are compared: the histogram-based algorithm of Cayula and Cornillon, 1992, Cayula and Cornillon, 1995 and the entropy-based algorithm of Shimada et al. (2005). The algorithms were applied to 4 months (July and August for both 1995 and 1996) of SST fields and the results are compared with SST data taken by the M.V. Oleander, a container ship that makes weekly transits between New York and Bermuda. There is no significant …

Experimental Evolution Gone Wild, M. Scheinin, U. Riebesell, Tatiana A. Rynearson, K. T. Lohbeck, S. Collins

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

Because of their large population sizes and rapid cell division rates, marine microbes have, or can generate, ample variation to fuel evolution over a few weeks or months, and subsequently have the potential to evolve in response to global change. Here we measure evolution in the marine diatom Skeletonema marinoi evolved in a natural plankton community in CO₂-enriched mesocosms deployed in situ. Mesocosm enclosures are typically used to study how the species composition and biogeochemistry of marine communities respond to environmental shifts, but have not been used for experimental evolution to date. Using this approach, we detect …

Comparative Biogeochemistry–Ecosystem–Human Interactions On Dynamic Continental Margins, Lisa A. Levin, Kon-Kee Liu, Kay-Christian Emeis, Denise L. Breitburg, James Cloern, Curtis Deutsch, Michele Giani, Anne Goffart, Eileen E. Hofmann, Zouhair Lachkar, Karin Limburg, Su-Mei Liu, Enrique Montes, Wajih Naqvi, Olivier Ragueneau, Christopher Rabouille, Santosh Kumar Sarkar, Dennis P. Swaney, Paul Wassman, Karen F. Wishner

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

The oceans' continental margins face strong and rapid change, forced by a combination of direct human activity, anthropogenic CO₂-induced climate change, and natural variability. Stimulated by discussions in Goa, India at the IMBER IMBIZO III, we (1) provide an overview of the drivers of biogeochemical variation and change on margins, (2) compare temporal trends in hydrographic and biogeochemical data across different margins, (3) review ecosystem responses to these changes, (4) highlight the importance of margin time series for detecting and attributing change and (5) examine societal responses to changing margin biogeochemistry and ecosystems. We synthesize information over a …

Intensity Of Th And Pa Scavenging Partitioned By Particle Chemistry In The North Atlantic Ocean, Christopher T. Hayes, Robert F. Anderson, Martin Q. Fleischer, Sebastian M. Vivancos, Phoebe J. Lam, Daniel C. Ohnemus, Kuo-Fang Huang, Laura F. Robinson, Yanbin Lu, Hai Cheng, R. Lawrence Edwards, S. Bradley Moran

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

The natural radionuclides ²³¹Pa and ²³⁰Th are incorporated into the marine sediment record by scavenging, or adsorption to various particle types, via chemical reactions that are not fully understood. Because these isotopes have potential value in tracing several oceanographic processes, we investigate the nature of scavenging using trans-Atlantic measurements of dissolved (< 0.45 μm) and particulate (0.8–51 μm) ²³¹Pa and ²³⁰Th, together with major particle composition. We find widespread impact of intense scavenging by authigenic Fe/Mn (hydr)oxides, in the form of hydrothermal particles emanating from the Mid-Atlantic ridge and particles resuspended from reducing conditions near the seafloor off the coast of West …

Comparing Monitoring Data Collected By Volunteers And Professionals Shows That Citizen Scientists Can Detect Long-Term Change On Coral Reefs, Graham E. Forrester, Patricia Baily, Dennis Conetta, Linda Forrester, Elizabeth Kintzing, Lianna Jarecki

Natural Resources Science Faculty Publications

Citizen science is increasing and can complement the work of professional scientists, but the value of citizen data is often untested. We therefore compared the long-term changes to coral reefs that were detected by a professional and volunteer monitoring program, operated by University of Rhode Island (URI) staff and Reef Check volunteers, respectively. Both groups monitored reefs in the British Virgin Islands from 1997 to 2012 but mostly monitored different sites (URI 8 sites and Reef Check 4 sites). When URI staff visited the Reef Check sites to perform a side-by-side to comparison, Reef Check fish density estimates were consistently …

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Of Immunosuppresive, Mwlod A. Ghareeb

Open Access Dissertations

The immunosuppressive agents used to prevent rejection of transplanted organs include cyclosporine (CsA), everolimus (EVE), mycophenolic acid (MPA), prednisolone (PLN), sirolimus (SIR) and tacrolimus (TAC). Because of the narrow therapeutic index and high inter- and intra-subject variability of these agents, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is an integral part of immunosuppressive therapy following organ transplantation. The immunosuppressants incidence and severity of side effects correlate with the degree of exposure while under-dosed patients can be at a greater risk for allograft rejection. Currently, whole blood or plasma samples that are obtained via venipuncture are used for routine immunosuppressive monitoring. The limitations of …

Reflections Of Undergraduate Business Education Alumnae: Shifting Perspectives On Gender And Work, Aimeé Duvall Phelps

Open Access Dissertations

Women are entering higher education at the greatest rate in history (NCES, 2012). They are succeeding and graduating with degrees relevant to leadership and business and are entering the workforce in record numbers (Catalyst, 2013; Eagly & Carli, 2007). But then women seemingly stall out (Barsh & Yee, 2011; Catalyst, 2013; Soares, Cobb, et al., 2011). The further up the ladder women climb - the fewer their numbers. Numerous literature streams document the potential causes and effects of this phenomenon. This qualitative study sought to augment the current literature that has ignored the impact of undergraduate business education on that …

Insomnia And Identity: The Discursive Function Of Sleeplessness In Modernist Literature, Sarah Kingston

Open Access Dissertations

This dissertation examines the topic of insomnia in British and American modernist literature, focusing primarily on the ways in which the condition of insomnia and the identity category of the “insomniac” intersect with other aspects of subjectivity, such as gender, occupation, race, and social class. Through examining insomnia from a narratological perspective, using fictional, philosophical, psychological, sociological, and medical literature, I discuss the discursive function of both this disorder and identity category during the Modernist period. It also explores the relationship between insomnia and Modernism itself, regarding both the discursive production of knowledge of insomnia and the insomniac during this …

Three Essays On Co-Management In A Fishery, Mihoko Tegawa

Open Access Dissertations

Co-management has been recognized as an important scheme in successfully governing common-pool resources (Ostrom, 1990, 2002). Contrary to Hardin’s Tragedy of the Commons (1968) or Olson’s Logic of Collective Action (1965), empirical research has found many long-lasting self-governing communities through extensive case studies (Baland & Platteau, 1996; Ostrom, 1990; Wade, 1989). This is no exception in fishery (Pinkerton, 1994). Fishery cooperatives, where fishermen collectively manage the fishery, have been garnering much attention from both regulators and academics (Costello, 2012; Deacon, 2012; Townsend, Shotton, & Uchida, 2008). In fact, Northeast multispecies groundfish fishery in US has implemented a sector management system, …

Synthesis & Hypercest Testing Of Ctv Derivatives: A Bowl Shaped Compound That Encapsulates Xenon, Joseph D. Brown

Open Access Dissertations

The primary focus of this dissertation is the synthesis and testing of cyclotriveratrylenes (CTV) as potential biomedical molecular imaging contrast agents. CTVs are bowl shaped molecules that have a hydrophobic pocket capable of reversibly binding Xenon-129 (¹²⁹Xe) gas, a spin ½ noble gas, which is diamagnetic and produces a signal when a strong magnetic field is applied to it. These CTVs then create two pools of ¹²⁹Xe which produce distinct signals in an NMR scan. The creation of the two pools of ¹²⁹Xe is necessary for the application of an imaging technique named HyperCEST, Hyperpolarized Chemical …

Exploring The Experiences Of Adolescents Participating In Interpersonal Group Psychotherapy, Francine Rose Bianca Pingitore

Open Access Dissertations

Given the number of adolescents who present with mental health issues, it is important to explore the best treatment options for this population. Group psychotherapy has been described in the literature as the ideal choice for adolescents who engage in mental health treatment. It is considered a “natural” fit, as adolescents are focused on their peer group during this developmental period. There has been an abundance of research examining behavioral oriented group psychotherapy with adolescents suggesting positive clinical benefits and outcomes. However, process oriented group psychotherapy research with adolescents has been lacking. In particular, the “voice” and perspectives of adolescents …

Effects Of Perfluorinated Compounds (Pfcs) On Metabolic Tissues And The Benefits Of Caloric Restriction, Deanna M. Salter

Open Access Dissertations

The CDC states that there has been a dramatic increase in obesity from 1990 to 2010. Type-II diabetes and obesity prevalence are increasing worldwide. Often, obesity and Type-II diabetes are concurrent, and predispose individuals to development of fatty liver disease, referred to as Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are two commonly studied perfluorinated compounds (PFC’s) that are considered environmental toxicants that have the potential to elicit diabetic and NAFLD phenotypes. This dissertation presents novel findings of gaps within the literature to date. Traditionally, diabetes and obesity have been discussed in regard with …

Are All Red Algal Parasites Cut From The Same Cloth?, Eric D. Salomaki, Christopher E. Lane

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Parasitism is a common life strategy throughout the eukaryotic tree of life. Many devastating human pathogens, including the causative agents of malaria and toxoplasmosis, have evolved from a photosynthetic ancestor. However, how an organism transitions from a photosynthetic to a parasitic life history strategy remains mostly unknown. This is largely because few systems present the opportunity to make meaningful comparisons between a parasite and a close free-living relative. Parasites have independently evolved dozens of times throughout the Florideophyceae (Rhodophyta), and often infect close relatives. The accepted evolutionary paradigm proposes that red algal parasites arise by first infecting a close relative …

The Combined Effects Of Tai Chi, Resistance Training, And Diet On Physical Function And Body Composition In Obese Older Women, S. A. Maris, D. Quintanilla, A. Taetzsch, A. Picard, J. Letendre, L. Mahler, Ingrid E. Lofgren, Furong Xu, M. J. Delmonico

Kinesiology Faculty Publications

Obesity is a major health problem in the USA, especially in minority populations over the age of 60 years, and the aging process can cause adverse effects on physical function. Previous research has shown that Tai Chi, resistance training (RT), and diet result in overall health improvements.However, the combination of these specific interventions has yet to be translated to obese olderwomen in an urban setting.The purpose of this studywas to examine a combined intervention on the primary outcomes of physical function and body composition. Using a nonrandomized design, 26 obese women (65.2 ± 8.1 years) completed a 12-week intervention; participants …

Tuberculosis Interferon-Gamma Responses In The Breast Milk Of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infected Mothers, Lisa Cranmer, Mercy Kanyugo, Barbara Lohman-Payne, Ken Tapia, Grace John-Stewart

Institute for Immunology and Informatics Faculty Publications

Tuberculosis (TB) cellular immune responses were examined in breastmilk of HIV-infected mothers using the T-SPOT.TB interferon gamma release assay (IGRA). Positive TB IFN-γ responses were detected in 6 of 8 (75%) valid breast milk assays. Among 7 mothers with paired breastmilk and blood assays, TB IFN- γ responses were higher in breastmilk compared to blood (p=.02). The magnitude of TB IFN-γ responses in maternal breastmilk and blood were correlated. Elucidating the influence of breastmilk TB immune responses on infant TB susceptibility and immunity may inform future maternal TB vaccine strategies.

Some Unique Monte Carlo Molecular Simulation Algorithms And Their Applications, William Smith

Amgen Seminar Series in Chemical Engineering

The development of molecular simulation algorithms for predicting the thermodynamic properties of classical fluids and their mixtures began over 50 years ago. An ultimate goal is to predict system properties at both the macroscopic and molecular levels with the minimal need for experimental data. Molecular Dynamics (MD) and Monte Carlo (MC) are the two main approaches, both based on specifying an underlying mathematical model for the molecular interactions (force fields). MD has the advantage that it can calculate some thermodynamic properties and can also calculate transport properties and study systems away from equilibrium. Since its implementation is relatively straightforward, many …

The Influence Of Salt Marsh Fucoid Algae (Ecads) On Sediment Dynamics Of Northwest Atlantic Marshes, M. C. Tyrrell, Carol S. Thornber, J. A. Burkhardt, M. Congretel

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Resilience is currently a key theme within salt marsh ecological studies. Understanding the factors that affect salt marsh accretion and elevation gains are of paramount importance if management of these ecosystems is to be successful under increasing synergistic stresses of storm surge, inundation period, and eutrophication. We present the results of salt marsh fucoid algae (ecads) removal experiments on Spartina alterniflora abundance, production and decomposition and the sedimentary dynamics of two marshes on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The presence of the thick layer of marsh fucoids had a significant and positive influence on sediment deposition, accretion, concentration of water column particulates, …

Two Species Competitive Model With The Allee Effect, Ann Brett, Mustafa Rs Kulenović

Mathematics Faculty Publications

We consider the following system of difference equations: [Mathematical equations cannot be displayed here, refer to PDF], where a, b, c, d are positive constants and x₀, y₀ ≥ 0 are initial conditions. This system has interesting dynamics and can have up to nine equilibrium points. The most complex and perhaps most interesting case is the case of nine equilibrium points, four of which are local attractors, four of which are saddle points, and one of which is a repeller. Using recent results of Kulenović and Merino we are able to characterize the basins of attractions of …

Dynamics Of A Two-Dimensional Competitive System Of Rational Difference Equations With Quadratic Terms, Vahidin Hadžiabdić, Mustafa Kulenovic, Esmir Pilav

Mathematics Faculty Publications

We investigate global dynamics of the following systems of difference equations:

[Mathematical equations cannot be displayed here, refer to PDF]

where the parameters b₁, a₂, A₁, c₂, are positive numbers and the initial condition y₀ is an arbitrary nonnegative number and x₀ is a positive number. We show that this system has rich dynamics which depends on the part of the parametric space. We find precisely the basins of attraction of all attractors including the points at ∞.

The Effects Of Silicon Applications On Wear And Drought Stress Of Cool Season Turfgrass, Mike J. Badzmierowski, W. Michael Sullivan

Senior Honors Projects

The ability of turfgrass to maintain quality and functionality during use and drought stress are fundamental to almost all turfgrass environments. A possible mechanism to increase wear and drought tolerance is through the use of supplemental silicon (Si) application. Until recently, Si has received little attention for its role in crop physiology or performance.

While it is recoverable within the plant it is not recognized as an “essential” plant growth component. Si is the second most abundant element in the Earth’s crust; however the majority of soil-Si is bio-geochemically inert. Plants absorb Si exclusively as monosillicic acid, H₂SiO …

Inhibitory Effect Of Gold Nanoparticles On The D-Ribose Glycation Of Bovine Serum Albumin, Weixi Liu, Menashi A. Cohenford, Leslie Frost, Champika Seneviratne, Joel A. Dain

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) by nonenzymatic glycation of proteins is a major contributory factor to the pathophysiology of diabetic conditions including senile dementia and atherosclerosis. This study describes the inhibitory effect of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) on the D-ribose glycation of bovine serum albumin (BSA). A combination of analytical methods including ultraviolet–visible spectrometry, high performance liquid chromatography, circular dichroism, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry were used to determine the extent of BSA glycation in the presence of citrate reduced spherical GNPs of various sizes and concentrations. GNPs of particle diameters ranging from 2 nm to …