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Characterization Of The Probiotic Mechanism Of Phaeobacter Gallaeciensis S4 Against Bacterial Pathogens, Wenjing Zhao

Open Access Dissertations

Infections by pathogenic marine bacteria are a major problem for both the shellfish and finfish aquaculture industries, causing severe disease and high mortality, which seriously affect aquaculture production and cause significant economic loss. Marine pathogens like Vibrio tubiashii and Roseovarius crassostreae frequently cause disease in a variety of shellfish. With the understanding that the use of antibiotics in large-scale aquaculture leads to the development and transfer of antibiotic resistance, investigation of probiotic approaches for the prevention of infectious disease has become important. In manuscript I, screening of bacterial isolates from Rhode Island marine organisms and environment using agar-based assay methods …

Life Cycle Dynamics Of The Harmful Bloom Forming Macroalgae Ulva Spp. In Narragansett Bay, Ri, Elaine Potter

Open Access Master's Theses

Macroalgal blooms occur worldwide and have the potential to cause severe ecological and economic damage. Narragansett Bay, RI is a eutrophic system that experiences summer macroalgal blooms composed mostly of Ulva compressa and Ulva rigida. All Ulva species have isomorphic, biphasic life cycles, and the relative contribution of the haploid and diploid life history stages to bloom formation is poorly understood. In this study, we used flow cytometry to assess ploidy levels of U. compressa and U. rigida populations from five sites in Narragansett Bay, RI, USA. Both haploid gametophytes and diploid sporophytes were present for both species. Sites …

Predicting Readiness To Seek Mental Health Services In College Students, Uchenna Jones

Open Access Master's Theses

Young adults and adolescents tend to be among the least likely to seek mental health services even when they may benefit from them. This is particularly concerning since most psychological disorders have the highest incidence during this period of development. Researchers have proposed a number of variables that may act as barriers to help seeking including attitudes toward seeking mental health services, mental health literacy, and symptoms of psychological distress. However, much of this research has focused only on correlations among attitudes, symptoms, and help seeking intentions. Furthermore, the assessment of readiness to seek mental health services has been inconsistent …

Evaluation Of A Topless Bottom-Trawl Design For Fish Capture In The Summer Flounder Fishery, Meghan P. Gahm

Open Access Master's Theses

One of the major threats to sea turtles is the incidental capture as bycatch in marine commercial trawl fisheries. A gear-based approach has been suggested to reduce sea turtle bycatch levels in the summer flounder fishery (Paralicthys dentatus). Previous conservation experiments using a turtle excluder device (TED) in the summer flounder fishery resulted in a significant loss of the target species summer flounder, about 35% on average. A topless-trawl design was proposed as an alternative gear design to mitigate sea turtle bycatch. Previous testing showed that a topless-trawl with a headrope length of 48.7 m (160 ft) was …

Biological Indicators For Assessing Freshwater Wetland Condition In Rhode Island, Thomas E. Kutcher

Open Access Master's Theses

There is a growing need to identify assessment methods that can provide managers and researchers with a relative indication of wetland condition. Biological indicators (bioindicators) are considered to be the most effective and precise indicators of environmental condition. This study focuses on the development of bioindicators based on the concept of species conservatism, or intolerance to human disturbance. In theory, the aggregate conservatism of a species assemblage should indicate the environmental quality of a natural area. In the first part of this study, I applied the conservatism concept to adult Odonata composition to create a novel bioindicator for open-canopy wetland …

Still Hopeful In The Eleventh Hour: A Critical Cultural Study Of The University Of Rhode Island’S Kinesiology Department, Justin Heath Payne

Open Access Master's Theses

My thesis is a critical examination of the cultural practices of the University of Rhode Island’s Kinesiology department 2010-2012, which produces particular norms for what constitutes Kinesiological knowledge. Through the use of the qualitative methods of autoethnography, poetics, a British Cultural Studies optic on the study of everyday cultures, and Foucault’s theory of disciplinary power I attempt to illuminate how a positivistic quantitative Exercise Science way of knowing and studying human movement gets normalized as the privileged form of Kinesiology department. My thesis critically examines my unique experiences as an Exercise Science turned Physical Cultural Studies student as a way …

Investigation Of Genes Contributing To Whole Plant Senescence In Soybean (Glycine Max), Robert Almeida

Open Access Master's Theses

Plant senescence is a genetically determined developmental program characterized by systematic degradative processes that involves activation of new gene activity and down-regulation of other genes that ultimately leads to cell, tissue, organ and whole plant death. Elucidating senescence regulatory pathways and participating genes will allow for the development of strategies to improve crop yields and also curtail post-harvest losses. Three genes are known to be primary regulators of senescence in soybean; namely, g, D1, and D2. In double and triple mutant combinations these genes confer an evergreen leaf and seed phenotype. The double mutation ggd1d1d2d2 shows an …

Assessment Of Food Safety Handling Practices At Farmers’ Markets In Rhode Island, Elizabeth Gran Vandeputte

Open Access Master's Theses

From 2001 to 2010, foodborne illness outbreaks increased in the US and 17% of the outbreaks were from produce. High-risk, whole produce at farmers’ markets present unique challenges to food safety practices in regards to temperature controls, potable water, and exposure to contaminants. Use of a Smartphone application decreases behavior change in those being observed as they are unaware of the observation taking place. The purpose of this descriptive study was to use direct observations to identify unsafe food handling practices among high-risk produce vendors at Rhode Island farmers’ markets. This study used a Smartphone application as a tool for …

Deletion Of Antibody Encoded Tolerogenic Signals To Improve A Dendritic Cell Targeted Vaccine Delivery Platform System, Danielle Aguirre

Open Access Master's Theses

Antibodies specific for DEC205, a dendritic cell (DC) endocytic receptor that traffics to the antigen presentation pathway, have been shown to be excellent tools for raising robust, sustained immune responses to co-delivered vaccine antigens; however, strong immune responses are only elicited with the aid of non-specific dendritic cell maturation factors, without which a tolerogenic immune response is induced. We hypothesize that regulatory T cell epitopes (Tregitopes) located in the αDEC205 sequence promotes tolerance, requiring the use of non-specific immuno-stimulators to promote pro-inflammatory immune responses. This hypothesis is based on previous research performed by De Groot et al. 2008 who …

Effect Of High- And Low-Fodmap Diet Instruction On Fodmap Intake And Dietary Quality In Healthy Young Adults, James O'Toole

Open Access Master's Theses

Objective: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is the most commonly diagnosed Gastrointestinal (GI) condition in the United States affecting 30 million (10%) people. Symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, distension, excessive wind and altered bowel habits when anatomical abnormalities and inflammation have been excluded. A low-FODMAP diet is now considered as an effective strategy for managing symptoms of IBS in Australia, with interest expanding across the world. Several limitations of a low-FODMAP diet pertaining to dietary quality and health benefits have been suggested. Malabsorbed FODMAPs provide multiple benefits which include a natural laxative effect due to their osmotic effects, a prebiotic …

Influence Of A Within Meal Eating Rate Intervention On Overall Diet Quality In Overweight And Obese Women, Sean C. Krueger

Open Access Master's Theses

Background: Improved diet quality has been identified as a key factor in improving longevity and quality of life. Behavior change interventions seeking to influence diet quality and limit obesity often focus on caloric restrictions and quantities of foods consumed. No current interventions have focused solely on the act of eating, despite initial research that suggests that pace at which food is consumed during a meal may be influential.

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate relationships between within-meal eating rate and diet quality, and the influence of participation in an eating rate intervention on diet quality. …

Cadmium Promotes Proliferation Of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells Through Egfr-Mediated Cell Cycle Regulation, Zhengxi Wei

Open Access Master's Theses

Cadmium (Cd) is a carcinogenic heavy metal which is implicated in breast cancer by epidemiological studies. In cell culture studies, it is reported to promote breast cancer cell growth through membrane estrogen receptors. Triple-negative breast cancer patients are non-responsive to endocrine and trastuzumab therapy and have the worst prognosis and lowest survival rate. The purpose of this study was to examine whether Cd can promote the growth of non-metastatic, triple-negative human breast cancer cells HCC 1937, which are positive for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). It was found that Cd treatment (0.1-0.5 μM) promoted cell growth and accelerated cell cycle …

Thyroid Hormones, Performance, And Psychological Changes On Overtraining In Female Distance Runners, Justin Nicoll

Open Access Master's Theses

Statement of the Problem: Overtraining (OT) is common in endurance sports. Perturbations in the hormonal milieu are common throughout OT literature. Thyroid hormones (TH) are altered by energy imbalances, and these imbalances are often present in female endurance athletes. Thyroid hormones also regulate metabolism, energy production, and therefore they may play a role in commonly cited symptoms of OT in these athletes. Alterations in TH status often occur slowly, and research investigating TH and their relationship in overtrained athletes is sparse. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate relationships in TH and commonly cited symptoms of …

Effects Of Introduced Green Iguanas (Iguana Iguana) On Tropical Plant Communities Through Seed Dispersal And Germination, Jhoset A. Burgos-Rodriguez

Open Access Master's Theses

Despite the importance of dispersal and germination for plant life cycles and population dynamics, the effects of reptiles are often overlooked because herbivory is relatively rare in reptiles. Green Iguanas (Iguana iguana) enhance seed germination in some plant species in xeric habitats in its native range, but no studies have been conducted on introduced populations, such as in Puerto Rico. Because Green Iguanas can be abundant where they have been introduced, they have the potential to affect plant communities by dispersing and germinating seeds. In summer 2013, a total of 258 Green Iguana scat samples were collected in …

The Effects Of Different Athletic Playing Surfaces On Jump Height, Force And Power, Kelly Murphy

Open Access Master's Theses

Problem Statement and Background: As artificial turfs (AT) become more commonplace, the number of recreational athletes playing on them increases. Some aspects of performance such as speed appear to be better on AT; yet higher rates of injury have been reported. Despite this information, there are still few published studies on outcomes of athletic playing surfaces on athlete performance. Further, there is no research that compares individual performance on AT, hard surfaces and different composite natural surfaces. The purpose of this study was to compare athlete performance on AT against two different natural turf bases and a hard surface. …

Structure, Function And Evolution Of Phosphoprotein P0 And Its Unique Insert In Tetrahymena Thermophila, Giovanni Pagano

Open Access Master's Theses

Phosphoprotein P0 is a highly conserved ribosomal protein that forms the central scaffold of the large ribosomal subunit’s “stalk complex”, which is necessary for recruiting protein elongation factors to the ribosome. Evidence in the literature suggests that P0 may be involved in diseases such as malaria and systemic lupus erythematosus. We are interested in the possibility that the P0 of the “ciliated protozoa” Tetrahymena thermophile may be useful as a model system for vaccine research and drug development. In addition, the P0s of T. thermophila and other ciliated protozoans contain a 15 to 17 amino acid long insert, unique to …

A Paper‐Based Lateral Flow Device For The Detection Of Iαip Via Elisa, Hanno Teiwes

Open Access Master's Theses

This study focuses on the development of a new paper‐based microfluidic device for the detection of IαIP via ELISA. Recent studies proved that the concentration of IαIP is related to the mortality rate of patients who suffer from sepsis. The developed device is able to determine the concentration of IαIP in a buffer solution where a low concentration is an indicator for sepsis. Using a microfluidic valve, the reagents needed to perform the ELISA can be loaded sequentially. The microfluidic device consists of paper on which the channel geometry is printed with wax ink. Different layers of the device are …

A Comparison Of The Development Of The Lateral Line Canal Pores In Two Species Of Cichlid Fishes With Functionally Distinct Canal Morphologies, Lauren E. Carter

Open Access Master's Theses

The cranial lateral line system (LL) is composed of a series of bony, pored canals that are integrated within a conserved subset of dermatocranial bones. Neuromast receptor organs are located in the canals between positions of adjacent canal pores, which link the fluid within the canals to the fluid of the external environment. Among species the lateral line canals can be narrow, narrow with widened tubules, widened, branched, or reduced. The goal of this project was to examine ontogenetic trends in size and shape of canal pores within and between two cichlid species, Aulonocara stuartgranti (widened canals) and Tramitichromis sp …

Assessing Global Product Sustainability – Development Of An Integrated Approach, Alexander C. Bruns

Open Access Master's Theses

An increasingly important competitive factor for companies is how sustainably they operate and how sustainable their products are. Sustainability, therefore, has become an important issue in production and manufacturing research. The presence of numerous—even contradictory—complex definitions makes it difficult to capture the concept’s main contents. It is even more complicated to express and assess specific goals, which is why many researchers from different areas focus their attention on the challenge of assessing sustainability. This master’s thesis, therefore, pursues two main objectives. The first objective is to explore the terms sustainability and sustainability assessment by means of an extensive literature review. …

Classification And Development Of Mathematical Models And Simulation For Industrial Ecology, Fabian Schulze

Open Access Master's Theses

Recent publications call for a higher focus on implementation of the theoretical concept of industrial ecology. It embodies the idea that collaborating companies use each other’s waste and byproducts following the example of the natural metabolism. Subject matter of this work is the practical application of this idea, i.e. eco-industrial parks and networks. In addition to the positive impact on the environment due to a reduction of pressure on limited natural resources, existing cases show that benefits can simultaneously be achieved for all three dimensions of sustainable development, including the economy and society.

In order to promote this concept and …

Developing And Optimizing A Method To Analyze Substrate Specificity Of Tyrosine Kinases, Ralph Kfoury

Open Access Master's Theses

Protein Tyrosine Kinases (PTKs) are crucial enzymes which aid in cellular signal transduction pathways as well as cell cycle regulation. This is accomplished by phosphorylating downstream targets specifically on the hydroxyl group of tyrosine residues. Equally important, extensive research has established a connection between overexpression of PTKs and the development of certain cancers. One example of this is seen in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) where a chromosomal translocation occurs in patients which results in a hybrid, overexpressed BCR/Abl fusion PTK ultimately leading to tumor formation. Thus, understanding PTKs along with what substrates they act on is of utmost importance.

Along …

Development Of A Paper Based Lateral Flow Device For The Detection Of Iαip Via Competitive Elisa, Alexander Giannakos

Open Access Master's Theses

This research has the focus on developing a paper-based device capable of sequentially flowing three separate fluids. Different assembly methods are investigated and compared to develop a more streamlined approach for the prototyping and testing of biological reagents. A faster method of fabrication is developed followed by an investigation of the potentials to detect the presence of Inter α Inhibitor Protein (a biomarker associated with sepsis). This is primarily achieved by applying the techniques of an Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) onto a paper based platform. The research presented shows the steady progression toward and optimization of a lateral flow …

Elucidating The Molecular Response Of Microbial Nitrogen Fixation In Estuarine Sediments To Hypoxia, Andraya Louise Ehrlich

Open Access Master's Theses

Thermally-induced stratification and anthropogenic inputs of nutrients are major contributors to the onset of seasonal hypoxia in coastal estuaries. Hypoxia, defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as less than or equal to 2.3 mg L^-1 dissolved oxygen (DO), has been recorded globally in over 400 systems. Hypoxia in estuarine systems is predicted to become more prevalent with climate change exacerbating eutrophication-driven hypoxic conditions. This study investigated impacts of hypoxic stress on microbes that drive nitrogen (N) fixation in estuarine sediments from Narragansett Bay, RI. Previous studies have indicated organic matter loading and depleted oxygen conditions may be driving …

Functional Analysis Of The Cellulose Synthase Class Specific Region In Physcomitrella Patens, Tess Scavuzzo-Duggan

Open Access Master's Theses

Cellulose synthases are found in a wide range of organisms, from bacteria to land plants. However, the cellulose synthases found in land plants (CESAs) form large, multimeric, rosette-shaped cellulose synthase complexes (CSCs) and have three unique regions not found in other cellulose synthases; the N-terminal zinc-binding domain, the Plant Conserved Region (P-CR) and the Class Specific Region (CSR). The CSR, a portion of the large cytoplasmic region that contains the catalytic domain, has been predicted to be involved in CSC formation through in silico modeling. This project tested the hypothesis that the CSR is necessary for clade-specific CESA function. We …

Identification Of Novel Fancd2 Interacting Proteins Via Immunoprecipitation And Mass Spectrometry, Paul A. Azzinaro

Open Access Master's Theses

Fanconi Anemia (FA) is a rare genetic disease caused by biallelic mutations in one of sixteen genes involved in the FA-BRCA DNA damage repair pathway. The proteins encoded by these genes function cooperatively in a common pathway which resolves lesions caused by interstrand crosslinks (ICLs). A critical step in this pathway is the monoubiquitination and chromatin targeting of FANCD2 and FANCI. The mechanism by which these proteins are targeted to chromatin is not understood. FANCD2 is known to interact with several downstream proteins while associated with chromatin. Finding new FANCD2 interacting proteins is critical to understanding how FANCD2 functions and …

Ecology And Conservation Of The Bamboo Pit Viper: Natural History, Demography And Effects Of Translocation, Elizabeth Anne Devan-Song

Open Access Master's Theses

The bamboo pit viper (Trimeresurus albolabris, Gray 1842) is broadly distributed through South and Southeast Asia. This venomous snake occurs in high abundances in Hong Kong, and frequently comes into contact with humans. Thus it is viewed as a ‘nuisance’ species and is commonly translocated away from areas of human habitation. Despite being relatively abundant and a frequent focus of humansnake conflict in the region, very little is known about the ecology, demography, and the effects of long-distance translocation on this species. I captured 104 T. albolabris from throughout Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China and collected …

Portable Microfluidic Fluid Handling System For The Detection Of Protein Biomarkers In Whole Human Blood, Michael Franzblau

Open Access Master's Theses

The thesis focused on the design and construction of a proof-of-concept polymer based microfluidic Point of Care (POC) device that is portable, requires little user interaction, and is sensitive enough to reliably test for protein biomarkers from a small sample of whole human blood. Specific contributions to the presented system include novel microfluidic channel geometries that support improved fluidic handling, and an improved technique for the fabrication of the poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microfluidic chip. Additionally, a commercially available plasma separation membrane was integrated into the microfluidic chip using presented structures and techniques to achieve cellular filtration of whole blood on-chip, yielding …

Redox Status Of Fe In Serpentinites Of The Coast Range And Zambales Ophiolites, Amy Stander

Open Access Master's Theses

Although, the reduced status of the Earth’s upper mantle is a possible controller of the deep, rock-hosted biosphere, knowledge of the redox state of the mantle is incomplete. Peridotites (mantle rocks) are composed of ultramafic (Fe, Mg-rich) minerals such as olivine and pyroxene. During serpentinization, water and ultramafic minerals react, generating a package of secondary minerals dominated by serpentine. This releases hydrogen gas in amounts dependent on system geochemistry and largely controlled by the Fe(II) budget in the protolith, as well as other products. Microbial life can be fueled by the hydrogen produced by serpentinization in environments that are generally …

Habitability Of Ultrabasic, Serpentinite-Associated Waters From Coast Range And Philippines Ophiolites, Tabetha Juliann Scott

Open Access Master's Theses

The deep biosphere in cold, dark sub-seafloor ultramafic rocks (i.e., those rocks rich in Fe and Mg) is stressed by exceedingly high pH of through-going solutions, transient, if any, inorganic carbon availability, and little known organic carbon inventories. As a test of heterotrophic carbon use, serpentinite-associated waters (from groundwater sampling wells and associated surface seepages in tectonically uplifted mantle units in ophiolites) were tested for differences with respect to aqueous geochemistry and microbial growth assays in EcoPlates™ - BioLog Inc. This work focuses on two field locations for water sampling: the Coast Range Ophiolite, CA, USA, and the Zambales Ophiolite, …

The Impact Of High And Low Fodmap Conditions On Blood Glucose Concentrations In Healthy Young Adults, Evan William Kerr

Open Access Master's Theses

Objective: Fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAPs) are a group of carbohydrates that evade digestion in the small intestine and are subsequently metabolized by colonic microbiota. Colonic fermentation of FODMAPs has been linked to a prebiotic effect resulting in improved blood glucose response and subjective appetite. The purpose of this study was to examine how changes in FODMAP consumption effects blood glucose response and subjective appetite. Fasting breath hydrogen was also examined as an indicator of colonic fermentation.

Design: This study utilized a single blind, randomized, crossover design. Healthy participants (n=16) were instructed to follow a low-FODMAP …