Digital Commons Network^™

College Students’ Perspectives Of Bias In Their News Consumption Habits, Jolie C. Matthews

Journal of Media Literacy Education

This article builds off prior work on news consumption habits and perception of bias in the news by focusing on college students’ self-generated definitions of bias, and the strategies they employ to guard against how their personal bias potentially affects what news they choose to believe and consume. Through interviews with undergraduate students, findings show that while participants acknowledged they had personal bias to a degree, the majority still defined bias as an external issue imposed on them by others than as an internal issue shaping their thoughts about the sources they consumed. Some students attempted to mitigate any perceived …

Computing Individual Area Per Head Group Reveals Lipid Bilayer Dynamics, Michael L. Greenfield, Lenore M. Martin, Faramarz Joodaki

Chemical, Biomolecular, and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Lipid bilayers express a range of phases from solid-like to gel-like to liquid-like as a function of temperature and lipid surface concentration. The area occupied per lipid head group serves as one useful indicator of the bilayer phase, in conjunction with the two-dimensional radial distribution function (i.e., structure factor) within the bilayer. Typically, the area per head group is determined by dividing the bilayer area equally among all head groups. Such an approach is less satisfactory for a multicomponent set of diverse lipids. In this work, area determination is performed on a lipid-by-lipid basis by attributing to a lipid the …

Two Canonically Aerobic Foraminifera Express Distinct Peroxisomal And Mitochondrial Metabolisms, Christopher Powers, Fatma Gomaa, Elizabeth B. Billings, Daniel R. Utter, David J. Beaudoin, Virginia P. Edgcomb, Colleen M. Hansel, Scott D. Wankel, Helena L. Filipsson, Ying Zhang, Joan M. Bernhard

Cell and Molecular Biology Faculty Publications

Certain benthic foraminifera thrive in marine sediments with low or undetectable oxygen. Potential survival avenues used by these supposedly aerobic protists include fermentation and anaerobic respiration, although details on their adaptive mechanisms remain elusive. To better understand the metabolic versatility of foraminifera, we studied two benthic species that thrive in oxygen-depleted marine sediments. Here we detail, via transcriptomics and metatranscriptomics, differential gene expression of Nonionella stella and Bolivina argentea, collected from Santa Barbara Basin, California, USA, in response to varied oxygenation and chemical amendments. Organelle-specific metabolic reconstructions revealed these two species utilize adaptable mitochondrial and peroxisomal metabolism. N. stella, most …

A Mollicutes Metagenome-Assembled Genome From The Gut Of The Pteropod Limacina Rangii, Zachary T. Pimentel, Patricia S. Thibodeau, Bongkeun Song, Ying Zhang

Cell and Molecular Biology Faculty Publications

A nearly complete genome of an uncultured Mollicutes sp. was obtained from the metagenome of the gut of Limacina rangii (open-ocean snail), an important grazer and prey for higher trophic animals along the rapidly warming region of the western Antarctic Peninsula.

Alkaline Nucleoplasm Facilitates Contractile Gene Expression In The Mammalian Heart, Alzbeta Hulikova, Kyung Chan Park, Aminah A. Loonat, Mala Gunadasa-Rohling, M. Kate Curtis, Yu Jin Chung, Abigail Wilson, Carolyn A. Carr, Andrew W. Trafford, Marjorie Fournier, Anna Moshnikova, Oleg A. Andreev, Yana K. Reshetnyak, Paul R. Riley, Nicola Smart, Thomas A. Milne, Nicholas T. Crump, Pawel Swietach

Physics Faculty Publications

Cardiac contractile strength is recognised as being highly pH-sensitive, but less is known about the influence of pH on cardiac gene expression, which may become relevant in response to changes in myocardial metabolism or vascularization during development or disease. We sought evidence for pH-responsive cardiac genes, and a physiological context for this form of transcriptional regulation. pHLIP, a peptide-based reporter of acidity, revealed a non-uniform pH landscape in early-postnatal myocardium, dissipating in later life. pH-responsive differentially expressed genes (pH-DEGs) were identified by transcriptomics of neonatal cardiomyocytes cultured over a range of pH. Enrichment analysis indicated “striated muscle contraction” as a …

Global Patterns In Marine Organic Matter Stoichiometry Driven By Phytoplankton Ecophysiology, Keisuke Inomura, Curtis Deutsch, Oliver Jahn, Stephanie Dutkiewicz, Michael J. Follows

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

The proportion of major elements in marine organic matter links cellular processes to global nutrient, oxygen and carbon cycles. Differences in the C:N:P ratios of organic matter have been observed between ocean biomes, but these patterns have yet to be quantified from the underlying small-scale physiological and ecological processes. Here we use an ecosystem model that includes adaptive resource allocation within and between ecologically distinct plankton size classes to attribute the causes of global patterns in the C:N:P ratios. We find that patterns of N:C variation are largely driven by common physiological adjustment strategies across all phytoplankton, while patterns of …

Rapid Metabolism Fosters Microbial Survival In The Deep, Hot Subseafloor Biosphere, F. Beulig, F. Schubert, R. R. Adhikari, C. Glombitza, V. B. Heuer, K. U. Hinrichs, K. L. Homola, F. Inagaki, B. B. Jørgensen, J. Kallmeyer, S. J.E. Krause, Y. Morono, J. Sauvage, A. J. Spivack, T. Treude

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

A fourth of the global seabed sediment volume is buried at depths where temperatures exceed 80 °C, a previously proposed thermal barrier for life in the subsurface. Here, we demonstrate, utilizing an extensive suite of radiotracer experiments, the prevalence of active methanogenic and sulfate-reducing populations in deeply buried marine sediment from the Nankai Trough subduction zone, heated to extreme temperature (up to ~120 °C). The small microbial community subsisted with high potential cell-specific rates of energy metabolism, which approach the rates of active surface sediments and laboratory cultures. Our discovery is in stark contrast to the extremely low metabolic rates …

Equitable Belonging Via Information Literacy: Amanda Izenstark, Mlis • University Of Rhode Island, University Libraries • Pod22, November 17, 2022 Equitable Belonging Via Information Literacy Empowering Teachers To Empower Learners, Amanda K. Izenstark

Public Services Faculty Presentations

As critical educators and learners, we continually encounter a changing information landscape necessitating (re)considerations of our responsibilities as consumers and producers of knowledge. This workshop offers a window into a High Impact Teaching Seminar created by librarians and educational developers at the University of Rhode Island to intentionally integrate accessible Information Literacy (IL) skills for all students. Through a reflective exploration of IL threshold concepts such as scholarly conversation, authority, information creation, and strategic exploration, participants will learn about the seminar’s theoretical framework and structure, engage in sample activities, and consider possible applications at their own institutions.

Emerging Harmful Algal Blooms Caused By Distinct Seasonal Assemblages Of A Toxic Diatom, Alexa R. Sterling, Riley D. Kirk, Matthew J. Bertin, Tatiana A. Rynearson, David G. Borkman, Marissa C. Caponi, Jessica Carney, Katherine A. Hubbard, Meagan A. King, Lucie Maranda, Emily J. Mcdermith, Nina R. Santos, Jacob P. Strock, Erin M. Tully, Samantha B. Vaverka, Patrick D. Wilson, Bethany D. Jenkins

Cell and Molecular Biology Faculty Publications

Diatoms in the Pseudo-nitzschia genus produce the neurotoxin domoic acid. Domoic acid bioaccumulates in shellfish, causing illness in humans and marine animals upon ingestion. In 2017, high domoic acid levels in shellfish meat closed shellfish harvest in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island for the first and only time in history, although abundant Pseudo-nitzschia have been observed for over 60 years. To investigate whether an environmental factor altered endemic Pseudo-nitzschia physiology or new domoic acid-producing strain(s) were introduced to Narragansett Bay, we conducted weekly sampling from 2017 to 2019 and compared closure samples. Plankton-associated domoic acid was quantified by LC-MS/MS and Pseudo-nitzschia …

Quantitative Analysis Of The Trade-Offs Of Colony Formation For Trichodesmium, Vitul Agarwal, Keisuke Inomura, Colleen B. Mouw

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

There is considerable debate about the benefits and trade-offs for colony formation in a major marine nitrogen fixer, Trichodesmium. To quantitatively analyze the trade-offs, we developed a metabolic model based on carbon fluxes to compare the performance of Trichodesmium colonies and free trichomes under different scenarios. Despite reported reductions in carbon fixation and nitrogen fixation rates for colonies relative to free trichomes, we found that model colonies can outperform individual cells in several cases. The formation of colonies can be advantageous when respiration rates account for a high proportion of the carbon fixation rate. Negative external influence on vital …

Prevention Of Child Sexual Abuse In South Africa: Assessing The Role Of Parents, Community Leaders, Educators, And Social Workers, Nosisa Mabetshe, Emeka E. Obioha, Ishmael Mugari, Elphina N. Cishe

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

Child sexual abuse is a global problem and is prevalent in South Africa. Child sexual abuse significantly harms the victims. This study looked at child sexual abuse prevention, focusing on the community, school system, and social workers. A mixed methods research method was used. Data were collected from 115 questionnaire respondents, of which 15 in-depth interview participants were selected. The sample was selected using purposive sampling and stratified random sampling techniques. Low reporting of incidents is hindering the effective response to child sexual abuse. The study revealed the significant role parents and community members could play in preventing child sexual …

Qualitative Analysis Of Factors Supporting Child Labour Trafficking In Nigeria: Public Perceptions And Cultural Relativism, Femi Omotoso Prof., Olayide Oladeji Phd, Babatunde Alokan

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

This study aimed to establish how socio-cultural and economic factors support the endemicity of child labour trafficking in Nigeria. The research was conducted among rural and urban households and stakeholders in southern Nigeria. A field survey was conducted in Ekiti, Edo, Kwara, Lagos, and Osun States. The study utilised cultural relativism and the margin of appreciation theories. The qualitative research approach used in-depth interviews, focus groups, and personal observation methods to collect data. Researchers interviewed 70 participants, including parents/guardians, stakeholders (government officials and private agency representatives), traffickers, trafficked children, and their employers. Societal context, especially the perception of child rights, …

The Erasure Of Sex: The Global Capture Of Policies On Sex By Gender Identity Activists And The Effects On The Rights Of Women And Girls, Feminists From Europe, Asia, North America, Latin America, And Africa

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

This article reviews the goals, history, and impact of the new gender identity politics. Based on the Yogyakarta Principles, these new ideas and policies will profoundly affect the rights of women and girls worldwide. The Principles are a document from an international meeting about sexual orientation and gender identity in 2006. In 2017, the document was updated to the Yogyakarta Principles Plus 10. The Principles recommend legal changes by states worldwide, resulting in the erasure of sex as a legal and cultural category. These principles have been widely used to lobby for legal changes resulting in profound structural …

Rapidly Declining Body Size In An Insectivorous Bat Is Associated With Increased Precipitation And Decreased Survival, Christina M. Davy, Valerie Von Zuben, Pila M. Kukka, Brian D. Gerber, Brian G. Slough, Thomas S. Jung

Natural Resources Science Faculty Publications

Reduced food availability is implicated in declines in avian aerial insectivores, but the effect of nutritional stress on mammalian aerial insectivores is unclear. Unlike birds, insectivorous bats provision their young through lactation, which might protect nursing juveniles when prey availability is low but could increase the energetic burden on lactating females. We analyzed a 15-year capture–mark–recapture data set from 5312 individual little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus) captured at 11 maternity colonies in northwestern Canada, to test the hypothesis that nutritional stress is impacting these mammalian aerial insectivores. We used long-bone (forearm [FA]) length as a proxy for relative access to …

Relevance Of Digital Measures To People With Early Parkinson’S For Monitoring Meaningful Symptoms In The Watch-Pd Study, Jennifer R. Mammen, Et Al.

College of Nursing Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Seasonal Dynamics Of Dissolved Iron On The Antarctic Continental Shelf: Late-Fall Observations From The Terra Nova Bay And Ross Ice Shelf Polynyas, P. N. Sedwick, B. M. Sohst, C. O’Hara, S. E. Stammerjohn, B. Loose, M. S. Dinniman, N. J. Buck, J. A. Resing, S. F. Ackley

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

Over the Ross Sea shelf, annual primary production is limited by dissolved iron (DFe) supply. Here, a major source of DFe to surface waters is thought to be vertical resupply from the benthos, which is assumed most prevalent during winter months when katabatic winds drive sea ice formation and convective overturn in coastal polynyas, although the impact of these processes on water-column DFe distributions has not been previously documented. We collected hydrographic data and water-column samples for trace metals analysis in the Terra Nova Bay and Ross Ice Shelf polynyas during April–May 2017 (late austral fall). In the Terra Nova …

The Upper Ocean Silicon Cycle Of The Subarctic Pacific During The Exports Field Campaign, Mark A. Brzezinski, Diana E. Varela, Bethany D. Jenkins, Kristen N. Buck, Sile M. Kafrissen, Janice L. Jones

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

Diatoms are major contributors to marine primary productivity and carbon export due to their rapid growth in high-nutrient environments and their heavy silica ballast. Their contributions are highly modified in high-nutrient low-chlorophyll regions due to the decoupling of upper-ocean silicon and carbon cycling caused by low iron (Fe). The Si cycle and the role of diatoms in the biological carbon pump was examined at Ocean Station Papa (OSP) in the HNLC region of the northeastern subarctic Pacific during the NASA EXport Processes in the Ocean from RemoTe Sensing (EXPORTS) field study. Sampling occurred during the annual minimum in surface silicic …

Site-Based Assessment Of Oyster Shellfisheries And Associated Bio-Physical Conditions In Ghana And The Gambia, E. O. Chuku, I. Okyere, J. Adotey, S. Abrokwah, E. Effah, R. Adade, D. W. Aheto

Coastal Resources Center Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

Low-Ammonium Environment Increases The Nutrient Exchange Between Diatom–Diazotroph Association Cells And Facilitates Photosynthesis And N2 Fixation—A Mechanistic Modeling Analysis, Meng Gao, Gabrielle Armin, Keisuke Inomura

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

Diatom–diazotroph associations (DDAs) are one of the most important symbiotic dinitrogen (N2) fixing groups in the oligotrophic ocean. Despite their capability to fix N2, ammonium (NH4+) remains a key nitrogen (N) source for DDAs, and the effect of NH4+ on their metabolism remains elusive. Here, we developed a coarse-grained, cellular model of the DDA with NH4+ uptake and quantified how the level of extracellular NH4+ influences metabolism and nutrient exchange within the symbiosis. The model shows that, under a fixed growth rate, an increased NH4+ concentration may lower the required level of N2 fixation and photosynthesis, and decrease carbon (C) …

Identification Of Lethal Inhibitors And Inhibitor Combinations For Mono-Driver Versus Multi-Driver Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells, Geng Chia Ku, Abygail G. Chapdelaine, Marina K. Ayrapetov, Gongqin Sun

Cell and Molecular Biology Faculty Publications

There are no signaling-based targeted therapies for triple-negative breast cancer. The development of targeted cancer therapy relies on identifying oncogenic signaling drivers, understanding their contributions to oncogenesis and developing inhibitors to block such drivers. In this study, we determine that DU-4475 is a mono-driver cancer cell line relying on BRAF and the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway for viability and proliferation. It is fully and lethally inhibited by BRAF or Mek inhibitors at low nM concentrations, but it is resistant to inhibitors targeting other signaling pathways. The inhibitory lethality caused by blocking Mek or BRAF is through apoptosis. In contrast, MDA-MB-231 …

Reconstruction And Analysis Of Thermodynamically Constrained Models Reveal Metabolic Responses Of A Deep-Sea Bacterium To Temperature Perturbations, Keith Dufault-Thompson, Chang Nie, Huahua Jian, Fengping Wang, Ying Zhang

Cell and Molecular Biology Faculty Publications

Microbial acclimation to different temperature conditions can involve broad changes in cell composition and metabolic efficiency. A systems-level view of these metabolic responses in nonmesophilic organisms, however, is currently missing. In this study, thermodynamically constrained genome-scale models were applied to simulate the metabolic responses of a deep-sea psychrophilic bacterium, Shewanella psychrophila WP2, under suboptimal (4°C), optimal (15°C), and supraoptimal (20°C) growth temperatures. The models were calibrated with experimentally determined growth rates of WP2. Gibbs free energy change of reactions (DrG9), metabolic fluxes, and metabolite concentrations were predicted using random simulations to characterize temperature-dependent changes in the metabolism. The modeling revealed …

Generation And Computational Characterization Of A Complex Staphylococcus Aureus Lipid Bilayer, Faramarz Joodaki, Lenore M. Martin, Michael L. Greenfield

Chemical, Biomolecular, and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Studies indicate a crucial cell membrane role in the antibiotic resistance of Staphylococcus aureus. To simulate its membrane structure and dynamics, a complex molecular-scale computational representation of the S. aureus lipid bilayer was developed. Phospholipid types and their amounts were optimized by reverse Monte Carlo to represent characterization data from the literature, leading to 19 different phospholipid types that combine three headgroups [phosphatidylglycerol, lysyl-phosphatidylglycerol (LPG), and cardiolipin] and 10 tails, including iso- and anteiso-branched saturated chains. The averaged lipid bilayer thickness was 36.7 Å, and area per headgroup was 67.8 Ų. Phosphorus and nitrogen density profiles showed …

Acquisitions Unit Annual Report 2021-2022, Andrée J. Rathemacher

Technical Services Reports and Statistics

Annual Report of the Acquisitions Unit, University Libraries, University of Rhode Island for FY2022. Covers personnel, work flow, special projects, and serial, monograph, and e-resource acquisitions. Supplemental files include data on library materials expenditures by a number of variables as well as important working documents from the year.

Impact Of Warming On Aquatic Body Sizes Explained By Metabolic Scaling From Microbes To Macrofauna, Curtis Deutsch, Justin L. Penn, Wilco C.E.P. Verberk, Keisuke Inomura, Martin Georg Endress, Jonathan L. Payne

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

Rising temperatures are associated with reduced body size in many marine species, but the biological cause and generality of the phenomenon is debated. We derive a predictive model for body size responses to temperature and oxygen (O2) changes based on thermal and geometric constraints on organismal O2 supply and demand across the size spectrum. The model reproduces three key aspects of the observed patterns of intergenerational size reductions measured in laboratory warming experiments of diverse aquatic ectotherms (i.e., the “temperature-size rule” [TSR]). First, the interspecific mean and variability of the TSR is predicted from species' temperature sensitivities of hypoxia tolerance, …

A Comparison Of American Women's Experiences With Both Gestational Surrogate Pregnancies And Spontaneous Pregnancies, Jennifer Lahl, Kallie Fell, Kate Bassett, Frances H. Broghammer, William M. Briggs

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

This article evaluates the pregnancy experiences of American women by comparing their spontaneous or non-surrogate pregnancies with their gestational surrogate pregnancies. Data were collected through structured interviews using an online video platform. In total, 96 interviews were conducted. Data revealed that a woman was more likely to have a pregnancy that was high-risk during a surrogate pregnancy than during a non-surrogate pregnancy, independent of maternal age or gravidity (OR 11.4, 3.5-36.6; p<.0001). A surrogate pregnancy had three times higher odds of resulting in a cesarean section (p<.0001) and was five times more likely to deliver at an earlier gestational age (p<.0001). Women in this study were significantly more likely to experience postpartum depression following the delivery of surrogate children than after delivering their non-surrogate children (p=.01), and overall, they were more likely to have adverse outcomes during a surrogate pregnancy. The rate of new post-surrogacy chronic health issues for women of color was significantly higher than for women identified as white (p<.0001). We found that women’s economic disadvantage was a major contributor to the decision to proceed with surrogacy. This study confirms that health disparities exist for women with surrogate pregnancies compared to non-surrogate pregnancies, which can lead to long-term complications after a surrogate pregnancy. In terms of biomedical ethics, it raises important social, economic, and political issues related to surrogacy, all requiring further exploration. Future research will build on the present work in further helping us to understand the circumstances and consequences involved for women in surrogacy.

Alma Link Resolver Title & Issn Report (Top 500) 2021-2022, Andrée J. Rathemacher

Technical Services Reports and Statistics

Statistics for 2021-2022 on the total number of OpenURL requests by journal title and ISSN made to the Ex Libris Alma link resolver for items held by the University of Rhode Island Libraries. Includes only the top 500 journals.

Information provided includes journal Title, ISSN, EISSN, Number of Requests, Number of Clicked Requests, % Clicks from Requests.

Alma Link Resolver Subject Report 2021-2022, Andrée J. Rathemacher

Technical Services Reports and Statistics

Statistics for 2021-2022 on the number of OpenURL requests by Library of Congress classification code made to the Ex Libris Alma link resolver for items held by the University of Rhode Island Libraries.

Information provided includes Classification Code, Classifications, Number of Requests, Number of Clicked Requests, and % Clicks from Requests.

Medford: A Human And Machine Readable Metadata Markup Language, Polina Shpilker, John Freeman, Hailey Mckelvie, Jill Ashey, Jay-Miguel Fonticella, Hollie Putnam, Jane Greenberg, Lenore J. Cowen, Alva Couch, Noah M. Daniels

Computer Science and Statistics Faculty Publications

Reproducibility of research is essential for science. However, in the way modern computational biology research is done, it is easy to lose track of small, but extremely critical, details. Key details, such as the specific version of a software used or iteration of a genome can easily be lost in the shuffle, or perhaps not noted at all. Much work is being done on the database and storage side of things, ensuring that there exists a space to store experiment-specific details, but current mechanisms for recording details are cumbersome for scientists to use. We propose a new metadata description language, …

Pahs In The North Atlantic Ocean And The Arctic Ocean: Spatial Distribution And Water Mass Transport, Mengyang Liu, Minggang Cai, Mengshan Duan, Meng Chen, Rainer Lohmann, Yan Lin, Junhua Liang, Hongwei Ke, Kai Zhang

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

In the Arctic Ocean, it is still unclear what role oceanic transport plays in the fate of semivolatile organic compounds. The strong-stratified Arctic Ocean undergoes complex inputs and outputs of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from the neighboring oceans and continents. To better understand PAHs’ transport processes and their contribution to high-latitude oceans, surface seawater, and water column, samples were collected from the North Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean in 2012. The spatial distribution of dissolved PAHs (∑₉PAH) in surface seawater showed an “Arctic Shelf > Atlantic Ocean > Arctic Basin” pattern, with a range of 0.3–10.2 ng L^{−1 …}

Emerging Contaminants: Fluorinated Alternatives To Existing Pfas, Ting Ruan, Jennifer Field, Ian Cousins, Rainer Lohmann, Guibin Jiang

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.