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Developing An Algal Biofilm Filtration System For The Remediation Of Nutrient Pollution In Freshwater Ponds, Danielle Delp

Theses

Anthropogenic nutrient pollution is one of the most serious threats facing aquatic systems in modern times. Pollution with compounds containing nitrogen and phosphorous encourages rapid development of autotrophic biomass, or blooms, that severely degrade the quality of an aquatic system both as a habitat for organisms and as a water resource for human use. In freshwater ponds, the widespread need for treatment of nutrient pollution and resulting blooms has resulted in the growth of a large industry dedicated to pond management and maintenance. These companies utilize a variety of chemical and non-chemical treatments to prevent the growth of blooms or …

War Machine: Media And Technology During Operation Allied Force, N Bobic

School of Art, Design and Architecture

One significant aspect of military interventions is that violence in binary geographies, which have an implied colonial discourse (such as Serbia), often involve the dialectics of construction and erasure, meaning that absence and presence of destruction and violence run side by side. This paper investigates the ways that technology and media were instrumentalised in miniaturising evidence and reducing the visibility of destruction during NATO’s Operation Allied Force in Serbia and Kosovo. While the dominant NATO rhetoric behind the intervention was “humanitarian” with the Operation being deployed in the name of Western values and civilisation, this text puts forward an alternative …

Stopover Ecology Of Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris Pusilla) At Coastal Deltas Of The Beaufort Sea, Alaska, Roy Thomas Churchwell

Biological Sciences

Avian migration is one of the wonders of the natural world. Stored fats are the main source of nutrients and fuel for avian migration and it is assumed the fat deposition at stopover sites is a critical component of a successful migration. Stopover sites are crucial in the successful migration of many birds, but particularly for arctic-breeding shorebirds that migrate long distances from breeding to wintering grounds. Despite the importance of stopover sites, it is often difficult to determine the importance of these sites to migrating shorebirds. I investigated three aspects of stopover ecology of Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) foraging …

A Novel Thermal Gradient Design For Small-Bodied Ectotherms, Michael M. Webber, Robert W. Bryson Jr.

Euscorpius

For ectothermic organisms, environmental temperatures can influence a variety of life history traits. Experimental thermal gradients created in the laboratory are useful tools to examine the thermoregulatory behaviors of these organisms. Here, we provide details on the construction of a novel, cost-effective thermal gradient to study thermoregulatory behaviors in small-bodied nocturnal ectotherms.

Help? Not If You Don’T Know What To Look For: Applying Social Cognitive Theory To Program Evaluation In Competitive Forensics, Audra R. Diers

Speaker & Gavel

Jessica Furgerson offered an important call to action by arguing Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives should be applied as a way to evaluate research skill acquisition in forensics participation. I have used her analysis as a way to show that more than just understanding what we do (and should do) in forensics, we should use theory to guide team goal-setting and program evaluation. In addition, I have argued forensics program administrators should establish theory-based program evaluation using Bandura’s social cognitive theory to demonstrate the value forensics offers to the overall university education mission.

Utilizing The Agarophyte (Gracilaria Tikvahiae) As A Biofilter For The Bioremediation Of Cobia (Rachycentron Canadum) Nitrogenous Effluents In Flow-Through Aquaculture Systems, Neal Asthana

Open Access Theses

The biological and technological feasibility of using the agarophyte Gracilaria tikvahiae as a biofilter for the bioremediation of nitrogenous effluents resulting from juvenile cobia culture was examined. Using a thorough literature review of the most relevant published research, optimal parameters are identified and discussed within the context of juvenile cobia culture, while factors maximizing biofiltration and growth of Gracilaria within a biofilter system are outlined. The study attempts to match cobia nitrogen excretion rates with rates of algal nutrient uptake to size the initial biomass of algae needed in a filter for the culture of 10,000 juvenile (<30g) cobia. The culture of 10,000 juvenile cobia, 28-70 days post hatch (DPH), produces a maximum of roughly 300g of nitrogen daily which in turn can support roughly 12-27kg of algae (wet weight) per day, depending on uptake rate. The supportable algae biomass is then used to size the initial stocking density of the algae filter. Optimal system components are identified and management considerations are discussed with respect to optimizing growth as a means to maximize biofiltration and nutrient extraction capacity over time.

Tactile Learning: Touch And Touch Self-Efficacy In College Dance Instruction, Alyson J. Cartagena

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to (a) identify the level of touch self-efficacy (TSE) of college-level dance faculty as measured by the Touch Self-Efficacy (TSE) Scale, (b) explore the factors that influence the use of touch in dance instruction, and (c) describe the perceived benefits as reported by college-level dance faculty.

Methodology: In this mixed-methods approach, a sequential explanatory design was conducted in 2 separate phases of research. The first phase provided an opportunity to quantitatively investigate the levels of TSE in college-level dance faculty. The second phase qualitatively explored the factors influencing the use of touch in …

Effect Of Labor Epidural Analgesia With Hydromorphone On Neonatal Neurobehavior And Breastfeeding Behavior In The First 24 Hours Of Life, Cynthia French

Doctoral Dissertations

Epidural opioids and local anesthetics may depress the neonatal reflexes necessary for breastfeeding success. Literature review yielded no data for hydromorphone and conflicting results for fentanyl. This study investigated whether breastfeeding effectiveness would be less in infants whose mothers received epidural analgesia with hydromorphone compared with those whose mothers received no analgesia, and whether the total amount of drugs given or the presence of multiple stressful events or interventions would be related to the effectiveness of breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding behaviors were studied in 51 infants whose mothers chose epidural analgesia compared with 51 infants whose mothers chose to have no analgesia. …

Evaluation Of The Impact Of Instructional Methodology Of The Who/Unicef Breastfeeding Training On Maternal–Child Nurse Knowledge Gain And Perception Of Breastfeeding Support, Shakira Lita Ismay Henderson

Open Access Dissertations

Nurses are the largest group of healthcare professionals who support breastfeeding and lactating mothers in maternity facilities. Yet, the most effective instructional methodology to deliver the 20-hour WHO/UNICEF breastfeeding training for maternal-child nurses is still not determined. Breastfeeding knowledge gain and perception of breastfeeding support are two key modifiable outcomes of breastfeeding training that are commonly identified in the nursing literature. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of instructional methodology (classroom versus computer-based) on the maternal–child nurse’s breastfeeding knowledge gain and perception of breastfeeding support for nurses that participated in the 20-hour WHO/UNICEF breastfeeding training. A …

Physical Activity And Aging Research: A Bibliometric Analysis, A.M. Müller, P. Ansari, N. Ale Ebrahim, S. Khoo

Research Publications (2011 to 2015)

Physical activity and aging research has burgeoned in the past few decades. Despite the increase in scholarly publications no attempts have been made to summarize the publication landscape and to identify works that had great impact to physical activity and aging research. We conducted a bibliometric analysis and collected publication data from 1980 to February 6, 2015 in the Web of Science Core Collection. Of the overall 9,935 publications most were published after 2007 and almost 60% were in the category of Geriatrics and Gerontology or Sport Sciences. Highly cited publications (n = 45) were mostly authored by researchers from …

Research Shows Typical American Diet Can Worsen Chronic Pain, Staff

Browse All News

No abstract provided.

Postmodernism And Budhism: A Postmodern Woman In A Modernizing Land, Ruthanne Joy Wenger Hughes

Senior Theses

Religion and postmodernism are two paradigms that guide my experience of life. Although it is not necessarily intuitive, these two paradigms do intersect and inform each other, shaping the way I engage with the world. With this understanding, I spent the Spring 2015 semester in the Kingdom of Bhutan and examined my time through a postmodern lens, writing a travel blog at www.bhutanbricolage.weebly.com that mediates my experiences there and my thoughts about Buddhism and postmodernism.

Faculty Perspectives Of A School-Based Mental Health Program In A Rural School District, Jennifer Lynn Massey

Doctor of Education in Teacher Leadership Dissertations

School-based mental health centers provide promising solutions to the nationwide problem of high school dropouts and help students tackle the many barriers that may not only impede their health and well-being, but also their chances for completing high school (Center for School, Health, and Education, 2014). Therefore, gaining and understanding the perspectives of educators will influence the course initiative. The study showed that the services were needed because every participant (n=130) had experienced students who exhibited behaviors associated with mental health problems in the classroom or school environment. Duties regarding the provision of counseling services and behavior-related issues were perceived …

The Mechanism And Regulation Of Mammalian Photoreceptor Dark Adaptation, Yunlu Xue

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The visual perception of vertebrates begins in rod and cone photoreceptors. Both photoreceptors require visual pigments to detect light. At the first step of light detection, a chromophore molecule (i.e. 11-cis retinal), which is conjugated to the visual pigment in photoreceptor outer segment, absorbs a photon. Photoisomerization of the chromophore activates the visual pigment, triggers the phototransduction cascade, and produces electrical signals. After photoisomerization, the chromophore is ultimately converted to all-trans retinol, which must be recycled to regenerate the visual pigment. This visual pigment regeneration process is called the visual cycle. It is the rate-limiting step of the photoreceptor dark …

Characterizing The Role Of Sialylated Milk Glycans And The Infant Gut Microbiota In Growth And Metabolism, Mark Richard Charbonneau

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Undernutrition is a pressing and pervasive global health problem. The pathogenesis of this disease remains unclear, but epidemiologic studies indicate that it is not due to food insecurity alone. Moreover, current therapeutic interventions have limited efficacy in preventing or ameliorating the long-term sequelae of undernutrition, including stunting and cognitive deficits. Recent culture-independent studies have demonstrated that the normal postnatal pattern of gut microbiota development is disrupted in children with undernutrition, leading to the proposal that perturbations in gut microbiota development impairs healthy growth of the host. Human breast milk contains a diverse repertoire of free and conjugated human milk oligosaccharides …

Investigation Of 89zr-Siderophores As Molecular Imaging Agents For Positron Emission Tomography Imaging Of Bacterial Infections, Nora C. M. Goscinski

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Siderophores are small molecules synthesized by bacteria to harvest Fe³⁺ from their environment. In infection scenarios, their production can increase infection virulence by increasing the ability of bacteria to obtain Fe³⁺ and therefore grow more rapidly. The selective uptake of siderophores in vivo in multi-bacteria environments indicates that this class of molecules has a potential use as selective imaging agents. In this work, DFO-NCS and a library of trihydroxamate siderophores were evaluated as vehicles to deliver ⁸⁹Zr selectively to bacteria for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging of bacterial infections. Productive work with radiometals involves thorough knowledge of …

Healthy Living For A Healthy Haiti, Elizabeth Grace Binney

Senior Theses

This project is twofold. The art and the book work synergistically to represent Haiti and health literacy. The pieces selected for this discussion are placed in chronological order of their creation, not the thematic order as they are organized in the book. This allows for discussion of the works as individual pieces of art, artistic development, the creation of a unified theme. They are the representation of a beautiful nation and people, as well as an expression of my inner self.

Measurement, Modeling, And Mitigation Of Lead Impacts From General Aviation, Stephen Neil Feinberg

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Airborne lead (Pb) has been regulated as a criteria pollutant by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) since the Clean Air Act and its amendments in the 1970s. During the 1970s, atmospheric Pb emissions were dominated by the combustion of leaded automobile fuel and metals manufacturing. Over time, those emissions have decreased greatly and according to the EPA the largest emitter of Pb today is piston-engine aircraft. Additionally, in 2008 the EPA reduced the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for Pb by an order of magnitude. These combined factors served as the impetus for further study of general …

Lysosomal Rnaset2 Is Required For Metabolic Stress-Mediated Ros Generation And Cell Death, George Caputa

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Ectopic lipid deposition in non-adipose tissues is a hallmark of metabolic diseases, such as obesity and diabetes, and associated with cell dysfunction, cell death, and organ dysfunction. However, the molecular mechanisms linking excess free fatty acid to cell death are poorly understood. In order to identify genes critical for lipotoxicity, our lab performed a genetic screen in Chinese hamster ovary cells and isolated mutants that were resistant to lipotoxic death. In one of the lines, mutant 2B1, an allele encoding RNASET2, a ribonuclease of the T2 family, was disrupted by proviral insertion. We found that RNASET2 is induced during lipotoxicity …

Micro-Determinants Of Income Inequality And Consumption In Rural Bangladesh, S Rahman

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

The paper examines the extent to which household and regional characteristics influence income inequality and consumption/welfare based on an in-depth survey of 406 households from 21 villages in three regions of Bangladesh. Results show that the overall Gini coefficient for rural incomes is 0.43 but Gini-decomposition revealed that the contribution of mixed crop production to inequality is just 10 percent while “Green Revolution” technology contributes almost 29 percent. Land ownership, farm capital assets, modern irrigation, non-agricultural income, and household head”s education significantly increase consumption. Tenants and households with more dependents are doubly disadvantaged and consume significantly less. Regional factors also …

Puerto Rico’S Community Health Centers In A Time Of Crisis, Peter Shin, Jessica Sharac, Marie Nina Luis, Sara J. Rosenbaum

Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative

In 2014, Puerto Rico’s twenty federally funded community health centers, operating in 71 sites located throughout the Commonwealth, served 330,736 patients, approximately one in ten Commonwealth residents. Compared to other Puerto Rico residents, health center patients are less likely to be insured. Despite considerable growth in Medicaid as a result of the supplemental funding provided under the Affordable Care Act, in 2014, 12.2% of health center patients remained uninsured.

Compared to health centers outside Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico’s health centers show a greater proportion of Medicaid patients served (69% compared to 46% outside Puerto Rico), a greater dependence on physician …

Curricular Affairs Committee Minutes December 14, 2015, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Committee Reports and Appendices

No abstract provided.

Karen Jordan, Karen Jordan, Kelsey Duinkerken

Jefferson Nursing Oral Histories

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Karen Jordan was a member of the civil rights movement in Philadelphia during the 1960s, first becoming involved with the fight to desegregate Girard College. After a semester at Cheyney University Ms. Jordan took time away from school before deciding to study nursing. She enrolled in the Jefferson Diploma Nursing program in 1973 and graduated in 1976. She would later go on to also receive her Bachelor’s in Nursing Science, also from Thomas Jefferson University. Ms. Jordan has spent her long career at Jefferson working as a medical-surgical, oncology, and neonatal nurse. In her free …

Validity Of The Tanita Bia In Measuring Body Composition In Pediatric Patients With Chronic Disease, Ayesha Ghani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Background: Body composition is negatively affected in pediatric patients with chronic disease such as HIV, Sickle Cell Disease, and Cancer due to the effect of disease itself on the body and the various treatment regiments these children must be on. Monitoring the changing body composition in these children may help clinicians’ better address these effects in a timely manner in order to promote better growth and development and improve survival rate. The Tanita® BIA is an inexpensive and portable tool that can be used to access body composition. However, few studies have been conducted to determine its accuracy in measuring …

Refinement And Pilot Testing Social Networks For Encouraging Healthy Behaviors: The Social Pounds Off Digitally (Social Pod) Study, Sarah B. Hales

Theses and Dissertations

Currently about 71% of adults in the US are considered overweight or obese. Overweight and obesity are associated with higher risk of developing many chronic diseases; however, health risks associated with overweight and obesity can be reduced by as little as a 3% to 5% reduction in weight. Mobile health (mHealth) has shown promise as a way to deliver weight loss interventions, yet maintaining participant engagement over time has been a challenge. The purpose of this study was to develop, refine, and pilot test the Social Pounds Off Digitally (POD) Android app for personalized health monitoring and interaction; revise the …

Relationship Between Job Satisfaction Among Frontline Staff And Patient Satisfaction: Evidence From Community Health Centers In South Carolina, Ashley Lynn Barnes

Theses and Dissertations

The role of frontline staff (FLS) is vital to the success of health delivery organizations as they are often the main point of patient contact and the primary source of feedback regarding the patient experience and satisfaction. Anecdotal evidence suggests that FLS have among the highest turnover rates in health delivery organizations, resulting in high recruitment and training costs as well as disruptions in day-to-day operations. However, few studies have examined the role of FLS and the factors affecting job satisfaction among FLS. Researchers have also not examined the impact of FLS satisfaction on patient satisfaction. To address these research …

Effects Of Cell Adhesion Peptides, Ph, And Matrix Shape On Maintenance Of Breast Cancer Stem Cells In An Engineered Hydrogel Matrix, Leily Daneshian

Theses and Dissertations

Metastasis, resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy, and eventual relapse has been attributed to a tumor subpopulation known as cancer stem cells (CSCs). CSCs are regulated in their tumor microenvironment by various factors. Synthetic hydrogels can be used to investigate the effects of individual environmental factors on CSCs by providing inert 3D matrices. In this thesis, poly ethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogel with 5kpa modulus has been used as a culture system to study the effect of; I) integrin and heparin binding peptides, 2) pH, and 3) the shape of the microenvironment on breast CSCs maintenance and tumorsphere formation in PEGDA. …

Dietary Patterns And Prostate Cancer Aggressiveness In African-American And European-American Men, Lara Ryan Schneider

Theses and Dissertations

Several foods and nutrients have been linked to prostate cancer risk, but the effect of overall diet on prostate cancer outcomes is not well understood. Previous research has primarily examined a posteriori dietary patterns in relation to prostate cancer; studies that have used a priori dietary patterns and their relationship with prostate cancer have been inconclusive. Furthermore, racial differences in prostate cancer incidence and aggressiveness are not well understood. Data from the case-only North Carolina-Louisiana Prostate Cancer Project (PCaP) was used to examine the association between overall dietary pattern, as measured by the Mediterranean Diet (MED) score and the Dietary …

Dental Insurance As A Mitigating Factor In Reducing The Risk Of Mortality Among Working-Age Adults With Dental Caries And Periodontitis, Naveed Sadiq

Theses and Dissertations

Background Poor oral health had been associated with increased risk of having systemic diseases and thus mortality. The purpose of this research was to find if dental coverage with health insurance could mitigate the risk of death due to untreated dental caries and periodontitis among working age U.S. adults. Methods Data were drawn from NHANES III (1988-1994) and linked to mortality updated till Dec. 31st, 2011. It was restricted to those in the age range of 20-64 years adults. Furthermore, it was restricted to those who had complete data collection on all measures. Unweighted propensity scores were calculated to control …

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