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2025

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Articles 70291 - 70320 of 75923

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Validating A Novel Capability Of Assessing Pathways Of Animal Water Gain And Loss, Zachary T. Steele, Karen Caceres, Zachary A. David, Lisa M. Shollenberger, Alexander R. Gerson, Seth D. Newsome, John P. Whiteman Jan 2025

Validating A Novel Capability Of Assessing Pathways Of Animal Water Gain And Loss, Zachary T. Steele, Karen Caceres, Zachary A. David, Lisa M. Shollenberger, Alexander R. Gerson, Seth D. Newsome, John P. Whiteman

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Understanding variations in the routes by which wild animals gain and lose water is challenging, and common methods require longitudinal sampling, which can be prohibitive. However, a new approach uses Δ′¹⁷OBW (Δ′¹⁷O of animal body water), calculated from measurements of δ′¹⁷O and δ′¹⁸O in a single sample, as a natural tracer of water flux. Δ′¹⁷OBW is promising, but its relationship to organismal variables such as metabolic rate and water intake have not been validated. Here, we continuously measured oxygen influxes and effluxes of captive deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), and manipulated their water intake and metabolic rate. We used …

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Heterotrophy Of Particulate Organic Matter Subsidies Contributes To Divergent Bleaching Responses In Tropical Sclaractinian Corals, Connor R. Love, Kelly E. Speare, Michael D. Fox, Veronica Z. Radice, Kelton W. Mcmahon, Gretchen E. Hofmann,, David L. Valentine, Marie E. Strader Jan 2025

Heterotrophy Of Particulate Organic Matter Subsidies Contributes To Divergent Bleaching Responses In Tropical Sclaractinian Corals, Connor R. Love, Kelly E. Speare, Michael D. Fox, Veronica Z. Radice, Kelton W. Mcmahon, Gretchen E. Hofmann,, David L. Valentine, Marie E. Strader

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Heterotrophic feeding on plankton and particulate organic matter (POM) by tropical Scleractinian corals is known to aid in the resistance and recovery from thermally induced bleaching. However, the relative importance of heterotrophy in promoting bleaching resistance and recovery is likely to vary based on ecological context and the severity of heat stress. In 2019, the Pacific Island of Mo'orea experienced mass coral mortality during a widespread marine heatwave. Many Acropora hyacinthus colonies on the shallow reef slope (5 m) were resistant to bleaching, while colonies on the deeper fore reef (14 m) often bleached and subsequently recovered, despite similar thermal …

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Schistosoma Mansoni Infection Causes Consistent Changes To The Fecal Bacterial Microbiota Of Mice Across And Within Sites, Mariam A. Mhanna, David T. Gauthier, Lisa M. Shollenberger Jan 2025

Schistosoma Mansoni Infection Causes Consistent Changes To The Fecal Bacterial Microbiota Of Mice Across And Within Sites, Mariam A. Mhanna, David T. Gauthier, Lisa M. Shollenberger

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Eggs of Schistosoma mansoni are produced by adult female worms in mesenteries of infected hosts. Eggs can cross the intestinal barrier and form granulomas in the tissue or breach and exit the host through fecal excretion. These interactions may affect the host microbiome assemblages. Given the potential for schistosomal alteration of host gut microbiome and subsequent effects on the fecal bacterial composition, it is important to conduct controlled microbiome studies on model animals. While pursuing these studies, it is important to take into account the different conditions in which microbiome studies are conducted and their consequent impacts on variability and …

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Addressing The Productivity-Susceptibility Analysis In Data-Limited Fisheries For Understudied Fish In The Marine Aquarium Trade, Alice Wynn, Jemelyn Baldisimo, Gabrielle Baillargeon, Michael Tlusty, Andrew Rhyne Jan 2025

Addressing The Productivity-Susceptibility Analysis In Data-Limited Fisheries For Understudied Fish In The Marine Aquarium Trade, Alice Wynn, Jemelyn Baldisimo, Gabrielle Baillargeon, Michael Tlusty, Andrew Rhyne

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The marine aquarium trade (MAT) harvests millions of coral reef fishes from the wild yearly. While the MAT supports fishers, hobbyists and marine education, harvested fishes are crucial in maintaining coral reef health and balanced marine cycles within their native habitats. Understanding the impact of the MAT on fish populations is critical for sustaining the trade in the long-term. Productivity-susceptibility analyses (PSAs) offer semiquantitative methods of analyzing the productive capacity of each fish stock, as well as its susceptibility to overfishing. The present study revises and expands upon a PSA conducted by Baillargeon et al. (2020) that focused on 32 …

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Dengue Virus Modulates Critical Cell Cycle Regulatory Proteins In Human Megakaryocyte Cells, Swarnendu Basak, Shovan Dutta, Supreet Khanal, Girish Neelakanta, Hameeda Sultana Jan 2025

Dengue Virus Modulates Critical Cell Cycle Regulatory Proteins In Human Megakaryocyte Cells, Swarnendu Basak, Shovan Dutta, Supreet Khanal, Girish Neelakanta, Hameeda Sultana

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Suppression of human megakaryocytes by dengue virus (DENV) infection significantly reduces the platelet count that eventually leads to thrombocytopenia, severe dengue and death. To understand DENV interactions with megakaryocytes, we investigated the cell cycle in leukemic human megakaryocytic in vitro cell line (MEG-01 cells). Megakaryocytes are known for complex endomitotic cell cycle leading to their polyploidy state. Our study shows that DENV uses these polyploid cells for its replication. Understanding the modulation of DENV-mediated cell cycle regulation in megakaryocytes is therefore highly important. We show that DENV2 (serotype 2) infection significantly modulates cell cycle signaling. Our protein profile microarray data …

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Analyzing Microbial Communities In Porites Astreoides, Sanaa Caldwell, Katie Parker, Daniel Barshis Jan 2025

Analyzing Microbial Communities In Porites Astreoides, Sanaa Caldwell, Katie Parker, Daniel Barshis

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Coral reefs are vital marine ecosystems that support many different species and ecosystem services through protecting coastlines from storms and erosion, providing raw materials for medication, and facilitating diversity amongst marine species. Anthropogenic climate change is causing ocean temperatures to exceed the range of coral thermal tolerance resulting in more coral bleaching events globally. However, some corals have the capacity to withstand high temperatures through different thermal tolerance strategies. A balanced microbial community plays a critical role in coral health and recent studies have indicated that a balanced microbiome is associated with temperature-stress tolerant corals. Yet, there is a severe …

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Herpetofauna Richness, Diversity, And Occurrence At The Northern Ecotone Of Longleaf Pine, Julianne Jones, Dylan Bryant, Erik Yando Jan 2025

Herpetofauna Richness, Diversity, And Occurrence At The Northern Ecotone Of Longleaf Pine, Julianne Jones, Dylan Bryant, Erik Yando

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Habitat suitability commonly differs between the core and periphery of ecosystems. The longleaf pine ecosystem is recognized for its value in providing habitat to a variety of specialist and endemic species, especially herpetofauna. However, at the northernmost extent of longleaf pine (in southeastern Virginia) little is known about the denizen reptiles and amphibians. Moreover, the remaining longleaf pine ecosystem at the latitudinal ecotone is fragmented amongst a mosaic of other ecosystems. We examined herpetofauna diversity, richness, and capture rates between four focal habitat types—mature longleaf pine, restored longleaf pine, maple-gum swamp, and pocosin-bog—in the Zuni Pine Barrens of southeastern Virginia. …

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Form And Function In Mobulids: A Comparative Analysis Of Filter Morphology With Bioinspiration Applications, J. B. Teeple, S. R. Kahane-Rapport, K. E. Cohen, L. Hamann, J. A. Strother, E. W. M. Paig-Tran Jan 2025

Form And Function In Mobulids: A Comparative Analysis Of Filter Morphology With Bioinspiration Applications, J. B. Teeple, S. R. Kahane-Rapport, K. E. Cohen, L. Hamann, J. A. Strother, E. W. M. Paig-Tran

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Mobulas (manta and devil rays) are large-scale ram filter feeders that separate planktonic food particles from large volumes of water with minimal clogging. This contrasts with most human-made filters that can suffer from problematic clogging requiring additional mechanisms for clearing blocked surfaces and maintaining performance. Prior studies have shown that mobulas employ a unique mechanism referred to as ricochet separation to filter feed, whereby captive vortices in filter pores cause particles to bounce off the filter surfaces and away from the filter pores. This mechanism enables the filtration of particles smaller than the pore size and reduced clogging. However, few …

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Decoding Tattoo And Permanent Makeup Pigments: Linking Physicochemical Properties To Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, And Elimination Profiles Using Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (Qsar)-Based New Approach Methodologies (Nams), Girija Bansod, Ajay Vikram Singh, Preeti Bhardwaj, Tulika Rai, Sweta Vijay Nakhale, Amruta Shelar, Rajendra Patil, Peter Laux, Andreas Luch, Christopher J. Osgood, Michael W. Stacey Jan 2025

Decoding Tattoo And Permanent Makeup Pigments: Linking Physicochemical Properties To Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, And Elimination Profiles Using Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (Qsar)-Based New Approach Methodologies (Nams), Girija Bansod, Ajay Vikram Singh, Preeti Bhardwaj, Tulika Rai, Sweta Vijay Nakhale, Amruta Shelar, Rajendra Patil, Peter Laux, Andreas Luch, Christopher J. Osgood, Michael W. Stacey

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The safety and quality of tattoo and permanent makeup (PMU) pigments are subject to increased scrutiny due to their potential to cause adverse effects like anaphylaxis, photoallergic responses, and long-term toxicity. These undesirable reactions governed by their chemical structure possess varied physicochemical properties and absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination (ADME) characteristics. These properties control the pigment behavior during application, stability, and interaction with human tissue. The correlation between these physicochemical characteristics and ADME parameters of tattoo/PMU pigments remain under-explored despite the current advances in toxicology. Our study aims to address and bridge the gap by leveraging open-access QSAR computational toxicology …

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Description Of All Stages Of A New Tick Species From California Haemaphysalis Vespertina (Acari: Ixodidae), With Redescription Of H. Leporispalustris Packard, 1869 Adults And Phylogenetic Relationships Among Related U.S. Taxa, Andrea Egizi, Santiago Nava, Angie Nakano, Megan E. M. Saunders, Lauren P. Maestas, Autumn D. Angelus, Bruce Noden, Robyn M. Nadolny, Waheed I. Bajwa, Charles Lubelcyzk, Chanakya R. Bhosale, Susan Paskewitz, Holly D. Gaff, Lorenza Beati Jan 2025

Description Of All Stages Of A New Tick Species From California Haemaphysalis Vespertina (Acari: Ixodidae), With Redescription Of H. Leporispalustris Packard, 1869 Adults And Phylogenetic Relationships Among Related U.S. Taxa, Andrea Egizi, Santiago Nava, Angie Nakano, Megan E. M. Saunders, Lauren P. Maestas, Autumn D. Angelus, Bruce Noden, Robyn M. Nadolny, Waheed I. Bajwa, Charles Lubelcyzk, Chanakya R. Bhosale, Susan Paskewitz, Holly D. Gaff, Lorenza Beati

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

All active stages of Haemaphysalis vespertina sp. nov. (Acari: Ixodidae), a tick previously identified as H. leporispalustris Packard, 1869, are described from specimens collected on the vegetation and from leporids in California and Oregon. The adults of H. leporispalustris Packard, 1969 are redescribed based on type material. Adults of the two species can be distinguished by their overall size, the dorsal shape of palpal segment II, the number and shape of dorsal and ventral setae on palpal segment II, the number of spurs on coxae II, the length of setae on scutum, legs and coxae, and the pattern of scutal …

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Tick Responses To Diverse Chemical Attractants To Enhance Tick Surveillance Methods' Efficacy, Pamela Kelman, Tyler Chavers, Emily Owens Pickle, Daniel Sonenshine, Melissa S. Nolan, Holly Gaff Jan 2025

Tick Responses To Diverse Chemical Attractants To Enhance Tick Surveillance Methods' Efficacy, Pamela Kelman, Tyler Chavers, Emily Owens Pickle, Daniel Sonenshine, Melissa S. Nolan, Holly Gaff

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Amblyomma maculatum Koch (Acari: Ixodidae), Ixodes scapularis Say, and Dermacentor variabilis Say are three hard-bodied ticks responsible for vectoring pathogens that cause most human tick-borne diseases in the United States of America (USA). Tick surveillance is critical to elucidate high-risk areas for targeted vector control and public health interventions. Despite tick-borne diseases having a higher annual incidence compared to mosquito-borne diseases in the USA, tick traps used for surveillance are grossly under-developed compared to the suite of sophisticated mosquito traps available on the commercial market. This study sought to identify potential prospective tick trap improvements by evaluating the relative attraction …

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Hair Growth Rate Estimation In North American Ursids, Jennifer H. Stern, Karyn D. Rode, Craig A. Stricker, Sheriden Ploof, Cindy L. J. Roberts, Celess Edinger, Mary Humbyrd, Nate Wagner, Megan A. Owen, John P. Whiteman, Thea Bechshoft, Brent White, Kristin L. Laidre Jan 2025

Hair Growth Rate Estimation In North American Ursids, Jennifer H. Stern, Karyn D. Rode, Craig A. Stricker, Sheriden Ploof, Cindy L. J. Roberts, Celess Edinger, Mary Humbyrd, Nate Wagner, Megan A. Owen, John P. Whiteman, Thea Bechshoft, Brent White, Kristin L. Laidre

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The feeding ecology of wildlife populations has important implications for individual health, population productivity and distribution patterns. For ursids (bears), food resources and feeding behaviour primarily affect population dynamics via effects on cub production and survival. Much of what is known about the feeding ecology of bears is based on analyses of tissues collected from capture-based research efforts, harvested animals or non-invasive approaches. However, inference about diet from hair has been limited by a lack of quantitative data on the timing of the moult and hair growth rates. We conducted a study to develop and test two methods of quantifying …

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Investigating The Relationships Between Biotic And Abiotic Factors Affecting Migratory Behavior In Westslope Cutthroat Trout Within The Pend Oreille System, Garrett M. Duncan Jan 2025

Investigating The Relationships Between Biotic And Abiotic Factors Affecting Migratory Behavior In Westslope Cutthroat Trout Within The Pend Oreille System, Garrett M. Duncan

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Salmonids express several different life histories from migrating to oceans and back or staying in their natal streams as a resident. Migratory individuals are a vital part of the overall success of populations due to the potential for increased genetic diversity and increased fecundity they offer over resident individuals. This research was completed in three basins including Priest River, Pack River, and Lightning Creek which are all connected to the Pend Oreille Basin and are important producers of Westslope Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi). Thirty-nine sites were sampled between the three basins. Results were compared between these tributaries that have …

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Osteoclastogenic Potential Of Cd68-Expressing Osteoclast Precursor Cells, Colton Quinn Jan 2025

Osteoclastogenic Potential Of Cd68-Expressing Osteoclast Precursor Cells, Colton Quinn

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Bone remodeling is a dynamic process maintained by the balance between osteoblast-mediated bone formation and osteoclast-driven resorption. When this balance is disrupted, pathological bone loss occurs, as seen in osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer-induced bone disease (Teitelbaum, 2007; Korol & Baumeister, 2023; Ensrud & Crandall, 2017). Osteoclasts, derived from hematopoietic stem cells through a macrophage lineage, play a central role in bone resorption. However, the identity of all proteins of osteoclast precursors remains unclear. CD68, a lysosomal glycoprotein widely expressed in macrophages and monocyte-lineage cells (Holness & Simmons, 1993), has been proposed as a marker of osteoclast precursors. Some studies …

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Invisible Infrastructure: Beyond The Burden Of The Dual Roles And Systematic Realities Of Black Women Professionals As Caregivers, Lolita J. Griffin Jan 2025

Invisible Infrastructure: Beyond The Burden Of The Dual Roles And Systematic Realities Of Black Women Professionals As Caregivers, Lolita J. Griffin

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

Black women in the professional sector frequently serve as caregivers to close relatives or family members while balancing the demands of their careers. Research shows the hurdles and the stress Black women in the workforce encounter. (Office of Behavioral Health Equity, 2020). Similarly, the expectation to take on the caregiver role adds another layer of complication to their existence (Williams et al., 2021). This combination of conflicting caregiver and professional responsibilities can cause harm to overall well-being and mental health. The enactment of reforms in public policy that address the specific mental health and job satisfaction needs of Black professional …

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The Impact Of Age-Friendly Policy On New York State: How Executive Order-190 And Executive Order-23 Shape Community Development For All Ages, Trista Bercarich Jan 2025

The Impact Of Age-Friendly Policy On New York State: How Executive Order-190 And Executive Order-23 Shape Community Development For All Ages, Trista Bercarich

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

The demographic shift toward an aging population has created an urgent need for policies that promote inclusive, livable communities for all ages. This quantitative study examined New York State’s implementation of Age-Friendly policy through Executive Order 190 (2018) and Executive Order 23 (2022), which collectively advance the integration of health, accessibility and community participation across state and local systems. Guided by environmental gerontology and psychology, aging in place and successful aging frameworks, this research utilized an adapted version of the AARP Livable Communities Survey to assess residents’ perceptions of livability with the eight AARP domains. The cross-sectional online survey (n …

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Environmental Risk Factors For Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza In Pennsylvania’S Commercial Poultry Industry, Andrew Turner Jan 2025

Environmental Risk Factors For Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza In Pennsylvania’S Commercial Poultry Industry, Andrew Turner

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

This study examines environmental risk factors associated with outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b in Pennsylvania’s commercial poultry industry. Using a case-control design, the analysis evaluates 2,285 geocoded commercial poultry farms through spatial and biostatistical methods aligned with STROBE-Vet reporting guidelines. A broad set of 641 GIS-derived candidate variables, including farm characteristics, bird types, disease incidence, wild bird observations, anthropogenic features, socio-economic indicators, and ecoclimatic conditions, were screened for associations with HPAI infection. The logistic regression model identified the density of infected farms within short distances and the local concentration of duck farms as the strongest …

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What We Owe Each Other: An Examination Of Social Exchange Theory And Public Perception Of Healthy Relationships, Sarah R. Korbich Jan 2025

What We Owe Each Other: An Examination Of Social Exchange Theory And Public Perception Of Healthy Relationships, Sarah R. Korbich

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

This study uses prior literature on social exchange theory and uses various frameworks to examine the public’s perception and comprehension of SET through examining user-generated content on TikTok. Social exchange theory is based upon the idea that when interacting with other persons, you are exchanging rewards and costs. This study was guided by two questions that explore how social exchange is generalized and understood by the public, and how well the public’s ideas of positively contributing to a healthy relationship aligns with operational measures of SET. This study’s intention is to encourage SET’s usage in application to relational contexts as …

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An Exploratory Study Of Ukrainian Refugee Resettlement Patterns And Education Resource Needs In Poland, Marta Gintowt Jan 2025

An Exploratory Study Of Ukrainian Refugee Resettlement Patterns And Education Resource Needs In Poland, Marta Gintowt

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine that started in late February 2022 triggered a refugee crisis that reverberated throughout Europe. During the onset of the invasion, an estimated five million Ukrainian refugees, mostly women, children, and the elderly, fled to countries in Europe and beyond. Countries were not prepared for the magnitude of the initial influx of refugees, who are a vulnerable population who require specific immediate and long-term supports. As three years have passed since the start of the war, the needs of refugees have evolved, and resources providing educational support to refugee children have taken on increased importance. …

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Health Center Patient Satisfaction: Pre, During, And Post Covid-19, Patricia A. Stroup, Patricia Stroup Jan 2025

Health Center Patient Satisfaction: Pre, During, And Post Covid-19, Patricia A. Stroup, Patricia Stroup

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

This study aims to evaluate patients' attitudes toward healthcare services in a predominantly Hispanic population at an urban health center serving a significantly disadvantaged population.  This center is in one of the poorest areas of the city and has one of the highest diabetes rates in the nation. For over 50 years, Federal health centers have provided care to inner-city, rural, homeless and public housing residents. They provide care to vulnerable populations that would not otherwise be available in medically underserved communities. Central to overcoming disparities is assuring patient satisfaction with their healthcare. This study evaluates patients' satisfaction with the …

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Mapping Learning In Higher Education: The Embedding Content Across Academic Programmes Toolkit, John Pierce, Mary Beades, Andrew Shields Jan 2025

Mapping Learning In Higher Education: The Embedding Content Across Academic Programmes Toolkit, John Pierce, Mary Beades, Andrew Shields

Publications

The growing diversification of teaching roles in higher education and the siloed nature of semesterised programmes can inhibit quality teaching and learning. This paper introduces the Embedding Content Across Academic Programmes Toolkit (ECAAPT), a practical model for mapping and tracking embedded content across modules, semesters, and years within higher education programmes that can ease the administrative burden of curricular mapping and change on academics teaching in the sector. Originally developed with a focus on tracking student academic literacies, this model has also been adapted and shown value in mapping and tracking other content, such as graduate attributes, feedback, assessment strategies, …

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Early Childhood Home Visiting In New Mexico, M.Rebecca Kilburn, Courtney A. Fitzgerald, Kevin M. Estes, Theresa H. Cruz Jan 2025

Early Childhood Home Visiting In New Mexico, M.Rebecca Kilburn, Courtney A. Fitzgerald, Kevin M. Estes, Theresa H. Cruz

Reports & Documents

No abstract provided.

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High Organofluorine Concentrations In Municipal Wastewater Affect Downstream Drinking Water Supplies For Millions Of Americans, Birdger J. Ruyle, Emily H. Pennoyer, Simon Vojta, Jitka Becanova, Minhazul Islam, Thomas F. Webster, Wendy Heiger-Bernays, Rainer Lohmann, Paul Westerhoff, Charles E. Schaefer, Elsie M. Sunderland Jan 2025

High Organofluorine Concentrations In Municipal Wastewater Affect Downstream Drinking Water Supplies For Millions Of Americans, Birdger J. Ruyle, Emily H. Pennoyer, Simon Vojta, Jitka Becanova, Minhazul Islam, Thomas F. Webster, Wendy Heiger-Bernays, Rainer Lohmann, Paul Westerhoff, Charles E. Schaefer, Elsie M. Sunderland

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

Wastewater receives per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from diverse consumer and industrial sources, and discharges are known to be a concern for drinking water quality. The PFAS family includes thousands of potential chemical structures containing organofluorine moieties. Exposures to a few well-studied PFAS, mainly perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA), have been associated with increased risk of many adverse health outcomes, prompting federal drinking water regulations for six compounds in 2024. Here, we find that the six regulated PFAS (mean = 7 to 8%) and 18 measured PFAA (mean = 11 to 21%) make up only a small fraction of the extractable organofluorine …

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Scientists’ Statement On The Chemical Definition Of Pfass, Gabriel Sigmund, Marta Venier, Marlene Ågerstrand, Ian T. Cousins, Jamie Dewitt, Miriam L. Diamond, Jennifer Field, Alex T. Ford, Shira Joudan, Stefan Van Leeuwen, Rainer Lohmann, Carla Ng, Martin Scheringer, Anna Soehl, Noriyuki Suzuki, Xenia Trier, Sara Valsecchi, Penny Vlahos, Cora J. Young, Zhanyun Wang Jan 2025

Scientists’ Statement On The Chemical Definition Of Pfass, Gabriel Sigmund, Marta Venier, Marlene Ågerstrand, Ian T. Cousins, Jamie Dewitt, Miriam L. Diamond, Jennifer Field, Alex T. Ford, Shira Joudan, Stefan Van Leeuwen, Rainer Lohmann, Carla Ng, Martin Scheringer, Anna Soehl, Noriyuki Suzuki, Xenia Trier, Sara Valsecchi, Penny Vlahos, Cora J. Young, Zhanyun Wang

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

The undersigned are scientists with expertise in per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and/or the management of chemicals. We assert that the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) definition of PFASs is scientifically grounded, unambiguous, and well suited to identify these chemicals. We are concerned that some individuals and organizations are seeking a redefinition of PFASs endorsed by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) to exclude certain fluorinated chemical subgroups from the scope of the existing definition. We are concerned that this effort is politically and/or economically, rather than scientifically, motivated. An IUPAC-endorsed and potentially narrower PFAS …

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Spatial And Temporal Trends Of Dissolved Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers And Non-Bde Flame Retardants In The Aquatic Environment Across Countries, Lian-Jun Bao, Branislav Vrana, Rainer Lohmann, Jaromír Sobotka, Foppe Smedes, Derek Muir, Ian J. Allan, Peleg Astrahan, Terry Bidleman, Denis Crowley, Evgen Dykyi, Nicolas Estoppey, Gilberto Fillmann, Liisa Jantunen, Sarit Kaserzon, Keith A. Maruya, Brendan Mchugh, Brent Newman, Raimon M. Prats, Manolis Tsapakis, Rebecca Sutton, Mats Tysklind, Barend L. Van Drooge, Charles S. Wong, Eddy Y. Zeng Jan 2025

Spatial And Temporal Trends Of Dissolved Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers And Non-Bde Flame Retardants In The Aquatic Environment Across Countries, Lian-Jun Bao, Branislav Vrana, Rainer Lohmann, Jaromír Sobotka, Foppe Smedes, Derek Muir, Ian J. Allan, Peleg Astrahan, Terry Bidleman, Denis Crowley, Evgen Dykyi, Nicolas Estoppey, Gilberto Fillmann, Liisa Jantunen, Sarit Kaserzon, Keith A. Maruya, Brendan Mchugh, Brent Newman, Raimon M. Prats, Manolis Tsapakis, Rebecca Sutton, Mats Tysklind, Barend L. Van Drooge, Charles S. Wong, Eddy Y. Zeng

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

Measuring dissolved concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and non-BDE flame retardants on a global scale provides critical insights into the effectiveness of the Stockholm Convention. In the present study, we deployed passive sampling devices at 43 seawater and freshwater sites covering 21 countries from 2016 to 2020. The detection frequencies were 20–94% for BDE congeners and 33–42% for dechlorane plus, higher than those (0–20%) for other target compounds. The median concentrations of dissolved Σ9PBDE (sum of BDE-28, -47, -66, -85, -99, -100, -153, -154, and -183) were 0.28 and 0.64 pg L–1 in seawater and freshwater, …

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Achievements And Challenges With Equilibrium And Kinetic Passive Sampling Of Hydrophobic And Hydrophilic Organic Compounds In Surface Waters, Kees Booij, Rachel Mackie, Branislav Vrana, Rainer Lohmann, Sarit L. Kaserzon Jan 2025

Achievements And Challenges With Equilibrium And Kinetic Passive Sampling Of Hydrophobic And Hydrophilic Organic Compounds In Surface Waters, Kees Booij, Rachel Mackie, Branislav Vrana, Rainer Lohmann, Sarit L. Kaserzon

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

Passive sampling in surface waters is an important method in the monitoring and risk assessment of hydrophobic and hydrophilic organic chemicals. Sampler designs can be optimized for fast equilibrium attainment (equilibrium sampling) or improved time-integrative capability (kinetic sampling). We argue that both equilibrium and kinetic sampling can be applied when aqueous concentrations do not vary with time, whereas kinetic sampling also yields useful results for time-variable concentrations that are often observed with hydrophilic compounds in surface waters. We show that these methods have similar accuracy in principle but that their dominant error sources are different: sampler-water sorption coefficients for equilibrium …

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Characterization Of The Potential Long-Term Impact From Sedimentary Pfas At A Historically Contaminated Textile Waste Site, Jarod Snook, Jitka Becanova, Simon Vojta, Rainer Lohmann Jan 2025

Characterization Of The Potential Long-Term Impact From Sedimentary Pfas At A Historically Contaminated Textile Waste Site, Jarod Snook, Jitka Becanova, Simon Vojta, Rainer Lohmann

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are pervasive pollutants at historically contaminated sites throughout the United States and beyond. Two such sites in Rhode Island, USA, are textile-mill-associated waste retention ponds known to introduce PFAS contamination to the adjacent river, estuary, and eventually the Atlantic Ocean. Here, we thoroughly investigated the retention ponds as a long-term source of PFAS via water passive sampling, sediment coring, and laboratory-derived partitioning coefficients, Kd, with field sediment and water. Additional studies were performed to assess the mobility and estimate the mass fluxes of PFAS from sediment to water. Retention pond 1 was more …

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Multimodal Feature Fusion And Machine Learning For Adhd Detection Using Neuroimaging Data, Isabel Pham Jan 2025

Multimodal Feature Fusion And Machine Learning For Adhd Detection Using Neuroimaging Data, Isabel Pham

Master's Projects

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopment disorder that can significantly affect a person’s attention, impulse control, and executive function. Currently, the traditional diagnosis method often relies on clinical assessments and observations. However, these methods can be subjective and lead to inconsistencies in diagnosis between individuals. To address this challenge, neuroimaging and machine learning (ML) are promising tools for providing a more objective diagnosis of ADHD. The goal of this project is to apply a multimodal approach in which structural and functional features of specific regions of the brain are used to develop a more accurate and objective …

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Social Engineering Scenario Generation For Awareness-Based Attack Resilience, Jade Webb Jan 2025

Social Engineering Scenario Generation For Awareness-Based Attack Resilience, Jade Webb

Master's Projects

Social engineering is found in a strong majority of cyberattacks today, as it is a powerful manipulation tactic that does not require the technical skills of hacking. Calculated social engineers utilize simple communication to deceive and exploit their victims, all by capitalizing on the vulnerabilities of human nature: trust and fear. When successful, this inconspicuous technique can lead to millions of dollars in losses. Social engineering is not a one-dimensional technique; criminals often leverage a combination of strategies to craft a robust yet subtle attack. In addition, offenders are continually evolving their methods in efforts to surpass preventive measures. A …

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Cca Analysis Using Computer Vision Techniques, Rahul Thakur Jan 2025

Cca Analysis Using Computer Vision Techniques, Rahul Thakur

Master's Projects

Coral reefs are an essential part of the marine ecosystem. They perform a wide variety of tasks, some directly and others indirectly. They can produce oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, along with supporting ocean habitat. Crustose Coralline Algae (“CCA”) plays an important role in helping provide structural support to Coral Reef ecosystems. However, global warming is causing ocean water to become more acidic resulting in coral bleaching. This is leading to changes in coral environments and causing coral deaths at alarming rates. Object detection using computer vision techniques, specifically deep learning, can help to monitor coral reef health and identify CCA …

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