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Climate Influences Emerge Within Two Decades Of Observations For Pelagic Tunicates And Pelagic Snails In The Northern Gulf Of Alaska, Emily Stidham

Oceanography

Mucus-net feeders are under-appreciated organisms that can have large impacts on how organic matter moves through food webs. In the Northern Gulf of Alaska and Prince William Sound they are represented primarily by pelagic tunicates (larvaceans, doliolids, salps) and pelagic snails (pteropods). Over a 20-year time-series (2001-2021) there was strong seasonality of larvacean abundance and species composition. Spring was dominated by Oikopleura labradoriensis and Fritillaria borealis, with higher diversity during autumn, due largely to the periodic presence of warm-water species. There was a distinct cross-shelf gradient with Oikopleura dioica, spreading across the lower salinity shelf during the autumn, and Fritillaria …

Synthesis, Characterization And Cytotoxicities Of Novel Organoplatinum(Iv) Complexes, Marcus O. Cogley

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in the world. In 2023, nearly 300,000 new cases of breast cancer were projected in the U.S. alone. When treating breast cancer, several therapies are utilized, often including chemotherapy. Organoplatinum(IV) complexes are among the newer chemotherapy drugs being developed as an alternative to cisplatin, the first platinumbased anticancer drug. Two novel organoplatinum(IV) complexes: [Pt(CH₃)₂X₂{bipy-(CO₂H)₂}] (X = Br, I) have been isolated and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopic data were also collected to confirm these new compounds and provide useful reference values. The anticancer potential …

Synthesis And Stereoselective Reduction Of Α-Fluoro-Β-Ketoesters By Ketoreductases, Matthew G. Vanagel

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Using commercially available ketoreductase (KRED) enzymes, α-fluoro-β-hydroxy esters were stereoselectively synthesized from racemic α-fluoro-β-keto esters through dynamic reductive kinetic resolution (DYRKR). The α-fluoro-β-keto esters were synthesized via Reformatsky reactions between an aromatic aldehyde and ethyl bromofluoroacetate and subsequent oxidation with Dess Martin Periodinane (DMP). Two enzymes were selected for their ability to yield either syn or anti diastereomers. Three aromatic substrates were reduced in high diastereomeric and enantiomeric excess and good yields. The KRED products were derivatized with (R)- and (S)-α-methoxy-α-trifluoromethylphenylacetic acid (MTPA) and analyzed via ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy to determine their absolute stereochemistry via Mosher ester analysis. For the …

Asthma And Peak Flow Assessments Based On Nhlbi Asthma Guidelines, Julia Gliceria Almario Regalado

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Asthma exacerbations are consequences of poor asthma control. Asthma guidelines-grounded interventions can improve adherence to asthma guidelines and assessments in primary care settings. The goals of asthma management are to optimize asthma control, minimize the risk of asthma exacerbations, and minimize the adverse effects of asthma medications.

Local Problem: A primary care practice in Northern California had frequent office visits for acute asthma symptoms. Ongoing asthma control monitoring is a key performance indicator of high-quality asthma care.

Methods: The quality improvement evidence-based observational project examined the effectiveness of interventions. The pre-and post-survey assessments collected clinician knowledge and adherence, and …

Fostering Interprofessional Collaboration In Community College Mental Health Centers: A Quality Improvement Project, Sara Jane Hamilton

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background The worsening mental health rates among college students in the United States highlight the critical need for campuses to have high-quality comprehensive mental health centers (MHC). This necessity is particularly urgent in community college MHCs, which often lack these attributes. Local Problem An MHC within a large California community college recently introduced telepsychiatry services and is considering integrating a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) into their team. However, knowledge gaps and limited interprofessional education (IPE) may hinder effective collaboration within the team. Methods A comprehensive literature review was conducted to assess current research on IPE, community college mental …

Understanding Preschool Teachers' Perceptions Of Challenging Behavior: "It's Exhausting", Elizabeth Stapleton

Educational Studies Dissertations

Child maltreatment is a widespread issue across the United States, directly impacting young children’s learning and behavior. Yet, variability found in early education pre-service training does not include focus on this topic. Early education teachers often experience low wages, long work hours, and a lack of support to meet the needs of young children. This mixed methods study sought to understand preschool teachers’ perceptions of challenging behavior in their classrooms and the impact challenging behavior has on relationships within the classroom community. Quantitative data was collected from 30 preschool teachers using the Student-Teacher Relationship Short Form and frequency ratings of …

2024 Commencement Program For The Girard School Of Business, Merrimack College

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Development Of An International Standard Set Of Outcomes And Measurement Methods For Routine Practice For Infants, Children, And Adolescents With Epilepsy: The International Consortium For Health Outcomes Measurement Consensus Recommendations, Martha Sajatovic

Faculty Scholarship

At present, there is no internationally accepted set of core outcomes or measurement methods for epilepsy clinical practice. The International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM) convened an international working group of experts in epilepsy, people with epilepsy, and their representatives to develop minimum sets of standardized outcomes and outcome measurement methods for clinical practice. Using modified Delphi consensus methods with consecutive rounds of online voting over 12 months, a core set of outcomes and corresponding measurement tool packages to capture the outcomes were identified for infants, children, and adolescents with epilepsy. Consensus methods identified 20 core outcomes. In addition …

Implementation Of Community-Based Natural Resource Management At Hustai National Park, Mongolia, Tsermaa Nyamdavaa

Natural Resources

Community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) combines scientific knowledge with community involvement to manage a variety of common pool resources (CPR) in a sustainable manner. In Mongolia, CBNRM has been implemented to manage rangelands in response to severe winters and rangeland degradation. In particular, Hustai National Park (HNP) has faced challenges due to the increased number of livestock which has led to exceeding the carrying capacity of the Buffer Zone rangelands despite efforts to implement CBNRM since 2004. The overarching question guiding the research is: How have CBNRM principles been implemented at HNP? In order to answer the research question, the …

“Every Child Needs A Champion”: Foster Children With Disabilities And The Appointment Of Surrogate Parents Under Idea, Cassie A. Powell

Richmond Public Interest Law Review

When a parent is absent, children in foster care who receive special education services are entitled to the appointment of a surrogate parent. This appointment is especially necessary due to the importance of the parent’s role in special education law and the often enhanced educational needs of children in foster care. However, the logistics of how surrogate parents are appointed and trained vary widely across the country. This article examines the legal landscape of the appointment of surrogate parents for children in foster care who receive special education services both nationally and in Virginia. This article also reviews the training …

The Challenges Of Meeting The Needs Of Virginia Students With Disabilities Through Individualized Education Programs, Hank Bostwick, Courtney Pugh, Latonya Slade, Sara Platenberg, Melissa Waugh

Richmond Public Interest Law Review

The authors were honored to participate in a panel on “Understanding the IEP” at the Richmond Public Interest Law Review’s Symposium on October 27, 2023. The recommendations and strategies in this article are rooted in decades of combined experience and anecdotal observations from two special education attorneys and three special education advocates who serve Virginia’s children and families and help to develop appropriate Individualized Education Programs (“IEPs”) pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”). Recent criticism of Virginia’s system of special education and related services by state and federal agencies has laid bare deep-seated inconsistencies in how schools …

Improving Species Identification, Age, And Life History Information For Shortraker Rockfish (Sebastes Borealis) In Prince William Sound, Alaska, Using Sagittal Otolith Analyses, Kevin W. Mcneel

Fisheries

Shortraker rockfish (Sebastes borealis) are a long-lived species found in the North Pacific Ocean. Limited life history information compels fishery managers to apply conservative estimates of allowable bycatch for this species. To improve the available life history information, we analyzed sagittal otoliths, targeting fish from Prince William Sound, to assess (1) age estimation errors, (2) species misidentification, and (3) relationships between environmental factors and annual growth. To assess errors in age data, otoliths were analyzed for core Δ¹⁴C activity. Those values were compared with bomb radiocarbon reference curves for other North Pacific species (i.e., known age Pacific halibut, Hippoglossus stenolepis, …

Early Life Biology And Ecology Of King And Tanner Crabs In The Bering And Chukchi Seas, Jared Weems

Fisheries

Pelagic larvae and early benthic juveniles are believed to be the most vulnerable life stages for crabs. Where and when young crab occur and their response to environmental conditions is poorly understood. I present two case studies that demonstrate the importance of monitoring crab early life stages of economically and ecologically important species in the Bering and Chukchi Seas. First, collapsed fisheries and poor juvenile recruitment are recurring issues for many Alaska king crab stocks. Among the most notable examples, Pribilof Islands blue king crab is a federally overfished stock that has failed to rebuild after decades of conservation. Comparison …

Synergistic Effects Of Climate And Invasions: A Case Study Of Juvenile Pacific Salmon And Their Introduced Freshwater Predator (Esox Lucius) In A Changing Alaska River, Benjamin Rich

Fisheries

Climate change and invasive species are major individual drivers of declines in freshwater productivity and diversity, yet the potential for these factors to interact is poorly understood. I explored the synergistic effects of climate change and invasion to better understand observed changes in a freshwater community comprised of socially valuable salmonid fishes. I modeled daily predation and annual consumption of juvenile salmon by an introduced apex predator, Northern Pike (Esox lucius), as a function of time, streamflow, water temperature, and Northern Pike demography in a rapidly warming system in Southcentral Alaska. I hypothesized that Northern Pike predation would shift from …

News You Can Use: Coping With The Cicadas, Edwin Smith

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – The cicadas have arrived in northeast Mississippi. Those big-eyed, noisy insects that periodically emerge from the ground arrived on schedule this month, but a University of Mississippi biologist says there's no cause for alarm.

Listener Biases Toward Chinese And Latino Instructor Accents: Their Impact On Subjective Evaluations And Objective Memory Measures, Ka Wai Lau

Student Theses and Dissertations

Many people in the United States speak with a non-native accent that reveals their racial identity. Accent bias and discrimination are prevalent issues in many social interactions, including academic and work environments. Past research has argued that foreign-accented speech is generally more difficult to process. The present study aimed to explore the impact of Chinese and Latino accents compared to standard American accents on subjective evaluations and objective memory in a classroom setting. Participants were asked to evaluate speaker competence, trustworthiness, and warmth in math and Western literature lessons and completed a memory test for them. I found that Chinese-accented …

An Intertaxon Dissimilarity For Level-1 Phylogenetic Networks From Rooted Triples, Noah Palmer

Mathematics and Statistics

An important problem in evolutionary biology is how to infer the evolutionary history of a set of taxa in the presence of hybridization. In this work, we present an important first step in the establishment of an algorithm for the inference of a level-1 species network under the Network Multispecies Coalescent Model using rooted triples. In particular, we define a new intertaxon dissimilarity, dRT , which can be directly computed from the topology of the rooted triples displayed on a network, and might be estimated from data. In our main result we prove that this dissimilarity is equivalent to an …

Navigating The Intersection Of Mckinney-Vento And Idea, Patricia A. Popp, Martha Crockett

Richmond Public Interest Law Review

Students with disabilities who are also experiencing homelessness face compounded challenges related to attending and participating in school. These children and youth are provided educational protection through two federal laws: the 2004 “Individuals with Disabilities Education Act” (IDEA) and the McKinney-Vento (MV) Education of Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program. It is the responsibility of educators, school personnel, and families to carefully navigate the dual mandates in order to ensure equitable educational opportunities, while also meeting the unique needs of each student. The purpose of this article is to offer a foundation for understanding the intersection of the two laws …

504 Plans, School Gender Policy, And Gender Dysphoria: How The Case Of Kesha T. Williams May Change Education Policy, Clifford Clapp

Richmond Public Interest Law Review

Gender dysphoria affects transgender people at significantly higher rates than other populations. In the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit case of Kesha T. Williams v. Stacey A. Kincaid, et al., 45 F.4th 759 (4th Cir. 2022), the Court found that the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office, in denying Ms. Williams’ hormone replacement therapy for her gender dysphoria, had violated her right to equal treatment under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Court generally found that, despite the ADA being written with animus toward transgender people, even under that language, gender dysphoria was not excluded from protection …

Roger Williams University Commencement Exercises : Class Of 2024 : May 17, 2024, Roger Williams University

School of Law Commencement (1996- )

No abstract provided.

Gaba And Lactate Preconditioning Increases Cell Division In Annual Killifish Cell Line During Anoxia, Devan Duey, Chelsea Hughes, Riley Roth-Carter, Daniel Zajic, Jason Podrabsky

Linfield University Student Symposium: A Celebration of Scholarship and Creative Achievement

Annual killifish (Austrofundulus limnaeus) live in temporary ponds in Venezuela and experience drastic changes in their environment that cause their ponds to dry up. This species survives by producing drought- and anoxia-tolerant embryos that are deposited in the mud. Embryos survive these conditions by entering metabolic dormancy (diapause) until environmental signals break their dormancy and they continue developing. In order to survive anoxia, embryos rely exclusively on anaerobic metabolism, which leads to abundant lactate accumulation. Previous research has shown that the production and degradation of the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is crucial for long-term anoxia survival. This study …

Synthesis And Preliminary Bioactivity Of Potential Inhibitors Of Arp 2/3 Complex, Tingting Zhang, Brad Nolen, Andrew W. Baggett

Linfield University Student Symposium: A Celebration of Scholarship and Creative Achievement

The primary objective of this research is synthesizing derivatives of known Arp2/3 inhibitor CK-666 and to determine their potency of inhibition of the Actin Related Protein (Arp 2/3) complex. A potent Arp2/3 inhibitor may be of interest in clinical anti-cancer and anti-tumor applications. Additionally, an Arp2/3 inhibitor with nanomolar potency could be used to advance basic actin dynamics research. Herein the organic synthetic efforts towards the 2-methyl-7-azaindole derivative of the known Arp2/3 inhibitor CK-666 are described. Polymerization assays providing preliminary in vitro IC50 data are also discussed.

The Awareness Of Missing And Murdered Indigenous Women And Girls (Mmiwg): Policy Steps Toward Addressing The Crisis, Meenakshi P. Richardson, Kimberly Klein, Stephany Runninghawk Johnson

American Indian Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Influence Of Fire On Boreal Stream Metabolism, Jacob Adams

Biological Sciences

Wildfires are becoming more severe, frequent, and intense in the boreal forest, which has large repercussions for ecosystem processes, such as carbon and nutrient cycling. Combustion of terrestrial soils and biomass can propagate to influence streams, including increased nutrient inputs, flashier discharge, and changes to the light regime. Due to a warming climate, fire regimes are changing in concert with precipitation regimes, including more frequent and larger storms, which can scour primary producers and remove poorly attached detritus. Changing physicochemical attributes of streams resulting from fire and precipitation could influence metabolic processes that in turn influence carbon (C) storage and …

Controls Over Visitation Rates To Mineral Licks By Snowshoe Hares (Lepus Americanus) In Northern Alaska, Laura Knutsen

Biological Sciences

Geophagy, or soil consumption, is a common behavior of several avian and mammalian herbivore species. This activity has been attributed to providing essential nutrients and improving digestion of forage high in plant secondary metabolites. Recently, this behavior has been observed in snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) and is thought to influence both their nutritional ecology and population dynamics. The purpose of this study was to examine the possible ecological controls over snowshoe hare visitation rates to mineral licks using a camera trap study at four sites near Wiseman, AK, from 2017 to 2020. Data visualization and modeling showed hare activity was …

Geochemical Variation In The Muscle Of Aleutian Steller Sea Lion Prey, Scott Chandler

Biological Sciences

Body tissue chemistry has been extensively utilized as biomarkers about the cryptic life histories of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in the western and central Aleutian Islands, Alaska, specifically tissue total mercury concentrations and stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen. As patterns in these biomarkers can be associated with either trophic dynamics or environmental conditions, I examined spatiotemporal and biological variability of bulk carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios and total mercury concentrations in the muscle tissue of ten fishes and two cephalopods found in Steller sea lion diets. I hypothesized that the complex bathymetry and oceanography of the …

Effects Of Hunting Pressure On The Spatial Dynamics Of A Subarctic Caribou Herd, Jeffrey Wells

Biological Sciences

Indirect effects of hunting can have important ecological and hunt management implications, and little has been done to quantify these indirect effects on caribou (Rangifer tarandus). To assess effects of hunting pressure on caribou spatial dynamics, we used GPS locations that spanned fall and winter 2010-2022 from the semi-migratory Fortymile caribou herd in interior Alaska. We analyzed these locations using integrated step selection analysis to evaluate step lengths (i.e., movement rates) and selection of distance to roads and trails, and forest cover across 3 hunting pressure levels (none, low, and high) as well as road crossings during hunting compared to …

Biogeographic History Of The World's Marmots And The Genetic Basis Of Melanism In An Alaskan Population Of Hoary Marmots, Kendall K. Mills

Biological Sciences

This dissertation addresses questions related to the phylogenetics, molting phenology, and genetic basis of melanism in marmots. Marmots (genus Marmota) are large, diurnal ground squirrels that hibernate for 7-8 months each year and have a broad Holarctic distribution. In Chapter 1, I use ultraconserved elements from all 15 extant species to better resolve the phylogeny of Marmota and shed light on the biogeographic history of marmots. The results indicate marmots originated in North America ~16.3 Ma and crossed the Bering Land Bridge into Eurasia ~3-4 Ma. In addition, the Woodchuck (M. monax) and the Alaska Marmot (M. broweri) are more …

Differential Equations For Modeling Pathways Leading To Diabetes Onset, Viktoria Savatorova, Aleksei Talonov

CODEE Journal

This paper presents a mathematical model that explains potential pathways leading to diabetes onset. By utilizing a system of nonlinear differential equations to describe the dynamics of the glucose regulatory system, the model can serve as a pedagogical tool for teaching and learning differential equations, dynamical systems, mathematical modeling, and introduction to biomathematics. Within this framework, students can analyze equilibrium solutions, investigate stability, assess parameter sensitivity, and explore the potential for bifurcations. Theoretical analysis is complemented by illustrative numerical examples. Instructors have the flexibility to adapt and incorporate suggested activities according to their teaching preferences and objectives.

Exchangeability And A Model Of Biological Evolution, Renee Haddad

Honors Scholar Theses

A sequence of random variables (RVs) is exchangeable if its distribution is invariant under permutations. For example, every sequence of independent and identically distributed (IID) RVs is exchangeable. The main result on exchangeable sequences of random variables is de Finetti's theorem, which identifies exchangeable sequences as conditionally IID. In this thesis, we explore exchangeability, provide an elementary proof of de Finetti's theorem, and present two applications: the classical Polya's urn model and a toy model for biological evolution.