Growth Rates and Developmental Stages of Encapsulated Chain Catsharks and Little Skates

Narragansett Bay is located on the north side of Rhode Island Sound, covering 147 square miles, and forms New England’s largest estuary. Narragansett Bay is inhabited by a variety of fish species, many of which are important for ecosystem function and others that are commercially harvested. Two common species found in Narragansett Bay are the chain dogfish, or chain catshark, (Scyliorhinus retifer) and the little skate (Leucoraja erinacea). Both species are cartilaginous fishes that belong to the class Chondrichthyes. Chain catsharks and little skates are oviparous (egg laying) and produce eggs year-round. Eggs are deposited in a suitable environment by females, where predation is minimal, to allow for optimal development of each embryo within their egg case. Eggs hatch 6-12 months after they are laid. As a marine biology student and an intern for Save the Bay, I have learned a plethora of information about these species. Moreover, as an intern at Save the Bay’s Exploration Center and Aquarium in Newport, RI, I have seen its hatchery of chain catsharks and little skates thrive. For my honors project, I conducted an observational experiment that investigated the rate of growth of chain catshark and little skate embryos and their developmental stages within their egg cases. For a period of six weeks, I observed and measured anatomical structures of 10 embryos of each species on a weekly basis. Furthermore, I observed embryonic movement and pigmentation. Each embryo was photographed each week to chronicle changes and to allow detailed investigation of embryonic development. Although I have participated in other research projects related to marine biology at URI, I had not conducted research on a topic that I would be interested in researching for my future career. A goal of my research, in addition to learning about reproductive cycles of fish, was to potentially identify the developmental stages that are the most crucial for the survival of these magnificent animals

NEVER AGAIN; WORKING TOWARD AN EFFECTIVE EARLY WARNING SYSTEM FOR GENOCIDE PREVENTION

“Never again” expressed the commitment made by allied forces for the prevention of genocide. In the 59 years since the adoption of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, it has evolved into an erga omnes obligation and a jus cogen (preemptory) norm. Genocide prevention, however, remains a highly controversial issue as it draws from the concept of universality central to human rights discourse at the same time as it changes dominant conceptualizations of state sovereignty. This thesis assesses the effectiveness of existing practices, norms and risk assessment/ genocide early warning systems in reducing the occurrence of genocide. To frame the work of this thesis Bruce Cronin‟s theory on International Protection Regimes (IPRs) is used, for its emphasis on the need for international actors to work toward the “common good” in order to realize a stable and secure international order. Three cases studies (Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur) are used to help determine what prevention measures were in place. More specifically, the cases are examined for their effectiveness in: 1) monitoring on-going and/or escalating conflicts; 2) disseminating information to relevant individuals in a timely manner; and 3) mobilizing actors‟ response to and prevention of genocide. The hypothesis that guides my thesis is that only by instituting more efficient and comprehensive prevention mechanisms will genocide be deterred and global security promoted. The analysis leads to the conclusion that although, the introduction of the notion of a responsibility to protect, the subsidization of preventive mechanisms, and the creation of the Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide the international community have had a significant impact, there needs to be more efficient visible and targeted institutional measures put in place

An Occupational Therapy Guide to Assessment of Executive Function of Rural Agriculture Workers

Purpose: Develop a guide for occupational therapists working with rural agricultural-based individuals’ experiencing cognitive deficits. Methodology: A comprehensive literature review was completed with major topics including the definition of executive functioning, common duties of ranch/farm workers, relationship between executive functioning and work, rural agriculture culture. The goal of the literature review was to gain an understanding of the influence of executive functioning skills on engagement within occupational duties and tasks of rural agriculture workers. Results: An occupational therapy guide was developed to provide a list of common tasks/duties of ranchers/framers and the associated executive functioning skills as well as client factors. The guide intends to assist therapists in assessing executive functioning deficits in common duties/tasks of the rural agriculture worker in order to provide a more occupation-based evaluation. Conclusions: The occupational therapist’s assessment and intervention of executive functioning skills for ranch and/or farm workers should be directed by The Occupational Therapy Guide to Assessment of Executive Functioning of Rural Agricultural Workers to foster client-centered practice which meets the occupational performance needs of the individual

Engaging Elementary English Learner Student\u27s Families and Backgrounds within a Standards-Based Curriculum

The Keck Summer Collaborative Research Program provides opportunities for Linfield College students and faculty to conduct research on issues related to the Pacific Northwest, and to bring the research findings back into the classroom within the subsequent academic year. Students partner with faculty to conduct research and present their work to other students, Linfield staff and faculty, and community members during a series of brown bag lunches. Micaela Craig, Alyssa Carano, Criselda Lopez, and Tanika Finch conducted research with Kena Avila and gave this presentation during the summer of 2013

Rehabilitation And Cancer Survivorship

Presentation given at Central Maine Medical Center on December 4, 2015, to build awareness of the role of rehabilitation services in cancer survivor management and discuss strategies to address existing needs. This presentation was based on a project undertaken to determine which physical distress screening tools are most appropriate to trigger a wellness or rehabilitation referral when it is warranted for a survivor. The use of effective screening tools will assist in directing cancer survivors, who experience physical and emotional burdens caused by the disease and subsequent treatment, to access services that will continue to improve their overall quality of life upon completion of cancer treatment or in a setting of ongoing palliative care. These measures should focus on functional mobility, balance, fatigue, and distress. Additionally, there are many common tests used to quantify the subjective burden of pain, confidence, and difficulty with daily tasks. Outcome measures such as these should be implemented throughout the course of treatment, with consistency, for patients with cancer to promote early recognition of impairments. Improved education for patients and healthcare providers alike on the services available, possible benefits of such referrals, and the importance of carefully selected measures to monitor functional change has the potential to begin to bridge the current gap between medical oncology treatment and the network of other rehabilitative healthcare services, as well as to improve the quality of life for our surviving family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and colleagues.https://dune.une.edu/dphp_resources/1001/thumbnail.jp

A Review Of Screening Processes For Physical Distress And Appropriate Outcome Measures For Outpatient Rehabilitation Referral In Cancer Survivorship

The goal of this project is to determine which physical distress screening tools are most appropriate to trigger a wellness or rehabilitation referral when it is warranted for a survivor. The use of effective screening tools will assist in directing cancer survivors, who experience physical and emotional burdens caused by the disease and subsequent treatment, to access services that will continue to improve their overall quality of life upon completion of cancer treatment or in a setting of ongoing palliative care. These measures should focus on functional mobility, balance, fatigue, and distress. Additionally, there are many common tests used to quantify the subjective burden of pain, confidence, and difficulty with daily tasks. Outcome measures such as these should be implemented throughout the course of treatment, with consistency, for patients with cancer to promote early recognition of impairments. Improved education for patients and healthcare providers alike on the services available, possible benefits of such referrals, and the importance of carefully selected measures to monitor functional change has the potential to begin to bridge the current gap between medical oncology treatment and the network of other rehabilitative healthcare services, as well as to improve the quality of life for our surviving family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and colleagues

Biological laterality and peripheral nerve DTI metrics

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Clinical comparisons do not usually take laterality into account and thus may report erroneous or misleading data. The concept of laterality, well evaluated in brain and motor systems, may also apply at the level of peripheral nerves. Therefore, we sought to evaluate the extent to which we could observe an effect of laterality in MRI-collected white matter indices of the sciatic nerve and its two branches (tibial and fibular). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 17 healthy persons and performed peripheral nerve diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and magnetization transfer imaging (MTI) of the sciatic, tibial and fibular nerve. Participants were scanned bilaterally, and findings were divided into ipsilateral and contralateral nerve fibers relative to self-reporting of hand dominance. Generalized estimating equation modeling was used to evaluate nerve fiber differences between ipsilateral and contralateral legs while controlling for confounding variables. All findings controlled for age, sex and number of scans performed. RESULTS: A main effect of laterality was found in radial, axial, and mean diffusivity for the tibial nerve. Axial diffusivity was found to be lateralized in the sciatic nerve. When evaluating mean MTR, a main effect of laterality was found for each nerve division. A main effect of sex was found in the tibial and fibular nerve fiber bundles. CONCLUSION: For the evaluation of nerve measures using DWI and MTI, in either healthy or disease states, consideration of underlying biological metrics of laterality in peripheral nerve fiber characteristics need to considered for data analysis. Integrating knowledge regarding biological laterality of peripheral nerve microstructure may be applied to improve how we diagnosis pain disorders, how we track patients’ recovery and how we forecast pain chronification

Association of Rideshare-Based Transportation Services and Missed Primary Care Appointments: A Clinical Trial

In a pragmatic trial, offering complimentary ridesharing services broadly to Medicaid patients did not reduce rates of missed primary care appointments. The uptake of free rides was low, and rates of missed appointments remained unchanged at 36%. Efforts to reduce missed appointments due to transportation barriers may require more targeted approaches