Digital Commons Network^™

S3e7: Did Climate Impact Wwi, Spanish Flu Casualties?, Ron Lisnet, Paul A. Mayewski, Alex More

The Maine Question

Incessant torrential rain and cold air over Europe from 1914 to 1919 likely increased the number of people who died during World War I (22 million) and the Spanish flu pandemic (50 million). Alex More and Paul Mayewski from the Climate Change Institute connected data from climate science, history and public health to make the discovery. The colleagues say the once-in-a-century climate anomaly may have been caused by dust and explosives from the war that impacted the local atmosphere. As we anticipate another wave of COVID-19, More says we should be mindful of the interconnectedness of human-caused climate change, environmental …

Covid-19_Umaine News_Swacha Discusses Coping With Covid Project With Wabi, University Of Maine Division Of Marketing And Communications

Division of Marketing & Communications

Screenshot of UMaine in the News regarding WABI (Channel 5) interview with Kathryn Swacha, a University of Maine assistant professor of English, about her public storytelling project, "Coping with Covid."

Covid-19_Umaine News_Coping With Covid Project, University Of Maine Division Of Marketing And Communications

Division of Marketing & Communications

Screenshot of Maine News release regarding Kathryn Swacha, an assistant professor of English seeking participants for a public storytelling project titled “Coping with COVID.”

Covid-19_Umaine News_Coping With Covid Project Compiles Perspectives On Pandemic Public Health Protocols In Our Daily Lives, University Of Maine Division Of Marketing And Communications

Division of Marketing & Communications

Screenshot of Maine News release regarding a coping with COVID project compiling perspectives on pandemic public health protocols in daily lives.

A Comprehensive Model Of Stress-Induced Binge Eating: The Role Of Cognitive Restraint, Negative Affect, And Impulsivity In Binge Eating As A Response To Stress, Rachael M. Huff

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As obesity-related health issues account for the leading number of deaths in America, and these illnesses are even more prevalent in those that binge eat, treating obese individuals with Binge Eating Disorder (BED) has become a matter of life and death. Stress, negative affect, cognitive restraint, and impulsivity have all been implicated in binge eating symptomatology, suggesting that these may be key variables to consider when developing a comprehensive model (Groesz et. al., 2012; Friese et. al., 2015; Galanti et. al., 2007; Gay et al., 2008; Racine et. al., 2015; Leehr et. al., 2015). This project aims to further examine …

The Impact Of Cooking Knowledge, Attitude, Behavior, And Food Security Status On Diet Quality Of College Students At The University Of Maine, Angela I. Czup

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Food insecurity in the United States is a complex issue. Nutrition interventions and studies are often designed for high-risk populations with others being overlooked. Until recently, few studies and interventions have focused on college-aged students. In order to understand the nutrition-related needs of students at the University of Maine, it is necessary to determine their cooking knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and food security status. Study participants included college sophomores, juniors, and seniors [n=16 sophomores, (38.1%), n=15 juniors, (35.7%), n=11 seniors, (26.2%)]. The study design was cross-sectional where participants completed a combined Qualtrics online survey and the Automated Self-Administered 24-Hour Dietary Assessment …

Protect Medicaid Coverage For Children With Disabilities And Special Health Care Needs, 2019-2020 Cohort Of New Hampshire-Maine Leadership Education In Neurodevelopmental And Related Disabilities (Nh-Me Lend) Program Trainees

Policy Analysis

Protecting health coverage and access to care for children with disabilities and special needs must be a priority for our nation, states, and communities. Medicaid provides coverage for almost half of all children with disabilities and other special health care needs and is the sole coverage for almost one third of these children. Before the COVID-19 crisis, national policy discussions explored alternate models for health coverage, including Medicaid block grants or waivers, and public options such as “Medicare for All” proposals. Many groups are concerned that shifts in Medicaid will result in many children and families losing coverage, which would …

Characterization Of Ncf1 Mutants In A Zebrafish Model Of Innate Immune Function With Human Influenza A Virus Infection, Lily Charpentier

Honors College

Seasonal influenza A virus (IAV) infections and their associated respiratory diseases are the cause of an estimated 650,000 deaths each year, according to the World Health Organization. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a powerful vertebrate model to study innate immune function and host-pathogen interactions as the function of neutrophils and other phagocytes can be characterized in vivo. Preliminary studies have shown an increase in neutrophil respiratory burst activity to eliminate the invading pathogen, yet little is known of all of the mechanisms involved in neutrophil function. The NADPH oxidase complex, of which neutrophil cytosolic factor 1 (Ncf1) is a key …

The Effects Of Food Insecurity On Indigenous Women In Maine, Sara Imam

Honors College

Indigenous women have been affected by food insecurity due to historical and continued impacts of settler-colonialism, which include the stripping of traditional gendered roles and responsibilities, environmental degradation, and poverty that limit access to traditional foods and resources. As a result, Indigenous women remain among the most vulnerable to malnourishment and hunger, as well as chronic health conditions that arise in part from colonial diets. Despite the severity of this issue in Native North America, there has been little research carried out on the topic in the state of Maine. This thesis analyzes the connections between factors underlying food insecurity …

The Potential For Dickeya Dianthicola To Be Vectored By Two Common Insect Pests Of Potatoes, Jonas K. Insinga

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dickeya dianthicola (Samson) causing blackleg and soft rot was first detected in potatoes grown in Maine in 2014. Previous work has suggested that insects, particularly aphids, may be able to vector bacteria in this genus between plants, but no conclusive work has been done to confirm this theory. In order to determine whether insect-mediated transmission is likely to occur in potato fields, two model potato pests common in Maine were used: the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decimlineata Say) and the green peach aphids (Myzus persicae Sulzer). Olfactometry and recruitment experiments evaluated if either insect discriminates between infected and …

Framing The Discussion Of Microorganisms As A Facet Of Social Equity In Human Health, Suzanne L. Ishaq, Maurisa Rapp, Risa Byerly, Loretta S. Mcclellan, Maya R. O'Boyle, Anika Nykanen, Patrick J. Fuller, Calvin Aas, June M. Stone, Sean Killpatrick, Manami M. Uptegrove, Alex Vischer, Hannah Wolf, Fiona Smallman, Houston Eymann, Simon Narode, Ellee Stapleton, Camille C. Cioffi, Hannah F. Tavalire

Animal and Veterinary Sciences Faculty Scholarship

What do “microbes” have to do with social equity? These microorganisms are integral to our health, that of our natural environment, and even the “health” of the environments we build. The loss, gain, and retention of microorganisms—their flow between humans and the environment—can greatly impact our health. It is well-known that inequalities in access to perinatal care, healthy foods, quality housing, and the natural environment can create and arise from social inequality. Here, we focus on the argument that access to beneficial microorganisms is a facet of public health, and health inequality may be compounded by inequitable microbial exposure.

Impact Of Television On The Language Development Of Young Children, Courtney E. Daly

Honors College

Today, children are growing up immersed in television screen media, which has been shown to have both positive and negative effects on language development. Young children are considered developmentally vulnerable, and today, they are growing up highly immersed in digital media. Strict guidelines by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggest that limiting the use of screen time. However, there is limited current research on the effect of coviewing while watching television programs on the language development of children. This investigation sought to contribute to efforts aimed at understanding the impact of coviewing on language output.

Predictive Diagnostic Analysis Of Mammographic Breast Tissue Microenvironment, Dexter G. Canning

Honors College

Improving computer-aided early detection techniques for breast cancer is paramount because current technology has high false positive rates. Existing methods have led to a substantial number of false diagnostics, which lead to stress, unnecessary biopsies, and an added financial burden to the health care system. In order to augment early detection methodology, one must understand the breast microenvironment. The CompuMAINE Lab has researched computational metrics on mammograms based on an image analysis technique called the Wavelet Transform Modulus Maxima (WTMM) method to identify the fractal and roughness signature from mammograms. The WTMM method was used to color code the mammograms …

Blacklegged Tick (Ixodes Scapularis) Distribution In Maine, Usa, As Related To Climate Change, White-Tailed Deer, And The Landscape, Susan P. Elias

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterial spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted through the bite of an infected blacklegged (deer) tick (Ixodes scapularis). Geographic invasion of I. scapularis in North America has been attributed to causes including 20th century reforestation and suburbanization, burgeoning populations of the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) which is the primary reproductive host of I. scapularis, tick-associated non-native plant invasions, and climate change. Maine, USA, is a high Lyme disease incidence state, with a history of increasing I. scapularis abundance and northward range expansion. This thesis addresses the question: “To …

Intergenerational Adult Day Services Needs Assessment Project Final Report, University Of Maine School Of Social Work, Eastern Area Agency On Aging, University Of Maine Center On Aging

Maine Center on Aging Research and Evaluation

Focus group research conducted in the Greater Bangor, Maine area in 2016 identified respite services and intergenerational programming as important factors for supporting a more livable community.

This report outlines findings from a 2018 needs assessment of adult day services (ADS), funded by Maine Health Access Foundation. The needs assessment utilized a survey of local caregivers (N=84) and key informant interviews (N=10) with staff at Maine adult day service programs or service providers that could utilize adult day services for their clients.

Key survey findings indicate that lack of financial resources (identified by 20% of the survey sample), and lack …

The Importance Of Medicaid For Children With Disabilities And Special Health Care Needs, 2017-2018 Cohort Of New Hampshire-Maine Leadership Education In Neurodevelopmental And Related Disabilities (Nh-Me Lend) Program Trainees.

Policy Analysis

Changes to Medicaid financing structure should be carefully considered because any change could have a potentially negative impact on children with disabilities and special health care needs (hereafter referred to as children with disabilities) and limit their access to critically needed health care services and community supports. Currently, Medicaid funding operates through a state and federal partnership, with the federal government providing 60% of funding on average. A cornerstone of Medicaid is the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) child health benefit. This program offers vital support services to children with disabilities, including early and periodic screenings, comprehensive …

Prospective Studies Of Cardiovascular Risk Factors And Mild Cognitive Impairment, Kevin Sullivan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The association of cardiovascular risk factors including hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol, kidney function, and arterial stiffness with cognitive impairment in older adults is a well-studied phenomenon. However, there is considerably less evidence relating cardiovascular health specifically to a diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). As a precursor state of dementia, MCI is characterized by a decline in cognitive function from previous level, but not to the degree that activities of daily living are impaired. Not everyone who is diagnosed with MCI will eventually transition to dementia, but the transition rates are much higher compared to the general population (5-15% per year …

Reaching Local Community With The Message Of Developmental Milestones And Early Identification Of Autism, Hope M. Duncanson

Poster Presentations

This poster presents project activities for a pilot program for effectively distributing Learn the Signs, Act Early materials to a small study group in a community in Maine.

Medicaid And Children With Special Health Care Needs, 2016-2017 Cohort Of New Hampshire-Maine Leadership Education In Neurodevelopmental And Related Disabilities (Nh-Me Lend) Program Trainees

Policy Analysis

Medicaid funds vital services for children and youth with special health care needs and disabilities (CYSHCN). Proposed changes to the structure of Medicaid would significantly reduce federal funding for this important program. The most concerning are the proposed structural changes including per capita caps and block grants, as well as threats to Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) and Medicaid Waiver services. Restructuring would have devastating effects on benefits for low-income children and individuals with disabilities, and their families, putting this very vulnerable population at additional risk.

Policy Brief: Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act, The 2015-2016 Cohort Of New Hampshire Leadership Education In Neurodevelopmental And Related Disabilities (Nh Lend) Program Trainees.

Policy Analysis

The Lifespan Respite Care Act (PL 109-442) provides critical support for families caring for loved ones at home. Family caregivers in the United States provide an estimated $470 billion worth of uncompensated care—a figure that exceeds the total Medicaid budget for 2013 (NAC Task Force, 2016). According to the National Respite Coalition, access to respite care helps protect caregiver health, strengthens families, keeps marriages intact, and prevents the need for expensive institutional long-term care. Reauthorization of the Lifespan Respite Care Act is essential to the well-being of individuals in need of long-term care and their families affected by long-term health …

Piscataquis Thriving In Place Collaborative Year 1 Evaluation Report, University Of Maine Center On Aging

Maine Center on Aging Education and Training

The Piscataquis Thriving in Place Collaboration's mission is to improve regional services and supports that help adults with chronic health conditions remain in their homes avoid unnecessary hospitalization. The following report presents evaluation results from Year 1 of the Piscataquis Thriving in Place Collaborative gained through survey work and Ripple Effects Mapping. sessions conducted with project workgroups. Project outcomes during the first year were diverse, but can be roughly categorized into the areas of increased knowledge of community needs among collaborative members, increased knowledge of available resources to support thriving in place, and expansion of services and supports in response …

Patterns Of Drug-Induced Mortality In Maine, 2015 Update, Marcella H. Sorg, Margaret Greenwald, Jamie A. Wren

Maine Policy Review

Drug addiction and drug-induced mortality have received a good deal of attention nationally and in Maine in recent years. The authors review overall trends in the patterns of drug overdoses that have continued for nearly two decades, including those involving opioid pharmaceuticals, and discuss the recent resurgence of the illicit drugs heroin and non-pharmaceutical fentanyl.

Population Health Improvement: It’S Up To The Community—Not The Healthcare System, Ron Deprez, Rick Thomas

Maine Policy Review

Despite the growing interest in population health on the part of health professionals, policy analysts, and government agencies, there is no widely accepted definition of the term nor agreement on how to apply the concept in health improvement planning. In this article, Ron Deprez and Rick Thomas clarify the definition, attributes, and applications of population health, tracing its history and evolution to its current form and assess the roles of communities and health systems in advancing a population health approach.

Physical Activity Levels And Health Of Passamaquoddy Tribe At Indian Township, Michael R. Best

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on reporting the occupational, household, transportation and leisure time physical activity of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township. This study also focuses on health measures and the presence of chronic disease and how they are affected by physical activity, risk factors, and other health related measures.

An interview-administered questionnaire, developed by the CDC, was given to participants age 25-44 years old, with one small change. The original Intertribal Heart Project (ITHP) questionnaire used a shortened version of the WHO’s Monica Optional Study of Physical Activity (MOSPA), in order to reduce the time it takes to administer the …

Maine Head Start And Early Head Start Needs Assessment Report 2015 Annual Update, Linda Labas, Jill Downs

Early Childhood Resources

The Maine Head Start and Early Head Start Needs Assessment Report 2015 Annual Update presents findings from a broad survey of directors and staff representing the 11 non-tribal Head Start grantees in Maine. This report serves as one source of information from which to assess partnerships and develop a strategic plan for the MHSSCO to enhance collaboration with other Maine early childhood system partners to support families and children in Maine.

Changing Medicine And Building Community: Maine’S Adverse Childhood Experiences Momentum, Leslie Forstadt Ph.D., Sally Cooper M.D., Sue Mackey Andrews

Home, Family & Youth

Physicians are instrumental in community education, prevention, and intervention for adverse childhood experiences. In Maine, a statewide effort is focusing on education about adverse childhood experiences and ways that communities and physicians can approach childhood adversity. This article describes how education about adversity and resilience can positively change the practice of medicine and related fields. The Maine Resilience Building Network brings together ongoing programs, supports new ventures, and builds on existing resources to increase its impact. It exemplifies the collective impact model by increasing community knowledge, affecting medical practice, and improving lives.

Accessing Healthcare: The Experience Of Individuals With Asd In Maine Report Summary, Alan Kurtz, Nancy Cronin

Health and Well-Being

A summary of report findings from the published research report, Accessing Healthcare: The Experience of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Maine (2014).

Rural Nurses' Perspectives On Their Capacity To Care For Pediatric Patients In Northern And Eastern Maine, Kimberly M. Harvell

Honors College

According to the 2010 U.S. census, approximately 59 million people (19%) in the United States reside in a rural area. More than fifteen percent of the nursing workforce is employed in a rural area. This creates a nurse to patient staffing ratio of 1 nurse for 117 people. This ratio demonstrates a large need for nursing personnel in the rural workforce. With a high patient to nurse ratio, rural nurses can be described to be valuable and in high demand. Rural nurses are valued for their ability to utilize different nursing specialties and care for patients all across the age …

Maine’S Contested Waterfront: The Project To Remake Sebago Lake’S Lower Bay, 1906-1930, David B. Cohen

Maine History

Throughout the nation’s history, few resources have been considered as ubiquitous as water. The issue of who controls the use of water, however, has seldom been straight forward. This was no less true in the Progressive Era, when many growing urban areas significantly altered their water infrastructure to meet increased demands. When debate arose over water use, these municipalities often relied on the relatively new authority of scientific knowledge, particularly in the area of public health and safety. In this article, the author describes how the Portland Water District was able to conserve Sebago Lake’s Lower Bay as a clean, …

Accessing Healthcare: The Experience Of Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorders In Maine, Alan Kurtz, Angie Schickle, Margaret Carr, Marnie Bragdon-Morneault, Susan Russell, Debra Rainey, Jill Downs, Nancy Cronin

Health and Well-Being

Previous research has revealed that children and adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are significantly more likely to have both unmet healthcare needs than those with other disabilities. In addition, they are more likely to have difficulty accessing primary or specialized medical care. Minority status, living in a rural location, and low income can exacerbate these disparities. Other obstacles to effective healthcare for individuals with ASD include the following: (1) severity of symptoms associated with ASD; (2) lack of knowledge or skill by medical practitioners; (3) lack of access to comprehensive healthcare supports or a medical home; and (4) lack …