Digital Commons Network^™

Implantation Of Nanocellulose In The Zebrafish Model, Hanna J. Anderson

Honors College

The number of novel materials for use in biomedical implantation is expanding rapidly, increasing the success rates of implant procedures. Nanocellulose is being assessed as a sustainable and biocompatible material, offering an alternative to conventional polymer or metal designs with the appropriate structure for potential tissue integration. In this research, the capacity of cellulose nanofibers to serve as biomedical implants is assessed through examination of immune responses of transgenic zebrafish, utilizing bright field and confocal fluorescence microscopy. Methods for creating microincisions for the implantation of dense cellulose nanofiber shards in the zebrafish model were explored, and a surgical protocol was …

Tangled Up: Women’S Experiences In Mathematics, Lori Loftin

Honors College

This thesis is a bridge between two disciplines: Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and Mathematics. The first portion of the work synthesizes both theory and previously done studies to describe the state of women in mathematics as a whole, as well as historicizing the role of women in mathematics. Obstacles to the full and equal participation of women in mathematics are examined through a feminist lens. The second part of the thesis is a feminist biography crafted from an interview with a professor of mathematics, Dr. Erica Flapan. This provides information about her personal experiences as a woman in mathematics …

Light Dynamics In The Damariscotta River Estuary With Implications For Microphytobenthos, Teiga C. Martin

Honors College

Predicting benthic light fields in the Damariscotta River Estuary (DRE) allows us to evaluate optimal microphytobenthos habitat, and determine the most the productive regions of the DRE. A model was created using instantaneous photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) to predict the spatial distribution of sufficient light fields for primary production along the benthos of the estuary. PAR was collected at six stations oriented N- S along the DRE during late September in 2016 and 2017. Calculated at each station was Z1%, experimental and model diffuse coefficients of light (Kd), and the optimal light level depth for microphytobenthos production. Light fields were …

Providing Experimental Support For Mtert As An Adult Neural Stem Cell Marker Using A Triple Transgenic Mouse Line, Caroline Dean Curtis

Honors College

Mouse telomerase reverse transcriptase (mTERT) is a gene that is expressed by cells that need to continually divide without the characteristic shortening of telomeres that accompanies DNA replication. Here we provide experimental evidence for mTERT as a novel and unique marker of adult neural stem cells (ANSCs). We use a triple transgenic mouse line that is designed so that mTERT-positive cells will glow green, via Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP), when the animal ingests doxycycline. This inducible model allows mTERT positive cells to be tracked and identified easily. Dissociated brain tissues were taken from these animals and sorted via a Fluorescence-Activated …

A Descriptive Analysis Of Porcupine Scavenging In An Experimental Forensic Context, Tamara Marie Labanowski

Honors College

Addressing the impact of scavengers is essential for a complete analysis of many forensic sites. Despite considerable research on canids and rodents on a broad taphonomic scale (Haglund 1992; Haglund et al. 1989; Haynes 1983), the North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) has not been studied for its impact in forensic contexts. In order to address this research gap, I will explore the role of the porcupine in scavenging bone based on data collected during a recent experimental taphonomic study (Sorg 2013). Funded by the National Institute of Justice, this study included data from motion- and heat-sensitive cameras focused on domesticated …

Exploring The Nutritional Value Of Carrots And Determining Attributes That Are Favored By Consumers, Hannah Harling Stefl

Honors College

This study explored 24 varieties of carrots, the most popular vegetable of the Apiaceae family. Carrots are one of the most widely consumed vegetables. They are a cool season vegetable crop, which comes in many different varieties and colors, each having its distinct aroma, content of volatiles and nutritional compounds that influence the harshness or eating quality of the carrot. In the US, 3.5 billion pounds of carrots are grown each year, showing the importance that carrots have in United States agricultural economic systems. Carrots are an important vegetable due to their characteristic flavor and the many health benefits, such …

The Legendary King: How The Figure Of King Arthur Shaped A National Identity And The Field Of Archaeology In Britain, Elizabeth Gaj Proctor

Honors College

The legend of King Arthur has spread throughout Western Culture to such an extent that he is a world-wide symbol of courtly chivalry, justice, and rightful kingship. The question of Arthur’s existence has captured public fascination and ignited scholarly debate. To understand this fascination, we need to look at the development of Arthurian legend by examining the historical context in which the nation of Great Britain was created through the overpowering of indigenous cultures and a consolidation of medieval kingdoms by outside groups. Drawing from archaeological evidence, historic, and current sources, we can understand King Arthur’s role as a symbol …

Autism: A Song Of Understanding, Hannah Babcock

Honors College

Autism: A Song of Understanding is a musical composition inspired by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) which summarizes the entire spectrum through three common categories of symptoms: language, social, and behavior. The piece consists of three movements from the perspective of the child and the fourth movement takes the parent/guardian/outsider’s perspective. Language starts in the early morning when a beeping alarm clock is silenced with a groan. The parent walks in and tries to rouse the child (Alex) out of bed. Alex responds, attempting to repeat the parent’s good-morning greeting. After failing to resolve the misunderstanding, Alex uses their self-stimulatory behavior …

The Effects Of Video Games And Religious Reminders On Prosociality, Heather K. Cross

Honors College

Religious primes have been shown to increase prosocial intentions (Shariff, 2016), whereas prosocial video games tend to increase both prosocial intentions and behaviors (Greitemeyer & Osswald, 2010). The aim of this study was to see whether or not these two predictors could work better in tandem to increase prosociality. It was hypothesized that both types of predictors would increase prosocial intentions on their own, that both types of predictors would work together to further increase prosocial intentions, and that this interaction would be moderated by personal religiosity. Participants were randomly assigned to read religious or nonreligious passages, and then randomly …

Art And Science: A Case Study Of Their Interconnectedness In The Marine Natural Sciences, Julia Mackin-Mclaughlin

Honors College

Science and art are interrelated in the form of scientific illustration: the act of observing a subject and translating the gained knowledge into a visual form. Humans have found inspiration from the natural world since our beginnings, but the practice of accurately portraying it arose with the growing interest in natural science in the 15th century. This paper explores three questions: what is scientific illustration, what is its role in scientific research, and how has it changed through history? Modern scientific illustration thrives as an effective method to teach the general public environmental issues. I present a case study using …

Interspecies Communication In Homo Sapiens And Canis Lupis Familiaris: A Meta Analysis, Karissa Panzino

Honors College

Interspecies communication is a fundamental aspect of many creatures. Knowing what another animal is saying could not only prove interesting, it could quite literally save a life. For humans, human-canine communication is arguably the most prevalent form of interspecies communication, and is important not only because of the close proximity of humans to dogs, but also because of the co-evolutionary aspects that have driven humans closer to “man’s best friend”. While there are some sources that allow for a consistent analysis of results in this field, it is still developing and constantly changing. A meta-analysis was performed to identify sources …

The Effects Of Social Media On The Quality Of Life Of People With Aphasia, Megan Morey

Honors College

This thesis reviews the literature regarding the effects of social media on the quality of life of people with aphasia. The review focuses on communication deficits, social isolation, quality of life, types of social media, aphasia technology and aphasia. The literature suggests that communication deficits in aphasia lead to feelings of social isolation, which then lead to a lower quality of life. However, less is known about the impact of social media on people with aphasia. Findings from this literature review suggest that technology may improve social connectedness, thereby decreasing social isolation and improving the overall quality of life of …

An Agent-Based Model Of Urban Sprawl: York And Cumberland Counties, Maine, Kaitlyn G. Lavallee

Honors College

Urban sprawl is defined as the movement of populations towards the fringes of urban centers, leading to the conversion of rural land to suburban consumption. This expansion in the distribution of populations has many implications for local and state policymakers, business owners and consumers. In Maine, sprawl is particularly prevalent in Cumberland County and York County, where the state’s population is the densest. The objective of this paper is to develop an agent-based model (ABM), which attempts to reflect the movement of households within these counties. These households make decisions sourced in microeconomic theory that are built into the model. …

A Summary Of Landings, Legislative Actions, And Possible Climate-Induced Distribution Shifts In New England Fisheries, Dylan Trueblood

Honors College

New England’s fisheries produce millions of dollars annually, and monitoring and protecting these fisheries ensures the region’s prosperity. There is evidence that the distributional centers of many fish species are shifting north so they remain within their optimal thermal range. Twenty species in New England’s fisheries have been identified as being vulnerable to climate change and, for each of these species, landings data from New England and the Mid-Atlantic were analyzed for the years 1976 – 2015. Trends in landings data were compared to trends in temperature anomaly data. Major legislative events that may have impacted landings data, e.g., fishery …

The Effect Of Voice Gender And Spoken Messages In Augmented Interactions, Katrina Lapham

Honors College

A speech-generating device is often implemented to aid communication for those with limited ability to produce mouth speech. Although these devices have come a long way since their initial development, there are still pervasive problems regarding augmentative and alternative (AAC) technology. These problems include communication rate, intelligibility of the synthesized voice, and the effectiveness of the synthesized speech to transfer information for a variety of interactions. Additionally, the device is responsible for portraying unique information about the augmented speaker, including their competence, individuality and identity. This investigation sought to contribute to efforts aimed at understanding the impact of computer-generated voice …

William Morris, Edward Burne-Jones, And The Kelmscott Press:An Exploration Of The Thing And A Non-Commodified Mode Of Vision, Daniel Perry Iii

Honors College

This thesis attempts to view William Morris and his work at the Kelmscott Press as a thoroughly modern endeavor, instead of the nostalgic enterprise his work is usually branded as. To do this, this thesis inquires into Morris’s ideas about art and experience, and how these ideas are both tied to his ideas of the mediaeval and are the same ideas that will haunt modern artists throughout the twentieth century. In this thesis I argue that how Morris designed the pages produced by him and a long list of collaborators at the Kelmscott Press shows the readers/viewers of Kelmscott books …

Do Insulating Characteristics Of Feathers Vary Among Color Phases Of Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa Umbellus)?, Nicole Keefner

Honors College

Ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) occupy a wide distribution in North America, from Georgia in the south to Alaska in the north, as well as southern and central Canada. Color phases in ruffed grouse range from red to gray with gray phase birds found more frequently at higher latitudes than red birds. Gray and red morphs become exclusive at northern and southern range margins, respectively. This pattern is generally attributed to increased ability of gray morphs to survive northern winters. Although a number of mechanisms have been proposed for these relationships, recent studies on tawny owls have suggested that …

An Analysis Of The Sociopolitical Factors Contributing To The Politicization Of Sunni Islam In The Middle East, Ginger Wenzel Kieffer

Honors College

This research analyzes the sociopolitical trends of the 20th century that have contributed to the susceptibility of the Middle East to extremist organizations, with a particular focus on Sunni Islamic groups such as the Islamic State. The goal of this analysis is to show how the failure of states to provide sociopolitical and economic stability has led to the politicization of religiosity as an alternative to secular authority.

The major aspects analyzed will be the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, imperialism, nationalism, and the eventual turn towards fundamentalist, extremist organizations within the Middle East. The failure of governmental systems to …

Mind The Gap: Effects Of Habitat And Climate On Northern Water Snake (Nerodia Sipedon Sipedon) Distribution In Maine, Anthony J. Pawlicki

Honors College

Northern water snakes (Nerodia sipedon sipedon) have a disjunct geographic range in the northeastern part of their distribution, specifically in Maine with one occupied region about 125 kilometers from any other known population. This gap could be due to a number of factors with some currently affecting the species including dispersal and habitat characteristics, while some factors may have historically affected their distribution, such as retreating glaciers and climate change. We assessed the effects of lake characteristics and bioclimatic variables on the range of N. s. sipedon within Maine using a logistic regression built from a generalized liner model. Lake …

Noise Exposure In University Pep Band Members: Acoustic Measurements Versus Musicians’ Perceptions, Jaime L. Roy

Honors College

While noise-induced hearing loss has been studied extensively, little research has focused on music-induced hearing loss, which is due to loud music exposure. Previous research has shown that loud music from an ensemble can produce harmful noise levels. In the current research, noise levels were measured during Pep Band performances at hockey games in Alfond Arena and basketball games at the Cross Insurance Center. It was hypothesized that noise levels may differ based on the sporting event. In a second study, UMaine Pep Band members’ perceptions of noise exposure and opinions of hearing protection and hearing health were surveyed. It …

A Study Of The Philosophic Underpinnings Of The Motivations And Behaviors Of Lifestyle Entrepreneurs, Ryan Lopes

Honors College

It appears that there is a fundamental difference in the attitudes of large business owners/operators and lifestyle entrepreneurs. This claim rests on an assumption that those owners and operators of large corporate firms generally comply with Milton Friedman’s ideas as presented in his 1970 op-ed in the New York Times titled “The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase its Profits.” Friedman wrote that business owners are concerned with making “as much money as possible while conforming to the basic rules of the society.” It seems that corporations in the United States and abroad do comply with Friedman’s attitude. Every …

Stabilization Of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles For Homogenous Integration Into Cellulose Nano Fibrils, Banton H. Heithoff

Honors College

Cellulose nanofibrils is one of the future potential giants in the medical implant industry. Its unique properties make it the ideal material for use in both permanent prosthetic devices and non- permanent implants such as screws and plates. To increase the usability of this material, the addition of super paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles is needed to gain MRI and X-Ray visibility. The methodology for how to homogeneously integrate these particles into the system using the addition of coating agents is explored. This research demonstrates that the addition of coating agents to the iron oxide nanoparticles can affect both the pH …

Contraceptive Counseling Practices Among Providers Prescribing Opiates To Women Of Childbearing Age, Lucy A. Iselborn

Honors College

Opiate use has reached epidemic levels in the United States, resulting in 28,647 deaths in 2014 alone. Prenatally, opioids are used for both pain management and to assist with opiate dependency. The level of risk associated with the use of opiates is much higher for pregnant women, and women of childbearing age, due to the detrimental effects opiates have on the developing fetus including, neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Maine is leading the nation in the number of NAS births with incidence rates of greater than 30 per 1,000 hospital births. Pregnancy prevention is an upstream approach to reduce unintended pregnancy …

A Recommendation For Polyculture Agriculture To Reduce Nitrogen Loading That Leads To Hypoxia, Bethany Stevens

Honors College

The natural cycle of nitrogen is an essential part of both plant growth and crop

production, but in recent years there has been an increase in nitrogen through the use of synthetic fertilizers. Agricultural surface runoff can carry away the converted, mobile nitrate nitrogen into downstream systems leading to an unnatural influx of nitrogen. This increased nutrient load can stimulate algal growth in the marine ecosystem which can cause an oxygen depletion. When the dissolved oxygen levels fall, the area is deemed ‘hypoxic’ and can no longer support most aquatic life. In recent decades, industrial agriculture has used monoculture practices, …

Fostering Scientific Discourse Through The Development Of An Online Journal, James Robe

Honors College

Scientific information and data have become more readily available to populations that may not have had easy access to science content prior to increases in internet use and availability. Website creation platforms continue to be democratized by efforts to limit the amount of knowledge and money needed to launch, operate, and maintain websites. The internet also allows scientists to communicate with publics in more meaningful ways beyond education, such as scientific discourse. The opportunities that accompany expanded internet and website capabilities creates need for a comprehensive guide to help scientists or scientific groups take advantage of the internet’s unique ability …

Perception Of The Horizon Predicts Bird Abundance Better Than Habitat Patch Size In A Tidal Marsh Species Of Conservation Concern, Hallie Marshall

Honors College

The Saltmarsh Sparrow (Ammodramus caudacutus) is a tidal marsh bird species facing rapid population decline throughout its range. A major cause of this decline is degradation and loss of breeding habitat, and thus there is a need to preserve coastal marshes in the northeastern United States. To do so requires an understanding of the habitat features that support robust populations. Previous studies have shown increases in Saltmarsh Sparrow abundance with marsh size increases. In other grassland bird species, habitat patches with low horizons are preferred to those with tall objects (e.g., trees, telephone poles, wind turbines). This study tests how …

Small-Scale Maine Farmers’ Perceptions And Adaptations To Climate Change, Shireen Luick

Honors College

Climate change is affecting agricultural practices in Maine and all over the world, and this research aims to highlight the effects of climate change on small-scale Maine farmers. Maine has a highly variable climate as well as a strong tradition in agriculture and thus it is important to understand how the different changes may affect farmers statewide. Ten interviews were conducted with small-scale farmers in western Maine. We ask what farmers are perceiving in terms of climatic changes and how they may be adapting to those ongoing changes. Several adaptations resulted from both shifting temperature and precipitation patterns. This research …

Hydrology And Aquatic Invertebrate Communities Of Riverine Rock Pools: Effects Of Seasonality And The Penobscot River, Chase Gagne

Honors College

Small pools on rock outcrops are a common feature on the banks of Maine rivers, however the unique aquatic insects inhabiting these rock pools have been little studied. This is problematic, as climate change is altering seasonal river flooding and rainfall patterns that may control pool filling and drying. These changes may impact potentially unique species in these pools, or make them more susceptible to invasion by disease vectors such as mosquitos. This project surveyed the insect communities of 40 natural pools in a rocky outcrop on the Penobscot River near Milford. The pools were spread between four zones: two …

The Types And Effectiveness Of Voter Mobilization Efforts In The U.S. Presidential Elections Of 1828 And 2008, Natalie Goding

Honors College

This project is a case study of the types and effectiveness of voter mobilization efforts in the U.S. presidential elections of 1828 and 2008. Political parties, candidate campaigns and interest groups utilize a variety of different voter mobilization tactics with the goal of persuading potential voters to make the leap to become voters. By utilizing newspapers and academic works, I determined the tactics that political organizations deployed to mobilize potential voters in both election years. Innovative mobilization tactics evolved in the presidential elections of 1828 and 2008, including the development of a two-party system and the use of the internet …

Investigating The Odd-Person-Out Principle: Socioemotional Adjustment Of First-Year College Students In Double Vs. Triple Living Scenarios, Alex Gilbert

Honors College

Previous research has determined that tripling college students in dorm rooms that are considered “overcrowded” can have a negative effect on students’ academic performance and quality of roommate relationships. In addition, students who are beginning their college careers are more vulnerable to depression and anxiety. The present retrospective study examined depression/anxiety levels, overall academic performance and roommate relationship quality when comparing doubled and tripled students’ experiences during their first semester of their undergraduate program. Students at a state university who accepted admission after the deadline and had been assigned to triple vs. double rooms for their first year in college …