Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Silence Is The Loudest Sound, Emma Christian

Honors College

Rhinoceros poaching is an act of killing a rhinoceros in order to take its horn, which is then used for human consumption or for cultural traditions. Both the Asian and the African rhinoceros are targets because of the demand from China, Vietnam, Yemen, and other countries around the world. Traditional Chinese Medicine practice is the main demand for rhinoceros horn and this demand in rhinoceros horn has caused an increase in the black market. Conservation of the rhinoceros is decreasing primarily because the price of rhinoceros horn is more than double the average household income in South Africa, thus making …

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 …

Five Dimensions Of Wellness And Predictors Of Cognitive Health Protection In Community Dwelling Older Adults: A Historical Collage Cohort Study, Kelley A. Strout Dr

Nursing Faculty Scholarship

Wellness is associated with cognitive health protection; however, findings are limited because they only examine variable(s) within one dimension of wellness. This research examined the association between multiple dimensions of wellness and cognition among aging adults. The sample included 5,605 male and female community-dwelling adults 60 years and older. Four dimensions of wellness demonstrated a statistically significant higher mean difference in cognitively healthy older adults compared to cognitively impaired older adults, F(4, 5,595) = 47.57, p < .001. Emotional wellness demonstrated the strongest association with cognitive health, followed by physical and spiritual wellness, F(5, 5,372) = 50.35, p < .001. Future research is needed to examine the cognitive protective benefits of wellness using longitudinal, prospective designs that control for the potential temporal relationship between wellness and cognition.DOI: 10.1177/0898010114540322

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 …

Policy Brief: Keeping All Students Safe Act Of 2014, Nancy Bergerson

Policy Analysis

Senator Harkin (D-IA), Senator Murphy (D-CT), Senator Baldwin (D-WI), and Senator Hirono (D-HI) introduced the Keeping All Students Safe Act (S.2036) in the Senate on Feb. 24, 2014. Rep. Miller (D-CA) introduced H.R. 1893 on May 9, 2013. The Act would produce limitations for the use of restraints in public and private schools. Currently, 19 states have no policies in place to address this issue. The law would require better training, monitoring and enforcement of these standards, as well as the collection of related data which would be available to the public. We are asking you to co-sponsor the Keeping …

Attitudes And Preventative Health Practices In Relation To Obesity, Brieana Evans

Honors College

Over the past thirty years, obesity has become a health epidemic, affecting a large percentage of the United States population, leading to a decrease in quality of life related to comorbid illnesses, which are directly correlated to being overweight or obese. Due to these comorbid illnesses, obesity places a large fiscal burden on the healthcare system, directly associated with treating related diseases and indirectly through lost production due to “sick days”. In 2013, the American Medical Association ruled to classify obesity as a disease, which has brought about an increased need for preventative health measures. Steps toward obesity prevention are …

Parkinson's Disease: An Experimental Approach To Model The Visuo-Spatial Learning And Memory Deficits And An Analysis Of Evidence Implicating Α-Synuclein In Lewy Body Formation, Caitlyn Dawn Ahlberg

Honors College

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common age-related neurodegenerative disorder. Given its prevalence, researching PD is important to world health. The well known motor symptoms of PD are often accompanied by non-motor symptoms (NMS) including visuo-spatial learning and memory deficits. However, the mechanism whereby these NMS occur is unknown. PD is also characterized by the presence of protein aggregates termed Lewy Bodies (LBs). The mechanism whereby LBs form is unclear, although the fibrillization and aggregation of α-synuclein seem to be critical contributing factors.

This thesis reports development of an animal model of PD to study NMS using 6-Hydroxydopamine …

Improving Running Performance Using Non-Running Tasks, Darien Lewis

Honors College

For decades researchers and runners have endeavored to improve endurance running performance. Recent evidence suggests that adding resistance training to a running program can improve running performance. Our purpose was to determine if 6wks of resistance exercise via negative eccentrically-induced work (RENEW), an exercise that increases muscle size, strength, and stiffness, could serve as an effective “non-running” modality for improving running performance. Recreational runners were assigned to a: RENEW (n=7), plyometric (PLYO, n=7), or control (CON, n=7) group. RENEW trained on an eccentric ergometer (3x/wk, 10-30min, 54-66% of peak heart rate) while the PLYO performed …

The Role Of Tnfaip8l1 In The Antiviral Innate Immune System, Campbell Miller

Honors College

The TNFAIP8 gene family is a recently discovered family of immune-related genes that have been implicated in both innate immunity and immune homeostasis. This gene family consists of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-induced protein 8 (TNFAIP8), TNFAIP8L1 (TIPE1), TNFAIP8L2 (TIPE2), and TNFAIP8L3 (TIPE3), of which only two, TNFAIP8 and TIPE2, have been characterized. Previous studies have revealed high sequence homology among family members, as is evident in the collective involvement of TNFIAP8 and TIPE2 in critical immune-related diseases, including cancer and inflammatory disease, respectively. However, TIPE1 has been left relatively uncharacterized, and its role in the context of antiviral innate …

A Study Of Personality Types Found Within The Speech-Language Pathology Profession And The Communication Sciences And Disorders Major, Whitney Norton

Honors College

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) was used to analyze the personality types of speech-language pathologists and communication sciences and disorders students. The results are organized by 4 dichotomies: extroversion/introversion, sensing/intuition, thinking/feeling, and judging/perceiving. The study analyzed the individual dichotomies as well as personality outcomes as a whole. The study was designed to discover trends within each data point both separately and jointly, aiming to further research on the idea of personality types changing over time. Results suggest that similarities and differences are present in between both data points. The results are discussed in terms of their possible impact on the …

Territorial Aggression Increases Along An Urban Gradient In Resident But Not Migratory Song Sparrows, Darlene Turcotte

Honors College

During the breeding season, birds behave more aggressively toward rivals to maintain and defend territories. Resident birds are thought to be more aggressive than migratory birds because they need to maintain a territory year round. Furthermore, birds in urban environments can exhibit more aggressive behaviors than their rural counterparts because of the bolder behavioral characteristics required to colonize urban habitats. In this study, we investigated how migration strategy and landscape composition interact to affect territory defense in two subspecies of Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia). To evoke an aggressive response, we simulated invasions by broadcasting songs from within a …

Altered Integrin Alpha 6 Expression As A Rescue For Muscle Fiber Detachment In Zebrafish (Danio Rerio), Rose E. Mcglauflin

Honors College

Cells adhere to their extracellular matrix by way of integrins, transmembrane molecules that attach the cytoskeleton to the extracellular basement membrane (one kind of extracellular matrix). In some muscular dystrophies, specific integrins are disrupted and muscle fibers detach from the myotendenous junction and degenerate. This integrin disruption causes a constant cycle of regeneration and degeneration, which greatly harms the tissue over time. Congenital muscular dystrophy affects the integrin alpha 7 gene and prevents the muscle cell from producing the affiliated protein. In an attempt to rescue integrin alpha 7 dystrophies, this project over-expressed another integrin, integrin alpha 6, in zebrafish …

Improved Detection Of Streptococcus Equi Subspecies Equi In Drinking Water, Lily A. Mclaughlin

Honors College

Streptococcus equi subspecies equi (S. equi) is the causative agent of strangles, a contagious respiratory disease of horses. Transmission of the bacteria can occur when animals share water sources. Detection of S. equi in water could improve strangles surveillance and move towards eradication of the disease. The aims of this study were to determine the optimal membrane pore size for bacterial retention from an aqueous suspension, to determine the likely dispersion pattern of S. equi contaminated mucus in a water bucket to develop a collection technique to be used by veterinarians, and to find the sensitive range for …

A Study Of The Nutritional Effect Of Grains In The Diet Of A Dog, Kristyn M. Souliere

Honors College

The present study was designed to address the prevalence of the lack of knowledge for what owners are feeding their dogs, and to determine if grain should be within the diet. It was hypothesized that a bag of feed containing protein at no specific level, with a low level of grain will be more beneficial for the animal, and that a diet needs to contain grains. The crude protein, crude fat, and first five ingredients listed were compared for four bags chosen, and to the nutritional requirements for a dog. “Holistic Blend Grain Free”, contained an extremely high amount of …

Combating Autism Reauthorization Act Of 2014, Kassandra Mores

Policy Analysis

On May 9, 2014, Representative Smith (R-NJ) and Representative Doyle (D-PA) introduced a bill to reauthorize the Combating Autism Act (H.R. 4631) for five years. Senator Menendez (D-NJ) and Senator Enzi (R-WY) are planning to introduce a Senate bill of the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act. The Combating Autism Act of 2011, due to sunset September 30, 2014, provides federal funding for autism research, public education, and early detection and intervention in Maine. We are hoping that you will consider voting in support of the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act.

Growing Ideas - Daily Transitions - Time For A Change, University Of Maine Center For Community Inclusion And Disability Studies

Early Childhood Resources

Young children with and without disabilities experience many changes during their day. Daily transitions in early care and education programs take place during an activity, or when children move from one activity to another or one location to another. Transitions include the following: Arriving at or departing from a program; Exchanging toys; Entering or leaving a play area during free choice time; Cleaning up after morning activities and starting a group circle time; Getting dressed to go outside to play; and Shifting from playing with friends to working with a teacher/therapist on a particular skill. Thoughtful planning is needed so …

Adult Scurvy In New France: Samuel De Champlain's "Mal De La Terre" At Saint Croix Island, 1604-1605, Thomas A. Crist, Marcella H. Sorg

Anthropology Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Growing Ideas - Behavior Communicates, University Of Maine Center For Community Inclusion And Disability Studies

Early Childhood Resources

All child care professionals who provide quality inclusive child care strive to understand what children are telling them through their behavior. When a child behaves in a way that indicates a need for extra help and support, ask the question, "What is really going on here?" Be a detective to discover possible messages in the child's behavior.