Thesis Archives Search
This search engine will let you explore the over 1800 theses written in Honors at The University of Maine since the Program’s inception in 1935. You may search our thesis archives based on any of the fields listed above. If the thesis is available at the Reynolds Library (Thomson Honors Center) or Fogler Library (Special Collections), the information will appear below the bibliographic data. At last count, we had about 1800 theses in the Reynolds Library.
Search Results
A Mathematical Model of the Opioid Epidemic in the State of Maine
Major: Mathematics Graduation Year: 2020 Thesis Advisor: Peter Stechlinski
Description of Publication:
For the past two decades the United States has been embroiled in a prescription drug epidemic that has since grown in magnitude and complexity. The ripples of this epidemic have been especially apparent in the state of Maine, which has fought hard to mitigate the damage caused by addiction to pharmaceutical and illicit opioids. Us- ing data from state and federal sources, we construct a mathematical model capturing the dynamics of the opioid epidemic in the state of Maine, specifically as it pertains to pharmaceutical opioids and heroin. Parameter fitting is performed followed by an uncertainty analysis to quantify potential error in parameter estimates. The model is analyzed to determine effective ways of controlling opioid abuse prevalence (both in the form of heroin and pharmaceutical opioid use) at different points in time, and stochastic simulations are run to test the effect of various control strategies on the number of opioid abusers in the system. These results are then presented with the hope of helping to inform public policy as to the most effective means of intervention.
Location of Publication:
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/630/
A METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING LEAF RUST IN LOWBUSH BLUEBERRIES
Thekopsora minima, blueberry leaf rust, is a pathogen of lowbush blueberries in the state of Maine. The fungus produces multiple types of spores, contributing to its complex life cycle. Leaf rust can cause abscission of the host plant’s leaves in pruned fields and this may affect the amount and quality of flower buds, in the next crop cycle, consequently lowering crop yield. Blueberry growers with leaf rust infections are advised to spray certain fungicides in late-July to suppress further infection and defoliation. Blueberry leaf rust spores are released throughout the growing season. Predicting major infection periods by tracking the spore releases may improve management of the pathogen. Before the most efficient treatment can be employed, however, spores must be correctly and swiftly identified before the most efficient treatment can be employed. Unfortunately, T. minima rust spores cannot be easily identified through simple microscopic observation because they are nearly impossible to differentiate from spores of other rust species. Suspected leaf rust samples were collected from several field sites and identified with molecular techniques. Based on DNA sequence of the ITS region we confirmed that spores in several samples were T. minima. Alignments created from the DNA regions from these rust samples contained several unique areas within the sequences that will allow further development of specific PCR primers.
A Method for Orientation of Cellulose Nano Fibers for Addition of Biological Nanoparticles and Tissue Integration
Major: Biomedical Engineering Graduation Year: 2021 Thesis Advisor: Karissa Tilbury
Description of Publication:
The University of Maine is one of the world’s leading producers of cellulose nanofibers (CNF). This material has the power to revitalize the Maine paper industry. This has led to an abundance of labs on campus researching applications for the material. Active research activities at the University of Maine include industrial applications such as filtration, biodegradable packaging, building materials and niche health care applications. Niche health care applications include wicking pads for point of care diagnostics and tunable biomaterials ranging from dressings to implantable bone-like materials. Medical applications require an analysis of the biocompatibility of CNF.CNF is biocompatible in general: however, the degree of biocompatibility, particularly for tissue engineering applications involving long term integration within the body, is an area of active research. CNF is a highly tunable biomaterial; control of the fibril anisotropy dramatically alters bulk biomechanical properties which also modulates biological interaction. To tune fiber anisotropy, a novel strategy to produce single direction-oriented CNF films by application of a unilateral force via a latex substrate was developed. The alignment of CNF films was characterized using both polarized light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy(SEM). CNF is birefringent; therefore, using polarized light microscopy the alignment of CNF can be inferred by quantifying the birefringence optical index (BOI). The BOI ranges from -1 to 1, with high birefringence found at the extrema values. To validate the birefringence orientation sensitivity to CNF film alignment; we performed SEM for direct assessment of fiber alignment using OrientationJ, a FIJI plugin. Hydroxyapatite (HA) was incorporated as an additive to evaluate the application of this method to cellulose nano composites. Both the BOI and the SEM fibril analysis confirmed that CNF fibrils are aligned preferentially along the axis of force transmission. Furthermore, the addition of HA did not diminish the degree of CNF fibril alignment. Overall, we demonstrate a rapid and economic approach to fabricate and assess fibril alignment in CNF films useful for a myriad of tissue engineering applications.
Location of Publication:
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/662/
A Method for Rapid Clinical Assessment of Cancer Progression via Quantification of Interstitial Tumor Fluid Viscoelastic Properties
A Method for Studying in Vitro Mitogenic Stimulation of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo Salar) Leukocytes
A Model for Student Success: How Immigrant/First-Generation Teachers Use Cultural Identity and Experience in Pedagogical Practices with Immigrant/First-Generation Youth
Major: International Affairs Graduation Year: 2019 Thesis Advisor: Linda Silka
Description of Publication:
The purpose of this study is to identify how immigrant/first-generation teacher populations in the United States apply their cultures and identities to the education of the immigrant/first-generation students that they teach. This study also aims to analyze the specific charter school management system, Ednovate, and how its innovative mission and model have led to its high rates of student success. Culture and identity are two significant factors in a student’s educational experience, as the school system is a critical site for developing identity in children. In this study, eight members of faculty and staff from the Ednovate charter school system in Orange and Los Angeles counties were interviewed and asked to describe which parts of their immigrant experiences in the United States shaped their own educations and how these experiences and their own cultures in turn influence their respective teaching habits. With the growing number of immigrants in the United States, immigrant teachers make up a significant percentage of the teacher population and are some of the most profound influencers of a student’s sense of identity and community belonging. Culture and education are closely related, as cultural transmission occurs in classrooms and schools, and schools can be important sites of cultural structures. The results of this study demonstrate that through the use of storytelling, celebrating culture in education, and cutting-edge educational models, schools can become centers of diversity, cultural appreciation, and student success.
Location of Publication:
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/489/
A MULTI-INSTITUTION INVESTIGATION OF EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES AND STRATEGIES IN STEM COURSES
This study examines the teaching practices of faculty participating in the Automated Analysis of Constructed Response (AACR) project. The AACR project focuses on using short-answer assessment questions to elicit the mixed models students have about key concepts in STEM courses. The 19 faculty from six different institutions who participated in this project are all teaching biology courses, asking biology AACR questions, and participating in Faculty Learning Communities (FLCs). FLCs are a method of faculty professional development in which groups of faculty regularly meet to discuss issues of teaching and learning. Here I use a combination of classroom observation data and surveys where faculty self-report on teaching practices to answer three research questions: 1) What instructional practices are currently being used by the AACR FLC faculty? 2) What instructional practices do AACR FLC faculty think that they are using in their courses? and 3) How closely do AACR FLC faculty’s perceptions of their teaching align with their measured teaching practices? Results from the classroom observations show that instructors participating in FLCs utilize a variety of teaching practices ranging from lecture to collaborative learning. Survey data show that faculty self-awareness of their own teaching practices varies depending on the types of questions asked. Taken together, these data establish a baseline from which to monitor changes in teaching practices and self-perceptions of teaching practices of the FLC faculty as a result of their participation in the AACR project.