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
ALLEVIATING SOCIAL ISOLATION AND FOOD INSECURITY THROUGH COMMUNITY GARDENING: HOW THE ORONO COMMUNITY GARDEN IMPACTS SENIORS
Author:
Sarah
Mullis
Major: Sociology Graduation Year: 2016 Thesis Advisor: Melissa Ladenheim
Description of Publication:
Senior food insecurity and social isolation are potentially two serious issues within Maine communities. The Orono Community Garden (OCG) is a local effort to combat both of these issues. The OCG relies on volunteer workers, who donate the food they produce to low-income seniors living in three neighboring housing complexes in Orono, Maine. This project uses participant observation, surveys, and personal interviews as the basis for a qualitative analysis, to assess how seniors’ food security is influenced due to the food from the OCG, the ways in which the OCG provides a sense of community and social integration for the seniors, and how the garden impacts volunteers who work there. This research contributes to our understanding of the roles and functions of a community gardens, as well as its impact on senior food security and social isolation.
Location of Publication: fogler reynolds
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/403
Major: Sociology Graduation Year: 2016 Thesis Advisor: Melissa Ladenheim
Description of Publication:
Senior food insecurity and social isolation are potentially two serious issues within Maine communities. The Orono Community Garden (OCG) is a local effort to combat both of these issues. The OCG relies on volunteer workers, who donate the food they produce to low-income seniors living in three neighboring housing complexes in Orono, Maine. This project uses participant observation, surveys, and personal interviews as the basis for a qualitative analysis, to assess how seniors’ food security is influenced due to the food from the OCG, the ways in which the OCG provides a sense of community and social integration for the seniors, and how the garden impacts volunteers who work there. This research contributes to our understanding of the roles and functions of a community gardens, as well as its impact on senior food security and social isolation.
Location of Publication: fogler reynolds
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/403
Already Too Late
Author:
Abigail
Logan
Major: Secondary Education Graduation Year: 2021 Thesis Advisor: Chris Mares
Description of Publication:
Already Too Late (Dec. 2021), in its beginning stages, is a novel that explores the intricacies of trauma response within the context of creative writing that appeals to both older and younger readers alike. This thesis consists of a complete story outline, four well-established chapters, and a disquisition that examines my motivations, methodology, and the research related to the content of this project. The novel is a dual-perspective narrative that interweaves 17-year-old Avery Landon’s traumatic experiences with sexual assault with her father Marty’s overwhelming grief and his coming to terms with his failed parenting. When Avery is raped at a summer party, she struggles to put the pieces of that horrific night back together. In the weeks that follow, however, the memories come flooding back, progressively sinking her into a deep depression that soon becomes inescapable. As life becomes more and more difficult for Avery to bear, she decides that the only way to escape her struggles is by committing suicide. Interspersed with Avery’s chapters is Marty’s storyline, which begins at Avery’s celebration of life. After first losing his wife Marilyn, Marty spent all of his time writing in the efforts of holding on to his last connection to his soulmate. Because of this, Avery and her brother Tony are left to navigate their lives without him, and he doesn’t realize how badly they need him until it’s already too late. The two stories switch off with one another, showcasing the realities of trauma, grief and regret, until both characters eventually find peace in their own complex ways.
Location of Publication:
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/710
Major: Secondary Education Graduation Year: 2021 Thesis Advisor: Chris Mares
Description of Publication:
Already Too Late (Dec. 2021), in its beginning stages, is a novel that explores the intricacies of trauma response within the context of creative writing that appeals to both older and younger readers alike. This thesis consists of a complete story outline, four well-established chapters, and a disquisition that examines my motivations, methodology, and the research related to the content of this project. The novel is a dual-perspective narrative that interweaves 17-year-old Avery Landon’s traumatic experiences with sexual assault with her father Marty’s overwhelming grief and his coming to terms with his failed parenting. When Avery is raped at a summer party, she struggles to put the pieces of that horrific night back together. In the weeks that follow, however, the memories come flooding back, progressively sinking her into a deep depression that soon becomes inescapable. As life becomes more and more difficult for Avery to bear, she decides that the only way to escape her struggles is by committing suicide. Interspersed with Avery’s chapters is Marty’s storyline, which begins at Avery’s celebration of life. After first losing his wife Marilyn, Marty spent all of his time writing in the efforts of holding on to his last connection to his soulmate. Because of this, Avery and her brother Tony are left to navigate their lives without him, and he doesn’t realize how badly they need him until it’s already too late. The two stories switch off with one another, showcasing the realities of trauma, grief and regret, until both characters eventually find peace in their own complex ways.
Location of Publication:
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/710
ALTERATION OF THE MICROFLORA OF THE FACULTATIVE PARASITIC NEMATODE PRISTIONCHUS ENTOMOPHAGUS AND ITS POTENTIAL APPLICATION AS A BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENT
Author:
Amy
M.
Michaud
Major: Biology Graduation Year: 2013 Thesis Advisor: Eleanor Groden
Description of Publication:
Pristionchus entomophagus is a microbivorous, facultative, parasitic nematode commonly found in soil and decaying organic matter in North America and Europe. This nematode can form an alternative juvenile life stage capable of infecting an insect host. The microflora of P. entomophagus is highly variable and may contribute to insect host mortality. Pristionchus entomophagus is not associated with specific bacterial species, and its microflora may possibly vary with habitat and/or hosts. The goal of this project was to develop protocols to transfer labeled bacteria to P. entomophagus, and then assess transfer of the labeled bacteria to an insect host via exposure to altered nematodes. Successful inoculation of the nematodes and transfer to the insect would provide a method to enhance virulence of P. entomophagus for use against M. rubra and other pest insects. I successfully developed a protocol to alter the microflora of P. entomophagus nematodes, but was unable to confirm transfer of the target bacteria by nematodes to Galleria mellonella larvae. The internal microflora of most adult nematodes was altered and juveniles exposed to the labeled bacteria were seen to carry it on the external surface of their cuticle. Juveniles are the infective stage, and without internal haborage, they may be poor vectors of the target bacteria. Another challenge in developing P. entomophagus as a biological control agent is potential nematicidal activity of entomopathogenic bacteria. Overall, the results of this study are promising and provide the initial steps towards the development of P. entomophagus with enhanced virulence as a biological control agent.
Location of Publication: reynolds
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/134/
Major: Biology Graduation Year: 2013 Thesis Advisor: Eleanor Groden
Description of Publication:
Pristionchus entomophagus is a microbivorous, facultative, parasitic nematode commonly found in soil and decaying organic matter in North America and Europe. This nematode can form an alternative juvenile life stage capable of infecting an insect host. The microflora of P. entomophagus is highly variable and may contribute to insect host mortality. Pristionchus entomophagus is not associated with specific bacterial species, and its microflora may possibly vary with habitat and/or hosts. The goal of this project was to develop protocols to transfer labeled bacteria to P. entomophagus, and then assess transfer of the labeled bacteria to an insect host via exposure to altered nematodes. Successful inoculation of the nematodes and transfer to the insect would provide a method to enhance virulence of P. entomophagus for use against M. rubra and other pest insects. I successfully developed a protocol to alter the microflora of P. entomophagus nematodes, but was unable to confirm transfer of the target bacteria by nematodes to Galleria mellonella larvae. The internal microflora of most adult nematodes was altered and juveniles exposed to the labeled bacteria were seen to carry it on the external surface of their cuticle. Juveniles are the infective stage, and without internal haborage, they may be poor vectors of the target bacteria. Another challenge in developing P. entomophagus as a biological control agent is potential nematicidal activity of entomopathogenic bacteria. Overall, the results of this study are promising and provide the initial steps towards the development of P. entomophagus with enhanced virulence as a biological control agent.
Location of Publication: reynolds
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/134/
ALTERED INTEGRIN ALPHA 6 EXPRESSION AS A RESCUE FOR MUSCLE FIBER DETACHMENT IN ZEBRAFIS (DANIO RERIO)
Author:
Rose
E.
McGlauflin
Major: Biology Graduation Year: 2014 Thesis Advisor: Clarissa A. Henry
Description of Publication:
Location of Publication:
URL to Thesis: http://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/140/
Major: Biology Graduation Year: 2014 Thesis Advisor: Clarissa A. Henry
Description of Publication:
Location of Publication:
URL to Thesis: http://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/140/
Alternative Assessments of Individual Dietary Intake
Alternative Bias: The Role of the Liberal Alternative Print Media in the 1991 Persian Gulf Conflict
Alternative Education in Central Maine
Alternative Worlds: 3 Short Stories
Author:
Katie
Perry
Major: Secondary Education Graduation Year: 2019 Thesis Advisor: Kenneth Martin
Description of Publication:
The following thesis consists of my personal writing and objective writing. First, you will read about my writing process and how I plan to connect this project to my career as a teacher. The format of the stories are as follows: The first version is the “final” version. The versions following are drafts from oldest to most recent. After the stories, I have included my Writer’s Journal. I used the journal as a way to reflect on my work as I completed it. Before you begin reading, thank you for indulging my writing. I hope you enjoy reading it as much I as did writing it.
Location of Publication:
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/548/
Major: Secondary Education Graduation Year: 2019 Thesis Advisor: Kenneth Martin
Description of Publication:
The following thesis consists of my personal writing and objective writing. First, you will read about my writing process and how I plan to connect this project to my career as a teacher. The format of the stories are as follows: The first version is the “final” version. The versions following are drafts from oldest to most recent. After the stories, I have included my Writer’s Journal. I used the journal as a way to reflect on my work as I completed it. Before you begin reading, thank you for indulging my writing. I hope you enjoy reading it as much I as did writing it.
Location of Publication:
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/548/