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
ANALYTICAL DETERMINATION OF PAPER GLOSS FROM SURFACE ROUGHNESS
ANALYZING GOVERNMENT-RESIDENT COMMUNICATION METHODS IN THE CITY OF BANGOR
Author:
Jaymi
Thibault
Major: Political Science Graduation Year: 2016 Thesis Advisor: Robert W. Glover
Description of Publication:
The objective of this study is to analyze the communication preferences of Bangor residents, with a particular focus on two of Bangor’s largest demographics, renters and residents aged 60 or older. Based on results from existing literature, it was hypothesized that both renters and elderly residents of Bangor would be less satisfied with the city’s communication efforts than the general population, due to less knowledgeability of municipal information and limited internet access, respectively. 510 residents participated in an online survey that asked residents to describe their preferences regarding city communication methods. In addition to the survey, a series of six focus groups were held in which eleven renters and eleven residents aged 60 or older were interviewed. These focus group participants were asked questions that were meant to supplement the survey data by determining why or why not the original hypotheses were correct. The results suggested that the elderly age group is relatively satisfied with city communications compared with other age groups, and that a lack of computer or smartphone access has virtually no effect on satisfaction. In addition, while renters are generally less knowledgeable in terms of city-related information, they are no less satisfied than homeowners. Furthermore, the survey results as well as the focus group interviews both suggested that many residents are unaware of certain channels of communication used by the city, such as the email alerts or the Go Bangor app. However, Bangor is doing an overall excellent job of relaying important information to residents.
Location of Publication: fogler
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/258/
Major: Political Science Graduation Year: 2016 Thesis Advisor: Robert W. Glover
Description of Publication:
The objective of this study is to analyze the communication preferences of Bangor residents, with a particular focus on two of Bangor’s largest demographics, renters and residents aged 60 or older. Based on results from existing literature, it was hypothesized that both renters and elderly residents of Bangor would be less satisfied with the city’s communication efforts than the general population, due to less knowledgeability of municipal information and limited internet access, respectively. 510 residents participated in an online survey that asked residents to describe their preferences regarding city communication methods. In addition to the survey, a series of six focus groups were held in which eleven renters and eleven residents aged 60 or older were interviewed. These focus group participants were asked questions that were meant to supplement the survey data by determining why or why not the original hypotheses were correct. The results suggested that the elderly age group is relatively satisfied with city communications compared with other age groups, and that a lack of computer or smartphone access has virtually no effect on satisfaction. In addition, while renters are generally less knowledgeable in terms of city-related information, they are no less satisfied than homeowners. Furthermore, the survey results as well as the focus group interviews both suggested that many residents are unaware of certain channels of communication used by the city, such as the email alerts or the Go Bangor app. However, Bangor is doing an overall excellent job of relaying important information to residents.
Location of Publication: fogler
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/258/
ANALYZING STUDENT OPT-OUT OF STANDARDIZED TESTING IN MAINE
Author:
Maude
Meeker
Major: Elementary Education Graduation Year: 2016 Thesis Advisor: Sid Mitchell
Description of Publication:
Under current educational policy in the United States, standardized assessment is (and has been) a required element of K-12 education in order for schools to receive federal funding, most often through Title I programs. However, in 2015, many families began opting their students out of these standardized tests in several states, including Maine. This study aims to identify any possible trends associated with opting out, such as socioeconomic status or student achievement levels, and also determine the potential impact of certain subgroups of students opting out of standardized tests, such as misrepresentation of a school’s results because of skewed test scores. Through surveying superintendents of schools with less than 50% of their students participating in the test, this study found that there are several potential factors that could affect opting out, the most common of which is the influence of socioeconomic status.
Location of Publication: fogler
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/407
Major: Elementary Education Graduation Year: 2016 Thesis Advisor: Sid Mitchell
Description of Publication:
Under current educational policy in the United States, standardized assessment is (and has been) a required element of K-12 education in order for schools to receive federal funding, most often through Title I programs. However, in 2015, many families began opting their students out of these standardized tests in several states, including Maine. This study aims to identify any possible trends associated with opting out, such as socioeconomic status or student achievement levels, and also determine the potential impact of certain subgroups of students opting out of standardized tests, such as misrepresentation of a school’s results because of skewed test scores. Through surveying superintendents of schools with less than 50% of their students participating in the test, this study found that there are several potential factors that could affect opting out, the most common of which is the influence of socioeconomic status.
Location of Publication: fogler
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/407
Analyzing the Use of Social Media to Communicate the Intersection of the Gut Microbiome and Mental Illness
Author:
Grace
LaFrance
Major: Biology Graduation Year: 2023 Thesis Advisor: Lynn Atkins
Description of Publication:
This study examines the availability and accuracy of information about the connection between the gut microbiome and the brain, specifically mental illness. Mental illness is a general term used to describe nearly 300 mental disorders, though the two most common, anxiety and depression, were of specific interest for this study. The current biological/ neural theories for anxiety and depression do not adequately illustrate many other factors that influence the development of mental illness. After determining that Generation Z is one of the age groups most affected by these mental illnesses, social media was used to analyze the availability of the information on the connection. The range of birth years falling in Generation Z is approximately 1997 to 2010, This generation that succeeds Millennials precedes Generation Alpha is more likely than any other generation to use social media for scientific and medical knowledge, therefore it is imperative that the information they are consuming is accurate and recent. Thirty-five Instagram accounts were analyzed and classified into 5 categories. This was done to compare the effectiveness of different fields of study to communicate scientific information to the public. The most followed type of account was the aesthetic/ encouragement category by approximately 414,000. This account type scored an average of 2 out of 4 on information accuracy, though the accounts did not communicate scientific information. These accounts had 0 posts containing information about the gut microbiome and brain connection. Accounts that were run by dieticians and nutritionists were the least followed, while simultaneously having the second highest accuracy score. They also had the highest average number of posts with information pertaining to the gut microbiome and brain connection. Accounts run by MDs posted an average of 3 pertinent posts in the last 6 months, the highest of any category. This calculates to only about 0.02% of the total content posted in the last 6 months. Based on these results, social media does not specifically and adequately address the connection between the gut microbiome and depression and anxiety. This thesis suggests future implementations to close the knowledge gap between scientists and medical professionals and the communication needs of the general public, specifically Generation Z. It also discusses the other social science lenses needed to completely understand the causes of mental illness and do justice to the millions of people that live with them every day.
Location of Publication:
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/827/
Major: Biology Graduation Year: 2023 Thesis Advisor: Lynn Atkins
Description of Publication:
This study examines the availability and accuracy of information about the connection between the gut microbiome and the brain, specifically mental illness. Mental illness is a general term used to describe nearly 300 mental disorders, though the two most common, anxiety and depression, were of specific interest for this study. The current biological/ neural theories for anxiety and depression do not adequately illustrate many other factors that influence the development of mental illness. After determining that Generation Z is one of the age groups most affected by these mental illnesses, social media was used to analyze the availability of the information on the connection. The range of birth years falling in Generation Z is approximately 1997 to 2010, This generation that succeeds Millennials precedes Generation Alpha is more likely than any other generation to use social media for scientific and medical knowledge, therefore it is imperative that the information they are consuming is accurate and recent. Thirty-five Instagram accounts were analyzed and classified into 5 categories. This was done to compare the effectiveness of different fields of study to communicate scientific information to the public. The most followed type of account was the aesthetic/ encouragement category by approximately 414,000. This account type scored an average of 2 out of 4 on information accuracy, though the accounts did not communicate scientific information. These accounts had 0 posts containing information about the gut microbiome and brain connection. Accounts that were run by dieticians and nutritionists were the least followed, while simultaneously having the second highest accuracy score. They also had the highest average number of posts with information pertaining to the gut microbiome and brain connection. Accounts run by MDs posted an average of 3 pertinent posts in the last 6 months, the highest of any category. This calculates to only about 0.02% of the total content posted in the last 6 months. Based on these results, social media does not specifically and adequately address the connection between the gut microbiome and depression and anxiety. This thesis suggests future implementations to close the knowledge gap between scientists and medical professionals and the communication needs of the general public, specifically Generation Z. It also discusses the other social science lenses needed to completely understand the causes of mental illness and do justice to the millions of people that live with them every day.
Location of Publication:
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/827/
And the Winner Is? The Role of the News Media on Election Night 2000
Anglo-German Masters at the University of Paris in the Fourteenth Century
Anorexia Nervosa: An Integrative Approach to Etiology and Treatment
Ant Colony Fission and Dispersal Over Various Types of Landscape: An Agent-Based Computer Model
Antenna Systems for a Small Radio Telescope
ANTHOCYANINS ALTER ENDOTHELIAL CELL DYNAMICS
Author:
Katrina
E.
Ventura
Major: Biology Graduation Year: 2016 Thesis Advisor: Sharon L. Ashworth
Description of Publication:
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Previous studies suggest that a diet high in blueberries correlates with lower rates of heart disease and improved endothelial cell function. Anthocyanins, which are phenolic compounds, are known components of wild blueberry extracts. Studies suggest that cells treated with anthocyanins have increased migration and increased VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) production. VEGF activates a signal cascade that ultimate leads to the activation of Hsp27 (heat-shock protein 27) and LIMK (LIM-kinase). Cofilin, which is phosphorylated by LIMK, is an important protein involved in cellular migration, and plays a role in regulating actin dynamics, enabling migration. Activated Hsp27 and deactivated cofilin work in concert to facilitate migration. Paxillin is an important protein involved in focal adhesion structures, which attach to the surrounding extra cellular matrix and allow for cell motility. Based on this knowledge it was postulated that bovine aortic endothelial cells treated with 20μg/mL anthocyanins would have increased concentrations of phosphorylated cofilin and a change in paxillin concentrations. This study found that cells treated with 20μg/mL anthocyanins for 2 and 3 hours had increased perimeters and increased filopodia formation. BAECs treated with anthocyanins for 3 hours were stalled in cytokinesis resulting in multinucleated cells and cells with fragmented nuclei. Changes in concentrations of cofilin, p-cofilin, paxillin, and actin were not significant. This study suggested that anthocyanin treatment affected cellular actin dynamics, but did not affect phosphorylated cofilin concentrations.
Location of Publication: fogler reynolds
URL to Thesis:
Major: Biology Graduation Year: 2016 Thesis Advisor: Sharon L. Ashworth
Description of Publication:
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Previous studies suggest that a diet high in blueberries correlates with lower rates of heart disease and improved endothelial cell function. Anthocyanins, which are phenolic compounds, are known components of wild blueberry extracts. Studies suggest that cells treated with anthocyanins have increased migration and increased VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) production. VEGF activates a signal cascade that ultimate leads to the activation of Hsp27 (heat-shock protein 27) and LIMK (LIM-kinase). Cofilin, which is phosphorylated by LIMK, is an important protein involved in cellular migration, and plays a role in regulating actin dynamics, enabling migration. Activated Hsp27 and deactivated cofilin work in concert to facilitate migration. Paxillin is an important protein involved in focal adhesion structures, which attach to the surrounding extra cellular matrix and allow for cell motility. Based on this knowledge it was postulated that bovine aortic endothelial cells treated with 20μg/mL anthocyanins would have increased concentrations of phosphorylated cofilin and a change in paxillin concentrations. This study found that cells treated with 20μg/mL anthocyanins for 2 and 3 hours had increased perimeters and increased filopodia formation. BAECs treated with anthocyanins for 3 hours were stalled in cytokinesis resulting in multinucleated cells and cells with fragmented nuclei. Changes in concentrations of cofilin, p-cofilin, paxillin, and actin were not significant. This study suggested that anthocyanin treatment affected cellular actin dynamics, but did not affect phosphorylated cofilin concentrations.
Location of Publication: fogler reynolds
URL to Thesis: