Not all Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) bus routes are equal. In past projects A previous study identified sixteen "key bus routes" that had especially frequent service. These routes, operating every twenty minutes or better during all MBTA service hours, are a strong link in the Boston area’s public transit network. This current analysis will utilize Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to compare the demographics of the service area (800 meters from bus stops) of these key bus routes with that of the MBTA’s remaining, less frequent, routes. Census block group data in the two service areas for such variables as income, age, population density and automobile ownership will be reviewed to determine whether the key bus routes are serving people who can most benefit from quality public transit. This analysis will also attempt to determine whether the demographics of any part of the less frequent routes’ service area may warrant a particular route’s upgrade to more frequent service.

Edited Scanned images of non-digital materials, such as maps, aerial photographs, drawings, and the like, are an important source of data for Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Usually, the scanned information must be referenced to existing digital features for it to be useful. This project consists of using GIS methods and software tools to overlay scanned images of three historical, black and white, aerial photographs to a digital orthophotographic image of the Caribou Bog pools located near Old Town, Maine. Comparison of these images provides an indication of change in the pools’ locations and shapes over an approximate 50 year time span. No common, predetermined benchmarks (ground control) were established to directly reference the four images. Therefore, the difficulty with the project is to establish suitable common physical features, visible in each image, so that distortions inherent in the overlay process are within acceptable tolerances. Various methods are used to determine the extent and direction of these distortions

Increased awareness of carbon emissions and rising fuel prices have encouraged many to consider alternatives to the single-occupancy vehicle, including public transportation. In this study, I conduct a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) network analysis in order to calculate the one-quarter mile service area of Portland, Maine's METRO bus system, for the benefit of city planners. A service area is defined as the total area that can be covered by traveling to or from each bus stop, following the shortest available paths along the network of streets. This method more accurately reflects pedestrian travel patterns than does a straight-line, "as the crow flies" buffering technique. The network model itself is built from the City of Portland's GIS street centerline data. The city's 400-plus bus stops are represented as facilities, or origins and destinations, in the network. GIS software is used to calculate the service area surrounding each bus stop. This service area is then used in combination with GIS-ready data from the city to determine the geographic area, parcels, and individual buildings contained within one-quarter mile (roughly five-minutes' walk) of the METRO system. Census data and city zoning data are used to analyze areas outside the service area in order to identify potential new areas for service.

edited Proteins and protein interactions are studied across many different species. Proteins similar across species (orthologs) are common. A set of proteins studied in a fruit fly helps to understand a protein ortholog in humans. This understanding has led to many treatments for human diseases and improved quality of life. There are thousands of known orthologs between species. The visualizing of this information is a known problem in bioinformatics. To understand and manage the large amounts of data created in bioinformatics, new applications need to be developed. This study will use the visualization, data management, mapping and analysis tools of geographic information systems (GIS) to study protein orthologs. GIS applications have the capacity and a unique tool set that provides several advantages over other bioinformatic applications. The mapping of proteins across multiple species will give insight into protein evolution and function. The results will be used in protein evolution research and developing bioinformatics applications.

Mapping geological features typically requires hours of arduous field work. Ideally, remote sensing would allow geologists to identify features of interest prior to visiting any location. Light Detecting and Ranging (LiDAR) is one kind of remote sensing technique that holds promise in this regard. In the fall of 2007, the geological features of Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park in Freeport Maine were mapped in the field and a digital map was produced using a Geographic Information System (GIS.) In 2006, LiDAR data of the area were collected for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA.) By manipulating the LiDAR data using ARCMap GIS software, an image was produced that allowed visualization of the bare earth surface of the area. This image was compared to the digital field map and geological features of interest were identified. Results indicate that some geological features can be detected using remotely-sensed LiDAR data. These include granite intrusions and glacial features such as stoss and lee topography. Difficulties were encountered due to the volume of the LiDAR data, resulting in a lengthy and cumbersome process. As a tool for geological mapping, LiDAR has potential for identifying some geological features in areas less accessible to traditional field mapping methods.

Edited The effects of global climate change include rising sea levels that will significantly impact coastal communities. There are eight Coastal Counties in Maine containing 52% of the population. It is likely that a sea level rise will directly affect over a half-million people in Maine. Producing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) maps at the local level will provide municipalities with an important planning tool. Yarmouth, Maine exemplifies problems typical of Maine communities that will be impacted by rising sea levels; it contains two major routes connecting Southern Maine to the Mid-coast and it serves as a connector for three inhabited islands. There is no consensus on the exact level the sea will rise but the National Oceanographic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts mean high tide increases ranging from 2m(6ft.) to 6m(18 ft.) by the end of the 21st century. This tool identifies parts of Yarmouth that would be inundated and calculates the number of acres of each land type affected. Local predictive GIS mapping provides a visual and analytical planning tool to help prevent long-term risks to life and property.

edited In order to remain globally competitive, Maine’s forest product industry must improve transportation efficiencies. It must economically connect raw materials, mills, and markets and develop pricing structures that maintain cost effectiveness in the trucking industry. The model presented here will make use of Geographic Information System (GIS) software to determine optimum hauling routes from harvest sites to mills, and then estimate an efficiency based pricing structure. A road network of five Maine counties (Androscoggin, Cumberland, Oxford, Sagadahoc and York) includes indexes for speed, quality, distances, weight restrictions and grade. The NewPage Corporation Chipping Center in West Paris, ME serves as the models’ route test destination. Each harvest operation is represented as a point either located on a conventional map, or downloaded as GPS input. The most cost effective route is calculated in real time based on time, road conditions and limitations. This model demonstrates a method to help Maine’s forest product industry remain competitive in a global economy. Other forest product producing areas in the world have gained advantage with lower labor, insurance, and regulatory costs. These variables are more difficult to change in Maine, forcing the focus for improvement onto improving efficiencies, particularly in terms of transportation costs.

edited Knowledge of the goods we consume is increasingly important to the agricultural industry. Consumers want to know where and how their food is produced. The spatial relationship between local agricultural producers and consumers significantly influences quality, cost, accessibility and variety. Working with data from the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA), State and Federal Data a Geographic Information System (GIS) can evaluate the location of farms, Community Supported Agriculture programs (CSAs) and proximity to populations. Using this approach it is possible to map the relationships between consumers and producers, to the advantage of both. Results demonstrate people’s access to local produce, identify under-served areas, and highlight potential market opportunities for producers. Google Earth provides a user-friendly, no cost interface through which non-specialists can navigate and use the study’s results.

Edited The need for new energy initiatives to reduce reliance on fossil fuels is a priority for our society. A possible frontier is wind power generated from offshore wind turbines in the Gulf of Maine. This tool will evaluate geographical areas for the placement of deep-water offshore wind farms. Proposals for a raft-based system of wind farms have been made, and site selection will take precedence. Factors which must be considered in the site are connectivity to the grid, its visibility from a shore, average wind speeds, and water depth. Exclusions include shipping lanes, seabird routes, military or industrial zones, and fishing areas. The next stage for developing this tool will be to ingest data in different formats, and return a measure of feasibility and potential benefit. In addition, it would also determine the least cost path from the far to the shore. The Gulf of Maine will be used as a study area for proof-of-concept.

In the United States, restaurant employees are often mistreated and underpaid. Restaurant Opportunity Centers United (ROC) is a nonprofit organization that addresses several labor issues with the aim of securing and protecting restaurant workers’ rights. ROC is new to Maine and in need of assistance with GIS applications and mapping. In order to formulate their strategic plan, the organization must first know where and on what to focus their efforts. To gather this data, ROC distributed 500 surveys to restaurants across the state. Several different maps and charts were generated using survey data in order to illustrate key areas of concern and highlight which specific restaurants and towns should be priority. Preliminary results indicate that restaurant employees along the coast receive a higher wage than inland workers. Cross referencing this finding with data concerning average household income and frequency of public health violations will determine if there is a correlation between lower income and higher incidence of code violations.

The goal of this project is to develop an agent to play the first-person shooter game Unreal Tournament 2004, a fast-paced and dynamic environment that demands that the agent must be capable of making decisions quickly. An additional goal of this project is to explore evolutionary computation as a means for learning the rule sets used to control the game-playing agent. The agent's behavior is controlled by a rule-based system, which looks at multiple high-level conditions, such as whether the agent is weak, and determines a single high-level action, such as whether to head for the nearest known healing source. Using an evolutionary computation approach, in which the behavior is evolved over a number of generations, the agent learns increasingly better strategies for its environment. Through the work in this project, we are exploring several research questions including the development of successful vocabulary of high-level conditions and actions for the rule set, the challenges of rapid decision-making, and the trade offs between hand coding a rule set and using the evolutionary process to hone a rule set.

We have created a real-time agent that plays Ms. PacMan. Our program has access to the same visual information and controls that a human player has, and makes split-second decisions based on screen captures from the game, just as a human does. In previous work, our agent was able to achieve scores better than human novices (including the researchers who developed it), using a hand-coded strategy. This agent went on to win a competition at the 2008 IEEE World Congress on Computational Intelligence in Hong Kong, outperforming 11 competitors and scoring 15,970 points. In the work presented here, the goal is to develop an evolutionary computation approach to learning the basic strategy for playing the game as well as learning parameters that affect behavior. We will also conduct experiments to compare the learned versions with the previous hand-coded version. Learning to play the game involves learning different situations to pay attention to, such as that a ghost is nearby, and appropriate actions to take in that situation, such as heading in the opposite direction. Learning parameters involves refinements, such as learning that "nearby" means 3 squares away. Through these experiments, it should be possible for the agent to learn to play the game itself, and possibly, to play better than the human-designed strategy.

The goal of this project is to develop an agent to play the first-person shooter game Unreal Tournament 2004, a fast-paced and dynamic environment that demands that the agent must be capable of making decisions quickly. An additional goal of this project is to explore evolutionary computation as a means for learning the rule sets used to control the game-playing agent. The agent's behavior is controlled by a rule-based system, which looks at multiple high-level conditions, such as whether the agent is weak, and determines a single high-level action, such as whether to head for the nearest known healing source. Using an evolutionary computation approach, in which the behavior is evolved over a number of generations, the agent learns increasingly better strategies for its environment. Through the work in this project, we are exploring several research questions including the development of successful vocabulary of high-level conditions and actions for the rule set, the challenges of rapid decision-making, and the trade offs between hand coding a rule set and using the evolutionary process to hone a rule set.

In this project we are computationally searching for candidate functional regions in noncoding DNA (formerly called “junk DNA”), so called because it does not code for genes. Over 95 percent of the approximately 3 billion base pairs composing human DNA is noncoding, but now it is understood that some of the noncoding DNA affects gene expression. Our approach is to look for non-coding DNA regions that appear to have been conserved across evolution; these are good candidates as functional elements. Our results are promising, identifying both previously characterized and novel candidate elements.

Edited Dietary components influence the fatty acid composition of triglycerides in farm animals. Omega-3-fatty acids, essential in the human diet, are thought to be present in varying amounts depending on what livestock and fish are fed. These fatty acids will be analyzed and compared in grass fed and corn fed beef.

Edited Excess nutrient loads resulting from agricultural, residential, and mixed land uses can have detrimental effects on aquatic organisms in adjacent river basins. Construction of residential subdivisions in previously undeveloped areas can dramatically increase nutrient levels in the local hydrologic system, thus threatening aquatic life in the local river basin. Elevated levels of nitrate, nitrite and phosphate can result from residents fertilizing new yards and gardens. This research examines nutrient levels within storm-water runoff samples obtained from a local residential development, as well as surface water collected from the adjacent Stroudwater River. Background levels of nutrients were measured in samples collected from storm-water runoff unassociated with a new subdivision.

edited Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants produced from predominantly anthropogenic sources. PAHs originating from petrogenic and pyrogenic sources each have distinct characteristics and compositions that allow for the identification of specific sources at each sampling site. This study investigated the sources of PAHs in street dust, which include deposition of ash and littering of filters from cigarettes, application of driveway sealant, leaching from asphalt, car exhaust, and gasoline and oil spills. Street dust samples were collected from varying locations on or nearby to the USM Portland campus. These include samples collected from campus walkways, campus building entranceways, and campus parking lots. In addition, curbside dirt was collected along Forest Avenue and Falmouth Street in Portland, as well as residential driveways in close proximity to the campus. Analytical results obtained from each of the samples indicate that each sampling sites is impacted with PAHs. These results also indicate that the levels and characteristics of the individual PAH compounds indicates that the sources vary among the locations. Characterization of PAHs in each sample allowed us to determine the major sources impacting each area. 

Edited Dietary components influence the fatty acid composition of triglycerides in fish. Omega-3-fatty acids, essential in the human diet, are thought to be present in varying amounts depending on what livestock and fish are fed. These fatty acids were analyzed and compared in farm raised and wild caught fish.

edited In its 17 year history, the University of Southern Maine (USM) chemistry club has been extremely active in its outreach programs to local elementary and middle schools. This year, we have broadened our scope in an effort to reach high school students as well. Focusing on honors and advanced placement students who are most likely to continue their study of chemistry, our primary goal is to expose students to opportunities in chemistry available to them in college. Activities include visits to the high schools to speak with the students, perform demonstrations, and for students in an online advanced placement course, tutor and assist with laboratory activities. Students also visit USM to tour the laboratories, sit in on college chemistry courses, and shadow undergraduate research students. This exposure goes a long way toward helping students narrow their educational and career goals and encourages students to continue their study of chemistry.

Edited This study is an evaluation of photocatalytic degradation of chlorinated hydrocarbons in wastewater using titanium oxide. Chlorinated hydrocarbons are persistent pollutants not easily removed from water supplies using conventional water treatment methods. As a result, alternative treatment methods may be necessary to remediate these contaminants from potable water supplies. Photocatalysis using TiO2 is an inexpensive, efficient and nontoxic means of remediating water supplies impacted with chlorinated hydrocarbons. This research studies the effectiveness of TiO2 in degrading chlorinated hydrocarbons under various conditions, including different UV wavelengths, varying time exposure to light, and the addition of various metal compounds. Water samples spiked chlorinated hydrocarbons were mixed with TiO2 and exposed to both sunlight, as well as UV light of varying wavelengths (254 nm and 365 nm). Samples were exposed to these light sources for varying durations to determine the extent of degradation with extended light exposure. In addition, copper (II) sulfate and zinc (II) chloride were added to TiO2 spiked samples to determine if the addition of metal contaminants would inhibit or enhance photocatalytic degradation of certain organic compounds.

edited Used cigarette filters (i.e. butts) are the largest form of litter worldwide. Our research studies the environmental contaminants in cigarette waste (filters and ash) and the fate of contaminants after improper disposal in the environment. Levels of heavy metals, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in solid cigarette wastes have been analyzed for different cigarette brands. Metals concentrations were determined using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF). XRF allowed the determination of a broad range of metals in cigarette ash and used filters. Analysis of cigarette ash samples showed relatively high concentration levels of Hg (4.989 ppm), Pb (10.921 ppm), Zr (25.224 ppm), Sr (225.999 ppm), Zn (42.495 ppm), and Cr (6.301 ppm). Data collected from XRF analyses was compared with ICP data for cadmium, chromium, lead and arsenic; known to be very toxic for the environment even at low concentrations. This study also investigated levels of PAHs in cigarette waste using gas chromatography – mass spectrometry. All of our results have shown the presence of relatively high concentrations of metals and PAHs in used cigarette filters and ash, indicating that improperly disposed of cigarette wastes poses a threat to our environment.

Edited This research seeks to add to the body of knowledge regarding the efficacy of vestibular stimulation as an intervention technique delivered in a school-based occupational therapy setting. The specific purpose of this study was to assess the effect of vestibular stimulation on a child’s ability to attend to tasks in the course of a typical school day. The research proposal was approved by USM’s IRB prior to the 6 week treatment period. Twelve students between the ages of 6 and 9 were randomly assigned to either a treatment group, that received vestibular stimulation and other forms of occupational therapy, or a control group, that received occupational therapy in absence of vestibular stimulation. The participating students’ teachers completed the Sensory Profile School Companion prior to and post intervention, and student researchers administered pre and post tests using a portion of the Test for Everyday Attention for Children (TEA-Ch). It is hypothesized that treatment group scores will show an increase in attention measures while control group scores will show no improvements. Analysis of data is ongoing. In the interest of providing evidence-based practice, it is important that occupational therapists provide their clients with therapy that has been shown to provide effective results.

This project develops an online GIS portal to provide access to FGDC standard metadata and its associated spatial data for the State of Maine Library of Geographic Data (GeoLibrary) Board. The public will be able to use the portal to search and access these data. Users of the portal will be able to upload their own metadata and shapefile data which will be hosted for free. The project builds on existing open-source GIS software such as GeoNetwork, GeoTools, and MapServer. All of the metadata and spatial data have been stored in a PostGIS spatially enabled database. Spatial data have been provided in various formats including Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC), Standard Web Map Service (WMS), and Keyhole Markup Language (KML) for viewing. One goal of this project is to provide users with spatial data in modern formats without requiring them to learn new skills. Another goal is to provide greater access to spatial data by providing the data hosting service for users and also providing the portal as an interface to the data. The chief purpose of the project is the provision of a publicly accessible centralized spatial data repository for the State of Maine. Such a repository promotes the dissemination and employment of spatial data throughout the state via its hosting and cataloging services. This work is done through support from USM's Research Computing Group and the School of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology.

This research project was prompted by the emergence of cultural evidence linking the consumption of chocolate in America to women. Several forms of media were examined, from print to broadcast advertising, and cultural artifacts, such as T-shirts and signage. Questions of biology and health are considered over and against the cultural component. The psychology of food consumption is examined, and the annual sales figures of the commodity itself. The project asks the question, "Is the special relationship between gender and the consumption of chocolate a matter of biology or of cultural conditioning?" The preliminary conclusion favors the latter, and subsequent experience reinforces that conclusion.

Jell-O salad, a once-ubiquitous American dish, provokes emotional responses that run the gamut from horror to adoration. These responses have prompted me to ask: why, today, is there such an extreme range of reaction to the food? Why do Jell-O salad proponents, consumers, and detractors recognize this dish as a distinctly “American” food? What makes it American, and why do many care about it now? I explore the conflicting narratives offered by Kraft, Inc., current holder of the Jell-O brand, as well as cultural critics, asking how is the Jell-O salad as a cultural text “read” by these two types of “readers,” and how do their stories contrast or help constitute “Americanness?” Probing the ways in which proponents and detractors understand Jell-O salad as an American and regional dish tells us something about how “Americanness” is created and why everyday foods matter.

The liberal government of Justo Rufino Barrios (1873-1885) embarked on a period of reforms aimed at providing the impetus for the burgeoning coffee economy and the modernization of Guatemala. Many communities in the rural highlands experienced a number of state-sanctioned pressures on their communal autonomy. Chief among these were efforts on their common land, which was threatened by the newly streamlined process of land titling. As these policies reached into the highlands and combined with the population pressures resulting from the seasonal migration of laborers to the coffee piedmont, competition over private holdings heated up, compelling many in the communities to bring their land disputes to the state’s authorities. As the criminal record indicates, in the early part of the twentieth century, women’s land was particularly vulnerable, both to members of their family and to elements outside of their kinship groups. This paper examines several petitions made by women in San Martín Jilotepeque between 1925 and 1935 in an effort to both extract their motives and reveal their agency in a hostile environ. Additionally, this study situates these women’s experiences in the judicial system in the context of Guatemalan state formation and analyzes their significance within this process.

edited This is a study of how much coffee Maine buys from Latin America and the effects that has upon Latin America. It will look at what companies buy their coffee from Latin America and what they have done to help the people they are buying from. Do they build up communities? Do they provide viable jobs that help the economy of Latin America? This study will show that as Mainer's we can have an effect in foreign countries without realizing what we are doing or what that impact is. This study will wake people up to the plight of those in Latin America and indicate how much we influence whether they thrive or starve.

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edited Early in the final larval instar of the moth, Manduca sexta, the primordia for the adult eye and other adult-specific tissues begins rapid growth. We are characterizing the hormonal factors required to sustain rapid, proliferative growth once metamorphic development has begun. We are examining proliferation in vivo as well as in an in vitro culture strategy to assay candidate compounds for stimulation of proliferation. Although the hemolymph titer of juvenile hormone normally falls to very low levels at this time, treatment with juvenile hormone mimics has no apparent effect on early steps in eye imaginal disc development. In contrast, a combination of the steroid, 20-hydoxyecdysone, and Insulin-Like Growth Factor shows dramatic stimulation of growth. We have also identified uncharacteristic growth factor activity present in the blood during this stage of development. Our findings are presented with a discussion of the endocrine control of insect metamorphosis.

edited An important mechanism of development in perhaps all animals is the elimination of cells by programmed cell death (PCD, sometimes also referred to as apoptosis). The molecular mechanisms that regulate PCD within dying cells have been established and are highly conserved during evolution. In many cases, these cellular switches are controlled by external factors such as hormones. There are several features of insect metamorphosis that make it an especially valuable model for analyzing the hormonal control of PCD during animal development. My research focuses on the moth, Manduca sexta, and the coordinated termination of larval tissues by PCD. I focus on a developmental transition termed the Minimum Viable Weight during which time cells of the larval proleg epidermis are triggered to undergo PCD because they have completed their larval functions. I have used immunocytochemistry and sterile culture of explanted tissues to characterize the hormonal regulation of this trigger. So far, researchers agree that juvenile hormone (JH) and 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) are the main players in insect metamorphosis and I have focused my analysis on these two hormones. From my experiments, it appears that 20E provides the death signal and that JH can block the signal.

This study concerns happiness in adults in the United States. The measure of subjective happiness can be correlated with the respondent's life satisfaction. Previous studies have found women to report higher levels of happiness than men. Race and education are also common predictors of happiness. This empirical, quantitative research project will study the relation between one's subjective happiness and gender, income, ethnicity, age, autonomy and education using an anonymous online survey and a convenience sample of adults. The data will be analyzed using SPSS and Wincross using a multiple regression analysis and crosstabulation tables. The expectation is that women will report a higher level of happiness than men.

The goal of this project is to develop an agent to play the first-person shooter game Unreal Tournament 2004, a fast-paced and dynamic environment that demands that the agent must be capable of making decisions quickly. An additional goal of this project is to explore evolutionary computation as a means for learning the rule sets used to control the game-playing agent. The agent's behavior is controlled by a rule-based system, which looks at multiple high-level conditions, such as whether the agent is weak, and determines a single high-level action, such as whether to head for the nearest known healing source. Using an evolutionary computation approach, in which the behavior is evolved over a number of generations, the agent learns increasingly better strategies for its environment. Through the work in this project, we are exploring several research questions including the development of successful vocabulary of high-level conditions and actions for the rule set, the challenges of rapid decision-making, and the trade offs between hand coding a rule set and using the evolutionary process to hone a rule set.

The unknown health effects of lunar particles have become a major concern because of the intention of NASA to establish a lunar base in the next two decades. As a first step towards investigating the toxicity of lunar dust on developing neurons we have used PC12 cells in culture. These cells have been used for many years as a model for neuron differentiation. In conjunction with the Wise Lab, we have begun characterizing the effects titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, manganese dioxide and silver nanoparticles on cell survival and outgrowth in differentiating PC12 cells. Titanium, aluminum and manganese are known components of lunar particles. Cell survival rates over five days were analyzed using fluorescence microscopy. We quantified the proportion of fragmented nuclei, an indicator of cell death, using Hoechst staining. The proportion of dying cells with damaged membranes was quantified using Sytox green staining. Effects on PC12 outgrowth were assessed by photographing exposed cells and using the program ImageJ to quantify the number of neurites and branches formed at five days. Once we have characterized the effects of these particles on PC12 cells, we will conduct similar experiments with synthetic lunar dust.

Edited Arsenic is a worldwide health concern, being found at high levels in groundwater in many regions of the globe, including some areas of Maine. Long-term exposure to arsenic has been associated with a number of cancers as well as peripheral neuropathies and deficits in learning and memory. Little is known about the potential consequences of arsenic exposure in the developing nervous system, or the relative effects of different forms of arsenic. The current study examines such effects using human SH-SY5Y cells as a model for neuronal differentiation. Treatment with inorganic arsenite (iAsIII) or arsenate (iAsV) resulted in dose-dependent reductions in viability and neurite outgrowth, with outgrowth inhibited earlier and at lower doses than viability. By both measures, iAsV was approximately 2.5 times less toxic than iAsIII. The organic metabolites methyl arsenate (MMAV) and dimethyl arsenate (DMAV) were more than 1,000 times less toxic than iAsIII, only displaying cytotoxic effects at massive, physiologically unreasonable doses. The effects of arsenic exposure on SH-SY5Y glutathione dynamics and the cytoskeleton, which is critical for generating and maintaining neuritis, have also been examined. Glutathione is a key cellular antioxidant, ameliorating reactive oxygen species produced by arsenic, and plays a central role in arsenic biotransformation.

Several epidemiological studies have found that children who drink ground water which is naturally contaminated with arsenic at levels that exceed the current EPA limit of 10 ppb are at risk for receiving lower scores on cognitive tests. In Maine, forty-five public water supplies, as well as an estimated 25% of private wells exceed the EPA limit. To establish whether arsenic is directly toxic to developing neurons we used rat and human cell culture models to determine the effects of sodium arsenite on neuronal development. We found reduced length and complexity in neurites exposed to sodium arsenite for three days or more. We hypothesized that this was due to the dysregulation of the RhoGTPases RhoA, Rac1, and Cdc42 because arsenic has been known to disrupt these proteins in non-neuronal cell types. These RhoGTPases also play critical roles in normal neuron development and the formation of normal brain circuitry. We found that sodium arsenite increased the total levels of active RhoA. Direct inhibition of RhoA, or pharmacological inhibition of the RhoA effector protein ROCK, resulted in a partial rescue of the arsenic-induced deficits in neurite length.

The Sweetser Crisis and Rehabilitation and Stabilization Unit is a temporary unit where children and adolescents are placed immediately following a mental or behavioral crisis. They often come from unstable environments; with a history of psychosocial trauma accompanied by an array of diagnoses. The unit however, stresses normalcy by encouraging active engagement in chores, games, homework and participating in meals. In this study, I propose to explore why clients are successful within the unit. The focus of this work will be centered on an analysis of each clients crisis management plan and therapeutic stabilization goals, an exploration of the relationships constructed between the staff and clients, an examination of the contrast between the unit and their existing home life (specifically the symbolic familial imitation that the unit represents), and finally, a comparative content analysis of the clients intake paperwork with their follow-up paperwork post-discharge. This setting is intermittent and not a long-term residential mental health institution and as such this study is particularly important because it provides insight into the paradoxical security and safety that clients emote while they reside in the Sweetser Crisis unit.

It is widely acknowledged that women are less financially stable than men; for every dollar earned by a man, a woman will earn only seventy-seven cents. Over the span of women’s careers, this wage gap amounts to substantial differences in lifetime earnings. The Maine Women’s Fund (MWF), a non-profit organization in Portland, is committed to investing in the future of Maine women and girls to ensure that women can support themselves, their families, and have the capability to make informed decisions. Their grantmaking activity has guaranteed the sustainability of programs that enrich women’s lives, and given them the tools necessary for achieving economic security. This session concentrates on the importance of increasing Maine women’s economic security and literacy and will utilize literature reviews, independent research and experience as an intern at the MWF to demonstrate its importance in Maine and for women in general.

This session will focus on how after school care programs both affect the individual lives of children and youth, and impact society as a whole. The Mission Possible Teen Center in Westbrook is an example of a program which provides a secure and comfortable environment for the enrichment of youth in grades 6 through 12. The majority of youth at the Center are looking to interact with others as opposed to going home to an empty house. Interactions with the youth at the Center indicate that this program provides them with a nurturing environment to remain motivated at school, and reduces their susceptibility to drugs and violence. This research will reveal the importance of programs like this one and identify ways in which it provides a stronghold of safety and acceptance.

Chronic diseases—such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease directly affect millions of people and their families. Many of these diseases could be prevented with healthier lifestyle habits such as, increased physical activity, nutritious food choices and stress reduction. The growing epidemic of chronic disease has resulted in an increased need for health promotion and prevention education within communities. Encouraging health through preventative strategies and education empowers people enabling them to make healthier lifestyle choices, which decrease the risk of many chronic illnesses. This session will take a look at the ways in which chronic disease affects society negatively and how community health education can create positive changes.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) youth are, according to a recent study, three times as likely to report feeling unsafe in schools as compared to non-LGBTQ students. Increased instances of familial rejection, as well as verbal or physical harassment place these youth at higher risk for dropping out of school and ending up on the streets. They are also at risk for substance abuse, and have high rates of attempted and successful suicide. Teachers also speak of a climate of harassment that they encounter and have noted concern for these youth. These concerns are grounds for study and raise the question of how a better school climate can provide for instances of diversity, specifically sexual orientation and gender expression. This session will explore how the implementation of beneficial programming can improve the struggle which LGBTQ youth face.

Edited Tricloson is an antimicrobial agent commonly added to household and personal care products including toothpaste, deodorants, and antibacterial soaps. While Triclosan is generally considered non-toxic to humans, there is minimal evidence regarding the long-term effect of this chemical at these levels on humans. Additionally this chemical is one of many in the wastewater stream, which is not removed completely by treatment, and is, consequently, being released into aquatic environments. This study uses a model aquatic ecosystem to focus on the effect of Triclosan on fresh water invertebrates. A bioassy using Ceriodaphnia dubia, a common invertebrate, determined the level of Triclosan which results in population decline of the test organism. The model aquatic ecosystem, containing native snails are being exposed to a lower level of Triclosan for an extended time period. A western blot procedure was used used to determine if the snails in the model system are expressing one of the universal stress indicators, heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), in response to Triclosan exposure.

edited Environmental microbiology encompasses the study of microbial life and seeks to understand the interactions of microbes in diverse environments. The massive Bald Mountain sulfide deposit, near Portage, Maine, is a metal-rich area where water run-off with low pH and leaching of metals into surface and groundwater are likely. Investigating microbes in such an environment may provide valuable insight into the ecology of one of Maine’s more extreme metal-rich environments. With assistance from USM Maine ScienceCorps fellows, Mr. Lowell’s students at Central Aroostook High School have begun this investigation. Both surface water and soil samples were collected and total DNA in the samples was extracted using a commercial kit for soil DNA extraction. These DNA samples contained microbial DNA to use as a template for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers specific for the conserved bacterial small ribosomal subunit (16S rRNA) gene. The amplified PCR products were cloned into the pDrive vector in order to isolate single bacterial DNA fragments. Individual recombinant clones were selected and the DNA sequenced to permit microbial identification of species present at this site.

Wherever there are bacteria there may also be viruses (bacteriophages or phage) that can infect these microbes. Many thousands of distinct bacteriophages have not yet been isolated and studied. As high school students in Mr. Nordstrom’s biotechnology class in Farmington, Maine (working with Maine ScienceCorps Fellows Ann Speth and Karoline Perry from USM) we decided to seek new bacteriophages in the environment using safe laboratory strains of bacteria as hosts. Nine bacterial strains were exposed to water from a local pond. This produced a potential lysate. The purified lysate was then exposed to a lawn of the same bacterial strain. It was discovered that there was a clearing on the lawn of Bacilllus cereus. This suggested the presence of phage. However, when the confluent plaque was picked for further isolation, no further plaques were formed. Because of the lack of phage at this step the experiments were performed with an unknown phage isolated from a drainage ditch in Portland, Maine. DNA from the phage was extracted, digested and inserted into a plasmid which then entered competent bacteria in a transformation experiment. This produced a sufficient cloned DNA for sequencing to determine if this was indeed a previously unknown phage.

edited The study of the interactions of microbial life, in particular environmental settings, provides insights into important ecological relationships. Mount Chase, located near Patten, Maine, is the site of a major metal-rich massive sulfide deposit that formed during Maine’s ancient volcanic past. It is likely that such an environment would be enriched for microbes tolerating and possibly utilizing these metals. Total DNA was isolated from both surface water and soil collected on Mount Chase using a commercial environmental DNA extraction kit by Ms. Harvey’s students from Katahdin High School working with USM Maine ScienceCorps fellows Darrin Ramsdell and Frank Riley. Obtaining environmental DNA samples permits initial study of microbial biodiversity of the site without cultivating the microbes present. Small ribosomal subunit genes of bacteria are widely used for bacterial identification. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify highly conserved 16S rRNA small ribosomal subunit genes that are often used in bacterial identification based on DNA sequence comparisons. The amplified fragments were ligated into pDrive vectors to generate recombinant DNA clones. This is an initial step in the identification of uncultured bacteria to establish a microbial biodiversity profile of this site.

edited Astrobiology encompasses the study of life in extreme environments and contributes to our understanding of the limitations placed on microbial life in such settings on Earth and also suggests constraints that may be relevant in extraterrestrial environments. Katahdin Iron Works, a historic iron mining site located near Brownville Junction, Maine, is the site of a massive iron ore deposit where acid mine seepage remains evident, even more than a century since mining operations were discontinued. Water samples reveal extremely low pH and highly solubilized metal ions. Students at Millinocket’s Stearns High School together with ScienceCorps fellows Frank Riley and Darrin Ramsdell here present initial culture-indepented microbial biodiversity study of this former mining site. Total uncultured bacterial DNA was isolated from environmental samples using a DNA extraction kit from MoBio, Inc. Bacterial small ribosomal subunit genes (16S rRNA genes) were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in order to attempt identification of these unknown bacteria. The amplified sequences were cloned into the pDrive vector in preparation for sequencing the DNA. Individual recombinant clones were selected and the DNA sequence was used to begin the process of establishing a microbial profile characteristic of this acid mine drainage site.

In the early nineteenth century, American Protestant missionaries flocked to China in great numbers. To be sure, American missionary involvement in China is well documented; the sheer number of diaries and letters, let alone the political correspondence, has made missionary-history a mainstay in the field of Sino-American relations. Even with the breadth of sources available, however, many still prefer to focus on large events (like the Opium Wars) or on personal relationships between certain (famous) missionaries and their Chinese (bureaucratic) counterparts. While these categories are by no means exhausted, I propose a different way to chart the development of a distinct American identity in China that is most revealing, yet remains virtually unexplored. This paper looks at the development of Chinese cartography in the middle of the nineteenth century and the American missionary contribution to that development. Through evaluating these cultural exchanges via the maps produced, we can chart a number of developments in Sino-American relations. First, how and when the Chinese began to view America as a nation with a distinct national identity and second, how missionaries viewed America's role in China and finally, what these cartographic exchanges meant for the future of Sino-American relations.

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edited Everyday, genetics advances. As well as finding the cause of inherited disease, bipolar disorder also has been recognized as a disease caused by mistakes in the genome. Placement of a gene chip to watch the regulation of certain DNA sites allows opportunity to find an interruption in the genome Snips (SNPs). Two particular SNPs have been found to be the director that controls the messages traveling through the nerves. Miscommunications in the pathways of charged energy are free to travel with no direction through certain nerve channels. This leads to wrong messages being sent to the brain, allowing for deception of human emotion and physical well being. Although there is no cure at this point, research is advancing to find the problem and also to help find other genetic diseases.

edit It could be argued, around the world, that rats owe a debt to society after the plague. The first question should be, have we got the right rats? The second is, if not should this matter? There are two main types of rats, one of which has been used rather extensively in research into better understanding the genetic process and how certain diseases affect people. They have allowed us to cover a lot of ground quickly in the medical field. Many strains have been created to research different medical problems. Oddly, the other rat type is mysteriously silent, not wishing to seek attention. This poster will examine the different strains of the rat that has been used in research, and will also reveal the true rat's identity that caused the plague.

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Edited Lactase (Beta-Galactosidase) is an enzyme that is found in the microvilli cells of the small intestine. This enzyme hydrolyzes (break down) lactose into galactose and glucose. Seventy five percent of the world population has hypolactasia; persons who have hypolactasia have difficulty breaking down lactose, due to minimal or no lactase-mRNA activity in the columnar-epithelial-cells of the small bowel. The purpose of this study is to examine the current literature to understand the common symptoms associated with the lactose intolerance disease; to explore the biochemistry of lactase metabolism; to investigate the genetics of the populations afflicted by this illness; and to assess the dairy foods and supplementation that aid and trigger lactose intolerance.

Edited Influenza viruses can affect not only birds, but also other vertebrates including humans. Some of the strains are highly pathogenic. In 1999, one of the avian influenza viruses, type A/quail/HK/G1/97 (H9/N2) – like, infected two humans in Hong Kong (Chin et al, 2002). Thus, the possibility of cross-species infection exists. Considering this possibility, the importance of studying genetics of influenza viruses should not be underestimated. Influenza viruses are usually lipid-enveloped viruses, which contain a genome composed of seven to eight strands of negative-sense RNA that encode ten viral proteins (Steinhauer, Skehel, 2002). Based on the significant differences in the two surface proteins, hemagluttinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA), the influenza viruses are divided into 16 HA subtypes and 9 NA subtypes (Fouchier et al, 2004). This study has examined the current literature in order to review: (1) Genes of the influenza viruses type A, which are responsible for high pathogenicity; (2) Genes of the influenza viruses type A, which are responsible for crossing the species barrier. Influenza A viruses posses genes, which have ability to obtain new traits such as high pathogenicity and transmissibility to other species.

edited Gene therapy is the insertion of genes into an individual's cells and tissues to treat diseases. Typically a virus similar to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has been designed to insert Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) into a cell to correct a damaged or mutated portion of Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA). Gene therapy has had varied success in humans; several setbacks have occurred in research and application. In 1999 there was a highly publicized case where a recent high school graduate died from complications of gene therapy to treat his terminal illness. Since then, there have been new regulations dictating what kind of delivery methods can be used to insert genes into humans. More recently gene therapy has been used with some success in patients with the degenerative disease Leber Congenital Amaurosis (LAC) that causes degenerative blindness. Patients that have been treated have seen light in a world that had previously been dark. Some patients were able to successfully navigate within simulations of real world situations. Although gene therapy is still in its infancy, future treatments will hopefully be able to cure disease instead of relieving the symptoms. This poster presentation will discuss the current state of gene therapy.

Edited Most mammals do not need to include vitamin C as part of their diets because their bodies are able to produce it. Humans, chimpanzees and other primates are not able to produce vitamin C because of a mutation that happened 60 million years ago in the GULO gene, which codes for the last step in the biochemical process needed to synthesize vitamin C. As a result of this mutation, all the ancestors of the primate that carried the mutation must include vitamin C as part of their diet or else they get scurvy. In order for the mutation to not be penalized by natural selection the diets of these primates would have already had to include rich sources of vitamin C to make up for what their body was not producing. What other things can we find out about other animals whose ancestors had similar mutations that were not penalized by natural selection? Discoveries such as this in other organisms can fill in details about the history of life on Earth that cannot be found in the fossil record.

Edited Within hours of birth the human bowel is colonized with Escherichia coli bacteria. Colonies ebb and flow over time and 3-4 different serotypes move in and out per year in the bowels of healthy humans. Although approximately 700 serotypes exist in nature, few of these have the characteristics that cause disease. Some of the characteristics that do cause pathogenicity are adhesions, invasions, motility, toxins, surface properties, defense properties, and pathogenicity island and other genetic factors. Genetic material can be passed horizontally between strains and less often between species. These factors come together to cause “three types of infections, UTI’s, gastroenteritis and neonatal meningitis". These characteristics of and factors related to pathogenicity will be examined in this poster presentation.

edited In the United States, close to 79,000 people die every year as a direct result of excessive alcohol use, making it the third leading cause of death related to lifestyle in this country. Genetic scientists have been working to identify if there are genetic variations that make an individual more susceptible to become addicted to alcohol. The results of the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) have concluded that there is no single “alcoholism gene”, but that there are variations in several different genes that, when certain environmental co-factors are in place, may lead to an increased risk of the disease. The presentation will focus on three specific examples of genes that have been shown to relate to an individual’s risk of developing alcoholism. Variations in the ALDH1 gene may be protective against alcoholism; whereas variants of the ADH4 gene may increase risk. The CHRM2 gene variations have demonstrated the strong link between depression and alcoholism, and GABRA2 gene variants are another risk factor for alcoholism. Future studies are necessary to isolate further genetic predisposition to alcoholism, which may be helpful to target specific therapies to treat this debilitating addiction.

The genetic research for inherited diseases is advancing everyday. One particular disease that I will be researching is Bipolar Disorder. By reviewing the symptoms and treatments of the disease I will be able to find the transmission of the genetic inheritance. Although there is no cure for the disease the transfer from parent to offspring is highly prominent with high rate of progeny. Through this research a pedigree of the disease can be designed to establish the carriers and the individual that started the disease.

edited Telomeres are the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes. Telomerase is involved in the stability of these telomeres. Measurable and significant telomerase activity is not present in most normal human cells and tissues. The exceptions are germ line cells and certain stem cells. This low telomerase activity leads to a chromosomal shortening with every cell cycle. Successive shortenings leads to DNA damage. The endpoint of a cell's functioning chromosome viability is known as senescence. This is when a cell stops cycling, and can be seen as a shutdown of mechanisms that inhibit replication of cells with damaged DNA. Telomerase is activated or reactivated as a secondary event in all major human cancer types. The danger of this activation is that telomerase allows a cancer cell to maintain its telomere length, which stabilizes the cells' chromosome, damaged as it may be, and enables it to proliferate seemingly indefinitely. When this happens, a cell is known as immortal. Through this literature review I will try to answer the questions of why, when, and how a cell's telomerase is activated and deactivated.

Edited It has been very hard for scientists to study one of the most dangerous viruses: Ebola. This virus is especially virulent, spreading from infected animals, human body fluids, and tissue. Ebola also has an airborne strain that does not affect humans, but is lethal to monkeys. The death rate from the virus stands anywhere from 50% to 90% depending upon the strain and it is usually lethal within (2-21 days). It also makes the perfect biological weapon to vaccine holders. These are all excellent reasons to study this virus. Due to its extremely dangerous nature, Ebola can only be studied in Biosaftey level 4 laboratories (the highest level) which are expensive and uncommon. Recently scientists have discovered a way to genetically disarm the virus, removing the VP30 gene making it unable to replicate in normal cells. This virus is similar to the wild form of the virus but unable to replicate unless presented with specialized cells altered in a lab that express the protein that the VP30 gene used to make. This process makes the virus much safer to work with and may lead to the development of a future vaccine.

edited Aging and genes work together to advance us into adulthood and eventually death. There is growing evidence that the aging process is genetically determined as well as hope that genes can be therapeutically manipulated to advance our life span. Lots of factors come into play with aging such as free radical production, cardiovascular dysfunction, and the longevity of genes. As our nations baby boomers approach retirement by the end of this decade, the number of senior citizens (65 years or older) will be close to 40 million. A better understanding of how our genes and other mechanisms affect our bodies as we age will guide us to new pharmacological treatments, and better preventative medicine practices.

edited Extramedullary Plasmacytoma, (EMP) is a rare form of cancer that induces plasma cell neoplasms forming into a soft mass (or tumor), located outside of the bone and within soft tissue, that has not metastasized throughout other regions of the body. EMP is known to lead to Multiple Myeloma. My main focus concerning EMP is to see what, if any, are the risks for transmission from parent to child. I will look at pre and post-diagnosis and complications and/or risks to progeny from the carrier of this gene, (i.e.; maternal or paternal). What are the known agitators that “turn on” this mutant gene? I will briefly go over the treatments for this disease and the expected outcome after treatments.

Edited Apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death in multicellular organisms. This process initiates a biochemical pathway that triggers a series of morphologic changes and ultimately, death of the cell. Apoptosis is critical to both homeostasis and development, from the earliest embryonic stages. Superfluous or defective cells become the supreme altruists, initiating suicide to remove themselves from the reproductive population, to the benefit of the larger organism. A number of genetic mutations have been linked to the dysregulation of apoptosis. Affected cells and their progeny lose the ability to self-destruct becoming, in effect, immortal. Over time, these “immortal” cells corrupt further, accumulating additional mutations, some of which may induce carcinogenesis. Clinical studies have revealed a strong association between mutations inhibiting apoptosis and many cancers. This project reviews the basic mechanism of apoptosis, mutations linked to dysregulation of this process, and clinical evidence implicating these mutations in the development of certain cancers.

Edited Sickle cell anemia is a blood disorder characterized by red blood cells that assume an abnormal, rigid, sickle shape. Sickling decreases the cells' flexibility and results in a risk of various other complications. At one time in history, this sickle cells were viewed as very beneficial to humans now this disease is hurting and killing it's victims. This presentation will examine the genetic benefits of this gene and how it came about and why. New studies and treatments for patients with sickle cell anemia will also be reviewed.

People in rural areas of Central America and the Caribbean are in need of clean drinking water; however they lack the means of providing it due to high expenses, unavailable materials, and poor sanitation. Rainwater harvesting is one method of providing water to areas with inadequate water supply and financial resources. A cost-effective solution for implementation of rainwater harvesting is using existing infrastructure such as rooftop surfaces. This project analyzes rainfall data and building practices to calculate potential water harvested from catchment areas, and compares that potential to the existing needs. The results of this comparison will determine whether this method is feasible for the particular region. The results will also determine size requirements for a collection tank to store the harvested water. A successful implementation of this system requires durable and affordable materials and methods for keeping the harvested water safe during storage. It is expected that this system will be sufficient to provide a supplementary water supply for many impoverished areas and possibly a complete supply of clean water in areas with high rainfall. This rainwater harvesting design provides a simple cost effective, low-maintenance supply of clean natural water.

This project aims to identify and remove potential causes of surface water contamination at the source of several springs in La Tinajita. Common problems are accessibility by animals and insects, contamination by road runoff and storm overflow. These contaminations are a major cause of illness. After obtaining data about the geography, options will be weighed based on affordability, ease of maintenance and effectiveness. The options may include developing a seepage spring to channel the water to a smaller hence more easily protected area. Fences to keep animals out and even spring catchment boxes to protect against insect breeding in the water may be called for. Uphill of the spring may require landscaping to redirect rain water and domestic wastes away from the spring. We predict that the quality of the water will be at a consistently higher level after this work.

Throughout the world access to clean water is an ongoing struggle and ultraviolet light may be an effective means to provide clean water. The purpose of this project is to research and possibly develop a relatively inexpensive, simple and feasible ultraviolet purification system in areas where water is available but suffers from major contamination problems. This project proposes to research contamination issues and how they affect populations. Methods of providing reliable electrical power to this system will also be researched. The expectation is that levels of water contamination can be reduced to a safe level quickly and easily without major expenses to the local population. Access to clean water is a major problem and must be addressed. Ultraviolet light purification can be a valuable tool to this problem.

Every year millions of people, most of which children, die from diseases associated with inadequate water supply, sanitation, and hygiene. According to the World Health Organization each and every day some 3,900 children die because of dirty water or poor hygiene; diseases transmitted through water or human excrement are the second-leading cause of death among children worldwide. The team will research the problem and then offer solutions to specific problems utilizing a technological based solution. The implementation of a decent infrastructure and spreading of education will improve the troubled area’s way of living. The use of a septic system will be researched to control the human waste and restricting the sewage flow into the water supply. The country’s topography will be analyzed to depict where the best spots for the storage to be placed, decreasing the possibility of drinking water that contains harmful bacteria. Ultimately, the solution will lead to less hygiene and sanitation infections.

Today in third world countries over 80% of water is used for irrigation. Flood irrigation is the act of diverting water into a basin for storage, later to be used in the soil. Through the use of flood irrigation massive amounts of fresh water are being wasted. The purpose of our research is to look into ways to look into an inexpensive, more efficient irrigation technique. Methods of improving the current condition will look into: Improving the efficiency of current flood irrigation techniques, creating new untapped sources of fresh water through seawater desalinization, and researching on alternative irrigation techniques such as spray irrigation and drip irrigation. This will be focused on areas where there is limited fresh water, like Torreon Mexico, where farmers are growing crops like alfalfa which bring in good money, but use a lot of water in dry regions. The techniques will be researched to show what methods have worked for areas, or have not worked in areas. Even though costs for these irrigation techniques will increase, the water savings will drive the demand of water down for countries in need. By reducing the amount of waste used by irrigation, more clean water can be used for basic needs.

edited Today in third world countries over 80% of water is used toward irrigation. Through the use of flood irrigation, massive amounts of fresh water is being wasted. The purpose of our research is to look into ways we can develop an inexpensive more efficient irrigation technique to implement. Methods of improving current condition will include: Improving the efficiency of current flood irrigation techniques, creating new untapped sources of fresh water through seawater desalinization, and developing and expanding on alternative irrigation techniques such as spray irrigation and drip irrigation. The techniques prepared will be validated by measuring irrigation water use before and after the alternative irrigation methods are implemented. Even though cost for these irrigation techniques will increase, the water savings will drive the cost of water down for countries in need. By reducing the amount of waste used by irrigation, cleaner water can be used for more basic needs.

Obtaining clean water is a major obstacle in the lives of people in the third world, including rural areas of the Dominican Republic. This project is dedicated to solving the problem of insufficient and unsanitary water supply for the 300 people in the village of La Tinajita, Dominican Republic. In January of 2009 four members of the USM Engineering Department visited the village to do a needs assessment. We surveyed the geography of the community of La Tinajita using a compass and an Abney level. We studied the condition of the water sources and the piping systems, and measured the available flow output by determining the time it takes to fill a five gallon bucket. We also mapped the existing water system through a combination of observation and speaking with community members. The completed project will include a complete design and implementation of our recommendations to the community. This project will dramatically improve the quantity and quality of water for the villagers of La Tinajita, thus reducing water-related health problems for both children and adults.

Scientific ballooning offers a relatively affordable way to do high altitude scientific research and aerial photography. For less than $500 per launch, a balloon can take cameras and experiments to the edge of the atmosphere. Additionally, learning about, operating, upgrading and expanding the ballooning system also provides educational opportunities and hands-on experiences for engineering students. With support from the Maine Space Consortium, USM Engineering has been working to bring scientific ballooning to southern Maine. This project has three elements of the main flight module. The power supply system supplies energy for all the electronic hardware supporting experiments during balloon flights. A digital camera system is controlled from the ground to capture and store numerous aerial images. Amateur (Ham) radios provide two-way communication with onboard computer and GPS tracking system. Additional components of communication system are microcontroller and circuit packs that will perform encoding and decoding of messages carried using ‘very high’ spectrum radio frequencies. The goal of our project is to provide all necessary electronic hardware to make our overall ballooning system flight ready, with a target test flight in late April.

Workers in Maine with family caregiving obligations often face discrimination due to perceptions about how those obligations affect their productivity. In particular this presentation asks how caregiver discrimination disproportionately affects women, how assumptions about mothering and what it means to be a "good mother" influence how women who have family obligations are discriminated against. Finally, I will suggest steps to be taken to create work environments that encourage a balance between work and family obligations. I will draw on my work at the Maine Women's Lobby (MWL), as well as interviews and independent research. The MWL is working on legislation on this issue, and research and literature is available to me through my internship there. Interviews will be solicited via social network sites, i.e. Facebook, Myspace, and Craigslist. Independent research will make use of the USM Glickman Library. Caregiver discrimination is an especially critical issue now, in this economic recession, where workers can ill afford to lose a paying job.

Workers in Maine with family caregiving obligations often face discrimination due to perceptions about how those obligations affect their productivity. This presentation will investigate how caregiver discrimination disproportionately affects women. In particular, the presentation asks how assumptions about mothering and what it means to be a "good mother" influence how women who have family obligations are discriminated against. Finally, I will suggest steps to be taken to create work environments that encourage a balance between work and family obligations. I will draw on my work at the Maine Women's Lobby (MWL), as well as interviews and independent research. The MWL is working on legislation on this issue, and research and literature is available to me through my internship there. Interviews will be solicited via social network sites, i.e. Facebook, Myspace, and Craigslist. Independent research will make use of the USM Glickman Library. Caregiver discrimination is an especially critical issue now, in this economic recession, where workers can ill afford to lose a paying job.

Edited The Branch Brook watershed is currently part of the local water supply for the towns of Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Wells, Ogunquit and Arundel Maine, serving as many as 75,000 people. The surficial geology of the upper end of this watershed is glacial marine delta sand. These large sand and gravel deposits were the result of deposition by glacial meltwater streams, and they represent a significant aquifer in the Branch Brook watershed. A digital hydrologic atlas utilizing GPS and GIS of one potentially productive area in the northern section of the aquifer has been created. Once a hydrologic atlas was created, a mathematical model of flow for this part of the aquifer was constructed. The results of the mathematical model and the hydrologic atlas can help define the aquifer’s flows and properties. Results of the research will be presented and also shared with the Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Wells Water District and other parties who may have an interest in the aquifer. The results of the research will help guide sustainable use of the resources available from the Branch Brook Aquifer.

Edited By combining resources from many diverse fields the ability to accurately reconstruct the three dimensional shape of the saltwater/freshwater interface in the coastal environment of Long Island, Maine can be achieved with reproducible and accurate results. GIS software creates a workspace that allows input of data in different formats to be analyzed, structured, converted, and drawn into a visual environment that can be manipulated into a user friendly graphical interface. Data such as well depth, well yield, surficial geology, bedrock geology, potentiometric elevation and surficial topography are combined to create a multilayered three dimensional digital map. To get the most accurate data for surface elevations, raw LiDAR files had to be broken down and clipped into usable formats and then loaded into ArcMap software. The surface topography was then rebuilt in the GIS environment to create a 3D model from which all subsurface features could be measured from. Features such as well location, depth, yield, surface elevation, potentiometric elevation, bedrock elevation, water body elevation, and freshwater cell interface could all be mapped in a projected coordinate system with accepted tolerances applicable to the data being entered.

Edited Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) systems are an efficient and economic way of delivering heating, cooling, and hot water to residences and businesses. GSHP systems extract heat from the relatively constant temperature of the earth at depth, which in New England averages in the low 50s year-round. The goal of this research is to explore GSHP systems with the addition of a solar hot water heater (SHWH) into the circuit to circulate and store additional heat energy in the ground loop. This will improve the efficiency and reduce the operating costs of such a system. The research will involve mathematical modeling of the temperature distribution through time in the ground loop vicinity both with and without the SHWH input. A hypothetical case of a well-insulated home in a climate similar to Boston, Massachusetts will be examined. The results will be analyzed to determine whether the addition of stored subsurface heat reduces the operating costs enough to offset the capital costs of the SHWH.

Edited Group 14 metalloles have attracted much interest due to their unusual solid-state fluorescence behavior. Synthetic efforts have been made to tailor these molecules to specific purposes such as electro-optic devices, analytical sensors, and probes of protein environments. Using the Research Computing Group's computing cluster and the ADF/ADF-BAND program, metallole band gaps as a function of structure and environment have been examined in this study.

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edited The aggregation-induced enhancement (AIE) of fluorescence exhibited by group-14 metalloles is of considerable theoretical and practical interest. We are using dynamic light scattering to measure the size of aggregates in mixed solvent systems, and correlating these measurements to changes in luminescence. Recent work suggests that in some solvent systems, the aggregates undergo a rapid growth and settling, while in other solvents the aggregate size is relatively stable for short (3-6 hours) periods of time. We present stability studies of tetraphenyl siloles in a variety of mixed solvent systems.

edited The Briggs-Rauscher oscillating reaction, first reported in 1973, is one of the most visually striking chemical demonstrations. The Chemistry Club at the University of Southern Maine (USM) often employs the reaction in its chemical demonstration shows for middle school students. While the kinetics and mechanism of the reaction have been well studied, a straightforward and complete description is lacking. Our presentation describes each point of the reaction chronologically, from when the solutions are first combined, to when the oscillations cease. We emphasize the reactions that account for each color change as the oscillations proceed. Furthermore, we offer a mechanism for the initial production of iodous acid when the reactants are first combined, which is needed in the subsequent radical sequences of reactions. We believe a complete and concise discussion of the reaction organized is essential for the reaction's utility as a powerful and exciting chemical demonstration.

Edited Group 14 metalloles exhibit a striking enhancement of fluorescence on aggregation, which makes them ideal candidates for solid state optoelectronic devices. For a variety of metalloles, the aggregate size and fluorescence will be measured as a function of the percentage of water in a mixed solvent system.

edited Group-14 metalloles exhibit a dramatic increase in luminescence when forced to aggregate in binary solvent systems containing a poor solvent. A thorough understanding of the properties of these aggregates, most importantly stability, is essential for fully exploiting this aggregation-induced enhancement (AIE) phenomenon in practical applications. We studied the AIE effect of 1,1,2,3,4,5-hexaphenylgermole in mixed solvent systems containing tetrahydrofuran and varying percentages of deionized water with the goal of characterizing how the aggregates change with age. The emission intensity decreased over time and the wavelength of maximum emission became more and more blue-shifted. Evaluation of aggregate size via dynamic light scattering revealed that size does not change significantly for several hours after the solutions are prepared. Additionally, our initial results suggest there may be some correlation between aggregate size and metallole concentration.

Edited Seasonal changes in the genetic expression of a nitric oxide signaling cascade are the mechanism of seasonal temperature compensation in the gills of the clam Mercenaria mercenaria. The presence of the nitric oxide cascade in the gills during the winter and spring offsets the decrease in environmental temperatures, allowing the clams to be active during this time of year. The expression of nitric oxide synthase present during November-June (the on season), when the nitric oxide cascade is present, and July-October (the off season), when the cascade is absent in the gills, were tested by employing the Western blot technique. Arctica islandica, a bivalve mollusc known to exist at cold temperatures, was used as a negative control as the gills of this clam do not contain nitric oxide synthase. Two nitric oxide synthase isoforms were expressed by Mercenaria mercenaria during the off season; however, inconclusive results inhibited a comparison of nitric oxide synthase expression between the on and off seasons.

The Big 5 Model suggests personality is composed of five traits: Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. Efforts to measure these traits have involved a 300 item questionnaire (Goldberg, 1999). Donnellan et al (2006) have suggested that long questionnaires such as this may end up putting participants in a negative mood or lead them to respond carelessly because of the length of the assessment. They have proposed shortening the scale to twenty items referred to as the Mini IPIP. This study will examine the validity of this abbreviated scale by determining if it predicts academic functioning, gender differences, satisfaction with life, and gratitude.

edited The primary objective of this project will focus on the morphological changes of Willard Beach, in Simonton Cove, South Portland, Maine. Data gathered from Southern Maine Community College students and the State of Maine Beach Profiling Project will be used to determine if the beach has been eroding or accruing sand over the past five years. Through five years of data collection and aerial photographs, information will be analyzed to discover how the coastline is changing. It is anticipated that the beach is eroding and consideration of storms, coastal flooding, and vegetation concentrations also will be taken into account.

Based on data gathered by Maine’s Department of Marine Resources a comparison of annual seal strandings will be evaluated for the York county area. The data will be based on a five year span from 2003-2008. Attention will be given to the effects of closing one of four rehabilitation centers in the state of Maine.

The difficulty in physically measuring MEMS devices makes Finite Element Modeling (FEM) software indispensable in its ability to closely simulate and approximate the response of physical bodies to inputs and conditions. The purpose of this project is to develop realistic finite element models of the MEMS rotational resonator structures we have designed for sensing applications. The models are expected to predict their behavior including modes and frequencies of resonance, losses affecting damping and quality factors, efficiency of electro-thermal drive at the resonant frequency, etc. Once verified and calibrated against the real rotational resonators we have (designed and fabricated earlier), such models will be used to make improvements in our designs and help optimize our structural parameters and electro-thermal drives for the best possible performance as rotational resonating MEMS sensors. Comsol Multiphysics® platform is being used to develop our finite element models. For simplified geometries of one design, the frequency of the desired resonance mode differed by 16% between hand calculations (187 kHz) and FEM computation (157 kHz). Also, nearest neighbor modes of vibration were exposed to be 169 kHz and 129 kHz.

The paper describes use of SOI-MEMS fabricated Acceleration Sensors as a real world design experience in a new undergraduate senior level MEMS course in Engineering at U.S.M. In addition to the standard lectures/reading/homeworks/tests routine of a typical coursework students were assigned to design, as individual class term projects, “Impact” or “Crash” Sensors using integrated circuit layout tools and standard Silicon MEMS technologies available and known as “MUMPs” (Multi-User-MEMS-Processes). The Silicon-On-Insulator version of MUMPs which is named “SOI-MUMPs” was chosen. Successfully completed designs were combined to form a multi-project MEMS chip and sent out to be fabricated thanks to the funding received from NASA/MSGC. A test platform has been designed to create centrifugal g-forces up to 20g’s. Currently, in the second offering of the course, students are testing these sensors to correlate the theory, analytical equations used for designs and the experimental results.

Micro-heaters are used when the operation of a Microelectromechanical System (MEMS) is dependent on temperatures significantly above room temperature. As yet there has been little work in the area of integrating tether springs as main conductors supplying resonating MEMS heaters so that power is not lost in the conductors but instead in the target heater section(s) while still maintaining resonant frequency (which is a function of spring stiffness). The object of this project is to develop finite element computer models of the MEMS micro-heater structures to predict their performance and use them as a design verification tool to predict and optimize their performance. Primary performance criteria are (1) temperature uniformity, (2) high heating efficiency (ratio of temperature rise to electrical power supplied) and (3) fast thermal response time. We have developed our MEMS (SOIMUMPs) micro-heater models employing COMSOL Multiphysics® platform for finite element simulations. Results of a parametric sweep show a range of temperature differences from 4.30% at 43°C to 7.68% at 508°C and very high heating efficiencies (3.76°C/mW – 22.5°C/mW). Thermal time constants were from 3.85ms to .642ms.

edited This project involves design and development of a computer-controlled test system to measure and characterize the response of MEMS based gas sensors, being developed at our Microelectronics Lab, to various gas mixtures and concentrations. The system we have developed employs LabView as the software platform for interfacing, communication, data acquisition and control between a personal computer and the measurement setup via GPIB bus and USB ports. Mass flow controllers are used to measure and control the flow of the gases and vapors introduced into a test chamber. The LabView written program monitors and controls the temperature of the MEMS sensor as well as the gas flows, and monitors the frequency outputs of both the MEMS sensor and a reference QCM sensor. The program steps the gas flows and the temperature to do a full test cycle and generates plots of the test results automatically.

This project involves both hardware and software implementation of a PC controlled testing platform for MEMS sensors being developed in our labs at USM. Focus of this project is on capacitance based MEMS sensors for acceleration measurement and for crash detection. The capacitance interface circuit employs an AD7747 capacitance to digital converter made by Analog Devices. This chip stores the sensed capacitance internally and allows access to its internal register contents via an I2C digital interface as the MEMS sensor under test experiences a steady increase of acceleration created by the centrifugal forces as it is rotated in a box at the end of a rotating bar. To measure the acceleration and be a calibrated reference, a commercial acceleration sensor, ADIS16204 is employed. The ADIS16204 is a digital programmable high-g sensor which has a built in MEMS sensor with internal A/D converter and memory to measure and record the acceleration data experienced by the chip. This data can be accessed via the SPI digital interface of the chip. The system designed acts as a translator to facilitate the communication between the PC and the sensor devices connected on both the SPI and the I2C buses. PC is accessed through its USB port. Programs written in Lab View create a completely automated PC controlled testing platform which can readily be modified by the user to customize the test sequence.

edited Urban archaeology focusing on the colonial period to the mid-20th century, has been undertaken at a private home in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. This house, designated (22) on the Black Heritage Trail of Portsmouth, has a long and complex history of ownership and land use. This study focused on backyard excavation to document usage by residents in order to guide the historical restoration of the home, specifically the actual objects used and food consumed over time. The deep stratigraphy, relatively unique in urban contexts, allows documentation of changes in material culture and foodways outside Strawbery Banke in colonial Portsmouth. The project involves public archaeology and the promotion of stewardship of cultural resources in association with well documented historical structures.

Edited Through the analysis of geological materials from archaeological sites, inferences can be made on human land use activities and the formation process of site stratigraphy. Within the last several years archeological excavations have taken place on the historic period Malaga Island and prehistoric Long Island North sites in Casco Bay, Maine. Constant volume column samples were collected during excavation. This project will include soil chemistry, particle size and sedimentological analyses. The creation of a database and graphics will provide further insight into the chronological development of past living surfaces on Malaga Island and Long Island North.

Edited Over the past 20 years underwater archaeology has grown in significance and has encouraged the development of local or regional approaches. Current trends in underwater archaeology that include stronger integration of amateur divers working with historical underwater archaeologists in research and historic shipwreck preservation.. Detailed written and mapped large scale configuration of hydrographic conditions began to appear in earnest in the mid 19th century and continues to be updated today. This project compiles primary cartographic sources to examine the historical hydrography and cartography of Casco Bay, Maine and places historically known shipwrecks into context. A digital 3D model of a portion of the bay is constructed for the 19th century from primary sources and is compared to today’s records. Assessment of the underwater records, cartography and bathymetric conditions as well as existing laws will enhance future preservation, planning and research in coastal Maine. Over the past 20 years underwater archaeology has grown in significance and encouraged the development of local or regional approaches with the stronger integration of amateur divers and historical underwater archaeologists working together for research and historic shipwreck preservation. Detailed written and mapped large scale configuration of hydrographic conditions began in earnest in the mid 19th century and continues to be updated today. This project compiles primary cartographic sources to examine the historical hydrography and cartography of Casco Bay, Maine and places historically known shipwrecks into context. A digital 3D model of a portion of the bay is constructed for the 19th century from primary sources and is compared to today’s records. Assessment of the underwater records, cartography and bathymetric conditions as well as existing laws will enhance future preservation, planning and research in coastal Maine.

Edited Fish bones excavated from archaeological sites in and around Casco Bay can yield information about subsistence strategies, settlement patterns, and cultural practices of prehistoric populations. They can also supplement the historical record by providing a general picture of activities of fishing communities. This study examines the vertebrae and head bones of Atlantic Cod in order to create a comparison among the faunal assemblages of numerous archaeological sites from the Casco Bay area. Size and weight are estimated using measurements of vertebral centra. The season of catch and age of the fish is gathered from a selection of cut otoliths. Particular attention is paid to comparison between two historical sites; a busy fishing station on Smuttynose Island in the Isles of Shoals, and Malaga Island, a small impoverished mixed-race fishing community at the mouth of the New Meadows River.

Edited This project integrates detailed archaeological and environmental data from constant volume column samples taken from three areas of a deeply stratified prehistoric shell midden in northern Casco Bay. Multiple columns taken in systematic intervals and analyzed here and in part by the ANT 308 Environmental Archaeology class have been compiled into a data base. Additional analysis of site formation and the analysis of fauna including gastropods, bivalves, mammals, birds and fish remains are presented. Analytical work on changes in bivalve shell size over time are established from measurement of Mya arenaria condrophores The results define stratigraphic resolution, and document the complexity and chronology of the second largest archaeological excavation in northern Casco Bay. Further, this work demonstrates the utility and importance of the fine grained contextual analysis.

Edited The recent restoration of the Shillaber House (constructed in 1766) in Portsmouth New Hampshire has resulted in the recovery of a large archaeological assemblage. The construction of a new foundation allowed the recovery of some 3500 historic artifacts, that are the focus of this analysis. Ceramics, glass, and bone were the most common materials recovered. The analysis focused on the definition of individual ceramic vessels or "vessel lots". The ceramics are typed by manufacture and time period in order to examine disposal patterns, intensity of occupation as well as cultural connections to local and regional markets. The results are then compared to the deed and probate research focused on documenting house inhabitants, changes in the structures use, and as a measure for guiding and authenticating the 18th century restoration.

Ethanol, a potential biofuel, can be produced from wood, paper pulp, and paper. Paper, composed primarily of cellulose, can be enzymatically broken down into its constituent glucose units. Glucose can then be converted to ethanol via fermentation processes. Low quality paper - newsprint – will be analyzed to explore its potential as an ethanol precursor.

Ethanol, a potential biofuel, can be produced from wood, paper pulp, and paper. Paper, composed primarily of cellulose, can be enzymatically broken down into its constituent glucose units. Glucose can then be converted to ethanol via fermentation processes. Low quality paper - mixed office waste – will be analyzed to explore its potential as an ethanol precursor.

Dietary components influence the fatty acid composition of triglycerides in farm animals. Omega-3-fatty acids, essential in the human diet, are thought to be present in varying amounts depending on what livestock and fish are fed. These fatty acids will be analyzed in pasture and industrially raised chicken.

Dietary components influence the fatty acid composition of triglycerides in farm animals. Omega-3-fatty acids, essential in the human diet, are thought to be present in varying amounts depending on what livestock and fish are fed. These fatty acids will be analyzed in pasture and industrially raised pork.

The Alzheimer’s Association helpline has delivered information, referral and psychosocial support to informal care providers of persons with dementia for a quarter of a century. However, there has been little research published evaluating the effect of the helpline intervention on the experience of those caring for a person with memory loss or on those who respond to helpline calls. This project, submitted to USM’s IRB, reference number 121708-15, describes an evaluation of the Maine Alzheimer’s Association helpline using quantitative and qualitative data to examine four primary dimensions of the helpline service--information, referral, support, and convenience. A 22-question self-administered confidential survey of 150 callers to the helpline addressed these dimensions as experienced by informal care providers. Follow-up, semi-structured telephone interviews with ten respondents added depth to the understanding gained from the survey. Semi-structured, phone-based interviews with ten volunteers and employees of the Maine Alzheimer’s Association helped understand the perspective of those providing the service. The goal of this program evaluation was to understand what currently works best to support care providers calling the helpline and to identify ways to improve the quality and convenience of the information, referral and support offered by the Maine Alzheimer’s Association helpline.

edited The need for this study was to evaluate permanent supportive housing as a solution to helping homeless persons live more stable and productive lives. The purpose to this study is to assess if quality of life would be improved in homeless persons by providing permanent supportive housing. Tenants of Logan Place and homeless clients of Preble Street Adult Site will be recruited to participate in this study once informed consent is obtained. Participants will complete a questionnaire that measures quality of life and collects data concerning demographic information. The data collection instrument will include the World Health Organization Quality of Life- Bref (WHOQOL-Bref) that measures the following four domains: physical health, psychological well being, social relationships and environment. The research proposal has been submitted to USM’s IRB. It is hypothesized that quality of life will be higher for those living in supportive housing compared to currently homeless persons. It is anticipated that the results of this study will guide the development of services of Preble Street Adult site and at Logan Place.

Edited With such a big portion of the population aging there has been an increased focus on the issues affecting the elderly, including those who are treated in rehabilitation units. Often when elderly are admitted to these units there is a sense of urgency to complete therapy and discharge them. Throughout this process the primary focus is physical healing while emotional challenges, including symptoms of depression, are overlooked. This study has evaluated the Newton Center’s work with the elderly on their rehabilitation unit in relation to emotional difficulties. The participants in the study have been asked to complete the Patient Health Questionnaire- 9 (PHQ-9) twice, once at the time of admission and again at discharge. To protect the participants, data was provided to this investigator in de-identified form. The proposal for this program evaluation has been submitted to the University of Southern Maine’s IRB for approval. It is hypothesized that the presence of depressive symptoms in participants will decrease between admittance and discharge. The results of this evaluation are will guide efforts to improve services related to emotional health provided to older adults while they are at the Newton Center.

Within New England there is a juvenile detention facility which has an early release program called Release to Aftercare (RAFT). The RAFT program provides oversight of juveniles who are released to the community before their sentence is finished. Part of the responsibility of the RAFT program is to follow-up with the juveniles at RAFT team meetings regarding goals around preventing recidivism and promoting successful reintegration back to the community. There is a need to examine what current community based services are being utilized to successfully prevent recidivism. Secondary data analysis will be used to analyze client records as a means of examining the relationship between community based services and recidivism. Content analysis will be use to examine the manifest content of the RAFT team review notes. A proposal for this research has been submitted to the University of Southern Maine’s IRB. It is anticipated that utilization of community based services by juvenile offenders will be positively correlated with recidivism. Program Evaluations such as the one presented here are imperative to the refining and enhancing process of providing services to juvenile offenders which effectively reduce recidivism.

Edited As the diversity of our communities increases, there is corresponding increase in demand for cultural competent professionals in social work and nursing. The experiential learning inherent to international courses serves as a potential teaching tool for cultural competence. This study examines whether an international course experience results in greater cultural competence than the standard curriculum for nursing and social work students at the University of Southern Maine. The study has two components. The first examines the cultural competence of students before and after participating in an international course in social work: “Community Services in Belize: A Service Learning Course.” The second compares social work and nursing students who have not participated in an international course with those who have had this experience. A convenience sample of past students from international courses and current students in social work and nursing classes completed an anonymous self-administered survey that measured their cultural competency using the Multicultural Counseling Knowledge and Awareness Scale (MCKAS). This study was approved by the USM’s IRB. This research will find what, if any, effect an international course experience has on students’ cultural competence. This research will add to the expanding body of knowledge on the effectiveness of international coursework in teaching cultural competence.

This study will examine social worker growth in relation to the experience of secondary trauma in their work. It is hypothesized that social workers who report secondary trauma, also benefit from this exposure in increased resiliency traits. The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PGI) created by Tedeschi, and Calhoun and the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL) created by Hudnall Stamm have both been adapted to measure the perception of growth from working with traumatized populations in relation to secondary trauma. The PGI measures growth from trauma in subjects’ improved sense of relating to others, sense of new possibilities, personal strength, spiritual change, and appreciation of life. ProQOL measures secondary trauma, compassion satisfaction, and burnout. Bivariate analysis will be use to analyze the relationship between secondary trauma and levels of resiliency. The sample will be randomly selected from the Maine State list of licensed social workers. Self-administered anonymous survey will be sent to 150 social workers. This research proposal has been submitted to USM’s IRB. It is anticipated that this research project will increase understanding of the factors that contribute to positive growth in social work practice with at risk and often traumatized populations.

Studies Related to Summer Treatment Attendance. There is a concern among clinicians that a decrease in attendance during summer months may disrupt the course of traditional clinical therapy resulting in a poor prognosis in clients’ mental health. (Kazdin, 1999) The purpose of this study is to explore the factors that may keep clients away from therapy in the summer months. Factors include a lack of reminder calls, clients’ gender, the comfort of their therapist’s office, how long clients may have waited for their first therapy appointment and flexibility in scheduling. This cross-sectional and descriptive study will use anonymous, self-administered surveys of outpatient clinicians and clients. A non-random, purposive sampling plan will be used to obtain a total sample of 30 participants. Bivariate analyzes will be used to examine the relationship between clinician and client perspectives. This research proposal has been submitted to the University of Southern Maine’s IRB. Findings will guide Tri-County Mental Health Services in their development of summer programming.

edited Empowering older adults and families to obtain quality care in the community can contribute to enhanced quality-of life and extended independence. The purpose of this study is a program evaluation of the application process for the Family Provider Services Option (FPSO) through Elder Independence of Maine. The aim of this study is to identify barriers that FPSO applicants encountered and elicit applicants’ perceptions about improving the process. The method for data collection is a telephone survey to individuals who had initially requested information about the FPSO but who discontinued the application process at two distinct time points. The research proposal has been submitted to USM’s IRB. The results of this study will guide Elder Independence of Maine in their efforts to improve the application process for the FPSO and thus expand the accessibility of the program by making the application process smoother for applicants.

Edited The aim of the study is to explore how participation in the Youth Leadership Advisory Team (YLAT) facilitates the development of social networks for young people in foster care. Focus groups were conducted with young people, ages 18-25, formerly in foster care and involved in YLAT. Interviews will be analyzed for key components of social networks using methods of constant comparative qualitative analysis. It is anticipated that participants will identify several components of social networks that have grown out of their involvement in YLAT, including personal relationships, shared values or purpose, good communication, and shared resources. It is expected that the results of this study will support YLAT as an innovative model for providing youth in foster care the opportunity to develop essential social support connections. This study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at USM.

Between 10% and 20% of children in the community may meet diagnostic criteria for depression. There is a need for residential facilities, such as crisis units to be able to anticipate at what time of the year most children are referred to mental health crisis units so they can better serve the children in need. Demographic data along with the variables of diagnosis, discharge plan, number of previous admissions, reason for referral, and type of precipitating event of children admitted to a crisis unit will be compared to the date of admission to determine if there is a correlation between date and these variables. Demographic data and the subject’s diagnosis, discharge plan, number of previous admissions, reason for referral and type of precipitating event will be collected from subject’s files. No identifying data will be recorded by the primary researcher. This study has been submitted to the USM’s IRB. It is anticipated that this study will find that children with certain demographic variables are more likely to be admitted more frequently during school breaks and in the spring. With the information gathered in this study, crisis units can better anticipate when children with certain demographics and characteristics will most likely be admitted to the unit.

Edited The level system, a form of token economy and behavior modification, is used within certain specialized school settings in order to “establish an objective measure of student competence, to enhance student perceptions of their autonomy, and to establish links between classroom-based learning and practical applications” (Leblanc, 2007). The present study examines the perspectives of students at Central Maine Learning Center concerning how motivated, confident, and able they believe they are to maintain program expectations and to earn privileges designated within the level system. Also examined are teachers’ perceptions of how motivated, confident, and able they believe their students are in using the level system effectively. This cross sectional study is a program evaluation that uses a confidential survey for data collection. After obtaining guardian consent, each student was informed of the study by the researchers, and asked to complete the questionnaire privately. Teachers were asked to complete a similar questionnaire examining their own perspectives concerning their students. It is hypothesized that there will be a significant difference in perceived levels of motivation, confidence, and ability between teachers and students. The present study has been submitted to the Institutional Review Board at USM. The results of this study will guide Central Maine Learning Center in its efforts to improve programming.

This study will compare two kindergarten through second grade schools only one of which has a school-wide behavior plan. A self-administered anonymous survey will be completed by approximately 30 teachers at both schools that examines the types and frequency of classroom behavior problems, school behavior supports, staffing and interventions. The research procedures are under review by USM’s IRB. Bivariate analyzes will be used to compare the responses from the school with school-wide behavior plan with those from the school without a school-wide plan. It is hypothesized that that the school with a school-wide behavior plan will report fewer instances of negative behaviors in the classroom. In addition, the teachers at that school will feel more supported in their behavioral interventions. The study will guide both schools in the assessment of their current behavior plans and guide program improvements.

The gap between the health of the general population and the part of our population with mental disabilities is widening, with people diagnosed with mental illness dying an average of 25 years earlier. The goal of this study is to explore the habits around eating, exercise and nicotine intake in people diagnosed with chronic mental illness and their experiences with health promotion education or training. This is an exploratory study that examines the familiarity and compliance with governmental standards on nutrition, exercise and tobacco use of clients diagnosed with mental illness. This study is strictly voluntary and confidential and has been submitted to the institutional review board at the University of Southern Maine. The results of this study will include a description of current health habits and an analysis of the relationship of these habits to participants’ experience with health education. This study hopes to provide information that will help guide wellness programming in the mental health field and will encourage physical health awareness in service delivery.

The increasing prevalence of dementia threatens the well-being of individuals, families, communities, and the entire health-care system. Responding to a need for evidence-based knowledge and community-building efforts to empower those affected by dementia, this study evaluates the Memory Bridge Initiative (MBI), an educational, experiential program pairing high-school students with elderly people who have dementia. Based upon students’ responses to pre and post qualitative questions, we are evaluating MBI by examining students’ feedback about the program as well as changes in their perceptions of elderly people and Alzheimer’s disease. We are also examining pre and post caregiver responses to a standardized quality of life questionnaire to evaluate how MBI affects people who have dementia. This research proposal has been submitted to USM’s Institutional Review Board. It is hypothesized that students will have a positive learning experience, gain appreciation and understanding of their elders who have dementia, and that quality of life scores among the elder participants will improve after participation in MBI. This evaluation informs future service-learning and dementia-care programs.

Edited Gay and lesbian parents have historically experienced prejudice and discrimination based on their alternative family structures. This study explores the experiences of gay and lesbian parents and their children in a small, metropolitan area in the North East. The purpose of this study is to develop a more thorough understanding of the challenges regarding harassment, discrimination, and biases that these individuals face based on their same-sex family structures. The study also explores the struggles that the children of gay parents face in this community. Open-ended interviews will be conducted with gay or lesbian parents to collect in depth information about these individuals’ experiences. Constant comparative method of analysis will be used. Member checking will be employed at the end of the analysis to enhance validity. This study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board at USM. It is anticipated that this qualitative study will find that gay parents in this community have experienced discrimination, harassment, or moral judgment based on their nontraditional family structures. It is hoped that the findings of this study will provide social workers in Portland with information that will contribute to more beneficial and effective services to the gay and lesbian community.

Riverview Psychiatric Center is the primary inpatient mental health facility for the State of Maine. The most recent initiatives in mental health services in Maine focus on creating effective programs for transitioning mentally ill clients from psychiatric hospitalization to appropriate community clinical treatment services. There has been much progress made in the past five years in creating effective discharge planning services for clients leaving Riverview Psychiatric Center. However, there has been no evaluation of discharge planning services. The purpose of this study is to evaluate discharge planning for clients who have been discharged from Riverview to southern and central Maine from January 2007 to September 2008. Secondary data will be used to analyze the effectiveness of discharge planning services as measured by access and use of community mental health services. In addition, fifteen discharged clients will be interviewed to gain in depth understanding of their experiences with the discharge planning process. The anticipated benefit of this research will provide the social work staff at Riverview with the tools to refine the discharge planning component of hospitalization.

edited By working with youth in the criminal justice system, the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Program (JDAP) addresses various areas such as legal involvement, school progress, mental health, substance abuse, and attitudes regarding crime. In their efforts, JDAP works to divert youth from further crime. The purpose of this study is to evaluate JDAP’s effectiveness in addressing the areas of legal involvement, school progress, mental health, substance abuse, and attitudes regarding crime. Two methods of data collection will be used. Baseline data consists of the prescreen of the Youth Assessment and Screening Instrument (YASI) completed at admission to JDAP. A mailed survey will be completed by the parents or guardians of youth whom have participated in JDAP one month after discharge. This has been submitted to the IRB of the University of Southern Maine. Pre-test and post test scores will be compared to determine whether the program helped participants to improve following services. It is hypothesized that youth will be viewed by parents and guardians as having improved in all areas. It is hoped that this research will guide JDAP concerning program improvement and future program developments.

edited Due to limited financial resources and increasing demands for evidenced based practices in child protection services, more community building initiatives are being employed throughout the nation. This research study will help to determine whether or not participants in the Portland, Maine, Community Partnerships For Protecting Children (CPPC) are feeling more satisfied with their services from Child Protective Services than those participants who have not been part of the CPPC. This research proposal has been submitted to USM’s IRB for approval. The method of data collection will be an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire, mailed to participants that will ask for demographic data and responses to assess responsiveness to CPPC initiatives. Also, the Client Satisfaction Inventory(CSI)(McMurty & Hudson, 1994) will be used. The anticipated results from this research are to provide information to guide improving services in the future to community members who are engaged with child protection services. This research will provide data that will identify what areas clients are most and least satisfied with the services they are receiving. As more and more of these initiatives are employed in communities, it will be important to recognize what changes need to be made to improve effectiveness and accessibility.

The nutritional status of newly hospitalized elderly patients or institutionalized elderly is often poor. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether participants of a new resident-centered dining service offered at the Maine Veterans' Homes gain weight and increase their perceived levels of autonomy three months post-introduction of the service compared to baseline levels recorded pre-introduction of the dining service. This program evaluation is a quasi-experimental design and has been approved by USM’s IRB. The weights and perceived levels of autonomy of the participants will be measured three times; before the dining program begins, six weeks later, and finally, six weeks later for an experimental and comparison group. It is hypothesized the participants of resident-centered dining will gain weight and their perceived levels of autonomy will increase post-introduction of the dining service compared to baseline levels. It is anticipated that higher levels of perceived autonomy will be present and no adverse weight fluctuations will be found for participants receiving the new dining service in comparison to those participants who do not receive the service. This evaluation will guide future programming for residents of the Maine Veterans’ Homes.

Edited The experience of parenting a child for a woman of any age is a task filled with joys and challenges. For adolescents who become parents during the final stages of their own maturation, societal concerns are usually high. Adolescent parents and their children are vulnerable to a variety of social problems. St. Andre Home offers treatment programs designed to support this population and buffer the risks. This study examines the effectiveness of program interventions by exploring changes in four areas of emotional health in the families receiving services at St. Andre Home. In this study the AIMS tool of assessment was used to measure growth in attachment, parent-child interaction, mastery, and social support. After approval by the IRB at the University of Southern Maine, this self-administered survey tool was mailed to program participants at two distinct points in time. It is anticipated that the interventions used will have a positive impact on this population. This study will guide St. Andre’s Home in their efforts to improve programming for adolescent and young adult parents.

edited Dropping out of high school limits opportunities for young people in our skill-driven economy and often results in lives marginalized by poverty with accompanying social inequalities. Much of the research on dropout prevention suggests that there are early warning signs in a student’s career that increase the likelihood of dropping out. This descriptive cohort study, submitted to USM’s Internal Review Board, will examine whether there is a relationship between seven social and academic factors present at mid-point of ninth grade and dropping out of high school. Secondary data analysis will be conducted based on information in existing case records of students who were ninth graders during the 2003-2004 school year at Brunswick High School and had expected graduation dates of June 2007. It is anticipated that many of the students in this cohort who eventually dropped out of high school displayed social and academic indicators that dropout studies associate with failure to graduate. Using readily accessible data to identify or eliminate predictors, educators will be aided in designing more effective early intervention plans to keep at-risk students on track for graduation.

Edited Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration System of Care Grants mandate youth and family voice within the mental health system, but more research is needed to gain information that systems of care can use to develop safe and empowering (i.e. trauma-informed) methods for developing authentic dialogue between young consumers and service professionals. This study examined the perspectives of World Cafe hosting practitioners about incorporating trauma-informed practices into World Cafe, an open dialogue process. A self-administered online survey was emailed to all participants of the Art of Hosting community listserv with a cover letter inviting their participation in a short exploratory study. The survey included several questions about the degree to which participants believed they followed each of the seven principles of World Cafe, as well as several questions about the degree to which participants believed they incorporated each of several trauma-informed practices. This research proposal has been submitted to USM's IRB. It is anticipated that the level of fidelity to World Cafe will be related to frequency of trauma-informed practices in World Cafe. Implications will be that a trauma-informed World Cafe could be developed, expanding trauma-informed opportunities for youth voice in service systems.

I want to explore the marriage of music through the medium of paint, because of my passion for music and art. I am creating a painting in three parts, known as a triptych. Each panel will reflect a different mood, influenced by its individual song. Songs I am exploring are: 1st movement of Dvorak Piano Quintet No. 2 in A major; 2nd movement of Dmitri Shostakovich String Quartet No. 8 in C minor; and Oblivion by Astor Piazzola (Tango for Chamber Ensemble). The three pieces are each very unique in their overall expression and story. The first movement of the Dvorak is almost stately in its color and tone. The cello and viola pass off a regal, vibrant melody that both violins build upon with interchanging bright, lively camaraderie. In extreme contrast, the second movement of Shostakovich deadens colors all together with the ominous feel of approaching alarm, as the strings come together in an eerie crescendo that peaks with short bursts of accented, minor chords—which some interpret as bombs falling on Dresden. The dark intensity of Shostakovich is lost in the music of Oblivion. The warm colors of romance and seduction are brought to life in the sultry Tango of Piazzola’s Oblivion. The strings flirt with each other in a sensuous melody of heartache and hopeless romance. All three pieces offer very different stories. And, I plan on interpreting these colorful moods of music through the use of form, color and style of painting. In so doing, I will be able to explore the idea of synesthesia—where one sense directly informs another. And, I have some great examples to learn from, such as the inspirational Kandinsky.

This presentation analyzes the use of expressionism in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1958 film, “Vertigo.” Hitchcock’s use of expressionism in the film is an artistic style that demonstrates a profound inner-vision. By analyzing camera movement, lighting, color, and the geometric planes used in “Vertigo,” the author uses the formal principles of film theory to interpret the meaning of the film. On the surface, “Vertigo” is based on a San Francisco detective who is unable to work due to a severe case of acrophobia. The author suggests that Hitchcock uses the concept of vertigo as a synecdoche to express the inner-state of the protagonist. The term synecdoche refers to one part that stands for the whole, and will be used to demonstrate the film’s inner meaning. The process of unearthing metaphorical significance within the film is also conducted through the exploration of alternate meanings of the word vertigo. Furthermore, the author argues that Hitchcock’s use of psychological expressionism uncovers the film’s central theme of identity. “Vertigo” is considered by many to be one of Alfred Hitchcock’s greatest and most personal films. By examining “Vertigo” closely, the author hopes to shed light on the true meaning of the film.

Students will present their service learning projects detailing their work with community partners assisting refugees in Portland.

Students will present their service learning projects detailing their work with community partners assisting refugees in Portland.

Students will present their service learning projects detailing their work with community partners assisting refugees in Portland.

Students will present their service learning projects detailing their work with community partners assisting refugees in Portland.

Students will present their service learning projects detailing their work with community partners assisting refugees in Portland.

Edited This study examined how the percent of impervious surface surrounding Capisic Brook in Portland, Maine affected the biodiversity of aquatic macro-invertebrates. Sampling took place at two locations of Capisic Brook: an upper region consisting of 4.3% impervious surface and a lower region containing 23.4% impervious surface. Macro-invertebrates were sampled over a period of two weeks in the fall of 2008 using methods designed by the MDEP Biological Monitoring Unit. To control for varying habitat characteristics, the habitat was evaluated at each sampling location using a Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index designed by the Ohio EPA. Conductivity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and pH were measured at each sample location. The biodiversity of the aquatic macro-invertebrate samples was determined using the Simpson Diversity Index. Using a statistical two-sample-t test (α=0.05), the Simpsons Diversity Index values for each site were compared. The upper region site was significantly greater in biodiversity than the lower. Furthermore, the dissolved oxygen was significantly higher at the upper region site while conductivity and pH were significantly higher at the lower region site. The results suggest that in urban areas the biodiversity of surrounding streams is negatively affected by increased amounts of impervious surfaces.

edited Barrier islands offer not only protection to the mainland from severe weather patterns, but also provide a safe haven for migratory birds. Grand Isle, Louisiana, boasts one of the last remaining Quercus virginiana (live oak) and Celtis occidentalis (hackberry) forests on a barrier island and thus, it is important to restore and maintain these tracts of forests. The objectives of this study were to examine the species distribution of visiting birds, and to examine the ages and possible reasons for mortality of the trees located on the island. We determined the age and size distribution of the trees using increment borings and diameter tapes along predetermined transects. These borings will provide data on the age of the specimen, as well as suggest potential environmental historical events that effected the growth of the tree. Counts for the bird populations will determine total population and population diversity. All results will be presented to the local town council to increase awareness regarding species diversity and preservation. Data will also be compiled into a pamphlet for guests to the island.

edited A study was performed at the University of Southern Maine’s Gorham campus to determine if there was a significant difference between lead and copper concentrations in water samples collected from water fountains. Twenty-eight water fountains were sampled from eight non-residence buildings over a thirteen day period. Samples were collected in sterile 250 milliliter polyethylene bottles, using a first draw method after water was allowed to stand overnight without disturbance. Replicate samples were collected from each fountain and analyzed using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectrometry. Analysis of samples showed that no lead was present above the detection level (10 micrograms/liter) of the ICP spectrometer, and that no significant relationship existed between copper concentration and fountain age. There was a positive correlation between pH and copper concentration, as well as between copper concentration and floor level. In one building, copper concentrations were significantly higher than in all other buildings sampled. Two fountains were found to exceed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) action level of 1.3 mg/L for copper. A relationship may exist between fountain manufacturers and copper concentrations, and between copper concentrations in refrigerated and non-refrigerated fountains, but further research is needed. Analysis of control samples taken from the Portland Water District compared to water samples collected from the fountains showed that a significant amount of copper is released into water between the source and the fountain head.

In May 2006 soil samples were collected on the Rongbuk glacier of Mt Everest (Qomolangma) from 5334 m to 6553 m and surface snow samples (0-10 cm) were collected along the climbing route of the northeast ridge from 6858 m to 7752 m. The samples were analyzed for Pb, Zn, Cd, Ni, Cr, Co, Cu, As, Mn, Hg, and V using inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy. Results show that arsenic and cadmium are both above Environmental Protection Agency drinking water guidelines in all snow samples and arsenic is above the Environmental protection Agency soil screening guidelines in all soil samples. There was a clear trend in element variation in the soil samples with the highest concentrations found at 5944 m. There was no clear trend detected in the snow samples, possibly due to vertical mixing of surface snow. Anthropogenic sources are suspected to have contributed to the elevated concentrations of both cadmium and arsenic.

edited Trace metals in mountain ecosystems of the northeastern United States have received considerable attention in recent years as researchers examine the effects of atmospheric deposition on the health and function of forests. High elevation soils are particularly sensitive to changes in atmospheric chemistry due to higher deposition of pollutants by wet and dry deposition, interception of wet cloud moisture, the formation of rime ice, and the tenacity of highly organic soils to retain trace metals. The purpose of this research project was to assess concentrations along with spatial and temporal changes in trace metal concentrations on six mountains in Maine. This was done by collecting soil samples along an elevational gradient and analyzing the samples for various trace metals, including: As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn. The samples were analyzed for trends in metal concentration with elevation. This data was also compared with data collected from the same sites 11 and 28 years ago to assess changes in metal concentration, and therefore atmospheric deposition, over time. Analysis of mineral soils shows that most metals are below EPA acceptable limits, but that there is, with a few exceptions, an overall slight increase in trace metal concentration with increasing elevation. Analysis of organic soils found no apparent pattern, but trace metal concentrations were of much higher magnitudes than were found in mineral soils.

This study compared the concentration of trace metals (As, Mn, Mg, and Fe) in cattails (Typha latifolia) and common reeds (Phragmites australis) in a constructed wetland treatment system designed to treat leachate from a closed balefill. Two cattails and two reeds were taken from each of five separate sites on the perimeter of the first treatment cell. Sampled plants were separated into roots and shoots for individual analysis. The samples were washed to remove soil, dried at room temperature, ashed in a muffle furnace, extracted using nitric acid, and analyzed in an ICP for As, Mn, Mg, and Fe. Results were assessed with a two-sample T-test. There was no statistical difference in the concentration of As, Mn, or Fe between cattails and reeds. A statistically greater concentration of Mg was found in cattails than in reeds (p=0.023). In cattails, concentrations were greater in roots than shoots for As (p=0.032) and Fe (p=0.001). Reed roots showed a greater concentration than shoots for As (p=0.000), Mg (p=0.000), and Fe (p=0.000).