Thesis Archives Search
This search engine will let you explore the over 1800 theses written in Honors at The University of Maine since the Program’s inception in 1935. You may search our thesis archives based on any of the fields listed above. If the thesis is available at the Reynolds Library (Thomson Honors Center) or Fogler Library (Special Collections), the information will appear below the bibliographic data. At last count, we had about 1800 theses in the Reynolds Library.
Search Results
An Investigation of Parallel Coupled Microstrip Transmission Lines
An Investigation of the Influence of Cognitive Dissonance on the Commitment of Male Delinquents to Their Misdeeds
An Investigation of the Interactions Between Beaver (Castor canadensis) and Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) and Their Implications in Maine
AN INVESTIGATION OF THE OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE TIDAL INLET ON SAND BEACH, ACADIA NATIONAL PARK, ME
An Investigation of the Relationship Between Black Soldier Fly Larvae Pathogen Suppression and Growth Substrate in Relation to Maine Agricultural Industries
Author:
Haley
Morrill
Major: Microbiology Graduation Year: 2021 Thesis Advisor: Edward Bernard
Description of Publication:
Insects are promoted as cost-effective and sustainable protein sources for animal feed. Their utilization may help to avoid a predicted global protein shortage. Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae (BSFL) grow on organic wastes, converting these wastes into larval biomass which can fulfill this purpose. Potential benefits of using BSFL to remediate organic wastes include reduction of waste mass and bacterial load, along with the sale of larvae as a protein supplement. BSFL suppress the growth of some Gram-positive and Gram-negative human pathogens in these substrates; though suppression of Bacillus cereus, a spore-forming bacterium that causes food-poisoning, has not been documented. This project focused on Bacillus cereus suppression by BSFL on byproducts (used as growth substrates) of 2 Maine agricultural industries: potatoes and blueberries. Colony counts on B. cereus selective media were higher for larvae fed on potatoes spiked with pathogen than pathogen alone on potatoes after 2 days. After 4 days, an opposite effect was observed, with lower colony counts observed for larvae fed on potato with B. cereus than pathogen alone on potato. PCR analysis of samples from the potato confirmed the detection of B. cereus. Blueberry substrate was not capable of supporting B. cereus as colony counts for all treatments were below the detection threshold after 2 days of larval feeding. While 100% viability was observed for BSFL reared on blueberries, larval weight decreased by an average of 82% with pathogen compared to a 32% decrease without pathogen, indicating that blueberries are not a suitable growth substrate.
Location of Publication:
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umtraining.lv-o-wpc-dev.its.maine.edu/honors/678/
Major: Microbiology Graduation Year: 2021 Thesis Advisor: Edward Bernard
Description of Publication:
Insects are promoted as cost-effective and sustainable protein sources for animal feed. Their utilization may help to avoid a predicted global protein shortage. Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae (BSFL) grow on organic wastes, converting these wastes into larval biomass which can fulfill this purpose. Potential benefits of using BSFL to remediate organic wastes include reduction of waste mass and bacterial load, along with the sale of larvae as a protein supplement. BSFL suppress the growth of some Gram-positive and Gram-negative human pathogens in these substrates; though suppression of Bacillus cereus, a spore-forming bacterium that causes food-poisoning, has not been documented. This project focused on Bacillus cereus suppression by BSFL on byproducts (used as growth substrates) of 2 Maine agricultural industries: potatoes and blueberries. Colony counts on B. cereus selective media were higher for larvae fed on potatoes spiked with pathogen than pathogen alone on potatoes after 2 days. After 4 days, an opposite effect was observed, with lower colony counts observed for larvae fed on potato with B. cereus than pathogen alone on potato. PCR analysis of samples from the potato confirmed the detection of B. cereus. Blueberry substrate was not capable of supporting B. cereus as colony counts for all treatments were below the detection threshold after 2 days of larval feeding. While 100% viability was observed for BSFL reared on blueberries, larval weight decreased by an average of 82% with pathogen compared to a 32% decrease without pathogen, indicating that blueberries are not a suitable growth substrate.
Location of Publication:
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umtraining.lv-o-wpc-dev.its.maine.edu/honors/678/
An Investigation of the Transuranium Odd-A Nucleo Using the Nilsson Model
AN INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECTS OF VIRTUAL SOCIAL SUPPORT ON WORKING MEMORY AND STRESS
Author:
Erin
L.
Perry
Major: Psychology Graduation Year: 2014 Thesis Advisor: Shawn Ell
Description of Publication:
Location of Publication:
URL to Thesis: http://digitalcommons.library.umtraining.lv-o-wpc-dev.its.maine.edu/honors/156/
Major: Psychology Graduation Year: 2014 Thesis Advisor: Shawn Ell
Description of Publication:
Location of Publication:
URL to Thesis: http://digitalcommons.library.umtraining.lv-o-wpc-dev.its.maine.edu/honors/156/
AN INVESTIGATIVE STUDY INTO STUDENT MOTIVATION AND IDENTITY AMONG UPPER CLASS ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING STUDENTS
Author:
Thomas
Leighton
Major: Electrical Engineering Graduation Year: 2017 Thesis Advisor: Mauricio Pereira de Cunha
Description of Publication:
This study investigates upper-class electrical and computer engineering students’ motivation and how students identify with their major. In addition, it also explores how student chosen research, projects, and learning impact the levels of motivation in students and how students identify with their major. Three different surveys were used over the course of the spring semester of 2017 at the University of Maine for this study: the Pittsburgh Freshman Engineering Aptitude Survey, the Project Ownership Survey, and the 2017 Electrical and Computer Engineering Survey. Participants for this study were junior and senior electrical and computer engineers, and students enrolled in ECE 466: Sensor Technology and Information. This study found that students exposed to research prior to the selection of a project, experienced increased levels of ownership and motivation for projects. Secondly, this study found that students experienced lower levels of motivation near the end of the semester when compared to the beginning.
Location of Publication: fogler reynolds
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umtraining.lv-o-wpc-dev.its.maine.edu/honors/437
Major: Electrical Engineering Graduation Year: 2017 Thesis Advisor: Mauricio Pereira de Cunha
Description of Publication:
This study investigates upper-class electrical and computer engineering students’ motivation and how students identify with their major. In addition, it also explores how student chosen research, projects, and learning impact the levels of motivation in students and how students identify with their major. Three different surveys were used over the course of the spring semester of 2017 at the University of Maine for this study: the Pittsburgh Freshman Engineering Aptitude Survey, the Project Ownership Survey, and the 2017 Electrical and Computer Engineering Survey. Participants for this study were junior and senior electrical and computer engineers, and students enrolled in ECE 466: Sensor Technology and Information. This study found that students exposed to research prior to the selection of a project, experienced increased levels of ownership and motivation for projects. Secondly, this study found that students experienced lower levels of motivation near the end of the semester when compared to the beginning.
Location of Publication: fogler reynolds
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umtraining.lv-o-wpc-dev.its.maine.edu/honors/437