University of Maine
  • Orono, United States
Recent publications
Zoning to prevent fishing on 30% of the Great Barrier Reef yields 50% more larvae and biomass of coral grouper on fished reefs.
The relationship between social problem-solving (SPS) and depression is well-established. Negative problem orientation (NPO) has consistently emerged as the strongest predictor of depression as compared to the other SPS dimensions. The present study sought to replicate previous findings that demonstrate the predominance of NPO over the remaining SPS dimensions in predicting depression and to assess whether NPO contributes any unique variance to the prediction of depression after controlling for demoralization. Undergraduate students (N = 410) completed self-report measures assessing SPS, demoralization, and depression. Controlling for gender, two hierarchical regression models were tested to predict depression, in which the order of entry of the variables was reversed. In the first model, NPO emerged as a significant predictor, but it was subsequently displaced by demoralization. In the second model, NPO failed to account for unique variance in depression when it was entered after demoralization. Therefore, these findings support the conceptualization of demoralization as a higher-order construct reflective of nonspecific distress that encapsulates the core features of NPO. Future research is needed to establish a clearer understanding of the distinct features and interrelationships between these constructs to improve precision of diagnostic assessments and interventions for depression.
Efforts to effect racial health disparity (RHD) policy change are urgent, necessary, and subject to a key barrier: defensiveness among White privileged audiences. Within the literature to date, such defensiveness is under-investigated, and when examined, is typically conceived of as an individual cognitive outcome—a message effect—rather than a communication interaction. Yet policy change advocacy efforts, ranging from community organizing to change campaigns, necessitate communication interactions between advocates and privileged policy change audiences, such as neighborhood groups or policymakers themselves. This defensiveness conceptualization, focused on individual cognitions, therefore limits our understanding of interactive communication barriers in RHD policy advocacy processes. To address this limitation, our research conceives of defensiveness using the privileged identity exploration (PIE) model, developed by Watt in 2007, which posits that defensiveness strategies are used as part of an interactive communication process when people are asked to reflect on their own privilege. Defensiveness strategies, as described by Watt and colleagues in 2021 and 2023, are normal communicative reactions to protect one’s self-identity from threatening information; the PIE models eight such strategies. RHD information invokes racial privilege, therefore eliciting defensiveness. Using a thematic analysis of semi-structured qualitative interviews with White young adults from the Chicago (U.S.) area (N = 27), we identify defensiveness strategies relative to COVID-19 RHDs. Using the PIE as a lens to understand the data, we find some strategies lacking, some similar but differently nuanced, and identify a novel strategy among our participants, suggesting message tailoring opportunities. We describe implications for future research and practice.
Objectives Plastics in the environment have moved from an “eye-sore” to a public health threat. Hospitals are one of the biggest users of single-use plastics, and there is growing literature looking at not only plastics in the environment but health care’s overall contribution to its growth. Methods This study was a retrospective review at a 411-bed level II trauma hospital over 47 months pre and post the last wave of COVID-19 affecting this hospital. Deidentified data were gathered: daily census in the emergency department, hospital census, and corresponding number of admitted COVID-19 patients. Additionally, for the same time frame, personal protective equipment (PPE) supply purchases and gross tonnage of nonhazardous refuse were obtained. Results There was a large increase in PPE purchased without a significant change in gross tonnage of weight of trash. Conclusions PPE is incredibly important to protect health care workers. However, single-use plastic is not sustainable for the environment or public health. Understanding the full effect of the pandemic on hospital waste production is critically important as health care institutions focus on strategies to decrease their carbon footprint and increase positive impacts on public health and the environment.
The use of thermal-based crop water stress index (CWSI) has been studied in many crops in semi-arid regions and found as an effective method in detecting real-time crop water status of commercial fields remotely and non-destructively. However, to our knowledge, no previous studies have validated the usefulness of CWSI in a temperate crop like wild blueberries. Additionally, the temporal changes of the water status estimation model has not been well-studied. In this multi-year study, Unoccupied Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-borne thermal imageries were collected in 2019, 2020, and 2021 to test the temporal effects and the impact of different approach-based reference temperatures (Twet, wet reference temperature; Tdry, dry reference temperature) on leaf water potential (LWP) estimation models using CWSI in two large adjacent wild blueberry fields in Maine, United States. We found that different sampling dates have a significant impact on LWP estimation models using CWSISE (statistical Twet and empirical Tdry reference) and CWSISS (statistical Twet and statistical Tdry reference). Further, CWSIBB calculated with bio-indicator-based Twet and Tdry reference was found more effective (r² = 0.79) in estimating LWP in 2021, compared to the CWSISE and CWSISS approaches in 2019 (r² = 0.34 & r² = 0.36), 2020 (r² = 0.38 & r² = 0.44) and 2021 (r² = 0.43 & r² = 0.46). CWSIBB -LWP model-based crop water status maps show high variation in the crop water status of wild blueberries, even in an evenly irrigated field, suggesting the potential of UAV-borne thermal cameras to detect real-time crop water status within the field, with the CWSIBB calculated from bio-indicator-based references being more reliable. Our results could be used for precision irrigation to increase the overall water use efficiency and profitability of wild blueberry production.
This paper explores our experiences as scholars in higher education who collaborate as part of an informal collective supporting the Feminist Pedagogy for Teaching Online digital guide[1]. We, the authors, have diverse professional and educational backgrounds; our areas of research interest also vary significantly. However, we have a passion for humanizing online learning experiences and practically applying feminist pedagogical tenets to these interactions. The purpose of this paper is to explore, through a process of self-reflection, our experiences as scholars in higher education as part of an informal collective supporting the Feminist Pedagogy for Teaching Online digital guide. To share our experiences as editors of this digital guide, we included our individual stories using a collaborative autoethnography approach. In our stories, we specifically discussed our interest in joining this collective of feminist scholars, the evolving nature of our efforts in support of the digital guide, the success experienced, the challenges that we encountered, and the internal and external support we received throughout this journey. Ideally, through this critical reflection, we can aid other collectives who already engage, or are considering engaging, in similar scholarly communication endeavors.
Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) is an anthropogenic chemical found in aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) and many consumer products. Despite its environmental ubiquity and persistence, little is known about the effects of PFOS on stress levels in wild animals. Here, we examined PFOS bioaccumulation and correlations between PFOS exposure and oxidative stress in snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) downstream of Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, New York, a known source of AFFF contamination. Maximum concentrations of PFOS were extrapolated as 41.7 ppb and 498 ppb in water and turtle samples, respectively; in comparison, the proposed United States national advisory concentration of PFOS in drinking water is currently 0.00002 ppb. PFOS concentrations declined with distance downstream from the base and were lower in other local water bodies. Indices of oxidative stress were positively correlated with plasma PFOS concentrations in snapping turtles. These data illuminate the potential for bioaccumulation and increasing oxidative stress levels associated with PFOS contamination in a wild population of aquatic turtles.
Three-dimensional modelling, compared to other forms of museological and archival digitisation, presents unique risks and opportunities for Sami communities to assert ownership over their material cultural heritage housed in Sápmi and abroad. How can Sami values and community needs proactively shape the development of novel technological applications? Challenging dominant colonial frameworks for the arrangement and production of knowledge, local concepts, and forms of possession can be implemented in emergent technological domains on the ground floor. Reviewing three-dimensional projects across Sápmi and focusing on the work of the Sámiid Vuorká-Dávvirat (The Sámi Museum in Karasjok) and RiddoDuottarMuseat consortium, this exploratory chapter discusses the Indigenous theoretical foundations, current uses, and anticipated futures for three-dimensional technologies in Sápmi. Grounding our theory in practice, we demonstrate how the Sami concepts that underpin three-dimensional programmes may be used to build connections between descendent communities and museum collections, draw attention to the absence of cultural heritage, and contribute to collective remembering and international relationship building.
As is well known, pore structure has a significant impact on the storage and transport behavior of electrolyte ions. Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), a green biomass material, not only have good processability and flexibility, but can also be used to design and construct membrane materials with rich pore structures. It has broad application prospects in the field of flexible energy storage and has received widespread attention from researchers. However, there is still limited research on the precise design and regulation of pore structures in CNF-based composites with different pore structures, as well as their impact mechanisms on electrolyte ion storage and transport behavior. In this study, five different hierarchical structures were set up based on CNF-loaded reduced graphene oxide (CNF@RGO) composite films that were fabricated by using different lengths of CNFs as the substrate by sequential alternating filtration method. Furthermore, COMSOL Multiphysics was used for simulation and prediction to study the influence of different pore structures on their capacitance. Finally, further verification will be conducted through experiments. The simulation and experimental results show that when the internal pore structure is distributed in the order of large, small, and large pore sizes from the outside to the inside, the CNF@RGO composite material can obtain a larger area specific capacitance of 29.7 Mf cm⁻² and a higher energy density of 14.8 mWh cm⁻². As a whole, this research provides a reference direction for designing and constructing electrode materials with different pore structure combinations in the future to improve the energy storage performance of energy storage devices or electrode materials.
We explore how middle-grade mathematics teachers’ review of students’ assigned math practice and instruction change when they are supported by an online platform that provides immediate feedback for students and summarizes performance data for teachers. This paper presents findings from qualitative interviews and observations conducted in a randomized experimental study of ASSISTments involving 85 mathematics teachers and 2850 students in seventh-grade classrooms from 43 middle schools in Maine. Teachers using the learning analytics data on students’ online assignments provided by ASSISTments shifted from randomly or comprehensively reviewing all the assigned practice problems to purposefully selecting problems and targeting math concepts and skills that most challenged students. These teachers reviewed fewer problems and classroom discussion included formative feedback and in-depth discussion of students’ common errors, compared with teachers in the control condition who reviewed assigned problems in a more general and superficial way. The study deepens our understanding of teachers’ math assignment review practices and contributes to the literature on formative feedback to students and learning analytics data. The findings provide strong evidence for the use of online learning platforms that provide user-friendly data analytics, when supported by high-quality professional development, to inform more timely and targeted instructional decisions and adaptations for improved student learning.
Environmental DNA (eDNA) has the potential to play an important role in surveys for rare and endangered aquatic species. eDNA sampling is non-invasive, and for small cryptic species that are difficult to survey, it may offer a viable, more efficient, and less expensive alternative than traditional techniques. We used eDNA for surveying 5 endangered spring-endemic species at Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Chaves County, New Mexico, USA. Water samples (n = 40) in spring systems were evaluated in July 2018 for presence of residual DNA for Gambusia nobilis, Gammarus desperatus, Juturnia kosteri, Pyrgulopsis roswellensis, and Assiminea pecos. We detected eDNA at 50% of sites for G. nobilis, 42.5% of sites for J. kosteri, 27.5% of sites for P. roswellensis, 20% of sites for G. desperatus and did not detect A. pecos eDNA at any of the sites. We also examined the habitat conditions that drive patterns in occupancy for these endangered species and developed thresholds for habitat parameters to inform conservation decisions. Salinity and dissolved oxygen influenced sample occupancy for G. desperatus, P. roswellensis, and J. kosteri, but only dissolved oxygen influenced sample occupancy for G. nobilis. Results highlighted the efficacy of using eDNA to monitor 4 of the 5 spring-endemic species and provided insight to the habitat preferences for each species, which will help drive conservation activities.
Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable cancer of plasma cells with a 5‐year survival rate of 59%. Dysregulation of fatty acid (FA) metabolism is associated with MM development and progression; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, we explore the roles of long‐chain fatty acid coenzyme A ligase (ACSL) family members in MM. ACSLs convert free long‐chain fatty acids into fatty acyl‐CoA esters and play key roles in catabolic and anabolic fatty acid metabolism. Analysis of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) CoMMpassSM study showed that high ACSL1 and ACSL4 expression in myeloma cells are both associated with worse clinical outcomes for MM patients. Cancer Dependency Map (DepMap) data showed that all five ACSLs have negative Chronos scores, and ACSL3 and ACSL4 were among the top 25% Hallmark Fatty Acid Metabolism genes that support myeloma cell line fitness. Inhibition of ACSLs in myeloma cell lines in vitro, using the pharmacological inhibitor Triacsin C (TriC), increased apoptosis, decreased proliferation, and decreased cell viability, in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner. RNA‐sequencing analysis of MM.1S cells treated with TriC showed a significant enrichment in apoptosis, ferroptosis, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and proteomic analysis of these cells revealed enriched pathways for mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative phosphorylation. TriC also rewired mitochondrial metabolism by decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential, increasing mitochondrial superoxide levels, decreasing mitochondrial ATP production rates, and impairing cellular respiration. Overall, our data support the hypothesis that suppression of ACSLs in myeloma cells is a novel metabolic target in MM that inhibits their viability, implicating this family as a promising therapeutic target in treating myeloma.
Gut microbiota and their metabolites profoundly impact host physiology. Targeted modulation of gut microbiota has been a long‐term interest in the scientific community. Numerous studies have investigated the feasibility of utilizing dietary fibers (DFs) to modulate gut microbiota and promote the production of health‐beneficial bacterial metabolites. However, the complexity of fiber structures, microbiota composition, and their dynamic interactions have hindered the precise prediction of the impact of DF on the gut microbiome. We address this issue with a new perspective, focusing on the inherent chemical and structural complexity of DFs and their interaction with gut microbiota. The chemical and structural complexity of fibers was thoroughly elaborated, encompassing the fibers’ molecular composition, polymorphism, mesoscopic structures, porosity, and particle size. Advanced characterization techniques to investigate fiber structural properties were discussed. Additionally, we examined the interactions between DFs and gut microbiota. Finally, we summarized processing techniques to modify fiber structures for improving the fermentability of DF by gut microbiota. The structure of fibers, such as their crystallinity, porosity, degree of branching, and pore wettability, significantly impacts their interactions with gut microbiota. These structural differences also substantially affect fiber's fermentability and capability to modulate the composition of gut microbiota. Conventional approaches are not capable of investigating complex fiber properties and their influences on the gut microbiome; therefore, it is of the essence to involve advanced material characterization techniques and artificial intelligence to unveil more comprehensive information on this topic.
The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) provides over 180 distinct data products from 81 sites (47 terrestrial and 34 freshwater aquatic sites) within the United States and Puerto Rico. These data products include both field and remote sensing data collected using standardized protocols and sampling schema, with centralized quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) provided by NEON staff. Such breadth of data creates opportunities for the research community to extend basic and applied research while also extending the impact and reach of NEON data through the creation of derived data products—higher level data products derived by the user community from NEON data. Derived data products are curated, documented, reproducibly‐generated datasets created by applying various processing steps to one or more lower level data products—including interpolation, extrapolation, integration, statistical analysis, modeling, or transformations. Derived data products directly benefit the research community and increase the impact of NEON data by broadening the size and diversity of the user base, decreasing the time and effort needed for working with NEON data, providing primary research foci through the development via the derivation process, and helping users address multidisciplinary questions. Creating derived data products also promotes personal career advancement to those involved through publications, citations, and future grant proposals. However, the creation of derived data products is a nontrivial task. Here we provide an overview of the process of creating derived data products while outlining the advantages, challenges, and major considerations.
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4,194 members
Elena Korotkikh
  • Institute of Climate Change
Yong-jiang Zhang
  • School of Biology and Ecology
Ivan J Fernandez
  • School of Forest Resources and Climate Change Insitute
Renae Moran
  • School of Food and Agriculture
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Orono, United States