NUE: NanoTechnology Education and Experiences in Maine (Nano-TEEM)

This Nanotechnology Undergraduate Education (NUE) in Engineering program entitled NUE: NanoTechnology Education and Experiences in Maine (Nano-TEEM), at the University of Maine, under the direction of Dr. Rosemary Smith, will result in a new, three-credit, undergraduate course, that introduces first-year engineering students at the University of Maine to the interdisciplinary concepts, applications, and implications of nanoscale science and engineering. The broader impacts of this project include improved student recruitment, retention, and future workforce preparation achieved through the intentional integration of research and education at the undergraduate level, interactions with Maine\u27s (in-service and pre-service) middle and high school teachers and students, the facilitation of new reearch and education collaborations among UMaine faculty with interests in nanoscale science and engineering, and the sharing of state-of-the-art instructional tools such as animations and hands-on, laboratory experience modules.The proposal for this award was received in response to the Nanotechnology Undergraduate Education (NUE) in Engineering Program Solicitation (NSF 07-554), and is being co-funded by the Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR), Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) and the Directorate for Engineering, Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber System (ECCS)

Biophotonics: Electrochemiluminescence at Microelectrodes During PCR Amplification of DNA

This project investigates a new technique for in situ quantification of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification products using electrochemiluminescence (ECL). The technique implements the highly sensitive, ECL detection and quantification of tris(2,2\u27bipyridyl) ruthenium (II) labeled DNA. This method is expected to yield significant improvement in speed, cost and performance over existing quantitative PCR methods, by reducing the number and quantity of reagents, reducing the number of sample preparation steps, increasing sensitivity, and shortening analysis time

Habitat relationships and habitat variability of the wood warblers (Parulidae)

Based on 13 structural variables, the habitat structure of 16 species of wood warblers breeding in north-central Minnesota can be divided into three general habitat types: open country, shrub-forest edge, and mature forest. Reciprocal averaging ordination produced a gradient of habitat relationships from forest to open country species, the latter being somewhat distinct. Based on principal components analysis, most species had habitats with variable vegetation structure. These habitat characteristics are discussed in relation to competition theory.The habitat of the Black-throated Green Warbler (Dendroica virens) was examined at five sites in the north-central and northeastern United States. Principal components analysis of 13 habitat variables showed between site differences in canopy height, tree size, canopy cover, and percent of coniferous vegetation. Although some sites supported unique plant community-types, tree species composition was not related to differences in habitat structure. Instead, habitat differences were mostly attributable to differences in the structure of the vegetation.Habitat relationships of wood warblers (Parulidae) were examined for within-territory, within-region, and between region patterns. By examining nest-site versus song perch site vegetation structure, within-territory variation was identified. Circular samples of vegetation structure should be centered not only on song perch sites, but also on nest-sites or female foraging areas because song perch sites alone may over-estimate the tree component in the habitat of some species

NUE: Nano Science And Laboratory Experience (ScALE) at UMaine

This Nanotechnology Undergraduate Education (NUE) in Engineering program entitled, NUE: Nano Science And Laboratory Experience (ScALE) at UMaine , at the University of Maine, under the direction of Dr. Rosemary L. Smith, aims to introduce the basic concepts, applications, and implications of nanoscale science and engineering to all first-year engineering students at the University of Maine (UMaine). The proposed approach is to add nanoscience and nanoscale engineering content to the required \u27introduction to\u27 engineering courses offered by each engineering department. This content will be designed, developed and delivered as a \u27drop-in\u27 module, in collaboration with the instructors for each department\u27s course. This project further aims to enhance undergraduate education and training in nanoscale science and engineering by establishing a college-wide minor in Nanotechnology, developing an upper level course in nanoscience, and to broaden participation of 1st and 2nd year students from underrepresented groups in nanoscale research. The broader impacts of this project include improved student recruitment, retention, and future workforce preparation achieved through the intentional integration of research and education at the undergraduate level, professional development of Maine\u27s middle-school science teachers, the facilitation of new research and education collaborations among UMaine faculty with interests in nanoscale science and engineering, and the sharing of state-of-the-art instructional tools such as laboratory facilities and materials. Outreach activities will focus on increasing the interest of female students in engineering careers by developing mini-projects for high school students targeting nanotechnology applications to biomedicine and energy

Survival rates of band‐tailed pigeons estimated using passive integrated transponder tags

Obtaining survival estimates on the Interior population of band-tailed pigeons (Patagioenas fasciata) is challenging because they are trap shy, but the joint use of passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags and bands is a potential solution. We investigated the use of PIT tags to passively recapture band‐tailed pigeon at 3 locations in New Mexico, USA, to estimate survival. From 2013–2015, we captured, banded, and marked \u3e600 individual band‐tailed pigeons with PIT tags. To estimate annual survival rates, we used a Barker multi‐state joint live and dead encounters and resighting model. Survival models excluding transience had survival estimates across site, sex, and year of 0.86 (95% CI = 0.84–0.88) for after hatch year birds and 0.63 (95% CI = 0.48–0.76) for hatch year birds. These results are consistent with other survival estimates reported for the Interior population of band‐tailed pigeons using band return data and potentially provide an effective alternative method of monitoring survival of this population

Drivers of understory plant communities in Sierra Nevada mixed conifer forests with pyrodiversity

Background: Fire suppression in western North America increased and homogenized overstory cover in conifer forests, which likely affected understory plant communities. We sought to characterize understory plant communities and their drivers using plot-based observations from two contemporary reference sites in the Sierra Nevada, USA. These sites had long-established natural fire programs, which have resulted in restored natural fire regimes. In this study, we investigated how pyrodiversity—the diversity of fire size, severity, season, and frequency—and other environment factors influenced species composition and cover of forest understory plant communities. Results: Understory plant communities were influenced by a combination of environmental, plot-scale recent fire history, and plot-neighborhood pyrodiversity within 50 m. Canopy cover was inversely proportional to understory plant cover, Simpson’s diversity, and evenness. Species richness was strongly influenced by the interaction of plot-based fire experience and plot-neighborhood pyrodiversity within 50 m. Conclusions: Pyrodiversity appears to contribute both directly and indirectly to diverse understory plant communities in Sierra Nevada mixed conifer forests. The indirect influence is mediated through variability in tree canopy cover, which is partially related to variation in fire severity, while direct influence is an interaction between local and neighborhood fire activity

Biomolecule Detection \u3cem\u3evia\u3c/em\u3e Target Mediated Nanoparticle Aggregation and Dielectrophoretic Impedance Measurement

A new biosensing system is described that is based on the aggregation of nanoparticles by a target biological molecule and dielectrophoretic impedance measurement of these aggregates. The aggregation process was verified within a microchannel via fluorescence microscopy, demonstrating that this process can be used in a real time sensor application. Positive dielectrophoresis is employed to capture the nanoparticle aggregates at the edge of thin film electrodes, where their presence is detected either by optical imaging via fluorescence microscopy or by measuring the change in electrical impedance between adjacent electrodes. The electrical detection mechanism demonstrates the potential for this method as a micro total analysis system (mTAS)