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Digital Marketing for Microenterprises: Educating Microenterprises to Develop Better Digital Marketing Strategies
No full textEven though about 92% of U.S. businesses are microenterprises, microenterprise owners and employees face harsh resource restrictions that impact how they approach digital marketing (The Association for Enterprise Opportunity et al., 2013). Faced with limited human and financial capital, microenterprise owners lack targeted, informative digital marketing resources that can help them grow their businesses without requiring expensive campaigns and a large marketing team. This thesis examines strategies for enhancing microenterprises’ digital marketing in today’s digital landscape and provides specialized resources tailored to assist microenterprises in developing and implementing their own digital marketing strategies. To determine the most impactful digital marketing strategies and concepts for microenterprises, this thesis integrated investigations into the needs, behaviors, and preferences of microenterprises with an evaluation of digital tools such as website builders. The thorough exploration of microenterprises’ current and potential use of digital marketing culminated in the creation of several educational marketing guides and templates for microenterprises to utilize in building stronger brands, creating better marketing strategies, and developing powerful online presences. These materials can be accessed through a dedicated digital marketing resources hub website found at https://miagraci.wixsite.com/honors-thesis. These resources aim to alleviate some of the challenges of microenterprise owners and staff in creating effective digital marketing strategies within today’s continuously changing and evolving digital environment. Disclaimer: This thesis and the accompanying materials have been created in good faith to inform microenterprise owners about digital marketing. The information provided does not constitute legal, financial, or professional business advice. There is no guarantee of any specific business outcome, profit, or success from the use of this information. Consult with legal professionals for specific guidance on relevant information for your specific industry, business, and jurisdiction. Mia Graci, the University of Maine, and the people named in this paper are not liable for your use or reliance on this thesis
Forest Stand Dynamics and Disturbances
No full textForest stand dynamics is the study of changes in stand structure over time and the behavioral responses of forests to disturbances. These natural trajectories are shaped by disturbance regimes, defined by parameters like frequency and return intervals, which range from infrequent stand-replacing events to frequent small-scale gaps. Following a major disturbance, stands typically progress through four developmental stages: initiation, where new recruitment occurs; stem exclusion, where the overstory prevents new growth; understory reinitiation, where crown abrasion creates space for shade-tolerant species; and old growth, where recruitment is continuous in canopy gaps. Throughout these stages, competitive interactions lead to differentiation in monocultures, forming distinct crown classes—dominant, codominant, intermediate, and overtopped—based on light access. In mixed-species stands, this process is known as stratification, resulting in vertical strata (A, B, and C) that reflect varying shade tolerances and growth potentials.
These structural changes are regulated by biological principles such as self-thinning, which follows a predictable -3/2 power law relating tree size to density, and light extinction, which triggers crown recession as lower branches die from shading. Mastery of these dynamics allows practitioners to apply targeted interventions, such as crown thinnings to enhance vigor or shelterwood sequences for regeneration, ensuring management aligns with ecological constraints and long-term goals
Characterization of Blood-Borne Pathogens and Their Effects on Antler Growth in Maine Moose (Alces alces)
Get PDFMoose (Alces alces) serve a variety of cultural, economic, and ecological roles. In the Northeastern United States, however, moose populations are threatened by several parasite infections. Winter ticks (Dermacentor albipictus) have been directly associated with moose calf mortality over the past decade, causing anemia and impacting the individual’s health. In addition, coinfection with bloodborne parasites, such as Anaplasma spp. and Babesia spp., may decrease a calf’s chance of survival through the first winter. Infection status may also impact reproduction, for example, by causing abnormal development of key secondary sexual characteristics such as antlers. Babesia spp. have been identified in moose in Canada and other regions, but the parasite’s prevalence, distribution, genetic diversity, and transmission dynamics have not yet been investigated in the Northeastern U.S. The objectives of this study are (1) to determine which species of Babesia is infecting moose in the state of Maine and estimate the infection prevalence, (2) to determine if winter ticks (Dermacentor albipictus) are a potential vector of B. odocoilei, and (3) evaluate whether secondary sexual characteristics, like antler spread and points, are impacted by blood-borne parasites (Anaplasma spp.). I estimated the prevalence of Babesia spp. in both hunter harvested (n = 347) and live captured moose calves (n = 306) using samples collected in 2021-2024, finding an estimated prevalence of 2.6% in the hunter harvested moose and 5.9% in the live captured calves. I identified Babesia odocoilei as the sole Babesia spp. present within moose across the state of Maine. I did not find any winter ticks to be positive with Babesia spp. from the paired samples (n = 271 ticks from 92 moose), suggesting they may not play a role in Babesia transmission. I found that moose with Anaplasma infections tended to have shorter antler spread and less antler points than moose without the infection (n = 172). This study demonstrates the importance of Babesia spp. in Maine moose, highlights future directions for studies on babesiosis in cervids, and illustrates that traits important for reproduction may be impacted by blood-borne pathogens
Developing a Model for Elastase Downregulation in GMPPB Associated Muscular Dystrophy
No full textMuscle is necessary movement, breathing, efficient blood and lymph circulation, protection of internal organs, and homeostasis. In patients with muscle disease, these functions are negatively affected leading to a decrease in quality of life and shorter lifespan. Limb girdle muscular dystrophy, which can be caused by a mutation in the gmppb gene, is associated with proximal limb weakness, cardiac and respiratory conditions, and hypotonia. There is no cure for limb girdle muscular dystrophy, however understanding the protein dynamics in the disease could lead to therapeutic targets. A high-throughput gene expression study by the Henry Lab revealed that serine proteases are downregulated in a zebrafish model of gmppb associated muscular dystrophy. One downregulated serine protease, ela2l, is orthologous to human chymotrypsin c which has functions in muscle repair as well as muscle wasting. To determine the relationship between ela2l down regulation and phenotypic presentation of the gmppb mutation, I attempted to create a new model for muscular dystrophy by knocking out the ela2l gene in zebrafish. I successfully created a model with mosaic integration of two mutations in ela2l, however one mutation was in-frame which leaves the possibility for effective protein formation
Natural Regeneration of Acadian Spruce-fir Forests
Get PDFThe ecology and silviculture of natural regeneration for spruce-fir forests is reviewed. Successful natural regeneration depends on having well established advance regeneration prior to any large-scale canopy removal. Extended shelterwood or selection methods are the only feasible alternatives; true clearcutting and seed tree that rely on establishment following major disturbances in open environment are not dependable and usually fail. Favoring spruce over other species is challenging; success depends on giving spruce a head start. The 1980s budworm salvage legacy of poor regeneration outcomes is described and explained relative to the vastly different outcomes when the old-growth spruce-fir forest was first exploited 1860-1920
MF147 Nursing Collection
Get PDFA series of interviews recorded by students in the nursing program at UMaine for classes taught by Elizabeth Clark on the history of nursing.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/ne_findingaids/1118/thumbnail.jp
Community message about the passing of a UMaine employee
Get PDFThe University of Maine community extends its deepest sympathy to the family, colleagues and friends of Kurt Francis, who passed away unexpectedly on February 13, 2025. He was 56
Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Search Launched
Get PDFWe have launched the search for our next Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost (EVPAA). The EVPAA and Provost serves on the president’s executive leadership team and plays a vital role as the leader of the academic enterprise for the University of Maine and University of Maine at Machias. We are seeking an innovative, accomplished, and visionary leader who possesses the credentials and experience to serve in this integral role at a land, sea, and space grant, R1 university, and someone who will be able to assist with strategic re-envisioning implementations
