Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Patterns Of Dorm Energy Use And Potential Opportunities For Dorm Energy Conservation At Colby College, Sarah Kelly

Honors Theses

This thesis research began in the fall; around the same time President Adams predicted that the school would pay one million dollars more than budgeted this academic year on energy due to the rising energy prices (Adams, pers. comm.). Students, their families, and the college would bear this monetary burden. Solutions that lower energy costs would benefit many different parties. Dorms use a large amount of energy. Unlike many energy demands on campus that are relatively constant, dorm rooms are flexible in their energy use because students can change their energy use patterns. Many areas of energy waste characterize dorm …

Environmental Awareness Of Waterville Junior High School Students, Jenna Morrison

Honors Theses

An environmental awareness survey was designed to assess the influences of gender and grade level on the relationships among outdoor experience, environmental knowledge, and environmental behavior at Waterville Junior High School, Waterville, ME. Environmental awareness indicates a fundamental understanding of the natural world, which is essential for developing future sustainable development. The foundation and acquisition of environmental knowledge of Waterville Junior High School students was determined using the multiple-choice survey. A total of 125 sixth graders and 136 eighth graders were surveyed. 61% of sixth graders and 73% of eighth graders indicated that their most common source of environmental information …

Characterization Of The Wheat Grain Pkaba1-Interacting Protein Tawd40, Natalie Wayne

Honors Theses

Abscisic acid (ABA)-mediated gene expression is a critical component of plant responses to this important hormone, which affects plant growth, development, and responses to environmental stresses. Plant responses to ABA are mediated by a number of factors including PKABA 1> an ABA-induced protein kinase involved in ABA-suppressed gene expression in cereal grains, and TaWD40, which has previously been shown to physically interact with PKABA1. A full-length 1.9 kb TaWD40 cDNA, CK210682, was sequenced as part of this project. Based on the deduced protein sequence, it is thought that TaWD40 may belong to the family of E3 ubiquitin ligases, possibly targeting …

Change Bell Ringing And Mathematics: A High School Student Excursion Into Graph Theory And Group Theory, Kristi Carlson

Honors Theses

This unit was created as a way to introduce higher level mathematics concepts to advanced high school students. All five of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Process Standards are found in this unit. For most of the unit, students work within small groups

Measuring The Expression Of Hypovirulence In A Segregating Population Of Bc2f2 Castanea Dentata Hybrids, Lisa Michelle Worthen

Honors Theses

The American chestnut tree (Castanea dentata) was reduced from an important canopy hardwood to an understory shrub by the chestnut blight fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica). Hypovirulence, a phenomenon whereby Cryphonectria parasitica is weakened in its ability to incite chestnut blight, is caused by doublestranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules of viral origin in the cytoplasm of the fungus.Hypovirulence serves as a biological control of C. parasitica in Europe and small, isolated areas in North America, but has not been an effective, widespread biological control in North America. It has been hypothesized that the moderately higher levels of host resistance of the European chestnut …

The Effects Of Water On The Physical Properties Of Silica Aerogels, Shira G. Mandel

Honors Theses

The research found in this report focuses on varying the amount of water used in the fabrication of silica aerogels and characterizing the effect this has on their physical properties, such as density, thermal conductivity and transmittance. So far, the aerogels made with the "original" recipe have produced average density of 0.09 g/cm3 and thermal conductivity of 0.04 W/mK; these properties are not significantly altered as the amount of water used is increased or decreased. However, there is an observable trend in transmittance; as more water is added to the "standard" recipe, the resulting monoliths become more transparent and less …

The Design, Synthesis And Analysis Of High-Affinity Peptide-Peptoid Hybrid Ligands That Bind Evh1 Domains & The Synthesis Of 1-Substituted M-Terphenyls That Seve As N^C^C And O^C^C Ligands For Use In Cyclometallated Platinum Complexes, Eric J. Dimise

Honors Theses

Protein-ligand interactions are often at the center of cellular regulatory processes. The Enabled/ vasodilator Stimulated Phosphoprotein Homology 1 (EVH1) domain of the Enabled/ Vasodilator Stimulated Phosphoprotein (Ena/VASP) protein family has been linked to the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton through multiple protein-protein interactions via the recognition of polyproline amino acid sequences. Here, we examine the structural and physicochemical features of the EVH1 domain in an effort to design high affinity peptide-peptoid hybrid ligands that compete with EVH1's natural binding partners. & The unique photophysical properties of aryl, tridentate complexes of platinum have recently led to a surge in ligand design …

Inclusion Of Customized Quantum Dots Into Laponite Based Nanocomposites, Jennifer Rae Eliseo

Honors Theses

Quantum dot (QD) semiconductor nanocrystals offer unique electronic, magnetic, and optical properties, that can be used in advanced materials applications including optoelectronics, catalysis, sensing, and quantum computing. Tailoring of quantum dot surface coatings allows for control of self-assembly and facile inclusion into various host matrices. Querner and colleges have provided a novel synthetic route to graft aniline tetramer units onto quantum dots via a disulfide bridge. A key goal of our work has been the optimization of this synthesis for inclusion of functionalized QDs within Laponite/polyaniline nanoscaffolds. Uv/visible and fluorescence spectroscopy were used to study frequency resonance energy transfer within …

Guest-Host Chemistry Of P-Sulfonatocalix[6]Arene And Nizatidine, Galia Debelouchina

Honors Theses

This work investigates the guest-host chemistry in water of p-sulfonatocalix[6]arene and a number of guests related to the amino acids arginine and lysine. Two questions are particularly important: what are the interactions that drive guest-host binding and what is the role of the solvent. The answers to these questions are investigated with isothermal titration calorimetry (lTC), which gives K, ?H, and ?S, and pressure perturbation calorimetry (PPC), which allows the calculation of the thermal coefficient of expansion ? and relating it to a molecule's structure-breaking or structure-making properties. The ITC data suggests that hydrogen bonding and charge-charge interactions are the …

On The Nature Of Connectivity Types, Miao Xu

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Dynamical Systems And The Logistic And Tent Maps, Kathleen Larkin Spires

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Ensight, Jonathan Hefner

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

The Synthesis Of Biomimetic Tungsten And Molybdenum Complexes, John Sterling Cole Iii

Honors Theses

The synthesis of novel biomimetic molybdenum and tungsten compounds that are potential model complexes for molybdenum and tungsten oxidase enzymes is being pursued. Model complexes such as these provide a better understanding of the basic chemistry of a metal center in an environment similar to that found in particular enzyme active sites. This understanding provides a good starting point for biologists or biochemists studying those biological systems. The first target complex will incorporate a tetradentate-S4 ligand (L) that features two biphenyl-S2 fragments joined by a propyl linker. The second target complex will incorporate a bidentate ligand (L') with a singly …

Relative Difference Sets In 2-Groups : A Group Cohomological Viewpoint, Brian Wyman

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Ecological Niching In An Interactive Simulation, Ryan T. Webb

Honors Theses

Our goal is to create a simulation platform for the study of ecological niching that can be extended to suit the needs of biological research. Ecological niching and the accompanying evolutionary process of speciation are difficult to observe in situ, which makes them prime candidates for study via the methods of computer simulation. To this end, we have created an interactive, real-time ecosystem simulation based on the standard predator/prey interaction model, in which interacting populations of organisms exhibit swarming behavior. We hope to provide the basic simulation components necessary to bring about niching and speciation, that may be extended for …

An Investigation Of Modified Superconductivity Through Structural Alteration Of Mgcni3 And Mgb2, Nathan L. Henderson

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Two Views Of The Projective Plane, Rebecca J. Thomas

Honors Theses

The projective plane is a mathematical object which can be defined in two ways. In the following paper, I will explain the two definitions and show how they are equivalent by establishing a homeomorphism between the two objects.

Role Of Private Owners In The Conservation Of Exotic Species, Jessica L. Beetz

Honors Theses

This study examines the private ownership of exotic species, a topic very relevant to conservation that has long been ignored in the public sphere of policy and discussion. The private ownership of exotic species is a multifaceted issue that affects not only conservation, but also the domestic industry, world trade and education. The volume of trade in live animals is remarkably high and growing, making studies that investigate the implications of this trade on the endangered and threatened species even more pressing. This thesis investigates whether or not animal species held in captivity by private owners benefit conservation of their …

Investigation Of Iron (Iii) Desferrioxamine B Oxalate Ligand Exchange By Uv-Vis Spectroscopy: The Next Step In Developing A Quantitative Analytical Method For Measuring Bioavailable Iron In Marine Ecosystems, Ken L. Pitter

Honors Theses

To date there are no analytical techniques designed to exclusively measure bioavailable iron in marine environments. The goal of this research is to develop such a technique by isolating the bioavailable iron using the terrestrial siderophore desferrioxamine B (DFB). This project contained many challenging aspects, but the specific goal of this study was to develop a robust analytical technique for quantification of Fe(III)-DFB complexes at nanomolar concentrations. Past work showed that oxalate (Ox) promotes photodissociation of Fe(III)-DFB to Fe(Il), and we are specifically interested in the mechanism of this process. A model was developed using known thermodynamic constants for Fe(III)-DFB …

Jess – A Java Security Scanner For Eclipse, Russell Spitler

Honors Theses

Secure software is the responsibility of every developer. In order to help a developer with this responsibility there are many automated source code security auditors. These tools perform a variety of functions, from finding calls to insecure functions to poorly generated random numbers. These programs have existed for years and perform the security audit with varying degrees of success.

Largely missing in the world of programming is such a security auditor for the Java programming language. Currently, Fortify Software produces the only Java source code security auditor; this is a commercially available package.

This void is what inspired JeSS, Java …

An Analysis Of The Effect Of Carbon Dioxide On The Decay Rates Of Superoxide, Michael Jay Walsh

Honors Theses

The radical dioxygen anion, superoxide has been shown to react with carbon dioxide in nonprotic and aqueous systems. Indirect evidence suggests that superoxide also reacts with carbon dioxide and carbonate species dissolved in water. This study involved conducting experiments to determine the decay rate of superoxide in the presence of carbon dioxide and carbonate species. Experiments were conducted by sparging an alkaline bicarbonate buffer with carbon dioxide and measuring the decay rate of superoxide added to the solution. Although the specific reaction mechanism and rates have not been determined first order superoxide decay rates as high as 3.8x10-2s-1 were obtained …

The Synthesis And Characterization Of Bicyclooxacalixarenes, Kevin J. Selby

Honors Theses

Bicyclooxacalixarenes were synthesized in high yield via a selective, room temperature Sn Ar reaction of phluoroglucinol with 2,6-dichloropyridines. Functionality on the 2,6-dichloropyridioe was varied by changing the electron-withdrawing groups in the 3 and 5 positions (using chlorine, nitro groups, and cyano groups) and the side-chains in the 4-position (using ethyl, butyl, phenyl and ρ-tolyl groups). The resulting cage-like molecules were studied by X-ray crystallography and tested for metal complexation.

Analytical Tools For Studying Phosphorus And Nitrogen Lake Nutrient Dynamics And Their Application To The Field, Ivan Mihajlov

Honors Theses

In order to evaluate the causes and conditions that lead to cyanobacteria blooms in northern temperate lakes, studies of nutrients such as total phosphorus, total nitrogen, phosphate, and nitrate are necessary. Sensitive, environmentally friendly and cost-effective techniques were developed to detect ppb-level nitrates and phosphates in the lake water. Phosphate was analyzed by luminol chemiluminescence, while the quantification of nitrate was performed by capillary electrophoresis (CE) using indirect UV detection, with a background electrolyte consisting of pyromellitic acid, hexamethonium hydroxide and triethanolamine. Sample injection methods for the CE were optimized for the analysis in Belgrade Lakes, Maine. Vertical profiles of …

The Forest Service's Quest For Power And Money: Implications Of A Budget-Maximizing Agency, Allison M. Stewart

Honors Theses

The Forest Service manages land for a diverse array of purposes under the Multiple Use Doctrine. Many of these uses are incompatible and lead to conflict The goal of my research is to explain what guides the Forest Service's management decisions, since this is critical to understanding how conflicts are resolved, .and uncover alternative approaches that better protect the environment.

In this paper, I present a brief history of the Forest Service's management over the past century. Particular attention is given to explaining trends in timber and recreation management. Following the historical presentation, I attempt to identify a set of …

Photochemical Generation Of 2-Methoxy-2methylpropylidene And Its Rearrangement Pathways, Stanislav Presolski

Honors Theses

2-methoxy-2-methylpropylidene was photochemically generated from a non-nitrogenous precursor, 1a,9b-Dihydro-IH-cyclopropa[1]phenanthrene-l-etbane 2-methoxy-2-methyl, available in two steps from phenanthrene. Two competing rearrangement pathways were observed for the p-methoxy carbene, 1,2-methyl shift and C-H insertion, which had varying weights depending on the solvent used. Nevertheless, the C-H insertion was always predominant, contrary to the current understanding of B-substituted carbenes, which apparently needs revision. An attempt was also made to measure by LFP the rate constant of rearrangement and lifetime of the stabilized l-chloro-2-methoxy-2-metbylpropylidene.

Identification Of A Putative Caspase Protein In S.Commune, Emma Ester Bendaña Flores

Honors Theses

Caspases are the proteins responsible for apoptosis in cells. Others have recently identified a caspase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a unicellular fungus.2, 3, 4 Isolation of a caspase protein from Schizophyllum commune will allow for the examination of a caspase in a simple multicellular organism.4 The S.cerevisiae caspase sequence was used to search the genomes of several fungi and identify similar sequences. Regions with high sequence identity in the aligned sequences were used to design degenerate PCR primers. The sequence of the resultant PCR product was then used to prepare primers for 3'RACE and determine the 3'end of the sequence. Through …

Binding Studies Of 2-Acetylnaphthalene With Native And Methylated Cyclodextrins Using Fluorescence Spectroscopy : The Use Of Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrophotometry To Analyze Organic Contaminants In Local Waters, Amy L. Payeur

Honors Theses

The main goal of this work: was to explore complexes formed between 2-acetylnaphthalene (2-AN) and unsubstituted α, β, and y-cyclodextrins as well as 2-An and methylated α, β and y-cyclodextrins. The substituted cyclodextrins used were trimethyl-α-cyclodextrin (TM-α-CD), trimethyl-β-cyclodextrin (TM-β-CD), trimethyl-y-cyclodextrin (TM-y-CD), and dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin (DM-β-CD). For the trimethylated cyclodextrins, all three of the -OH groups on the cyclodextrin ring are replaced by -OCH3 groups. The dimethylated cycloextrin on the other hand only has 18 of the 21 -OH groups replaces by -OCH3 groups. Binding constants were determined for complexes using fluorescence quenching experiments at varying temperatures. Thermodynamic parameters of complex formation …

Factorization Of Polynomials And Real Analytic Function, Radoslaw L. Stefanski

Honors Theses

In this project, we address the question: When can a polynomial p(x, y) of two variables be factored as p(x, y) = f(x)g(y), where f and g are polynomials of one variable. We answer this question, using linear algebra, and create a Mathematica program which carries out this factorization. For example,

3+3x-5x^3+y+xy-5/3x^3y+y^2+xy^2-5/3x^3y^2 = (1+x-5/3x^3)(3+y+y^2)

We then generalize this concept and ask: When can p(x,y) can be written as

p(x,y) = f1(x)g2(y)+f2(x)g2(y)+...+fr(x)gr(y)

where fj,gj are polynomials. This can certainly be done (for large enough r). Which is the minimum such r? Again, we have a Mathematica program which carries out this …

Discovering The Potential For Advancements In Intrusion Detection Systems, Kenneth J. Buonforte

Honors Theses

An intrusion detection system (IDS) is a collection of monitors strategically placed on a network or individual host in order to detect anomalous behavior. Since James Anderson introduced one of the first frameworks for an intrusion detection system in [1]. researchers have extended the capabilities of these systems. IDSs take many forms, from systems as basic as command line audit logs to those that emulate the defense mechanisms of the human immune system. However, as intrusion detection has evolved, scientists and administrators alike are beginning to question the need for this technology due to its lack of quantifiable performance and …

The Effects Of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (Pcbs) On Nerve Growth Factor (Ngf) In The Developing Frog, Xenopus Laevis, Cari Delong

Honors Theses

Polychlorinated biphenyls are ubiquitous, persistent environmental contaminants that cause a variety of adverse health effects wildlife and humans. PCBs are the major contaminant in the Kalamazoo River Superfund Site, in which the Environmental Institute is funded to study. Projects at the Environmental Institute are focused on developing molecular biotechnology tools that will improve environmental risk assessment. Previous acute studies involved the exposure of developing tadpoles, Xenopus laevis to PCBs through aquarium water in order to measure gene expression. Nerve growth factor (NGF) gene expression showed changes in these previous studies. NGF is a neurotrophic factor that regulates the growth and …