Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Calcium Metabolismn In Volvox Carteri, Bridget Anne Neville

Honors Theses

Calcium metabolism is involved in many ways in the cellular activities of the colonial green alga, Volvox carteri. Various drugs that are known in other systems to cause specific changes in calcium metabolism, gave rise to various visible metabolic effects in this study. These effects provide evidence for calcium's role in Volvox growth and development and in its cytoskeleton. Another way that calcium exerts its effect on Volvox is by acting as a second messenger in a G-protein/inositol phosphate signal transduction pathway.

This study also supports the fact that cytoskeletal components are important for development in Volvox. Both microtubules and …

Irreducible K-To-1 Maps Onto Grids, Susan M. Parker

Honors Theses

In this paper we explore the existence of exactly k-to-1 continuous functions between graphs, and more specifically 2-to-1 continuous function between graphs that are irreducibly 2-to-1, meaning that no restriction of the function to a subgraph is 2-to-l. We show how to construct such functions in some general cases, and then more specifically onto rectangular grids. We have in mind an application to distributed networks and signal verification.

Nickel Catalyzed Cyclizations Of Alkynyl-Etones And Their Application To The Formal Synthesis Of Pentalenic Acid, Kevin Schlosser

Honors Theses

Pentalenic acid is a very important molecule because it is a biosynthetic intermediate of pentalenolactone, which has antibiotic effects on Grampositive/ negative bacteria and pathogenic fungi. These effects are due to its ability to inhibit glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase.1 However, the total synthesis of pentalenic acid is very lengthy.2 This project will begin the process of finding a more convenient route to pentalenic acid. Previously in this laboratory there have been experiments conducted in the cyclization of enones with nickel (0)3 It is hypothesized that this method can be used to shorten the preparation of pentalenic acid. As illustrated by the …

A Problem Set In Conditional Probability Using Martingales With A Derivation Of The Gambler’S Ruin Formula, Michael Everett Theriot Jr

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Automation And Analysis Of Thermometric Titrations, Russel P. Linneman Ii

Honors Theses

Over the past three years, I have been involved in the development and testing of an automated thermometric titration system for chemical research. There were three major phases in this process. The first phase consisted of modernizing the equipment and software. The second phase consisted of testing the software and equipment with a known chemical system. The third phase consisted of original research.

Determination Of Conditions For Oye In Which There Is No Ion Present In The Active Site, Melissa J. Morris

Honors Theses

Old Yellow Enzyme (OYE) has been the subject of extensive research since the early 1930's. However, the structure of OYE was not determined until 1994, and its physiological function still remains a mystery. Investigations into the function of OYE involve uncovering the details of protein-substrate interactions through the use of x-ray crystallography. OYE is known to oxidize NADPH, but attempts to crystallize the OYE-NADPH bound complex have been hampered by the presence of chloride in the active site of OYE. This competition prevents an accurate assessment of the structure of OYE bound to NADPH. This study will examine the possibility …

Inclusion Processes Of Cyclodextrins And Their Polymers: A Molecular Modeling Study, Stacey L. Fellows

Honors Theses

Cyclodextrins (COs) and cyclodextrin polymers (CDPs) are molecules capable ot creating host/guest complexes, where a host molecule allows another molecule, a guest, to bind to it without either molecule losing its molecular identity. CDs are hydrophilic t,, 11, contain a unique hydrophobic cavity that can attract organic guest molecules. CDP is a derivative of CD and consist of two or more CD units connected by chains of glyceryl linkages (-CHrCHOH-CH2-O-). CDPs are typically more hydrophilic- than the CD monomers making them more useful for applications. However, behavior of the CDP is not as well-cinderstood as that of the monomer. Computer …

Design And Application Of A Compact, Multipurpose, Laser-Based Spectrometer, Andrew M. Leach

Honors Theses

A compact laser-based spectrometer has been designed and characterized. This design of this instrument gives it the ability to collect absorbance, fluorescence, and scattering signals simultaneously. A diode laser is used as the excitation for this instrument. Several optical arrangements have been tested in order to allow for the best possible signal collection. Electronics have been designed and constructed in order to facilitate the simultaneous collection of signals. This instrument has been characterized using several dyes and scattering agents. Fluorescence limits of detection for Methylene Blue and Nile Blue A have been calculated at 2 ppb. The spectrometer has been …

Flow Injection Analysis With A Laser-Based Detector For On-Line Determination Of Sulfide, Glucose, And Ethanol, Manisha Tinani

Honors Theses

In this research a flow injection (FI) apparatus with a laser-based detector is characterized using three chemical systems and the results are compared to those obtained by other researchers using conventional instrumentation. Each chemical system involves Methylene Blue (MR), a common redox indicator. A 670-nm diode laser is used as the excitation source, and the resulting fluorescence is measured. In the first system, MB is formed as a product of the reaction of N,N-dimethylphenylenediamine (DMPD), iron (lll) and sulfide in the presence of acid. A three-line FI manifold is employed. The amount of sulfide in water samples, including a complicated …

The Crystallization Of Estrogen-Binding Protein, Jeffrey R. Weinstein

Honors Theses

Candida albicans is a yeast that is known to target humans with weakened immune systems. The growth rate and invasiveness of C. albicans is stimulated in the presence of estrogens. Experimental evidence suggests that the estrogen-binding protein (EBP) from C. albicans may be involved in the estrogen-induced increase in growth rate. In order to investigate the possible involvement of EBP in this process, work is underway to determine the atomic structures of EBP alone and bound to estrogen. Protein crystals of EBP have been grown at 4°C in the presence and absence of estrogen using vapor diffusion techniques from a …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Β-Cyclodextrin Polymers, Jodie L. Iannacone

Honors Theses

Cyclodextrin polymers (CDPs) are water Joluble polymers composed of either a, fl, or y cyclodextrin (CDl monomers. TI,ese commercially available polymers are synthesized ming epichlorohydrin and consist of CD monomers joined by repeating glycer;l linkers (-(CH2-CHOH-CH2-ln) with an average n value of 12-15. GPC analysis of these polymers indicate two major component peaks that have molecular weights (MW) of 2,000 (one CD/ polymer chain) and 9-10,000 (4-5 CDs/polymer chain). These polymers have been used to study the binding interactions of various fluorescence probes. It has been shown that the pyrene fluorescence lifetime increases and its emission I/III ratio decreases in …

Introduction Of The Gas Chromatograph Into The Introductory Chemistry Laboratory, Jonathan Calvert Wedvik

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Flash Photochemical Kinetics Of Chromium Carbonyls, Jason David Katz

Honors Theses

Chromium hexacarbonyl, Cr(C0)6, has been shown to be a very effective photochemical catalyst for many reactions, such as the 1,4- hydrogenation and 1,4-hydrosilatlon of conjugated 1,3-dienes resulting in the formation of a cis alkene product in greater than a 99% percent yield. The catalytic power of Cr(CO)6 has merited its study by many investigators, mostly with regard to the structure of the catalytic intermediates, rather than the actual kinetics of individual steps in the mechanism. The goal of this study is to construct a database of both rate and mechanistic information on the reactions of Cr(CO)6 with various alkenes and …

Methods And Methodologies For Organic Synthesis, Frank Favaloro

Honors Theses

Methods and methodologies for organic synthesis

Ideals Of The Lipschitz Class, Konstantin G. Kulev

Honors Theses

In this paper, a classification of the closed ideals of the Little Oh Lipschitz class of functions on the interval [0,1] is provided. The technique used to classify the ideals of the class of continuous functions is modified and applied to the Little Oh Lipschitz class. It is shown that every ideal of these two classes has the form I = {f : flE = 0} for some closed set E C [0, 1]. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the same technique cannot be successfully applied to the classification of the closed ideals of the Big Oh Lipschitz class.

Communication Games, Kimberly I. Noonan

Honors Theses

A communication game combines traditional n-person game theory with graph theory. The result is a model of a bargaining situation where communication is restricted. The game's multilinear extension (MLE), a polynomial that summarizes the solutions of the game, is well known for the case where the graph is a tree or simple cycle. This paper simplifies the computation of MLE of the communication game in the case when the graph is a series of simple cycles. The results are then applied to studying the power of each Canadian province in passing an amendment to the constitution, taking geographic location into …

Banach Spaces Of Analytic Functions, Michael T. Nimchek

Honors Theses

In this paper, we explore certain Banach spaces of analytic functions. In particular, we study the space A-1, demonstrating some of its basic properties including non-separability. We ask the question: given a class C of analytic functions on the unit disk D and a sequence [Zn] = 0 for all n? Finally, we explore Mz invariant subspaces of A-1, demonstrating that they may possess the codimension-2 property.

The Use Of Non-Commutative Algebra In Cryptographically Secure Pseudo-Random Number Generators, Brian M. Mckeever

Honors Theses

This thesis begins with a general overview of pseudo-random number generators and some of their applications. This thesis then describes their applications to cryptography, and some additional requirements imposed by cryptography. This thesis then provides an introduction to the ring of quaternions, and discusses how they can be included in pseudo-random number generators. Finally, this thesis provides a description of the performance of these generators.

The Effects Of Free Fatty Acids And Tocopherol On Membrane Order And Antioxidant Activity, Gina Michelle Pineda

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Remote Marine Aerosol In The Gulf Of Maine: An Sem Study, Eric S. Gordon

Honors Theses

Eight aerosol samples were collected from a height of 34 meters atop Petit Manan Light located 16 miles East of Bar Harbor, Maine between July 25, 1995 and August 1, 1995. Both coarse and fine fractions were collected on 8.0 and 0.2 micron polycarbonate membrane filters, respectively. The sampling station consisted of a sampling box as well as a weather station (with various instruments) to record weather data for help in the analysis. The samples were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. Cluster analysis was perforned on the particles, grouping particles together with similar chemical …

Determination Of Wavelength Dependent Quantum Yields For Iron (Iii) Photoreduction In Well Defined Chloride Media, J. Catherine Kneece

Honors Theses

The quantum yields for iron (lII) photoreduction in sodium chloride and sodium perchlorate media were measured as a function of wavelength. The experiments were conducted using natural levels of total iron, less than 300 nM. The results indicate that three species are photochemically active in these media, Fe(OH)+2, FeCl2+and FeCl2+. The quantum yields for (OH)+2 are 0.22 at 300 run and 0.076 at 340 nm. The quantum yields for FeCl+ are 0.048 at 300 run and 0.038 at 340 nm. The quantum yields for FeCl2+ are 0.088 at 300 nm and 0.051 at 340 nm. The data presented suggests that …

Alternatives To Nitroprusside As Hypotensive Agents, Timothy Casey Mccullough

Honors Theses

The drug sodium pentacyanonitrosylferrate(2-)dihydrate, more commonly known as nitroprusside or nipride (Fig. 1), is a common vasodilating agent given clinically to patients with hypertension.12.22 Nitroprusside is effective in emergency rooms as it quickly reduces high blood pressure, but dosages are limited because of fear that cyanide could be released also. Nitroprusside is effective because the vasodilating agent nitric oxide, NO, is released. Nitric oxide is also recognized as an important biochemical messenger molecule.22 Our research involves a search for different species that could introduce nitric oxide into the body without cyanide. Transition metal complexes involving ruthenium, iron, and cobalt that …

A Computational And Experimental Investigation Of The Pinacol Coupling And Rearrangement Reactions, Ryan Sullivan

Honors Theses

This project was developed from previous reports concerned with the pinacol coupling and rearrangement methodologies. It is hoped that the results and conclusions of this study may provide someone in the future a chance to gain a more complete view of this material. Analysis of the pinacol coupling reaction shows that the yields of the pinacol products are not statistical for the asymmetric cycloalkanone systems. Also, the yields of the 5-7 and 6-7 systems plotted versus ab initio gas phase calculations of HOMG-LUMO gaps showed r values at or near 1.00. This correlation is excellent and offers an example of …

The Petrology Of The Precambrian Roof Pendants Thompson Peak, Sawtooth Mountains, Idaho, Susan Denise Anderson

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Combination Effects Of Irradiation And Chemical Doping On High Temperature Superconductors, Russell J. Fedewa

Honors Theses

The goal of this project is to investigate some methods that improve the critical transport current in high temperature superconductors. A superconductor is a material which can allow an electrical current to flow through it with no resistance. This makes them ideal for a wide variety of applications. Most of the present use is in science or medicine, and show promise in computer circuitry materials and electromagnetic trains. This experiment explores a means of increasing the critical current, the maximum amount of electric current that can pass, and which at present is too low to permit the use of superconductors …

Fluorescence Studies Of Cyclodextrin Polymers: A Study Of The Binding Of Various Fluorescence Probes To Cyclodextrin Polymers, Karen Ann Colwell

Honors Theses

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are cyclical oligosaccarides which exist as 6, 7, or 8 glucopyranose units joined by α-1,4 linkages, referred to as α, β, and γ CDs, respectively. Their structure resembles that of a truncated cone in which the interior cavity is hydrophobic while the exterior remains hydrophilic. This allows CDs to form inclusion complexes with nonpolar molecules in an aqueous environment. Polymerization of CDs (CDPs) has been carried out using epichlorohydrin which connects the CD cavities by an average of 12-15 repeating glyceryl linker units. The binding of various fluorescence probes to CD monomers has been studied. In particular, pyrene …

Influence Of Salt Bridge Formation On Helix Stability, Angelo Carmine Nicoletta

Honors Theses

One of the most common structural elements in proteins is the a-helix. The main goal of this study was to see If the helical properties of short peptide chains could be increased by the formation of salt bridges between side chains. It has been shown that i,i+4 peptides posses helic; I characier. The research that has been done was to make a hybrid peptide chain, that had partial i,i+4 and partial i,i+3 salt bridge formation. The hybrid peptide was a i+4, i+3, i+4 peptide chain. The overall purpose of making this type of hybrid peptide was to make the approximate …

Applications Of A Diode-Laser-Based Detector To On-Line Determinations Involving Methylene Blue, Michelle Ann Spaziani

Honors Theses

The application of an inexpensive diode-laser-based detector for flow injection analysis (FIA), and the on-line determination of sulfide using the "Methylene Blue (MB) Method" is presented. The detector is designed for simultaneous measurements of transmittance and fluorescence. A 670-nm diode laser is the excitation source; photodiodes serve as detector elements. The flow cell is constructed of a piece of square-cross-section quartz capillary tubing. The MB Method employs N, N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine (DMPD), iron III, and sodium sulfide reacting to form MB; a triple-line flow-injection manifold is used. Performed previously using conventional UV-Vis instrumentation, optimized conditions included one reagent dissolved in 9 M …

Studies Toward A Chiral, Charge Separated, Water Soluble Cyclophane, Danuta Trzebinska-Yager

Honors Theses

It has been suggested that the key issue in the structure-function correlation in enzyme catalysis is electrostatic stabilization of the ionic transition states. In order to mimic receptors in biological systems we designed a novel hydrophilic macrocycle, 10, with an electrostatic dipole across its hydrophobic cavity. The dipole moment would be established between a positively charged Fe(II)-terpyridyl complex on one end of the macrocycle and the two carboxylate substituents at the opposite end of the receptor. An experimental strategy based on a convergent synthesis is presented.

Transitions In Masculinity And Hemingway's Developed "Code", Daniel Polk

Honors Theses

The "Hemingway Code" is much more than two words that fit nicely together for a scholar's usage; the words signify a much deeper championing of masculinity, almost a haunting presence. For Ernest Hemingway living life every day, every moment with its fullest masculine fervor, became an obsession, a never-ending quest to be at one with the attitude of never complaining, never crying out, panicking, thinking too much, or regretting. To live a manly life in a series of tactical victories, performed with steadfast ritualistic mannerisms, is to embody masculinity, and therefore the "Hemingway Code."