Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

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."

Dna Interstrand Crosslinking Efficiencies, Sequence Preferences, And Organic Syntheses Of Diepoxide Metabolites In Fixation, Sara Charnecki

Honors Theses

Molecular Basis of Cancer: Cancer, a disease that has had a devastating and frightening impact on current society in the midst of a chemical revolution, represents a class of diseases comprising over 200 known types that affect various regions of the mammalian body (Farmer & Walker, 1985). This disease strikes randomly and is often diagnosed after the disease has progressed beyond present treatment capabilities. Cancer is the result of irregularities in growth, reproduction, and differentiation of cells due to pennanent flaws in genetic information. Mutations caused by environmental factors can be compounded over time to cause carcinomas of different tissues. …

Double Exposure And Development Of Pmma Resist Using X-Ray Radiation, William M. Drout Iii

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Do Middle School Students Understand The Mathematics Necessary To Learn High School Science?, Lynn Toni Romanowski

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Dynamic Phase Steepening In Alfven Waves, Stephen R. Granade

Honors Theses

Our solar system contains more activity and complexity than can be seen through a telescope. One such "invisible" phenomenon is the solar wind, created by a steady stream of particles blasted away from the sun in all directions. The sun's donut-shaped magnetic field lines channel this stream. Particles moving along the field lines perform an intricate helical dance, with ions winding one way and electrons the other.

The solar wind shapes and is shaped by the magnetic fields of the planets and the sun. If left undisturbed by outside influences, the earth's magnetic field, like the sun's, would resemble a …

Syntheses Of Cross-Linking Agents, Molecular Modeling Of Oligonucleotides And Polypeptide-Ion Complexes, Michael J. Yunes

Honors Theses

Each section of this thesis will be subdivided into three parts encompassing all of the research in which I have been involved during the past three years. These will be referred to under the headings "Syntheses:' "Molecular Modeling," and "Cross-linking Efficiencies." Each of these subdivisions may have divisions within them when necessary in order to fully detail the research.

Determination Of Hydroxyl Radical Production Rates In Natural Waters Using The Fluorometric Reagent P-Hydroxyphenylacetic Acid, Jason D. Hosmer

Honors Theses

A means of determining hydroxyl radical production rates in natural waters through the formation of a directly detectable fluorescent product has been developed. A method similar to the enzyme mediated oxidation of phydroxyphenylacetic acid by hydrogen peroxide is used (Miller and Kester, 1988). Due to the high reactivity of hydroxyl radicals, and subsequently low steady state concentrations, direct detection is very difficult. In the past detection was achieved through the introduction of a probe, usually a substituted aromatic or alcohol, that decays away at an observable rate upon reaction with hydroxyl radicals. Detection limits and accuracy of such difference based …

Role Of Acetic Acid In Siliciclastic Diagenesis: An Experimental Study, Gina Marian Bagnetto Waters

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Role Of Acetic Acid In Siliciclastic Diagenesis: An Experimental Study, Gina Bagnetto Waters

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Synthesis Of A Hybrid Baldwin Peptide: A Study In The Factors That Influence Helix Formation, Jay Steven Berger

Honors Theses

In this study, a hybrid i+4/i+3 peptide will be synthesized. It is assumed that this configuration will enhance the formation of the alpha­helix. Previous research has determined that a complete helical tum requires 3.6 amino acid residues. The hybrid peptide will include four residues followed by a second helical tum which will only encompass three residues. It is hoped that by slightly over turning and then under turning the helix, the stability of the overall helix formation will be enhanced.

The Binding Of 2-Acetylnaphthalene To Beta-Cyclodextrin Polymers Studied By Fluorescence Quenching, Jason T. Graves

Honors Theses

Cyclodextrin (CD) molecules can form inclusion complexes with many different types of organics due to the hydrophobic environment of the CD internal cavity. The flurophore-2-acetylnapthalene (2-AN) has a high flourescence intensity in polar solvents such as water. Therefore, its fluorescence is quenched when it forms a complex with a CD molecule and is contained in the non-polar cavity. By measuring the change in flourescence intensity in the presence of CD, we can calculate the binding constant for CD:2-AN complex formation.

The Charge Of The Zinc Ion In Atcase And Its Effect On Tertiary Structure, Michelle L. Dietrich

Honors Theses

Metals present in enzymes serve a variety of functions. Often they are involved in enzyme catalysis or regulation of enzymatic activity. Another interesting role metals play In enzymes is a structural one. A few enzymes depend on metals for their structural stability, such as the protein ATCase. The B chain of the protein contains a zinc ion that does not have a catalytic role and is predicted to stabilize the protein structure. The goal of this research is to model the area around the zinc In the B chain and to determine what effect the zinc has on the stability …

Nmr Studies Of Short Salt Bridged Peptides, James A. Ernst

Honors Theses

The study of small helical peptides is an area of great interest in biochemistry. Baldwin has shown that salt bridging between residues with oppositely charged side chains can act to stabilize short helices. The order of increased helix stabilization shown by Baldwin was i+4AB>i+4BA>i+3AB>i+3BA where A is a positively charges amino acid side chain and B is a negatively charged amino acid side chain. Most previous studies have dealt with a single type of salt bridge stabilization, either i,i+3, or i,i+4 in a single peptide. This study will address the question of helix stabilization in a system …

A Study Of The Reaction Of Catechol And Glutathione: A Model For Cigarette Tar Activation And Detoxification, Linda J. A. Workman

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Average Genus Of The Cube, Jody Koenemann

Honors Theses

In recent years, there has been interest in the mathematical community in a rapidly developing branch of theoretical mathematics known as random topological graph theory. This new area of mathematics explores the different ways in which certain graphs can be imbedded in given surfaces. The random nature of the new branch results when one also imposes a random distribution on set of all imbeddings of a fixed graph, via the orientation of the edges at each vertex. Using the technique of J. Edmonds, developed in 1960, this paper explores the imbeddings for the graph Q₃ using a particular group …

Third Order Degree Regular Graphs, Leslie D. Hayes

Honors Theses

A graph G is regular of degree d if for every vertex v in G there exist exactly d vertices at distance 1 from v. A graph G is kth order regular of degree d if for every vertex v in G, there exist exactly d vertices at distance k from v. In this paper, third order regular graphs of degree 1 with small order are characterized.

The Synthesis Of Amino Acid Derivatives For Peptide Incorporation, Yvette Delahoussaye

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Purification And Analysis Of Protein Synthetic Initiation Factors From Volvox Carteri, Kathie L. Pooler

Honors Theses

Volvox carteri, a multi-celled green algae, can grow synchronously given a sixteen hour light period followed by an eight hour dark period, a cycle which is repeated for a 48 hour growth cycle total. Near the end of each light period, reproductive cells divide rapidly resulting in the differentiation of ceIls. When the dark period begins, this differentiation stops and the cells remain dormant with little protein synthesis or differentiation occurring. Immediately after the lights come back on, however, the cells again undergo rapid protein synthesis and complete their differentiation. Previous studies have concluded that Volvox carteri discontinue protein synthesis …

Planetary Formation, Stephanie Blackmon

Honors Theses

This thesis discusses the current theories about the creation of our solar system and its planets. Additionally, the thesis discusses each planet, its features, and current scientific knowledge.

Presidential Popularity And The Linear Model, April Gosser

Honors Theses

Since the 1970's, much research has been done in an attempt to determine variables that cause decline of the president's popularity. Although there are different studies that give various reasons for the decline of the president's popularity, all agree that there is a trend of decline over the president's term. To represent the decline, James Stimson suggested a parabola model, whereas John Mueller suggested a linear-regression model. This paper attempts to show that a linear-regression model is more effective in explaining decline of the presidents from Truman to Johnson, than from Nixon to Bush. The findings show that a linear …

Investigations Of Iron Cycling In Aquatic Systems, Heather A. Lounsbury

Honors Theses

A fully automated luminal-based chemiluminescence flow injection analysis system has been developed for rapid detection of Fe(IT) at natural levels in natural water systems. Similar detection limits are achieved for H202 by fluorometry using an enzyme mediated oxidation of the reagent p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid. Using these analytical systems, the rates of Fe(IT) oxidation by dissolved oxygen in 0.7 M NaO have been measured for nanomolar concentrations of Fe(II) over the pH range 7.0 to 8.3. When the production and decomposition of H202 in the system were considered, measured rates were in excellent agreement with a model based on previously reported rate …

Sds Non-Acrylamide Polymeric Gel-Filled Capillary Electrophoresis For Molecular Size Separation Of Protein, Devon Andres

Honors Theses

Sodium dodecyl sulfide (SDS) non-acrylamide gel-filled capillary columns are a new technology being used for analysis and separation of biotechnology-derived proteins. This research was to compare this new technology to the current methods of SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC). The molecular mass of four different recombinant proteins were determined by two commercialized SDS non-acrylamide gel-filled capillary columns, SDS-PAGE, and HPSEC. The data obtained showed that the SDS non-acrylamide gel-filled capillary columns were compatible with the SDS-PAGE technique for molecular mass determination. HPSEC was shown to be unreliable for molecular weight determination. SDS non-acrylamide gel-filled capillary …

Design And Construction Of A Lithium Vapor Oven, Corey A. Leon

Honors Theses

A lithium vapor oven to be used as a source of lithium target atoms in atomic collision experiments was designed and constructed. The oven was installed in the beamline of the Van de Graaff accelerator at Western Michigan University. Test results indicated the oven produced a diffuse cloud of evaporated lithium instead of the intended concentrated jet spray. Recommendations concerning the design are made for future efforts.

Gravity Modeling Of A Patch Reef In Allegan County, Michigan, Mei Leng Wong

Honors Theses

The study of the Diamond Springs oil field in Allegan County focuses on the use of gravity to delineate individual reef buildups. The Diamond Springs oil field is a small patch reef located in northern Allegan County, Michigan. The reef, which is approximately 1400 feet deep, is located within the Middle Devonian Traverse Limestone and was deposited in an open shelf, carbonate platform and lagoonal environment. The reef covers an area of approximately one square mile and has a vertical relief of 30 to 80 feet. These porous reef materials are commonly buried by muds or evaporites resulting in ideal …

The Selective Oxidation Of Dihydrosilanes, Paul B. Gansle Jr.

Honors Theses

The synthesis of drugs and natural products in enartiomerically pure form is a growing area of research. Our laboratory is currently working on synthetic methodologies that would facilitate the production of compounds in such a form. The approach we are taking is to use chiral silanes as templates for the stereochemical control of organic reactions. In order to do this, however, we must first synthesize these silanes enantiomerically pure. This project focuses on the synthesis of chiral silanes by selective oxidation of prochiral dihydrosilanes to yield directly, or by further transformations, halohydrosilanes. These halohydrosilanes can in turn, be used as …

Construction Of A Compact, Versatile Diode Laser Spectrometer And Characterization Of Dye-Surfactant Interactions, Marc Alexander Unger

Honors Theses

A compact diode laser spectrometer has been designed and built. A diode laser serves as a light source. The sample holder was designed to allow the mounting of optical filters and focusing optics. These optical filters differentiate between transmitted, scattered, and fluorescent light. A photodiode transduces one of these optical signals to a current signal. The electronics were designed to perform current to voltage conversion, amplify the signal, and filter out noise. Further processing and display are performed by a "Virtual Instrument", which is a computer program designed to simulate a physical instrument. Design methodology for the mechanical/optical, electronic, and …

The Development And Testing Of An Instrument For Doing Fast Time-Resolved Infrared Spectroscopy And The Study Of Dimanganese Decacarbonyl Using Uv/Vis And Ftrir Spectroscopic Techniques, Steven Wells Kinne

Honors Theses

Over the past three years at Union College, an instrument has been developed that can be used to probe the mechanisms of the photochemistry of transition metal carbonyl compounds. When these complexes are activated with photons, one or two carbonyl ligands are removed from the complex, opening these sites for chemical bonding. Thus, the coordinatively unsaturated species become catalytically active, and can catalyze a wide variety of organic reactions. The intermediates in these catalytic cycles tend to be short-liver lifetimes are usually less than one second), and therefore special instrumnetation must be developed in order to directly observe these intermediates …

Symmetric Designs, Difference Sets, And A New Way To Look At Macfarland Difference Sets, John Bowen Polhill Jr.

Honors Theses

In this paper, the topics of symmetric designs and difference sets are discussed both separately and in relation to each other. Then an approach to MacFarland Difference Sets using the theory behind homomorphisms from groups into the complex numbers is introduced. This method is contrasted with the method of finding this type of difference set used by E.S. Launder in his book Symmetric Designs: An Algebraic Approach.

Topics In Cyclotomic And Quadratic Fields, Pam Mellinger

Honors Theses

This paper introduces cyclotomic and quadratic fields and explores some of their properties and applications to problems in number theory. After some preliminary definitions and theorems, the paper looks at the relationship between quadratic and cyclotomic fields, at Kummer's lemma on units in the pth cyclotomic field, and at the Quadratic Reciprocity Law and its applications to diophantine equations.

The Investigation Of Object-Oriented Methodology As An Enabling Technique For End-User Application Development, Eng Chong Lim

Honors Theses

This research studies the value of object-oriented methods to design information systems that can then be developed and implemented by end-users.