Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

The Relationship Between Environmental Factors And Cyanobacteria Population In Lake Bloomington And Evergreen Lake In Mclean County, Illinois, Matthew Douglas Meyers

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates cyanobacteria on two lakes in McLean County, Illinois from the months of August to October. Data was collected every other week.Cyanobacteria are prokaryotes that may be unicellular, colonial or filamentous in form. These cells can be known to be toxic or non-toxic. The factors that control the reproduction of cyanobacteria are the temperature and nutrients of nitrogen and phosphorus. These microorganisms are located in marine and terrestrial settings worldwide. The focus of this study was at two man-made lakes which are Lake Bloomington and Lake Evergreen. Sampling and collection of data was done on two lakes to …

Nitrate Uptake In Central Illinois Streams: A Comparison Along A Transient Storage Gradient, Kristen Lynn Theesfeld

Theses and Dissertations

Transient storage can be influenced by channel morphology. Anthropogenic activities can alter stream morphology by straightening channels, lining channels, or even restoration of previously altered channels. This study focused on whether relative transient storage (RTS) was related to stream type - modified lined, modified unlined, or natural. The study further sought to determine if a greater RTS is correlated to a decrease in percent nitrate-N.

Eight (8) sites, encompassing three (3) different stream types - modified lines, modified unlined, and natural - were studied. Chloride and nitrate tracers were added to streams, and samples were analyzed for tracer concentrations and …

P_4-Decomposability In Regular Graphs And Multigraphs, David Joshua Mendell

Theses and Dissertations

The main objective of this thesis is to review and expand the study of graph decomposability. An H-decomposition of a graph G=(V,E) is a partitioning of the edge set, $E$, into edge-disjoint isomorphic copies of a subgraph H. In particular we focus on the decompositions of graphs into paths. We prove that a 2,4 mutligraph with maximum multiplicity 2 admits a C_2,C_3-free Euler tour (and thus, a decomposition into paths of length 3 if it has size a multiple of 3) if and only if it avoids a set of 15 forbidden structures. We also prove that …

Examination Of Quasienantiomers Of Oxadiazinanones Which Fail To Fractionally Crystallize, Patricia Ann Higgins

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis reports the crystallization of two new quasiracemic crystals, the synthesis of a new oxadiazinanone, and the identification of crystals of two new compounds. In previous research the quasiracemates, (5,R,6,S)-4-cyclohexyl-5-methyl-6-phenyl-2H-1,3,4-oxadiazinan-2-one and (5S,6R)-4-isopropyl-5-methyl-6-phenyl-2H-1,3,4-oxadiazinan-2-one, were mixed in solution and crystallized. Instead of fractionally crystallizing, as would be expected, the compounds formed quasiracemic co-crystals. This suggested that other mixtures of oxadiazinanones would be possible candidates for studying compounds which fail to fractionally crystallize.

The first step in the process involves the synthesis of oxadiazinanones, using literature methods. A 4-step process …

The Effects Of Cold Adaptation On The Growth And Development Of The Neandertal Cranial Base, Sarah Caldwell

Theses and Dissertations

Neandertals and modern humans possess very different craniofacial shapes. Some recent work has attributed these contrasting shapes specifically to differences in brain development, which are extrapolated to mean differences in cognitive function. However, this may not necessarily be the case. In this paper, it is suggested that a size increase in the cranial base and rapid cranial growth are due not to cognitive differences, but environmental factors, specifically Neandertal adaptation to cold. Adaptation to cold would not only explain the more rapid growth of the Neandertal cranium, but also elongation of the cranial base via elongation of the nasopharynx for …

Spatial Variability Of Erosion Patterns Along The Eastern Margin Of The Rio Grande Rift, Lauren Hoffman

Theses and Dissertations

The actively spreading Rio Grande Rift influenced uplift and erosion in Southwest North America, however the timing and progression of these processes is not well constrained in some smaller mountain ranges of the region. The Guadalupe and Sacramento Mountains located along the eastern margin of the rift in southern New Mexico were studied to improve our understanding of landscape evolution related to rifting. To address landscape evolution and the influence of tectonics I analyzed spatial distributions of erosion for each mountains range. I identified knickpoints along five longitudinal stream profiles from five canyons (4 in the Guadalupe Mountains and 1 …

Integrating Gis And Hydrology For Flood Risk Analysis, Anas B. Rabie

Theses and Dissertations

Spatial analysis using GIS was evaluated for its ability to predict the potential hazard of a flood event in the Illinois River region in the State of Illinois. The data employed in the analysis are available to the public from trusted organizations such as Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS), and the US Geological Survey (USGS). The purposes of this study are to 1) examine the applicability of GIS spatial analysis to determine flood inundation risk, and 2) to determine how to do so with the least amount of data possible, while still producing an accurate flood inundation risk map. This …

Using Deuterium And Garp To Estimate Geographic Extents Of Source Populations Of Hoary ( Lasiurus Cinereus ) And Eastern Red ( Lasiurus Borealis ) Bats Killed At A Central Illinois Wind Facility, Rachael Anne Van Essen

Theses and Dissertations

High bat mortality at wind energy facilities is a widely cited conservation issue, but the population-level impacts are not understood. In Illinois, the main species affected are migratory tree bats like the Hoary (Lasiurus cinereus) and Eastern Red (Lasiurus borealis).This research used deuterium isotope analysis of hair combined with ecological niche modeling (GARP: Genetic Algorithm for Rule-set Prediction) in a novel way to map the geographic extents of Hoary and Eastern Red bat specimens salvaged at a single central Illinois wind facility from 2008-2010. Hair was chosen after determining that the claw is currently a problematic tissue due to a …

Determining The Source Of Anomalous Segments In A Karst Stream, Kathryn Emily Schroeder

Theses and Dissertations

Southeastern Minnesota is characterized by an extensive karst network. In Kentucky, Carter Caves State Resort Park is a similar karst area that has exhibited karst anomalies, or `bumps,' in a longitudinal stream profile. This study aimed to determine if these same karst anomalies can be found in southeast Minnesota, where LiDAR data are available, and if these bumps are actually karst features. Profiles of carbonate and siliciclastic streams were observed to determine if the presence of anomalies in only carbonate streams, both lithologies, or neither. Another objective was to determine if GIS could be an effective method at generating these …

Identification Of Transcriptionally Quiescent Regions In The Neurospora Crassa Genome, Katie Marie Groskreutz

Theses and Dissertations

Sexual reproduction and genetic exchange via meiosis are important and highly conserved processes in many living organisms. Occasionally, complications occur during meiosis that can result in chromosome abnormalities. In humans, improper chromosome development can cause life altering disorders such as Down Syndrome, Edwards Syndrome, and Patau Syndrome. Unfortunately, despite its importance, gaps remain in our knowledge of how this process works. For instance, little is known about how homolog identification occurs and what proteins identify matching chromosomes during pairing. This fundamental process occurs early during meiosis and ensures proper development of gametes.

Understanding the proteins involved during homolog pairing may …