Digital Commons Network^™

Engaged Learning In A Secondary Science Classroom, Holly Rubach

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

A Survey Of The Macroscopic Fungi Of The Lula Lake Land Trust, Jocelyn M. De Guzman

Honors Theses

I conducted a survey of the macroscopic fungi in an area designated as Chestnut Orchard #1 of the Lula Lake Land Trust from May 29, 1999 to March 8, 2000. The purpose of the survey centered on making a comprehensive list of the fleshy fungi to serve as baseline data of the fungal diversity contained on this experimental chestnut plot. The fieldwork resulted in a collection of 139 sporocarp specimens, comprising 17 families, 38 genera, 63 species and, as of yet, approximately 30 unidentified specimens. Some of the specimens collected were also determined to be edible, thus offering a possible …

Purgatory: A Triptych, Samantha Lopez

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

The Botetourt Dragoons In War And Peace, Michael G. Henkle

Honors Theses

This thesis studies a Confederate cavalry company from the immediate prewar years through the war, ending with the death of one of its last members. Most soldiers were residents of Botetourt County, Virginia. The study focuses upon both the men themselves and the battles in which they fought. Letters, diaries, and postwar accounts reveal their thoughts. After the war, many took an active role in both veterans' affairs and their community by joining veteran camps and participating in politics. Near the end, many received pensions or stayed in old soldiers' homes.

Spoke: A Short Collection Of Poetry, Margaret A. Von Steinen

Honors Theses

No abstract available.

Opening The Doors Of Communication And Guiding Parents Into Classrooms And Schools, Katy Anne Forsyth

Honors Theses

"A good parent is a national treasure and we need to make parents and families partners with their children's teacher and principals in the process of education," (Beyond the Classroom 308). This quote is the heart behind the contents of this book. For the love and concern that we as teachers have for the children in our lives, we owe it to them to help make their educational experience the most well rounded prosperous experience possible. To accomplish this, a partnership needs to be created by opening the doors of communication and guiding parents into classrooms and schools. As teachers, …

A Catechol Approach To Natural Product Synthesis, Michelle E. Weber

Honors Theses

This research has focused on the total synthesis of the iron--chelating natural product 1-(2,3-hydroxyphenyl)-4-methoxy-I-butanone. An extract of the iron-cleficient fungus Gleophyllwn lraebeum, this molecule is thought to bind to Fe3+ in a hexacoordinate system to aid in transport through cell walls in order to help regulate iron levels in such iron-deficient fungi. Since the proposed structure of the molecule is based only on the spectral data of a very small sample, our hope is to synthesize and confirm its structure as the extract of the brown rot fungus. We have developed a relatively short retrosynthesis for our work on this …

Scientific Investigation Of The Plant Pathogen Agrobacterium Tumefaciens, Casey M. Flanagan, Christopher B. Crowell Ii, Bryan P. Markelz

Honors Theses

A. tumefaciensis a plant pathogen and causative agent of Crown Gall Disease, an ailment that results in the development of tumors in plants. It is a unique organism in that it is the only known non-viral pathogen that transfers its DNA into the host cell. Consequently, the majority of the research conducted on A. tumefaciensinvestigates its mechanism of infection. However, A. tumefaciensis also rare to the bacterial world in that its genome is comprised of two chromosomes: one circular and one linear. Most other bacteria only have one circular chromosome. This area of research has been grossly overlooked and therefore …

Characterizing The Role Of Mapk Phosphates In Plants, Laura Asakura

Honors Theses

Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) pathways e ubiquitous ongst eukaryotes, involved in the signal transduction of various external stimuli to the nucleus. In plants, only MAPK pathways related to pathogen- and stress-related responses have been identified. It has been proposed that another MAPK pathway exists in plants, one that is similar to animal MAPK pathways and postulated to connect the regulation of cell growth and the actions of hormones auxin, cytokinin, and gibberellin. In order to establish whether a link exists between the MAPK pathway and hormone signaling in plants, the role of MAPK phosphatases (MKP) on hormone signaling was …

An Ethical Exploration Of Gender Inequality In Church Leadership, Elizabeth Rickert

Honors Theses

An Ethical Exploration of Gender Inequality in Church Leadership provides a moral analysis of the current status of women leaders in the church. Drawing on socio- analytical, ethical-theological, and leadership studies perspectives, this thesis sheds light on the disparity between the theological principles of equality and the ecclesiastical practices of inequality that create an unhealthy moral environment in churches.

Gender inequality in church leadership exists today in both the congregations permitting the ordination of women as well as in those that do not. This widespread discrepancy between rules and practices concerning women leaders in the church points to the socially …

Power And Paradox In The Trickster Figure, Jacob D. Campbell

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Methods And Techniques For Production Of Genetically Modified Maize At Monsanto Global Seed, Michelle Renee Mcgehee

Honors Theses

The development of transgenic plants for agricultural purposes consumes much time and energy but is well worth the battle. From the laboratory perspective, hours are spent trying to force plant cells to uptake new DNA. Several methods are available for this practice, including Ti-plasmid mediated transformation, microprojectile bombardment, and electroporation. Each method depends primarily on the organism one wishes to transform. Once the gene of interest has been inserted, the seed from these transgenic plants goes to pilot stations to be grown in nurseries and yield production fields and tested for resistance against many elements. The final product is put …

Behavioral Analysis And Enrichment Effects On Captive Red Wolves, Laurie Thompson

Honors Theses

The red wolf, Canis rufus, is a highly endangered predator native to the eastern United States. Their original range is thought to have extended from as far west as Texas all the way to the east coast, and as far south as Florida and north to at least the Ohio River valley. Their decline is attributed to human encroachment causing loss of habitat, persecution of the species, and extensive hybridization with coyotes, Canis latrans, once their numbers began to diminish (Riley and McBride, 1972). In addition to these problems, parasites have had a substantial effect on their already dwindling numbers …

The Rest Of The Story: A Reflection On Extracurriculars During Intern Teaching, Barnaby Pung

Honors Theses

I decided to title my thesis The Rest of the Story, because of the radio personality Paul Harvey. His radio show "The Rest of the Story" is a commentary that reflects on many current issues as well as past occurrences and public personalities. In one of his most famous segments he will tell a story about a person's life and not reveal who the individual is until the end This tidbit of little known information is what the rest of the story actually is. It is the inside scoop, that little extra that is often difficult to find. That is …

Fetal And Placental Development In Ghr-Ko Mice, Danyel R. Wernsing

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Organic Farmers As Victims Of Lnjurious Practices By Biogenetic Corporations, Jennifer L. Kelley

Honors Theses

The relationship between anticompetitive practices by large biotechnology corporations and their victimizing effects on organic farmers, with reference to genetically engineered and altered seeds in the United States market, is examined. The sample was derived from individuals associated with the organic farming industry. The total sample populace was taken from two cumulative lists of organic farmers, organic certification agencies, and organic food producers. One hundred individuals were mailed questionnaires. Of the fifty-four percent that returned the surveys, one hundred percent feel there are not sufficient regulations on genetic engineering nor have sufficient precautions been taken. Issues of labeling safety, and …

Ethnopsychology: A Breakdown In Communication, Tracy A. White

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Immanuel Kant's Transition From Pure To Practical Reason, Bradley Hergott

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Social And Environmental Factors Contributing To Stereotypic Behavior In The Spectacled Bear, Dana Marie Varble

Honors Theses

Stereotypies have many causes and contributing factors. Often overlooked is the importance of social and environmental factors such as weather, pen design, social interaction, feeds and feeding schedule, and early childhood experiences. These factors are overlooked in favor of more concrete and testable factors such as size of the animal, pen size, age, sex, and health. This research revealed the importance of social and environmental factors in interpreting the causes of stereotypy in one captive spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus) at the St. Louis Zoo. Observational data collection was employed to attempt to gather data supporting the influence of these factors. …

Human Solidary : A Reconciliation Between Plato And Rorty, Larina M. Orlando

Honors Theses

In Contingency, irony and solidarity, Richard Rorty outlines his conception of the ideal liberal utopia, wherein moral change results from the substitution of Freedom for Truth as "the goal of thinking and of social progress" (xiii). Rorty maintains that autonomous self-creation and human solidarity are not to be united in a "single vision" (xiv), but rather, "the closest we will come to joining these two quests is to see the aim of a just and free society as letting its citizens be as privatistic, 'irrationalist', and aestheticist as they please so long as they do it on their own …

Go And See The Band: Rock N' Roll As Art And How We Deal With It, Sebastian Blanco

Honors Theses

This is my ode to the curse of loving rock 'n' roll. The curse of always having to defend my love of power chords and high-energy bass lines. The curse of trying to describe to people the distinction my mind makes between Pearl Jam and Aerosmith, Ani DiFranco and Jewel. The curse of looking at someone as I explain how important rock 'n' roll is to me, and seeing they don't understand a word. I have devoted the last six years of my life to listening, understanding, learning about rock music, and I do not consider that time wasted. I …

The Makhnovist Movement: Peasant Rebels As Anarcho-Communists In War-Torn Ukraine, Russell Young

Honors Theses

This study has shown that Nestor Ivanovich Makhno strove to implement an interpretation of anarchism that consciously catered itself to the peasantry's desires. The resulting governmental organization, military structure and arbitrary tendencies of his movement profoundly conflicted ideals of theoretically pure anarchy. These manifestations were, however, in full accord with the peasantry's conception of the valiant revolt leader, which was best exemplified by peasantry's collective memory of the rebel leaders Stenka Razin and Emelian Pugachev.

Shaping Realities: A Study Of The Connection Between White Hegemony In Popular Culture And The Deprecatory Self-Image Of African Americans, Rebecca Thornton

Honors Theses

The following paper will examine how the breakdown of politically motivated racism easily translated into popular culture. Defining African Americans only as stereotypes allowed for the hegemony that had kept African Americans inferior, to endure into a new era, one dominated almost wholly by popular culture. Divided into three chapters, this paper will systematically demonstrate how historically, politically, socially, and ideologically the African American race has been castigated and prostrated by those in power.

Establishing A Link Between Mapk Pathways And Hormones Signal Transduction In Plants, Marc Meulener

Honors Theses

Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) pathways are ubiquitous among eukaryotes, and are involved in the transduction of various extracellular signals. In mammals, three MAPK pathways have been identified, two of these respond to stress, and one can stimulate growth and differentiation. MAPKs have also been found in plants, and it has been suggested that a MAPK pathway may be involved in the signal transduction of auxin and cytokinin, two plant hormones that stimulate growth and differentiation. However, at this time, there is no conclusive evidence supporting this hypothesis. By studying the effect ofMAPKK's of both plant and animal origin in …

Promises Of The Patiarchy : A Study Of Leadership Within The Promise Keepers Movement, Daniel W. Beeman

Honors Theses

By looking at the roles that gender and faith play in an organization and their leadership, this paper will make a significant advance in leadership studies that is not overwhelmingly present. The field of leadership studies will be able to use this as a way to understand those two contexts in addition to being able to see one more way to look at the leadership of an entire movement.

Exploration Of Immigration, Industrialization & Ethnicity In Waterville, Maine, Amy E. Rowe

Honors Theses

This paper traces how hegemonic forces create boundaries through the specific examples of the Lebanese and Franco-Americans in Waterville, Maine. These two immigrant groups entered into Waterville after an English-Scottish Protestant majority had already been established in the eighteenth and early nineteenth century. The Franco-American immigration from Quebec extended well over a century and the flow of people out of Canada can generally be studied into two distinct waves. People were constantly coming into Waterville from Quebec, and a small number would return to live in Canada after a time. It is also critical to understand that Franco-Americans were settling …

Early Exposure To Violence Leads To Aggression In Children, Loretta C. Golden

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Shrimp Aquaculture: An Analysis Of Its Evolution And Organization; And The Development Of A Shrimp Growth Model, Adam Rana

Honors Theses

This paper examines the impetus for the development and subsequent rise of the shrimp aquaculture industry and continues by exploring a model that seeks to improve shrimp farmers' harvests by identifying specific variables affecting shrimp growth. Evidence reviewed from 1980 through today suggest that technological advancements, reduced prices, and increases in both the supply and demand for shrimp are positively associated with the industry's rapid ascent. The introduction of vertically integrated shrimp farms along with the ability for shrimp farmers to differentiate their products are also correlated with the industry's growth. Variables affecting shrimp growth were also studied to determine …

Yoga Philosophy: Paths Of Actions And Knowledge, Ryan M. Wittekiend

Honors Theses

My focus in the following project is to examine and understand questions regarding how humankind should act and what we ought to strive to know through the context of the ancient Indian tradition of yoga philosophy. My ultimate goal is to understand the experience and role of the teachers who have the duty to guide the majority of us along the path of life and to examine the process of proper action and duty. I will carry out this investigation in four parts. First, I will examine the origins of spiritual and ritual thought explained in the ancient works of …

Vietnam War Poetry: Constructing A Cohesive Text From Fragments Of Experience, Megan A. Moore

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.