Digital Commons Network^™

Engineering Genetic Networks To Measure Real Time Repression By Λ Cro In Vivo, Zachary Louis Leblanc

Honors Theses

The field of systems biology seeks to engineer systems in order to explore specific dynamic properties as they act in vivo. Cellular activities have been proven to be regulated by a range of DNA binding proteins that bind to specific sequences that activate or repress transcription. Certain phage and bacterial repressor proteins were among the first of these DNA binding proteins to be characterized structurally and functionally. The demand for study of key steps in regulation of protein expression, folding, and repression has created multiple studies into systems of varying complexity. The data in this report explores the lambda system, …

Spectroscopic Studies Of Site 3 Mutants Of Calmodulin, Shakirat Omolara Oyetunji

Honors Theses

Calmodulin is the quintessential member of the EF-hand family of calcium binding proteins. Two mutants of the C-domain of Calmodulin were created as a series of proteins that can be used as model 1-site calcium binding systems, terminal glutamate in Site 3 was mutated to either glutamine or aspartate, mutations were expected to abrogate binding in the mutated site such that only Site 4 is functional. There was minimal overall perturbation to the folding and stability of the apo-state. Calcium binding properties of these mutant proteins were investigated by 1) direct titrations with calcium were performed under equilibrium conditions monitored …

Perfect Order: A Collection Of Short Stories, Virginia Lyons Shields

Honors Theses

The stories in this collection have been written over the course of the past school year. I participated in a writing workshop in the fall semester that was instructed by Tom Franklin, and in which I was able to learn the importance of peer revision in the writing process. Over the spring semester, I have worked on several new stories, which are included here, as well as the stories from the writing workshop. My purpose in writing this thesis is to explore the creative process of writing and to produce original works of fiction.

An Examination Of Natural Language Processing, Information Extraction, And Information Retrieval Systems And Their Applications, Jeffrey Allen Holloway

Honors Theses

Natural language processing, information extraction, information retrieval, and artificial Intelligence are all relatively new areas of study. Research as of late has begun making greater advances In these technological areas, yet much of the potential of these types of systems is still untapped. Though there are a few good examples of these systems put to use in the business world, due to technological limitations and pitfalls, these systems have yet to see widespread use. This thesis explores the technology behind the systems and looks into some of the current ways they are implemented. Finally, a system design referred to as …

Corticosterone Response In A Learned Helplessness Model Of Depression, Courtney M. Cartwright

Honors Theses

This purpose of this study was to quantify both behavioral and biological markers of stress (i.e. distress vocalizations, plasma corticosterone) in the chick stress-separation paradigm. In this study, chicks were isolated from companions for either 5,10,15,20,40, or 60 minutes and distress vocalizations were recorded. In addition, one group was tested in the presence of social companions for 60 minutes. Blood was collected from half of the subjects immediately following the testing period and was also collected in a no-test group to establish plasma corticosterone basal levels. Isolation produced a significant elevation in distress vocalizations and corticosterone. The pattern of distress …

A Study Of The Effects Of The 2004 Tsunami On Coral Reefs And Fisheries Of The Indian Ocean, Joseph Lane Campbell

Honors Theses

This thesis serves as a broad-scale review of the effects of the tsunami on the coral reefs and the fisheries of the affected Indian Ocean region. The main goals were to 1) use my research from a recolonization project completed May 2004 as a basis for predictiverecovery models for the coral reefs, 2) review and summarize the newly available literature of the tsunami effects on coral reefs in the Indian Ocean and 3) predict the future of the Indian Ocean fisheries based on the review of the tsunami effects on human and fishery communities, using selected species as models. It …

Civil War Medicine: Crisis And Heroism In The Medical Profession, 1861 - 1865, Diana Frances Semmes

Honors Theses

This thesis uses a variety of sources to look at the medical profession during the Civil War era. Both primary sources and secondary sources provide information on the perspectives of the key players during the period as well as an understanding of the knowledge present at that time and the methods and practices employed. Most of the research has been done using the J. D. Williams Library on the University of Mississippi main campus though it has been supplemented by books in my own personal collection, items loaned from Dr. Neff’s collection, online resources such as the Library of Congress …

Religion And Support Of Democracy: Protestantism, Catholicism, And The Support For Democracy In Mexico, Sara Jolly

Honors Theses

The findings are consistent with other recent studies in Latin America. Eric Patterson found a similar pattern in Argentina and Chile in his study in 2003 (Patterson 2003). The data shows that despite Mexico’s history ofstrained Church/ State relations and a 70-year authoritarian rule, the Protestants in Mexico tend to hold similar beliefs on the support for democracy as the Protestants of other Latin American countries.

A Curriculum Plan Based On A Sung Dynasty Landscape Artist's Work And Techniques, Lindsey R. Terbrack

Honors Theses

This paper explores Sung Dynasty landscape paintings with focused attention on the works of Yen Wen-kuei. Comparison to Western art is apparent throughout the paper as an aide in using this information to create a unit of study suitable for high school art. The paper focuses around the context of the time period, materials used, style, presentation, viewer involvement, technique and thought process. The exemplar of Yen Wen-kuei is then dissected to give tangible evidence to the study.

Court Reporting: Can It Keep Up With Technology Or Will It Be Replaced By Voice Recognition Or Electronic Recording?, Shara D. Sohn

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

"Science" Of Eugenics?, Madonna Spann

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Telerobotic Controller, Michael Fewless, George Slater, Steve Waldron

Honors Theses

Atelerobotic system allows a user to interact with an environment indirectly. Our project successfully creates a telerobotic environment between the Phantom 1.5 controller and the UMI RTX robotic arm. Utilizing the haptic features of the Phantom controller, a more realistic interaction was created between the telerobotic system and the user by providing sensory feedback. As the user manipulates the hand-controlled Phantom device, signals are sent via a parallel port to the personal computer. A real-time WIN32 application, utilizing the GHOST SDK library, reads the position of the Phantom controller's coordinates and calculates the corresponding motor positions of the UMI RTXrobotic …

Approaches And Methods In Language Teaching: An Investigative Look At A Total Physical Response In Chattanooga Area Classrooms, Alicia R. Hannah

Honors Theses

I was sitting on a leather couch at a local hangout trying to cram for a test in my Advanced Spanish Grammar class. In front of me, I had my textbook open to a picture of a crowded South American intersection and I was frantically trying to memorize a list of more than 100 Spanish vocabulary words related to automobiles. I had been studying Spanish since the eighth grade and was just amazed that 10 years later I was still having trouble internalizing certain words. I was talking aloud to myself, trying to remember the verb "to start the car." …

A Local Market Analysis Of Various Exempt And Non-Exempt Positions At A Community Mental Health Provider, Stephanie Wallace

Honors Theses

Market analysis of pay structure for employees of Summit Pointe using data from two surveys, CompData (Compensation Data Michigan) and ASE (American Society of Employers-Southwest Michigan Region).

Early Life Of Mark Antony, Kendra Bumpus

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Nutraceuticals, Jodi Miller

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

The Power Of Latex, Kenneth James Keefe

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

The Voice Of One Crying In A Wilderness Of Error: William Blake's Role As English Prophet, Michelle Lynn Jackson

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Sounds From The Valley : A History Of The U.C./U.T.C. Band, 1923 To 1979, Charles Christian Leonard

Honors Theses

This writer found a frustration while researching and writing this history. The things one really wants to know about cannot usually be found. Will Durant wrote in The Story of Civilization: Civilization is a stream with banks. The stream is sometimes filled with blood from people killing, stealing, shouting, and doing things historians usually record-while, on the banks, unnoticed, people build homes, make love, raise children, sing songs, write poetry, whittle statues. The story of civilization is the story of what happens on the banks. You will find some interesting events in the following pages, but you will not find …

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 …

Brothers And Sisters In Faulkner's The Sound And The Fury And Absalom, Absalom!, Stephanie M. Kellogg

Honors Theses

In first reading The Sound and the Fury and Absalom, Absalom!, I soon came to realize how important it is to study the two novels in conjunction with one another. Although I read The Sound and the Fury first, after finishing Absalom, Absalom!, the books became inextricably linked. I also came to discover that Faulkner creates an unusual situation for his audience: while The Sound and the Fury (1929) certainly stands on its own, readers reach a much fuller understanding after reading Absalom, Absalom! (1936), so that, in brief, to interpret The Sound and the Fury, readers …

Aiding At-Risk Students, Jeremy Baldwin

Honors Theses

Kalamazoo's Loy Norrix High School was the location of a study in conjunction with the institution's school-wide achievement process to aid at-risk students. Characterized by poor attendance, behavioral problems and/or failing two or more subjects, at-risk students are monitored more closely through school-wide efforts. According to the Michigan Department of Education, the effort to hep struggling students implicates the use of supplemental services before or after school to help students in the core subjects: math, science, social studies, and English. Norrix has successfully begun its own efforts to improve the overall academic success of the student body by employing the …

Technology And The 'Self', Ryan Rinn

Honors Theses

This project examines the relationship between technology and the self. Based largely on Gergen's (1991, 2000) descriptions of technological immersion and the saturated self, I discuss the ways that modem technologies have come to be a part of self-construction. Survey and focus group data from 63 university students are used to examine types of technological use, talk about technological experience, and self-construction. This paper describes the contradictory ways participants talk about technology, and defines nine themes of self emergence in participant discussion: 1) connection, 2) over-connection, 3) ease/laziness, 4) multitasking, 5) profile stalking, 6) loss of physical presence, 7) empowerment, …

Michel Foucault : Power/Knowledge And Epistemological Prescriptions, Martin A. Hewett

Honors Theses

In an interview in 1977, seven years before his death, Michel Foucault made the following profound and controversial statement:

Truth is a thing of this world: it is produced only by virtue of multiple forms of constraint.

Within this sentence lies perhaps his most contested assertion: that knowledge is not some property of statements or beliefs that exist separately from relations of power within societies and discourses, but is constituted by and constitutive of them. Foucault's genealogies of sexuality and punishment are the most notable means by which he develops this claim, and their own potent explanatory powers leave us …

Illuminating A Space For Women And Rhetoric, Lindsey M. Fox

Honors Theses

My overarching concerns are for the place and power of women in rhetoric and democracy. This concern developed during my study of classical rhetoric, when I noticed an obvious absence of women in rhetoric. For example, John Poulakos and Takis Poulakos state that any "ordinary person" could play a role on the political stage in Athens (34). This reference to "ordinary people" is proof that women were made invisible because, as George A. Kennedy explains, in classical Athens, democracy was only for "an assembly of all adult male citizens" (16). Male citizens, then, were actually rather extra-ordinary. Because democracy …

"Their Shoes Yet New" : The Immigrant Image In The Baltimore Riots Of 1812 And The Disagreement Over Nationality, John K. Dunn Jr

Honors Theses

This paper examines the ways in which immigrants were characterized in Baltimore immediately following that city's Riots in 1812. It finds that the "native" majority used the immigrant image in an attempt to determine the criteria of nationality. That image was not settled, however, and rather constituted a discussion between interested groups about the relative importance of ethnicity in the years before Jacksonian democracy. It also concludes that the peculiar conditions and social divisions of Baltimore directly contributed to the Baltimore Riots and that the riots provided an opportunity for prevalent stereotypes to surface.

Only In Story A World : Atheistic Metanarrative In Leguin, Pullman And Wolfe, Samuel N. Keyes

Honors Theses

Ursula K. Le Guin, Philip Pullman, and Gene Wolfe, despite their apparent ideological as well as stylistic differences, all profoundly question the way modernity has divided knowledge, posing serious challenges to contemporary distinctions between religion, science and magic. Moreover, they share a common concern for the power of narrative to accomplish this critique.

In each of their multivolume fantasies, the differences between the categories of science and religion become meaningless. After such a deconstruction, the possibility of nihilism looms unless a new system of meaning surfaces. The move away from discrete areas of science and religion, therefore, in these works …

A Cost Benefit Analysis Of The State Of Tennessee's Child Support Guidelines : How Can The Orders Be Better Encouraged And Enforced?, Jennifer B. Vanzant

Honors Theses

Due to a growing number of The State of Tennessee's parents who should be receiving child support instead receiving welfare, the State is reexamining the makeup of the guidelines. Tennessee's existing child support regulations are written in a language that most individuals can interpret, but issues of compensation for additional dependents, low and very low income families, and shared parenting are three key circumstances producing inequalities that need to be improved within the guidelines. Judicial review has already made several advances in the way child support is awarded. New law has recently developed from child support case decisions regarding moneys …

Cancer Pain: An Allopathic Or Alternative Approach?, Amanda Keating Walker

Honors Theses

The American Cancer Society estimates that 1,334,100 new cancer cases will be diagnosed in 2003 and that 17 million new cancer cases have been diagnosed since 1990. They have also determined that in the U.S., men have a slightly less than 1 in 2 lifetime risk of developing cancer and women have a 1 in 3 chance of being diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. These statistics show that cancer will touch the life of at least one person you know; unfortunately that person may be someone very close to you. It's extremely difficult to watch someone you love endure …