Digital Commons Network^™

The Influence Of Plant Modularity On The Defense Against Specialist Insect Herbivory, Jill Syrotchen

Honors Theses

Little work has been done to determine the relationship between modularity and chemical defense induction against herbivory in herbaceous plant species. We investigated this topic using Asclepias syriaca, common milkweed, and one of its specialist aphid herbivores, Aphis nerii. We studied milkweeds of varying modularities growing in the prairies of Pierce Cedar Creek Institute in Hastings, MI and introduced A. nerii to the plants, monitoring growth of plants and aphid populations over time. After A. syriaca leaves and A. nerii were harvested from study sites, leaf samples from aphid and control treatments were analyzed to measure variation with degree of …

Gdf-15 As A Biomarker For Glaucoma, Caylee Pattison

Honors Theses

Biomarkers are measurable substances in an organism that are indicative of some phenomenon. Examples of biomarkers in clinical settings are body temperature and blood pressure. Body temperature is indicative of a fever while blood pressure can be used to monitor someone’s risk of a stroke. Previous studies have investigated the possibility of there being a potential biomarker for glaucoma. One possible biomarker identified is growth differentiation factor 15 or GDF15. These studies prompted a study in our lab using a rat glaucoma model. The objective of this study was to show there is a biomarker present for the neurodegenerative disease, …

Effects Of Muscle Activation On Gdnf Protein Content In Skeletal Muscle, Ramsey Potter

Honors Theses

Impairment of neuromuscular function as a result of aging is primarily associated with degeneration of the peripheral nervous system and loss of type II muscle fibers (Lexell et al, 1988). Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a neurotrophic factor found in skeletal muscle that has been shown to rescue motor neurons from axotomy-induced cell death (Oppenheim et al., 1995) and to induce NMJ plasticity (Keller-Peck et al., 2001). The aim of this study was to examine GDNF protein content following muscle activation in vitro and in vivo models. GDNF protein content was measured in rat gastrocnemius muscles following differing …

Do Global Diets Affect The Rate Of Type 2 Diabetes?, Demetria Meyer

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study is to determine whether different global diets correlate with the increase in type 2 diabetes rates. Type 2 diabetes is the main diabetes type being looked at due to it being the one that can be maintained primarily by glycemic control, which is controlled by a good diet. Five different countries from different regions will be examined: Brazil, China, Micronesia, Nigeria, and the United States. The diets of these countries will be broken down into smaller pieces, like calories consumed each day and the percentage of macronutrients that make up the calories. Eleven food groups …

Electromagnetic Radiation Shield For Spacecraft, Oseas Hudy-Velasco

Honors Theses

To protect astronauts from high-energy radiation during long-duration missions, an electromagnetic radiation shield was designed and sized for the Orion spacecraft with physical dimensions at a 1:100 scale and magnetic fields and particle energies at a ∼1:10833.3 scale. The electromagnetic radiation shield was simulated in the multi-physics software Comsol using the Magnetic Fields and Particle Tracing modules. The scale model used a DC amperage of 60 A with a 9-turn solenoid wound in three layers and the full-size system used a DC amperage of 6500 A and a 5-layer solenoid of 390 turns per layer. These models generated magnetic fields …

For The Ones Who Come After You, It Will Be Easier: An Exploration And Analysis Of Eugenics In The Reproductive Dystopian Genre, Morgan Manning

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Experiences Of Asexual People In The Lgbtq+ Community, Z Rankin

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Eggshell Coloration On Egg Cannibalism Among Glaucous-Winged Gulls, Isabelle Hwang

Honors Theses

A common source of reproductive loss in gulls is egg cannibalism. At a large Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) colony on Protection Island, Washington, cannibalism accounts for 55% of egg loss. Because cannibalism is a form of predation and birds have a highly developed sense of vision, I hypothesized that visible light coloration of Glaucous-winged Gull eggs plays a role in determining whether they are cannibalized. I used logistic regression to test whether egg fate was related to egg brightness, specific coloration, specific spot coverage, coloration relative to the most common coloration, and spot coverage relative to the most common spot …

Synthesis Of Oxygenated Boronic Acid Substituted A-Cyanostilbenes For Use As Antibacterial, Yewon Kim

Honors Theses

Stilbenes are naturally occurring compounds that have exhibited antibacterial activity, although the biological effect of various stilbenes differs for Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains of bacteria. In prior research, cyanostilbenes have shown slight antibacterial activity (Brownlee, et al. 1943). This project aims to explore whether hybrid oxygenated a-cyanostilbenes possessing a boronic acid pharmacophore exhibits significant antibacterial activity (Das et al. 2013). The biological activity against Staphylocococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) was tested using the Kirby-Bauer text. No inhibition of E. coli growth was shown while S. aureus was partially inhibited.

A Note On The Onset Of Synchronous Egg Laying In A Seabird Behavior Model, Dorothea Gallos, Christiane Gallos

Honors Theses

Protection Island, Washington hosts a large colony of Glaucous-winged gulls (Larus glaucescens). These birds are known to exhibit every-other-day egg-laying synchrony in dense areas of the colony in response to egg cannibalism, which is the main source of egg loss. Here we present an equilibrium analysis of a discrete-time animal behavior model for egg laying. We use Jury Conditions to find the stability criteria for the equilibrium as a function of the colony density and show that a 2-cycle bifurcation occurs when the equilibrium loses stability. The 2-cycle pattern in egg laying becomes increasingly synchronous as the colony density increases. …

Evaluating Mutagenicity Of Burned Arginine-Based Heterocyclic Amines And Anti-Mutagenicity Effect Of Chinese Medicinal Herbs, Rayford C. Alva

Honors Theses

From the unexpected finding that cooked grains and meat substitutes elicit a mutagenic response in Salmonella typhimurium TA98, our work has been aimed at deconstructing this finding via a survey of heated binary amino acid combinations, involving arginine, a plant-based amino acid. secondly, our work has looked towards sing phytochemical extracts from traditional Chinese medicinal herbs to inhibit the mutagenic activity of heterocyclic amines (main culprit for mutagenicity in meat). Two fractions from the burned products of arginine and phenylalanine (RF-HCA-06 and -07) were statistically significant inducers of mutagenesis; Scutellaria barbata and Oldenlandia diffusa, both separately and together, were statistically …

Critical Amino Acids For The Folding Of Carboxypeptidase O, Donn Latour

Honors Theses

Enzymes must fold properly to function. For carboxypeptidases, a prodomain usually assists in this process. However, carboxypeptisdase O (CPO) can fold without one. We hypothesized that this prodigious ability could arise from an amino acid whose fortunate positioning stabilizes its neighbors during folding. We identified four unique, conserved amino acids and mutated them to their equivalent counterpart in CPA, a cousin of CPO, which requires a prodomain. We expressed the mutated genes in mammalian cells and checked for expression by western blotting. Our results indicate that three of four mutations were not expressed, hinting at the possible importance of these …

The Effects Of The Omega-3 Fatty Acid Decosahexaenoic Acid On Intracellular Myo-Inositol Levels And The Ino1 Gene Expression In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Taejun Ok

Honors Theses

Bipolar disorder is a mental disorder portrayed with repeated episodes of mania and depression. Its current treatments often entail inefficacy and negative side effects. From previous clinical research, omega-3-fatty acids were suggested to be effective in the amelioration of bipolar disorder. Such an effect is hypothetically attributed to their ability to alter the level of myo-inositol, a molecule that valproate and lithium are known to deplete out. Thus, the goal of this study is to determine the effects of the omega-3 decosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on myo-inositol levels and the expression of the myo-inositol synthase gene INO1. Yeast cells were cultured …

Recognizing The Beauty And Science Of Diversity: A Tale Of Orchidaceae, Claire M. Kelley

Honors Theses

This honors thesis is a study of the diversity of the Orchidaceae family and the use of science and art to describe that diversity. The scientific topics about orchid diversity that are discussed are morphology, pollinator relationships, and the biogeographical range of the orchid family. These topics helped narrow down the species that were used in the artistic side of this thesis. The artistic aspect of this thesis includes four pieces of artwork that illustrate the beauty of the Orchidaceae family by showcasing specific species and using different mediums to capture the family in all its beauty. The four pieces …

The Relationship Between Place And Depression: The Effects Of Socioeconomic Status On Mental Health In Mccreary County, Kentucky, Beth A. Vanover

Honors Theses

There is an increased rate of poor mental health days in McCreary County, Kentucky, related to low socioeconomic status compared to other counties in the Commonwealth. This correlation is shown by examining the area’s socioeconomic indicators, such as the population’s educational attainment, employment rates, average household income, rates of poverty, and comparing these statistics with the rate of poor mental health days. Additionally, as part of the current study, residents of McCreary County were interviewed to elicit feedback on ways in which living and working in McCreary County can contribute to a poor mental health. Subsequently, these qualitative interviews were …

An Exploration Of The Effects Of Parenting A Child Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Morgan Wherry

Honors Theses

There is an increasing prevalence of ASD diagnoses, which calls for more research on the caregivers. This study’s goal was to explore primary and secondary sources to identify themes of potential research within this topic. This study analyzed the existing literature and archival data to create seven themes: parental stress, stress-inducing ASD symptomology, ASD vs. other disorders, mothers vs. fathers, coping mechanisms of caregivers, substance use, and incarceration. A potential future research project idea is presented.

Diagnosis And Treatment Of Sylvia Plath And Virginia Woolf, Molly King

Honors Theses

Previous research indicates a correlation between creativity and psychopathology, particularly among female authors and poets, possibly heightening this group’s risk for suicide. This article aims to provide a psychohistory containing psychological evaluations and hypothetical treatments plans for two prominent female writers, Sylvia Plath and Virginia Woolf both of whom completed suicide. Primary source material such as Plath’s journals, Woolf’s diaries, and related autobiographies were used as supplemental data for the clinical assessment. Plath is argued to have hypothetically met today’s DSM-5 criteria for Major Depressive Disorder, and Woolf for Bipolar I Disorder in addition to trauma-related difficulties.

Optimization Of Camera Trapping Methods For Surveying Mesopredators In The Appalachian Foothills, Courtney R. Hayes

Honors Theses

The global decline of apex predators has allowed mesopredator populations to increase, a phenomenon described by the mesopredator release hypothesis (MRH). Some mesopredator species, however, are of conservation concern, such as the eastern spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius). To assess camera deployment strategies and survey for the presence of eastern spotted skunks in the Appalachian Foothills, I conducted baited camera trap surveys in Kentucky, a state for which systematic methodological data is lacking. I surveyed 64 sites across 10 counties over more than 1,200 trap days from October 2017 to April 2018. I detected approximately 400 individual mesopredators of …

Determining The Role Of Fatty Acid Composition In Antibiotic Resistance, Andrew Deak

Honors Theses

Bacterial infections that can no longer be treated by antibiotics because of bacterial mutations cause many infections and deaths each year. My research conducted aims to study how membrane fatty acid composition can affect membrane susceptibility to antibiotics. Listeria monocytogenes, a gram-negative facultative anaerobe, is the bacterium that I am testing. Listeria has 80-90% branched-chain fatty acids (BCFAs) which allow membrane fluidity and sufficient protection against invaders. When Listeria is grown in the presence of butyrate, the BCFAs become straight-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and make the once fluid membrane more rigid. This allows for easier antibiotic penetration of the phospholipid …

The Influence Of Self-Enhancement And Stress On Weight Gain: A Biopsychosocial Approach, Olivia G. Grondalski

Honors Theses

The current longitudinal study was conducted to test if people perceive their physical body size to be smaller than it is, and if people do self-enhance their body size, then how do body self-enhancement and stress interact to predict subsequent Body Mass Index (BMI). This study toke a biopsychosocial approach to understanding why people make health decisions by measuring participants’ self-enhancement, perceived stress, cortisol baseline levels, and stress reactivity and observing their associations and interactions with subsequent weight gain. Self-enhancement is a type of positive illusion characterized by overly positive attitudes people have towards themselves, which is used for promotion …

Characterization Of The Glycosylation Of Aquaglyceroporin Hc-3 In Erythrocytes From The Freeze Tolerant Anuran, Dryophytes Chrysoscelis, Dante L. Pezzutti

Honors Theses

By utilizing an extreme physiological adaptation known as freeze-tolerance, Cope’s gray tree frog, Dryophytes chrysoscelis, freezes and then subsequently thaws up to 65% of its extracellular fluid to survive the winter. During these periods of freezing and thawing, erythrocytes (RBCs) of D. chrysoscelis utilize a protein, aquaglyceroporin HC-3, that facilitates transmembrane flux of both water and cryoprotective glycerol to mediate osmotic adjustments. RBCs from cold-acclimated tree frogs up-regulate HC-3 protein expression, which coincides with more abundant membrane localization and higher levels of glycosylation. However, the functional significance of HC-3 glycosylation on membrane localization and cellular freeze tolerance is currently not …

The Influence Of Self-Esteem And Stress On Academic Performance In College Students, Angel J. Pagan

Honors Theses

The research sought to examine if there was an association between performance self-esteem (i.e., self-worth regarding academic performance) and stress (perceived and physiological) on end of semester grade point average (GPA) in college students. It is hypothesized that the effect of performance self-esteem on GPA at the end of the semester will vary by stress. In the two part longitudinal study participants completed measures to assess performance self-esteem and perceived stress. Participants also provided two saliva samples to assess the steroid hormone cortisol, before and after an acute lab stressor task. Participants were for permission for the researchers to access …

Changes In Herbaceous Plant Diversity In An Old-Growth Ohio Forest Before And After Emerald Ash Borer Invasion, Taylor Melissa Buskey

Honors Theses

The herbaceous layer of eastern North American deciduous forests is an important contributor to biodiversity in this region. One of the greatest threats to herbaceous plant diversity is the introduction of invasive species, which can suppress native species and alter local environmental conditions. Agrilus planipennis (emerald ash borer) is a non-native insect pest that has caused a mass death of ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) in North America since its introduction to the United States. The resultant changes in canopy structure may affect local conditions and thus have indirect impacts on herbaceous layer composition. Drew Woods State Nature Preserve is a …

The Application Of Neurologically-Controlled Robotics To Actuated Feeding Arms, Timothy Dombrowski

Honors Theses

The medical industry is constantly performing research and trying to combat various diseases that afflict humans. Despite advancements in technology, there still remain diseases that have no cure but seem prime candidates for neurologically controlled robots. One such category of diseases consists of various muscular dystrophic diseases. Diseases such as ALS and Parkinson’s have limited options regarding treatment, but by brain controlled interfaces (BCI’s), robotics can help mitigate the impact on a patient’s quality of life. By utilizing a functioning mind, an electroencephalographic (EEG) helmet can be used to control various exoskeletal systems and even prosthesis in order to compensate …

Chronic Administration Of Probiotic L. Rhamnosus Increases Anxiety-Like Behavior In Group-Housed Male Long Evans Rats, Parker Maddison Griff

Honors Theses

Early life stress is a risk factor for later development of alcohol use disorders and anxiety disorders in humans. Using rodent experimental models, we know that rats experiencing social isolation as early-life stress exhibit greater anxiety-like behavior and alcohol consumption than rats housed in groups. Examining potential preventive strategies, we investigated the effects of probiotics, which have previously been shown to decrease rodent anxiety-like behavior, on the relationship between early-life stress and anxiety-like behavior in rats. We hypothesized that probiotics consumption would decrease anxiety-like behavior in socially isolated rats, as well as in rats housed in groups. To our surprise, …

The Impact Of The 515nm Effect On 1o2 Quenching In Photosynthesis: Model System Studies Using Β-Carotene–Acid Complexes, Lauren A. Hoody

Honors Theses

β-carotene (βC) is an orange pigment present in the photosynthetic reaction center (PRC) of green plants, where it plays a vital role in photosynthesis: It quenches singlet oxygen (1O2 , a toxic oxidizing species generated during photosynthesis) before the 1O2 damages chlorophyll and other components of the PRCs. During photosynthesis, βC temporarily converts from its native orange–450 state to a pink–515 state via the so–called 515nm Effect. Because of the differences between the electronic structures of orange–450 and pink–515, I hypothesize that pink–515 will quench 1O2 less efficiently than orange–450. This hypothesis has not been tested to date because orange–450 …

Differences In The Development Of Internalizing And Externalizing Behaviors In Offspring Of Depressed Mothers, Hannah Jackson

Honors Theses

This study examines the development of internalizing and externalizing behaviors in offspring raised by mothers with depression. Specifically, it explores mediating variables that explain differential associations of maternal depression with the offspring outcomes of internalizing problems and externalizing problems. Previous research has established that there is an association between maternal depression and the development of emotional and depressive (internalizing) behaviors as well as delinquency and antisocial (externalizing) behaviors in children. This study evaluates factors such as family instability, parental patterns and behaviors, and mother-offspring relationships in order to better understand the intervening processes that explain the link from maternal depression …

Revising The Geological Time Scale: A Conop9 Graptolite Composite From The Middle Ordovician Rocks Of Newfoundland, Katherine Michel

Honors Theses

The Geological Time Scale is a fundamental tool for geoscientists that is revised and republished every eight years. It is a representation of the geologic record - a system composed of radioisotope dates interpolated into fossil successions that can be used to correlate rocks. The current Geologic Time Scale for the Ordovician Period (GTS 2012) is composed of a sequence of species ranges from a group of fossils called graptolites with interpolated radiometric dates. Building a global geologic time scale requires correlating between different biofacies.

In this thesis I will attempt to combine stratigraphic range data from different kinds of …

The Effects Of Anxiety Induction On Olfactory Function In Healthy Young Adults, Lauren T. Olson

Honors Theses

There is significant overlap in the neural structures involved in the human limbic (emotion) and olfactory systems, and prior research findings have suggested both positive and negative associations between anxiety and odor detection sensitivity (threshold), odor identification accuracy, and odor hedonic ratings (Havlicek et al., 2012; Krusemark et al., 2013). However, knowledge about whether anxiety causes changes in olfactory perception remains unclear due to limited research findings. The present study aimed to extend the literature on olfaction and state anxiety by investing the impact of an anxiety induction on odor detection sensitivity, odor identification accuracy, and odor hedonic ratings. It …

Alcohol Deprivation Effect: An Investigation Of A Model Of Alcohol Dependence And Relapse Behaviors In Male And Female Long Evans Rats, Hanna J. Peterson

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to understand relapse behavior through a pre-clinical rodent model of relapse which models the important aspects of the human addiction and relapse condition, called the alcohol deprivation effect (ADE) model. It has been found to model alcohol addiction and relapse in rats and can therefore allow for further understanding of relapse behavior as well as allow for testing of the effects of various variables like stress or therapeutic drugs on relapse behavior. The model gives rats baseline access to ethanol and then allows them access to only water, called deprivation periods, and then gives …