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Honors Theses

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Developing An Intracellular Neurobiology Lab Sequence For Use In An Interdisciplinary Neurobiology Course, Aleksandra Kozlova-Harris Jan 2012

Developing An Intracellular Neurobiology Lab Sequence For Use In An Interdisciplinary Neurobiology Course, Aleksandra Kozlova-Harris

Honors Theses

The goal of my research was to evaluate procedures currently used in the Intracellular Leech Lab in order to modify the Neurobiology ZOOL475 Lab to increase the rate of successful intracellular recordings for future Neurobiology students. Two approaches were used: the first was to evaluate the possibility of using a less expensive leech species in order to allow students unlimited attempts at recording from ganglia without budget constraints. The second was to evaluate various raising conditions (water, temperature, and age) to optimize the quality of the leech ganglia. Both approaches provided useful information to improve lab success.


The Effects Of Chloro Linoleate Acylal Prodrugs On The Inositol Biosynthetic Pathway In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Steffie-Ann Dujon Jan 2012

The Effects Of Chloro Linoleate Acylal Prodrugs On The Inositol Biosynthetic Pathway In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Steffie-Ann Dujon

Honors Theses

Bipolar disorder is a debilitating mental illness characterized by recurrent episodes of mania and depression. FDA-approved drugs lithium and valproate, are the most common treatments for this disorder. Currently, omega-3 fatty acids are being researched as an alternative treatment, free of the negative side effects valproate and lithium exhibit. The mechanisms by which valproate and lithium work are unclear, however they effectively lower intracellular inositol levels. Valproate and omega-3 fatty acids similarly inhibit yeast cell growth as well as protein kinase C activity. We hypothesize that omega-3 fatty acids can also decrease inositol levels. A prodrug combining structural properties of …


No. 334: A Visual Exploration Of Race And Identity, Naudline Pierre Jan 2012

No. 334: A Visual Exploration Of Race And Identity, Naudline Pierre

Honors Theses

Throughout history, humans have invented several methods of classification - most of which are unsettling. The human need to classify is one that is deeply rooted in the search for identity. The need to fit, the need to explain, and the need to rationalize the world around us is a powerful incubator in which the process of human classification takes place. Although this thesis project involves a substantial amount of research, it is essentially a documentation of my journey to finding my identity through the lens of human classification based on physical attributes. Through the research of various human classification …


The Effects Of Pyrilamine On The Selectivity Of Phonotaxis, Kristin Chung Jan 2012

The Effects Of Pyrilamine On The Selectivity Of Phonotaxis, Kristin Chung

Honors Theses

Hormones modulate phonotactic behaviors of female crickets (Acheta domesticus). This project seeks to observe the changes in phonotactic behavior when anti-histamine is injected in the prothoracic ganglion. The anti-histamine used, pyrilamine, resulted in older, unselective females becoming more selective to the male calling songs. Females injected with saline (controls) remained unselective. The experiments with pyrilamine (anti-histamine) validates histamine's proposed role on phonotactic selectivity by enhancing inhibition of syllable period selective neural circuits in the prothoracic ganglion.


Intraindividual Variation In The Calling Songs Of The Cricket Gryllus Pennsylvanicus, Lauren Van Putten Jan 2012

Intraindividual Variation In The Calling Songs Of The Cricket Gryllus Pennsylvanicus, Lauren Van Putten

Honors Theses

The goal of this project was to examine intraindividual variability in the calling song of the male cricket, Gryllus pennsylvanicus. We evaluated syllable period and chirp period lengths under both constant and changing temperature conditions. Significant variability in chirp and syllable period length was found under constant conditions, suggesting males are subject to internal variability without any effects from the environment. Significant variability was also seen in chirp and syllable period length for crickets under changing temperature condtions. There was a two to five minute delay in response to the temperature change.


Mating Patterns And Breeding Success In The Larus Glaucescens-Occidentalis Complex, Protection Island, Washington, Andre E. Moncrieff Jan 2012

Mating Patterns And Breeding Success In The Larus Glaucescens-Occidentalis Complex, Protection Island, Washington, Andre E. Moncrieff

Honors Theses

Glaucous-winged gulls (Larus glaucescens) and Western gulls (Larus occidentalis) are found along the Pacific Coast. Where their breeding ranges overlap in Oregon and Washington they hybridize, producing a continuum of phenotypic variation. Whereas most colonies containing these hybrids are found on islands along the coast, several, including a large colony on Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge, WA, are located in the Salish Sea. In 2010 I scored the henotypes of 81 gull pairs at the Protection Island cology using an index based on plumage melanism and bare-part coloration. Gulls from the entire range of phenotypes in the L. glaucescens-occidentalis complex, …


Male And Female Differences In Communicating Conflict, Jessica Cinardo Dec 2011

Male And Female Differences In Communicating Conflict, Jessica Cinardo

Honors Theses

Research suggests that males and females communicate using different styles of interaction. Men and women are biologically different, but evidence also demonstrates a social difference. The patterns displayed in cross- sex communication often reveal how men and women interact interpersonally. In conflict situations the contrasting behaviors between the sexes become more evident. This is a collection of research defining and explaining the differences which exist between males and females and how those differences develop within communication. Conflict is a prevalent element of all relationships and the manner in which it is handled is crucial to the survival of those relationships. …


Westernization And Muslims In Western Europe, Sean Manahan Dec 2011

Westernization And Muslims In Western Europe, Sean Manahan

Honors Theses

Many scholars argue that as a whole, Muslims in Europe are not successfully integrating into European society. The reasons why are debated and still far from understood. It is clear, however, that many Muslim communities are negatively affected by many socioeconomic factors, leaving them poor and viewed as outcasts. Given these circumstances, scholars have suggested that some individuals join radical Islamist groups to give meaning to their lives and secure a sense of inclusion because they do not feel a part of the country in which they live. However, this fails to explain the numerous cases of highly educated, middle …


Photocatalytic Activity Of Zinc Oxide Thin Films Prepared By Dc Sputter Deposition And Thermal Oxidation, Robert Louder Dec 2011

Photocatalytic Activity Of Zinc Oxide Thin Films Prepared By Dc Sputter Deposition And Thermal Oxidation, Robert Louder

Honors Theses

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a wide-bandgap semiconductor with a broad range of applications, such as photocatalysis. The photocatalytic properties of ZnO result from the highly oxidizing holes and reducing electrons that are induced on the ZnO surface by ultraviolet (UV) light. The efficiency of electron-hole pair formation is therefore critical for photocatalysis, and thus the optical quality of the films in the UV region is of critical importance. ZnO thin films have been fabricated using DC sputter deposition of Zn-metal films followed by thermal oxidation at different temperatures (300, 600, and 900°C). Characterization of the optical properties of the resulting …


Social Distance As A Function Of Mental Health Status And Gender Of College Student Peers, Kaitlyn A. Zuilkowski Dec 2011

Social Distance As A Function Of Mental Health Status And Gender Of College Student Peers, Kaitlyn A. Zuilkowski

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine college students' general preference for social distance from individuals who have mental disorders, as well as their preference for social distance from a peer with a specific diagnostic label of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), or a Stuttering Disorder. College students (N = 180) enrolled at a Southeastern liberal arts university completed the Modified Social Distance Scale which assessed general preference for social distance from people with mental disorders and subsequently read a short vignette describing a male or female college student who had been diagnosed with and …


Co-Crystallization And Polymorphism Of Naturally Occurring Peptide Derivatives, Kevin Crowley Dec 2011

Co-Crystallization And Polymorphism Of Naturally Occurring Peptide Derivatives, Kevin Crowley

Honors Theses

Carnosine is a dipeptide compound that is found in many dietary supplements and food products. Carnosine has many functions in the body, such as alleviating oxidative stress on tissues by acting as an antioxidant compound. Carnosine, therefore, has important anti-aging properties. Carnosine is also capable of forming protective sequestration structures around heavy metal ions; this process of chelating metals ions in solutions is very beneficial for maintaining the well-being of cells in the body. Thus, carnosine could be useful in pharmaceutical products for creating anti-aging drugs that would reduce tissue stress and promote a healthy cellular environment. I attempted to …


Selectivity Of Prey Capture Based On Prey Size In The Venus Fly Trap (Dionaea Muscipula Ellis), Jessica Humenik Dec 2011

Selectivity Of Prey Capture Based On Prey Size In The Venus Fly Trap (Dionaea Muscipula Ellis), Jessica Humenik

Honors Theses

Venus fly traps (Dionaea muscipula Ellis) are carnivorous plants that live in nutrient poor soils and must digest insects to supplement their diets. When a Venus fly trap captures an insect, the plant's traps do not fully close for several minutes, which may allow small prey to escape. It would be beneficial for the plant to consume a large, nutrient-rich prey item as opposed to a small prey item. We tested the hypothesis that Venus fly traps select larger prey by offering plants small and large crickets. A Kruskal-Wallis test and Wilcoxon signed rank test were used to test significance …


Lesson Not Learned: Deepwater Horizon Research And Media Coverage Exposes Gaps In Knowledge And Risky Protocol Within The Oil Industry, Lauren Haller Dec 2011

Lesson Not Learned: Deepwater Horizon Research And Media Coverage Exposes Gaps In Knowledge And Risky Protocol Within The Oil Industry, Lauren Haller

Honors Theses

An insatiable thirst for oil has led poorly coordinated, risk-prone megasystems deeper into the ocean in search of new oil reserves. Profit-driven agendas at the corporate level have a top-down effect within these megasystems. Cost-cutting and risk-downplaying leaves the field employees unprepared to handle emergencies. A series of costly mistakes led to the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which caused extensive damage to an already fragile ecosystem in the Gulf of Mexico. The wealth and political influence of the oil industry overpowers lax regulatory agencies and legislation-even though media and research has exposed frustrating parallels between the Deepwater Horizon …


Age Predicted Heart Rate Max Equations In College-Aged Students, Jessica Benchley Dec 2011

Age Predicted Heart Rate Max Equations In College-Aged Students, Jessica Benchley

Honors Theses

Many clinicians use heart rate to tell how fit an individual is and how healthy they are. They can prescribe exercise based on heart rate and other medical conditions to help clients get better through exercise. Instead of running a client through a graded exercise test each time there is a problem, it would be much more effective to find an accurate equation to predict a max heart rate value and prescribe exercise using that value. The purpose of this experiment is to see which equation tends to predict the most accurate max heart after.


An Analysis Of The Dietary Behaviors Of Coastal Carolina University's Ncaa Division I Student-Athletes, Alyssa Markowitz Dec 2011

An Analysis Of The Dietary Behaviors Of Coastal Carolina University's Ncaa Division I Student-Athletes, Alyssa Markowitz

Honors Theses

It is common knowledge that practice is the key to becoming better at something. This theory holds true with almost anything, from tying shoelaces to becoming a professional athlete. Elite athletes say that what has made them reach the top in their sports today is an incredible amount of dedication to repeatedly practicing their skills. As competition in sports becomes fiercer and starts at an increasingly younger age, practicing gains emphasis, but this is not the only aspect of achieving optimal performance that is extremely important. There is another factor that plays into how well one performs that is not …


Western Culture And The Spread Of Serial Murder, Angela Pilson Dec 2011

Western Culture And The Spread Of Serial Murder, Angela Pilson

Honors Theses

Serial murders may have occurred in non-Western cultures, like Japan, South Africa, and Pakistan, before the introduction of Western ideals. These murders would have gone unnoticed and unreported if the populace did not know or understand the significant differences between serial murder and other types of violence and death. The people and authorities in non-Western cultures would not know of these differences unless they were made known to them or if they started to investigate the murders more closely. People from Western cultures who move to non-Western areas or communicate with non-Western natives may introduce these differences and familiarize the …


The Involvement Of 26s Proteasome Complex In Selenium Toxicity, Melissa Sabbagh Dec 2011

The Involvement Of 26s Proteasome Complex In Selenium Toxicity, Melissa Sabbagh

Honors Theses

Plants that hyperaccumulate elements like selenium to potentially toxic levels may use proteasome complexes to reduce toxicity. The 26S proteasome complex may be a pathway that these plants take to rid themselves of selenium toxicity by destroying damaged proteins caused by selenium. A method to test this hypothesis is to use a hyperaccumulator of selenium Stanleya pinnata and nonhyperaccumulators Populous tremula and Arabdopsis thaliana to evaluate their proteasome abundance without and with selenium. To compare these species western blots were made to show the differences in proteasome abundance. Also to compare the amount of oxidized and an ubiquinated protein in …


Music And Its Effect On Late Auditory Evoked Potentials In Elementary School Aged Children, Lee Helen Weeks Dec 2011

Music And Its Effect On Late Auditory Evoked Potentials In Elementary School Aged Children, Lee Helen Weeks

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.


Legislative Effects On The Morbidity Rates Of Meningococcal Disease Within The United States, Ashley Brown Dec 2011

Legislative Effects On The Morbidity Rates Of Meningococcal Disease Within The United States, Ashley Brown

Honors Theses

The main focus of this research is to compare the different methods used to control the outbreak of meningococcal disease and determine which one has the greatest effect on the morbidity rates by comparing the number of annual cases before and after the passing of the law. I hypothesize that the variation in state requirements will result in a difference in the incidence of meningococcal disease in each state. I predict that states requiring the vaccine will show a significant decrease in morbidity rates after the passing of the legislation.


Coastal Inundation Due To Storm Surge As Sea Level Changes Along The Northern South Carolina And Southern North Carolina Coast, Justin Hartnett May 2011

Coastal Inundation Due To Storm Surge As Sea Level Changes Along The Northern South Carolina And Southern North Carolina Coast, Justin Hartnett

Honors Theses

This study made use of the storm surge model in Peng, Xie, and Pietrafesa (2004) and Xia et al. (2004), to predict coastal inundation along northern South Carolina and southern North Carolina as sea level rises. Hurricane Hazel (1954) was used as the reference hurricane in this study, which made landfall at 33.85°N, 78.57°W, as a category 4 hurricane. Data was plotted and analyzed using Matlab, to produce inundation maps for four sea level rises (0.2m, 0.6m, 1.0m, and 2.0m). The greatest net storm surge was produced during a 2m sea level rise, which in return caused the greatest amount …


Anthropogenic Impact On Meiofauna In Myrtle Beach Area Estuaries, Melissa Martinez May 2011

Anthropogenic Impact On Meiofauna In Myrtle Beach Area Estuaries, Melissa Martinez

Honors Theses

The population of South Carolina has been steadily increasing for years, especially in coastal areas. In fact, Horry County, which contains Myrtle Beach, has shown a population increase of 37% in the last decade. With significant population increase comes a proportional increase in urbanization, defined by more industries, more buildings, and more natural areas encroached upon. Not only does urbanization physically impact the natural environment, there are also chemical impacts through the release of anthropogenic waste and chemicals. Through runoff and direct input, these chemicals can eventually reach the estuaries and may cause some changes in those communities. For this …


A Comparison Of Fish Growth Rates In A Pristine And An Urbanized Salt Marsh Estuary, Katherine Stohl May 2011

A Comparison Of Fish Growth Rates In A Pristine And An Urbanized Salt Marsh Estuary, Katherine Stohl

Honors Theses

Fish grow as they age, but not all fish grow at the same rate. Internal and external factors such as stress and food availability can change the growth rate. This study looks to see if the growth rates vary between North Inlet and Murrell’s Inlet, SC for red drum and striped mullet. Red drum grew faster and showed a typical length-frequency graph in North Inlet. The cause of the difference in growth was not tested, but human influence on the estuaries was considered to be a possible factor.


Mitochondrial Dna Inheritance In Bivalves: A Comparative Study Involving The Unique System Of Doubly Uniparental Inheritance, Sarah Heishman May 2011

Mitochondrial Dna Inheritance In Bivalves: A Comparative Study Involving The Unique System Of Doubly Uniparental Inheritance, Sarah Heishman

Honors Theses

A comparative study of Doubly Uniparental Inheritance (DUI) in the bivalve mollusks Mytilus edulis and Geukensia demissa has yielded unanticipated results. Around the world, it has been reported that members of the taxonomic family Mytilidae (along with the families of Unionidae and Veneridae) consistently exhibit DUI. However, the hard-to-place Geukensia demissa, which is a member of this family, has had varying reports of its DUI status. Most reports involving G. demissa vary with the location in which it is being studied, which prompts more questions than it answers. Due to many months of unsuccessful DNA purification attempts, sequencing and an …


Recovery Of The Long-Spine Sea Urchin, Diadema Antillarum, In Discovery Bay, Jamaica, 27 Years After Its Mass Mortality, Jessica Keller May 2011

Recovery Of The Long-Spine Sea Urchin, Diadema Antillarum, In Discovery Bay, Jamaica, 27 Years After Its Mass Mortality, Jessica Keller

Honors Theses

The long-spined sea urchin, Diadema antillarum, is a well-studied keystone herbivore on Caribbean coral reefs. The sea urchin controls benthic algae populations by grazing on macroalgae. Destruction caused by Hurricane Allen in 1980, along with the mass mortality of this urchin in 1983, greatly impacted Caribbean reef systems. In Discovery Bay, Jamaica, Diadema densities have been heavily studied over the years, allowing a review of their recovery and a prediction of their future. In Discovery Bay, densities were recorded to be up to 9.3 and 13.9 ± 2.8 m-2 at 5 m depth on the forereef before the mass mortality. …


Analysis Of The Water Fluoridation Controversy, Megan Presutti May 2011

Analysis Of The Water Fluoridation Controversy, Megan Presutti

Honors Theses

Analysis of the water fluoridation controversy.


Problem Solving And Functional Fixedness: A Comparison Between Eco-Reps And Non Eco-Reps, Keith G. Richard May 2011

Problem Solving And Functional Fixedness: A Comparison Between Eco-Reps And Non Eco-Reps, Keith G. Richard

Honors Theses

A quasi experiment was conducted to examine functional fixedness and creative problem solving. The purpose of this research was to attempt to identify differences in cognitive ability between recyclers and non recyclers. This researcher investigated whether recycling group affiliation or priming for functional fixedness would affect task performance among college students. A tower building activity was developed for this study to determine if members of a college recycling group, the Eco-Reps, would complete a problem solving activity faster than non Eco-Reps. Some participants in each group were primed for functional fixedness. This researcher hypothesized that Eco-Reps would complete the task …


Equitent Problems, Payton E. Lindsay, Katelynn Kochalski, Gary R. Lawlor Phd May 2011

Equitent Problems, Payton E. Lindsay, Katelynn Kochalski, Gary R. Lawlor Phd

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.


A Review Of Literature For Osteology: Cell Biology, Tissue Biology, And The Application Of Synthetic Compounds For The Facilitation Of Bone Tissue Repair, Ryan T. Jones May 2011

A Review Of Literature For Osteology: Cell Biology, Tissue Biology, And The Application Of Synthetic Compounds For The Facilitation Of Bone Tissue Repair, Ryan T. Jones

Honors Theses

Bone is a dynamic matter that provides support, structure, mineral reserves, and stem cell reserves for the body. Important functions range from structural support for the body to roles in maintaining homeostasis. Structure and support for the body is the most obvious role, with the skeletal system as a whole providing a normal force for other tissues and organs to resist gravity. Protection is also inferred for tissues and organs from impacting forces, especially with axial bones covering vital organs in the thoracic cavity. Another function of bone includes the ability to store and release minerals when needed to maintain …


Analyzing Predator-Prey Models Using Systems Of Ordinary Linear Differential Equations, Lucas C. Pulley May 2011

Analyzing Predator-Prey Models Using Systems Of Ordinary Linear Differential Equations, Lucas C. Pulley

Honors Theses

The main operating concern of all species in any ecosystem or natural environment is rooted in the battle for survival.  This constant battle for survival is most highlighted in the two main modes of species interaction; categorized as predation or competition.  This research focused on applying biological mathematics to analyzing predation relationships, especially the relationship between the Canadian Lynx and the Snowshoe Hare.  This predation relationship is quite special, because these species interact in a relatively isolated manner compared to others, meaning their populations fluctuated in a regular cycle.  These population fluctuations can be defined and analyzed mathematically using systems …


Effects Of Nicotine And Emotional Priming On Ability To Inhibit Eye-Gaze Toward Emotional Stimuli In An Antisaccade Task In Nonsmokers, Nathaniel J. Wachter May 2011

Effects Of Nicotine And Emotional Priming On Ability To Inhibit Eye-Gaze Toward Emotional Stimuli In An Antisaccade Task In Nonsmokers, Nathaniel J. Wachter

Honors Theses

Saccadic eye movement tasks like the antisaccade task (AST) have been used to assess impulsivity and response inhibition in a variety of populations, including tobacco-abstinent smokers.  Previous studies using ASTs have shown nicotine to reduce reaction times (RTs) possibly reinforcing the habit of smoking. Research also shows nicotine to reduce attention to and distraction by emotionally negative stimuli, which may account for some of the ability of nicotine to reduce negative affect.  The present study was the first to assess the interactive effects of nicotine, emotional priming and emotional target stimuli on AST performance in nonsmokers.  Ten male and 14 …