Digital Commons Network^™

Bronze Sons Of The Forest On Display : Images Of American Indians At The 1898 Transmississippi And International Exposition, Josh Clough

Honors Theses

This study examines a large Indian encampment that was made part of an exposition held in Omaha, Nebraska in 1898. Relying almost exclusively on primary sources such as the two major newspapers in Omaha at the time, the World-Herald and the Bee, I attempt to uncover the diverse images cast by Indian delegates during their three month stay at the fair.· As well, I investigate reasons why Omaha seemed the perfect site to hold the Indian Congress and what incentives the natives had for attending. The long-term significance of the gathering, I conclude, lay mostly in the forum it …

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 Computational Approach To Determining Stability Constants For Transition Metal Ion Complexes, Jason St. Clair

Honors Theses

The complexation of metal ions in natural waters plays a critical role in defining the metal's biogeochemistry, Numerous investigators have used various experimental techniques to measure complexation constants in the laboratory, but many constants are still poorly undefined or have yet to be investigated due to the difficulty of some of the experiments. A computational approach to obtaining these constants for complexes of Fe(lII), Fe(D), Cr(lli), Cu(lI), Zn(II), and Cd(II) was explored with varying degrees of success. Calculated Gibbs Free Energies were compared to experimental stability constants. Calculations were performed using Spartan's DFT package at the pEP level and with …

Consumed By Faith: The Development Of Christian Fundamentalism And Its Applications In Contemporary Society, Laura M. Gagne

Honors Theses

My research aims to understand how and why fundamentalists justify violence against people who do not fit their profile of "righteous" or "saved" persons, such as abortion doctors and clinic workers, gays and lesbians, and Jews. The first section of this paper travels through the history of fundamentalism since its origins in the British and American apocalipticism, or belief in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. However, my history of Protestant Fundamentalism in the United States will focus on the ways in which Fundamentalism developed in response to many changes in American social structure. I interpret Fundamentalism as an anti-modern …

Cisplatin Interstrand Cross-Linking Of Defined Sequence Nucleosomal Dna, Erin Elizabeth Wilkes

Honors Theses

DNA interstrand cross-linking agents have been recognized for many years to be powerful antitumor chemotherapeutics. While the interactions between free DNA and many anticancer drugs have been explored extensively, there is less infonnation available about these interactions with nucleosomal DNA. Nitrogen mustards have been reported to exhibit relatively similar cross-linking sites and efficiencies of binding in free and nucleosomal DNA, but mitomycin C exhibits markedly reduced cross-linking near the center of nucleosomal DNA. This current study focuses on cisplatin interstrand cross-linking of the 154 base pair 55 rRNA gene fragment of Xenopus borealis reconstituted with histones from chicken erythrocytes. The …

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 …

New Balance Of Threat: East Asian Alliance Formation And Capacity Development, Ben Humphreys

Honors Theses

The different analyses and predictions of alliance behavior and capacity development advocated in the literature are based on the application of different theoretical perspectives to international relationships. As none of these theories dominate the field, the contradictory predictions do not empower current policy-makers with any clear sense of the future of alliance formation in East Asia. In this thesis I present the major theoretical frameworks that explain alliance formation behavior. Then I examine the empirical evidence independent of any theoretical considerations. I then apply the empirical evidence regarding capacity development in East Asia during 1990-1998 to these theories to determine …

Interactions Of Ti(Iv) And Sn(Iv) Organometallic Complexes With Double-Stranded Dna, Katherine Macdonald Davies

Honors Theses

In order to understand further the interactions that exist between specific organometallic complexes and DNA, reactions of double-stranded calf-thymus DNA with bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium dichloride [Cp₂TiC1₂] (TDC), bis(t-butylcyclopentadienyl)titanium dichloride [(C₄H₉Cp)₂TiC1₂] (r-butyl TDC), bis(i-propylcyclopentadienly)titanium dichloride [(C₃H₆Cp)2TiCl₂ a-propyl mc), bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) titanium dichloride [(Cp"₂TiC1₂ (pentarnethyl TDC), triphenyltin chloride (Ph₃SnCl), diphenylrin dichloride (Ph₂SnC1₂) , and triphenyltin acetate (Ph₃SnOAc) were performed. The goal of this research is to establish how the fundamental structure and composition of these compounds determine the effecti veness of their DNA interactions. Each metal compound was incubated with calf thymus DNA at several metal: DNA ratios and reactions were maintained at 37°C at …

American Holocaust Films: A Case Study In Jewish American Identity (1937-1993), Jeff Daniels

Honors Theses

When examining the image of the Jew in American Holocaust films, one is truly determining how American Jews view themselves. These films' presentation of Jews exposes not only how Jewish Americans wished to see themselves but also how much Gentile Americans wanted to see of Jewish culture. An exploration of America's Holocaust films from the late 1930s to the early 1990s reveals an increasing concentration of Jews as the main victims of the event. The degree to which this specificity is emphasized exhibits how much the American public accepted Jews and their plight. At the same time, the prevalence of …

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 …

The Clapham Sect : An Investigation Into The Effects Of Deep Faith In A Personal God On A Change Effort, Victoria Marple

Honors Theses

This study was undertaken primarily out of an apparent inability of leadership material to answer the question of "Why" in their studies of change efforts. Despite many scholarly materials on how societal alterations occurs and steps to make social action successful, little has been written regarding the internal influences on individuals involved in these efforts and on how these influences make the leader or group successful. This particular case study has been chosen because of its clear portrayal of various leadership theories including catalytic leadership, charismatic leadership and change theory. Moreover, writings about the Clapham Sect clearly evidence that the …

Determination Of Nizatidine-Guest Complexation Constants And Computer Aided Molecular Design, Carolyn J. Mordas

Honors Theses

Nizatidine, N-[2-[[[2-[(dimethylamino)methyl]-4-thiazoly]]methy1]thio]ethyl]-N'- methyl- 2-nitro-I,l, ethenediamine, has been investigated for its potential to act as a host to small molecules through hydrogen bonding and pi-pi interactions. In previous work, pyridoxine (vitamin B6) was hypothesized to have a high guest-host binding constant with nizatidine. This was supported through experimental methods involving one and two dimensional NMR spectroscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, and high performance liquid chromatography. Computer aided molecular design and three dimensional conformationally flexible database searching led to the discovery of other possible guests, including albuterol, which has exhibited even higher binding constants from HPLC.

European Integration And The Expansion Of The European Union: Identity Formation In Europe, Aaron P. Boesenecker

Honors Theses

The states of Europe and the European Union are facing one of the greatest challenges since the founding of the European Community in the 1950s. The collapse of the Soviet Union and end of the Cold War have served to strengthen the position of the European Union as a guarantor of democracy, peace, and fundamental human rights in Europe. However, crises such as the Balkan conflicts of recent years have also exposed inherent weaknesses in the Union's ability to respond to the changing international environment. As the Amsterdam Treaty entered into effect on 1 May 1999, the EU marked a …

Women And Work: An Analysis Of The Sociological And Historical Trends Of Maternity Leave Policies In The U.S., Gina M. Schrader

Honors Theses

This paper presents an analysis of maternity rights and regulations within the context of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 and the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993. First, I will define the legislation while observing the sociological and historical significance of the legislation. Second, I will analyze maternity leave policies of the modern working environment and address the increasing involvement of women within the workforce. Finally, I will examine the needs that are unmet within current policies and the possible alternatives.

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

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Cinematic Interpretations Of Katharina In William Shakespeare's The Taming Of The Shrew, Nicole K. Kirkham

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Sealion Postponed: Hitler And The Invasion Of Britain, Kenneth Alan Millard

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 …

Comparative Stamen Morphology Of The Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family), Hannah Kay

Honors Theses

The Ranunculaceae family, also known as the Crowfoot or Buttercup family, consists of some forty genera (Gleason, 1952). The species of Ranunculaceae are most abundant in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere and especially diverse in the eastern part of North America. Species living near the equator grow on high mountains in cool conditions. These plants are commonly found as herbs, but may also be found as shrubs or woody vines. Their structural variations create a myriad of distinct leaf types, petal types, flower configurations, stem growth patterns, and other morphological features. The focus of this project is on the …

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 …

Distributed Chess Game Using Java And Rmi, Christopher M. Jaynes

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Lessons Learned About Education And Training From Select Socrates Dialogues, Tabitha M. Barsky

Honors Theses

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote, "Men of genius are often dull and inert in society; as the blazing meteor, when it descends to earth, is only a stone." This thought correlates to the well quoted phrase, "Looks can be deceiving." This idea is one which applies to many disciplines. Pertaining to this essay it demonstrates to us that the stone, although old and discarded, can possibly represent something much greater than is seen. When applied to philosophy, words that are old, silting dead on a page, may prove astounding when reexamined. The Socrates dialogues by Plato, can certainly be seen by …

Surveying And Mapping Devil's Kitchen Lake, Williamson County, Illinois, Joseph Thomas Figarelli

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Production Of An Improved Vector For Synthesis And Purification Of Eukaryotic Transcription Factors (Gal4-Vp16, Gal4-Ad And Gal4-D), Pedro Oyarbide Valencia

Honors Theses

The main goal in conducting this series of experiments is to accomplish the construction of an expression vector that contains the coding regions for the GAL4 series transcription factors. This expression vector should possess special characteristics including a histidine tag that helps to easily locate the vector. The other main characteristic is a T7 promoter that allows for a high induction level upon addition of IPTG. The original pET21d expression vector was used in these experiments because it possesses these two intrinsic features. A sub-cloning process of the coding regions of the GAL4 series transcription factors (GAL4-AD, GAL4-D and GAL4-VP16) …

Non-Traditional Success: Steps To Follow When You Return To College, Lynn Callaly

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

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

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

A Study Of Customer Satisfaction With Products And Services Offered By The Bernhard Center, Heidi L. Haskins, Dana Hasselback, Kimberly Heffel, Dean Seales, Amanda Wartchow

Honors Theses

The purpose of this report was to conduct research for the Bernhard Center. The objective was to determine student and faculty/staff perceptions of the Bernhard Center. It also served to facilitate possible suggestions for ways to renovate or replace existing areas with facilities that better serve the population of Western Michigan University. The Bernhard Center is a popular place on campus for WMU students, faculty, and staff, as well as community members to eat, study, hold meetings and events, and socialize. In an effort to maintain or increase the appeal of the Bernhard Center among these groups, while at the …