Digital Commons Network^™

Herbal And Holistic Medicine In Latin America, William H. Lyle

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

A variety of herbal and holistic remedies were used in pre-Columbian cultures, especially in Aztec and Incan cultures. Many different herbs were used to provide medical attention to patients directly, while other herbs were used to supplement shaman^[1] medicine, which was particularly common in Inca culture. While there is little scientific basis for shamanism, as a viable healing option in modern culture, most herbal remedies had active chemical ingredients that could be or are used today to treat similar symptoms, and, in some cases, are being applied in different scenarios as well. The methods of usage, active chemicals, and …

Allelic Variability In The Cyp11b2 C344t Single Nucleotide Polymorphism From A Cohort Of East Africans, Spencer Wright

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Non-communicable disease (NCD), in particular cardiovascular disease, is a significant problem in developing countries. Essential hypertensions (EH) is a leading risk factor for vascular disease and while managing EH in developing countries is considered a high global priority, few studies exist from third world populations. From a cohort of Kenyans living in the Kasigau region, we have investigated the allele frequency of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) previously reported to correlate with salt-sensitive EH. The SNP being investigated is aldosterone synthase CYP11B2 C344T (rs1799998), a polymorphism in the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). The C344T polymorphism is located in the promoter region …

The Isolation And Characterization Of Tirotheta9, A Novel A4 Mycobacterium Phage, Sarah Schrader

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Bacteriophages are the most abundant biological entities on earth, yet relatively few have been characterized. In this project, a novel bacteriophage was isolated from the environment, characterized, and compared with others in the databases. Mycobacterium smegmatis, a harmless soil bacterium, served as the host and facilitated the enrichment and recovery of mycobacteriophages. A single phage type was purified to homogeneity and named TiroTheta9 (TT9). Electron microscopy revealed that the phage particles have icosahedral heads 58 ± 2 nm in diameter and tails 174 ± 5 nm in length. The TT9 genomic DNA was purified and sequenced using 454 pyrosequencing …

Hispanic Health Initiative: Creating A Sustainable Health Fair For An Immigrant Community, Chaz Arnold

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Previous demographic and social interest research conducted in Bowling Green, Kentucky has prompted concern for access to quality healthcare for immigrant populations, specifically for the Hispanic community. The missions of the preliminary investigation and subsequent implementation of a sustainable health fair for the Spanish-speaking community were to assess the primary health concerns that many Hispanics face and offer long-term solutions to collectively resolve these health issues. Preliminary investigation involved researching population-specific health statistics in order to quantify prevalence of certain conditions which were, in turn, prioritized in terms of necessity to address. Further research reflected personal concern from the target …

For The Love Of Things: An Exploration In The Art Of Storytelling, Georgina Kleinhelter

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

This project challenges the perception that are for younger audiences, as well as the belief that illustration is an extension of literary work, rather than a formula for convening a distinct story at once related to, and separate from, literary companion pieces. The project is comprised of six sections. The first half is made up of: an artist statement explaining the intention and influences behind the print series, an essay exploring my fine art influences, and an essay focusing on my literary influences. The second section is the series of prints, the collection of short stories, and the conclusion. The …

Astroglial Boundary Formation And Epha4 Signaling In Neuroblast Migration, Nicholas B. Gallo

University Scholar Projects

Adult neurogenesis, the process of generating new neurons from neural precursors, is a highly complex process that is limited to two specific areas of the brain, the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus and the subventricular zone (SVZ). Despite continued research investigating neurogenesis in these two regions, we still lack a fundamental understanding of the molecular mechanisms of neural cell division, migration, differentiation, and integration in the postnatal brain. In particular, the rostral migratory stream (RMS), which is a cellular migratory route for newly generated neuronal precursors that travel from the SVZ to the olfactory bulb, will provide a useful model …

Support From Unaffected Relatives Makes Big Difference In Fight Against Huntington's Disease, Kenneth P. Serbin

At Risk for Huntington's Disease

No abstract provided.

Integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge With Modern Day Ecosystem Management And Restoration Practices, Leialani O. Hufana

Master's Projects and Capstones

Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) is a fairly new area of research that can supplement science research and modern day ecosystem management practices. Indigenous cultures and local communities have been using and passing on TEK in forestry, agricultural, and aquaculture/marine ecosystem management. Through a review of literature, TEK in Hawaiʻi was compared to TEK in other countries. TEK was also compared to modern day ecosystem management practices to determine if TEK could be integrated. In Hawaiʻi an ahupuaʻa, a land transect that cuts the islands in sections from mountain to sea, was an integrated watershed based management system. TEK in ahupuaʻa …

Watershed Protection As The Primary Tool To Achieve High Quality Drinking Water, Kate J. Gazzo

Master's Projects and Capstones

In this study, a cost-effectiveness analysis and multiple case studies of cities ranging from New York City, USA to Bogota, Columbia are discussed to show how watershed protection can reduce the associated costs and risks stemming from impaired water and usually eliminate the need for human engineered treatment. A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed by comparing three municipalities that have obtained Filtration Avoidance Determinations through watershed protection (green infrastructure) compared with three municipalities that have installed human engineered filtration (gray infrastructure). Using turbidity and E. coli as indicators of effectiveness, the results of this analysis determined that human engineered infrastructure is …

Utility Right Of Way Management: Potential For Expanded Integrated Vegetation Managment In California, Kayla Paschal

Master's Projects and Capstones

Utility companies have the challenge of meeting vegetation clearance requirements within their right of ways and complying with various environmental laws and company goals. Vegetation management programs at the major utility companies cost millions of dollars a year. Reducing cost and increasing compliance are goals of right of way managers at utilities across the country. This paper looks at the possibility of increasing the utilization of integrated vegetation management on California’s utility right of ways. This paper will examine the current vegetation management strategy of California’s major utility companies and determine whether a more comprehensive integrated vegetation management program could …

Environmental Flow Regime Recommendations For The Promotion Of Salicaceae Seedling Recruitment In California’S Central Valley, Nicholas J. Torrez

Master's Projects and Capstones

Rivers around the world are being degraded due to alteration of natural flow regimes caused by the creation of dams and diversions to serve human needs for water. Alteration to natural flow regime affects a river’s flow magnitude, frequency, duration, timing, and rate of change of flow. These changes have major repercussions on the processes that drive riparian ecosystems. Repercussions to river processes are manifested in the degradation of riparian forest health. This is evident in the rivers of California’s Central Valley, where altered flow regimes are present in all of its major rivers. As a result, Salicaceae spp. are …

Using Enviromnetal Science Education To Empower Urban Youth To Overcome Environmental Injustices And Become Engaged Eco-Citizens, Jack J. Kearns

Master's Projects and Capstones

Science education, especially the discipline of environmental science, carries the unique opportunity to engage and empower urban youth of diverse backgrounds. Environmental science education helps establish a connection between youth and the natural world and helps youth engage in community-based stewardship activities while fostering ecological citizenry. When educators adopt innovative pedagogical approaches, students are better positioned to participate and develop a sustained interest in science. Field-based education transforms science learning and improves youth’s sense of place, self-confidence, and motivation. National and local case-studies of field-based learning programs demonstrate the powerful and transformative impact of using the Environment as a Integrated …

Evaluation Of Mangrove Ecosystem Restoration Success In Southeast Asia, Penluck Laulikitnont

Master's Projects and Capstones

Many restoration efforts have been implemented recently to offset the rapid degradation of mangrove ecosystem worldwide, especially in Southeast Asia where the largest area of mangrove ecosystem can be found. Two primary approaches used for mangrove ecosystem restoration include the plantation approach and the ecological mangrove restoration (EMR) approach. Monoculture plantation is the most common technique used in plantation approach, which usually results in low species diversity. The EMR approach on the other hand, focuses on correcting the hydrology of restoration sites first. Planting can be used as part of the adaptive management process if mangrove seedlings and propagules do …

Preliminary Hydrogen Sulfide Emission Factors And Emission Models For Wastewater Treatment Plant Headworks, Amitdyuti Sengupta

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Generation of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is a common phenomenon from wastewater collection, transport, and treatment processes. Impacts of H₂S emissions from wastewater include corrosion and reduction in the service life of wastewater infrastructure, odor nuisance in the community, and health impacts on wastewater operations and maintenance personnel (Neilsen, et al. WEFTEC 2006).

Conventional odor control studies performed by municipalities to design their individual odor/corrosion control strategies largely depend on establishing a dilution to detection threshold (D/T) ratio and ascertaining the recognition threshold (R/T) for air samples collected from the study area. These conventional odor studies based …

Design, Synthesis And Biological Evaluation Of Novel Compounds With Cns-Activity Targeting Cannabinoid And Biogenic Amine Receptors, Alexander M. Sherwood

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This work seeks to contribute to the discipline of neuropharmacology by way of structure activity relationship from the standpoint of an organic chemist. More specifically, we sought to develop robust synthetic methodology able to efficiently produce an array of compounds for the purpose of systematic evaluation of their interaction with specific sights within the central nervous system (CNS) in order to better understand the mind and to develop drugs that may have beneficial effects on neurological function.

The focus of these studies has been toward the development of novel molecules, using a structure-activity relationship approach, that exhibit binding affinity at …

Soundings 2014-05-16, N/A N/A

Soundings

No abstract provided.

The Echo: May 16, 2014, Taylor University

2013-2014 (Volume 101)

End of an Era – Senior sojourner – Top five news events of the week – Seniors enter MAHE program – In The Loop – School’s done, but summer’s just begun – Weather Forecast – Lost in space? – The merit myth – Around The World – Zombies, hackers and antigravity karts – Nerdster – The road ahead – The market equation – An ‘au pair’ summer – Ask Angelina – Editor’s Note – Graduates extend community through sports and service – DC Recipe of the week – Echograms #TaylorU -- #TaylorU’s Top Tweets – Narratives set to roll – …

Hepatitis E Seroprevalence Study In Canis Lupis Familiaris And Associations To Human Owners, Smith County, Texas, Andrea Grzybowski

Health and Kinesiology Theses

Sporadic, acute Hepatitis E is emerging more frequently in humans in the developed world, including Texas, and may be more abundant than we realize. One US human seroprevalence survey found HEV IgG rates of 21%. Many theorize a zoonotic nature of transmission; antibodies have been detected in a wide range of mammals. A recent study found 40% HEV prevalence in laboratory rabbits. Currently the USDA and CDC place suspicion on feral pigs. But studies in Asia have found HEV in up to 23% of domestic canines so what about man's best friend as a vector of transmission? A seroprevalence study …

The Potential For Marine Protected Areas In The San Francisco Bay, Samantha P. Delapena

Master's Projects and Capstones

The San Francisco Bay (the Bay) is the largest estuary on the Pacific Coast. This makes it one of country's greatest natural resources. Historical and current impacts from mining, pollution, and dredging have reduced the size of the Bay’s shallow, productive environment, which provides vital habitat for many important species. The seven and a half million people that inhabit the shores and hills surrounding the Bay, and economic activities such as commercial fishing and development continue to degrade ecosystems. Although conservation efforts have led to improvement of water quality and some habitat restoration over the past few decades, very little …

Rebranding The Wku Office Of Sustainability, Mary Boothe

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Since its inception in 2008, the WKU Office of Sustainability has struggled with general program and initiative awareness as well as student engagement in university sponsored sustainability activities. Attempts to target and capture an audience have been inconsistent due to lack of budget and staff, resulting in varying levels of success. The purpose of this project is to identify, through a population survey, a student market that is interested but unaware of the information, services, and initiatives provided by the WKU Office of Sustainability. Once identified, the market was assessed using statistical data and focus groups to determine the most …

Characterization Of A Mutant Bacteriophage That Overcomes An Antitermination Defect In E. Coli Rna, Kimberly Baugh

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Mutations in the highly conserved zinc-binding domain of the β’ subunit of E.coli RNA polymerase prevent the growth of phage that use a unique RNA-based mechanism of transcription antitermination. Here, we describe the isolation and characterization of a mutant phage that overcomes this block. The genome of the mutant only differs from the parental phage by 2 nucleotides. Close inspection of the sequences surrounding the mutation suggested that a new promoter had been created. This was confirmed by cloning the potential promoter sequences into a promoter probe expression vector. We hypothesize that the new promoter permits the expression of phage …

A Native Cyanobacteria, Nostoc, As A Biofertilizer, Clarice Esch

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The native cyanobacteria, Nostoc, is found throughout much of the US and has a cosmopolitan distribution. It is a found in free-living colonies on the surface of the ground, growing symbiotically with fungi to form lichen species, and grows symbiotically in the rhizomes of the angiosperm, Gunnera (Gunneraceae). Nostoc fixes atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, which may then be used or converted to a form suitable for plant growth. The free-living forms we investigated desiccate during times of dry weather and rehydrate to photosynthesize and fix nitrogen. Nostoc colonies were collected locally and allowed to desiccate to a uniform moisture …

Post-Secondary Student's Perception Of College Readiness Skills Developed During Secondary Education Careers, Loren Gross

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

This study is designed to collect information from participants in the AGRI 175 University Experience Agriculture course. The data collected will be focused on the college readiness and career preparedness of students coming from a secondary school system by being broken into the subcategories of: FFA/ 4-H/ Extracurricular, Classroom, Outside of Classroom Educational Obligations, and Miscellaneous. The study will use these four sections as primers for responses for the participants. The four areas will utilize questions to attain attributes in knowledge, skill, and abilities from the subjects with their experiences in secondary education. The goal of this study is to …

The Effects Of Statis Stretching On Measures Of Gross Motor Coordination During Vigorous Physical Activity, Stephanie Gaiko

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Static stretching has been linked to lesser performance in many sport activities. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of static stretching upon gross motor coordination patterns (GMCP) and power and fatigue markers exhibited during vigorous cycling. The performance of 28 females between the ages of eighteen and thirty were analyzed during the Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT). Using a counterbalanced design, participants completed the test under two conditions, following static stretching and no stretching. While results showed statistically significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) between conditions for the assessed dependent variables, no statistically significant differences were found between …

Building A Better Office Of Sustainability: Promoting Sustainable Change And Educational Outreach At Wku, Andrew Salman

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

This research documented the transformation of the house at 503 Regents Ave. in Bowling Green KY into a model home of sustainability by the WKU Office of Sustainability as a case study. Using the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Core Concepts, the benefits of weatherization (window upgrades, insulation, sealants) to the building, the addition of a solar energy array and utility grid intertie, and the transformation of the back yard into an edible landscape and community garden to mitigate stormwater flooding issues were assessed. Collaboration between the Office of Sustainability, students, university entities, and community members were encouraged …

Critical Analysis Of The Kenyan Healthcare System And Models For Improvement, Justin Wellum

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Global epidemics such as malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS plague developing countries in Africa. International aid has been given to these countries from public and private organizations in an effort to eradicate these health crises. My research focuses on Kenya as a model for assessing the current state of health care in these developing countries. The effectiveness of Kenya’s health care system was investigated at every level, including central, provincial, district, and rural, by visiting the country and performing specific research. Based on my research, I propose a model that I believe Kenya or any African developing country could adopt to …

Twin Core: An Exploration Of Twins In The Wizarding World, Carol R. Eshleman

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The motif of twins is one that permeates strongly throughout the Harry Potter series. Fred and George as a pair are immensely popular with fans, and the “very curious” twinship of Harry and Voldemort’s wands is a relationship greatly explored in the saga. In my paper, I shall further explore this prominent Potter motif and delve into the origins and symbolism behind this twinship. I will also recall the dark conclusion to the tale of the Weasley twins. The death of Fred as related to the series’ theme as a whole and the death of Harry in the attempt to …

Measure Of A Man: A Grounded Theory Approach To Understanding Gay/Queer College Men’S Self Identified Masculinity, Ryan Jasen Henne

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this grounded theory study was to develop an understanding of the role that masculinity has in identity development among self-identified Gay/Queer (GQ) collegiate men. The goal of this study was to develop a theory that explains how traditional college-age GQ men view masculinity within the context of their performance as men on a college campus. 16 college-aged GQ men attending a four-year, private liberal arts institution in the southeastern United States were the subjects in this study. The participants consisted of: two first year students, three sophomores, two juniors, eights seniors, and one individual that who had …

Spatial Analysis Of Post-Hurricane Katrina Thermal Pattern And Intensity In Greater New Orleans: Implications For Urban Heat Island Research, Aram P. Lief

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina’s diverse impacts on the Greater New Orleans area included damaged and destroyed trees, and other despoiled vegetation, which also increased the exposure of artificial and bare surfaces, known factors that contribute to the climatic phenomenon known as the urban heat island (UHI). This is an investigation of UHI in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which entails the analysis of pre and post-hurricane Katrina thermal imagery of the study area, including changes to surface heat patterns and vegetative cover. Imagery from Landsat TM was used to show changes to the pattern and intensity of the UHI effect, …

Identification Of The Transcriptional Co-Repressor Complex And Its Functions In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Barsha Shrestha

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.