Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Insomniac Of The Soil: A Collection Of Poetry And Essays, Sarah E. Golibart

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

“Insomniac of the Soil” is a homage to a landscape that has deeply informed Sarah Golibart's life and her artistic voice – the tidewater flatlands of Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay peninsula where her family lives and where Golibart has worked on farms since high school. Both her poems and essays are earthy, imagistic, and grounded – quite literally – in the soil as well as in a sensibility of ecological ethics and sustainability. “Insomniac of the Soil” is also a love song to the fervent and fallow cycles of the soil.

The Synthesis And Study Of The Biological And Colloidal Properties Of Bolaamphiphiles, Louis M. Damiano

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Over the past decade, antibiotic resistant bacteria have caused infections in patients throughout the world.^[1] The rise in antibiotic resistance is primarily due to the misuse and overuse of antibiotics. ^[1] To counter the increase in antibiotic resistance, infection control mechanisms have been aggressively researched in recent years. In particular, drug delivery has become a focal point to fight antibiotic resistant infections.^[2] Amphiphiles have a wide range of applications in the clinical setting, including the ability to inhibit bacterial transference because of their bactericidal activity. ^[3] Bolaamphiphiles are a subclass of amphiphiles that possess two or more hydrophilic …

A Net Zero Greenhouse Gas Feasibility Study For Green Fence Farm, Ashleigh Cotting

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The purpose of this project is to assess the ability of Green Fence Farm, a 17 acre sustainable farming operation located in Greenville, VA, to become a net zero greenhouse gas farm operation. This project was conducted in several phases. First, the types and quantities of emissions were determined through an onsite fuel consumption evaluation and a greenhouse gas inventory of farm operations. Next, and calculations were used to determine the carbon sequestration capabilities of the soil and trees on the farm. Finally, ways to reduce emission and increase sequestration were examined with the intent of reaching net zero greenhouse …

Mapping Soil Erosion Risk And Safety Factors Of The Massanutten Trail System, Joshua R. Foery, Philip V. Sturm

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Public mountain biking and hiking trails can pose challenges to trail-user safety. The purpose of this project is to improve the overall safety factors on the Massanutten Western Slope, in eastern Rockingham County, Virginia, where a 15-plus mile trail system has been made available to a broad range of users. Owned by Massanutten Resort, the trail system is in a remote, forested area frequented by local off-road cyclists, runners, hikers, as well as seasonal tourists and is maintained by the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition (SVBC). This multifaceted project, which integrates ESRI ArcGIS, Trimble Pathfinder, USDA Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) data, …

Analysis Of Nitrogen And Phosphorus Nutrients In Lake Sediment, Kelsey L. Berrier

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Analytical methods for the determination of nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients (NO₃-N, NH₄-N and PO₄-P) in sediment were studied with the goal of developing extraction steps compatible with analysis by ion chromatography (IC). Research focused on extractant solution composition, Dionex OnGuard^® sample pretreatment cartridges for salt removal, and chromatographic resolution. Aqueous test samples, lake sediment samples and spiked lake sediment samples were analyzed. Dionex Ag, Ag/H, and H cartridges were studied for the pretreatment step. Silver (Ag) cartridges were found effective in removing >99% of interfering chloride ion to allow NO₃-N determination …

Homesafe: A Mobile Application Utilizing Encryption And Access Control, Kenneth Trumpoldt

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Our society is becoming more virtual and mobile everyday. The purpose of this application is to transform a physical card system into a virtual card system that meets the demands of a technologically-oriented society. Parents will be able to create their own child identification cards more quickly and cost efficiently. Cards can be easily edited instead of having to order an updated replacement. Immediate and frequent alteration of cards allows for information to be more accurate. Cards can be shared globally and instantly via the Internet or shared connections such as Bluetooth. The fast access to and virtual duplication of …

The Effects Of Quantitative Easing In The United States: Implications For Future Central Bank Policy Makers, Matthew Q. Rubino

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the effects of the Federal Reserve’s recent bond buying programs, specifically Quantitative Easing 1, Quantitative Easing 2, Operation Twist (or the Fed’s Maturity Extension Program), and Quantitative Easing 3. In this study, I provide a picture of the economic landscape leading up to the deployment of the programs, an overview of quantitative easing including each program’s respective objectives, and how and why the Fed decided to implement the programs. Using empirical analysis, I measure each program’s effectiveness by applying four models including a yield curve model, an inflation model, a money supply …

Thermoelectric Properties Of Nano-Meso-Micro Β-Mno2 Powders As A Function Of Electrical Resistance: Experiment And Theory, Morgan Hedden

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

In this work, the thermoelectric properties of Beta-MnO² powders as a function of electrical resistance are measured and compared to theoretical models. The discovery of a giant Seebeck coefficient by Song et al. in these powders rejuvenated interest in understanding the physical mechanism behind it. A simple pestle and mortar method was used to modify the MnO² powder sizes. We and the largest S coefficient, power factor, and thermal conductivity values were found to be S=-316 uV/K, (sigma)S² =5.8x10^-7 W/mK² and k=0.2096 W/(mK), all observed at a particle electrical resistance of R=9.8 Ohms. From these …

Effects Of Anions And Amino Acids On Surface Tension Of Water, Diana Al Husseini

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Hofmeister series is a set of ions in order of their abilities to affect physical properties in aqueous solutions. Franz Hofmeister was the first to discover the specific ion effects on protein solubility in aqueous solutions. Although the Hofmeister phenomena are general, their mechanisms are still not fully understood. Herein, we use optical tensiometry by a pendant drop method to study the Hofmeister anion effects on the surface tension of water. It has been observed that the surface tension of water increases linearly as the salt concentrations increase. The effects of salts follow a specific trend with respect to the …

Feasibility Study: The Evaluation Of Polymer Coatings To Prevent Weathering Of Weak Rocks, Lauren Distler

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The weathering and erosion of weak rocks along roadways can cause dangerous and potentially fatal rockfalls.   Various slope stabilization methods exist, but each presents a set of challenges and trade-offs.   The focus of the project is to understand the feasibility of utilizing of a polymerbased slope stabilization technique. Rock samples were collected along US Route 33 in Virginia and West Virginia, and preliminary tests were conducted to evaluate the absorption of water (% mass) and durability. The study evaluates three polymer options in regard to the following criteria: adhesion to rock, layer thickness, semi-permeability, insolubility, and non-toxicity. The polymer selection …

Aqueous Foam Stabilized By Tricephalic Amphiphilic Surfactants, Seth A. Heerschap

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Aqueous foams can be described as a close packing of gas bubbles stabilized by surface active molecules. Their complex and diverse properties make them attractive for many chemical and physical applications where foaming, emulsifying or coating processes are needed. The recent synthesis of multi-cephalic and multi-tailed amphiphilic molecules have reportedly enhanced their antibacterial activity in connection with tail length and nature of the head group.

This report covers the foamability of two triple head, double tail cationic surfactants (M-1,14,14, M-P,14,14) and a triple head single tail cationic surfactant (M-1,1,14) and compares them with commercially available single headed, single tailed anionic …

Examination Of The Structure, Force Resistance, And Elasticity Of Muscle Proteins, Tracy A. Caldwell

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Obscurin and titin are made up of independently folded domains that can be studied individually. Both are comprised of mostly Ig (immunoglobulin) or FnIII (Fibronectin type III)- like domains, which are made of two beta sheets held together by a hydrophobic core. High resolution structures of a limited number of both titin and obscurin domains have been determined using both nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and X-ray crystallography. These structures have been complemented by low resolution methods such as small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). Here, other high and low resolution structures not previously published will be presented …