Bachelor's Essays (Embargoed)

Permanent URI for this collection

https://repository.library.cofc.edu/handle/123456789/3423

Browse

Browsing Bachelor's Essays (Embargoed) by Issue Date "2016-05"

Now showing 1 - 19 of 19
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    A Tale of Two Southern Cities: Preservation Economics in Mobile, AL and Charleston, SC
    Sanders, Bailey Stallworth; Tulla, Brittany Lavelle
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Application of Methylation-Sensitive Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis to the Loggerhead Sea Turtle, Caretta caretta, and the American Alligator, Alligator mississippiensis
    King, Katharine R; Shedlock, Andrew M
    Methylation-sensitive Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism genotyping was used to investigate alligator and turtle genomes in an effort to evaluate differential DNA methylation by sex. Genomic DNA extracted from whole blood was digested with EcoRI and either HpaII or MspI, isoschizomers with differing sensitivity to methylation. Fluorescently labeled primers plus three selective nucleotides were used to amplify a subset of the total fragment pool. Fragments were visualized and scored using the Beckman CEQ capillary electrophoresis system. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference between male and female samples in overall methylation for one of the three primer pairs tested on the alligator genome with males having higher levels of methylation (84%) than females (57%; p < 0.003). Our proof-of-principle results demonstrate that MS-AFLP complements standard AFLP diagnostics and can be integrated cost-effectively with indexed high-throughput DNA sequencing strategies for investigating methylation-sensitive mechanisms of gene control in temperature-dependent sex determining organisms.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Autotomization and Recovery in the Snapping Shrimp, <i>Alpheus angulosus<i>
    Cooney, Patricia; Korey, Christopher; Hughes, Melissa$
    The snapping shrimp (Alpheus spp.) exhibit extreme claw lateralization, presenting a large snapper and a small pincer, which are used for different behaviors. Like most crustaceans, the snapping shrimp is able to autotomize, or drop, limbs when threatened, and through subsequent molts, regenerate the lost limb. Though autotomy is costly in terms of loss of function and limb re-growth, failing to autotomize a limb could be deadly. In this study, we document the breakage plane of A. angulosus and examine variation in “drop latency”, or the latency to autotomize the snapper claw in response to a standardized physical threat. We measured drop latency of mature snapper claws in a large cohort of shrimp (n=96). We found autotomy to be responsive to threat type rather than threat duration among all shrimp. Specifically, autotomy occurrences were distributed in clusters around threat intensity changes, rather than normally distributed throughout threat time. We also found significantly longer drop latency in males than females, suggesting a greater cost of mature snapper autotomy to males (p=0.004). After initial snapper autotomy, we also measured latency to autotomize the regenerating claw based on molt stage. Surprisingly, transforming molt stages exhibited significantly shorter average drop latency than mature snapper autotomy (p=0.008). The breakage plane in this species differs from that of related organisms, suggesting interesting implications for phylogenetic divisions in crustacean anatomy. Our assessment of mature snapper and transforming claw autotomy behaviors provides insight into the costs of autotomy and the differing values of these claws throughout individuals’ lives. Through these perspectives, we present the evolutionary costs of autotomy and transformation in the snapping shrimp.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Development of a Z-R Relationship with Uniform Sampling to Mitigate Sampling Variability
    O'Dell, Katelyn Ashley; Larsen, Michael L
    A new method for sampling precipitation events was developed and tested on raw data and with data-based Monte-Carlo simulations. This new method separates rain events into samples of the same number of drops, unlike conventional sampling methods where each sample is taken over a fixed temporal duration. By containing a uniform number of drops per sample, the new method was expected to mitigate sampling variability and weight drops equally in determining relationships between two bulk quantities: rain rate (R) and radar reflectivity factor (Z). Using data from a two dimensional video disdrometer, this hypothesis was tested on six separate rain events. From investiga- tions with raw data, uniform sampling did not conclusively mitigate sampling variability in practical application. Subsequent investigations with data based Monte-Carlo simulations revealed very large sample sizes, on the order of 10,000 or more drops, might be necessary to mitigate sampling variability in precipitation measurements.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Does Narcisssim Interact with Attitude Alignment?
    Nguyen, Queen H; Reid-Short, Chelsea
    Does attraction change with attitude alignment? Does narcissism interact with attitude alignment? The phenomenon of attitude alignment is when an individual shifts their attitude towards another person, and attitude alignment results in greater attraction. Narcissism may moderate the effect of attitude alignment on attraction where those who have more narcissist qualities may be even more attracted to someone who aligns their attitude because of the narcissist’s inflated self-concept. In the present study, participants were asked to envision themselves in a situation in which a hypothetical partner either aligned with their views or did not. A narcissism inventory was also completed. While the study replicated previous findings that attitude alignment does result in greater attraction, narcissism did not predict attraction. The interaction of narcissism and attitude alignment also did not significantly predict attraction.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Double-Peaked Gamma-Ray Bursts: Conjoined Twins or Accidental Neighbors?
    Taylor, Corinne Maly; Hakkila, Jon
    A gamma-ray burst (GRB) emits its prompt emission in the form of pulses. These pulses are characterized by hard-to-soft monotonic emission overlaid by a triple-peaked, time-varying component that causes the GRB pulse light curve to appear “bumpy” rather than smooth. If a single pulse can have multiple peaks, then there is difficulty in unambiguously identifying the number of pulses found in complex emission episodes containing multiple prominent peaks. Double-peaked GRB pulses contain two distinct peaks; using data collected by the Burst And Transient Source Experiment (BATSE), we explore the hypothesis that some or all of these double-peaked pulses might simply be isolated pulses having pronounced residual components.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Gendered Wilderness: Nature as a Psychological Space Constructed by Language
    Worthy, Alex; Collins-Frohlich, Jesslyn; Carens, Tim$; Eichelberger, Julia $
    This paper examines how our perception of nature constructs it as a psychological space. Analyzing nature writing and narratives from the 19th to the 21st century, there is also a way in which nature is a gendered space, as writers continue to refer to nature as woman, and expect a gratifying relationship with it. Ultimately, this paper seeks to find a better way to view nature and to be more aware of how our perceptions shape our treatment of it, other people, and ourselves.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Imbalances in the Push and Pull Factors of Migration: Corruption and Women’s Rights
    Brock, Schylar; Maldonado, Beatriz; Calcagno, Peter$; Witte, Mark$
    This article examines the effect of corruption and women’s economic, political, and social rights as potential push and pull factors of migration. Using bilateral migration stocks, we find that corruption is best explained as a push factor for more educated migrants. For more educated migrants going to non-OECD destination countries, the majority of women’s rights are not significant factors in the migration decision. However, for more educated migrants going to OECD destinations, women’s rights are significant pull factors.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Investigation of Structural Plasticity Elicited by Cociane within the Pre-Frontal Cortex and Nucleus Accumbens of Rats
    Lander, Steven P; Meyer-Bernstein, Beth; McGinty, Jacqueline$; Siemsen, Ben$
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Like A Local Tours Business Plan
    MacGovern, Kathryn; Clement, Jeremy
    Compared to Europe, the tourism infrastructure for youth travel in America is largely underdeveloped. Based in Charleston, SC, Like A Local Tours is a new type of tour and tourist experience offering that capitalizes on the peer-to-peer service industry. The hospitality matching service pairs Charleston tourists with like-minded local professionals who will give custom experiences in their specialized fields.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    "A Catholic With Modern Sensibilities": Flannery O'Connor, Modernism, and the Aesthetics of Sacrament
    butler, ellen morgan; Eichelberger, Julia; Kelly, Joseph$; Peeples, Scott $
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    "We Talk of Peace:" Acholi Youth Attitudes from Conflict Narratives
    Eichelberger, Ellen Alice; Day, Christopher; Göttsches, Megan$
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Science Education and Entertainment: A Case Study at the South Carolina Aquarium
    Wilkes, Laura Kell; Westerfelhaus, Robert G; Lacroix, Celeste$; Whittemore, Myra$
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Sustainability Principles Applied to Cost-Effective Denickeling of Fatty Acid Pitch
    Couch, Matthew A.; Tonks, Neal E
    Over the course of the last two years, chemistry students and faculty have been evaluating methods for transforming industrial waste streams from chemical processes with funding and support from Innovative Resource Management (IRM), a beneficial reuse company based out of Summerville, SC. IRM specializes in chemical recycling. The primary goal of the project was to develop higher-value usages for waste streams using the principles of sustainability and green chemistry in a cost-effective, industrially reproducible manner. 9790 Fatty Acid Pitch (or TA90) is a process waste stream from Vantage Oleochemicals which cannot be fully utilized in a fuel blending operation due to high nickel content remnant of industrial processes; acid leaching to remove the dis-solved metal would greatly improve potential reuse and distribution of this product through IRM. In this study, the nickel was successfully removed by sulfuric acid leaching to form products which show promising commercializability and with high percent usable product regeneration. Process modification studies were conducted to develop reactions that are industrially scalable at reasonable costs of conversion. Witbreak™ demulsifiers were used and evaluated for extraction properties and impact, and were found to aid natural separation of product with little effect on nickel removal potential. Of the demulsifier trials, demulsifiers DRA21 and DRI9037 exhibited highest combined product recovery and nickel extraction percentage from the TA90 pitch. Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (FAAS) and ashing studies were used to determine product nickel concentration. Mass proportion and pH analysis revealed some acid retention in the organic product. The future project goal is to continue optimization studies to determine low cost transformative processes that will allow businesses to eliminate potential environmental waste by developing new markets selling their waste into high value end uses.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item