19264 research outputs found
Sort by
Is Public Education Worth Saving?
No full text59 p.The author writes about the teachers that inspired her, including her parents, reviews the birth of public education in America, the state of public education today, and how it has been affected by political reforms, the economy, the pandemic. She writes “I hope that my SIP represents a snapshot of a young aspiring teacher’s ponderances about, reflections on, and faith in public schools in the United States. I hope to instill in some of my readers a genuine reckoning of the attempt to dismantle public schools and its consequences. I hope that my invitation to answer “is public education worth saving?” is clear, and that somehow I provide my readers with that conclusion. I hope to have imbued on my readers how very much teaching and education mean to me—and to the nation. I will make it explicitly clear that public education is far from perfect; it is flawed and damaged in many ways, and yet it has not crumbled. Why? Because we need it. I hope by the end of my SIP, my readers will understand the importance of public education in the lives of America’s students.
Three-dimensional Illustration and Installation of Pollen Spores Represented through Ceramics
No full text1 Broadside. 48"W x 36"HPollination in angiosperms is crucial to many food systtems and sustainability in ecosystems. Variation of shapes and surface textures serve a purpose of
tending to specific flowering plant structures, such as the stigma. Pollen is thought of at an allergen level often times rather than the contribution to our
natural world. At a closer look, pollen grains under 100x-1000x light magnification or placed under an electron microscope have fascinating textures and
shapes unseen by a normal eye. The exine, the outermost surface, of the grains are composed various furrows, lumina, and sculptural componets. Many
models of pollen grains expressing these textures are created through computer generated softwares, continuing the two dimensional format. This
stylizing can undermine the organic shapes and rendering due to perfect modeling. Through a ceramic rendition, this thesis explores the sculpting of
pollen grain in a three-dimensional form from two-demensional images.Kalamazoo College. Department of Biology. Diebold Symposium, 202
Algorithmic Methods for Computing Monomial Invariants of Abelian Groups
No full textiv, 65 p.Given some arbitrary polynomial ring, an invariant polynomial is a polynomial that is unchanged by the action of a group G. We investigate the ring of invariant polynomials under the action of some abelian groups with the goal of finding generators for this ring. When considering an abelian group, we can always find a basis such that the action is diagonal, so there exists monomial generators mi for the invariant ring. By Noether’s degree bound, the minimal set of generating monomials ⟨m1, . . . ,mk⟩ is finite and the degree of each generating monomial mi is less than |G|. Motivated by the previous work of Gandini and Derksen, we present new theoretical approaches to find invariants of Abelian groups. In combination with the theory, we can apply exact algorithmic approaches and deploy parallel programming methods to create various algorithms for computing the minimal generating set of invariants for the ring of invariants. Finally, we present the Gandini-Ratliff-Rizzolo algorithm, a seeded generation algorithm for computing invariants
Effect of Amphibian Chytrid Fungus on the Size Distribution of Boreal Toads in Rocky Mountain National Park
No full text1 Broadside. 48"W x 36"HAmphibians have unique physical characteristics that
increase their susceptibility to environmental disturbances.
Their permeable skin and ectothermic manner of
thermoregulation coupled with pathogen exposure are
contributing factors to the global decline of amphibians.
Additionally, most amphibians are biphasic, meaning they
have two distinct habitat requirements over the course of
their life. An aquatic environment is required for
reproduction, while feeding and wintering as adults takes
place on land. Amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium
dendrobatidis (Bd), is a skin pathogen affecting amphibian
populations globally, including the endangered populations
of boreal toads in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) in
Colorado. We conducted population monitoring in tandem
with size measurements of individual boreal toads found at
two sites in RMNP. Lost Lake is a site that tests positive for
Bd, (Fig. 1) and Spruce Lake is a site with no evidence of
Bd (Fig. 2). Male and female toads found in the presence of
Bd at Lost Lake had shorter snout-to-vent length (SVL)
measurements and lower mass, suggesting that Bd may
impact body size. Reproductive capacity may be altered by
body size, so understanding the relationship between Bd
and body size is important for species conservation of
endangered boreal toads.Kalamazoo College. Department of Biology. Diebold Symposium, 202
Evaluating habitat preferences of three declining grassland sparrow species
No full textv, 23 p.Grassland, prairie, and savannah ecosystems have been destroyed and degraded across North America as a direct result of colonization and subsequent urbanization and agricultural expansion. Consequently, the wildlife that once inhabited these ecosystems commonly are now among the most threatened in the planet. Grasshopper sparrow, Dickcissel and Henslow’s sparrow are three species of sparrow that have undergone dramatic population decreases within the last century and are considered species of greatest conservation need in Michigan. There is disagreement among land managers as to the best management practice for these species across the remnant and restored grasslands of Michigan’s lower peninsula because management for each species respectively can be detrimental to the others. In this study I conducted bird point counts to gather data on where these three species were occurring across 13 potentially suitable grassland sites in southern Michigan. Data on several vegetation characteristics was also gathered at each point. I found that Grasshopper sparrows occur more frequently in areas with more open habitat characteristics in terms of vegetation height and volume. Dickcissels occurred in areas with comparatively high levels of bare ground. Results were inconclusive on associations between Henslow’s sparrow presence and vegetation characteristics. I propose mid-summer haying on a 1-3 year cycle, haying up to 80 acre parcels of the managed area at a time along with occasional burning as a sufficient management technique for maximizing the habitat for (and promoting the coexistence of) all three of these bird species
Analysis of the Functional Evolutionary Origin of BACE1 and the β-secretase Cleavage Site in Alzheimer’s Amyloid Precursor Protein
No full textvi, 39 p.Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder characterized, in part, by the presence of abnormal protein deposits (Aβ plaques) formed by the proteolysis of the amyloid precursor protein (APP). BACE1, the rate limiting enzyme in Aβ production, is a major focus in AD research. BACE1 originated approximately 360 million years (MY) before the Aβ peptide with the APP β-cleavage site emerging after Aβ, indicating that these components of APP proteolysis evolved separately and for different reasons. Understanding this enzyme from an evolutionary standpoint could be of interest to AD researchers and would shed light on the purpose these proteins serve. To pinpoint the origin of BACE1 functional activity, Cho 695 cells expressing human APP were used. Cells were transfected with Homo BACE1 or Monosiga BACE1/2. Conditioned media and cell lysate samples were examined for human Aβ 1-40 with ELISA and total protein levels were measured with a BCA assay. Results from BACE1 functional analysis showed that Monosiga BACE1/2 did not proteolyze APP, while Homo BACE1 did, indicating that BACE1 functional activity is not conserved as deep as the choanoflagellates. Separately, the origin of the APP β-secretase cut site was examined using Cho Pro5 cells and co-transfection of Latimeria APP and Scyliorhinous APP with Homo BACE1. Conditioned media samples will be examined by mass spectrometry for Aβ presence and cell lysates were analyzed via BCA assay for total protein levels. We are awaiting the mass spectrometry results, but protein assay data show normal cell numbers and protein levels. Phylogenetic analysis has demonstrated that the BACE1/2 duplication event resulted in the functionally different BACE homologs, BACE1 and BACE2, and likely allowed for BACE1 functional activity on APP to emerge. Our functional analysis will help bolster this observation. BACE1 and Aβ’s asynchronous evolutionary pathways and the fact that the β-secretase cut site emerged after Aβ suggests that BACE1 has multiple substrates outside of APP, raising further questions about the reasons behind the evolutionary emergence of these proteins and their initial roles
The Northern Ireland Conflict : Troubles to Peace Depicted in Political and Religious Murals
No full text53 p.In section one, I discuss the importance of murals during The Troubles. The Troubles were a thirty year, violent conflict between Nationalists/Republicans (Catholics), the Loyalists/Unionists (Protestants) and the British Army. The Nationalists fought for NI to leave GB and reunite with the Republic of Ireland by any means necessary. The Unionists fought to keep NI as part of GB and, along with the British army, fought to do the same under the guise of maintaining peace. Murals were used mostly by Catholic communities as propaganda and a way to spread nationalist messages because they were denied access to other forms of communication like the British Broadcast Company (BBC), radio, and television. The Protestant community’s murals were controlled completely by the Protestant paramilitaries and were used to encourage members of the communities to support them. In section two, I shift to the use of murals to encourage peace in the Catholic communities as the murals’ messages expand to include an international tone. Regardless of the side, the message remained consistent with an emphasis on Catholics gaining their freedom portrayed by peaceful means. This was a stark contrast to the previous movements hat promoted violence and military recruitment. The Protestant murals on the other hand maintained their violent tone throughout because the paramilitaries needed to justify their existence. Their main goal was to protect the union at all costs. Continued advocacy for maintaining the union exist even in Protestant communities today. In the third section, I discuss governmental interference with the “re-imaging” project and how murals are an important part of the cultural landscape. I also overview how the current community's feelings toward the peace process are still depicted on the walls. Over the past 50 years, the tension between the communities, paramilitaries, and the government is clearly illustrated via the murals in Northern Ireland. These murals influenced the communities and clearly communicated the agenda of each faction
Determinant Quantum Monte Carlo simulations of charge density waves in the Holstein model with a double well potential
No full textiii, 16 p.This work is concerned with transitions to the ordered charge density wave (CDW) phase. CDWs are well studied, but there is still more to explore, especially as they relate to superconductivity. In some instances, CDWs are proposed to assist or give rise to unconventional superconductivity, but there are other materials in which they are known to compete with the superconducting phase. Learning more about where they exist and how they interact with other phases is therefore of great interest. [1] We add to the existing literature by considering a different potential and showing that this may change the critical temperature below which CDWs form. While other investigations have considered the addition of an anharmonic term [2], we specifically consider an anharmonic potential with a double well or sombrero shape. The choice of this potential was inspired by the twofold degeneracy of minima in the original Holstein model potential that allows for particle hole symmetry and hence for charge density waves. The symmetry of the potential has been proposed to have applications to heavy fermions. Heavy fermions are tied to how conduction electrons in certain compounds interact with an underlying two level system in that compound. In general, this two level system is magnetic, such that a large external magnetic field should obliterate it, but there are some materials where the heavy fermions survive. Fuse et. al. have argued that a double well potential in the Holstein model may explain the persistence of the heavy fermion behavior even in strong magnetic fields [3]. We are interested in a better understanding of the double well potential in the hopes of revealing more potential connections to observed phenomena
The Influence of Criminal Charge Type and Demographics in Predicting Successful Reformation in Mental Courts
No full textiii, 15 p.For this study, I will focus on looking at data collected in the mental health recovery court (MHRC) in the Kalamazoo County. In 2008, the Kalamazoo County established a MHRC after discovering an increase repetition of rearrests in the community. This MHRC program focuses on reducing recidivism in the court system, by diverting non-violent offenders from the traditional process of the justice system. If participants complete the program, which is determined by their performance, their cases are reevaluated by the court judges to determine an appropriate judgment that is not limited to the traditional court process, such as being sentenced to prison. My motivation going in this study is to provide further evidence to support debunking demographics and charge type as defining factors to determine eligibility in the MHRC system. By disqualifying these two factors in the process, it would open doors to more people that could benefit from the program. A limitation in previous research on mental health courts is that findings cannot be applied in many communities because the data is not representative to the U.S. population. This would then allow other researchers to investigate the effectiveness of mental health courts by diversifying the sample. In this study, I predict three different patterns will appear: 1) women are more likely to be a successful case in the program than men; 2) although race will remain disproportional in the data, Caucasians will be more likely to succeed in the program than any other category; 3) due to their nature of minor offense, individuals with misdemeanors are more likely to be successful in the program than individuals with felonies
Towards the Synthesis of Temozolomide Theragnostic Derivatives
No full textviii, 30 p.Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and proliferating primary brain tumor with a median survival of 12-15 months. GBM is characterized as having extreme cell proliferation which diffuses throughout the brain and heterogeneity inter/intratumorally, leading to resistance in treatment and a poor prognosis. The current standard-of-care for GBM patients includes surgical resection, radiotherapy, and a DNA-alkylating chemotherapy agent, temozolomide (TMZ). While the current treatment for GBM is extremely aggressive, recurrence after surgical resection is almost inevitable and over 50% of GBM patients do not respond to TMZ therapy; overexpression of a methyltransferase repair enzyme and/or a deficiency in the mismatch repair pathway are the leading factors for resistance. Therefore, the optimal treatment for GBM is still under question. Here, we aim to further investigate two proposed theragnostic TMZ derivatives with an effort to improve maximal resection and specificity of TMZ accumulation in malignant tissue. The first compound, 6-aminofluorescein diacetate-TMZ was synthesized and assessed via a cell viability assay using glioma cell lines. Its results showed extreme levels of cytotoxicity compared to TMZ, suggesting that this compound expressed an alternative mechanism of action independent from TMZ alone. We synthesized and assessed potential products of degradation of 6-aminofluorescein diacetate-TMZ to better understand the reason for extreme cytotoxic levels that are independent from TMZ. The second compound, 5-ALA-TMZ ester was synthesized via two different mechanisms and assessed via a cell viability assay using glioma cell lines. Its results were similar to TMZ, indicating a similar mechanism of action. This compound showed promising results, creating a potential model for synthesizing a theragnostic compound that circumvents TMZ resistance