http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/304 http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/24582 The lost vision of Syrian Protestant College : origins of American University in Beirut Pettey, John The founders of the Syrian Protestant College in Beirut, in their desire to proceed without delay in the establishment of the college, organized the institution with an American charter, an American Board of Directors and an American donor base. This structure allowed them to inaugurate the college quickly, but also had the effect of creating the need for long-term American leadership and American resources contravening the achievement of the goal to create an indigenous institution. A poster containing visuals and text describing an undergraduate research project completed at the University of Wisconsin--Whitewater. http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/24580 Initial characterization of when a functional circadian system is present in the eye of Xenopus laevis Sarver, Nicole Almost all organisms present in nature exhibit a circadian rhythm, a 24 hour cycle in which the organism undergoes both physiological and behavioral changes based on the time of day. The circadian control of physiological processes in organisms is important because it allows them to anticipate changes (physiological/molecular/behavioral) that need to occur at different times of the day. In these organisms there is both a central oscillator that serves as an internal clock when there are no external stimuli and several output genes which display rhythmic patterns based on the circadian cycle. By quantitatively analyzing two genes, an output gene (NAT) and a central oscillator gene (xBmal1), we aim to determine at what stage of development the circadian oscillator becomes fully functional in the eyes. In order to analyze these eyes we must first dissect out tadpole eyes, at different times of the day (dawn, midday, dusk, and midnight). We then extract RNA and convert it to cDNA (reverse transcription). Real-time RT- PCR is then used on the cDNA to quantitatively measure the amount of NAT and xBmal1. In previous experiments, we have found that both NAT and xBmal1 display rhythmic expression at stage 46. We are now in the process of analyzing stage 26 eyes. We anticipate that at stage 26 we will have arrhythmic expression of both the central oscillator gene and the output gene, which can then serve as a negative control. If we were to see any rhythmic expression at this stage, we would plan for future experiments testing for expression at an earlier stage. A poster containing visuals and text describing an undergraduate research project completed at the University of Wisconsin--Whitewater http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/24578 Mineral allignment in a northern Wisconsin shear zone Aslesen, Andrew Costello, Bethany Plate tectonics causes rocks to move and change shape, sometimes they change shape without breaking, forming structures called ductile shear zone. The exact reason why certain rocks form shear zones as opposed to others is not clearly understood at this time. The purpose of our research is to gain a better understanding of what causes these deformations in rocks. We are using an optical microscope and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to analyze the mineral alignment of rocks within and around the shear zone exposed near the town of Mountain in Northeastern Wisconsin. These shear zones were formed between 1.8 and 2 billion years ago through plate collision. Most of these shear zones are now buried under glacial sediment, so the exposure of the Mountain Shear Zone provides a unique opportunity to study rock formations that are deformed deep underground. We are exploring the spatial distribution of mineral alignment around the shear zone. This could impact some further study on what may have caused the shear zone to form. Preliminary field work has been completed that includes field trips to the study area and collection of samples containing deformed and un-deformed granite. Thin sections will be made from the samples and further analyzed using computer software. Handheld GPS units were used take the locations where samples were taken. The locations will be plotted on top of a geologic map of the area using GIS in order to study to locations of deformed an un-deformed rocks in comparison the shear zone. A poster containing visuals and text describing an undergraduate research project completed at the University of Wisconsin--Whitewater. http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/21543 McCrone Micronising Mill methods Degen, Shane Micronising is the process of grinding larger particles (such as sand grains) into smaller particles. This is important because large particles are too thick to allow X-rays to penetrate to the particles core, thus not exciting them. Without this tool it would not have been possible to analyze all of our data. A poster containing visuals and text describing an undergraduate research project completed at the University of Wisconsin--Whitewater. http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/21534 Mineralogical evidence of Peoria Loess addition to soils of the Green Bay Lobe Degen, Shane The purpose of this study is to demostrate the mineralogical evidence of loess addition to soils on the Green Bay Lobe surface. A comparison is made between properties of a soil with an obvious loess cap and a soil interpreted as being derived from glacial sediment. A poster containing visuals and text describing an undergraduate research project completed at the University of Wisconsin--Whitewater. http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/21452 Characterization of circadian gene expression in Xenopus laevis Solis, Jessica Trow, Aaron Examines when circadian gene expression is first observed in developing Xenopus laevis eyes. A poster containing visuals and text describing an undergraduate research project completed at the University of Wisconsin--Whitewater. http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/21450 Calcium's effects on an Arabidopsis thaliana mutant Long, Tristan Roe, Joshua Asby, Bryan Godiwalla, Roxy Examines the growth of CNGC2 mutant plants affected by calcium levels in environment. A poster containing visuals and text describing an undergraduate research project completed at the University of Wisconsin--Whitewater. http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/21427 Using GIS to map the distribution of Peoria Loess on the Green Bay Lobe glacial surface in south-central Wisconsin Polk, Carlene Mapping and analysis of digital soil survey data to understand the chronology, source and distribution of the loess layer of the Green Bay Lobe in south central Wisconsin. Last viewed in Microsoft Office Power Point 2003. A poster containing visuals and text describing an undergraduate research project completed at the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater. http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/21337 Free women of color in Spanish colonial New Orleans 1768-1803 Wegner, Keia Poster examines..."the economic and social mobility of free women of color in Spanish colonial New Orleans through an analysis of notarial documents, wills, acts, and marriage records. These records showed how free women of color's relationships with white upper class males, affected their children and later generations through patterns of economic and social mobility and wealth." A poster containing visuals and text describing an undergraduate research project completed at the University of Wisconsin--Whitewater. http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/21333 Anglo Norman chivalry: only a good bedtime story Mason, Greg Argues that "the image of the chivalrous Norman knight seen in literature did not exist in England during the Anglo-Norman period (11-12 Century CE). Instead, chivalry was a practice created to benefit and protect the aristocracy." A poster containing visuals and text describing an undergraduate research project completed at the University of Wisconsin--Whitewater. http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/21331 Exploration of photoinitiators in ionic liquids Rush, Joanna Evaluates "the synthesis, utilization, and efficiency of photoinitiators in green solvents." A poster containing visuals and text describing an undergraduate research project completed at the University of Wisconsin--Whitewater. http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/18786 Parallel combinatorial reductive amination reactions: an expedient synthesis of tertiary amines Huisman, Matt Borzskowski, Jessica Describes an expedient access to N-alkylated tetrahydroisoquinolines (THIQ) by reductive alkylation reactions in the presence of Ti(OiPr)4 and NaBH4. The N-alkylated THIQs were conveniently isolated by "catch and release" purification using polymer-supported sulfonic acid (MP-TsOH) columns. A poster containing visuals and text describing an undergraduate research project completed at the University of Wisconsin--Whitewater.