The capacitation of sperm is a crucial step in the process of in vitro fertilization. Capacitation enables the sperm to penetrate the zona pellucida of the egg and eventually fertilize it. After capacitation, the sperm is motile and can move towards the egg attracted through a relationship of signal transduction. In this study, evidence of capacitation was illustrated by the penetration of bovine salt-stored eggs and acrosome reaction. Capacitation of both fresh and post-thawed sperm was attempted and the fresh sperm showed the more statistically significant capacitated sperm. The results show that 40ul of heparin had the highest percentage of capacitated sperm.

The goal of this study was to create four site-directed mutants of glycine 35 located in the long homologous repeat A or site 1 (CCPs 1-3) of Complement Receptor Type I (CRI) to test for decay accelerating activity and ligand binding for the classical pathway C3 convertase. All mutants exhibited significantly low decay accelerating activity suggesting that G35 plays a largely structural role in holding CCPs I and 2 together. C4b binding also showed markedly low results for the classical pathway C3 convertase as expected, but G351 exhibited 85.7% C3b binding. Nonpolarity may play a role in increased binding with the isoleucine substitution. These results will facilitate the analysis of the three dimensional structure of CRI and other proteins containing CCPs. Therapeutic inhibition of inappropriate complement activation is also a factor of this study.

A general linear recurrence relationship with constant coefficients can be solved using matrix theory. We can represent the recurrence relationship be use of matrices. The properties of matrix theory allow us to find a closed form solution for the general term, n, we may have to evaluate the "nth power" of a matrix. This is done by writing that matrix in terms of another, simpler matrix. We will write the original matrix in terms of a new matrix, of which we can find the "nth power". Once we can compute the "nth power" of a matrix, we have a closed form solution for the liner recurrence with constant coefficients.

In mathematics we study many diverse branches in depth, but rarely are we encouraged to actively search for connection among those branches. The goal of this Honors Project, scheduled to be completed in 2002, is to discover the integral and underlying characteristics of the field of mathematics through identifying and synthesizing the various connections among the branches of mathematics. Through this project, I hope to develop and ultimately present a more holistic perspective of mathematics. Please join me for a discussion about my initial discoveries. Come willing to share your thoughts about mathematics and the underlying connections you have observed throughout your career in mathematics. Suggestions for alternative direction are welcome and desired.

The phenalenyl molecule is an odd alternate hydrocarbon that can exist as a cation, anion, and neutral radical. All three species express great thermodynamic stability. Because of the ability to express three redox species phenalenyl had many characteristic features that have been widely utilized for exploring new conjugated electronic systems, including extended conjugated radicals, amphoteric redox species, and electrically and magnetically intriguing materials. Because of easy dimerization and air oxidation phenalenyl species are difficult to study experimentally. This research provides predicted structural, spectroscopic, and energetic data for comparison to experiment. The results presented here were obtained using Gaussian 98 quantum chemistry program running on a Linux operating system. All calculations were performed using Becke 3LYP hybrid Hartree- Fock/density functional method.

Neural electrical waveforms originating in the peripheral nervous system can be differentiated by their shape. The sorting of these microneurographic spikes into groups based on shape is a tedious and time consuming process usually performed by an experimenter over a period of days. In order to abbreviate this process, efforts have been made to automate the sorting procedure by utilizing a standard desktop personal computer. This research implements and compares the abilities of two different sorting algorithms, an iterative template based approach and a SelfOrganizing Network (SON) method, to determine the feasibility of utilizing either of these methods to perform the discrimination of action potentials. The ability to differentiate between spikes with differing periods, amplitudes, DC offset, and amounts of noise superimposed on the waveform spike is essential for useful, future applications of automated sorting.

Heterogeneous chemistry on the surface of ice aerosols has attracted much attention because of its role in ozone destruction in the Antarctic stratosphere. The purpose of this project involves studying chemical reactions on the surface of ice. The motivation for this work concerns the desire to better understand the chemistry of atmospheric ice particles, which contribute to the seasonal depletion of the ozone. Thin films of ice are grown using spray deposition. Water vapors are sprayed at cold window that is held at temperatures representative of those in the atmosphere. Nitric acid vapors are sprayed on top of our ice films in the same manner. The rate of the reaction is monitored using infrared spectroscopy. Nitric acid is used particularly because of the role it plays in atmospheric chemistry. Research has previously revealed that there are three stable hydrates of nitric acid: nitric acid monohydrate (NAM), dihydrate (NAD), and trihydrate (NAT). These research efforts have been directed to monitoring the rate of transition through these phases from molecular nitric acid to NAT.

Herpesviridae is a family of enveloped viruses that have a double-stranded genome. Herpes Simpex- I is a member of this family of viruses. One of the characteristics of HSV- I is that it can establish latency in the organism that it infects. This latency is what causes recurrent cold sores or fever blisters to form during times of stress in some people. This study uses SDS ' -PAGE to determine the difference in protein banding patterns between HSV- I infected BHK-21 cells and uninfected BHK-21 cells that were both treated and not treated with L-Lysine. The results will be discussed.

I

The Greenhouse is actually an earth-tone brick farmhouse that was built in 1780. It is located on 10.5 acres of land at the main entrance of Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania. Instead of being filled with flats of plants, it is filled with ten college students who seek to live together in a sustainable community serving God. Residents of the Greenhouse have participated in a number of activities. They have been intentionally involved with energizing Messiah College's recycling program. A waste audit was conducted in the spring of 2000 and students met with administrators and maintenance staff to establish a new recycling program. A college-initiated state grant provided 500 recycling containers that were placed in various locations around campus to allow convenient access for students and staff to recycle aluminum cans, bottles, and paper. Other projects include starting a raised-bed garden and installing energy-efficient light bulbs. Members of the Greenhouse seek to serve as stewards of resources given to us to use and protect. They are models to Messiah College and the surrounding community.

The scanning electron microscope provides detailed images of the external structure of cells and living organisms. This study was designed to establish procedures to prepare tissue culture cells and rat corneal tissue for scanning electron microscope observation. Fibroblast cells grown by standard tissue culture techniques were used for comparison of procedures. A primary goal of this work was to develop procedures that could be used as alternatives to critical point drying. Critical point drying is typically used to avoid shrinkage while preparing tissues for scanning electron microscopy, but presents various technical and safety problems. Earlier studies in our laboratory utilized a proprietary substance, which is no longer commercially available, for this purpose with good results. Efforts to utilize a recommended replacement, tetramethylsi lane (TMS) have provided mixed results. TMS was compared to acetone for use as a drying agent. The use of acetone as a drying agent following glutaraldhyde fixation and an alcohol dehydration series produced results superior to TMS. Recently, this work has been expanded to include other cell types grown in tissue culture. Additionally, the same techniques were also applied to rat corneal epithelial tissue for investigation with the scanning electron microscope.

Collecting and settling ponds are commonly placed near parking lots and buildings to protect surrounding areas from storm water runoff. However, atomic absorption spectrometry analysis of a small settling pond in Grantham, Pennsylvania suggests the soil and vegetation of these ponds may accumulate Copper and Zinc far above the surrounding soil levels and greatly in excess of the water in the drainage ponds themselves. Phytoremediation is explored as a potential solution to this problem.

I hypothesized that community properties such as diversity and evenness would be greater in the re- established prairie plot versus introduced fescue at Clay Hill research forest. I measured plant species using quadrat sampling in fescue and re-established prairie plots. I measured community properties such as diversity, evenness, and densities in the plots. Results of the study will be discussed.

A colony of leaf cutter ants at Jaguar Creek, Belize, Cayo District was studied. The activity of the ants was observed over a twenty-four hour time period. We found that activity dramatically increased in the evening, from a little after sunset through the middle of the night. It was also found that ant behavior differed with the period during the day. During the most active periods, ants gathered only fresh leaves from the tops of trees, stayed on well-marked trails and were heavily guarded by soldier ants. During less active periods, ants were observed gathering bracts of fig trees, exploring off trail, and fewer soldier ants were observed.

UHA-2000, an EPA registered organotin/quaternary chemical, is touted as a potential disinfectant/germicide for use on environmentally hard surfaces. Non-published efficacy studies have shown UHA-2000 to be effective against various microorganisms. Preliminary studies in our lab have indicated this compound controls the colonization and growth of yeast and airborne fungi, which can be responsible for allergies and "sick building syndrome." Multiple concentrations of this compound (1:200, 1:150, 1:100, 1:50, and 1:25 dilutions) have been tested against various airborne and potentially pathogenic fungi. These tests show that UHA-2000 inhibits the growth and/or establishment of these fungi in culture media. Dilutions of 1:200 and 1: 150 of the chemical concentrate show significantly less fungal growth than that of the control plates. At dilutions of 1: 100, 1:50, and 1:25 fungal growth was virtually non-existent.

Recent research has indicated that extracts from Plantago lanceolata show antiviral activity. In our research, BHK (baby hamster kidney) cells along with ELVIS (enzyme linked virus inducible system) cells were infected with Herpes Simplex Virus I to determine a specific concentration of plant extract Y from Plantago lanceolata that significantly inhibits the viral infection rate. The first two assays performed during our research were done to establish the concentration of virus to be used throughout the experiment. After establishing the virus concentration at 10-2, the plant extract (Y) at concentrations of 10%, 5%, and 2.5% were assayed to determine inhibition levels. Once the results of the effects of these concentrations are analyzed more specific concentrations will be examined.

The use of natural and artificial sweeteners is prevalent in today's society. Aspartame, for example, can be found in foods ranging from cereal to gum. Furthermore, it is estimated that Americans consume about 20 teaspoons of sucrose a day. This research sought to examine the complexities of taste preferences and the possible effects of sweeteners on food and drink consumption. Fifteen female rats were divided into groups of three and each served as her own control. In addition to tap water, each group was given low, medium, and high doses (3g, 6g, and 9g per 100mL water, respectively) of the following sweeteners: Aspartame, Saccharine, dextrose, or sucrose. - Measurements of liquid and food consumption, as well as animal weight, were taken every 24 hours for a period lasting up to 19 days. In addition, average urine outputs per 100mL of the high dose solution consumed were determined. Preliminary data showed that the high dose of each solution was preferred and that there was a dramatic increase in liquid consumption of each solution as concentration of sweetener increased. Food consumption also appeared to be affected by the ingestion of sweeteners.

Insect herbivory can affect the quality and quantity of foliage on a plant. This can alter the suitability of the foliage to subsequent herbivores, as foliar carbohydrates, protein content, and defensive compounds may have been increased or decreased by the prior herbivores. These processes have been shown to occur simultaneously in plants and may affect plant productivity. Black locust, Robinia pseudoacacia, a pioneering species in southern Appalachian hardwood forests, is primarily defoliated by the locust leafminer, Odontota dorsalis. Black locust is also the primary host for the locust twig borer, Ecdytolopha insiticiana, which infests black locust by boring into the branches of the plant in early spring. 29 black locust trees were randomly chosen for the study during the spring of 1999 at the University of Kentucky Horticultural South Farm (Lexington, KY), and were assessed as to the level of locust twig borer infestation. During the summer of that year, locust leafminer adults were captured and caged onto branches of the trees with and without locust twig borer. Adult locust leafminer were allowed to feed for 10 days, after which the foliage was taken from each cage and measured for total non-structural carbohydrate levels. Plant productivity was measured throughout the growing season by measuring tree height, root collar diameter, and plant architecture. After analyzing total nonstructural carbohydrate levels, it was found that foliage feed upon by locust leafminer was correlated with increased carbohydrate levels over that which was not feed upon by locust leaf miner. Total non-structural carbohydrate levels from foliage on branches highly infested by locust twig borer were lower than those of branches with low or no infestations of locust twig borer. Moreover, plant productivity was not significantly affected by infestations of locust leafminer or locust twig borer.

Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) may be a factor in the development of prostate cancer. An increase in the level of PAP in the bloodstream occurs in males with prostate cancer, and this test, along with the PSA test, has been used to diagnose prostate cancer. Studies have shown that 4-(fluoromethyl) phenyl phosphate inhibits PAP. It was suggested that the efficiency of this mechanism-based inactivation of PAP might be strengthened by improving the binding of the intermediate quinone methide. Four different molecules with different substituents were constructed. Both deactivating and activating groups were utilized as substituents in the molecule to assess the changes in the reactivity of the molecules. The geometry, vibrational frequencies, and partial atomic charges of each molecule were calculated using the hybrid Hartree Fock/density functional method Becke3LYP. The structure of each molecule was compared to what little experimental data is available in the literature. The partial atomic charge on the oxygen was used to determine the reactivity of each of the intermediate quinone methides as has been suggested in previous studies. Models of the quinone methide intermediates will be used in future studies with the molecular dynamics program AMBER to investigate how the addition of substituents changes the binding energy to PAP. This research will aid experimentalists in creating rationally designed inhibitors of human prostatic acid phosphatase.

Originally nicotine was going to be isolated from vegetables of the Solanacea family. We were unable to detect nicotine extracted from the vegetables with the method used. Instead nicotine was isolated from various brands of tobacco products. The HPLC was used to qualify and quantify the nicotine from each product. Also the UV-VIS spectrophotometer was used to verify the wavelength that nicotine absorbed. The GC/MS was used to identify gases from a lit cigarette.