Transnational Terror Groups and Global Integration: The Dark Side of Globalization
Presenters, Majors:
John Abress, Political Science/Economics
Faculty Sponsor:
Patrick Donnay
Abstract: Since September 11, 2001 the world has had to contemplate terrorism as a potential negative side of globalization. I begin by looking at countries deemed “globalized” and “non-globalized” to compare the frequency of terror groups and terrorist incidents and found striking differences between the two types. Then analyzing the “globalized” countries I take several measures of globalization and study the association these measures have with the presence of terror groups for the 62 “globalized” countries. I discovered that foreign direct investment (inflows and outflows) and trade (exports and imports) have statistically significant and positively correlated relationships with number of terror groups present, but as a percentage of GDP trade (exports and imports) are statistically significant and negatively correlated with the number of terror groups present. The amount of international travel, telephone traffic and number of internet users was statistically significant and positively correlated with the number of terror groups present.
Brian Adkins, Mathematics Charlton Cadwell, Undecided
Faculty Sponsor:
Ivy Knoshaug
Abstract: What if our number base were -10 rather than 10? How would we count and combine numbers? We will be investigating number forms and operations using a -10 base number system. We will discuss development of addition, subtraction, and multiplication algorithms. Division, which poses certain challenges, will also be addressed.
Growth Rates of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans With the Addition of Selected Tobacco Smoke Compounds
Presenters, Majors:
Karl Anderson, Biology
Faculty Sponsor:
Michael Hamann
Abstract: Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans is one of the major recognized oral pathogens and is known to be a causative agent of chronic and aggressive periodontitis. Periodontal disease is especially prevalent in tobacco smokers. In order to determine if compounds or physiological changes produced by cigarette smoking influence the growth of A. actinomycetemcomitans, the bacteria was cultured in a liquid media of Brain Heart Infusion with the addition of specific test compounds. This culture was placed in a 5% CO2 atmosphere at an incubation temperature of 37˚C. Growth curves were generated for the normal growth of A. actinomycetemcomitans using a spectrophotometer. Growth curves generated after adding components such as the compound nicotine are examined against the control curves of normal growth for changes. Results will indicate possible effects of tobacco smoke on A. actinomycetemcomitans. It is hypothesized that these components will increase the growth rate of this bacterium.
