Digital Commons Network^™

Pink Wave Or Red Threat? Bolivia's And Venezuela's Hydrocarbons Policies In Perspective, Patrick Hunter Dogan

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Finding Space For Autonomy: Chiapas, The Ezln, And The Dynamics Of The Indigenous Communities, Thomas Joseph Koger

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Historical Memory And Muslim Identity In Andalusia, Sarah Lynn Karp

Honors Theses

This paper concerns the negotiation of the medieval history of Islamic Spain for the purposes of identity creation and Muslim minority integration in Andalucia. The argument challenges essentialist hypotheses positing that history is absolute and demonstrates ‘innate’ characteristics of a culture. It provides an example of a contested national past which involves both periods of conflict and periods of peaceful coexistence. Many of the sources used are original language media sources, including newspaper articles, organization websites, and government documents. Interviews, data, and analysis gathered by Gema Martm-Muhoz, Gunther Dietz, Bebee Bahrami, and Nadia el- Shohoumi are used in conjunction with …

The Perils Of Privatizing Water: The Case Of Buenos Aires In Comparative Perspective, Joshua Lee Norris

Honors Theses

In 1993, the water providing service of Buenos Aires was privatized in order to increase the number of constituents with water access and improve water quality. The government also needed an infusion of cash to pay off foreign debt and support a new monetary policy pegged to the dollar. Given these two situations, privatization seemed to provide the most logical answer to each of these problems. However, after ten years of water rate increases that prohibited many citizens fi*om receiving water access, the state renationalized water service in Buenos Aires, Although privatization is generally accepted as the most efficient means …

At The Roots Of Faith: A Comparative Analysis Of The History And Appeal Of Buddhism And Christianity In Comtemporary China, Megan Christine Rogers

Honors Theses

In the late 1970s, China emerged from its Cultural Revolution as a society ostensibly free from religion. In the subsequent years, however, religious belief has grown at an astounding rate, so much so that by the year 2005, around 31.4% of Chinese adults identified themselves as religious. Given the size of China’s population, this percentage translates to over three hundred million believers. Perhaps most remarkably, not only traditional religions such as Buddhism but foreign ones—Protestantism in particular—have reflected this increase. Such rapid growth has often astonished observers and left them struggling to explain the phenomenon: in a largely secular society …

The Use Of Presidential Decrees In New Democracies: A Study Of Argentina And Chile, Lindsey Michelle Stringer

Honors Theses

The presidents of both Argentina and Chile have the power to issue decrees under various circumstances. However, these powers have been used more extensively in Argentina. In this thesis I answer the questions of how presidential decree powers have been used in Argentina and Chile and how these uses have affected democracy. In Chapter 1,1 define decree powers and describe the powers held by presidents in Argentina and Chile since the more recent transitions to democracy. In Chapters 2 and 3, I analyze how these powers have been used in first Argentina, then Chile. Finally, in Chapter 4,1 suggest how …

An Evaluation Of 529 Savings And Prepaid Tuition Plans, Joshua Charles Rorie

Honors Theses

The pui*pose of this thesis was to evaluate the two types of Internal Revenue Code (IRC) 529 college savings plans; the savings plan and the prepaid tuition plan. The investment returns of the college savings plans and, indirectly, prepaid tuition plans were compared to the current tuition inflation environment to determine which method provided the investor the most favorable return. In addition, the circumstances surrounding prepaid plans that have recently closed to new enrollment were used to evaluate the condition of the prepaid alternative. A sample of state college savings plans returns were examined along with four currently suspended prepaid …

Development Ethics: Ethical Questioning And Its Place In International Development, Miriam Elizabeth Abadie

Honors Theses

Development Ethics is a field of applied ethics that deals with the ethical questions involved in international development work. This study highlights one basic question that a development ethicist might tackle: Do we, a wealthy nation, have an obligation to help poor nations? To respond to this question, I consider and respond to Gairett Hardin’s Lifeboat Ethics analogy to argue that we do have this obligation. To further demonstrate that we do have an obligation to the poor, I highlight three different moral theories: Utilitarianism, Kantian Ethics, and Care Ethics. It is important to understand that Development Ethics, while based …

Conceiving Equity: The Paradox Surrounding The Contraception Crisis In America, Meghann Diane Ainsworth

Honors Theses

Much of the controversy surrounding reproductive rights in the United States is mainly concentrated on abortion; however, an equally significant reproductive concern that sometimes goes unnoticed is the current contraception crisis in this countr>^ Pro-life and conservative right wing groups have surreptitiously launched a propaganda campaign to distort contraceptive information, leading many Americans to believe that contraception is unsafe, anti-family, and a form of abortion. These assertions are complete fabrications created to gain followers. The pro-choice side advocates the truths that contraception is safe and effective, supportive of families, and is not scientifically or medically considered a form of …

Path Of The Dragon’S Eye: Using Fantasy Elements In Realism, Winston Edward Jones Jr.

Honors Theses

WINSTON EDWARD JONES: A Collection ofInterwoven Fantasy Short Stories (Under the direction ofRonald Schroeder)

The stories presented in this thesis illustrate a common theme through the use of both fantasy and realism. Specifically, these dichotomous styles are used to comment on the nature of human desire. To represent desire, each story features an appearance and interaction with the titular item, the dragon’s eye. This item often serves as both representation and foil to the characters’ deepest desires. By interjecting this fantastic jewel into realistic situations, these stories attempt to utilize fantasy as a vehicle through which emotional tension is created …

Jean-Paul Marat: The Politics Of Death, Joseph Paul Wallace

Honors Theses

The following thesis discusses the death and quasi-deification of Jean-Paul Marat, politician and journalist of the French Revolution. I focus on the tensions between social, artistic, and political movements that sprung up in the wake of the radical’s martyrdom. I also demonstrate the drastic change in general attitudes and policies— political, social and artistic—toward Marat between the years of the Terror and Thermidor. I hope to prove that Marat, in transcending his own policies and words after death by becoming a visual and tactile symbol representing both social justice and political terror, is a pivotal figure for the French Revolution. …

Left Against Left In Brazil: Party Rivalry, National Politics, And Ideological Change, Marcos De Moraes Cerdeira

Honors Theses

This thesis looks at the relationship between the Workers’ Party and the Party of Brazilian Social Democracy -arguably the two most powerful parties in Brazil- and why, even though, both parties are considered leftist they have never formed an alliance. Through the first two chapters the thesis highlights the changes experienced by both parties from the 1980s to the early 2000s, and how each has become the party they are now. This thesis contains a case study that focuses on the relationship of both parties from 1988 through 2002 at the municipal level in the city of Ribeirao Preto, Sao …

Path Of The Dragon's Eye: Using Fantasy Elements In Realism, Winston Edward Jones, Jr.

Honors Theses

The stories presented in this thesis illustrate a common theme through the use of both fantasy and realism. Specifically, these dichotomous styles are used to comment on the nature of human desire. To represent desire, each story features an appearance and interaction with the titular item, the dragon’s eye. This item often serves as both representation and foil to the characters’ deepest desires. By interjecting this fantastic jewel into realistic situations, these stories attempt to utilize fantasy as a vehicle through which emotional tension is created and resolved. Also, the obvious juxtaposition of genres creates situations in which the reader …

Sustainable Development In The Atacama Desert? Community And The Copper Mining Industry In Northern Chile, Livia Christina Macias

Honors Theses

Antofagasta is a particularly difficult region to promote sustainable development given its location in the Atacama Desert in Northern Chile. In the single-industry community case in Antofagasta, the relationship between the copper industry and the surrounding community is essential for the survival of both. The purpose of this thesis is definitions of sustainable development on the international, national, and local levels, understand the challenges of sustainable development in the to scrutinize the many Antofagasta Region, analyze the important aspects of sustainable development promoted the initiatives for sustainable development between by a single industry, and compare state and private industries in …

Antinociceptive Action Of Mitragynine And Its Synthetic Analogs In Mice, La Donna Evette Franklin

Honors Theses

Mitragynine is a major alkaloid extracted from the leaves of the Thai traditional herb, Mitrcigymi speciosa Korth (Rubiaceae). The extracts of this plant have been used as substitutes for opium and recent studies have reported that mitragynine possesses antinociceptive actions mediated via the mu opioid receptors. Nonetheless, structural features of mitragynine do not fit the classical opiate ligands. Thus the primary objectives of this study were to evaluate the antinociceptive effect of mitragynine and its synthetic analogs to determine the molecular basis of mitragynine binding to opioid receptors in order to provide better understanding of the potential therapeutic roles of …

Concert Promotion In A College Community: A Guide For The Hopeful Concert Promoter, Lori Ann Simpson

Honors Theses

This thesis was comprised of research in action in an attempt to plan and promote a concert in a college community. Research began in the summer of 2007 with an internship with Live Nation, the world’s largest concert promoter. After spending three months working in the live music industry, I decided to put that knowledge into practice by organizing an awareness concert for Mississippi Blood Services in Oxford, Mississippi. I spent much time planning this concert, first as a large outdoor event, and after it became evident that would not be possible, a smaller, local event at an Oxford venue. …

Nouveau: A Feminist Magazine Launch, Meghan Cori Blalock

Honors Theses

The following thesis is a combination of research on the history of feminism and magazines in America and a business plan with accompanying prototype for the launch of a feminist magazine called Nouveau. The research took several months to complete with the business plan and prototype requiring approximately one additional academic year to finish. Based on research and general knowledge of the magazine publishing industry, I found that there is a niche in feminist publications waiting to be filled; Nouveau, which aims to redefine feminism for young professional women, will fill that niche by presenting women with the option of …

The Foundation, Education, And Practice Of Osteopathic Medicine, Anthony P. Salvador

Honors Theses

Osteopathic medicine has quickly grown into a successful and respectable branch of medical practice. It was created out of a necessity for change in the late 1800s, and continues to be a credible form of alternative medicine. After reviewing literary material, journal articles, and numerous osteopathic college sources it was seen that osteopathic medicine can be practiced in numerous settings and will become integral in the near future due to the shortage of physicians in the United States. Today, osteopaths work closely with all types of medical personal including medical doctors.

Nasser And Qutb: The Lives And Legacies Of Two Controversial Egyptians, Rachel Leonard

Honors Theses

The problems of the Middle East are complex, in-depth issues that cannot be solved easily. The matters of oil, Islam and very limited participation of the people In government mix to create problems that defy solutions from those within or outside the region. Historians and political scientists have come to examine these issues more closely, especially because of the serious political, religious and military conflicts centered in the area. There has been an upsurge in political Islamist movements, radical, fundamental and otherwise, that tend to frighten policy makers in the West. These movements arose alongside and often in opposition to …

Individual Autonomy And The Work Of Resistance: How Authors Of The 1950s Reject State Absorption Through Imagination And Reaffirmation Of The Body, Benjamin L. Boroughf

Honors Theses

The purpose of comparing two works of literature is to highlight similarities and differences that might provide a greater understanding of the works. When comparing the two works, one can emphasize various elements of the texts, including national or international conventions, periods, genres, themes, influences, culture, movements, or aesthetic choices. At the same time, however, this process may actually distort the way in which one views the works. A reader can easily seize upon surface similarities and identify some "deep" relationship between the works that may not in fact actually exist. Moreover, a reader can easily focus on surface similarities …

Influence Of Juvenile Hormone On Territorial And Aggressive Behavior In The Painted Lady (Vanessa Cardui) And Eastern Black Swallowtail (Papilio Polyxenes), Tara Bergin

Honors Theses

Competition is important in environments with limited resources. Males of many insect species are territorial and will defend resources, such as a food source or egg-laying site, against intruders, or even compete to attract a mate. In insects, evidence suggests that juvenile hormone acts as an aggression mediator, much like testosterone in other animal species. In this study I tested this idea using a group of male Painted Lady butterflies, Vanessa cardui, and Eastern Black Swallowtail butterflies, Papilio polyxenes, that were treated prior to metamorphosis with either a high or low dose of methoprene acid (a juvenile hormone mimic). Male-male …

Immunological Effects Of Written Disclosure In Athletes, Kristen Thatcher

Honors Theses

Many studies have demonstrated the health benefits of written disclosure of traumatic or stressful events. These benefits include improved psychological well-being, fewer health clinic visits, shorter hospital stays after surgery, and increased immune function. In athletes, high immune function is necessary to ward off illness during training and competition, but much research has shown that athletes tend to have lowered immune function. Therefore, writing about traumatic events may be a way for athletes to remain healthy during their seasons. To test this hypothesis, 21 varsity athletes and 15 individuals who exercised less than three hours per week participated in the …

Divergent Effect Of Social Cohesion On Economic Growth In East Asia And Latin America, Horacio Diaz Adda

Honors Theses

In this paper I explore the link between social cohesion and economic growth in Latin America and East Asia. Unlike previous studies, I allow for different slope parameters for the different regions. Using ethno linguistic fractionalization as a proxy, I find that social cohesion has not played an important role in determining growth outcomes in Latin America. While social cohesion has not had a direct effect on growth nor institutions in Latin America, it helps explain a large degree of the growth differentials among Asian countries. Social cohesion mostly impacts growth through its effect on institutional quality. However, these results …

Early Stage Detection Of Marine Oil Oxidation, Loren Lapointe

Honors Theses

A method involving overnight stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in negative ion chemical ionization (NICI) mode was developed to determine the presence of aldehydes (cis-4-heptenal, trans,trans-2,4-heptadienal, trans-2-octenal, cis-6-nonenal, trans-2-cis-6-nonadienal, trans-2-nonenal, and trans,trans-2,4-decadienal) in fresh and aged commercial fish oil (untreated and treated with antioxidant blends). Aldehyde standards were quantifiable to >100ppb levels using this method. Only trans,trans-2,4-heptadienal was shown to be present in the commercial fish oil and its presence was used to compare the performance of the two different antioxidant treatments in the fish oil. Includes Powerpoint.

Why Most Mergers Fail: An Emphasis On The Human Factors, Kimberly Defouw

Honors Theses

Recent studies have shown that 60-80% of all mergers are failures when measured by their ability to outperform the stock market or to deliver profit increases. Mergers must create value and grow the business to have true success. Often mergers fail due to financial and market factors, such as a poor economy, market entry timing, unrealized synergies, or a saturated market. It is easy to overlook the human factors, the characteristics of people that need to be considered when implementing mergers in order for people to interact effectively. While a CEO may be the first to say that people are …

Trials Bike Frame Concept, David Boboltz, Rob Harmer, Caleb Vanderveen

Honors Theses

Development of a Concept Trials Frame was a mechanical engineering design project that developed a new bicycle frame that has the strength and durability to be used for trials bike riding. The scope of the project was placed solely on the bicycle's frame. Current frames were analyzed based on their strength, durability, stiffness, weight, and appearance. These factors were ranked for importance and became the performance targets for the new frame. Several designs that utilize elastic strain energy to increase performance were brainstormed. Following SolidWorks modeling, equivalent impact loads were calculated using several analytical methods. These loads were then applied …

Stability Of Eukaryotic Elongation Factor One Alpha Protein In The Cell, Jennifer Watry

Honors Theses

Eukaryotic Elongation Factor One Alpha (eEF1A) is an abundant protein found in every cell of every organism and is involved in functions concerning protein synthesis and degradation, the cytoskeleton, and signaling. How these functions are regulated is not yet understood for this protein. Regulation of the protein may be controlled by transcription of the genes encoding the protein or the stability and modification of the protein. The goal of this project was to determine the stability of eEf1A proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana. Protein stability was determined by treating tissues with cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein synthesis. Gel electrophoresis and …

Perceptions Of Speech-Language Pathologists, Abby M. Spicko

Honors Theses

According to the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, speech-language pathologists practice in a wide variety of work settings including schools, hospitals, clinics, private homes, nursing homes, and more (ASHA, 2007). As a result of the diverse environments in which speech language pathologists are employed, they work in collaboration with people from many other professions, including teachers, psychologists, doctors, nurses, social works. and occupational and physical therapists. It is important to understand the relationships between the speech language pathologist and their co-workers and others' attitudes toward the profession. This paper examines how those working with speech language pathologists across various work settings, …

A Study Of The Impact Of Adult Day Care Centers On The Caregivers Of Clients With Dementia, Abby L. Olsen

Honors Theses

The purpose of this descriptive study was to evaluate the impact of adult day care centers (ADC) on the perceived stress of the caregivers of loved ones with dementia and on their perceptions of their loved one's level of functioning or quality of life. Five caregivers whom had a loved one attending the same ADC were interviewed to obtain qualitative data concerning their perceptions about ADC utilization. Two assessment tools, the Caregiver Strain Index and the QA Study Assessment Tool were also used to determine quantitatively the impact of adult day care attendance on caregiver stress. The results suggested that …

Scientific Advice To The House : Who Has The Congressional Ear?, Kristen Greenholt

Honors Theses

In 2001, President George W. Bush remarked, "Science and technology have never been more essential to the defense of the nation and the health of the economy." The responsibility for formulating science and technology policy primarily falls into the hands of Congress. However, since few members of Congress possess a broad base of knowledge in either science or technology, they must rely on external sources of information. I examine the sources of information on which they rely, or the question "Who has the Congressional Ear?"with regard to science and technology issues. Using the downfall of the Office of Technology Assessment …