Digital Commons Network^™

Facebook Sharing Habits And Its Effect On Personal Privacy, Bryan M. Bubulka

Honors Theses

Over the past several years many individuals have jumped on the social networking bandwagon to create Facebook accounts linking their lives to the outside world, over four hundred million according to Facebook (Facebook, 2012). Whether it’s your personal privacy or property, knowing what information to post or share on social networking sites such as Facebook could be the key in protecting both. This research will focus on possible privacy concerns within social networking sites using Richard Mason’s groundbreaking PAPA (Privacy, Accuracy, Property, and Accessibility) Framework (Mason, 1986). The PAPA Framework will be used to identify what is being shared on …

Ogawa Mimei's Children's Stories: A Case Study Of The Rise Of Childhood In The Context Of Westernization And Japanese Modernization, Alexandra E. Kint

Honors Theses

In this thesis, I examine the influences of westernization, the tension between Japanese modernity and tradition, and the stories of Hans Christian Andersen on Ogawa Mimei’s children’s stories. I begin the body of my thesis with a brief historical background of Japan, beginning with the start of the Meiji period in 1868. Within the historical section, I focus on societal and cultural elements and changes that pertain to my thesis. I also include the introduction of Hans Christian Andersen in Japan. I wrap up the historical section by a description of Ogawa’s involvement in the Japanese proletarian literature movement and …

Into The Magic Mirror: The Narratives That Reflect Our Lives And Dictate How We Should Live, Chany Fehr Buchanan

Honors Theses

This thesis investigates the influence fairytales have on society, how they dichotomously reflect cultural worldviews yet set standards for appropriate behavior and prescribe hegemonic ideologies. It specifically explores the fairytales told in America over the last couple of centuries, examining how those stories have evolved in correlation with the shifting values of the country. Each chapter lays a foundation for how certain characters are normally portrayed in fairytale tradition - the hero, the beauty, and the villain - and then evaluates how our culture has Americanized those figures, consequently making each of them less idealistic or archetypal and evolution of …

An Analysis Of The Hurricane Insurance Markets In The Southeastern United States, Stephanie Jeanette Jabaley

Honors Theses

As hurricanes are some of the most devastating natural catastrophes in the United States, property insurance for coastal home and business owners is a consistently evolving market. The southeast, specifically the Gulf of Mexico region, is where most hurricanes are concentrated and has accumulated a large amount of losses over the past few decades. After Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, less private insurers have offered windstorm coverage for coastal property owners and the state wind pools have increased their amounts of risk exposure. This thesis analyzes the use of wind pools in the Gulf of Mexico, specifically Mississippi, and other …

Oil Wells And Well-Oiled Guns: The Resource Curse And Government-Directed Violence During The Arab Spring Uprisings, Vihara Anjalee Dharmaratne

Honors Theses

This thesis analyzes whether there is a positive correlation between the levels of government-directed violence and oil wealth, against the backdrop of the Arab Spring. Have governments of the Middle East and North African (MENA) states that possess more oil wealth used more violence on their protesting citizens than governments of states that have little or no oil wealth? Does the so-called “resource curse” apply to the outcomes of the Arab Spring? This thesis attempted to answer these questions by (1) studying the levels of government-directed violence in the Arab Spring uprisings and (2) examining the oil wealth and oil …

Intellectual Property And Culture: Differences And Origins, Evan James Extine

Honors Theses

China has for many years been criticized for its poor record of protecting intellectual property rights. However, recent evidence has shown that China may now not be as lax in its protections as previously assessed. This thesis aims to build on these new findings by (1) demonstrating the continued gap in the robustness of Chinese and American copyright laws and (2) finding the possible origins of this perceived gap. The main method for answering the first question centers on the comparison of the American and Chinese “fair use” clauses. Through the findings of this method, China’s “fair use” clause proves …

Anything New Under The Sun?: Walker Percy And The Search For A Third Way And Place, Matthew Jordan Griesbeck

Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to demonstrate how Walker Percy, through fiction, explores the various inadequacies of place, ontology, and religious belief through his representation of his characters* engagement with these three areas in their attempt to live a meaningful life. 1 analyze three of Percy's novels. The Moviegoer (1961), The Last Gentleman (1966). and The Second Cowmg (1980), as well as Percy's non-fiction essays and Percy criticism. I find that the novels are continuous with Percy's non-fiction, and that Percy critics too often simply restate the author's beliefs instead of undergoing a thorough examination of what the author …

Untranslatables, Nicholas Varner Judin

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Ethnic Tourism’S Effect On Bai Ethnic Minority’S Identity In Dali, China, Tabitha Bandi

Honors Theses

This thesis focuses on the Bai minority group in the town of Dali, in China's Yunnan Province and examines the effect of ethnic tourism upon the identity ofthe Bai people. Through an analysis of governmental policies, both on the national and provincial level, economic policies, and different sources of Bai identity, such as travel magazines and articles, I have come to find that the Chinese state and Han Chinese have played a decisive role in the shaping and defining of Bai identity. Through the promotion of tourism and state policies, the Bai people have created a stronger sense ofidentity.

TABITHA …

Celebratory Activism: A Media Portrayal Of Southern Identity, Elizabeth Myhr Lynch

Honors Theses

Celebratory Activism: A Media Portrayal of Southern Identity (Under the Direction of Dr. Mark Dolan)

The objective ofthis paper is to investigate the media's role in portraying southern identity and to determine the media's effect on the surrounding communities. It specifically addresses the three media institutions of Thacker Mountain Radio, The Oxford American, and The Southern Foodways Alliance and determines how they represent and celebrate southern culture. The methodology of the paper consists of the assessment of existing literature in the field of the media's depiction of the South followed by case studies on Thacker Mountain Radio, The Oxford American, …

The Effectiveness Of Common Language: A Contextual Analysis Of Thomas Paine’S Common Sense And Rev. Martin Luther King’S Letter From A Birmingham Jail, Mack Arthur Turner Jr.

Honors Theses

MACK-ARTHUR TURNER, JR: THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COMMON LANGUAGE: A CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF THOMAS PAINE'S COMMON SENSE AND REV. MARTIN LUTHER KING'S LETTER FROM A BIRMINGHAM JAIL )

People are different in several ways; however, we are also share many similarities. For example, we all have ways in which we can communicate others. One of the problems in communicating is connecting with one's intended audience. The way that people construct their ideas and convey them could be effective based on the audiences' ability to understand, interpret, and react. In this paper, I examine the way in which many powerful and influential …

Shakespeare's Newest Stage: The Reshaping Of Cultural Capital Through Youtube, Ben G. Long

Honors Theses

Since its launch in 2005, YouTube has quickly situated itself as a major facet of popular culture. The prevalence of Shakespeare on YouTube is fascinating considering the diversity of the videos found, and the tremendous audience response to these clips. Is YouTube helping or hurting Shakespeare's reputation? This thesis explores this question through the lens of Pierre Bourdieu's theory of cultural capital. The argument is that amidst the process of reinvention, a redefining of what is Shakespeare is occurring. The support provided is framed through numerous video analyses, that cover a wide range of topics including: Shakespeare in education, Shakespeare …

The Effects Of Chloro Linoleate Acylal Prodrugs On The Inositol Biosynthetic Pathway In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Steffie-Ann Dujon

Honors Theses

Bipolar disorder is a debilitating mental illness characterized by recurrent episodes of mania and depression. FDA-approved drugs lithium and valproate, are the most common treatments for this disorder. Currently, omega-3 fatty acids are being researched as an alternative treatment, free of the negative side effects valproate and lithium exhibit. The mechanisms by which valproate and lithium work are unclear, however they effectively lower intracellular inositol levels. Valproate and omega-3 fatty acids similarly inhibit yeast cell growth as well as protein kinase C activity. We hypothesize that omega-3 fatty acids can also decrease inositol levels. A prodrug combining structural properties of …

The Effects Of A Valproate Fatty Acid Prodrug On The Inositol Biosynthetic Pathway, Gina Kang

Honors Theses

Bipolar disorder is characterized by alternating episodes of mania and extreme depression. Compounds such as omega-3 fatty acids and valproate individually treat symptons of bipolar disorder, one of which is elevated inositol levels. Lithium and valproate are known to reduce iniositol levels. The goal of this project is to combine linoleic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid substitute) with valproate and observe the prodrug's effects on the inositol biosynthetic pathway using Saccharomyces cervisiae yeast as the model system. Since inositol is required for growth, the effects of the prodrug on the inositol biosynthetic pathway was determined by comparing its impact on …

In Time, Bfa Thesis Exhibition By Clay Crawford, Clay Howell Crawford

Honors Theses

In Time, my BFA solo exhibition, was an installation of three four-foot-by-six-foot looping video projections shone directly onto the walls of Meek Hall's Gallery 130. create this body of work, I performed as both photographer and subject. Performance in its simplest form exists completely autonomous of technology, and when the photographer or videographer documents a performance s/he produces something and more tangible than simply engaging in the performance's live exchange. As I work with time-based media, the idea of time is central to my art-making process and conceptual development. In these works, I alter standard time structures by imposing my …

Technical And Stylistic Changes In Jewelry From The Time Of Theophilus To The Time Of Cellini, Katherine Gresham Hodges

Honors Theses

My thesis consists of research from an art historical perspective concerning a number of changes in the design, style, and fabrication of jewelry from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance and the influences that brought about those changes. I have found that social political, geographical, technological, and philosophical shifts in the Renaissance all wielded significant impact on the changes in design and style of jewelry. I have approached the subject by studying jewelry as an art form equal to other art forms such painting and sculpting, rather than as a decorative art or craft. By focusing on one prominent goldsmith …

Assessing Companies Allowance For Doubtful Accounts: Earnings Management And The Recession, David Mcarthur Neyhart

Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to determine if the economic downturn from 2007- 2009 had any significant influence on company’s ability to estimate bad debt expense, and to examine if there were any noticeable trends of earnings management. The estimates that companies use for their estimated allowance for doubtful accounts are largely unregulated and subjective, and therefore are more easily manipulated. This point is illustrated in the Statements on Auditing Standards number 57.4 by saying, “As estimates are based on subjective as well as objective factors, it may be difficult for management to establish controls over them. Even when …

The Causes And Effects Of Chinese Investment In Africa, Jamey Hurst

Honors Theses

China’s engagement in Africa represents a radical departure from the modem paradigm of development. To the West, it represents a threat to the “Washington Consensus” and the accepted aid paradigm, but to African countries, the Chinese are providing much desired investment. Due to a paucity of information on this subject, this research aims to consolidate perspectives on this type of investment and identify factors leading to as well as the possible effects of the China-Africa relationship. This is accomplished by contextualizing the China-Africa relationship within a wider discourse on development, and then separating African countries on the basis of total …

Antibiotic Resistance Of Bacteria Isolated From Leafy Green Salad Vegetables, Brooke Elizabeth Reynolds

Honors Theses

Bacterial isolates obtained from samples of five varieties of leafy green vegetables were tested for resistance to four different antibiotics: ampicillin. erythromycin, streptomycin, and tetracycline. Isolates were separated based on media type (TSA vs. R2A media), sterilization techniques (surface sterilized vs. unsterilized). cultivation methods (conventional vs. organic), and specific lettuce type origins. Resistances were tested using a microscale broth culture technique, which allowed for growth of isolates in the presence of different concentrations of antibiotic. Antibiotic resistance was observed in all groups of isolates, although levels of resistance varied depending on the particular isolate and the antibiotic tested. Isolates were …

Currency: The Fantastic Festival Of The Mind, Kristen Marie Vise

Honors Theses

Currency: The Fantastic Festival of the Mind is an exploration of memory and ephemerality through abstracted imagery originating in the wonder of childhood, the magic of festivals, and the divinity of nature. In the work, an underlying “current” or essence of wonder serves as the “currency” of subjects ranging from carousels to clocks to Sycamore trees. The work explores fragmented concepts of time and memory that intertwine with whimsical imagery in the mind over time, leading to the development of fanciful percepdons and reassembled experience. Pulling from sources as diverse as Environmental Graphic Design, contemporary grapic design. Surrealism, and German …

Unseen, Kelsey Bre Letzring

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Love's Labour's Lost 2.0: Exploring Identity Formation On Facebook And Beyond, Mitchell Watson Hobbs

Honors Theses

An adaptation of William Shakespeare's play of the same name, Love's Labour's Lost 2.0 utilizes the social network website Facebook as its stage so as to explore the unique problems and opportunities that social media affords identity creation. Through this lens, I find that identity creation in this digital world is discursively composed, much like identity in the analog world, and serves to shunt dissent or action that may threaten the status quo. Facebook's ultimate promise to this constantly composing individual is the comfort and security of an audience.

Mechanism Of Action Of A Novel Antifungal Compound, Amber Ward

Honors Theses

Opportunistic fungal infections have become problematic in recent years. There has been an emergence of new fungal pathogens, development of antifungal resistance, and increasing prevalence. In addition, toxicity, resistance, and lack of efficacy as a single agent limit the effectiveness of current antifungal drugs. Therefore, new drugs targeting new pathways are greatly needed. An analog derived from the marine natural product phloeodictine, analog PHL5-34A, was identified as having strong in vitro antifungal activity. In this study, its mechanism of action (MOA) was investigated in the model yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This study made use of a collection of 166 yeast mutants …

Working Towards A Solution To The Obesity Epidemic: A Marketer's Perspective, Elizabeth Ann Clippard

Honors Theses

The obesity epidemic is a social issue in that critics are quick to blame business and government for failing the consumers. The truth is that all three parties have failed each other by allowing such a cultural change to occur. The issue is similar to the tobacco public health crisis following the spike in lung cancer in the 1950s and 60s. The tobacco companies were blamed entirely for their unhealthy products and the government still spends millions today regulating their products. In order to improve upon this course of action, I believe that a more cooperative solution exists in order …

A Historical Perspective Of Ponzi Schemes, Elizabeth Ann Geny

Honors Theses

In 2008, the largest Ponzi scheme was discovered—Bemie Madoff cheated investors out of over $50 billion. This left the public with many questions regarding Ponzi schemes. This paper reviews the history of Ponzi schemes including what a Ponzi scheme is. It analyzes Ponzi schemes prior to Bernie Madoff, analyzes Madoff s scheme, and analyzes Ponzi schemes discovered after Madoff. This paper also analyzes various Ponzi schemes throughout history and the role the SEC has played in them. It reviews why the SEC missed Madoff and precautions they are taking to never let such a large scale scheme pass them again. …

Uvas Unidas: A Research Study And Campaign Design For Hispanic Millennials, Candace Margaret Rodriguez

Honors Theses

The Hispanic market is a fast growing demographic that has begun to drastically reshape the population composition of the United States. Many unique and different cultures and identities are represented under the label, “Hispanic." Many companies have started l recognizing the value and importance of the Hispanic demographic. Along with the rising Hispanic population, Millennials are becoming an increasingly significant market. Hispanics have a lower median age, 25.4, than both African Americans and Caucasians in the United States and play a vital role as members of the Millennial generation. Hispanic Millennials are a market segment that is often overlooked. A …

Angiotensin Ii As A Potential Regulator Of Inflammatory Cytokines In Inducing Hypertension In Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Khush Singh Aujla

Honors Theses

The disease Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is a chronic inflammatory, autoimmune disorder that primarily affects women during their reproductive years. Women with SLE are at a greater risk of developing hypertension, which increases their risk of mortality from a cardiac related event. A proposed mechanism for SLE hypertension suggests that inflammation in the kidneys causes renal dysfunction, presumably resulting in less water excretion, increased plasma volume, and thus high blood pressure. This experiment tests the hypothesis that the T-cells from a mouse model of SLE hyper secrete the inflammatory cytokines IL-17, IL-10, and DFN- y, and are more sensitive to the …

Deeds Of Death, And Blood': The Introduction Of Sensational Crime Reporting Into Nineteenth Century Penny Press, Marta Catherine Toczylowski

Honors Theses

This thesis investigates the development of sensational crime reporting in New York in the early-Nineteenth Century. In order to fully understand the introduction of crime reporting into newspapers, I used a significant amount of secondary sources to understand the changes in the city, culture and the history of newspapers. I also took advantage of microfilm of newspapers from the 1830s and 1840s to look firsthand at the development of crime reporting in New York City newspapers. Through studying three significant murders and their coverage in the newspaper, I was able to establish and understand the development of a new type …

The Effectiveness Of Common Language: A Contextual Analysis Of Thomas Paine's Common Sense And Rev. Martin Luther King's 'Letter From A Birmingham Jail', Mack-Arthur Turner, Jr

Honors Theses

People are different in several ways; however, we are also share many similarities. For example, we all have ways in which we can communicate others. One of the problems in communicating is connecting with one's intended audience. The way that people construct their ideas and convey them could be effective based on the audiences' ability to understand, interpret, and react. In this paper, I examine the way in which many powerful and influential American leaders have used a particular form of communication to inspire the masses. I analyze the way in which two powerful figures, Thomas Paine and Rev. Martin …

Correlating Taxation And Income Inequality: An Interregional Study, Shantala Fabiola Weiss

Honors Theses

The purpose of conducting this study is to identify the nature of the relationship between income inequality and taxation by correlating the taxes and their observed impact on the Gini coefficient. It is hypothesized that the greater tax rates result in greater impact on the Gini coefficient — the independent variable, also called redistribution. Data is run through a regression analysis to determine the strength of the hypothesis. A positive relationship between redistribution and the level of taxation is determined to exist. It is also found that fiscal redistribution is driven primarily by the level of taxation, not by its …