Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

Inhibition Of Cellular Thioredoxin Reductase By The Anticancer Prodrug Cloretazine, Tyler R. Schleicher

Honors Theses

Sulfonylhydrazines are a class of DNA alkylating drugs which also produce carbamoylating activity in situ. The carbamoylating species is of significance because it has shown to inhibit important thiol-containing enzymes such as glutathione reductase (GR) and thioredoxin reductase (TrxR). TrxR catalyzes dithiol-disulfide exchange reactions on thioredoxin (Trx), which in turn catalyzes other reductive processes such as deoxyribonucleotide biosynthesis. In this study, we demonstrate that TrxR activity is strongly inhibited by the anticancer prodrug Cloretazine both in purified form and in leukemia cell lysates. This inhibition is specific to the carbamoylating activity of methylisocyanate (MiC). In contrast, another important oxidoreductase, glutathione …

Representations Of Grief In Akhmatova’S Requiem And Pushkin’S The Bronze Horseman, Hillary R. Smith

Honors Theses

Anna Akhmatova composed Requiem largely before 1940, but it was not published until the mid 1960s – after her death. It is now known to be one of her best works. Requiem is a cycle comprised of fifteen poems, the entireties of which are introduced by a personal reflection written in prose. Alexander Pushkin wrote his lyric ballad The Bronze Horseman in 1833 about the tremendous flood of 1824 in St. Petersburg and the involvement of the bronze equestrian statue of Peter the Great. Everything that the protagonist, Evgeny, cares for is destroyed, and he blames the Tsar for his …

Movement Patterns And Feeding Behavior Of The Limpet Tectura Testudinalis (Müller) Along The Mid-Maine Coast, Joshua Lord

Honors Theses

Tectura testudinalis is a limpet that lives in the mid-intertidal zone along the coast of Maine and grazes on a variety of encrusting algae. A previous study asserted that T. testudinalis preferred to feed and rest on the encrusting alga Clathromorphum circumscriptum and that this species of limpet displayed homing behavior. However, I show that T. testudinalis does not home or return to any specific substrate while resting. Conclusive evidence was found for nocturnal movement. I show that C. circumscriptum was the preferred food source for this limpet, closely followed by Hildenbrandia rubra, another encrusting alga. Field and lab experiments …

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 …

The Green Bean: A Specialty Coffee Company Designed Around Organic And Fair Trade Efforts., Allison Nicole Johnson

Honors Theses

During my study in graphic design, I have noticed the different ways certain product identity motifs influence potential consumers. My thesis explores this idea by addressing the importance of organic and fair trade products and materials. I have created a coffee company that specializes in coffees, chocolates, and spices from specific countries in Central and South America. The company’s identity is designed around the culture of these countries and the increasingly popular idea of “going green”. Environmentally safe, fair trade, organic, and recyclable are characteristics and the unifying themes of the company. Not only am I trying to persuade potential …

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 …

Object Usage Processing Improves Memory, Joseph C. Tann

Honors Theses

JOSEPH C. TANN: Usage as a Beneficial Method of Encoding

Many psychologists have attempted to find the most effective method of processing information in human memory. For years, the pleasantness method of processing was considered to be among the best methods for enhancing memory performance. One recent theory (Nairne, 2007) has suggested that processing items in terms oftheir survival value may be an even more proficient method of processing. Another theory (Reysen & Adair, 2008) attempted to prove that survival may not be the reason for the enhanced performance, but the individual’s connection with the specific object’s usage. My experiment …

A Study Of Race Policy In Fidel Castro's Cuba, Lee Andrew Taggart

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

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. …

Leaving It On The Field: A Review Of The Bowl Championship Series And Proposal Of A Postseason Playoff To Remedy The Negative Ethical Implications On Higher Education Of The Current Model, Thomas Benton York

Honors Theses

This thesis considers the current format of the postseason for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I-Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), critiques its ethical implications, and proposes a twelve-team postseason playoff to remedy the ethical dilemmas caused by the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) and the commercialization of football at the Division I-FBS level. Research was focused on sports law journals, books detailing the history of college football, transcripts from Congressional hearings, and articles from prominent sports news sources. The first chapter outlines the evolution of college football since the advent of television as mass media and highlights the medium’s direct …

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 …

The Expression And Characterization Of Full-Length Prcp In Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells, Mubina Aziz Isani

Honors Theses

Prolylcarboxypeptidase (PRCP) is involved in the conversion of angiotensin II (Ang II, a potent vasoconstrictor) to angiotensin 1-7 and conversion of bradykinin (BK, a vasodilator) to form des Arg9 bradykinin. PRCP converts plasma prekallikrein (PK) to plasma kallikrein when the high molecular weight kininogen (HK) combines with PK, forming the HK-PK complex that binds to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) membranes. Formed kallikrein then liberates BK jfrom HK, which leads to vasodilation. This physiological function is mediated by the BK type 2 receptor in the G protein-coupled receptor family. The balance between BK production and Ang II inactivation is …

Storytellers: Stories Within Songs, Carly Amber Phillips

Honors Theses

Stories are an important aspect of all cultures, v^^ether modem or ancient. History is passed on through stories, and lessons are learned. Some allow us to explore new dimensions beyond the scope of our own experiences, while others emphasize aspects of our life. Stories can take on a non-traditional format, such as the lyrics of songs. Few genres of music have been able to tell stories as genuine and sincere as those of classical country musicians. This genre of music is important because many of its artists tell stories that parallel the life and history of my family. On a …

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. …

Current Model For A Narrow Bipolar Pulse, Samuel Stewart Watson

Honors Theses

Narrow bipolar pulses (NBPs) are a class of high-altitude, high-energy discharges that occur during some thunderstorms. The mechanism responsible for initiation of these discharges is not known, but a explanation called runaway breakdown has been proposed by Gurevich et al. 2004. In runaway breakdown, fast ‘seed’ electrons are continually accelerated by the ambient electric field causing the discharge. As the runaway electrons collide with atoms in the air, they create a cascade of other runaway electrons as well as slower free electrons. In accordance with this suggestion, we model a current that increases exponentially along its propagation channel (MTLEI). The …

The Green Bean: A Specials Coffee And Cacao Supplier That Supports The Organic And Fair Trade Efforts In Central And South America., Allison Nicole Johnson

Honors Theses

During my study in graphic design, I have noticed the different ways certain product identity motifs influence potential consumers. My thesis explores this idea by addressing the importance of organic and fair trade products and materials. 1 have created a coffee company that specializes in coffees, chocolates, and spices from specific countries in Central and South America. The company’s identity is designed around the culture of these countries and tlie increasingly popular idea of “going green”. Environmentally safe, fair trade, organic, and recyclable are characteristics and the unifying themes of the company. Not only am I trying to persuade potential …

The Magnitude Of Repression By Cro Protein In The Presence Of Lambda Operator Variants, Shabnam Sarker

Honors Theses

Synthetic genetic circuits were constructed to observe the dynamics of repression by the Cro and scCro repressors. Each circuit contained at least one repressor and a reporter gene. Cro repressor is one of two opposite repressors. This artificial switch also had a single-chain cro (scCro) protein that would not have to dimerize like Cro to be fimctional. Such repressors bind operator sites to prevent fiirther transcription fi-om the promoters. The Lac Repressor (LacR) was used to prevent transcription firom Pr. The inducer EPTG was used to remove the Lac Repressor. A reporter gene LacZ is transcribed from Pr. The protein …

Institutionalized Islam: A Study Of The Union Des Organisations Islamiques De France, Andrus Gareth Ashoo

Honors Theses

This paper examines the role of Islamic religious authority in France as it pertains to the possibilities and limitations of Muslims becoming French. Such religious authority has emerged in the form of an institutionalized Islam promoted by both the Muslim community and the French government. One of the major federations, the Union des organisations islamiques de France (UOIF), was used as a case study. Primary data was collected from the websites of the UOIF and of affiliated organizations, pamphlets, and newsletters for the Rencontre annuelle des musulmans de France (RAMF). The nature of the data collected centered on the UOIF's …

Russians At Work: Past And Present Of The Russian Mentality Toward Work, Dustin Cody Bankston

Honors Theses

This paper is an analysis of the Russian mentality toward work. Several factors deeply affecting the work mentality are discussed along with their historical and cultural causes. Research for this paper was primarily gathered from personal experience, academic articles, newspaper articles, books, case studies, movies, literature, history texts, interviews, and a self-conducted quantitative questionnaire. The paper identifies five major themes that affect the Russian mentality toward work including relationship to authority, group dynamics, prioritization of work, political factors, and western influences. The themes are each linked to the unique historical and cultural development of Russia. The paper concludes that an …

The Euro Effect: Is The Euro The Cause Of Italy's Woes And Spain's Successes?, Robert Charlton Duke

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Military Reforms With Chinese Characteristics: Informal Decentralization In The Chinese Government And Its Effect On Party-Military Relations, Daniel John Hedglin

Honors Theses

A study that analyzes party-military relations in the People’s Republic of China during the 1990s and places this relationship within the context of decentralization.

Abnormal Group Velocities Of Ultrasonic Pulses In Aqueous Suspensions Of Polymer Microspheres, Robert Evans Heithaus

Honors Theses

In this project acoustic waves were employed to measure dispersion properties of two suspensions of polymer microspheres that were believed to support superluminal group velocities. Broadband ultrasonic pulses were first used to study a suspension of microspheres with a mean diameter of 160 microns. The validity of the data was verified using Kramers-Kronig relations, and the attenuation, phase, and group velocity spectra During the second phase of the project a pulse consisting of broadband and narrowband components were propagated through the same 160 micron sample. The data are depicted in the Results section. Phase II studied several different bandwidths for …

Going Places: The Shift Of The Textile Industry To China, Vaughan Abbay Leatherman

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

The Politics Of Memory: A Study Of The Formation And Influence Of Public Memory Of The Military Regime In Argentina, Alexandra Azema Rodriguez

Honors Theses

[This study investigated the influence of various political and non-political factors public memory of the period of military regime rule in Argentina from 1976 through 1983. The sources utilized in the study mainly include scholarly works, in addition to several news articles, poll data, and a series of films concerning the subject. The study found that the development of public memory of this particular political event has been influenced by a complex array of interest groups. Each group utilized a unique set of methods and mediums to convey its preferred account of the period of regime rule. The interest groups …

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 …

Behind The Plexi-Glass Partitions: An Intern's View Of American Museums, Brittany L. Miller

Honors Theses

Describes the author's experiences as an intern in museums. She notes the lack of cohesion between the roles of museums as organizations and as interpreters of history.