Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluation Of The Bax-Vdac Interaction And Their Influence On Apoptosis In Drosophila Melanogaster, Frances Marie Gatlin

Honors Theses

Apoptosis, also known as programmed cell death, is a cellular process used for development or for when cells undergo injury or stress. The Bcl2 family of proteins includes both pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic proteins that control the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis. Understanding the mechanisms and influence these proteins have on apoptosis is an important area of research focused on in Dr. Jones’s lab. Evidence shows a homology amongst the Bcl2 family of proteins at the BH3 domain. Dr. Jekabsons' lab has found a potential homology amongst VDAC 1-3 and the Bcl2 family at the BH3 domain.

Specifically, our lab is using …

Thank You For Considering Me Such A Huge Threat: A Critical Analysis Of Iran's Foreign Policy, Liza Boyer

Honors Theses

The United States has long held the idea that Iran poses a threat to our interests as well as global stability, implying that Iran is irrational and makes decisions rooted purely in ideology. After creating an independent framework based on rational choice theory, descriptive decision theory, and the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I determined four possible ways to describe Iran’s foreign policy: rational-constitutional, irrational-constitutional, rational-unconstitutional, and irrational-unconstitutional. I then apply this framework to six cases which I have identified to be vital to understanding Iran’s foreign policy: Iraq, Israel, United States of America, China, the nuclear program, …

The Mexican Voter Transformed: Morena Success In The Wake Of Party System Failure, Madeline Gegg

Honors Theses

Over the last two decades Mexican politics have been in constant change and instability after the fall of the PRI. In 2014, MORENA was founded and began to make its presence known with the legislative elections in 2015, winning 35 seats in the legislature. Despite only winning less than 10% of seats in their first national election, MORENA built off these victories to win the national general election and the presidency with former PRD candidate Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO). While easy to attribute this historic victory to the global rise of populism, this project argues that the Mexican case …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Transition Metal Scorpionate Complexes For Redox Shuttle Applications In Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells, Chase Lance

Honors Theses

Given the rising global energy demands, alternative renewable energy sources are currently being investigated. The most appealing renewable energy source is solar energy, and dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) in particular are an attractive technology. DSSCs have traditionally utilized iodide/triiodide as the redox mediator couple, which exhibits high efficiencies and fast regeneration of the oxidized dye with little recombination. Recently, the use of alternative redox couples based on transition metal complexes has been studied as a promising substitute due to the tunable design of these complexes. In this study, tridentate tris(pyrazolyl)borate and tris(pyrazolyl)methane ligands with first-row transition metals were designed and …

Assessment Of Orofacial Myofunctional Profiles Of Undergraduate Students In The United States, Rachel Yockey

Honors Theses

Background: Previous research indicates a high prevalence of orofacial myofunctional disorders in the general population. It was further reported that orofacial dysfunction may have wide ramifications, such as teeth displacement, articulation errors, swallowing difficulties, middle ear infections, and frequent colds. The purpose of this study was to examine orofacial myofunctional profiles of undergraduate students in the United States.

Method: The English version of the Nordic Orofacial Test-Screening (NOT-S) was used to assess 55 undergraduate university students (age range:18 to 23 years). In addition, each participant completed a standard hearing screening, as well as a hearing history questionnaire.

Results: In our …

An Assessment Of Herb-Drug Interaction Potential Of Two Herbs: Momordica Charantia And Phyllanthus Amarus, Faridah Salau

Honors Theses

The use of natural supplements alongside prescribed medications is on the increase. Thus, it is important to analyze different properties of herbal supplements that can be implicated in eliciting herb-drug interactions. The herb Momordica charnatia is used throughout the world for its antidiabetic properties, and the herb Phyllanthus amarus is used in tropical and subtropical areas of the world for its hepatoprotective properties. Pregnane X Receptor (PXR) activation capabilities of these herbs was measured using a reporter gene assay. Additionally, Cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoform induction potential for CYP1A2, CYP3A4, CYP2B6, and CYP2C9 was determined through an enzymatic assay in hepatic …

The Covert Abolition Of The Death Penalty: A Comparative Analysis Of France And Mississippi, Emma S. Rice

Honors Theses

This study places that question in the context of two places which both share a common history of using brutal death penalties: France and Mississippi. This thesis seeks to answer the question of what the abolition of the death penalty in France suggests about the likelihood of its abolition in Mississippi, in light of a cultural comparison of their respective attitudes toward crime and punishment.

Behavioral Ecology Of Territorial Aggression In Uca Pugilator And Uca Pugnax, Abbey N. Thomas

Honors Theses

The nature of animal aggression has long been a research interest in many different scientific fields. Resources, including food, shelter, and mates are all common assets for which animals compete. Two species of fiddler crabs, the Atlantic Sand Fiddler Crab (Uca pugilator) and the Atlantic Marsh Fiddler Crab (U. pugnax) were studied in regards to their aggression shown when competing for shelter. One crab was placed in a contained shelter for two days, and then a second of the same species was introduced. Aggressive interactions were scored and compared with claw and carapace size to ascertain …

Glucose Oxidase And Prussian Blue Nanoparticles Encapsulated Within A Xerogel For Electrochemical Detection Of Glucose, Daniel Baker

Honors Theses

Recent literature reports examples of electrochemical biosensor systems based on the encapsulation of enzymes and metal nanoparticles into a xerogel for the detection of biologically important compounds, such as glucose. While these systems are very successful with acceptable detection limits and linear ranges. However, Prussian Blue modified electrodes have been shown to be better than metal electrodes for the detection of hydrogen peroxide. Here, a biosensor system where a xerogel in formed with both glucose oxidase and Prussian Blue nanoparticles.

Comorbidity Of Childhood Sexual Abuse And Infertility, Brenna Payne

Honors Theses

This paper investigates the association between sexual abuse during childhood and female adult infertility. The initial purpose of this study is to determine if the two experiences share a correlational or causational relationship. Raw data on the incidence of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is drawn from sources such as the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A number of peer-reviewed scientific articles provide information on subjects including the following: female infertility, genital abnormalities resulting from CSA, and techniques used in the clinical examination of victims of sexual abuse. A few case studies of survivors …

Is Anyone Home? Year Round Site Fidelity Vs. Temporal Territories In Estuarine Blennies, Nicholas Govostes

Honors Theses

Temperate oyster reef blennies use articulated oyster shells as nest sites in warmer months during breeding season but little is known about their site fidelity during non-breeding season. Unlike coral reef blennies that occupy territories year-round, rocky intertidal temperate blenny species display temporal territories and seasonally migrate into breeding shelters. Striped blenny (Chasmodes bosquianus) shelter use was described from November 2019 through March 2020 at Oyster Landing, North Inlet estuary, SC to quantify the proportion of daylight hours when fish were in residence and describe potential relationships between shelter occupancy and neighboring fishes. Replicate PVC shelters were monitored …

An Analysis Of The History And Ethics Of Video Games, Trenton Brock

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Test Using Sedimentary Records To Quantify Extreme Paleo-Flood: A Case Study Of An Oxbow Lake In South Carolina, Molly Aeschliman

Honors Theses

Extreme flooding has become an increasing issue along the coasts for people’s health and infrastructure stability. As the effect of climate change continues to persist, the need to prepare for such events becomes imperative. To improve the understanding of climatic forecasting with regards to extreme flooding, there is merit in searching flooding history beyond the instrumental records. There has been some work done in the past to correlate extreme flooding and its sedimentary traces preserved in floodplain depressions, such as oxbow lakes, based on the assumption that the coarser grain sediments in the sediment layers correspond with higher peak discharges …

Effects Of Emotional Valence And Depth Of Processing On Memory, Lauren Tyndall, Matthew Murphy

Honors Theses

This study looks at the relationship between emotionally charged words and the depth at which information is processed and how this relationship affects memory. It is predicted that emotional stimuli make the depth of processing process easier, resulting in emotionally charged words being recalled most frequently. Participants were presented with stimuli using a word task and then took a memory test. Responses to the memory test were measured via Qualtrics. Due to small sample size, the results did not conclusively indicate whether or not emotional valence and depth of processing interact to affect memory. There was no significant interaction between …

Physiological And Perceptual Responses To Various Types Of Exercise, Jenna Thompson

Honors Theses

Previously, we found that variable-intensity exercise (VIIE) was more enjoyable than high-intensity interval exercise (HIIT), but the physiological stress was reduced. This study will examine exercise intensity, energy expenditure (EE), and perceptual responses during and after moderate-intensity exercise (MIE), HIIT, and VIIE. On separate days, the three work-matched bouts of exercise (MIE, HIIT, & VIIE) were randomized and performed. Oxygen consumption, heart rate (HR), and muscle oxygenation were collected over the entire bout for all conditions. OMNI ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and affect, via Feelings Scale, were measured in-exercise and enjoyment was measured post-exercise using the physical activity enjoyment …

Honoré De Balzac’S Portrayal Of The Feminine Condition In The Wild Ass’S Skin, Père Goriot, And The Lily Of The Valley, Brooke V. Musmeci

Honors Theses

In 19th century France, women appeared to be second class citizens. They were often limited in their abilities to have independence and secure their own wealth. This perception of women perhaps justifies why, as Honoré de Balzac’s novels illustrated the realities of French society, he attempted to characterize women’s struggles to obtain control and power in their lives. In his novels The Wild Ass’s Skin (1831), The Lily of the Valley (1835), and Le Père Goriot (1835), Balzac sought to prove how women could improve their lot.

Firstly, in studying how women had been relegated to second-class citizens under their …

Lattice Paths In Diagonals And Dimensions, Freya Bennett

Honors Theses

The Lattice Paths of Combinatorics have been used in many applications, normally under the guise of a different name, due to its versatility in surface variety and specificity of answer. The Lattice Path’s of game development, in finding paths around barriers in mazes, is called Path Finder with the A∗ algorithms as its method of solving.

Using Foraminifera To Identify Overwash Deposits In St Vincent Island, Florida In The Wake Of Hurricane Michael, Kayla Washington

Honors Theses

Major hurricanes have geomorphic and stratigraphic impacts in coast environments that can be used to identify and characterize the storms. One of the approaches to identify storm impact is by studying assemblage of foraminifera, small organisms that live primarily in marine environments with some species living in marshes, in coastal marshes or ponds, with the assumption that storm-induced overwash flooding brings marine species ashore. Hurricane Michael made landfall ~40 km northwest of St Vincent Island (SVI), Florida, on October 10, 2018, as a Category 5 storm. The storm surge of Michael inundated a large part of SVI, which offers a …

Development Of Methods To Track Oyster Movement Under Field Conditions In North Inlet Estuary, South Carolina, Alyssa M. Leclaire

Honors Theses

Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) reefs provide important habitat structure and ecosystem services in saltmarsh tidal creek estuaries. Reef persistence depends on growth of resident individuals and regular recruitment to maintain suitable shell substrate. Boat wakes potentially physically displace oyster clumps. The objective of this research was to develop methods to track oyster clump position and biomass on two natural fringing oyster reefs in North Inlet estuary, South Carolina. Boat traffic (number of boats making wakes per day), oyster clump displacement (cm/d) over time, oyster biomass (g dry tissue), and condition index (biomass/g dry shell weight) were quantified from …

The Effects Of Acute Exercise And Psychological Stress On Episodic Memory, Lauren Koehler

Honors Theses

Research has suggested that exercise has an effect on memory function. Studies have also shown that exercise mitigates the effects of stress. The relationship between exercise and stress in regard to memory function is noteworthy. There has been little research on this relationship in young adults. This thesis discusses the effects of acute exercise on the episodic memory of young adults when they are exposed to a psychosocial stressor. The results of the research study show that acute aerobic exercise before memory encoding or consolidation was not associated with memory function after exposure to a stressor. Future research in this …

The Collapse Of A Communist Giant: A Study Of Party Unity In The Soviet Union, Jillian Vice

Honors Theses

This thesis seeks to analyze the breakdown of the unity of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) over policy disputes through three case studies: the withdrawal from Afghanistan, the cooperative movements, and the concessionist policy towards nationalist movements in the Baltic republics. Through a content analysis of primary sources including meeting minutes, diaries, newspaper sources and interviews, to ascertain the positions and opinions of party members and give insight into the party dialogue and atmosphere, revealing policy disagreements tied to contending values. This thesis finds that there was a breakdown in party unity during the Gorbachev era due …

Audibility, Cost-Acceptibility And Cosmetic Appearance Of Iqbuds Boost In Adults Over The Age Of 50, Madison Dacus, Vishakha Rawool

Honors Theses

Background: Hearing loss affects 48 million Americans and up to 86% of all adults with hearing loss may not wear hearing aids. Untreated hearing loss is associated with social withdrawal, depression, stress, loss of income, and dementia. Even so, people still tend not to buy or wear hearing aids for a variety of reasons. One recently suggested solution to this problem is low-cost, over the counter (OTC) hearing aids, nicknamed “hearables” This study evaluated the audibility, cost-acceptability and cosmetic appearance of one OTC, IQBuds BOOST.

Methods: Fourteen men and 12 women over 50 years with a hearing loss participated in …

Feminism And Low Breastfeeding Rates In France, Megan Wadsworth

Honors Theses

Breastfeeding rates in France are among the lowest in high-income countries, indicating that French mothers do not breastfeed for nearly as long as is recommended by healthcare professionals and international health organizations. French government, society and conflicting feminist perspectives all influence the likelihood that mothers will breastfeed. The French government has regulations in place to protect women’s right to breastfeed in public and in the workplace, but it is unclear if these are truly beneficial for French women. French society is a seemingly inhospitable environment in which mothers do not feel safe and secure to breastfeed publicly. Motherhood and feminism …

James Crow Jr., Esquire And Voter Suppression, Samantha Henderson

Honors Theses

This thesis lays out Voter ID laws and the effects they have on minorities. A new era of Jim Crow legislation in the 21st century as referred to by the well-respected, civil activist, Al Sharpton, as James Crow Jr., Esquire, creating laws that negatively impact voting. “Fait accompli,” a term used to describe the plight and pressure put upon the minority who are already at a disadvantage because the laws are established to discriminate against them. How can a silenced group change legislation when they cannot access the ballot? I will explore Supreme Court cases such as Yick Wo v. …

Clarifying The Conceptualization Of Empire: Is China's Belt And Road Initiative An Attempt At Empire?, Olivia Melvin

Honors Theses

Is 21st century China building an empire through the Belt and Road Initiative? Where do modern imperialist trends fit into the post-colonial world? This study explores different conceptualizations of empire used in previous academic studies and explores how the Belt and Road Initiative fits in this narrative of empire. Clarifying the discourse surrounding modern expansionist and imperialist behavior is a necessary first step in comparing phenomena that occur in very different historical periods. For example, when comparing former imperial dynasties of China to modern Chinese expansionist behavior, over 500 years of development divide these two historical periods. Newer terms such …

Constitutional War Powers Of The United States: The Founding Prescription And Historical Adherence, Blake Annexstad

Honors Theses

When crafting the United States Constitution, America’s Founders carefully prescribed an institutional balance of the Nation’s war powers between the legislative and executive branches of the federal government. To examine the intentions of the Founders regarding the Nation’s war powers as well as how American leadership has adhered to this intent post-ratification, this study carefully analyzes the circumstances which compelled this balance as well as its application throughout the history of the American experiment. Following an examination of these circumstances and the history of the United States, it is clear that American leadership, despite adhering to the Founders’ intentions for …

‘How Has Art Refocused Consumers’ Attention Within A Visual World Through The Exploration Of Package Design?’, Frances Hackney

Honors Theses

The art of design has refocused the attention of consumers as they have entered into a visually demanding world. While this concept is complex and perplexing, stemming from endless influencing factors, the elements of design can be broken down into areas of focus to dissect the visual world of marketing. A simple way to communicate the influence of design on the consumers is to unveil the answers through the study of art.

In this thesis, the study will turn to the world of art to learn more about consumerism. The goal is to understand how visual images and the ongoing …

American Indian Sovereignty And Climate Change: Emerging Spaces And Coalitions To Assert American Indian Sovereignty During A Climate Crisis, Brenna Q. Gardner

Honors Theses

Climate change is a global issue that will affect most, if not all, populations on earth; however, it will not affect groups equally. While vulnerability varies between groups, poor, frontline, marginalized, and Indigenous people are particularly vulnerable. This thesis explores if the challenge of climate change as affecting multiple vulnerable populations presents emerging spaces in which American Indian sovereignty can be asserted. I provide a literature review on federal Indian policy and the American Indian Sovereignty movement in the 1960’s and 1970’s. I then analyze primary materials produced by the Indigenous Environmental Network and primary material surrounding the #NoDAPL movement. …

Synthesis Of Pharmaceutical And Personal Care Products And Pesticide Metabolites Of Environmental Concern, Isaiah Edwards

Honors Theses

Human pollution of aquatic environments by introduction of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) as well as agrichemicals presents a grave threat to the health of aquatic organisms. Many of these chemicals not only exhibit toxicity to the species of complex ecosystems at various levels but also undergo metabolic transformation into moieties that have different and sometimes more potent physiochemical profiles. PPCP and pesticides as well as their metabolites impact organisms via a number of different mechanisms, with the most serious arguably being endocrine disruption. Two emerging pollutants, gemfibrozil and bifenthrin, possess naturally occurring metabolites that were determined to warrant …

The Hair You Wished To Comb, Sarah Barch

Honors Theses

This thesis is a collection of poems exploring gender and trauma in Greek mythology by retelling classical stories in a female voice.