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Honors Theses

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The Sinaloa Drug Cartel: A Clear And Present Danger, Connor Anthony Hagan Jan 2013

The Sinaloa Drug Cartel: A Clear And Present Danger, Connor Anthony Hagan

Honors Theses

The Sinaloa drug cartel of Mexico poses perhaps the greatest threat to the citizens of the United States of America. The history of this organization, an analysis of its leaders and its current methods of operating, offer a clearer picture of its decision-making power structure. The two-branched structure that the Sinaloa cartel utilizes includes compartmentalization and extensive corruption within and outside of Mexico. This thesis is meant to propose a framework to understand the Sinaloa cartel and point out areas in which the cartel both excels and fails. This thesis is also intended to assist law enforcement with background information …


The Prospect Of Reform In North Korea: Will China Play A Role?, Emily Victoria Bennett Jan 2013

The Prospect Of Reform In North Korea: Will China Play A Role?, Emily Victoria Bennett

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.


Localization Of Carboxypeptidase O In Madin-Darby Canine Kidney Cells, Donnel Dockery Jan 2013

Localization Of Carboxypeptidase O In Madin-Darby Canine Kidney Cells, Donnel Dockery

Honors Theses

Carboxypeptidases are enzymes that trim the carboxy-terminal ends of proteins. Carboxypeptidase O (CPO) is a recently discovered enzyme that was proposed to be associated with lipid droplets. Lipid droplets are organelles found in the cytosol of the cell that carry out different roles like storing metabolic energy and protein degradation. To test if CPO and lipid droplets were associated, we used immunocytochemistry and lipid droplet staining of Madin-Darby canince kidney (MDCK) cells. Our data shows that lipid droplets can be detected with both BODIPY 493/503 and Nile Blue dye. CPO is associated with lipid droplets, but CPO does not affect …


Spatial And Seasonal Variation In The Stable Isotopic Composition Of Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrel Fecal Pellets As An Estimate Of Variation In Diet, Allie Chacko Jan 2013

Spatial And Seasonal Variation In The Stable Isotopic Composition Of Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrel Fecal Pellets As An Estimate Of Variation In Diet, Allie Chacko

Honors Theses

We performed stable isotope analyses of fecal pellets to investigate temporal and spatial patterns in the diet of free-ranging, thirteen-lined ground squirrels (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus). Samples were collected opportunistically from a population in SW Michigan from May to September 2012. We found a statistically significant increases in d13C values throughout the study period, possibly correlating to a late-season flush of C-4 plants. Also, samples collected within 25 m of a cornfield had a mean d13C value of -20.470%, a value significantly higher than those outside the 25 m border (mean=26.192%). This patternmay be indicative of a C-4 rich diet probably due …


Light Intensity And Time Of Day Influence Female Acheta Domesticus Phonotaxis, John Hyun-Sik Ahn Jan 2013

Light Intensity And Time Of Day Influence Female Acheta Domesticus Phonotaxis, John Hyun-Sik Ahn

Honors Theses

Positive phonotaxis occurs when a female cricket walks toward the source of an auditory stimulus. This study tested the effects of light intensity and time of day on phonotaxis of female Acheta domesticus. First, females were tested at four times of day; second, under three light intensities; and third, under four combinations of light intensity and time of day. Our results show that these two factors combined exert a more pronounced effect on female A. domesticus selectivity than either factor individually, and subsequent research will test these factors against the current neuronal model for SP-selective phonotaxis.


Taphonomic Effects Of Fire On Ostrich And Emu Eggshell, Shelley J. Mclarty Jan 2013

Taphonomic Effects Of Fire On Ostrich And Emu Eggshell, Shelley J. Mclarty

Honors Theses

Dinosaur eggshell and evidence for wildfires are common in the fossil record. The effects of fire on ostrich and emu eggshell, modern analogs for dinosaur eggshell, were examined by burning fragments in flames of two different temperature ranges for a series of time intervals. Percent mass loss increased directly with both time and temperature. Different treatment conditions also displayed regular patterns of change in color and curvature. Exposure of eggshell to flame results in dramatic physical changes, knowlegde of which could be useful to paleontologists studying dinosaur nesting ecology.


The Role Of Natural Products In Acidovorax Delafieldii Ath2-2rs/1 Survival In A Dry Formulation, David N. Thomas Jan 2013

The Role Of Natural Products In Acidovorax Delafieldii Ath2-2rs/1 Survival In A Dry Formulation, David N. Thomas

Honors Theses

If rhizobacteria are to be used for weed biocontrol, a practical means of storing them must be found. In this project I sought to use the natural products exopolysaccharide and hydroxygectoine to improve the survival of Acidovorax delafieldii dry formulated with either an oat flour, maltose, and trehalose formulation or Celite (diatomaceous earth). When formulated with the oat flour, maltose, and trehalose, the expolysaccharide allowed for modest survival after 24 hours of drying. Using Celite, a preferred carrier, hydroxyectoine led to bacterial populations of 6.2 x 10(4) cells / g formulation after 24 hours of drying after 48 hours of …


Hawksbill Turtle Eretmochelys Imbricata Nesting Environment And Population Study In Cuero Y Salado Wildlife Refuge On The Coast Of Northern Honduras, Ariana Emily Cunningham Jan 2013

Hawksbill Turtle Eretmochelys Imbricata Nesting Environment And Population Study In Cuero Y Salado Wildlife Refuge On The Coast Of Northern Honduras, Ariana Emily Cunningham

Honors Theses

This report outlines my contributions to ProTECTOR's Hawksbill turtle conservation project along the beachfront at Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge of Honduras. Observation-focused nightly beach patrols were conducted so as to census numbers of turtles nesting in this location presently and beach characteristic surveys were undertaken to create a map of environmental factors relevant to Hawksbill nesting along this beach. Resulting environmental maps were correlated with known factors contributing to Hawksbill nest site choice in order to assess the suitability of this beach for Hawksbill nesting, and thus determine its value for preservation efforts and ongoing funding. Of the 10 …


The Prevalence Of Encysted Toxoplasma & Sarcocystis In Consumer-Grade Pork, Beef, And Lamb In Michiana, Ross Trecartin Jan 2013

The Prevalence Of Encysted Toxoplasma & Sarcocystis In Consumer-Grade Pork, Beef, And Lamb In Michiana, Ross Trecartin

Honors Theses

Commonly present in the muscle of animals are the tissue cysts of Toxoplasma and Sarcocystis. The aim of this study was to determine the presence and levels of Toxoplasma/Sarcocystis tissue cysts in retail pork, beef, and mutton throughout the Michiana area. A total of 36 samples from the three species of interest were exposed to a digestive solution mimicking stomach conditions. The solution consisted of 0.75% pepsin, 0.86% NaCl, and HCl adjusted to a pH of 1-2. The digested samples were then strained through several layers of cheesecloth, centrifuged, and examined for the presence of parasites. Toxoplasma/Sarcocystis were detected in …


Effect Of Latrunculin B On Phonotaxis In Induced Selective Crickets Treated With Jhiii (Acheta Domesticus), Jerome Martin Jan 2013

Effect Of Latrunculin B On Phonotaxis In Induced Selective Crickets Treated With Jhiii (Acheta Domesticus), Jerome Martin

Honors Theses

The purpose of this experiment is to determine the effect of the actin kinase inhibitor, latrunculin B, on previously unselective crickets. We expected the injecion of a mixture of latrunculin B and juvenile hormones (JHIII) into the prothoracic ganglion would cause a reduction in the affect of JHIII in older crickets, causing them to remain unselective. Based on the results we can conclude that latrunculin B reduces the effect of JHIII, which indicates that creating new synapses is at least a partial effect of JHIII.


Cyanide Production By Pseudomonas Putida Ath2-1ri/9 Under Biofilm Conditions, Ranita Campbell Jan 2013

Cyanide Production By Pseudomonas Putida Ath2-1ri/9 Under Biofilm Conditions, Ranita Campbell

Honors Theses

The genus Pseudomonas is a group of gram-negative bacteria having great ecological diversity. Some species produce HCN which may harm plants. The purpose of this research is to determine whether a plant-associated strain o Pseudomonas putida has the ability to produce cyanide under biofilm conditions. Bacterial production of HCN could prove useful in weed control strategies. To obtain these results the experiment involved a six-day experimental scheme. My findings indicate that Pseudomonas putida does produce cyanide under biofilm conditions providing valuable information concerning cyanogenic bacteria especially in the Pseudomonas group.


Variation In The Calling Song Of The Cricket Gryllus Pennsylvanicus Across Geographic Longitudinal Change, Ioana Danci Jan 2013

Variation In The Calling Song Of The Cricket Gryllus Pennsylvanicus Across Geographic Longitudinal Change, Ioana Danci

Honors Theses

Variation of cricket calling songs can be attributed to environmental factors, including temperature, humidity, vegetation, season, solar elevation, and geographic location. Recent studies found that latitudinal position affects the calling song of male Gryllus pennsylvanicus. My project evaluates whether longitudinal position influences the calling song of G. pennsylvanicus. Using the predicted values of 4 song features based on a mathematical model (Burden 2009), I evaluated data from 6 locatons along a longitudinal axis. I calculated R2 values to determine how well the model predicted the values in my sample populations. The model was found to be a poor predictor.


Spatial And Seasonal Signals In Stable Isotopes Of Incisor Enamel From Free-Ranging, Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrels, Jacob Andrew Brassington Jan 2013

Spatial And Seasonal Signals In Stable Isotopes Of Incisor Enamel From Free-Ranging, Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrels, Jacob Andrew Brassington

Honors Theses

From early May through late September, 2012, we captured, tagged, and collected body masses from multiple, free-ranging thirteen-lined ground squirrels (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus) in southwestern Michigan, with 14 individuals recaptured 1 or more times through the season. Beginning in mid-June, we captured and euthanized 12 or these individuals (on average, about 1 per week) to allow study of their lower incisors. We serially micro-sampled enamel along squirrel incisors using laser ablation and determined stable isotope ratios (d13 and d18 O) with gas chromatography-isotope-ratio mass spectrometry (GC-IRMS). The resulting values fell into two spatial groups. Specimens collected within 25 m of a …


A Pilot Study On Gender Disparities In The Accounting Profession: Overcoming The Disproportionate Workplace, Laury Fouche Jan 2013

A Pilot Study On Gender Disparities In The Accounting Profession: Overcoming The Disproportionate Workplace, Laury Fouche

Honors Theses

The public accounting industry was described for many years as the most difficult of all the fields or a woman to break into. Today, female accountants have made significant inroads in a traditionally male-dominated profession. While institutional barriers including informal networks and resistance to organizational changes have thwarted advancement, personal factors such as confidence and family considerations have also influenced the advancement of women's careers. This research project shows that women in public accounting are nearing parity with their male counterparts due to governmentl efforts, accounting firm initiatives, and individuals' determination to attain upper management postions.


Uphams Corner And "Other" Spaces: Racialized Youth Identities In Boston's Cape Verdean Community, Jessica F. Pires Jan 2013

Uphams Corner And "Other" Spaces: Racialized Youth Identities In Boston's Cape Verdean Community, Jessica F. Pires

Honors Theses

While embarking on this thesis project I have begun by viewing Cape Verdean-Americanness and Uphams Corner as linked; to study contemporary Cape Verdean-American lived realities means consulting this neighborhood space, and the area is mutually dependent on its Cape Verdean residents. In the particularly unpredictable world of ethnographic field research, as I focused on the collection of narratives, a new and surprising actor emerged: the neighborhood space, around which crucial tensions revolve. It is vital to understand how neighborhood provides not merely the scenery behind actions but more importantly how, as a conceptual framework, it can also be constitutive of …


Is Cutinase The Smallest Possible Alpha/Beta Hydrolase? Insights Into Structure And Function Using Deletion Mutants, Mary Elizabeth Barrack Jan 2013

Is Cutinase The Smallest Possible Alpha/Beta Hydrolase? Insights Into Structure And Function Using Deletion Mutants, Mary Elizabeth Barrack

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.


An Analysis Of The Internal And External Motivations Of Hispanic Employees And The Corresponding Management Techniques, Taylor Alexander Cook Jan 2013

An Analysis Of The Internal And External Motivations Of Hispanic Employees And The Corresponding Management Techniques, Taylor Alexander Cook

Honors Theses

The study was to discover the proper management techniques of Hispanic employees in relation to their internal and external motivations. Through initial research on the subject based on previous work in the field, information was compiled in order to produce research on Hispanics’ values from their home countries and compare them to how these values have changed during their time in the United States, how the U.S. environment supports or impedes their motivations, how U.S. managers have attempted to actively tap into these motivations, and what techniques U.S. managers should utilize to better lead their Hispanic employees. A survey of …


Tax Credits In The Film Industry: Friend Or Foe? An Analysis Of The Cost-Benefit Relationship Between Tax Incentives And The States That Provide Them, Virginia Anne Gamble Jan 2013

Tax Credits In The Film Industry: Friend Or Foe? An Analysis Of The Cost-Benefit Relationship Between Tax Incentives And The States That Provide Them, Virginia Anne Gamble

Honors Theses

Today, tax incentives play a major role in the film industry. The primary research question of the thesis is the cost-benefit relationship between these incentives and the states that provide them. A further research question is how states can remain competitive amongst one another while maintaining this cost-benefit relationship. A review of scholarly articles, from economists and film office officials, reveals arguments for and against the incentive programs. Researching the history of these tax incentives in the United States also provides a basis for an opinion on the potential future incentives may have in the film industry. Many economists believe …


The Marketing And Branding Of The Church In America, Joshua David Gregory Jan 2013

The Marketing And Branding Of The Church In America, Joshua David Gregory

Honors Theses

The objective of my thesis is to examine the church and its efforts to market to the consumer-centric society that is America. In the United States, churches have evolved and changed in many ways since our ancestors came to America. In what we call the “Bible Belt,” the area from Texas to Florida, there is a church on nearly every comer. The question becomes “Is variation a necessity?” One might say that all religions offer the same transaction in that they exchange the meaning of life for some investment by the believer (Twitchell, 2004). My intention is to focus specifically …


A God Up Above, The Land Down Under, Jacob Nathaniel Hickman Jan 2013

A God Up Above, The Land Down Under, Jacob Nathaniel Hickman

Honors Theses

Manning Clark once very famously described Australians’ view of religion a shy hope in the heart.” This simple quotation is the most succinct way of illustrating their religious views in a way that accounts for the strong cultural influence that surrounds those beliefs. This characteristic of shyness takes precedence over eloquent announcements of religion and manifests itself through the “vaguely respectful recognition of an important if largely indistinct force, slightly shaped by the imagery of Christianity."^ Australia is a distinctive nation, as are its people and cultural idioms. Being a former British colony, Australia’s heritage in the English tradition of …


Perceptions Of Mississippi As A Tourist Destination, Kathleen Diane Kaiser Jan 2013

Perceptions Of Mississippi As A Tourist Destination, Kathleen Diane Kaiser

Honors Theses

Mississippi offers an array of tourism, but what do people who visit the state consider Mississippi has the best of? What are Mississippi’s less known tourism offerings? This study hints that those who are experienced with Mississippi more positively perceive the state as a tourist destination, whereas those who are not familiar with Mississippi’s offerings do not see the state as positively. A Qualtrics survey was conducted for students attending the University of Mississippi in the Lafayette/Oxford asking demographic questions and a survey that measured 16 tourism criteria on a 5 point Likert scale. SPSS 17.0 Independent sample t-tests were …


Matching Financial Reporting Requirements With Economic Substance: An Analysis Of Fasb Topic 840 (Leases) And Its Valuation Implications, Miller Childers Majors Jan 2013

Matching Financial Reporting Requirements With Economic Substance: An Analysis Of Fasb Topic 840 (Leases) And Its Valuation Implications, Miller Childers Majors

Honors Theses

Leasing has long been an attractive method to finance the use of property, plant, and equipment (PPE), but due to a call for change from the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and International Accounting Standards Board (lASB) the future of leasing will drastically change. Leasing has given lessees affordable way to acquire capital to generate operating profits and lessors tax advantages and protection against the obsolescence of PPE, and it is a pivotal financial tool that can benefit all of the involved parties when used properly. an However, the current GAAP standards fail to report the debt portion inherent within …


Is Legal Pragmatism Normative?, Garrett Lane Roberts Jan 2013

Is Legal Pragmatism Normative?, Garrett Lane Roberts

Honors Theses

Through the centuries people have been asking pivotal questions regarding law and legality. What is law? How should we interpret it? Who gets to decide? In what follows I will explore these questions in hope of gaining a greater understanding of the American legal system. Specifically, I will argue that legal pragmatism is in fact a normative theory that provides a good method of adjudication. This work will require that I investigate the jurisprudence of Oliver W. Holmes Jr. and modem legal pragmatism. Also, I will highlight some theories of legal realism and natural law theory.


Players: Gender And Sexuality In The Universe Of Don Delillo, Alexandria Nicole Tidwell Jan 2013

Players: Gender And Sexuality In The Universe Of Don Delillo, Alexandria Nicole Tidwell

Honors Theses

This project considers Don DeLillo’s body of work (specifically the texts Cosmopolis, Players, White Noise and Libra) in terms of gender and sexuality, two areas often overlooked by the current body of scholarship on the writer. My analysis is informed by contemporary queer theory — that is to say, an assumption of the constructed nature of gender and sexual difference runs through the work. I begin by defining two intertextual systems at work within (My first chapter deals with the capitalist system of Cosmopolis and Players, a closed network serving to mirror and critique modernist assumptions; and my second chapter …


Memphis Carnival Traditions: Maintaining Identity In A Changing Society, Katherine Hitt Kenwright Jan 2013

Memphis Carnival Traditions: Maintaining Identity In A Changing Society, Katherine Hitt Kenwright

Honors Theses

The Memphis Cotton Carnival began in 1931 as a way to use the main product of Memphis—cotton—to bring the city out of the Great Depression. Through various incarnations, Carnival has endured and today stands as one of the longest-standing traditions in the city. Its founders envisioned a meeting of the minds of the city's industry leaders accompanied by a series of events as a celebration for Memphis residents, as well as a way to increase tourism in the city. Cotton Carnival and Cotton Maker's jubilee, a celebration started in 1935 for the African American community in Memphis, have changed and …


An Analysis Of The Effectiveness Of Incorporating Virtual Cadaver Study On Student Performance In Human Anatomy And Physiology, Mary Katherine Kerce Jan 2013

An Analysis Of The Effectiveness Of Incorporating Virtual Cadaver Study On Student Performance In Human Anatomy And Physiology, Mary Katherine Kerce

Honors Theses

In an ideal Human Anatomy & Physiology (Human A&P) laboratory, students would use human cadavers for study. However, due to the limited supply of human cadavers and high cost of constructing and maintaining laboratory facilities, many institutions choose to use various animal organs and models to teach human anatomy. Dissections are an irreplaceable tool to help students understand human anatomy because models often have garish colors that allow easy discrimination of structures but do not show the colors and textures associated with real tissue. Additionally, cadavers, organs. and models must remain within the laboratory, so students have limited access. The …


Beyond Technique: An Examination Of Musical And Textual Expression From Baroque To Twentieth Century, Charles Anthony Moore Jan 2013

Beyond Technique: An Examination Of Musical And Textual Expression From Baroque To Twentieth Century, Charles Anthony Moore

Honors Theses

Although vocal technique is an important element in the execution of any type of good singing, it is only meant to facilitate the transmission of a message, emotion or feeling. All composers put great thought into conveying this message through their settings, and it is up to the performer to follow their directions and to interpret independently when there are none given. In this regard, the vocalist becomes the conduit of the composer, bringing their wishes to life and adding their own personality and interpretive slants. Additionally, there are conventions of each specific period to which the pieces belong that …


Economic Emancipation In The Plantation South: Women In William Faulkner, Margaret Mitchell, Ernest Gaines, And Sherley Anne Williams, Rosemary Moak Jan 2013

Economic Emancipation In The Plantation South: Women In William Faulkner, Margaret Mitchell, Ernest Gaines, And Sherley Anne Williams, Rosemary Moak

Honors Theses

This thesis is intended to investigate women’s plantation economies from the varying perspectives of Margaret Mitchell, William Faulkner, Sherley Anne Williams, and Ernest Gaines. The materials used for research were primary texts: Gone With the Wind, The Unvanquished, Dessa Rose, and The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman^ along with multiple secondary sources. Faulkner and Mitchell show white plantation mistresses take advantage of their newfound independence and economic opportunities due to the absence of the patriarch during the Civil War. While these plantation mistresses prove to be economic powers, their slaves remain in traditional roles. They are depicted to be content …


Ph Dependent Proteolysis Of Neural Cadherin, Candice Ashton Walters Jan 2013

Ph Dependent Proteolysis Of Neural Cadherin, Candice Ashton Walters

Honors Theses

Cadherins are the primary calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecule and are essential to vertebrates. They ensure the integrity of epithelial barriers that allow for maintenance of homeostasis in humans and protection against invading microorganisms. A common invader capable of forging past this line of defense is the fungus Candida albicans. The main virulence mechanism of C. alibans in acidic environments is its secreted aspartyl proteinases (SAPs), which are hydrolytic enzymes that degrade cadherin-mediated cell adhesion leading to infection of the underlying tissues. Cadherin is normally resistant to cleavage by proteases due to stabilization of the protein structure by bound calcium and …


The Impact Of The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit And Its Role In The Future Of Affordable Housing, Sophia Yates Smith Jan 2013

The Impact Of The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit And Its Role In The Future Of Affordable Housing, Sophia Yates Smith

Honors Theses

The purpose of this paper is to study the evolution and goals of the government in providing low-income housing as well as the means taken to achieve those goals in order to understand the current system. The ever-changing nature of the political, social and economic landscape of the country dictates that the role of government in providing lowhousing must adapt to the times. This paper will address questions about the future of the program such as the following. Should the federal government continue finance low-income housing through indirect subsidies financed through the tax code or were the previous direct subsidies …