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Fibergramme Vol.34 No. 3, Weavers Of Orlando

Text Materials of Central Florida

FIBERGRAMME is published in September, November, January, March and May.

What We Dreamed To Become, Caroline Clark Moore

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

For my honors thesis, I created a documentary film about my experience in India this past summer.

What We Dreamed To Become depicts the journey of two people of the same African heritage: Dr. Pashington Obeng, an African Studies Professor at Harvard, and a native of Ghana; and a young Siddi boy named Budhesab Hussein.

The Siddis are an Indian ethnic group descended from African slaves. Pash has worked extensively with the Siddis for more than a decade, and hopes to create self-sufficiency within the group.

The young Budhesab has severe vision problems, and happens to join Pash on a …

A Self-Help Guide To Future Success, Naresh Vissa

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

This dissertation takes the form of an eleven-part podcast series titled, “A Self-Help Guide to Future Success.” The radio series relates to the topic of personal success.

Success comes in all sorts of forms – financial, social, ethical, personal: it cannot be defined. In today’s environment, people find themselves confused more than ever before.

As a senior in college who is about to graduate in less than four weeks, I find it mind-boggling how little students have thought about their futures. Furthermore, it is a shame that so many people fail to recognize the current society and conditions surrounding them. …

Neuroscience Basics For Lawyers, Oliver R. Goodenough, Micaela Tucker

Mercer Law Review

Neuroscience is, without a doubt, one of the "hot" disciplines in contemporary science. The advances in neuroscience have come from a cycle of technological and conceptual developments that have led to new models not only of how we think but also of how thought translates into behavior. Neuroscience has spawned a number of interdisciplinary offspring-among them "neurolaw," the application of the insights of neuroscience to problems of law and vice versa. The Mercer University, Walter F. George School of Law Symposium from which this volume of the Mercer Law Review has emerged is but one manifestation of a rapidly increasing …

Ten Legal Dissonances, Morris B. Hoffman

Mercer Law Review

The law is extraordinarily good at operationalizing our folk psychology. Law is, indeed, common sense writ large. As we have learned more, however, about human nature and how the brain instantiates that nature, it is becoming equally clear that there are some fissures in this picture, some discrete aspects of our presumed natures, that the law consistently gets terribly wrong. In this essay, I briefly discuss ten common and wide-ranging legal dissonances. Although I will touch on some suggested patches, by and large, this Article is a descriptive, rather than prescriptive, exercise.

First, some apologies about nomenclature. By using the …

The Lotus Flower, Meghan Couture

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

“The Lotus Flower” is an animation based on the epic story of Shimchong, a girl who overcomes her poverty due to her devotion to her family and later marries into the royal family. This Cinderella story is a famous Korean tale that has been told and re-told for centuries. By bringing this story to an international audience, I hope to bring at least a small awareness of the cultural and historical value of Korea.

The script was adapted and written by me, taking various versions of the folktale into account as well as putting my own details and embellishments to …

You Are What You Eat: Photographic Portrait Series, Danielle Carrick

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

You Are What You Eat is a photographic portrait series drawing visual parallels between food and people. Each portrait consists of not one, but two separate images – a person and the food they resemble. The series pays homage to portrait photography and food photography but is defined by neither.

Each pairing is based on physical attributes of the food subject and human model. For example, the freckled face of a man is side by side with a sesame seed bagel, the pattern and coloring of both mirroring each other. Likewise, a tall, thin girl is perfectly posed to resemble …

Darken The Beauty Spots, Jillian Ellis

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Darken the Beauty Spots uses images gathered from sources such as Vogue, Good Housekeeping, and action movies to discuss whether images of truly empowered women exist in the media. The project examines six different and specific patterns of imagery found in the media that could potentially be seen as either empowering or repressive. Each pattern occupies its own 35” x 40” canvas that contains between four and eight found images taken out of their original contexts, cropped into fragments, and strategically placed on the canvas in order to create relationships between the images. The work is meant to remain …

Thrive Magazine, Kasey Panetta

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Thrive, a Central New York lifestyle magazine, explores the politics, science, culture, sex, social issues, dining and leisure for residents of the Syracuse area between the ages of 18 and 30. The purpose of the magazine is to inform and educate in an unpretentious way about the positive aspects of living in CNY by talking to young residents using departments like the “Best of CNY,” “Single in CNY,” “CNY Traveler,” “Bucket List,” and an assortment of feature stories. The demographics for the audience are educated men and women between the ages of 18 and 30, single or married …

Ctrl + Z, Andrew Golibersuch

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

In Ctrl + Z, Amanda rides the train to work and tells her new employee the story of a particularly bizarre and life changing day from her early career. While working on her laptop at her favorite coffee shop, she discovers that her computer’s undo function, control + z, affects real life. At first she can’t believe what is happening, so she begins experimenting. Eventually she decides to use the power to her personal advantage, specifically to try to get a guy’s attention. Unfortunately she inadvertently causes some severe problems and is forced to choose between what she wants and …

What The Health Magazine Redesign, Sarah Glaser

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

I was art director for the Fall 2009 and Spring 2010 issues of What the Health magazine, a student-run publication on campus at Syracuse University. To put together the issues I oversaw an entire design department consisting of photographers and graphic artists. Photography assignments often came in late leaving little time for design work, and I did not feel satisfied with the ultimate layout design of the magazine. For my capstone project I took on the challenge creating a final book combining the strongest pieces from both original issues in a redesigned layout. I wanted to overcome the inconsistency that …

Our Coast: The Effects Of Urbanization And Coastal Development On California Surf Culture, Alex Pines

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

OUR COAST is a personal inquiry of the effects of urbanization and coastal development on surf culture in California. OUR COAST aims to emphasize a deeper cultural understanding of the depreciating effects that urbanization and expensive development projects are having on the ocean and people who view the ocean as a way of life. Urbanization has increased dramatically in California and development has taken over nearly 90% of the coast. Extreme weather changes are beginning to degrade the current landscape and force families out of their homes.

California is experiencing a detrimental state of expanding urbanization. In just over two …

Fox Fire, Emily Watanabe

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

“Fox Fire” is an independent animated short. Its plot is centered on a young boy, a mysterious girl, and their adventures at a Japanese summer festival. The purpose of this project was to create a short and fun animation to stir the imagination of its viewers while incorporating elements of Japanese culture and experimenting with unique aesthetic choices.

During the initial brainstorming stages of this capstone, I decided that I wanted to somehow incorporate pieces of Japanese culture and mythology into the project. Not only is the folklore fascinating, I often enjoy expressing my Japanese heritage through artwork. The choice …

Tokoyo: A Story Of Cultural Movement, Chelsea Rolfes

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Tokoyo: A Story of Cultural Movement is an exploration of Japanese culture through performance. The piece incorporates stylized, ritualistic, and contemporary movement. The device used to portray our research was a folk tale told solely through physical expression. Music by Japanese composers and projections of the country supported the movement and helped to tell the story of the culture.

We were deep into our research when we embarked on our trip to Japan to observe the specificity of the culture in everyday life and performance. Everything that we read, watched, and took part in manifested itself in the final presentation. …

Structural And Functional Characterization Of A Putative Citmhs Protein From Bacillus Anthracis, Qi Wen Li

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

The growing number of strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria poses a new threat to human health. The development of innovative strategies to treat bacterial infections is essential. The recent discovery of a new class of membrane transporters, CitMHS, unique to bacteria, presents a potential new target for antibacterial therapeutics. CitMHS is a class of secondary metal citrate membrane transporters, with only five members characterized to date (2,3,5,6,7). No crystal structures have been reported. Detailed structural and functional studies of CitMHS are essential to the understanding of infection pathways and, consequently, the ability to block such pathways. Cit_Ba is a CitMHS …

Effects Of Ethanol On Social Behavior & Brain Structure, Lua Jafari

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Autism spectrum disorders are a developmental disorder characterized by abnormal social behavior. Those with autism have problems with social interactions, repetitive behaviors, and both verbal and non-verbal communication. While the cause of autism is not yet know, studies have shown that there are both genetic and environmental factors linked with autism. The amygdala is considered to be part of the “social brain”, and atypical activation and morphology of the amygdala has been seen in those with autism.

For this research project, I utilized rats subjected to acute ethanol exposure during gestation and examined exposure effects on the anatomy and biochemistry …

Germline Cyst Formation And Development In Zebrafish, Tess Cherlin

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

In developing pre-natal mice, germline cysts are clusters or packages of cells consisting of individual oocytes. They are formed after the primordial germ cells move to the ovary during embryogenesis. The primordial germ cells divide, but do not completely separate. The cells within the cysts are linked by intercellular bridges, which end up breaking down leading to the formation of primordial follicles. The primordial follicles are oocytes surrounded by somatic cells called granulosa cells. Only one third of the original oocytes survive cyst breakdown and become the eggs that will be used by the mouse for her reproduction. This developmental …

Modeling Hemorrhagic Stroke And Vasospasm In The Rodent, Sarah Katherine Jane Wendel

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

In January 2010, I started work as an undergraduate research assistant at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Dr. Mary Lou Vallano’s laboratory in the Department of Neuroscience and Physiology. My research project was part of a collaborative effort with the laboratory of Dr. Eric Deshaies, a vascular neurosurgeon at Upstate. The goal was to establish a rodent model of subarachnoid hemorrhage and delayed vasospasm, and to test possible protective strategies. We used an adult rat model, in which two injections of autologous blood were given in the cisterna magna region of the brain. Analysis was done using a combination of …

Determination Of The Amino Acids Involved In The Interactions Between Dpy-30 And Ash2l, Key Components Of The Mll1 Core Complex, Carey Stuart

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

The human version of the DPY-30 protein is homologous to the DPY-30 protein in Caenorhabditis elegans (nematode), along with other DPY-30 homologous proteins in other organisms. This protein is involved in dosage compensation of X-linked genes, balancing the levels of expression of these genes between the sexes. The mechanism by which the balancing is carried out varies from organism to organism. For example, in C. elegans hermaphrodites (XX), transcript levels of the X-linked genes are cut in half. In Drosophila, the genes on the male’s (XY) X chromosome are transcribed at twice the rate of the female’s (XX) genes. …

Exploring The Potential For B12-Based Oral Vaccine Delivery; Cubilin Mediated Uptake Of B12-Conjugate Systems Greater Than 160 Kda, Teresa Soldner

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

This project aimed to create a novel oral tetanus vaccine by exploiting the B₁₂ uptake pathway. While many linkers were attempted, the only successful complex was created using CDT coupling. After synthesis, purification (with some difficulty), and characterization, tests were done in vitro and in vivo. These supported the conclusion that while the complex was being successfully taken up by the cell, the complex was not created a strong enough immune response for a positive titer. On a second note, simply the uptake of B₁₂-TT is remarkable because it is the largest molecule that has been …

Pathophysiology And Treatment Of Septic And Traumatic Shock, Lyuba Polinkovsky

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Background. While various medical treatments have been proven effective in the treatment of sepsis in animal models, the only current clinically accepted treatment of human sepsis is limited to the use of activated protein C. The complex pathogenesis of human sepsis presents a challenge in precisely duplicating the process of disease development in the particular animal models which are currently employed for preclinical testing. Further research examining the pathogenesis of this deadly condition is essential for the implementation of novel therapies that target distinct disease mechanisms. The objective of this 48-hour study is to utilize a clinical model that accurately …

Yourmainsqueeze: A Campaign For Syracuse, Jacqueline Piccolo

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

The city of Syracuse is a resource that has been untapped by SU students. Most students would consider themselves disconnected from the city, and would say that there’s not much to do downtown. Students will more likely complain about all the snow Syracuse receives, and the wind chill levels that can freeze your tears. However, when actually using the city’s resources, and engaging with downtown events, it is easy to see that life in the city does not freeze over in the winter.

In order to combat this problem, I have created a campaign proposal plan for the city of …

Skilladdiction Business Plan, Taylor Louie

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Skill gaming is a type of online gaming in which people play fun, easy to learn, casual games, in a tournament setup - sometimes backed by small wagers, in attempt to win cash prizes. Launched in April, 2009, SkillAddiction (SA), now host to over 54,000 customers across more than 150 countries, brings people together to compete in any of their favorite casual games, in which the outcome is predominantly based on the player's skill. SA has incorporated innovative features to set itself apart from competitors, such as a virtual scavenger hunt, and interactive community features, and continues to develop the …

An Organizational Analysis Of Independent Record Labels, Daniel Creahan

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

In this thesis, I will investigate the work structures and day-to-day operational analysis of independent record labels (“indies”) from across the United States and UK. These findings will then be applied to my personal experiences running an independent record label in Syracuse, New York as a way to evaluate our own operations.

My research constitutes a combination of scholarly studies and personal interviews with 9 different labels, studying work hierarchies, communication methods, office layout, artist interaction, creative disputes, and customer interaction.

In general, indies embrace flexibility, a pragmatic approach to costs and strategy, and a relatively informal power structure, alongside …

Fueling Ukraine’S Future: Using Microfinance As A Tool For Reducing Energy Dependency And Changing Lives, Justin Cole

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Ukraine is a country heavily dependent on other countries for its natural gas supply, leaving it vulnerable to interruptions in supply. One of its largest suppliers, Russia, has twice taken drastic means of physically closing the pipelines, thereby cutting off this supply and illustrating to Ukraine and the world the leverage that it can exercise. While at the present time the cut-offs have lasted no longer than a few weeks, future cut-offs could become more common and longer in duration. When compounded with the troubled history between the two countries, one can quickly see the precipitous situation that has the …

High School Students’ Knowledge Of Careers And Non-College Post-Secondary Options, Mariel Stein

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

This Capstone Project discusses high school students’ knowledge of careers and non-college post-secondary options. The problem this project addresses is the fact that many high school students lack adequate knowledge of careers and non-college post-secondary options, and therefore they often make poor decisions regarding their post-secondary plans.

The methodology used was research, observations, and personal communication. I conducted inductive research because I felt that my information of high school vocational education was too narrow and I wanted to broaden my knowledge to see what the trend is across the country, what the causes of the aforementioned problem are, and what …

Sovereign Wealth Funds: Global And Domestic Implications Of The Rise Of A New Major Player In International Finance, Michelle Sollod

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

The subject of petrodollar recycling has frequently captured the interest of academics, politicians and the media. Specifically, the issue typically boils down to one central question: where exactly are the petrodollars—revenue earned from the sale of oil—flowing? According to traditional scholars like Bernard Mommer and Terry Lynn Karl the recurring argument is that in oil-exporting nations, oil revenues are channeled directly into the hands of a few government officials resulting in corruption, inequality and economic decay.

However, the main limitation of this traditional argument is that it tends to focus solely on the dynamics between the national level and local …

Liminality As A Space Of Self Reflection On El Camino De Santiago Del Norte, Amanda Redpath

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

As ancient pilgrimage across Spain, El Camino de Santiago has affected the lives of the pilgrims that travel it for centuries taking on new meanings as it passes through time. Traditionally, scholars maintain that the focus of a pilgrim’s journey lies at the final destination, or pilgrimage center in Santiago de Compostela. This project demonstrates, however, that the emphasis should lie on the journey or period of liminality which through concepts of place has created a space for self-reflection and meditation. Analysis of pilgrim interviews within the context of a wide array of scholarly literature in the disciplines of anthropology, …

Regulation Of Immediate Early And Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition Genes Expression By Adipocytokines In The Female Reproductive Tract, Zhufeng Yang

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Individuals who are overweight or obese are at increased risk for cancer.  However, the mechanistic link between obesity and cancer is poorly defined.  Adipose tissue produces hormones and pro-inflammatory cytokines with mitogenic properties.  Many of these hormones and cytokines are altered in obese individuals and may lead to disruption of the normal balance between cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine how adipocyte-derived factors regulate the expression of genes that contribute to cell proliferation and migration.  To compare immediate early gene (cell proliferation) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (cell migration) gene expression between untreated and …

Analysis Of Long-Term Selection (28 Generations) For Reproduction, Growth, And Carcass Traits In Swine, Wan-Ling Hsu

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The objectives were 1) to estimate responses from 28 generations of selection for increased pigs born alive (BA) with additional selection for increased 180 d weight (WT) and longissimus muscle area (LMA) and decreased backfat (BF) in the last eight generations, 2) to estimate genetic parameters for an array of traits, and 3) to investigate whether a plateau in response for BA has occurred. All lines were derived from the same Large White/Landrace composite population. Index selection for ovulation rate and embryo survival (G0-11) was initiated in L2 in 1981; L1 was selected randomly control line for L2 (G0-23). L2 …