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Weird Barbie and Gender Fluidity : Destabilizing the Binary through Performativity
No full text38 p.Barbie, a 2023 comedy film directed by Greta Gerwig, follows the stories of Stereotypical Barbie’s and Stereotypical Ken’s journeys to the real world after the utopian perfection of life in Barbie Land begins to malfunction. Much literature has focused on Barbie 's journey to finding herself as a human or Ken’s relationship with masculinity, but one relatively unexplored character is Weird Barbie. This project focuses on Weird Barbie’s character, played by Kate Mckinnon. I argue that in Barbie, Weird Barbie provides audiences a case study to examine how gender may be performed within various hierarchies, and how binary systems of gender work to regulate gendered performance. I use Judith Butler’s framework of performativity to exemplify how gen der is portrayed in the Barbie movie and to provide commentary on the value of gender performance subversions to denaturalize the gender binary. Further, I posit that the film begins a conversation on the dysfunction of the gender binary but does not fully complete it. I expand upon disgust, compulsory heterosexuality, and philosophical themes in the film to offer a possible direction for next steps for feminist film and undoing the gender binary
Investigating the Guided Entry of Tail-Anchored Proteins Pathway : A Current Study with a Literature Review
No full textv, 42 p.The Guided Entry of Tail-anchored proteins (GET) pathway in the chloroplast is a pivotal component in the transportation of tail-anchored proteins from the inner chloroplast envelope to the thylakoid membrane, which is essential for photosynthesis in plants. Although this pathway has been identified in photosynthetic eukaryotes, detailed information about its mechanisms remains limited. It has previously been shown that the Guided Entry of Tail-anchored protein 3B (GET3B) binds to thylakoid-targeted tail-anchored proteins and facilitates their transport across the chloroplast stroma. The GET3B protein consists of an ATPase domain, a Get3 motif, and a CXXC motif. Additionally, DnaJ-type co-chaperone (DJA) proteins, which include a J domain, a Gly/Phe-rich domain, and a C-terminal domain, are present in the same cellular location. Because J domains are known to interact with ATPases, we hypothesize that DJA proteins may interact with GET3B and assist them in the transport of tail-anchored proteins. To test this hypothesis, we have designed multiple experiments to evaluate the interaction between DJA and GET3B proteins in plants. Preliminary results indicate that plants with mutations in either GET3B and/or DJA genes exhibit a lower stress tolerance compared to wild-type plants, suggesting that DJA proteins have a potential role in supporting the GET pathway
Gene Expression, Phase Variation, and Symbiosis of Entomopathogenic Bacteria Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus
No full textiv, 14 p.Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus are genera of bacteria known for their symbiotic relationships with entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) and their parasitic relationships with insect hosts. These bacteria, obligate symbionts of the nematode genera Heterorhabditis and Steinernema respectively, facilitate insect host infection, nutrient production, and nematode development. The symbiosis between EPNs and their bacterial partners is a product of co-evolution, with Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus demonstrating distinct regulatory networks and mechanisms for immune evasion. The bacteria undergo phase variation, switching between pathogenic and mutualistic forms, regulated by specific genes such as HexA and Lrp. Additionally, Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus produce a variety of secondary metabolites, crucial for insect virulence and competition with other microbes. Further research of these bacteria genera could greatly contribute to our understanding of mutualism and pathogenicity, and study of their secondary metabolites could bring new sustainable agricultural practices and novel antibiotic treatments
Living Through the Smoke – A Gendered Analysis of Bushfire Mitigation and Organizational & Community Responses in Trinidad : A Proposed Study
No full textv, 29 p.In the Caribbean, climate change has affected and created a culmination of societal issues that are related to the current environmental crisis. It is interesting to explore the ways in which forest fires in particular have uniquely affected women. Examining the role women play in development/urban planning and the cultural attitudes of the women’s expected relationship with land use can help inform us on the physical and mental toll of trying to mitigate the stress that stems from having to endure forest fires. Through hands-on forestry work and discussions with the FACRP in Trinidad, a gender and culturally sensitive survey was created to gauge the outlook on the effects of forest fires on participants’ mental and physical health. Participants of this proposed study would be acquired online during the dry season when bush forest fires are the most prevalent. It is expected that women will face harsher economic, mental, and social implications from these fires. Moving forward, radicalizing our views on the positioning of women in the societal hierarchy, dismissing the assumption of women’s inability to adequately take action in the global climate change crisis, and offering safe spaces where mental health can openly be discussed can be a step in the right direction in achieving gender equality and harmony in the fight against forest fires
Yellow pigment stability in pickles
No full textiv, 18 p.There is a growing trend among consumers towards ingredient awareness, prompting increased scrutiny of food products. This demand for healthier and transparent options has significantly impacted the food industry. The clean label movement, which began in the late 1990s in response to concerns about genetically modified foods, emphasizes the use of familiar, wholesome ingredients. Many common food colors are not natural but are synthetically derived from petroleum. Studies have shown that artificial food dyes may be likely to cause cancer and hypersensitivity and have not been thoroughly tested. 3 The experiment aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of using color code 49.60.03 (carrot with quillaia) to protect color code 12.085.03 (turmeric with polysorbate 80) from degradation when exposed to UV light. Various dosages of 49.60.03 (carrot with quillaia) were tested to assess its ability to shield 12.085.03 (turmeric with polysorbate 80). Turmeric is used to enhance the visual appeal of pickles. The results indicated that turmeric degraded more quickly when shielded with clear pickle brine. A dosage of 0.03% of 49.60.03-infused pickle brine provided better protection for turmeric than a dosage of 0.015%. Despite some degradation, the higher dosage demonstrated a more effective preservation of turmeric's color. Overall, a higher dosage of carrot resulted in better preservation of the color of turmeric with polysorbat
Exploring Communication Between Drug-Binding and ATP-Binding Sites of P-glycoprotein
No full textvi, 24 p.P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is an ATP-binding cassette transporter present in a wide range of human tissues and commonly overexpressed in cancer cells. Overexpression leads to multidrug resistance (MDR) through rapid efflux of chemotherapeutic agents, reducing intracellular accumulation and treatment efficacy. While a precise mechanism remains undiscovered, efflux is reliant on intra-protein communication between P-gp’s drug-binding and ATP-binding sites. Mutations in key residues in the drug-binding pocket uncouple ligand binding with ATP hydrolysis, leading to a loss of the transport function while preserving the ability to hydrolyze ATP. The combination of these primary “loss-of-function” mutations with secondary mutations at certain residues (second-site suppressors) have since been demonstrated to recover efflux by re-coupling ATP hydrolysis with ligand binding, suggesting secondary residue involvement in intra-protein communication. Therefore, it was the aim of this study to confirm the involvement of three residues in drug-binding : ATP-binding site communication through characterization of wild-type and second-site suppressor mutant ATPase activity. ATPase activity was measured via colorimetric assays of inorganic phosphate release from ATP in the presence/absence of chemotherapeutic ligands. The results of ATPase activity support restoration of communication between drug-binding and ATP-binding sites in all second-site suppressor mutants. Identifying the involvement of these residues in communication marks the first step towards mechanism elucidation, opening opportunities to design drugs counteracting P-gp’s pervasive contribution to multidrug resistance
The Value of Violence : It’s Not as Bad as it Sounds! Moralization and Narrative Functions of Violence in Horror Stories
No full text42 p.For my part, through writing my SIP I’ve settled on looking at the function of violence in horror stories as a safe artistic extreme. What I mean by this is that violence, specifically in horror, is a way to experience the visceral disgust, fascination, or other extreme emotions that come with experiencing violence, but in a way that does not cause harm. This is not to say that fictional violence is exempt from causing real world harm; there are countless examples of horror media which depict sensitive issues such as sexual assault or genocide with such carelessness and lack of accountability that it ends up being irresponsible, either for misinformation or for providing a viewing experience that sacrifices narrative in service of brutal catharsis for the people making and consuming that art. Where exactly that line is drawn is a subject for another day (and another SIP,) but rest assured that my intent is not to cause harm with my work. This is partly why I have made sure that my writing is fantastical enough to hopefully avoid similarities to real world issues which I may be ill-equipped to handle in a respectful way. Additionally, I have provided a list of specific content warnings at the end of this preface, in the hopes that anyone who wishes to read further will not feel as though they have been tricked into reading something that they were unprepared for. The choice to engage with violent content is an individual one, and, as is one of the main points of my SIP, it should be safe
Effects of constant and fluctuating temperatures on the early life thermal biology of PAH-tolerant Atlantic killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus
No full textv, 30 p.Pollution and climate change are two of the largest human-induced stressors facing coastal and marine species. Many times, organisms must respond to both of these factors simultaneously. However, adaptation to one of these stressors could cause tradeoffs that make them less able to adapt to the other. To further explore how organisms adapted to one stressor react to additional stressors, I compared early life growth rate and critical thermal maxima (CTmax) of Atlantic killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus, that have evolved tolerance to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to F. heteroclitus from a nearby reference site. Fish were raised at three constant temperatures and three fluctuating temperatures to see how acclimation temperature interacts with PAH-tolerance to affect thermal biology. Hatch rate and larval mortality did not differ between the two populations. Similarly, there were no differences between the growth rates of the two populations, but PAH-tolerant fish experienced a higher degree of growth variation at high constant temperatures. PAH-tolerant fish showed higher CTmax at low constant temperatures but lower CTmax when acclimated to highly fluctuating temperatures, suggesting that their thermal tolerance is better than unpolluted populations at low temperature acclimation but is impeded by large temperature fluctuations. Additionally, I found evidence of reduced CTmax variation at certain temperature treatments compared to others for PAH-tolerant fish, suggesting a lack of genetic variation for the trait which could jeopardize future response to acute warming caused by climate change. Overall, the effects of PAH-tolerance on F. heteroclitus’ ability to respond to climate change will be negligible in some cases but detrimental in others
Language, Learning, and Belonging: Insights from Volunteering with ESL Students in Kalamazoo Public Schools
No full textv, 12 p.Over the past three years, I have had the privilege of volunteering with English Language Learning students at Kalamazoo Public Schools, an experience that has deeply influenced my personal and professional growth. As I began planning my Senior Integrated Project, I knew I wanted to incorporate the knowledge and skills I had gained through my time in the classroom volunteering. The fall of 2024 provided me with an opportunity to further expand on my understanding of teaching English as a Second Language students while taking on a significant project that would have a lasting impact on the students and staff at Lincoln International Elementary. Throughout my 80 hours at Lincoln, I worked alongside dedicated educators to support English Second Language students in grades Kindergarten to Third Grade. My responsibilities ranged from assisting in classroom management to working one-on-one with students on their English language skills. This hands-on experience allowed me to witness firsthand the challenges and triumphs of English Language Learning students while deepening my understanding of how culture, language, and learning intersect in an educational setting. One of the key aspects of my time at Lincoln Elementary was my involvement in a project aimed at creating digital portfolios for these English Second Language students. These portfolios stay with the students throughout their educational journey, with all teachers having access to their growth. Working in the classroom gave me a different, but valuable, learning experience that I had not been able to experience before. This experience solidified my desire to pursue a career in education. It also allowed me to connect with my Kalamazoo College classes, mentors, and fellow volunteers, all of which have been instrumental in this process. The skills and insights gained from volunteering at Kalamazoo Public Schools have been important in shaping my Senior Integrated Project and will continue to influence my career path long after graduation
Hawaiian History : Sovereignty and Identity: The Ongoing Political Struggle of Native Hawaiians
No full text55 p.This thesis examines the historical dispossession of Native Hawaiians' cultural and ancestral identity, analyzing the factors and events that led to their marginalization. It further explores the ongoing political struggle for sovereignty, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and restoring Native Hawaiians' rights, self-determination, and autonomy in shaping their future. Through an interdisciplinary approach encompassing history, politics, and indigenous studies, this research aims to shed light on the deep-rooted implications of colonialism and to advocate for a just resolution that respects the inherent sovereignty of the Native Hawaiian people