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Invasion of Chinese Tallow along a dune chronosequence on Sapelo Island, Georgia
No full textChinese tallow, coastal dune, Sapelo island, succession, chronosequence, invasive species, hurricane disturbance
Regimes of frequent disturbance facilitate the spread of invasive species. Hurricanes striking the southeastern U.S. coastline have facilitated the spread of the invasive Chinese Tallow Tree (Triadica sebifera). The succession of vegetation from fore-dune to rear-dune in coastal ecosystems can be understood through the dune chronosequence model. This analytical model shows that as new dunes accrete they shield older dune from environmental factors that can limit vegetative growth like salt spray and overwash. The pattern of vegetative succession in which plants are better established the further they are from the shore allows for a space for time substitution when analyzing these ecosystems. On Sapelo island, a barrier island on the Georgia coast, a dune chronosequence with forty years of Tallow growth experienced back to back years of hurricane disturbance in 2016 and 2017. Extended periods of salt water inundation from flooding, combined with extreme winds and sea swells during these hurricanes caused extensive mortality of Tallow. I hypothesized that Tallow survival and regeneration following this hurricane disturbance would be influenced by the depositional age along the chronosequence. Specifically regeneration would be facilitated by the presence of Morella cerifera along the chronosquence. Wax myrtle (Morella cerifera) acts as a perch for migrating neotropical passerines who disperse tallow seeds while feeding on the myrtle’s high calorie fruit. In 2018, 27 sites across three topographical areas on three different dunes were surveyed for the presence of seedlings, abundance of soil seed banks, the health and presence of adult Tallows, and soil nutrients in order to determine if the Tallow population was recovering from hurricane disturbance. In 2019 these sites were re-surveyed in order to determine if and where seedlings were maturing into saplings in order to learn more about what environmental conditions best support tallow regeneration. I found that the pattern of successful Tallow regeneration was determined by the proximity to the swale, the lowest topographical region of the dune where water and nutrients aggregate in the soil, and not by the age of the dune. Widespread invasion of Tallow into southeastern coastal ecosystems and its ability to persist through disturbance events will likely alter the structural composition of these dune environments. Restricted Tallow recovery in the middle in rear dunes has the potential to limit the utility of the chronosequence model in explaining patterns of succession if this invasive continues to dominate coastal ecosystems. The increased frequency of hurricanes due to global warming has the potential to accelerate the invasion of Tallow due this species resilience to disturbance in comparison to native species.Dr. Jon Evan
A School of Charity: The Formative Dimension of the Holy Eucharist for Ministry and Mission
No full textThis paper provides a theoretical and practical basis for teaching the meaning of holy eucharist in the parish. The approach is Anglican, inspired by the liturgical movement as expressed in the 1979 book of common prayer. It is premised on the eucharist as the center of parish life. The eucharist gives structure and substance to the individual and corporate lives of the parish in spiritual growth, mission, and ministry. Fundamental to this process is that the eucharist, while clearly instructional, is essentially sacramental and therefore more broadly formational. The weekly regularity and seasonal variation of the eucharist, particularly when engaged intentionally, form holiness of character. This occurs through the basic structural elements of gathering, word, presence, and vocation which have been received in the eucharistic tradition.
Superficially, this might look like a serial process where the parish gathers to hear the word of God in order to experience the presence of God so that they might be sent out to do the work of God. However, these elements are best understood as interdependent and overlapping rather than sequential. This interdependence is empowered by the similarly interrelated themes of thanksgiving (eucharistia), memory (anamnesis), and hope (escatology) which permeate the entire structure. Formation occurs through all these elements, in word and sacrament,
engendering a trajectory which both deepens the spiritual life and informs the missional purpose. This paper explores this process through relatively short teaching modules of variable complexity in order to reach a large constituency of ages from child to adult.Right Reverend J. Neil Alexande
Turkey and Egypt: a case study on how terrorism affects tourism in the Mediterranean
Get PDFThis paper studies the effect of terrorism on tourism demand in Turkey and Egypt over the twenty-year period from 1995 to 2015. These countries are large tourist destinations, and both experienced a substantial amount of terrorist activity within this period. Determining if there is an effect from terrorism and anticipating its duration can be beneficial to the tourism industry in better crisis management for future terrorist events. Included in our regression was monthly tourism and terrorism data. Our results showed that the number of kills due to terrorism has a negative statistically significant impact on tourism at the 5% significance level in both countries. The results were controlled for seasonal monthly and annual patterns. Since the effect of terrorism on tourism takes some time to occur, tourism in a given month decreases by approximately 0.10% in Turkey and 0.3% in Egypt for every additional kill due to terrorism one month prior to departure. This suggests that the effects of terrorism on Egypt are slightly larger than in Turkey.Professor Marc St. Pierr
Caught by an 'Evil Infection': Postbellum Conflict in the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina over the Role of African Americans in the Life of the Church
No full textThis thesis, which is divided into five chapters, chronicles attempts within the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina to provide ministry to African Americans over the course of the nineteenth century, with particular focus on the post-Civil War challenges and controversies faced by Bishop William Bell White Howe as he sought to advance the recognition of black parishes and clergy. The first chapter provides background on outreach by, first, the Church of England and, subsequently, the Episcopal Church to both free and enslaved African Americans in South Carolina from its inception as a colony through the end of the Civil War. The second chapter offers an overview of how those efforts developed in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War through the 1871 diocesan convention election that resulted in Howe's elevation to the episcopacy. The third chapter provides biographical background on Howe and reviews his early efforts relating to race. The fourth chapter looks at the controversies that arose when St. Mark's Episcopal Church's applied to become the first predominantly black parish admitted to diocesan convention and how, despite Bishop Howe's support, that application was rejected. The fifth and final chapter chronicles the subsequent controversies over the ordination of African Americans in the diocese and how Bishop Howe's efforts to allow for the full participation of black clergymen at diocesan conventions were ultimately thwarted.Rev. Dr. Benjamin Kin
The Effects of Necroptosis in Bone Marrow Inflammation in Mouse Models of Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Get PDFMyelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of conditions that result when blood-forming cells in the bone marrow function abnormally and result in low numbers of one or more types of blood cells. MDS is a form of blood cancer, and in some cases progresses to leukemia. MDS patients have low blood counts despite elevated numbers of cells in bone marrow due to increased necroptotic cell death. Necroptosis contributes to the observed inflammation and may also contribute to bone marrow failure in MDS patients. Activation of the TNF⍺ family surface receptors in certain situations leads to necroptosis driven by Ripk1. Consequently, necroptosis leads to inflammation due to the release of intracellular contents in the extracellular space. Inflammatory cytokines, including TNF⍺, in turn further activate necroptosis. The Asxl1 gene frequently has a mutated early driver mutation of MDS and leukemia and is thought to be involved in the inflammatory cytokine response, however its function is not yet fully known. Knockout mouse models for the Asxl1 gene were used to analyze the production of cytokines. Through immunofluorescence and flow cytometry, we discovered a population of Immature Myeloid cells that exhibit interesting and consistent cytokine production and determined that ASXL1 cells have increased cytokine production in all investigated cytokines, including TNF⍺. To test whether inhibiting necroptosis may improve bone marrow function and inflammation in VavAsxl1 F/F mice, Ripk1 function was genetically inhibited (Vav Asxl1F/F Ripk1). We show that when RIPK1 kinase activity was knocked down, the production of TNF⍺ decreased to near wild type levels, and SRSF2 P95 tissue exhibited increased TNF⍺ production. We will define and investigate the immature myeloid population, using surface markers, to probe their role in inflammation associated with MDS in future experiments. Overall, this study should lead to a greater understanding of necroptosis in bone marrow inflammation that is observed in MDS.NIH; NHLBi; Veteran’s Affairs Merit Award funded; Vanderbilt-Sewanee Undergraduate Research Experienc
Creating Smoke-free Campuses: A Comprehensive Research Manual for The University of the South
No full textThis presentation identifies the existing need for smoke and tobacco-related policies and resources at Sewanee: The University of the South. Research has continued to demonstrate the harmful health effects of using tobacco products and the difficulties of quitting after becoming addicted to the powerful substance. The first step in creating any policy change is education. The University Campus initiative leaders must make their goals clear along with providing ample evidence supporting the benefits of a smoke-free campus. Additionally, it is important to talk with peer institutions that have already enacted similar models. This will help predict potential barriers to the process. The second step is to help those who are already tobacco users. Cessation services should be made known on campus and be accessible to students, faculty, and staff. The final step is to enact the policy itself. This should incorporate the morals and mission of the University while adding the necessary individual components to make it successful. To achieve a lasting policy change, the services and components of the program must be sustainable. This means that there must be dedicated members of the committee to continue efforts and enhance others. Longevity is largely associated with the success of cessation programs; therefore, it is imperative that these resources are able to last and support the long-term needs of Sewanee
"This World is Not His World": Disability and Marginalization in the Novels of William Faulkner
No full textThe novels of William Faulkner are populated with physically and mentally exceptional characters, offering diverse portraits of disability. This thesis employs the critical lens of disability studies to examine a distinct cluster of disabled characters in The Sound and the Fury (1929), As I Lay Dying (1930), and Sanctuary (1931). Within this trio of consecutively published novels, disability shapes male characters’ physicalities (Cash Bundren and Popeye), cognitions (Benjy Compson and Tommy), and psychologies (Quentin Compson and Darl Bundren), and each manifestation of disability engenders unique social degradations and intersectionalities with other marginalized groups. Because disability disrupts the ‘normal’ social constructs of white patriarchy in these novels, society marginalizes disabled male characters through stigmatization, forced institutionalization, and displays of violence. Disability is a defining feature of Faulkner’s South, and it figures into larger discourses on race, gender, and sexuality
Covenant Theology, Baptism, and the Anglican Tradition
No full textThis thesis explores the history, theology and practical application of the Reformed covenantal theological heritage, with both its legacy and future in the Anglican and Episcopal tradition. It will survey both the centrality of covenant in scripture and the development of Covenant Theology in the history of the church, especially in the Reformation period in England of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, in which the theology of Covenant grew into maturity.
A survey of the covenant motif in special revelation will argue that though the theology of the covenant matures at a very late stage in church history, its merits are no less valid. It will be demonstrated that the covenant concept is central because God deals with his creatures by way of Covenant. It is an expression of his relationship to the world.
Close attention will then be paid to the organic and providential way in which the ideas of the Reformation moved back and forth from the Continent to the British Isles, along with its polarizing affect during the very contentious days of the Reformation.
A close-up on several English Puritan divines will demonstrate the commitment to Reformed theology in the tumultuous days of the English Reformation. Though the Puritan vision did not win the day, nevertheless, its theological distinctives and persuasion made
an indelible impression that never went away. Though Covenant Theologians emphasize different aspects of the motif, they all share a common agreement of God's commitment to redeem by way of covenantal administration.
Further, an examination of the practice of infant baptism as a necessary fruit of covenant theology, will be argued. The necessity of a covenant framework in the practice of paedo-baptism will be argued and defended. Covenant nurture will be explored as an
integral aspect of infant baptism as a crucial pedagogical paradigm from scripture, not to be neglected. We will examine an example of how Covenant nurture was downgraded in Colonial America, changing the trajectory of ministry emphasis and practice in the church for decades. The revivalist, conversion paradigm introduced in the American Colonies served to shift the ministry emphasis in the church from covenant nurture to dramatic conversion in adulthood. The baptismal rite of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer will be examined as an expression of a winsome covenantal theology hermeneutic.
Finally, consideration will be made regarding the future of Covenant in the Anglican and Episcopal tradition. It will be argued, persuasively that covenant theology is right at home with the expression of the 1979 Prayer Book. The future of Covenant Theology is unclear, but the need for a winsome covenant theology in the Episcopal tradition has never been greater. Our current cultural moment and the inter-connectivity create an opportunity to present a gospel-shaped Anglican ethos that is informed by a winsome
reformed theology, reinforced by the drama of its liturgy, contextualized and delivered for the sake of a new generation.Rev. Dr. Robert MacSwain and Dr. Brown Patterso
Simulation of Shor’s Algorithm
Get PDFA Quantum Computing simulation of the commonly cited Shor’s Algorithm. In order to have a better understanding of the inner workings of a Quantum Computer, it’s future applications, and the current and future limitations of classical computing. The simulation uses Shor’s Algorithm to do a series of factorizations, which are most commonly associated with cryptography. The quantum component include Qubits, Quantum Fourier Transforms, and Superposition Period Finders.Dr. Randolph Peterso
Does paying more for a college education produce a higher future wage?
Get PDFProfessor Marc St. PierreHave you ever wondered if investing more of your time and money to attend a more prestigious institution makes for a better financial future? Our paper examines the long-term effects of college qualities on earnings of financially independent workers. We study this relationship by observing the impact of institutional characteristics such as admission rates, average test scores, proportion of students in a particular field of study, and net expenditures on wages incurred 10 years after enrolling in college. In doing so, we take into account demographics, socioeconomic status, and debt accumulation of the college graduate. Upon analyzing the mean annual earnings of 1109 independent students in 2019 with the amount spent on attending college ten years prior, we discover a significant relationship consistent with numerous studies. More specifically, we find a 10% increase in net price to be associated with a near full percentage increase in earnings ten years after graduation