140816 research outputs found
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Professional Development through Teaching in Honors: An Elon University Workshop
No full textDescribes the Teaching in Honors Workshop, an annual, multiday event held at Elon University
Navigating Farm Succession Without a Family Heir: Embracing Change and Coping with Loss
No full textFor many, the idea of not passing the family operation on to a family member isn’t just a logistical transition, it’s a deeply personal loss. This feeling often manifests as ambiguous loss, a type of grief that lacks clear closure or recognition. Unlike the death of a loved one, ambiguous loss stems from the absence of something we hoped for or envisioned. In this context, the ambiguous losses many farm and ranch owners feel are often unspoken but profound: the grief of watching a dream, sometimes generations in the making, begin to fad
Under the Veil: Women\u27s Head Coverings in Tudor England
No full textThis thesis seeks to discover and analyze the agency and meaning of the role of women’s head coverings and veils within the context of Tudor Christianity, society, and the fashion world of English culture. By observing the usage of the veil through various lenses, this thesis examines the nuance of the veil as an object and actor in Tudor society that enables yet prohibits personal choice for women. This research uses various sources such as Tudor paintings and portraits, surviving pieces of garments, and written accounts to paint a picture of the impact and significance the veil had in every woman’s life. The evidence concludes that society tended to utilize the veil in a manner to suppress women in their expression of their sexuality, yet women appropriated the veil to empower themselves to be able to control the way in which they were perceived in the public eye when it came to wealth, fashion, and religion
Induced Mutagenesis in West Nile Virus Non-Structural Protein 3 With a Discussion of the Mutation\u27s Effects on Viral Properties
No full textWest Nile Virus (WNV), a member of the Flaviviridae family and introduced to the Western hemisphere in 1999, presents a unique and emerging threat to human health. Infection in humans is often mild but can occasionally result in severe neurological impairment and even death. West Nile Virus non-structural protein 3 (NS3) plays an important role in the process of viral genome amplification. More specifically, the C-terminal domain of the protein folds into a helicase enzyme, which is responsible for the “unwinding” of double-stranded RNA intermediates and RNA secondary structure on the WNV genome. This is a vitally important step in the process of viral genome amplification. Certain regions within the NS3 domain are essential for helicase activity. Notably, the amino acid at position 249, when subject to mutation, produces viruses with phenotypes that correspond to irregular helicase activity. This thesis discusses the process by which I produced an infectious clone of West Nile Virus (WNV) with a site-saturation mutation at amino acid position 249. I will discuss the rationale for choosing this amino acid position with references to the literature and structural data. Furthermore, I will present preliminary data that reinforces the assumption that this mutant virus sample presents a variety of helicase phenotypes. The research presented here is meant to highlight the importance of the amino acid 249 in the regulation of NS3 helicase activity, which could be used to inform the development of anti-viral treatments
The Commodification of Native American Remains: The Use of Native American Remains within Educational Institutions and the Implementation of NAGPRA
No full textIndigenous communities have been commodified within educational institutions such as museums, universities, and governmental agencies throughout American history. Unethical collection practices have allowed for a disproportionate representation of Indigenous remains and materials within educational institutions. Indigenous bodies, funerary objects, religious materials, and other important cultural materials have been stolen from their communities and used for scientific discovery and education. The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), passed in 1990, created legal protections for Indigenous graves and remains and instigates the return of the stolen materials. This project reviews the historical contexts behind the collection of Indigenous remains, the legislation surrounding Indigenous remains and materials, the implementation of NAGPRA and the complications and complexities discovered after 30 years of active use. NAGRPA is an imperfect system and requires continuous observance and updates in order to effectively return the stolen materials to Indigenous communities. There are many improvements that can be made, including expanding definitions, expanding scope, and incorporating more indigenous perspectives.
Key Words: Native American, Indigenous, Indian, Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, NAGPRA, commodification, exploitation, stolen, legislation
Optimizing Transcription Efficiency through Mutations in the T7 RNA Polymerase
No full textThe production of RNA is vital for many commercial and research purposes, with one of the more notable reasons being vaccine production. The RNA polymerase, derived from T7 bacteriophage, is commonly used for RNA production due to its ability to produce full-length RNA transcripts. However, researchers have faced limitations in optimizing this polymerase. For example, the polymerase generates heterogeneous RNA products that require additional purification steps during RNA production. Here, we selected three amino acid point substitutions based on a recent publication from Moderna that showed increased RNA purity compared to the wild type T7 RNA polymerase sequence. We created plasmid constructs with individual or multiple mutations, recombinantly expressed them in E. coli, and then purified the mutant polymerase from the rest of the proteins using affinity chromatography. We evaluated these constructs\u27 purity and RNA synthesis activity compared to the wild type sequence. After testing the activity of a combination of mutations, we found that some T7 polymerase constructs showed increased purity of RNA products, and others showed decreased products and activities. After transcribing a 330-nucleotide RNA construct, we saw evidence that specific mutations could display increased activity and purity in an RNA sequence-dependent manner compared to the wild type. Identification of optimized T7 polymerase constructs that vastly increase RNA purity and yield can help to streamline the RNA production process by making it less costly and time-consuming to produce large quantities of RNA
Beyond Empire: Spain\u27s Contemporary Relationship with Latin America
No full textThe relationship between Spain and Latin America demands critical attention, not only due to its colonial past but also in light of shifting global power structures and growing generational demands for accountability from historically oppressive states. This study takes its form in a literature review to synthesize the evolving postcolonial dynamic between Spain and the Latin American region—whose long-run development and capacity for economic independence have been fundamentally shaped by colonization. Drawing on postcolonial theory, historical context, international relations, foreign policy, and primary sources, this paper argues that Spain’s modern entanglement with Latin America reflects a neocolonial pattern. Spain’s economic interests remain deeply embedded in the region, reinforcing a structure of dependency that privileges the former colonizer at the expense of its former colonies
Intersectionality in Tennis (WTA) Sports Media
No full textThis “applied knowledge” project investigates and observes intersectionality in tennis sports media via the women’s professional tour (WTA). Intersectionality in Tennis (WTA) Sports Media analyzes how intersectionality as a concept and social justice lens impacts and is impacted by media. By considering intersectional identities and their implications in sports media narratives and coverage, this piece displays some telling patterns and perpetuations.
At the professional level, tennis certainly does not garner the most profit or attention, but it provides a unique world of intersecting identities, cultures, geography and tradition. This work aims to shed light on the state of sports media, women’s professional tennis, and the concept and impacts of intersectionality. It does so by breaking down each layer (intersectionality, tennis, sports media), and applying them together. It also looks at some of the stars and events for example, showcasing patterns and progress alike.
*Note that there are as many assortments of identities and applications of intersectionality as there are people on Earth. While we certainly cannot assume or project the lived experiences of other intersectional identities, take in this work as an example, and consider how it evolves and is reproduced for the countless applications and human beings that are impacted. This is my invitation to read with an extra open mind, and note that research, academia and media have a lot of work left to do
All About Over-The-Counters: The Use of Public Health Principles in Health Education
No full textThe transition from high school to college can be extremely tough on students. There is a massive restructuring in schedules, academics, social lives, and even health. While many students come to college prepared to tackle their respective majors and courses, many of them aren’t prepared to handle the challenges of independent living. One of these challenges is self-healing and preventative care. As part of the University Honors Program, I have had the privilege of taking the first step of many in tackling this challenge. My project consisted of researching several common over-the-counter medications, utilizing my pharmaceutical and biochemical background to interpret the information, and present it in a much more digestible format for non-science students to understand and appreciate
UL5 and HCMV Pathogenesis: Investigating UL5’s Role in Lytic Replication and Latency
No full textHuman Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a common beta-Herpesvirus with a seroprevalence of approximately 60- 90\% among the general population. It remains a significant pathogen due to its latent, lifelong infection, and significant complications in those pregnant or immunosuppressed. To understand how this virus causes disease and persists, we are studying the function of a viral gene, UL5, with unknown function. To begin, we are determining the role of HCMV UL5 during lytic replication, a specific viral lifecycle stage where the virus is active and directly producing new virus particles. A prior proteomics study indicated that UL5 may interact directly with cellular proteins ANKRD13A and ST3Gal1. Both cellular proteins are important for protein regulation and immune function, which are key pathways dysregulated by HCMV. We determined that HCMV infection upregulates ANRKD13A and ST3GAL1. Subsequently we transfected cells with plasmid constructs containing UL5 to study its expression and cellular interactions individually. We found that ANKRD13A and ST3Gal1 were downregulated in UL5- transfected cells. We continue to explore the direct interaction of UL5 with ANKRD13A and ST3GAL1 at the protein level. Finally, we have preliminary data suggesting that UL5 is expressed during latency, another critical part of the lifecycle of HCMV. Our future studies will continue to characterize the role of HCMV UL5 in lytic and latent HCMV infection to advance our understanding of HCMV infection and latency and open avenues for targeted therapeutic interventions