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Game of Clones: Pollen Dispersal, Clonal Spread, and their Implications for Genetic Variation in Two Spring Ephemeral Dicentra Species
No full textGenetic variation is a key determinant of population resilience and evolutionary potential. Genetic variation is maintained in populations through factors such as gene flow and genetic recombination as a result of sexual reproduction. The self-incompatible, spring ephemeral herbs, Dicentra canadensis (Squirrel Corn) and D. cucullaria (Dutchman’s Breeches) rely solely on pollination by bumblebee queens for sexual reproduction. However, the species are also clonal and can produce genetically identical offspring through vegetative propagation. The distribution of clones in a population may alter the success of outcrossing if bumblebee queens move pollen between clonal mates. Low outcrossing success can negatively impact a population’s genetic variation. Therefore, to learn more about sexual reproduction in Dicentra species, we aimed to study (1) pollen dispersal distance in D. canadensis, and (2) clonal extent in D. cucullaria. To study pollen dispersal, we dyed the pollen grains of D. canadensis using quantum dot nanoparticles in order to measure their movement from donor to recipient flowers. To study clonal extent, we hand crossed D. cucullaria flowers with sires from various distances and compared the sexual reproductive success of the crosses using ovule and seed production. We found that queen bumblebees mostly move pollen less than 2 meters between inflorescences, meaning pollen is most likely not being dispersed between D. canadensis populations. We also found that D. cucullaria populations exhibit low clonal spread, as crosses from sires of any distance showed higher reproductive success than self-crosses. With this information, we can infer that although queen bumblebees are only moving pollen short distances within a population, they are likely carrying pollen between genetically distinct individuals, allowing for successful reproduction and the maintenance of the population. In the face of a changing climate, understanding plant-pollinator systems and the factors affecting reproductive success can allow us to better conserve these species
Paradise Lost, Paradise Deferred: Combining Close and Distant Reading in Milton’s Seminal Text
No full textThis thesis examines John Milton\u27s Paradise Lost through an innovative integration of close and distant reading methods, using deconstruction theory alongside computational text analysis. By applying sentiment analysis, principal components analysis (PCA), and hierarchical clustering to Milton\u27s epic, I identify three distinct emotional clusters that reveal sophisticated patterns in Milton\u27s emotional orchestration of the poem. These computational findings are then bridged with close readings through a Derridean lens, examining how Milton establishes logocentrism and hierarchical binary oppositions while simultaneously destabilizing them through Satan\u27s deconstructive rhetoric and the introduction of “otherness” outside God\u27s created order. The emotional similarities revealed between seemingly disparate narrative moments – such as Satan\u27s rebellion and humanity\u27s fall, or divine perspective and human transgression – suggest Milton creates what I term an “emotional theology” that complicates straightforward binary oppositions and transforms traditional religious narrative. This methodological approach, combining computational “deformance” with deconstructive reading, illuminates how Milton\u27s sophisticated emotional architecture positions readers to evaluate theological concepts through complex psychological patterns rather than simple moral instruction, potentially explaining the historical shifts in religious narrative that Christopher Ricks attributes to Milton\u27s retelling of the Fall narrative
Observing 1D Reaction–Diffusion Waves in Belousov–Zhabotinsky Systems
No full textA single–syringe pump system was developed to investigate the conditions required for the formation of standing waves in a Belousov–Zhabotinsky reaction. Various reaction mixtures were tested, showing potential for future definitive findings. Fluid velocity was measured before and after advection in a 1D system to assess nonlinear reaction–diffusion–advection dynamics, though no conclusive evidence of standing waves was obtained. Future research is encouraged to focus on adjusting pump speed, exploring different BZ reaction formulations, and using a smaller advection component
Korean Pop: The Transition from a Domestic Music Genre to an International Phenomenon
No full textMany industries across the world have adjusted their marketing strategies to stay active in popular culture as a result of the evolution of social media. The globalization of K-pop has transformed South Korea’s music industry into a dominant force in the international market, largely because of its strategic use of digital platforms, structured idol system, and corporate-driven entertainment model. This research explores how K-pop evolved into a globally dominant industry, analyzing the role of digital platforms, corporate strategies, fan culture, and international market expansion. A comparative framework is used to contrast K-pop with other major music industries, such as Western pop, J-pop (Japanese pop), and C-pop (Chinese pop), to understand why K-pop has succeeded internationally while others have struggled to gain global traction. Additionally, this paper critically examines the ethical concerns within the industry, particularly regarding idol training, mental health struggles, contract conditions, and fan expectations
Deprived of Liberty, Deprived of Death: U.S. Sponsored Torture in Public Debate from the Cold War to the War on Terror
No full textUnited States government-sponsored torture is a sad fact of American history, as much as observers and politicians may try to deny its existence. Most scholarship and media scrutiny of American torture relates to Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib, but American torture has a long history that is frequently overlooked. This Independent Study draws on existing scholarship and analysis of mass media during the Cold War and the War on Terror to build a chronology of American-sponsored torture and its portrayal in the news and in fiction. The central research question posed here: how has the public debate surrounding American torture shifted or stayed the same over time? A study of post-1945 American torture uncovers a disturbing repeating cycle that begins with the exposure of wrongdoing, followed by public outrage and rampant denial, justifications, and blame games, and ending with a sense of public amnesia. This IS seeks to understand the broader historical themes, impacts, and implications of American torture, its portrayals in media, and the continuities and changes in the public debate surrounding torture. A deeper understanding of the public debate over torture helps reveal how news and entertainment can shine a light on human rights violations or help justify them
Behavioral Differences and Survival Estimations in Melanistic and Gray Morph Squirrels
No full textColor polymorphisms are important in studying and understanding behavior and evolutionary processes. Melanism in eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) provides a good example of this, with two common color morphs, the gray morph and melanistic morph. In this study, I measured behavioral differences between these two color morphs by performing walking surveys where I recorded the behaviors of squirrels along specific routes. I also began a mark and recapture study where I trapped and ear tagged squirrels in order to track survival. I found that there were significant differences in behavior between the color morphs, specifically frequency of bird feeder use, tail-up posture, chases, copulations, and wrestle-play behavior. There was also a difference in the frequency of bald patches observed on gray morph and melanistic squirrels. Additionally, the two color morphs had different activity patterns, specifically at different times of day, times of year, and temperatures. There are several hypotheses for why gray morph and melanistic squirrels behave differently, one of them being that melanistic squirrels have a thermal benefit during cold weather. However, my results aren’t entirely consistent with this hypothesis. Another interesting implication of these behavioral differences is that they could be a precursor to speciation down the road. Overall, this study indicates differences in behavior among the different color morphs, but the processes driving these differences are still unknown and should be studied in the future
Ordinary Women Making Ordinary Magic: Loss and Resilience Through Auto/Ethnography
No full textThe purpose of this study was to explore the resilience processes intersection with the grieving experience by delving into narratives of loss from women in my family and extended family, including myself, and a few women (e.g., grandmother) with whom I share a significant relationship. Through the use of auto/ethnography, I identified communicative resources that enable these women to reintegrate from disruption to construct and enact resilience. I also developed my own identity and cultivated my own resilience to help myself enact anticipatory resilience, specifically by using stories as a resource for resilience. Finally, the stories that I shared in this project are able to resonate with people, women in particular, who have experienced or are experiencing similar struggles, which may facilitate their meaning making
Unbolting the Truth: Framing Analysis of the Alaska Airlines 737 Door Blowout News Coverage
No full textThis paper presents a framing analysis of news coverage surrounding the Alaska Airlines 737 door blowout incident that occurred on January 5, 2024. The study examines how various print media outlets in the United States framed the event, its causes, and its aftermath. The research outlines the frames used by print media outlets and how they varied they varied by location and over time. The analysis reveals several dominant frames, including crisis, regulatory, victim, and “legal”. These frames are explored through the lens of selection, use by location, and the overall message and its implications. The paper also investigates how the framing evolved over time, from initial reports of the mid-air blowout to subsequent investigations and hearings. Furthermore, my study examines how framing influenced public perception of airline safety, Boeing\u27s reputation, and regulatory oversight in the aviation industry. By applying framing theory to this high-profile incident, my paper contributes to understanding of how media shapes public discourse on aviation safety and corporate accountability
Exploiting Symmetries in Training Convolutional Networks
No full textThe fields of Deep Learning and Abstract algebra are connected by the theory of symmetry groups. Convolutional Neural Network Layers are equiariant with respect to translations of an input image. Group Convolutional Networks are an generalization of regular CNN’s that are equivariant to the action of a general Group. I reproduce experiments that confirm an increase in performance of a CNN architecture by replacing convolutions with group convolutions