Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College

Many scholars discount the colonial poetic production of early America due to its
seemingly European-derivative nature of form or its repetitive focus on stringent pedagogy
regarding virtue and religiosity. Because of this, many overlook colonial poets and their poetry
as being of little significance to the modern reader; this could not be more incorrect. Through
analysis of the writings of the Puritan poets Michael Wigglesworth and Anne Bradstreet, as well
as those of Enlightenment poet Phillis Wheatley, a remarkable trend of subversion of the cultural
hegemony of colonial America emerges. This honors thesis analyses the ways in which colonial
American poets fought against the hegemonic oppression they faced by thoroughly breaking
down the overlooked canon of Wigglesworth, Bradstreet, and Wheatley. In doing so, the ways in
which the aforementioned poets protested their suppressed creativity, personhood, and freedom
become clear.

The demand for alternative treatment for depressive disorders has increased in recent years. Our clinical understanding of treatment-resistant depression (TRD) has evolved, highlighting the need for different treatments to develop for this subgroup of depression. Treatment-resistant depression is defined as the absence of significant improvement in depressive symptoms despite standard therapy. Considerable improvement in depressive symptoms can seen in an improvement of functioning in everyday activities and a decrease in negative symptoms such as loss of interest, feelings of worthlessness, etc. Ketamine's rapid method of action has been shown to be notably beneficial for individuals with TRD. Research has proven its short-term efficacy compared to more traditional treatments such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and first-line pharmaceuticals (i.e., Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors). However, more research needs to be done to examine the long-term effects and implications.

This thesis examines greenwashing and other deceptive marketing techniques within the two areas of environmental concern and healthy living. In recent years, there has been an increase in consumer desire for sustainably sourced and natural ingredients. In order to keep up with the shift in demand, companies have implemented new strategies to project an image of ethical practices and clean products. However, sometimes these claims can be deceptive. This paper breaks down fraudulent marketing techniques into three categories: Misleading Imagery, Wording, and Certifications; Deceit Through Lack of Transparency and Informational Context; and Diversion. I provide examples of companies that employ these techniques and use primary-source data and peer-reviewed studies to highlight the difference between the company’s projected image and its actual characteristics. This study ultimately contributes to a better framework for understanding common specious claims used in the all-natural, organic, and sustainability fields in order to encourage consumers to reevaluate their purchasing decisions and hold corporations more accountable to their promises of improvement.

This thesis aims to deconstruct William Blake’s argument on the meaning of God through his various writings from a modern perspective. Utilizing both recent examples and other depictions of divinity, this research aims to illustrate Blake’s perspective-in a non-blasphemous manner-that God is inherently derived from man, and that true divinity stems from creative expression

Membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP)/(MMP-14) is a type I transmembrane metalloproteinase involved in degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) and non-ECM substrates. MT1-MMP facilitates cell migration, and is associated with multiple physiological processes, such as morphogenesis, skeletal development, and wound healing. However, MT1-MMP overexpression causes cancer cell invasion, metastasis, and growth. Therefore, MT1-MMP activities should be regulated either through endogenous tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) or novel synthetic MT1-MMP inhibitors. The specific aim of this thesis work is the synthesis and evaluation of novel MT1-MMP C6 and C12 hit inhibitors obtained from one-bead one-compound (OBOC) libraries in order to aid in the discovery and development of effective treatments for many cancers, including melanoma, small cell lung cancer, head and neck carcinoma, bladder cancer, breast cancer, etc.

Within mathematics, the field of algebra focuses primarily on preserving symmetry and structure within a set. This thesis focuses on a given group G over a (commutative) ring R, referred to as the group ring R[G]. Elements within R[G] are finite formal sums of elements of G with coefficients from R. A class of reduced rings that generalizes integral domains is that of complemented rings. We will discuss new subcategories of complemented rings: semi-complemented and almost complemented rings. Since R[G] is a ring itself, we would like to find when R[G] is complemented or perhaps only semi or almost complemented. We will discuss small examples such as Z2[D3] and Zk[Cn].

Previous research implicates the gut-brain axis in mental health, but factors such as cultural diet and other circumstances that influence the gut-brain axis have not been extensively studied. This thesis aims to investigate cultural factors and other factors, including seasonal and economic conditions, that may influence diet and therefore, the gut microbiota, and in turn, the gut-brain axis. To explore this connection, the relationship between components of diet and changes in the gut microbiota composition was reviewed. To understand how those factors may interact to impact anxiety and depression via the gut-brain axis, a host of influences should be considered, including diet as one of many complexities that contribute to an individual’s mental health. This thesis proposes recommendations for mental health professionals, public health policy, and future research to effectively support the mental health of individuals with conditions, such as anxiety and depression, with the respect and mindfulness they deserve.

The present study investigates the objectivity of the current affirmative asylum approval decision-making process in the United States. It provides a brief history of asylum law and the relevant statutes that determine an applicant’s eligibility to be granted asylum. This study will show that the current strict criteria to be granted affirmative asylum in the United States does not reflect the reality of the decision-making process done by asylum officers and adjudicators.
Using affirmative asylum approval data by country from the Department of Homeland Security alongside computational libraries found in Python 3, the study will perform correlation and ordinary least squares regression analysis to show how external factors, such as political and economic conditions of an applicant’s country of origin, influence the decision to approve an applicant for asylum. The study will provide statistically significant results that show that nearly one-third of the variability of affirmative asylum approval decisions can be attributed to political and economic conditions of an applicant’s country of origin. These results will be presented with data visualizations, and code snipped will be provided for future researchers to replicate this study’s methods.

In the United States, driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of at least .08% is regarded as one of the most serious offenses threatening road safety; meanwhile, driving while using a cell phone (CUD) is considered to be significantly less serious. Whether or not an accident occurs, the BAC driver may face punishment, including fines, license revocation, jail time, probation, and more, while the CUD driver merely faces fines and points against their license at most. Both offenses risk harm to others, but only the BAC driver's offense gets taken seriously. I argue that assuming both are equally culpable and risk equivalent harm, both drivers should face equal punishment, and punishment should not depend on the driver causing an accident because punishment should not rely on moral luck.

Through normative considerations of how we ought to advocate for and represent children in dependency court, I will argue that we should use a multidisciplinary approach as opposed to a best interests or child’s wishes approach. Best interests believes that a child’s advocacy should be based upon what is in their best interests, regardless of what the child wants. Child’s wishes holds that a child’s advocacy should be centered around the child’s desired case outcome. In both models, advocates can be lay people or attorneys. In a multidisciplinary model, attorneys are appointed to the child to provide legal representation in conjunction with a lay advocate. Advocates should inform the court of the child’s wishes but ultimately advocate for their best interests regardless of the child’s wants.