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Precise axon termination is necessary for the development of a functioning neuronal
network within the nervous system. However, little is known about the mechanisms that
regulate axon termination. C. elegans RPM-1, a conserved member of the PHR proteins,
has been previously shown to regulate axon termination and synapse formation. Recently,
it was shown that, when phosphorylated by Cdk5, CRMP-2 (the mammalian homolog of
C. elegans UNC-33) acts as a microtubule destabilizer during axon outgrowth. We
investigated the relationship between the RPM-1 and UNC-33 pathways in axon
termination. Our data has lead to the conclusion that the CDK-5, UNC-33 pathway works
in parallel with the RPM-1 pathway to regulate axon termination.

The renowned French philosopher and cultural critic Jean Baudrillard, in his 1981 treatise Simulacra and Simulation, creates and defines the term “hyperreality” as “the generation by models of a real without origin or reality.” Utilizing this definition, this thesis analyzes the text and film versions of Bret Easton Ellis’s controversial postmodern classic, American Psycho, in conjunction with the anti-“Disneyfication” independent film, Escape from Tomorrow, as complex examples in fiction of the excess and ultimate consequences of American materialism that has developed since the 1991 publication of Ellis’s novel about the over-indulgent “yuppie” culture of the 1980’s. I argue that the main consequence of the practice of blind belief in the endurance and reliability of material signifiers for the protagonists of these works, Patrick Bateman and Jim White respectively, is the sacrifice of their identity to the machine of homogenized corporate capitalism.

My thesis focuses on the relationship between science and non-human research studies. Specifically, I will look at the role that ‘animals’ play in the scientific construction of race, gender, and sexuality. In what ways has the scientific construction of the dichotomy between primates and human beings been used in science to create racial, gender and sexual dichotomies? In what ways are the resulting consequences of such dichotomies in medical fields a reflection of these constructions? My research attempts to show various ways in which language and interpretations established by science help to create a dichotomy between animals and humans, which in turn influenced the scientific justifications for racism, sexism and homophobia.

The democratic rise to power of the movement called the “Citizens’ Revolution” in Ecuador has challenged earlier conceptions of what a democracy should look like. Its leader, Rafael Correa, has run a campaign against the previous system of constitutional liberalism in Ecuador and has done much to fight what he considers the symptoms of the previous system: poverty and inequality. While Correa's government has had success in creating social progress, his movement has also dramatically increased the power of the central government in Ecuador. This has struck many scholars as dangerous. The term "Illiberal Democracy" has been used to describe Ecuador as a democracy moving in the wrong direction, away from an objective standard of perfect democratic participation. In this thesis I argue that this assumption is misapplied to Ecuador. In cases like Ecuador, expansion of state power may be necessary to overcome structural impediments to democratic participation.

One of the great challenges of liberal society is determining the balance between the interests of society and individual freedom. Courts often have a difficult choice between conflicting interests like privacy and freedom of speech. When this happens, it is important that courts do not overlook one of these vital interests in favor of another that may be equally important but less understood. The philosopher John Stuart Mill is a well-known advocate of complete freedom of speech, so much so that he has been quoted to this effect by the Supreme Court, which has valued free speech over privacy. However, Mill would not necessarily sacrifice privacy for freedom of speech. Privacy is of great importance both explicitly and implicitly in Mill’s philosophy because it protects a sphere in which individuals can act freely, determine, and implement their lifestyle. Mill would take great care not to damage either of these interests.

Disneyland Park, which opened in Anaheim, California on July 17, 1955, has
been a fixture of American culture for over sixty years. Each of its themed “lands” are
constructed to embody the popular perceptions of an abstract idea, such as the frontier,
tomorrow, and adventure. Even areas based on specific locations are primarily invested in
representing places as they exist in the American imagination. Culture is dynamic,
however, and public sensibilities evolve. The constant struggle to maintain societal
relevancy and resonance has revised nearly every facet of Disneyland’s narrative since its
opening, in ways both subtle and substantial.

In 2013-2014, bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) experienced unusually
high mortality along the East Coast of the US. Many deaths were attributed to Cetacean
Morbillivirus (CeMV). My thesis research examined whether this high mortality could be
attributed to the virus spreading more easily due to pollution, being picked up from a
specific location, or unusual weather events. I found no evidence that pollutants or
location corresponded with CeMV. There was the expected percentage of strandings
based on the percentage of coastline therefore ruling out any linkage to location. Weather
patterns appeared to have an effect on CeMV. When the temperatures were low, there
were minimal strandings due to CeMV. Whereas, when temperatures were at their
highest, there were also record numbers of CeMV. Thus, I concluded that high
temperatures may have allowed increased spread of CeMV, which was compounded by
increased movement of dolphins when waters are warmer.

The manatee project at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute was
established in 2009. Land-based observations and photo-identification techniques
have been used over the past seven years, allowing observers to recognize specific
resident manatees that visit this location season after season. The U.S. Geological
Survey’s Biological Resources Division maintains a photo-identification database of
manatees known as the Manatee Individual Photo-identification System, or MIPS.
The photographs from the Manatee Project have been shared with the MIPS database
and several manatees from the Manatee Project were matches, indicating some of the
manatees are migrants. This project focuses on the seasonal visitation patterns of
frequently observed manatees in the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute channel.
Knowing which manatees are residents allows observers to preliminarily identify
specific individuals that will be part of a future acoustic tagging project.

This thesis seeks to analyze Pan-Arabism through the lens of the United Arab Republic. I
argue that even though the UAR faced many internal issues, it ultimately failed due to
external pressures. I argue this to provide a new perspective on the Middle East and the
Arab world, by showing how it came to be as it is. I organize my thesis into four
chapters: I. Introduction: Arab Unity and its Limits, II. The Marriage of Syria and Egypt,
III. The UAR and the Cold War IV. The Collapse of the United Arab Republic. I analyze
the factors that brought both Egypt and Syria together to create the first democratically
united state in the Arab World, and how it had lasting affects upon the Arab World.

Within the last two centuries, birth has undergone a major transformation as doctors took over and relocated childbirth from the home to the hospital, leaving the reproductive female body and female healers devalued and disempowered. Advancements in medical science have played a fundamental role in this transformation. As birth has become more and more medicalized, women seem to have lost their agency and believe the only place to have a successful birth is in a hospital. Reproductive technologies have certainly had beneficial effects, but they have also turned the mother into an extension of obstetric machines, communicating a power hierarchy that reinforces patriarchal control over female bodies. This hierarchy has had long-term repercussions for reproductive bodies, but it is largely concealed. I argue that the transition of birth from the home to the hospital is part of a systematic deprivation aimed at maintaining male supremacy through the corruption of obstetrics.