URC Student Scholarship Copyright (c) 2013 Occidental College All rights reserved. http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student Recent documents in URC Student Scholarship en-us Sat, 18 May 2013 01:35:23 PDT 3600 Dispersion of Ions in the Drift Dark Matter Detector http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1240 http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1240 Thu, 16 May 2013 18:22:31 PDT This summer I worked on measuring the drift velocity and dispersion of ions in a miniature version of the DRIFT (Directional Recoil Identification from Tracks) detector. To do so I focused a flash lamp on a thin aluminum plate in the back of a vacuum vessel. Via the photoelectric effect, electrons are released from the metal sheet. These free electrons then attach to the electronegative gas within the system. By implementing an electric field it is then possible to direct the ions toward the detection plane of wires. By analyzing this data through the statistical program R I was able to calculate the drift velocity and longitudinal diffusion in the z direction plane. Furthermore, by scanning the UV light source across multiple wires I was able to calculate the lateral diffusion in the x direction plane of the ions through space. Understanding the drift velocity and the dispersion in the x-plane and z-plane is crucial to the understanding of events within the DRIFT detector.

]]> Nicole Chen Simulation and analysis of regular and chaotic particle dynamics in asymmetry-induced transport http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1239 http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1239 Thu, 16 May 2013 18:22:27 PDT Asymmetry-induced transport of a non-neutral plasma within a coaxial Malmberg-Penning trap is analyzed using a single-particle simulation with collisional effects. Simulations of the case with standing wave asymmetry and periodic boundary conditions were studied. The relationship between the periods of oscillation for regular motion and the scaled radius matched between computer simulation and analysis of the scaled equations of motion: r vs t: Vz vs t: where A and B are constants. Poincaré sections were also used to gain more general knowledge regarding the boundary between regular and chaotic motion. It was discovered that particles can transition between the two states of motion, meaning they can become both trapped and untrapped over the duration of one simulation. The Poincaré sections also revealed that large radial excursions are possible over a greater number of velocity values, but axial trapping is what is truly required for regular motion.

]]> Jacob Coleman Investigating Insect Interactions on Pentaclethra macroloba http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1238 http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1238 Thu, 16 May 2013 18:22:23 PDT Pentaclethra macroloba is a dominant canopy tree found in humid tropical forests from Honduras to Brazil, comprising 30-40% of all basal area at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. To understand the full role that Pentaclethra macroloba plays in its surrounding environment I took a closer look into the interactions of the insects most abundant on P. macroloba; which include caterpillars, ants, and treehoppers. For a period of 2 months in La Selva Biological Station in Heredia, Costa Rica I observed and collected insects from P. macroloba saplings. To see what time the ants are most active on the plant as well as to see what species are most prevalent on P. macroloba, I looked at 38 saplings and conducted a census for ants at 4 times during the day: one in the early morning, one in the late morning/ afternoon, one at dusk, and one in the evening. The results clearly indicate that Crematogaster was the dominant ant species and were most active at 4:00pm when the sun was setting. In the treehopper experiment I visited a total of 5 stems that once had both treehoppers and ants and recorded the number of ants, number of treehoppers and recorded their behavior. The ants were often next to or on top of the treehoppers and the numbers of the treehoppers dwindled as the time passed, indicating that the treehoppers spent a period of time without moving from the particular P. macroloba stem and then dispersed. Lastly to study the herbivores of this canopy tree I collected a total of 31 caterpillars, 30 different species, found eating P. macroloba and reared them to adulthood to be identified. The information that I collected will be added to a database of known herbivores of P. macroloba. There are now six pinned specimens of the adults and one parasitoid in the insect collection. . The information collected gives insight into the variety of insects supported by this dominant canopy tree.

]]> Arlin Alger The Effects of Aspect Ratio on Onset Pattern Formation in Simulated Rayleigh-Benard Convection http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1237 http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1237 Thu, 16 May 2013 18:22:19 PDT This talk will discuss onset patterns in Rayleigh-Benard Convection. Rayleigh-Benard Convection refers to a fluid-filled cell which is heated from the bottom and cooled at the top. At a large enough temperature difference between the bottom and top plate, the hot fluid rises while simultaneously the cool fluid sinks, driving a convective motion. Just above this critical temperature difference, a distinct and stable pattern appears. The aspect ratio, which is defined as the diameter to depth ratio of the cylindrical cell, affects the pattern that is formed. This presentation will focus on the transition from purely modal patterns found in smaller aspect ratios to patterns of straight parallel rolls found in moderate to large aspect ratios. We used the spectral element code Nek5000 to create numerical simulations of such systems for a range of aspect ratios with either insulating or conducting sidewall boundary conditions. The vertical temperature difference at which convection begins is characterized by the dimensionless parameter known as the critical Rayleigh number, which is proportional to the change in temperature. This talk will describe how the critical Rayleigh number is related to the aspect ratio. The critical Rayleigh numbers for aspect ratio 1 through 9 are estimated and compared with the results of previous work. This talk will also discuss the effects of the kinematic viscosity and thermal diffusivity of the fluid, which is described by the dimensionless Prandtl number, on onset pattern formation and critical Rayleigh number.

]]> Mary Flagstad Glucose and Fructose Ingestion following High Intensity Exercise does not Affect Subsequent Exercise Capacity http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1236 http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1236 Thu, 16 May 2013 18:22:16 PDT Previous studies have suggested that ingestion of glucose+fructose prior to and during long duration endurance exercise may benefit performance more than ingestion of glucose alone. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of glucose+fructose ingestion on short duration high intensity exercise capacity. Eight trained malecollege athletes performed three randomized experimental trials consisting of a 20 minute run at 90% VO2 max, a 5 minute recovery period, and a time-to-exhaustion (TTE) run at 90% VO2 max. During the recovery period, subjects ingested a beverage containing glucose + fructose (G+F), glucose only (GLU), or placebo (PLA) matched for taste and electrolyte content. Carbohydrate (CHO) beverages each contained ~20g of carbohydrate. Subjects’ blood glucose was measured immediately before and after each run period. Heart rate (HR) and Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) was recorded every 2 minutes during TTE. Blood glucose levels standardized to baseline values were significantly greater in the G+F trial both prior to and after TTE relative to PLA (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in HR, RPE, and TTE performance (G+F: 22.15±5.88min, GLU: 18.27±4.18min, PLA: 17.75±3.26min) between trials (P>0.05). Results from this study suggest that ingestion of glucose and fructose following high intensity exercise lasting 20 min does not enhance subsequent performance capacity more than glucose alone or placebo. Future studies are needed to determine if a stronger reliance on endogenous versus exogenous CHO in the early stages of high intensity exercise can account for the lack of performance benefits seen in this study.

]]> Adam Gutierrez Stress-Induced Alcohol Preferences: A Novel Test in Selectively Bred Rats http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1235 http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1235 Thu, 16 May 2013 18:22:11 PDT This summer research is a novel test that examines stress-induced alcohol preferences in selectively bred high versus low saccharin-consuming rats. Susceptibility to alcohol abuse is dependent on various environmental and biological factors. Many studies have hypothesized that stress is one cause of alcohol abuse. In laboratory models, then, stress might be expected to increase alcohol intake. However, there have been contradictory results. Findings show that depending on the stressor and its severity, stress can either decrease or increase alcohol intake. The variety of results of stress effects in alcohol motivated behavior suggests that the answer to this phenomenon is not simple. Multiple variables influence the alcohol preferences, some of which increase and some of which decrease alcohol motivation. The present study used two acute stressors, footshocks and food deprivation, to determine whether acute stress would increase alcohol preference in high (HiS) and low (LoS) saccharin-consuming male rats. Rats selectively bred on this taste phenotype show different behaviors in emotionality, preference for alcohol and alcohol-paired flavors, and susceptibility to stress. The rats were conditioned with plain and 4% ethanol Kool-Aid solutions for ten days before being given two stress tests. Stressed rats should show behavioral shifts in drinking. Therefore, we expected that both lines would have greater preferences for the alcohol-paired flavor after stress; we also expected that LoS rats would show a greater increase in alcohol preferences after stress. However, stressed rats did not show a significant increase in the alcohol-paired flavor compared to the control group after both stress tests. These results indicate that acute stress is not effective at modifying expression of flavor preferences in HiS and LoS rats, at least under the test conditions utilize

]]> Chardonnay Madkins Locomotion and Anxiety After Caffeine Intake in HiS and LoS Rats http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1234 http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1234 Thu, 16 May 2013 18:22:07 PDT Caffeine is a widely consumed psychoactive substance, present in many types of comestibles. As a stimulant, caffeine is positively correlated with increased alertness and energy. Caffeine’s arousing effect stems from the blockage of adenosine receptors in the brain, which when blocked, increase neuron firing in the brain and adrenaline production. Caffeine also induces anxiety. During prolonged exposure to caffeine, tolerance develops as an adaptive response; however, removal of the drug may result in a state of emergency.

The present research investigated the behavioral effects of caffeine intake and withdrawal with regards to locomotor activity and anxiety in an “open field” apparatus. High-Saccharin- (HiS) and Low-Saccharin-preferring (LoS) rats were used to examine drug effects; their differential consumption of saccharin may influence drug-related behaviors. They have been shown to differ in emotionality, with LoS rats typically displaying more anxiety than HiS rats.

Results indicate that on day 1, movement in the center of the open field was lower among caffeine-treated rats. In addition, latency to enter the center was longer in caffeine-treated rats; this effect arose primarily from the test conducted after caffeine was removed, suggesting withdrawal effects. There was no significant difference in total locomotion between the “caffeine” and “control” groups, pointing to anxiety rather than reduced activity in the drug effects. Relative to HiS rats, LoS rats had shorter latencies to enter the center of the open field and were more active in the center, but the lines responded similarly to caffeine. Future research could examine whether dosage or intake method has an effect on behavior.

]]> Jennifer Wang Mind the Gap: An Instance of Grotesquely Defamiliarizing Indeterminacy in David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1233 http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1233 Wed, 08 May 2013 09:55:13 PDT The concept of the grotesque originated in medieval Italy with the discovery of early-Christian period Roman artifacts that blended plant, human, and architectural forms into simultaneously comic and terrifying amalgams. By the 16th century, European writers began applying these distortions to literary works. Early examples are found in Rabelais and Cervantes, and later in Sterne and Hugo. As a literary term, “grotesque” has come to indicate a confluence of incompatible contents that evoke an ambivalent reader response: half laughter, half revulsion. This capacity to comedically unsettle is perhaps one reason for its popularity among authors of the 20th and 21st centuries such as Beckett, Kafka, Pynchon, and Ballard. However, one aspect of the modern grotesque remains largely unexamined: distortions of syntactic and grammatical form, as opposed to those of character and imagery. This project looks therefore at the formal-grotesque quality of indeterminacy in one element of David Foster Wallace’s 1996 opus Infinite Jest. The novel presents anomalous anaphoric narrative breaks, wherein breaks in the text are immediately followed by incomplete sentences that lack the orienting information of traditional narration. Employing the theories of Bakhtin, Shklovsky, and Iser, this project aims to elucidate this grotesque formal indeterminacy.

]]> Gabriel Mathews Abundance and Size Variations in Eelgrass-Associated Fish Assemblages In San Diego Bay http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1232 http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1232 Wed, 08 May 2013 09:55:08 PDT With approximately 12,000 acres of marine habitat, San Diego Bay is the largest naturally occurring marine embayment between San Francisco and Scammon’s Lagoon (central Baja CA) and is home to a wide diversity of species (Allen et al. 2002). This important ecosystem is highly productive, with an abundance of juvenile fish supported by the extensive eelgrass nursery habitat. Nearby ecosystems are supported by production in San Diego Bay, as the fish migrate out into the open ocean once they have reached adulthood. Eelgrass is used as shelter for fish larvae settling in estuaries and by juvenile fish prior to migration from the brackish bay into the ocean (Jenkins and Wheatley 1997). Areas in which eelgrass have been growing in the bay were georeferenced using GIS files in Google Earth, and show measureable growth from 2004 to 2011, with the area increasing from 1561.5 acres in 2004 to 1871.1 acres in 2011. The Vantuna Research Group at Occidental College has conducted a biannual survey and complete sampling of the fish assemblages in 2005, 2008, and is midway through 2012 sampling. The purpose of this project was to assess the population and location of eelgrass-associated fish species in the bay using data collected throughout the seven-year time period. In past research it was found that measurements at eelgrass sites yielded nearly twice as many individual fish and fish species than samples taken at non-vegetated sites (Hoffman et al. 1986); therefore it was hypothesized that the increase in eelgrass should correlate to an increase in the abundance of eelgrass-associated fish assemblages. Species surveyed for this project were Syngnathus leptorhynchus, bay pipefish; Cymatogaster aggregata, shiner perch; Fundulus parvipinnis, California killifish; Heterostichus rostratus, giant kelpfish; and Leptocottus armatus, Pacific staghorn sculpin. Though much sampling has been done in years past, there had been no further investigation into precisely which areas of the bay these five fish species are found relative to the presence of eelgrass. A higher abundance of this assemblage was present in vegetated areas (defined as regions containing eelgrass) versus non-vegetated areas, and an increase in this assemblage was found over time. Standard lengths of the fish assemblage were also studied in order to note trends in vegetated versus non-vegetated area to show that smaller and presumably juvenile fish were more likely to be found in the vegetated areas of the bay. For the five species studied, there was a higher abundance of fish in the smaller size classes in the vegetated areas versus the non-vegetated areas. Exceptions to this pattern were noted and are likely due to generic habitat preferences and alternative reproductive cycles in individual species.

]]> Morgan Winston Solution of Laplace's Equation for a high end potential with a biased center wire in a Malmberg-Penning trap http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1231 http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1231 Wed, 08 May 2013 09:55:04 PDT After several experiments in a Malmberg-Penning plasma trap, a potential barrier or “hill” seemed present within the machine. The trap employs cylindrical geometry with an axial center wire. Laplace’s equation is solved with an end potential, a negatively biased center wire, and grounded sides. The solution is graphed and analyzed in MATHEMATICA. Visually, no potential hills are seen. These results are further supported by the absence of any zero derivative values. Based upon our graphs and derivative calculations, we believe no potential barriers are present within the trap. This research closely follows the work of D. L. Eggleston and Darrell F. Schroeter in their paper, Solution of Laplace’s equation for the confining end potentials of a coaxial Malmberg-Penning trap.

]]> Kyle Reuther Herbivory on Toxic Plants and Gut Microbial Diversity in Tropical Katydids http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1230 http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1230 Wed, 08 May 2013 09:54:59 PDT Members of the Orthopteran family Tettigoniidae are among the best leaf mimics in the Costa Rican rainforest. While camouflage helps protect against predators, there is still the danger of consuming plants loaded with toxic compounds such as members of the Piperaceae family. I hypothesized that microbes may help herbivores digest toxic plants, and I predicted that the amount of Piper that katydids ate and the level of microbial diversity in the katydid digestive tract would have a negative correlation. To examine herbivory on toxic Piper plants, 36 katydids from 13 morphospecies were subjected to feeding trials with three different choices, P. xanthostachyum, P. cenocladum and P. auritum – each containing high levels of terpenes, Piper amides and polyphenols, respectively. For all katydids that ate, the leaf area eaten was significantly different among Piper species (Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance, P ≤ 0.007), suggesting that the katydids tested had a preference among toxic plants. I studied two katydid species in more depth because they demonstrated the extremes for amount of herbivory on Piper species. Individuals belonging to morphospecies ‘A’ ate the most Piper, while those from morphospecies ‘I’ ate the least. The individuals from species ‘A’ had a more diverse microbial community in their digestive tracts compared to those from species ‘I’. Because species ‘I’ ate very little and contained a low diversity microbial gut community, going against the prediction, it can be suggested that species ‘I’ may be specialists on a different, currently unknown, genus or family of plant. This study will lead to future research exploring the high herbivory rates of species ‘A’ and low microbial diversity found in the gut of species ‘I’, and suggests that Piper specialists may make use of several different types of gut microfauna that help them digest this family of toxic plants.

]]> Kenjiro Quides The Fluid Velocity and its Reorientation in Simulated Turbulent Rayleigh-Benard Convection http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1229 http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1229 Wed, 08 May 2013 09:54:54 PDT The velocity and reorientation of the large-scale circulation (LSC) in Rayleigh-Benard convection (RBC) at the Rayleigh numbers R = 1x107 < Ra <1 x108 and Prandtl numbers P=0.021 (mercury), 0.4, and 0.7 (air) are studied. The dynamics of Rayleigh-Benard convection is strongly dependent on these two dimensionless parameters which characterize the strength of the heat input driving the turbulence and the fluid being used in our simulations. Using the spectral element code Nek5000, we numerically simulate Rayleigh-Benard systems in a cylinder whose diameter is equal to its depth. These fluid-filled cells are surrounded by conducting walls with the top and bottom plates fixed at cold and hot temperatures or insulating, respectively. As we increase the heat input into the cell, a turbulent and chaotic motion is produced, and a characteristic of this motion is a noisy yet regular large-scale circulation. In all of our simulations, we witnessed a large-scale circulation which is described as the global motion of the fluid as it becomes less dense at the bottom of the cell and rises from one side of the cell as the cooler fluid from the top of the cell falls into its place on the opposite side. We measure the vertical velocity VZ and the temperature of the fluid near the lateral surface of the midplane. Using Fourier transforms, we are able to identify cessations of our large-scale circulation and also analyze the amplitude and phase of other Fourier modes that are present.

]]> Adriana Borrayo Terminating DNA Repair Through Disruption of the SUMO Cycle http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1228 http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1228 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:05:36 PST Dr. Jianghai Wang in Dr. Yuan Chen?s lab at City of Hope is investigating the role of SUMO (Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier) proteins in DNA repair through the study of the SUMO cycle. We know the basic cycle that SUMO takes during DNA repair consisting of a SUMO specific protease to activate SUMO by attaching to an E1 enzyme. Then, by transesterification, SUMO joins with an E2 SUMO enzyme. The target protein can be conjugated to SUMO with the help of an E3 ligase. Deconjugation of the SUMO~target bond is facilitated by a SUMO-specific protease which finishes the cycle. However, we do not know the active sites of SUMO and its substrates that would help us understand how this cycle works. In order to determine what may cause a disruption in the SUMO cycle, we are mutating the E1 and E2 substrates to confirm the active sites and running assays to determine if the mutated proteins react the same in the cycle. If we are able to find the mutation that alters the SUMO cycle, we could then try to find some way to alter the protein in cancerous cells in the human body to stop DNA repair after its been damaged by traditional cancer therapies.

]]> Emily Wagner American Printed Mass Media: A Study of Chinese American Views on U.S.-China Relations, 1989-2000. http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1227 http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1227 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:05:23 PST Today, there are 2.5 million Chinese Americans and 70 percent of them are immigrants. Despite the differences in national origins, political affiliations, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds, Chinese Americans have become increasingly interested in and concerned about U.S.-China relations. With the China policy becoming a more important issue in American politics, many people recognize the role that Chinese Americans have in promoting mutual understandings and occasional tensions between the two nations. The study analyzed the published opinion articles and letters to the editor from 1989 through 2000 in 6 mainstream newspaper publications, The Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post. It examined the sentiments of the Chinese American community based on the published views from the national, mainstream newspaper publications and addressed the factors that influence their attitudes. Studying the sentiments of the various publications of Chinese Americans on U.S.-China relations will help the public and policy makers understand this complex issue. It will also contribute broader perspectives for private and public policies between the two countries. Principal Findings: Human Rights, Trade/Economics, and Taiwan are the three top concerns of Chinese Americans.The number of cases where Chinese Americans exhibited critical attitudes toward China is 2 times more than cases of favorable attitudes toward China.The views of Chinese Americans are diverse and multidimensional.

]]> Anthony Truong Come Back to the Middle: Understanding the Representational Aspirations of China's Future Middle Class http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1226 http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1226 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:05:09 PST It is common knowledge among people in the western world that the People?s Republic of China is an authoritarian power that will use any means necessary to become the greatest economic power in the world. Many fear that China?s authoritarian rule and unprecedented economic surge will combine into making it the world?s most powerful nation with anti-democratic tyrants leading its government. However the exponential growth of China?s middle class might have an effect on this notion, as middle classes are typically believed to be the backbone of democracies around the world. To gain a deeper understanding of whether this could be done, I conducted independent research in Beijing for two months by having qualitative interviews with likely members of China?s future middle class ? primarily college students and young workers under 35 years old ? to determine what issues they deemed most important and their personal interest (and willingness) to work towards representational governance in the Chinese government. Through their answers and my previous knowledge of Chinese culture, the basic feeling of people is that there are more pressing problems than making the government representational, and that the national government will address them. Regarding representational politics, the people believe that there needs to be influence from outside the government to make this happen, yet they are not sure how it can happen.

]]> Trevor Fay Progress and Problems: Filipino Immigrants to the United States in the 1990s http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1225 http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1225 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:04:56 PST A major characteristic that distinguishes the United States from other nations is its large number of immigrants from virtually every part of the world. Particularly since 1965, the number of immigrants entering the U.S. has continued to swell, diversifying many aspects of American life. My research project focuses on the status of Filipino immigrants, the largest immigrant group from Asia today. My study deals with several issues that use the U.S. Census data as a primary resource. First, in what ways has the Filipino American community been transformed as a result of changes in U.S. immigration laws since the 1990s? Moreover, what progress have foreign-born Filipinos made in their American life and what are some problems that they continue to face today? The new wave of immigrants between 1980 and 2000 changed the demographics of foreign-born Filipinos in terms of sex ratio, citizenship, education, language, occupation and income. Unlike their predecessors, Filipinos in the 1990s are mostly well-educated professionals who show a potential for gaining political power in the U.S. Some things remain the same, however: the Philippines? colonial past and the legacy of restrictive immigration laws seem to remain influential in the lives of foreign-born Filipinos.

]]> Eriza Bareng Children of the Revolution: The Red Army Faction and the Rise of Modern Terrorism in the 1970s http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1224 http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1224 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:04:45 PST In the 1970s, the world saw the dramatic ascendancy of modern, international terrorism into the spotlight of global politics - most prominently through the actions of the Palestinian Liberation Organization. However, what was perhaps even more perplexing and challenging to western democratic societies in the 1970s was the terrorism that emerged from within, as a myriad of "first world" countries spawned their own domestic terrorist groups: Japan had its Red Army, Italy the Red Brigades, the United States had the Weather Underground, England the Angry Brigade, and West Germany faced the Red Army Faction. My study questions the origins, beliefs, and decisions of such groups, with a focus on the RAF: what factors led to their formation and dedication to armed struggle? What actions did they take? What were their political beliefs? Most importantly, what was their relationship to authority, the public, the intellectual community, the past, and each other? In an analysis of the actions, politics, structure, and reception of the RAF and other groups, I aim to confront issues that challenge us today: where does terrorism come from? How does it justify its violence? How is it perceived by the communities it emerges from? However, such questions cannot yield simple answers, and I do not aim to give a simple ?narrative? structure to terrorism. If anything, my study problematicizes the simplistic and commonly held view of terrorists as madmen (and madwomen), as well as simplistic solutions to the threat terrorism poses

]]> Jonathan Kirby Exploring Modern Perceptions of Filial Piety. http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1223 http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1223 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:04:35 PST People often think of Hong Kong as the international city despite the fact that 95% of its population is ethnically Chinese. When Hong Kong became a "Newly Industrializing Economy" in the late 1960s, studies were conducted on the changing family norms as a consequence of industrialization and urbanization. The prediction was with increasing Western influences from the West in forms of British-style education, capitalism, and popular culture, traditional Chinese familial thoughts and practices, including the extended family form and the Confucian ethos of filial piety, would eventually vanish. Though the results of these studies showed a sharp decline in Chinese familial forms, core Confucian values have stubbornly remained despite modernization. At the dawn of the twenty-first century, with an even greater presence of American influence and urban lifestyles, a new generation growing up in this Eastern metropolis arises that tests the continuity of these Confucian values. The objective of my research is to determine whether Confucian practices have remained or disappeared in this increasingly global era. Using interviews, field observations, and statistical data, I will examine the younger generation's attitudes toward and practices of filial piety, which is the key characteristic of Confucian values. With a systematic and involved approach, I will assess the extent Confucian values have retreated or advanced and compared the results to those of the previous generation. These results will shed light on how tradition survives modernization and globalization in a world city.

]]> Carolnn Yong China in Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1222 http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1222 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:04:24 PST Towards the middle of Chapter VIII in The Wealth of Nations , Adam Smith?s typically unadorned writing undergoes a brief but startling stylistic shift. This stylistic shift occurs with respect to Smith?s conception of China: a ?stationary? country whose capital and stock have not increased or decreased; a country whose people are forced to derive subsistence from the ?carcase of a dead dog or cat?though half putrid and stinking?; a country where newly born children are nightly ?exposed in the street, or drowned like puppies in the water.? Yet, China should not theoretically exist in such a state. Smith and other 18th century thinkers all recognize China?s considerable natural resources and favorable climate and soil, conditions that should naturally lead to opulence. For Smith, China?s contradictory existence can be explained by the nature of its laws and institutions. Laws and institutions imply not specific faulty laws, but an entire system of government. What form of government, then, prevents China from attaining its full complement of riches? All signs point to despotism, a form of government in China ruled solely by custom. But though custom maintains order, it also retains abnormal and monstrous practice as well ? I am thinking of newborns ?exposed? and ?drowned? in China. Using classic theoretical (e.g., Smith, Montesquieu) and historical texts, as well as modern theory (e.g., Grosrichard), I hope to understand the representation of China in Smith?s theory, along with China?s overall theoretical position in 18th century thought.

]]> Joseph Wei Nationalism and the Internal Enemy in Raffi's The Fool http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1221 http://scholar.oxy.edu/urc_student/1221 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:04:14 PST In 1881, Persian-Armenian author Raffi published The Fool , a historical novelization of a journalistic venture to chronicle the last Russo-Turkish war. Originally written in the eastern dialect of Armenian, The Fool uses this historical moment--in which the Christian Armenian minority of the Ottoman empire was forced to choose between a loyalty to the Ottomans or Russians for the sake of survival--to construct an argument for the necessity of an independent Armenian nation. Raffi introduces the modern nationalist concept into the Armenian consciousness by juxtaposing the subservient mentalities of the traditional Ottoman Armenians to that of "The Fool," an educated young man from Constantinople who predicts the extermination of the Armenian people by its six-century-old Ottoman government. Raffi's work went on to inspire the Armenian revolutionary movement, which contributed greatly to the establishment of the first Armenian republic in 1918. Since its publication, however, The Fool has been regarded mainly as a revolutionary text and therefore scarcely approached critically. My research this summer has focused on a close reading of German theorist Carl Schmitt's "The Concept of the Political" and its postulations about friend, enemy and--most dangerous of all--the internal enemy, all of which both complicate and are complicated by The Fool .

]]> Anahid Yahjian