Honors College http://hdl.handle.net/2104/8070 2013-05-24T23:28:57Z 2013-05-24T23:28:57Z Mims, Elizabeth http://hdl.handle.net/2104/8715 2013-05-24T22:37:31Z 2013-05-24T00:00:00Z

Awake and Blind: A Novella Mims, Elizabeth In my thesis, a fictional narrative, I have created a fantasy story that explores the philosophies of Descartes, Hobbes, and Plato with regard to the question of reality. Awake and Blind follows Liam through a journey when he wakes to a world where he cannot trust what he sees. He must seek to uncover the source of the illusion and rediscover the truth of reality for the world. In addition to the works of Hobbes, Descartes, and Plato, this story draws upon ideas from many sources, including Utopia, The Prince, 1984, and Tolkien’s On Fairy Stories. My thesis project is centered on the exercise of writing a long piece of fiction, and it also contains an analysis to explain my sources and artistic decisions within the work. Ultimately, within the work, I try to grapple with the concept of interacting with reality and to determine what matters most when we cannot trust anything.

2013-05-24T00:00:00Z Freeman, Amy http://hdl.handle.net/2104/8714 2013-05-24T22:37:06Z 2013-05-24T00:00:00Z

The Ordinary Works of Daily Life in Medieval Spirituality: St. Benedict, Our Daily Work, and Walter Hilton Freeman, Amy This thesis is a study of ordinary work in medieval spirituality and is focused on several texts selected for their continuity of themes: The Rule of St. Benedict (6th century), the Middle English pastoral treatise Our Daily Work, and the Middle English writings of Walter Hilton, namely The Scale of Perfection and Epistle on the Mixed Life. In this thesis, I use the term “ordinary work” to refer to manual labor and deeds of mercy. In all these texts, ordinary work is good not just for the sake of the things it produces, but has intrinsic goodness. First, ordinary work can be offered to God in loving service. The Hebrew concept of avodah, a term for both work and worship, can be seen in the use of the Latin term opus or the Middle English term werke. Second, ordinary work is good for man, serving as a remedy for acedia and helping to cultivate virtue. Finally, for these authors, manual labor and deeds of mercy are an integrated part of a life of prayer. Prayer overflows into all ordinary work of daily life.

2013-05-24T00:00:00Z Haas, Lauren http://hdl.handle.net/2104/8713 2013-05-24T22:36:45Z 2013-05-24T00:00:00Z

A Philosophical Analysis of Petitionary Prayer Haas, Lauren In this paper, I present a philosophical analysis of petitionary prayer, from the perspective of one who engages in petitionary prayer on a regular basis. This paper looks at the basis for petitionary prayer from the Bible and some traditional thoughts and practices associated with it from the church. Primarily, this paper addresses those concerns that are raised against the practice of petitionary prayer. I call these “philosophical problems” with petitionary prayer. I address these three, the problem of free will/divine providence, the problem of hiddenness, and the problem of God’s goodness, all in relation to this practice of petitionary prayer. Through this paper, I hope to show that none of these are problems when addressed from the right context, through the grace of Jesus Christ. It is only by his grace that we can see the perfect light that is revealed in petitionary prayer.

2013-05-24T00:00:00Z Ramani, Azaan http://hdl.handle.net/2104/8712 2013-05-24T22:35:52Z 2013-05-24T00:00:00Z

Protein Film Voltammetry of Heme Oxygenase Ramani, Azaan Heme Oxygenase (HO), a heme-degrading enzyme, is responsible for many physiological functions including heme catabolism, O2 sensing, cellular signaling, iron homeostasis, and antioxidant defense. In vivo, HO is responsible for the catabolism of heme to free iron, CO, and biliverdin. The conversion of heme by HO proceeds through three successive oxygenation reactions forming α-meso-hydroxyheme, verdoheme and biliverdin using seven electrons donated through NADPH-cytochromeP450 reductase. HO enzyme was isolated and reconstituted with Fe(III)-Protoporphyrin. Purity and activity of the enzyme was tested using SDS-PAGE gel and UV-Vis Spectroscopy. Protein Film Voltammetry was carried out under anaerobic and aerobic conditions using basal and edge plane pyrolytic graphite (PG) electrode with films containing Nafion and HO. Under anaerobic conditions, a reduction peak is observed indicating redox activity of the Fe-metal in the heme. Under aerobic conditions a reduction peak is observed suggesting a possible turnover of the enzyme.

2013-05-24T00:00:00Z