The Persistence of Shattered Dreams: a Comparative Study of the Audacity of the American Dream

In my thesis, I use historical and literary analysis to study how the concept of the American Dream was popularized during the Great Depression and how cultural understanding of the term has changed following the 2008 Recession. By comparing popular media, literature, and political documents within a historical framework from the 1930s and after 2008 through the present day, I analyze how the term ¿American Dream¿ has persisted as an element of the United States¿ national ethos. I explore why the language of the American Dream does not appear to carry the same resonance in American society as in the 1930s, even though the post-2008 economic environment is somewhat comparable to conditions created by the Great Depression and associated reform measures. This comparative historical approach in scholarly studies of the American Dream is unique because the two periods have not previously been discussed in relation to one another in order to show transformations in cultural understanding of the Dream. The American Dream, both embodying a dual identity as an aspiration to aspire to and also as a delusional fantasy which can lead to cynicism, is a highly complex idea in lived experience. The concept¿s ambiguous nature allows for individuals to interpret it differently, allowing for the term to remain resilient throughout different periods in United States history. While the meaning of the term has been subject to change, it is grounded upon an idealistic concept of American individualism and hope that through one¿s merit, one will be able to achieve one¿s vision of success. Through interdisciplinary analysis, I show that the American Dream will alter to suit the needs of contemporary society and the term¿s power will continue to endure in society despite evidence of rising cynicism since 2008.

Comparative Studies of Oklahoma and Missouri Granites with Special Attention to the Heavy Minerals of the Oklahoma Granites

When examined petrographically the granites of Oklahoma show a marked similarity to the granites of South­eastern Missouri. The same heavy accessory mineral suites are present in the granites of both regions and include: fluorite, zircon, apatite, titanite and epidote. This similarity was further shown by the actual correlation of the heavy mineral suites by types, these types being, based on the heavy mineral distributions of the Missouri Granites.

Comparative studies of Hox genes in mammalian limb and vertebral pattern formation

Divergence of anterior-posterior (AP) limb pattern and differences in vertebral column morphology are the two main examples of mammalian evolution. The Hox genes (homeobox containing gene) have been implicated in driving evolution of these structures. However, regarding Hox genes, how they contribute to the generation of mammalian morphological diversities, is still unclear. Implementing comparative gene expression and phenotypic rescue studies for different mammalian Hox genes could aid in unraveling this mystery. In the first part of this thesis, the expression pattern of Hoxd13 gene, a key Hox gene in the establishment of the limb AP pattern, was examined in developing limbs of bats and mice. Bat forelimbs exhibit a pronounced asymmetric AP pattern and offer a good model to study the molecular mechanisms that contribute to the variety of mammalian limbs. The data showed that the expression domain of bat Hoxd13 was shifted prior to the asymmetric limb plate expansion, whereas its domain in mice was much more symmetric. This finding reveals a correlation between the divergence of Hoxd13 expression and the AP patterning difference in limb development. The second part of this thesis details a phenotypic rescue approach by human HOXB1-9 transgenes in mice with Hoxb1-9 deletion, The mouse mutants displayed homeosis in cervical and anterior thoracic vertebrae. The human transgenes entirely rescued the mouse mutants, suggesting that these human HOX genes have similar functions to their mouse orthologues in anterior axial skeletal patterning. The anterior expressing human HOXB transgenes such as HOXB1-3 were expressed in the mouse embryonic trunk in a similar manner as their murine orthologues. However, the anterior boundary of human HOXB9 expression domain was more posterior than that of the mouse Hoxb9 by 2-3 somites. These data provide the molecular support for the hypothesis that Hox genes are responsible for maintaining similar anterior axial skeletal architectures cervical and anterior thoracic regions, but different architectures in lumbar and posterior thoracic regions between humans and mice. ^

Metro de Madrid rolling stock models and comparative studies relating to comfort

This paper presents the work carried out by Metro de Madrid and the Railway Technology Research Centre (Polytechnic University of Madrid), aimed at setting up rolling stock simulation models with a high level of detail. To do this, the features of the SIMPACK simulation tool used to create models have been briefly outlined, explaining the main features of models in two of the series modelled: 7000 and 8000. Finally, the results obtained from comparing comfort in the 7000 and 8000 series are presented.

Comparative studies on mammalian Hoxc8 early enhancer sequence reveal a baleen whale-specific deletion of a cis-acting element

Variations in regulatory regions of developmental control genes have been implicated in the divergence of axial morphologies. To find potentially significant changes in cis-regulatory regions, we compared nucleotide sequences and activities of mammalian Hoxc8 early enhancers. The nucleotide sequence of the early enhancer region is extremely conserved among mammalian clades, with five previously described cis-acting elements, A–E, being invariant. However, a 4-bp deletion within element C of the Hoxc8 early enhancer sequence is observed in baleen whales. When assayed in transgenic mouse embryos, a baleen whale enhancer (unlike other mammalian enhancers) directs expression of the reporter gene to more posterior regions of the neural tube but fails to direct expression to posterior mesoderm. We suggest that regulation of Hoxc8 in baleen whales differs from other mammalian species and may be associated with variation in axial morphology.

Studies in Arabic literary papyri.

Bibliographical footnotes.

Studies in Roman law with comparative views of the laws of France, England, and Scotland.

Mode of access: Internet.