Moral Rivals: The Intersection Between Puritanism and Piracy in the 17th and 18th Centuries

This thesis seeks to explore the relationship between American colonial Puritans and Atlantic pirates in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Due to their conflicting views on morality and faith, Christianity and piracy consistently tested the other’s resilience for what they believed. Their contrasting moralities intersected in countless ways throughout the colonies, evident through an increasing pattern and shift towards piracy and seafaring in the subject matter of Christian sermons, as well as the introduction of execution sermons that presented an opportunity for preachers to minister to pirates, giving them a final chance at redemption before they were sentenced to hang on the gallows. Cotton Mather was one of the leading Puritan ministers that challenged the sins of seafarers, simultaneously preaching against the dangers of the Atlantic while also appealing to convicted pirates that eternal life awaited them if only they repented. Whether the intentions of Mather and other Puritan preachers were made in good faith or for their own benefit is additionally brought under examination. Overall, this thesis explores themes presented to history that provide interesting insight into the growing complexity of the Atlantic world at the turn of the 18th century. Religion, morality, and justice were key components to the expanding territories of North America, and pirates sought to oppose those formal structures in any way they could. Between 1680 to the late 1720’s, Puritan ideals were challenged by the ethical freedom of pirates, thus a sense of urgency was born that lived on in the minds of the infamous preachers of the First Great Awakening that began in the mid 18th century

Untangling the Genetic Basis of Fibrolytic Specialization by Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae in Diverse Gut Communities

The Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae are two of the most abundant families from the order Clostridiales found in the mammalian gut environment, and have been associated with the maintenance of gut health. While they are both diverse groups, they share a common role as active plant degraders. By comparing the genomes of the Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae with the Clostridiaceae, a more commonly free-living group, we identify key carbohydrate-active enzymes, sugar transport mechanisms, and metabolic pathways that distinguish these two commensal groups as specialists for the degradation of complex plant material

Aromatherapy as a Non-pharmacological Complementary and Integrative Sleep Intervention for Veterans

Twenty-seven percent to 54% of military personnel and veterans experience insomnia, with apnea and insomnia being the most common disorders in this same population. Due to high incidences of sleep disorders in the veteran population, this project sought to identify and validate a non-pharmacological intervention, aromatherapy, as a viable option for veterans with sleep problems. Aromatherapy, essential oils, have proven to be a natural, safe, low-cost, and non-pharmacological option for improving patient health outcomes and patient satisfaction

An Assessment Comparing Community College Students’ Computer Self-Efficacy and Task Based Computer Knowledge

This quantitative research study explored the relationship between students perceived computer self-efficacy and actual knowledge of computer related skills in computer hardware/technology, windows, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and whether gender, race, and education level affected the research findings. The participants in this study were students enrolled in an introductory computer concepts course at a community college located in the southeastern region of the United States. The computer course was a required for all students to receive an Associate of Arts and Associate of Applied Science degree. Data was collected in traditional face-to-face class sections and consisted of a pre- and post-computer self-efficacy survey and a pre- and post-test skills assessment on three different campuses. The scores in the area of computer hardware/technology, windows, Word, Excel, and Power Point were compared to determine whether a relationship exists between Computer self-efficacy and actual knowledge in the area of computers. In addition to a series of a one-way Analysis of Variance, a Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance and a Bivariate Correlation, the study also utilized descriptive analysis of demographic data and responses to a questionnaire regarding participant’s prior technology experience and usage. Findings of the study indicated that students’ computer self-efficacy was much greater than actual knowledge in the area of computers. Findings of the study did show no significant difference in computer self-efficacy concerning gender, race, and education. No significant differences were found in the education level and skill level of the participants at the beginning of the CSC 1113 course. A significant difference was found in skill level among the different races at the beginning of the CSC 1113 course with the exception of Power Point. The study did show that there was no significant difference in skill level for gender except in the area of technology. The study found a positive correlation in the numbers of computer courses students completed in high school to computer self-efficacy at the beginning of the semester in the course CSC 1113. At the completion of the course CSC 1113, Computer Concepts, computer self-efficacy scores were significantly higher. Findings also showed a significant increase in the skill levels, Windows, Word, Excel, and Power Point at the completion of the CSC 1113 course. The study had not shown significant difference in hardware/technology skills at the completion of the CSC 1113 course

Deinococcus radiodurans RNA ligase exemplifies a novel ligase clade with a distinctive N-terminal module that is important for 5′-PO(4) nick sealing and ligase adenylylation but dispensable for phosphodiester formation at an adenylylated nick

Deinococcus radiodurans RNA ligase (DraRnl) is a template-directed ligase that seals nicked duplexes in which the 3′-OH strand is RNA. DraRnl is a 342 amino acid polypeptide composed of a C-terminal adenylyltransferase domain fused to a distinctive 126 amino acid N-terminal module (a putative OB-fold). An alanine scan of the C domain identified 9 amino acids essential for nick ligation, which are located within nucleotidyltransferase motifs I, Ia, III, IIIa, IV and V. Seven mutants were dysfunctional by virtue of defects in ligase adenylylation: T163A, H167A, G168A, K186A, E230A, F281A and E305A. Four of these were also defective in phosphodiester formation at a preadenylylated nick: G168A, E230A, F281A and E305A. Two nick sealing-defective mutants were active in ligase adenylylation and sealing a preadenylylated nick, thereby implicating Ser185 and Lys326 in transfer of AMP from the enzyme to the nick 5′-PO(4). Whereas deletion of the N-terminal domain suppressed overall nick ligation and ligase adenylylation, it did not compromise sealing at a preadenylylated nick. Mutational analysis of 15 residues of the N domain identified Lys26, Gln31 and Arg79 as key constituents. Structure–activity relationships at the essential residues were determined via conservative substitutions. We propose that DraRnl typifies a new clade of polynucleotide ligases. DraRnl homologs are detected in several eukaryal proteomes

Experiences of Adherence Assessment in Asthma

Background and Aims: Poor adherence to inhaled corticosteroids is understood to be one of the largest contributors to problematic severe asthma in children (Bracken et al., 2009). Researchers have sought to understand and target nonadherence and assessment of adherence is seen as crucial in this process. Recent research has championed electronic monitoring tools as the “gold standard” for accurately measuring adherence and these devices have been extensively evaluated (Burgess, Sly, Devadason, 2011). Only a small amount of literature has considered how one experiences the process of adherence assessment through electronic tools. One such device, the smart-inhaler has been introduced in the paediatric asthma team at the Royal Brompton Hospital. The proposed study aims to explore young people’s experiences of having their adherence to inhaled corticosteroids assessed through a smart-inhaler. It will also explore the experiences of their caregivers and healthcare professionals. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight young people with asthma, aged 11-15, who had been given a smart-inhaler as part of their care at the Royal Brompton Hospital, and eight of their caregivers. A focus group with seven healthcare professionals who used the smart-inhalers in their practice was also carried out. Interviews were analysed using a critical realist thematic analysis. Results: Three themes were identified: “they were trying to help me get better”, “it’s clearly just to check up” and “who is responsible?”. They highlight the variety of perspectives and experiences participants had regarding the smartinhaler. More specifically the themes highlighted the importance of participants’ priorities in influencing their experiences, the impact of the smart-inhaler on the healthcare relationship and on the transferring of responsibility for asthma to young people. Conclusions: The findings suggest that it is important for healthcare professionals to engage in a shared decision-making process with their patients when introducing healthcare interventions such as the smart-inhaler