D-brane Charges in Five-brane backgrounds

We discuss the discrete Z_k D-brane charges (twisted K-theory charges) in five-brane backgrounds from several different points of view. In particular, we interpret it as a result of a standard Higgs mechanism. We show that certain degrees of freedom (singletons) on the boundary of space can extend the corresponding Z_k symmetry to U(1). Related ideas clarify the role of AdS singletons in the AdS/CFT correspondence.Comment: 42 pages, 2 figure

Who's the Imperialist? American Marxists Respond to the Russo-Finnish War

Runner-up for the Griswold Prize for Excellence in Undergraduate Historical ScholarshipIn this paper, Nathan Moore explores the complicated question of how American communists responded to the Soviet Union’s 1939-1940 invasion of Finland, and reveals its long-lasting consequences in American political discourse. Using clear and concise prose, Moore painstakingly examines the reactions of the Communist Party of the United States, the Socialist Workers Party Majority, and the Socialist Workers Party Minority to the Winter War and argues that each faction’s response depended on how it defined ‘imperialism.’ Drawing on detailed analyses of primary source documents, this paper constitutes an original contribution to the literature on the international impact of the Winter War. -Meghan Rileyhttp://history.ou.edu/journalundergraduat

Slow-Cycling Cancer Cells: A Dissertation

Tumor recurrence after chemotherapy is a major cause of patient morbidity and mortality. Recurrences are thought to be due to small subsets of stem-like cancer cells that are able to survive chemotherapy and drive tumor re-growth. A more complete understanding of stem-like cancer cell regulation is required to develop therapies to better target and eliminate these cells. Slow-cycling stem cells are integral components of adult epithelial tissues and may give rise to cancer stem cell populations that share similar characteristics. These slow-cycling adult stem cells are inherently resistant to traditional forms of chemotherapy and transference of this characteristic may help to explain therapy resistance in cancer stem cell populations. Using a novel application for the proliferation marker CFSE, we have identified populations of slow-cycling cancer cells with tumor initiating capabilities. As predicted, slow-cycling cancer cells exhibit a multi-fold increase in chemotherapy resistance and retain the ability to re-enter the cell cycle. Furthermore, we observed consistent over-expression of the CDK5 activator, p35, in slow-cycling cancer cells. Manipulation of p35 expression in cancer cells affects cell cycle distribution and survival when these cells are treated with traditional forms of chemotherapy. Additionally, we demonstrate that alterations in p35 expression affect BCL2 levels, suggesting a mechanism for the survival phenotype. Combined, our data suggest a model whereby slow-cycling stem-like cancer cells utilize the p35/CDK5 complex to slow cell cycling speed and promote resistance to chemotherapy. Future p35 targeting, in combination with traditional forms of chemotherapy, may help eliminate these cells and reduce tumor recurrence rates, increasing long-term patient survival