Thesis advisor: Elizabeth Shlala / Everyone looks at the transition out of the imperial age in the 1800s as a massive leap of progress for humanity. While the end of the Age of Imperialism definitely came with many advancements, the nationalist age that followed was not as harmonious or just as it sometimes portrayed. Especially in nations that did not have full control of their rapid transitions (ie. Germany and Turkey), this evolution into an 'Age of Nationalism' was anything but peaceful. But why is it that nationalism can be so easily radicalized into violence? Why was the Wars and interwar period for Germany and Turkey so rife with instability, violence, persecution, and bigotry? Examining the patterns of homogenization, insulation, and stratification necessary to the birth of a nation out of an empire, this thesis seeks to understand just why and how radicalized nationalism can (and has) led to genocide. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2024. / Submitted to: Boston College. Morrissey School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: International Studies. / Discipline: Departmental Honors.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) or round heart disease is a muscle disease of the heart characterized by left ventricular dilatation and abnormal systolic and diastolic ventricular function. In animals, including turkeys and humans, DCM is a major cause of morbidity and mortality that results in heart failure. In the turkey, DCM can be idiopathic or induced. Since idiopathic or spontaneous DCM occurs in about 2-4 % of normal turkeys, it is of significant concern to the poultry industry. This dissertation was designed to increase our understanding of the pathophysiology of DCM in commercial turkeys. Specific objectives included: evaluating the influence of dietary selenium (Se) and vitamin E on poults fed toxic levels of furazolidone (Fz). Evaluating differences among reciprocal crosses of turkey varieties in susceptibility to a toxic level of Fz that induces DCM were used to assess the role of genetics in DCM. Using glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), malondialdehyde (MDA), and plasma uric acid (PUA) as biomarkers, oxidative stress (OS) levels were evaluated. Oxidative stress was also evaluated in poults fed diets containing varying concentration and combinations of vitamin E (0, 50 and 100 IU/kg) and Se (0.0, 0.3 and 0.5 mg/kg). Results from echocardiography measurements at four weeks of age, for poults fed toxic levels of Fz, showed the Narragansett x Bourbon Red reciprocal cross had the lowest internal-diastolic (LVIDd) and systolic dimensions (LVISd), while the Bourbon Red x Narragansett reciprocal cross had the largest LVIDd and LVISd. Left ventricular internal-diastolic and systolic dimension were lower for cross bred than parental poults. In treatment poults, heterosis for ventricular dilation was most significant for Bourbon Red x Narragansett cross. The data suggest that reciprocal crosses respond differently to toxin that induces DCM and genetics may influence a turkey's response to toxic levels of Fz that causes DCM. Results from OS measurements in poults fed normal and those fed normal diets with Fz at two weeks of age, showed no significant differences in MDA and GPx levels. PUA and GSH levels were however significantly increased for poults fed Fz-containing diets. At four weeks of age, no differences were observed for MDA and GPx measurements between poults fed normal and Fz-containing diets. PUA levels increased for poults fed normal diets with Fz, while GSH levels increased only for those fed normal diets. Differences between poults fed normal and Fz-containing diets were significant for GPx measurements. Results of this study showed that, feeding diets with Fz does not increase OS. Measure of the influence of feeding diets supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of Se and vitamin E to poults fed either normal or normal diets with Fz at two and four wks of age, showed higher MDA levels for poults fed Fz-containing diets supplemented with 0.3 mg/kg Se and 100 IU/kg vitamin E. For antioxidant biomarkers, GPx activity were increased for poults fed normal diets with Fz supplemented with 0.5 mg/kg Se and those fed 100 IU/kg vitamin E. Poults fed normal diets supplemented with 100 IU/kg vitamin E had the highest GPx. PUA levels were higher for poults fed normal diets with Fz supplemented with 0.5 mg/kg Se at two wks of age. At four wks of age, PUA concentrations were higher for poults fed Fz-containing diets supplemented with 100 IU/kg vitamin E. Increased PUA were also observed for poults fed diets supplemented with 0.5 mg/kg Se and 50 IU/kg vitamin E and 0.5 mg/kg and 100 IU/kg vitamin E. Poults fed diets supplemented with 50 and 100 IU/kg vitamin E had the highest GSH at two wks of age. Measurements taken at 2 wks of age, for poults fed normal diets supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of Se and vitamin E had increased GSH levels when compared with those fed diets with Fz at four wks of age. In this study, we showed that supplementation of poults fed normal diets with Fz with different concentrations and combinations of Se and vitamin E did not reduce DCM at 2 wks of age. However, at 4 wks of age, though DCM was not decreased by feeding diets supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of Se and vitamin E, reduced oxidant and antioxidant biomarkers were observed. / Ph. D.

The objective of two studies was to manipulate the essential fatty acid content of turkey semen by enhancing the dietary levels of either n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) or n-6 PUFA and determine the effect on fertility. In 1999 (Trial 1), and again in 2000 (Trial 2), Large White tom turkeys, 37 weeks of age, were fed one of three diets substituted with chicken fat, soybean oil, or menhaden fish oil. Chicken fat provided the industry's standard ratio of n-6 to n-3, soybean oil provided a greater ratio of n-6 to n-3, and fish oil provided a lower ratio of n-6 to n-3. Contemporary hens were inseminated weekly with semen collected from each group of toms. The effects of dietary lipids on tom body weights, fertility, motility, perivitelline layer sperm penetration percent, and live vs. dead sperm were analyzed. Whereas body weight increased linearly from 31 to 56 weeks of age (WOA), there was no effect of dietary treatment. As measured by the Accudenz® procedure, there were differences in sperm motility due to dietary treatment during 48 and 51 WOA during Trial 1. During Trial 2, sperm motility differences were observed at 53 WOA with the soybean oil-treated toms having the largest absorbance reading and the chicken fat-treated toms having the largest absorbance reading during 56 WOA. The live vs. dead sperm cells during Trial 1 revealed differences among the toms prior to treatment and post treatment. No dietary effects on percent live vs. dead sperm cells were observed during Trial 2. Once per mo, eggs were collected for a one-week period to analyze for sperm penetration of the perivitelline layer. In Trial 1, sperm from toms fed chicken fat produced more penetrations (holes) during 36, 48, and 52 WOA. In Trial 2, sperm penetration values were lower for toms fed fish oil during 42, 47, and 51 WOA. Whereas there were significant differences in fertility, hatch of total eggs, and hatch of fertile eggs among treatments in Trial 1, a bacterial contamination on the farm during weeks seven through fourteen may have contributed to these findings. No significant differences due to treatment were found in these parameters during the second study. The fatty acid analysis of spermatozoa collected at the conclusion of Trial 2 revealed significant differences in total n-3 and total n-6 content, leading to significant differences in the ratio of total n-6 to total n-3. The mixed results indicated the fertilizing ability of domesticated turkey spermatozoa may not be affected by the n-6 to n-3 ratio in the diet of the tom. / Master of Science

Present study was planned to compare the phenotypic variation of performances traits among commercial (CC) and heritage varieties of turkeys. Information about heritage turkey varieties continues to be limited. In addition, the emerging turkey genome sequence provides a unique opportunity to understand the DNA sequence variation and its associations with performance traits. The turClock, turPer3, turCry1 and turCry2 genes were screened and evaluated for its association with their performance traits. As expected, CC turkeys were superior to heritage birds in performance for most of the traits evaluated. However, heritage turkeys showed better reproductive performances compared to CC turkeys. A total of 41 SNPs were identified from the genes that screened. The haplogroups in the turClock gene were significantly associated with body weight (BW) at 309 d of age, feed conversion ratio (FCR) for 34 - 68 d and 69 - 159 d, egg production and average egg weight (P " 0.05). The haplogroups developed from turPeriod-3 gene were significantly associated with BW at 231 d of age, average daily gain (ADG) for 160 - 231 d, FCR for 69 - 159 d and 160 - 231 d, egg production traits, semen quality traits and plasma melatonin concentration (P " 0.05). In the turCry1 gene, haplogroups were significantly associated with ADG for 35 - 68 d, FCR for 160 - 231 d and 34 - 231 d, egg production and ejaculate volume (P " 0.05). The haplogroups identified from turCry2 gene were significantly associated with BW at 34, 68 and 231 d of age, ADG for 160 - 231 d, FCR for 34 - 68 d, average egg weight (P " 0.05). These findings reveal that phenotypic variation observed in growth and reproductive parameters among turkeys could be used for selecting birds for future breeding programs. DNA sequence variations at the nucleotide and haplotype levels are associated with some of growth, reproductive parameters and plasma melatonin of turkeys. Thus DNA sequence variations that identified of the circadian genes may have some regulatory role in the molecular mechanism of the circadian clock which may affect the circadian rhythm of the animal. / Ph. D.

Improvements in turkey reproductive efficiency is a very desirable goal for the turkey industry. The ability to maintain turkey hens in the egg-laying (LAY) stage and produce one additional egg per hen a year is estimated to save the turkey industry approximately $1.5 million dollars per year. Overall protein expression generated by tissues of the hypothalamic-hypophyseal complex, namely the anterior pituitary, of the mature turkey hen have a profound impact on reproductive cycling (Scanes, 2000). One of the key physiological factors produced by the anterior pituitary and shown to play a significant role in the regulation of egg laying is the protein prolactin (Prl). The objectives for this study are to examine the overall protein expression patterns from turkey hen pituitary tissue during the nonphotostimulated (NPS), photostimulated (PS), and egg laying (LAY) stages. Attempts to isolate transcription factors that regulate the expression of Prl using an affinity chromatography technique or southwestern screening of a bacteriophage expression library were not successful. A global analysis of protein expression, using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gels (2D gels), was conducted using whole cell, cytoplasmic and nuclear protein extracts from pituitary tissue collected during the NPS, PS and LAY reproductive stages. Approximately 1,046 proteins ranging in pI from 4.6-8.2 and molecular weights between 100 kDa-6kDa were resolved. Protein expression patterns were replicated and verified using pituitaries harvested from NPS, PS and LAY stage turkey hens from another laboratory. Proteins showing considerable changes (563 proteins increased in expression and 98 proteins decreased in expression from the NPS to the LAY stage) in their expression between the reproductive stages were grouped in analysis sets for future identification. These proteins may prove to be important to the reproductive cycling of the turkey hen and warrant future investigation. The results of this study contribute to the overall understanding of the role that the pituitary, as a critical part of the hypothalamic-hypophyseal complex, plays in turkey hen reproductive cycling. / Master of Science

Overwinter survival of wild turkeys on industrial forests managed for short-rotation pines (treatment) and typical Piedmont forests and farmland (control), was investigated in Virginia's central Piedmont during 1986-1988. Ninety-six percent of the turkeys (N =106) were captured in early fall with alpha-chloralose laced bait. Sixty-three percent of the captured turkeys recovered and were released with transmitters; 15% were released without transmitters; and 21% died from capture related causes. Overwinter survival for all turkeys was <2% regardless of area or year. Daily survival was lower on the control areas (P < 0.01), however, due to the small (13) and scattered sample of turkeys captured over the 3 years on control areas, these data were omitted from further analyses. Daily survival on treatment areas over the 3 years was 97.6%. Thirty-seven percent of radio-equipped turkeys on treatment areas died within 2 weeks of release suggesting that factors related to the trapping process influenced survival. Possibilities considered were residual effects from alpha-chloralose, capture myopathy, and/or a negative effect from the transmitter and/or harness. Four weeks after release daily survival rates improved significantly (P < 0.01) indicating the influence from trapping had subsided. While hardwoods composed 38% of the primary treatment area, 65% of turkeys died in hardwood stands; predation accounted for 81% of the turkey mortality (N =42). Field evidence and necropsy results plus scent station data indicated that gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) were the main turkey predators. Fox scats contained no detectable turkey remains but indicated that eastern cottontails (Silvilagus floridanus) were a primary prey species. / Master of Science

In this dissertation, I theorize that the Mediterranean, broadly conceived of as a geo-cultural-political entity and experience, is a locality for the investigation into the processes through which representations of continents and civilizations come into focus. A fundamental argument in this dissertation is that borders (like the Mediterranean) do not represent the limits to territorially fixed entities, but are rather continually ongoing projects that come to be negotiated and reified through political practices that are focused, in this instance, on asserting where the outside of Europe begins. The arguments of this dissertation are twofold. First, the Mediterranean is theorized as a fluid and porous space. Secondly, and more importantly, the Mediterranean is a key site for an investigation into the (re)production of politically and culturally saturated discourses of belonging and otherness. Thus, this project takes into focus three distinct, yet inextricably interrelated, processes of the borderization of the Mediterranean. These processes work to maintain the space as a global axis of sorts, upon which academic and popular discussions and representations of the East versus the West or the North versus the South emerge. It is an underlying argument of this study that links the examples of the Barcelona Process, discussions of a migration crisis, and Turkey's accession to the EU as processes of borderization of the European Union. While they are often analyzed as separate phenomena, all are indicative of these spatial and temporal borders represented by the Mediterranean, seen together they have the capability of highlighting the interconnectedness of the varying threads of Mediterraneanism. To understand how categories like European, Asian, or African come to have such salient political suggestiveness and meaning, one must bring into question how the borders that divide these imagined spaces are complex sites of the convergence of practices and discourses acquire their fortitude and who gets to tell the stories that outline their parameters. / Ph. D.

Fresh turkey meat color is influenced by a myriad of biological factors which include muscle fiber type composition and heme protein concentrations. These factors either contribute to or are subject to the biochemical events involved in the conversion of muscle to meat. Subtle deviations in the processing environment can also result in aberrant fresh meat quality development and may ultimately alter the quality characteristics of cooked product. Our objective was to describe the underlying cause and significance of two-toning in fresh turkey breast. In the first experiment, pectoralis muscles were collected and subjected to image processing software to describe color of fresh turkey. In the second experiment, shackling time was tested as an aggravator of fresh turkey color. Results showed turkey breast possess two-lobes that differ in pH, drip loss, energy metabolism and muscle fiber type composition. Results also showed fresh turkey color was enhanced during the time from stun to exsanguination (P < 0.05). These results suggest inherent differences in breast muscle are responsible for variations in fresh turkey color. / Master of Science

Hemorrhagic enteritis virus (HEV) causes an acute viral disease in turkeys characterized by bloody diarrhea and death. Current live HEV virus vaccines are immunosuppressive and predispose turkeys to secondary bacterial infections. Data indicates that the capsid proteins (fiber, penton base, hexon) of HEV are capable of stimulating protective antibodies against an HEV challenge. Using tobacco as a model, we sought to determine if a plant could be used to synthesize the HEV fiber protein and produce sufficient antigen to stimulate protective antibodies. To introduce the fiber gene into plants, the coding region of the HEV fiber gene was fused to either a constitutive plant promoter (35S) or a wound inducible promoter (hmg2) on plasmids adapted for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Approximately sixty transgenic plants of each construct were generated and determined to contain the HEV fiber gene based on amplification of specific HEV DNA sequences by the polymerase chain reaction. Plants were screened by Northern dot blot to identify lines expressing high levels of fiber mRNA. Expression of fiber protein was observed in selected lines of transgenic tobacco by Western blot analysis using turkey anti - HEV serum. The accumulation of fiber protein in leaves of tobacco transformants was quantified by Sandwich ELISA. Fiber protein from these plants has undergoing large - scale purification and concentration for a turkey immunization trials to determine if plant expressed fiber antigen is capable of inducing protective antibodies against HEV in turkeys. / Master of Science

A cDNA clone encoding a turkey intestinal peptide transporter, tPepT1, was isolated from a turkey small intestinal cDNA library by screening with our chicken PepT1 (cPepT1) cDNA probe. The tPepT1 cDNA is 2,921-bp long and encodes a 79.4 kDa protein of 714 amino acids (AA) with 12 predicted transmembrane domains. The isoelectric point (pI) of tPepT1 is 5.9, which is much lower than that of PepT1 cloned from chicken (pI = 7.5) and other species. The AA sequence of tPepT1 is 94.3% identical to cPepT1 and ~ 60% identical to PepT1 from rat, sheep, rabbit, and human. Using a two-electrode voltage-clamp technique in Xenopus oocytes expressing tPepT1, Gly-Sar transport was pH dependent, but independent of Na+ and K+. For the dipeptides Gly-Sar and Met-Met, the evoked inward currents indicated that the transporter was saturable and had a high affinity for these substrates. However, transport of the tetrapeptide, Met-Gly-Met-Met, exhibited a possible substrate inhibition. To study developmental regulation of PepT1 in broiler and turkey embryos, 12 Nicholas turkey or Cobb x Cobb broiler embryos (six males and six females) were sampled daily from 5 d before hatch to the day of hatch (d 0). The abundance of PepT1 mRNA in the small intestine was quantified densitometrically from northern blots after hybridization with full-length cPepT1 and tPepT1 cDNA as probes. There was a quadratic increase (P < 0.001) in PepT1 mRNA abundance with age in turkey and broiler embryos. The relative increase in abundance of PepT1 mRNA in intestinal tissue from 5 d before hatch to d 0 was much less in the turkey than in the broiler (3.2-fold vs 14-fold). The dramatic increase in PepT1 mRNA abundance indicates a developmental regulation of the PepT1 gene and that there may be a crucial role for PepT1 in the neonatal chick and poult. / Master of Science