Barrett, The Honors College Thesis/Creative Project Collection
Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University proudly showcases the work of undergraduate honors students by sharing this collection exclusively with the ASU community.
Barrett accepts high performing, academically engaged undergraduate students and works with them in collaboration with all of the other academic units at Arizona State University. All Barrett students complete a thesis or creative project which is an opportunity to explore an intellectual interest and produce an original piece of scholarly research. The thesis or creative project is supervised and defended in front of a faculty committee. Students are able to engage with professors who are nationally recognized in their fields and committed to working with honors students. Completing a Barrett thesis or creative project is an opportunity for undergraduate honors students to contribute to the ASU academic community in a meaningful way.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3
Description
Immunotherapy uses the body’s immune system to find and terminate cancerous cells, and has revolutionized cancer treatment. However, in certain cancers, such as lung cancer, less than 50% of patients respond to treatment. This is in part due to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, which is composed of factors that promote tumor growth and proliferation. Tumor cells create a highly immunosuppressive microenvironment by triggering the anti-inflammatory phenotype of myeloid immune cells, which largely consist of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint blockade therapy helps promote the T cell anti-tumor response by releasing the brakes on cytotoxic T-cells. However, it is unclear how TAMs respond to these immune checkpoint antibodies. Our lab hypothesizes that blockade of the PD-1/PD-L1 signaling pathway drives a pro-inflammatory macrophage phenotype. This hypothesis is supported by data generated in the B16F10 murine melanoma model, but it is unknown whether macrophage response to PD-L1 blockade is generalizable to other tumor contexts. Thus, the goal of the project is to determine the impact of immune checkpoint blockade on murine macrophages in the Lewis Lung Carcinoma (LLC) model. Using Flow Cytometry, macrophage phenotypes will be analyzed to confirm whether a pro- inflammatory or anti-tumor response is generated.
ContributorsKorpe, Sara (Author) / Cadillo-Quiroz, Hinsby (Thesis director) / Lancaster, Jessica (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Economics Program in CLAS (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
The objective of this meta-analysis is to holistically evaluate the existing body of literature on the anti-neoplastic potential of snake and bee venom. In recent years, venom-based therapeutics have emerged as a promising solution for combating cancer, generating a notable rise in publications on the topic. Consequently, this comprehensive study aims to assess the current state of research and identify trends that may guide future investigations. Following the guidelines established by PRISMA, a total sample of 26 research papers were extracted from the electronic databases, PubMed and Scopus. These papers were categorized based on their publication dates, and research questions were formulated regarding three main topics: venom type, cancer-targeting mechanism, and cancer type. Statistical analysis of the research questions was performed using 2x2 contingency tables for a chi-square test. The results of the analysis reveal a statistically significant increase in publications focused on cell death mechanisms and breast cancer in recent years. This increase in publications reflects a growing interest in the potential for venom to induce apoptosis in cancer cells and target the unique biological properties of breast cancer. Overall, this meta-analysis offers insight into the evolving sphere of venom-based cancer research, providing a glimpse into the potential trajectory of this field.
ContributorsHolder, Marina (Author) / Amdam, Gro (Thesis director) / Mana, Miyeko (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Economics Program in CLAS (Contributor)
Created2023-12
Description
In this paper, a novel model of Hotelling duopoly is introduced that explains horizontal product variety as the result of consumer preferences, expanding on and meshing the works of Hotelling (1929) and Neven (1985). From this model, two opposing forces from consumer preferences are found that impact the variety and price decisions of firms: market share revenues and price revenues. As firms face consumers with highly linear (weak) preferences over variety, the profit incentive is to simply capture the market by offering products that appeal to the middle consumer. However, as firms face consumers with highly quadratic (strong) preferences over variety, the profit incentive is to carve out and exploit a market segment by offering a distinct variety. Thus, observed product variety between minimal and maximal differentiation is emergent from consumer preferences, as firms face a balance of price and market share incentives.
ContributorsMalaki, Adam (Author) / Leiva Bertran, Fernando (Thesis director) / Hanemann, Michael (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (Contributor) / Economics Program in CLAS (Contributor) / School for the Future of Innovation in Society (Contributor)
Created2024-05