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- Creators: Barrett, The Honors College
- Creators: Kavazanjian, Edward
- Creators: Allenby, Braden
Description
Currently conventional Subtitle D landfills are the primary means of disposing of our waste in the United States. While this method of waste disposal aims at protecting the environment, it does so through the use of liners and caps that effectively freeze the breakdown of waste. Because this method can keep landfills active, and thus a potential groundwater threat for over a hundred years, I take an in depth look at the ability of bioreactor landfills to quickly stabilize waste. In the thesis I detail the current state of bioreactor landfill technologies, assessing the pros and cons of anaerobic and aerobic bioreactor technologies. Finally, with an industrial perspective, I conclude that moving on to bioreactor landfills as an alternative isn't as simple as it may first appear, and that it is a contextually specific solution that must be further refined before replacing current landfills.
ContributorsWhitten, George Avery (Author) / Kavazanjian, Edward (Thesis director) / Allenby, Braden (Committee member) / Houston, Sandra (Committee member) / Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering Programs (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2013-05
Description
This qualitative project was done as a way to learn more about the personal experiences of Asian American participants surrounding education and how it has impacted their identities, and questions how and if the model minority stereotype has impacted the Asian American student particiapnts. 14 participants were interviewed one-on-one to see if there were any patterns in values that their parents had pushed, and revealed that cultural expectations influence the participants’s educational choices, leading to self-regulation in regards to education. Because the shared trait of these participants are being current Asian American students in university at the time of their interviews, experiences range with how acculturated their parents are, the ethnic background of their families, and prior expectations with education.
ContributorsFrancke, Katrielle Ely (Author) / Cayetano, Catalina (Thesis director) / Taylor, Jameien (Committee member) / Department of English (Contributor) / School of Humanities, Arts, and Cultural Studies (Contributor) / School of Music, Dance and Theatre (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2021-05
Description
This project includes an outline of a prospective fantasy novel whose story is described through chapter summaries, a bit of sample writing, and an accompanying explanatory essay that acts as the novel's afterword. It follows the story of Hikari Hinata, a princess of a fictional nation in which gods and fate rule the lives of mortals. Her tale is a representative one--it seeks to call to mind the experiences of second-generation Asian Americans through its characterization, plot, and background inspirations. Two key concepts it focuses on are intergenerational trauma and combining that with ancient world mythologies, in a way that breathes new life into past narratives and explores modern-age experiences.
ContributorsChangcoco, Shinyi (Author) / Bolmarcich, Sarah (Thesis director) / Kuo, Karen (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (Contributor)
Created2023-05
Characterization and Manipulation of Microbiomes From Arid Landfills for Improved Methane Production
Description
Environmentally harmful byproducts from solid waste’s decomposition, including methane (CH4) emissions, are managed through standardized landfill engineering and gas-capture mechanisms. Yet only a limited number of studies have analyzed the development and composition of Bacteria and Archaea involved in CH4 production from landfills. The objectives of this research were to compare microbiomes and bioactivity from CH4-producing communities in contrasting spatial areas of arid landfills and to tests a new technology to biostimulate CH4 production (methanogenesis) from solid waste under dynamic environmental conditions controlled in the laboratory. My hypothesis was that the diversity and abundance of methanogenic Archaea in municipal solid waste (MSW), or its leachate, play an important role on CH4 production partially attributed to the group’s wide hydrogen (H2) consumption capabilities. I tested this hypothesis by conducting complementary field observations and laboratory experiments. I describe niches of methanogenic Archaea in MSW leachate across defined areas within a single landfill, while demonstrating functional H2-dependent activity. To alleviate limited H2 bioavailability encountered in-situ, I present biostimulant feasibility and proof-of-concepts studies through the amendment of zero valent metals (ZVMs). My results demonstrate that older-aged MSW was minimally biostimulated for greater CH4 production relative to a control when exposed to iron (Fe0) or manganese (Mn0), due to highly discernable traits of soluble carbon, nitrogen, and unidentified fluorophores found in water extracts between young and old aged, starting MSW. Acetate and inhibitory H2 partial pressures accumulated in microcosms containing old-aged MSW. In a final experiment, repeated amendments of ZVMs to MSW in a 600 day mesocosm experiment mediated significantly higher CH4 concentrations and yields during the first of three ZVM injections. Fe0 and Mn0 experimental treatments at mesocosm-scale also highlighted accelerated development of seemingly important, but elusive Archaea including Methanobacteriaceae, a methane-producing family that is found in diverse environments. Also, prokaryotic classes including Candidatus Bathyarchaeota, an uncultured group commonly found in carbon-rich ecosystems, and Clostridia; All three taxa I identified as highly predictive in the time-dependent progression of MSW decomposition. Altogether, my experiments demonstrate the importance of H2 bioavailability on CH4 production and the consistent development of Methanobacteriaceae in productive MSW microbiomes.
ContributorsReynolds, Mark Christian (Author) / Cadillo-Quiroz, Hinsby (Thesis advisor) / Krajmalnik-Brown, Rosa (Thesis advisor) / Wang, Xuan (Committee member) / Kavazanjian, Edward (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2022
Description
The pursuance of higher education has always been a competitive feat and as the years progress competition amongst students becomes tighter. This competition increases when focus is placed upon the Asian American student population and the stressors that are placed on them to excel in their respective fields of academics. The Asian American population in particular also has a high prevalence of not seeking out mental health services as a whole due to high stigma associated with the topic (Zhang et al 2019). This study intended to determine the psychological and social impacts that academic stress may have on female Asian American students and why university mental health services go underutilized by this crowd. The impacts of academic stressors on student’s lives were measured using a 5 point survey scale (1 being not stressful and 5 being extremely stressful). Willing participants were then selected for an interview in which 10 individuals' experiences were recounted. The results indicate that an overwhelming majority of students reported experiencing negative impacts to multiple aspects of psychological well being. A high number of these students also reported feeling uncomfortable to seek mental health aid due to familial judgment and cultural taboos. These findings indicate significant numbers of students struggling to cope with the implications of poor mental health in their lives. This study serves to decrease the prevalence of academic stress in the lives of Asian American students by increasing their therapy seeking behaviors. Upon its completion, the researcher provided ASU counseling services with suggestions to increase utilization by female Asian Americans.
ContributorsJones, Shredha (Author) / Kappes, Janelle (Thesis director) / Jimenez, Laura (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Counseling and Counseling Psychology (Contributor) / College of Health Solutions (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
Zero-Valent Metals (ZVM) are highly reactive materials and have been proved to be effective in contaminant reduction in soils and groundwater remediation. In fact, zero-Valent Iron (ZVI) has proven to be very effective in removing, particularly chlorinated organics, heavy metals, and odorous sulfides. Addition of ZVI has also been proved in enhancing the methane gas generation in anaerobic digestion of activated sludge. However, no studies have been conducted regarding the effect of ZVM stimulation to Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) degradation. Therefore, a collaborative study was developed to manipulate microbial activity in the landfill bioreactors to favor methane production by adding ZVMs. This study focuses on evaluating the effects of added ZVM on the leachate generated from replicated lab scale landfill bioreactors. The specific objective was to investigate the effects of ZVMs addition on the organic and inorganic pollutants in leachate. The hypothesis here evaluated was that adding ZVM including ZVI and Zero Valent Manganese (ZVMn) will enhance the removal rates of the organic pollutants present in the leachate, likely by a putative higher rate of microbial metabolism. Test with six (4.23 gallons) bioreactors assembled with MSW collected from the Salt River Landfill and Southwest Regional Landfill showed that under 5 grams /liter of ZVI and 0.625 grams/liter of ZVMn additions, no significant difference was observed in the pH and temperature data of the leachate generated from these reactors. The conductivity data suggested the steady rise across all reactors over the period of time. The removal efficiency of sCOD was highest (27.112 mg/lit/day) for the reactors added with ZVMn at the end of 150 days for bottom layer, however the removal rate was highest (16.955 mg/lit/day) for ZVI after the end of 150 days of the middle layer. Similar trends in the results was observed in TC analysis. HPLC study indicated the dominance of the concentration of heptanoate and isovalerate were leachate generated from the bottom layer across all reactors. Heptanoate continued to dominate in the ZVMn added leachate even after middle layer injection. IC analysis concluded the chloride was dominant in the leachate generated from all the reactors and there was a steady increase in the chloride content over the period of time. Along with chloride, fluoride, bromide, nitrate, nitrite, phosphate and sulfate were also detected in considerable concentrations. In the summary, the addition of the zero valent metals has proved to be efficient in removal of the organics present in the leachate.
ContributorsPandit, Gandhar Abhay (Author) / Cadillo – Quiroz, Hinsby (Thesis advisor) / Olson, Larry (Thesis advisor) / Boyer, Treavor (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2019
Description
This paper explores the relationship between social and cultural capital and the experience of Asian Americans in law school and after graduating from law school. Bourdieu’s (1986) conceptualizations of institutional cultural capital, embodied cultural capital, and social capital guide this analysis. Two electronic surveys resulted in participation by fourteen Asian American law students and nine Asian American law school graduates from American Bar Association-accredited law schools in the United States. The research design is qualitative, and a partial grounded theory approach based upon Charmaz’s (2006) work was utilized. Thematic coding, line-by-line coding, and focused coding were also used to analyze survey responses. Results demonstrate that there is a relationship between social and cultural capital and the experience of Asian Americans in law school and post-law school graduation. Institutional cultural capital, in the form of J.D. degrees, seems to influence the development of embodied cultural capital and social capital, particularly when considering membership in groups and forming personal and professional connections. When considering embodied cultural capital, family members appear to influence important personal characteristics that participants carry into law school and the workplace. These results may have implications for the larger trend of Asian Americans leaving large law firms; in addition, perceptions of embodied cultural capital may influence barriers to career advancement. Suggested areas for future research include the role of mentorship in Asian American career development, patterns within specific Asian American ethnic/cultural groups in the legal field, and the intersection of gender and Asian American identities in legal practice.
ContributorsSu, Yuhong (Author) / Nakagawa, Kathryn (Thesis director) / Broberg, Gregory (Committee member) / School of Social Transformation (Contributor, Contributor, Contributor) / Economics Program in CLAS (Contributor) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-12
Description
This literature review synthesized 15 studies about how Asian American K-12 educators in the United States considered their socio-cultural identity markers. The current literature largely revolves around the lack of representation of Asian Americans in teaching, and few studies exist about the experiences of the few Asian Americans who do become teachers. Studies included in this paper are related to the topics of Asian American pre-service and in-service teaching experiences, Asian American identity consideration, and pedagogical practices used by Asian American teachers. This paper seeks to understand and report on the various racialized experiences of Asian Americans and how their pedagogies are affected by their consideration of their identity.
ContributorsHawks, Lauren Miyori (Author) / Boveda, Mildred (Thesis director) / Theisen-Homer, Victoria (Committee member) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor) / School of Politics and Global Studies (Contributor, Contributor) / Division of Teacher Preparation (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
Objective: This study examined how the belief (internalization) in the model minority myth of achievement orientation and of unrestricted mobility relates to one’s social awareness of racial inequity and inequality in society (critical consciousness) amongst Asian American college students. Methods: Participants (N = 275, 67.7% female, M_age = 22.35) were recruited from Asian American ethnic studies classes, clubs and organizations and completed an online cross-sectional survey. Results: Results indicated that internalization of achievement orientation significantly correlated with levels of racial critical consciousness while unrestricted mobility did not. Conclusion: These findings extend research exploring the correlates of critical consciousness on internalization of racial stereotypes for Asian Americans.
ContributorsMatriano, Ronae (Author) / Yoo, Hyung Chol (Thesis director) / Atkin, Annabelle (Committee member) / Li, Wei (Committee member) / School of Social Transformation (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Hugh Downs School of Human Communication (Contributor) / Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
In this paper, studies conducted on parental ethnic-racial socialization (PERS) in Asian American emerging adults are reviewed to assess how PERS correlates to psychological constructs such as: ethnic identity, self-esteem, psychological well-being, social competence and connectedness, life satisfaction, and symptoms of depression. Results indicated a significant association, but differed depending on the method of PERS used. Cultural socialization messages were generally associated with positive psychological outcomes while promotion of mistrust messages were mostly associated with negative psychological outcomes. The results also demonstrated a need for more qualitative studies to be conducted, and for the use of a PERS scale specific to Asian Americans. Further research should additionally consider ethnicity, gender, and generational status differences when measuring PERS.
ContributorsHuang, Rhiannon (Author) / Yoo, Hyung Chol (Brandon) (Thesis director) / Tran, Alisia (Giac-Thao) (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor)
Created2022-12