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As the world’s population exponentially grows, more food production is required. This increasing food production currently has led to the un-sustainable production of chemical fertilizers and resultant overuse. A more sustainable option to enhance food production could be the use of fertilizer derived from food waste. To address this, we investigated the possibility of utilizing a fertilizer derived from food waste to grow hydroponic vegetables. Arugula (Eruca sativa) ‘Slow Bolt’ and lettuce (Lactuca sativa) ‘Cherokee’ and ‘Rex’ were cultivated using indoor deep-flow hydroponic systems at 23 ºC under a photosynthetic photon flux density of 170 µmol∙m−2∙s−1 with an 18-hour photoperiod. Plant nutrient solutions were provided by food waste fertilizer or commercial 15:5:20 NPK fertilizer at the identical electrical conductivity (EC) of 2.3 mS·cm–1. At the EC of 2.3 mS·cm–1, chemical fertilizer contained 150 ppm N, 50 ppm P, and 200 ppm K, while food waste fertilizer had 60 ppm N, 26 ppm P, and 119 ppm K. Four weeks after the nutrient treatments were implemented, compared to plants grown with chemical fertilizer, lettuce ‘Rex’ grown with food waste fertilizer had four less leaves, 27.1% shorter leaves, 68.2% and 23.1% less shoot and root fresh weight, respectively. Lettuce ‘Cherokee’ and arugula grown with food waste fertilizer followed a similar trend with fresh shoot weights that were 80.1% and 95.6% less compared to the chemical fertilizer, respectively. In general, the magnitude of reduction in the plant growth was greatest in arugula. These results suggest that both fertilizers were able to successfully grow lettuce and arugula, although the reduced plant growth with the food waste fertilizer in our study is likely from a lower concentration of nutrients when we considered EC as an indicator of nutrient concentration equivalency of the two fertilizer types.
ContributorsCherry, Hannah Nichole (Author) / Park, Yujin (Thesis director) / Penton, Ryan (Committee member) / Chen, Zhihao (Committee member) / Environmental and Resource Management (Contributor, Contributor) / College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2021-05
Description
In a COVID-19 world, student engagement has suffered drastically as organizations and universities shifted to an online format. Yet, there is still an opportunity and a space for digital content creation to bridge the gap in a virtual and hybrid university lifestyle. This project looks at how student groups can still engage students at ASU Tempe through digital content creation and which tools to use to enter the space.
ContributorsJavangula, Rahul (Author) / O'Flaherty, Katherine (Thesis director) / Shipley, Austen (Committee member) / Watts College of Public Service & Community Solut (Contributor) / College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2021-05
Description
The aim of this project was to conduct an investigation of the cosmetic industry, particularly the field encompassing Botox and dermal fillers. The research helped to identify the various types of fillers used in the market as well as to explore the potential advantages of mechanical injectors within the field. This research and an industry analysis was further used to investigate the necessary components that would best accommodate the patent for a mechanical hand-held injector for the injection of dermal fillers.
ContributorsJames, Merine (Author) / Martin, Thomas (Thesis director) / Devine, John (Committee member) / College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
Developments in commercial genetic testing have made it possible for people to find out a wealth of information that was previously difficult or impossible to obtain. Genetic testing is a novel solution to the adaptive problem of paternal uncertainty. We hypothesized that participants in the control condition would have greater interest in their paternal genetic information than their maternal genetic information and that participants who were cued to their dissimilarities with their father would seek out genetic information regarding their paternal side of the family above all other conditions. Neither of the two tested hypotheses were supported by the data. Analyses of several variables suggest that the manipulation did work to enhance perceptions of similarity and dissimilarity to parents, that participants were paying attention, and that the dependent variables were sensitive. Some incidental findings suggest that feelings of similarity, rather than dissimilarity, to father are related to interest in learning about paternal genealogy.
ContributorsSabree, Kaelyn Adele (Author) / Kenrick, Douglas (Thesis director) / Corbin, William (Committee member) / Neuberg, Steven (Committee member) / Ko, Ahra (Committee member) / Department of Psychology (Contributor) / College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-12
Description
The use of Artificial Intelligence in assistive systems is growing in application and efficiency. From self-driving cars, to medical and surgical robots and industrial tasked unsupervised co-robots; the use of AI and robotics to eliminate human error in high-stress environments and perform automated tasks is something that is advancing society’s status quo. Not only has the understanding of co-robotics exploded in the industrial world, but in research as well. The National Science Foundation (NSF) defines co-robots as the following: “...a robot whose main purpose is to work with people or other robots to accomplish a goal” (NSF, 1). The latest iteration of their National Robotics Initiative, NRI-2.0, focuses on efforts of creating co-robots optimized for ‘scalability, customizability, lowering barriers to entry, and societal impact’(NSF, 1). While many avenues have been explored for the implementation of co-robotics to create more efficient processes and sustainable lifestyles, this project’s focus was on societal impact co-robotics in the field of human safety and well-being. Introducing a co-robotics and computer vision AI solution for first responder assistance would help bring awareness and efficiency to public safety. The use of real-time identification techniques would create a greater range of awareness for first responders in high-stress situations. A combination of environmental features collected through sensors (camera and radar) could be used to identify people and objects within certain environments where visual impairments and obstructions are high (eg. burning buildings, smoke-filled rooms, ect.). Information about situational conditions (environmental readings, locations of other occupants, etc.) could be transmitted to first responders in emergency situations, maximizing situational awareness. This would not only aid first responders in the evaluation of emergency situations, but it would provide useful data for the first responder that would help materialize the most effective course of action for said situation.
ContributorsScott, Kylel D (Author) / Benjamin, Victor (Thesis director) / Liu, Xiao (Committee member) / Engineering Programs (Contributor) / College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (Contributor) / Department of Information Systems (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-12
Description
Approximately 15,000 children die every day due to preventable illnesses (World Health Organization, 2016, 2017). Most of these deaths have been concentrated in developing countries and specifically in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and to a lesser extent in Central Asia. Many studies have analyzed determinants of infant mortality rates across regions of South Asia. Despite neighboring South Asia, reasons for infant mortality in Central Asia do not seem to be as heavily researched. To investigate whether there are differences in the risk factors for infant mortality between South Asia and Central Asia, I analyzed data on 557,089 women and 1,272,916 children from Demographic Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys in 5 Central Asian (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan) and 5 South Asian (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan) countries. Binary logistic regression predicted whether a child was alive based on a number of maternal and child characteristics, including maternal age, maternal education, maternal residence, place of delivery, wealth, open defecation, prenatal care, and vaccinations. There were similarities along with differences in child survival outcomes between Central Asia and South Asia. Maternal age, maternal education, and the DPT 3 vaccination appeared to have protective effects on child survival rates in both Central Asia and South Asia whereas delivery outside of the hospital and open defecation have negative effects on child survival outcomes. Tetanus, polio 1, and the BCG vaccinations appeared to have a more pronounced positive effect on child survival in Central Asia whereas measles and polio 3 appear to have a more pronounced positive effect in South Asia. Wealth also appeared to have a greater protective effect in South Asia as opposed to Central Asia. More research needs to be conducted to elaborate on reasons for why there are differences between Central Asia and South Asia.
ContributorsAlam, Mariam (Author) / Hrsuchka, Daniel (Thesis director) / Gaughan, Monica (Committee member) / College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
Premise of the study: Land-plant plastid genomes have only rarely undergone significant changes in gene content and order. Thus, discovery of additional examples adds power to tests for causes of such genome-scale structural changes.
Methods: Using next-generation sequence data, we assembled the plastid genome of saguaro cactus and probed the nuclear genome for transferred plastid genes and functionally related nuclear genes. We combined these results with available data across Cactaceae and seed plants more broadly to infer the history of gene loss and to assess the strength of phylogenetic association between gene loss and loss of the inverted repeat (IR).
Key results: The saguaro plastid genome is the smallest known for an obligately photosynthetic angiosperm (∼113 kb), having lost the IR and plastid ndh genes. This loss supports a statistically strong association across seed plants between the loss of ndh genes and the loss of the IR. Many nonplastid copies of plastid ndh genes were found in the nuclear genome, but none had intact reading frames; nor did three related nuclear-encoded subunits. However, nuclear pgr5, which functions in a partially redundant pathway, was intact.
Conclusions: The existence of an alternative pathway redundant with the function of the plastid NADH dehydrogenase-like complex (NDH) complex may permit loss of the plastid ndh gene suite in photoautotrophs like saguaro. Loss of these genes may be a recurring mechanism for overall plastid genome size reduction, especially in combination with loss of the IR.
Methods: Using next-generation sequence data, we assembled the plastid genome of saguaro cactus and probed the nuclear genome for transferred plastid genes and functionally related nuclear genes. We combined these results with available data across Cactaceae and seed plants more broadly to infer the history of gene loss and to assess the strength of phylogenetic association between gene loss and loss of the inverted repeat (IR).
Key results: The saguaro plastid genome is the smallest known for an obligately photosynthetic angiosperm (∼113 kb), having lost the IR and plastid ndh genes. This loss supports a statistically strong association across seed plants between the loss of ndh genes and the loss of the IR. Many nonplastid copies of plastid ndh genes were found in the nuclear genome, but none had intact reading frames; nor did three related nuclear-encoded subunits. However, nuclear pgr5, which functions in a partially redundant pathway, was intact.
Conclusions: The existence of an alternative pathway redundant with the function of the plastid NADH dehydrogenase-like complex (NDH) complex may permit loss of the plastid ndh gene suite in photoautotrophs like saguaro. Loss of these genes may be a recurring mechanism for overall plastid genome size reduction, especially in combination with loss of the IR.
ContributorsSanderson, Michael J. (Author) / Copetti, Dario (Author) / Burquez, Alberto (Author) / Bustamante, Enriquena (Author) / Charboneau, Joseph L. M. (Author) / Eguiarte, Luis E. (Author) / Kumar, Sudhir (Author) / Lee, Hyun Oh (Author) / Lee, Junki (Author) / McMahon, Michelle (Author) / Steele, Kelly (Author) / Wing, Rod (Author) / Yang, Tae-Jin (Author) / Zwickl, Derrick (Author) / Wojciechowski, Martin (Author) / College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (Contributor) / College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor)
Created2015-07-01
Description
The purpose of this project was to create a workshop for adults without dance experience to immerse them in dance as a form of therapy. The goals of this workshop are to foster physical awareness and physical creativity. There are four main areas the participants would get experience in from this workshop including self-care/awareness, expression, gesture and choreography. These four areas are the ways that the two main goals manifest themselves. For this project I reviewed research by many different professionals from the therapy, psychology, self-care, dance, and dance therapy fields. Their studies as well as my own experience aided in putting together my themes for the workshop and class activities. I include my methodology, lesson plans, a workbook, and my reflection on the process.
ContributorsWilson, Deepika (Author) / Roses-Thema, Cynthia (Thesis director) / Giorgis, Cyndi (Committee member) / College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-12
Description
The United Nations outlined seventeen goals in their 2015 resolution aimed at securing a more sustainable future for the entire world. These goals cover all parts of life and are meant to standardize quality of life at a high level for all countries. Specific to the Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania, there are five main goals that would tackle some of the biggest issues facing the Maasai and greatly improve their lives. These goals include the promotion of good health and well-being, ensuring a quality education for school-age children, supporting efforts for gender equality in all communities, and securing clean and safe water and sanitation services for all people around the world. There are many Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the Maasai community that are striving to support them and realize these Sustainable Development Goals. Organizations like the Maasai Girls Education Fund and Aid Tanzania have established educational programs to support children, mainly girls, in their efforts to get an education. Others like End Water Poverty and the Maasai Association have programs to ensure safe, accessible drinking water is made available to Maasai communities across Kenya and Tanzania. Lastly, NGOs like My Chosen Vessels have programs that support the economic sustainability and livestock management of the Maasai while also ensuring that Maasai families receive clean water and access to an education. The work and practices of NGOs like these can serve as examples of how to efficiently and effectively address and tackle issues in developing countries, specifically regarding Maasai women and girls, to move closer to achieving these UN Sustainable Development Goals and lead a more sustainable future. Many studies have been done researching the political and economic struggles for Maasai communities and how it impacts them. Vandana Shiva coined the term, “Water Democracy” in her book Water Wars to express the multiple reasons why water is a necessity and right. Many Maasai groups do not have easy access to basic essentials for their everyday lives and NGOs have been noticing this more and more. Dorothy Hodgson writes about the history of Maasai NGOs, and mentions the multiple conflicts that they have had with each other, causing many Maasai groups to have different lifestyles. The connections between the history of the Maasai tribe, their current economy and their current relationship with the government and NGOs all impact women in their communities in different ways.
ContributorsWacloff, Jianna K (Author) / Martin, Thomas (Thesis director) / Oberle, Eric (Committee member) / College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
This policy proposal paper is designed to address concerns about the protection of data
concerning citizens of the United States. The first step is to explore the need for federal
legislation because of the problems of cyberattacks, data loss and leakage, and big data. The
proposal then analyses how other countries had already addressed these concerns for their
citizens through legislation by looking at their regulation and the results of implementation. The
paper adjacently discusses the importance of American values of privacy as a fundamental right,
the free market, and protection from the private sector within a cybersecurity paradigm. From
this combined research, the paper yields a proposal of how the U.S. government should address
the situation through federal policy. The policy outlines cybersecurity measures to protect
information from cyberattacks and data loss and leakage, rights of American citizens that
organizations need to uphold, and the creation of a commission that provides resources and
education to domestic and foreign organizations.
concerning citizens of the United States. The first step is to explore the need for federal
legislation because of the problems of cyberattacks, data loss and leakage, and big data. The
proposal then analyses how other countries had already addressed these concerns for their
citizens through legislation by looking at their regulation and the results of implementation. The
paper adjacently discusses the importance of American values of privacy as a fundamental right,
the free market, and protection from the private sector within a cybersecurity paradigm. From
this combined research, the paper yields a proposal of how the U.S. government should address
the situation through federal policy. The policy outlines cybersecurity measures to protect
information from cyberattacks and data loss and leakage, rights of American citizens that
organizations need to uphold, and the creation of a commission that provides resources and
education to domestic and foreign organizations.
ContributorsBrockman, Emily M. (Author) / Hollinger, Keith (Thesis director) / Walsh, Tatiana (Committee member) / Martin, Thomas (Committee member) / College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (Contributor) / Information Technology (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05