Matching Items (11,922)
Filtering by
- Creators: Barrett, The Honors College
Description
The objective of this project is to allow viewers to follow along a visual representation of my journey through the Galápagos Islands as well as around the city of Phoenix. Through a curated collection of artwork and personal photographs, this exhibition highlights the beauty, uniqueness, and conservation challenges of Arizona and the Galápagos Islands. By presenting a range of artistic interpretations, my project fosters appreciation for the intricate ecosystems and remarkable biodiversity found in these regions. In addition to appreciation, my exhibition serves as a means to raise awareness about the importance of wildlife conservation. To begin my research, I traveled to the Galápagos Islands to study and observe the wildlife found in these island ecosystems. This trip consisted of volunteer and field work at several locations, such as tortoise breeding centers and the Sierra Negra Volcano. Further research was conducted around the city of Phoenix. This research was completed in a field research course through Arizona State University and required travel to several ecological sites around the city. The field work involved comparing the different abiotic and biotic factors of each site and observing how local taxa was affected by non-native species. This exhibition takes place in the School of Art building on the Arizona State University Tempe campus. My exhibition utilizes the 3D art display case, which allows my project to have a three-dimensional element that provides a more interactive experience to viewers. My exhibition will consist of approximately thirty personal photographs as well as fifteen traditional paintings and drawings. My work depicts several easily recognizable species, such as the Galápagos giant tortoise, blue-footed booby, prickly pear cactus, and velvet mesquite. These species are an array of species from the Galápagos as well as native species that viewers can find in their Arizona backyards. The images used are direct references collected during my excursions to the Galápagos Islands and around Arizona. To enhance engagement and learning, visitors will be able to interact with my personal field journals as well as mementos from my trip to the Galápagos Islands.
ContributorsSilva, Sarah (Author) / Chew, Matthew (Thesis director) / Meissinger, Ellen (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2024-05
ContributorsSilva, Sarah (Author) / Chew, Matthew (Thesis director) / Meissinger, Ellen (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2024-05
ContributorsSilva, Sarah (Author) / Chew, Matthew (Thesis director) / Meissinger, Ellen (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
Neuroinflammation contributes significantly to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. However, the inflammatory pathways contributing to neurodegeneration are not well understood. Moreover, there is a need to identify changes in inflammatory signaling that may occur early in disease progression to identify potential targets for therapeutic intervention. An important step towards addressing this need is understanding how the extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by microglia can be detected in the periphery. For microglia, phagocytic macrophages, and CD 14+ monocytes share many genes and membrane- bound proteins, and there is currently no method to distinguish microglia EVs from those generated by macrophages or monocytes. Therefore, this study aims to identify membrane-bound proteins unique to microglia EVs to enable their reliable isolation. Liquid-chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis was used to detect proteins in the EVs from both normal and disease-associated human stem-cell differentiated microglia (iMGL), and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived CD 14+ monocytes and macrophages. We identified 23 proteins unique to the microglial EVs, eight of which localize to the membrane and may be potential targets for isolation. This investigation also used RNA sequencing to gain insight into the contents of DAM-like and control iMGL EVs and of microglia and white blood cells in Alzheimer’s disease. We propose that the contents of microglial EVs isolated from peripheral compartments will provide crucial insight for understanding the current inflammatory state of CNS microglia. This approach could provide a means to track changes in microglial activation over time, which is critical for understanding the progression of neuroinflammatory diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Additionally, it may offer insights into potential therapeutic targets for modulating neuroinflammation.
ContributorsLopatin, Ulia (Author) / Mastroeni, Diego (Thesis director) / Velazquez, Ramon (Committee member) / Van Keuren-Jensen, Kendall (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
This thesis focuses on seven egregious court cases where judges treated domestic violence victims horribly and lacked sympathy for what they went through. I looked at cases where judges treated victims with a lack of respect and human decency to show that although there are good judges out there, there are also terrible ones who have a negative impact on victims. Through the cases I analyzed there are examples of victim blaming, ignorance, and lack of empathy. These cases show the sad reality some domestic violence victims face when they decide to make the courageous decision to come forward and trust the state with their livelihood. By the end of this thesis, readers should be able to recognize common themes that emerged from the judicial language used in court and understand how damaging judges can be when they treat victims this way. Readers should also see how detrimental it can be to other victims to have these cases be public and see how victims before them have been treated. It can ignite fear in them to come forward and deter them from seeking justice in their own lives.
ContributorsLynne, Abby (Author) / Dybvig-Pawelko, Kristin (Thesis director) / Voorhees, Matthew (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Hugh Downs School of Human Communication (Contributor) / School of Politics and Global Studies (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
This thesis presents the strategic business plan for Soleri Skye Studios, a dynamic digital marketing and graphic design company. Beginning with a comprehensive assessment of the digital marketing and graphic design landscapes, with a special focus on the vibrant Phoenix market, the plan delves into a targeted market opportunity analysis, identifying key customer segments, including small businesses, women-owned enterprises, and Spanish-speaking organizations. Leveraging a blend of secondary research and insightful personal interviews, the plan derives valuable insights into the market opportunity, competitor strategies, and client needs.
Subsequently, a meticulously crafted implementation plan emerges, outlining tailored operational strategies, mission imperatives, and distinctive brand positioning for Soleri Skye Studios. Furthermore, the plan outlines the seven P’s of marketing, providing a robust framework guiding the company's strategic initiatives. Through this deliberate planning process, Soleri Skye Studios endeavors to carve a unique niche in the competitive arena, offering innovative, cost-effective design, marketing, and branding solutions finely attuned to client needs. Embracing a culture of creativity, collaboration, and client-centricity, Soleri Skye Studios is poised to deliver exceptional value and drive enduring success in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
ContributorsStephan, Soleri (Author) / Riker, Elise (Thesis director) / Schlacter, John (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor) / Department of Marketing (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
The White Lotus is an award-winning television series about characters staying and working at a fictional hotel and resort chain. In this project, I identified numerous literary allusions present in The White Lotus and took their existence as an invitation to analyze thematic parallels between the television series and Homer’s Odyssey. Through this process, I discovered a shared theme of hospitality, and thus explored the Greek concept of xenia (guest-friendship) in Homer’s work. I also discussed the social commentary about economic privilege in The White Lotus and identified key criteria for a season of the show. Ultimately, all of these measures informed my creation of a new prospective season of the television series which is directly inspired by aspects of Homer’s Odyssey. Completing this project allowed me to think critically about how ancient Greek literary works are applicable to modern society and led me to contemplate both direct and indirect influences of ancient Greek culture in the present day.
ContributorsJakubczyk, Anna (Author) / O'Neill, Joseph (Thesis director) / Soares, Rebecca (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor) / School of Music, Dance and Theatre (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
When looking at the works of literature known in the popular cultural consensus as “fairy tales”, there is one author and body of work whose name and stories have not seemed to cross over from the world of academia to that of popular culture. Marie de France has been a staple of my undergraduate studies, with her lais coming up in multiple classes. Despite her writing being nearly a thousand years old, the stories that she tells- of love, hate, comedy and tragedy- have a timeless quality. However, there is very little in the way of adaptational material for the Lais of Marie de France, at least in the English speaking world. This is disappointing, as her works have the potential to speak to a modern audience- the story of Lanval, in particular, contains many story elements that are at once familiar yet unique to those familiar with similar works. In writing and illustrating a visual adaptation of this text, I hope to engage the imagination of modern readers while keeping true to the spirit of Marie de France’s original vision.
ContributorsHayes, Darby (Author) / Maring, Heather (Thesis director) / Bjork, Robert (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Historical, Philosophical & Religious Studies, Sch (Contributor) / Division of Teacher Preparation (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
Social anxiety is a growing problem for multiple demographics in our society. One such group of people dealing with social anxiety is the college student population, specifically honors students. College students have been struggling with the aftereffects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused social anxiety to become more prominent than it has ever been before. Honors students have been hit especially hard with this, because expectations and requirements are held to higher standards than for traditional students. Having social anxiety does not have to halt life for students, however. There are many different paths that a person can take to manage their social anxiety and better their lives overall. From managing social anxiety on your own time, to using university resources, to exploring therapies and other available options, there are multiple avenues that a person can take depending on their situations and preferences. This project also includes a guidebook for the practical application of techniques researched in this paper.
ContributorsGnerer, Rhiannon (Author) / Sturgess, Jessica (Thesis director) / Gruber, Diane (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Interdisciplinary Forensics (Contributor) / School of Social and Behavioral Sciences (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
In the field of botany, it is often necessary for plants to be identified based on their phenotypical characteristics, whether in person or using previously collected image samples. This work can be tedious and challenging for a human botanist to complete, as datasets can be large and several species of plants strongly resemble each other. Various machine learning techniques, both supervised and unsupervised, can address this task with varying degrees of accuracy and efficiency thanks to their ability to identify subtle patterns in data. The objective of this research is to both conduct a review of previous studies that measure the effectiveness of various machine learning methods for plant identification and to build and test various models to draw up a comparison of the accuracies and efficiencies of the set of techniques.
A review of the existing literature found that any of the studied machine learning techniques can yield a high level of accuracy when used in the correct situations and on a suitable dataset. The results gathered from the models built from this research show that all else being equal, complex convolutional neural networks perform the best on this task, yielding an accuracy of 85.4% on the larger dataset. The other models tested in descending order of accuracy on the same dataset are k-nearest neighbors, random forest, k-means clustering, and a decision tree classifier.
ContributorsOlsen, Laela (Author) / Carter, Lynn Robert (Thesis director) / Bhargav, Vishnu (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Computer Science and Engineering Program (Contributor)
Created2024-05