Matching Items (444)
Description
This duo thesis is an autoethnography of what it means to be Filipino-American in the United States. Being raised in varying backgrounds yet with the similarity of being Filipino, there are aspects of our lives that are simultaneously similar and different. The goal of this project is the exploration of one’s cultural, familial and personal identities and how they intersect with their individuality and sense of belonging. Through this project, we documented our experience as Filipinos in the United States and our travel back to the Philippines and showcased it through videos. It is a means to document our reflections on this project to share with the Filipino community and individuals who share the same sentiments.
ContributorsOnayan, Youla Tricia (Author) / Tamayo, Rianne Daisy (Co-author) / O'Flaherty, Katherine (Thesis director) / Fedock, Rachel (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / College of Health Solutions (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
Aging presents a complex array of challenges, including increased susceptibility to various diseases due to decrease in the effective function of the immune system. White blood cells, or WBCs, play a crucial role in providing insight into the state of the body and it’s immune system, and is thus, a vital biomarker. Traditionally, obtaining WBC counts involves many man hours and involves labor intensive hand counting of WBCs seen in a blood smear. To streamline this process, machine learning and artificial intelligence may be used. Using a cell counting program, or CCP, this thesis aims to validate the accuracy of the CCP’s capabilities in the cell counting process. We compared CCP generated WBC proportional counts with a ground truth data set, called Zooniverse. From this, a minimal to moderate correlation was found between the CCP generated data and the Zooniverse data. In conjunction with this, significant discrepancies were observed between certain WBC subtypes, suggesting limitations in the CCP performance. Further analysis of the CCP outputted data revealed an uneven distribution of age in the samples considered, which could have produced a biasing result. Linear model regression analyses using CCP data indicated few significant associations between age, sex and the resulting WBC proportions, casting further doubt on the program validity. Our findings highlight both the promise and limitations of automated WBC counting programs. While the CCP model in question depicted that it does indeed offer time saving benefits, the current model’s accuracy in capturing the subtle age related changes in WBC composition are not entirely confirmed. Future improvements in algorithm design and validation methods are necessary to enhance the use of this particular CCP.
ContributorsAnand, Ritika (Author) / Ford, Isabella (Co-author) / Snyder-Mackler, Noah (Thesis director) / Sanchez Rosado, Mitchell (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / WPC Graduate Programs (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / School of Human Evolution & Social Change (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
Background: Dyslexia is a neurodevelopmental impacting reading and writing ability present in around 5 to 9 percent of the population. The etiology of the condition is not currently well understood.
Purpose: To identify new genes of interest regarding the etiology of dyslexia, describe the interaction of those genes within known gene networks, and discuss potential relationships between their expression in the early developing brain and phenotypic outcomes.
Method: With informed consent, participants’ phenotypic and exome data were collected. Phenotypic data were collected using assessments measuring reading and spelling ability. Exome data were collected via saliva samples and processed at the UW-CRDR. Exome data were then filtering using Seqr and compared across participant families. Certain genes with identical variations were visually validated using the Integrated Genome Viewer, and then investigated using STRING Network Analysis and the Human Brain Transcriptome.
Results: Three genes were identified: BCL6, DNAH1, and DNAH12. Protein-protein interactions were confirmed between DNAH1 and DNAH12 via STRING Network Analysis. BLC6 and DNAH1 experience higher postnatal expression in the cerebellar cortex. DNAH12 experiences higher prenatal expression in the hippocampus.
Discussion: The findings appear to be consistent with a heterogenous and polygenic model of dyslexia. The correlation between the participants’ genotypes and phenotypes is not strong enough to draw significant conclusions regarding genotype/phenotype connections. A larger participant sample size and analysis of a large pool of shared genes may reveal a clearer relationship.
ContributorsBanta, Claire (Author) / Peter, Beate (Thesis director) / Liu, Li (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics (Contributor) / College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
The primary goal of our nonprofit organization, Plant-ED, is to deepen the average individual’s knowledge regarding sustainability and to inspire our users to engage in a community of like-minded individuals who share a passion for sustainability. To accomplish this vision, we have created a digital platform where users can easily find information on upcoming events, activities, and alternative products that truly embody a mindset of sustainability. Our team will be the main and constant source of content for our website, however our users are also able to interact with the website through blog posts and subscriptions. Additionally, our platform has a section dedicated to explaining the impact of recycling and shows the devastating effects if humans do not take accountability for their choices and develop more sustainable habits. The ultimate goal for our website is for it to be a place where we can promote our partners’ products which are either alternatives to unsustainable products or companies who donate some of their proceeds to help create a greener world. The profit from the commission we receive from our partners and subscription services will be reinvested into expanding our digital platform and partnerships.
ContributorsWeiderhoft, Isabella (Author) / Smith, Connor (Co-author) / Mahoney, Emma (Co-author) / Meyers, Zoe (Co-author) / Byrne, Jared (Thesis director) / Balven, Rachel (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Accountancy (Contributor) / WPC Graduate Programs (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
This project, Building the Backdrop, Expanding Perspectives on Sustainability, is a sculpture of a desert sunset that seeks to explore important sustainability issues and highlight the beauty in sustainable practices. Constructed for an honors thesis project at Arizona State University, the primary medium used was cardboard repurposed from package deliveries to bring attention to modern overconsumption of packaging materials and showcase our ability to give new life to traditionally single use materials. I invite you to interact with the piece by sharing photos of yourself in front of it to help spread its message and exploring the resources shared along with the sculpture.
ContributorsSandoval, Nicole (Author) / Hines, Taylor (Thesis director) / Meissinger, Ellen (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Supply Chain Management (Contributor) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
A guidebook meant to be used by the leadership of the club Poly Purrs. It includes definitions of key terms as well as literature-backed discussion of free-roaming cats in general. The second half of it is advice and information drawn from my own experience with the cat population on the Polytechnic campus.
ContributorsWiese, Alexa (Author) / Murphree, Julie (Thesis director) / Gallaway, Cynthia (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
We discuss the intricate and puzzling concept of quantum entanglement, and not only
define it but also consider the implications of the behaviors of entangled particles. The ability of
these particles to provide instantaneous information about their entangled counterparts sparked a debate among physicists as to whether or not these particles had definite quantities before
measurement, and whether or not their behaviors could be explained by a local hidden-variables
theorem. Mermin’s gedanken demonstration for a two-particle entangled system is introduced, as well as Bell’s inequality, and an explanation of how a pair of two entangled particles violate this inequality. Additionally, we also discuss various experimental verifications that were able to use Bell’s inequality to verify the expected quantum mechanical results for their entangled systems.
ContributorsDavis, Elsie (Author) / Foy, Joseph (Thesis director) / Hines, Taylor (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
Terrestrial hermit crabs serve an incredibly important ecological role in seed dispersal and as decomposers along coastal shorelines. They have also become quite popular in the commercial pet trade, with one species, Coenobita clypeatus, being particularly favored. Typically, these hermit crabs are easily captured and removed from the wild with little protection in their native ranges. In Hermitage Bay, Tobago, there is little information about the population numbers, composition, shell preference, and substrate preference of C. clypeatus in their native habitat. In this study, we estimated population size, gastropod shell preferences, and substrate preference conditions when clustering. We conducted mark re-capture surveys in March, July, and December 2023 and collected morphological data from captured hermit crabs. Our results indicate that the estimated population was highest in July, with the variation being significant when using the Schnabel mark re-capture estimation formula. The most common overall shell type, Columbella mercatoria (West Indian Dove Shell), was prevalent among the smaller sized, younger hermit crabs; while the larger hermit crabs preferred Cittarium pica (West Indian Top Shell). The most preferred substrate for these terrestrial hermit crabs were areas with a mixture of sand and dirt, with high amounts of vegetation and leaf waste and low amounts of human litter. These results suggest a predominantly young population and that beach cleanups should focus on removing human litter entirely, while leaving leaf waste and other fallen logs and branches and not using the collected decomposing plant matter for bonfires. This can help maintain a healthy hermit crab population that continues to benefit the coastlines in Tobago as well as other ecosystems.
ContributorsLindteigen, Amy (Author) / Briggs, Georgette (Thesis director) / Mohammed, Ryan (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (Contributor) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
In exploration of the negative reputation of gender-inclusive housing (GIH) among LGBTQ+ students at Arizona State University (ASU), this study seeks to investigate the extent to which ASU student housing inadvertently replicates structural discrimination and social inequities through its conceptualization and implementation of GIH. The present study is guided by four core research questions: (1) are GIH students more likely to report negative user experiences than non-GIH students? (2) are GIH students more likely to report poor housing outcomes than non-GIH students? (3) are GIH students more likely to report poor communications with Housing staff than non-GIH students? (4) are GIH students less likely to recommend University Housing to their peers than non-GIH students? In defining answers to these core research questions, the present study employs a four-pronged research methodology: (1) student survey; (2) student interviews; (3) faculty interview; (4) analysis of existing GIH models.
Findings from the student survey, student interviews, and faculty interview elucidate answers to three of the four research questions, with GIH students being more likely to report negative user experiences and poor housing outcomes, and being more likely to recommend University Housing. Findings relating to housing outcomes were inconclusive, demonstrating the need for additional research. Synthesizing these findings with those of the analysis of existing housing models, the present study proposes three specific design solutions for consideration by ASU administration as they invest in systems redesign – decenter student gender in core University Housing system, establish a GIH living-learning community and dedicated staff team comprising Queer faculty, and expand residential community options for all students along cultural identities and extracurricular interests.
ContributorsStetson, Nathan (Author) / Bauer, DB (Thesis director) / Cheung, Patrick (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (Contributor) / Arts, Media and Engineering Sch T (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
Empathy facilitates connections between individuals and fluctuates throughout life, affecting emotions, views, and interactions. Research suggests that behaviorism offers the most logical explanation for the current state of empathy in the United States. While the consequences of interactions with one’s environment have shaped covert and overt empathy behaviors in individuals and groups of individuals across civilizations, this paper combines research from three sectors to illustrate how interactions in the school, art museum, and healthcare environments reverberate significantly throughout American society. Although behaviorism is a major contributing theory throughout this paper, and it is especially relevant in schools, other theories are employed to show various constructs of empathy. Americans tip the scale heavily in favor of individualism over collectivism. The American Dream focuses on individual achievement and welfare, which directly challenges the concept of empathy. This paper delineates the history of empathy in the United States within the three sectors and illustrates how a thoughtfully manipulated school, museum, and healthcare environment can play a vital role in increasing empathy across American society.
ContributorsRyan, Jennifer (Author) / Romano, Adam (Co-author) / Wiseman, Shania (Co-author) / Niebuhr, Robert (Thesis director) / Henriksen, Danah (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (Contributor) / School of Social and Behavioral Sciences (Contributor)
Created2024-05