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Description
The connection between Judaism and Charitable giving was evaluated by researching what Judaism teaches about giving to charity and also how Jews practice these teachings. Primary research was gathered by referring to Jewish texts like the Torah and the Mishneh Torah. Three Jewish people were interviewed about their perspective and practices towards giving and the connection to Judaism. All answers were referenced against the research to determine the most likely causes that Jews give to charity.
ContributorsBloom, Arianna Layla (Author) / LaRosa, Julia (Thesis director) / Ripley, Charles (Committee member) / WPC Graduate Programs (Contributor) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor, Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
Community organizing can be defined as “the coordination of cooperative efforts and campaigning carried out by local residents to promote the interests of their community” (Oxford Dictionary). Yet this term can be interpreted differently based on the interests and issues of a community and those who seek to serve it. Since community organizations are commonly structured to address community needs, their efforts are very different depending on the demographics, regions, and capabilities of the organization itself and its constituencies. The details of community organizing are best understood by learning from current organizations working to reflect the identities and issues of the communities they work for. The current research sought to understand how community organizations operate - from the decision-making process, to coalition-building, to hiring, and beyond - as well as how their impact works in relation to national advocacy efforts. The analyses found within this research can inform audiences on how community organizations measure impact, how they choose to engage in building people power, and how to become involved with these types of organizations.
ContributorsGrijalva Ochoa, Victoria (Author) / Becerra, David (Thesis director) / McLoone, Claire (Committee member) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor) / School of Public Affairs (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
The Mizrahi Jews have greatly influenced current Israeli culture through their music and food. The Mizrahi immigrated from Middle Eastern countries and brought with them their music and food. Their music has changed slowly over time. Musiqa Mizrahit started as music the Mizrahi brought with them when the immigrated to Israel. As they adjusted to Israeli society, they began switching the Arabic words to Hebrew. Musiqa Mizrahit really took off with the creation of cassette recordings that allowed anyone to cheaply record music and share it. As Musiqa Mizrahit became more accessible, it slowly gained popularity across Israel. As popularity for the genre, it slowly became accepted in Israeli society. Up until then, Musiqa Mizrahit had been discriminated against and was not considered part of Israeli culture. Nowadays, Musiqa Mizrahit is very popular and widely accepted in Israel. The food was accepted by the Ashkenazi in the first two decades of the countries existence by the widespread Israeli pushback in Mandatory Palestine and into the existence of the brand new country. now many of the Mizrahi foods are considered part of the Israeli national cuisine.
ContributorsKoester, Samantha Lanette (Author) / Shemer, Judith (Thesis director) / Ali, Souad (Committee member) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor, Contributor, Contributor) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
Despite popular belief, war is a highly regulated endeavor. Military operations cannot be permitted to take place in a regulatory vacuum. According to the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law, there are currently 110 armed conflicts, most of which are non-international. (Today’s Armed Conflicts, 2024) The law of war exists to protect those who are involved and those who are not involved in the conflict. The first step in the regulatory process is understanding what situations trigger different types of law. Understanding conflict characterization and the law's applicability is necessary for prosecution and operations planning. Two primary documents regulate armed conflicts: the Hague Convention and the Geneva Conventions. The Hague Conventions set out rules for conducting war, and the Geneva Conventions protect the victims of war. In this paper, the Geneva Conventions (GC) will be the primary research focus as I am specifically interested in protecting victims. We apply different Geneva Convention rules based on the characterization of a given conflict.
Geneva Conventions give vague regulations applicable to conflicts. The main reason for such vagueness was to make this document universal enough for many states to ratify it. However, such vagueness has political ramifications, as state leaders utilize the gray areas of international law in their interests. (International Committee of the Red Cross, 2023)
One such gray area is the fact that the current international documents do not provide a precise characterization of war. The problem of this uncertainty is that there has been the need to address the legal issues on a case-by-case basis. While I acknowledge that every case should have special attention, it is also essential to bring as much universality to them as possible to make the prosecution process more accessible and make international law more just and predictable. Therefore, this paper answers the following question: How can the text of the Geneva Conventions be strengthened to prevent political biases and increase humanitarian protections?
This topic has a well-developed research foundation. I am relying on some previous works in the area, including the ones written by Corn and Gal. Corn’s “Legal Classifications of Military Operations” focuses on the issue of characterizing non-international armed conflicts and their application to the conflict between the U.S. and al-Queda. Gal’s “Unexplored Outcomes of Tadić” introduces the conflict between the ICC and ICJ in dealing with Tadić precedent. I utilize these scholars’ work as the foundation of the issue I am researching, and I propose solutions to the problems presented by the scholars.
This paper addresses some of the major problems in defining armed conflict in international law, particularly defining non-international armed conflict and defining conflicts between a state and a non-state actor. My two main issues discuss concern (1) establishing the existence of an armed conflict for legal purposes and (2) differentiating between two types of conflict. I look into two sides of a coin: international armed conflict (IAC) and non-international armed conflict (NIAC). The primary debate in characterizing NIAC arises from a disagreement over what constitutes mere violence and what constitutes NIAC. The discussion on IAC arises from arguments aiming at expanding the definition of IAC to the conflicts traditionally classified as NIACs. This second question is essential as the rules governing IAC provide more protection to civilians and POWs compared to the ones governing NIACs.
I started by exploring how international law is applied to conflicts and discussing how different characterizations trigger other parts of the law. I later delved into defining a non-international armed conflict (NIAC), as there is no numeric threshold for what makes mere violence a NIAC. There is a need for a more specific threshold, and some challenges are associated with implementing it.
I later discuss a second major issue: international conflicts that involve a state and a non-state actor. International tribunals should treat such cases as an international armed conflict rather than NIAC and present challenges to applying the law to non-state actors.
ContributorsDzon, Alona (Author) / Hanson, Margaret (Thesis director) / Peskin, Victor (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
This thesis addresses the impact of algorithmic programming on judicial decision-making and the court-appointed attorney (CAA) process, focusing on the intersection of technology and judicial discretion at the Tempe Municipal Court. The primary inquiry of this thesis explores how algorithmic and digital programming, creating an automated system, can enhance equitable access to legal representation for indigent criminal defendants by making the CAA process more uniform. This project implements back-end algorithmic calculations to provide judges with system recommendations by using the Qualtrics survey software to create a digital version of the paper-based Form 5C. The "System Recommendation Tool" streamlines the process by presenting concise encapsulations of defendants' Form 5C responses and algorithmically derived recommendations regarding CAA qualification and contribution amounts.
Significant disparities between the digital system's recommendations and judicial outcomes emerge through analyzing 80 Form 5Cs and their corresponding judicial decisions. These disparities underscore the need for further refinement of the digital system and the possibility of increased use of judicial discretion and consideration of additional factors beyond the Form 5C. While recognizing the system's potential benefits, this research emphasizes the importance of continuous testing and refinement and ongoing consultation with judges. Ultimately, the digital system is a complementary tool to judicial decision-making rather than a replacement.
ContributorsSharma, Poorva (Author) / Broberg, Gregory (Thesis director) / Kane, Kevin (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / School of Social Transformation (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
Examining the effect of various factors such as class, gender, and status on health inequalities in India is crucial for improving access to health services. However, most research on castes in India is done using broad, government-defined categories, including “Scheduled Castes,” “Scheduled Tribes,” “Forward Classes,” and “Other Backwards Classes.” These general categories erase the experiences that more specific caste groups have in their health and their livelihood. Using the 2015-2016 Demographic and Health Survey of India, this study analyzes data on 699,686 women aged 15-49 to investigate the association of socioeconomic status, assessed by wealth, education, and community status on two types of contraceptive use–sterilization and other modern methods. Those with secondary education or higher were much less likely to be sterilized and more likely to use non-sterilization forms of modern contraception. Interestingly, those with greater household wealth were more likely to be sterilized but had no different chance of using non-sterilization forms of modern contraception. After controlling for other socioeconomic factors, members of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes are more likely to be sterilized. However, there was additional heterogeneity between groups, with Muslim groups and Northeastern tribes much less likely to be sterilized, and Southern tribes more likely to be sterilized. Moreover, Muslim groups as well as Northern and Northeastern tribes were more likely to use non-sterilizations forms of contraception, whereas Southern tribes were less likely to use non-sterilization forms of contraception. These findings illustrate that in addition to differences by major caste categories, there is still religious and regional variation in the likelihood of using different forms of contraception. Future research should examine how unique community factors erased within the already present government caste system can affect health. In addition, more research should be done on the various effects of discrimination faced by these communities and how this discrimination affects their health education, access, and autonomy.
ContributorsChandra, Natasha (Author) / Hruschka, Daniel (Thesis director) / Drake, Alexandria (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Human Evolution & Social Change (Contributor) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
With a recent boom in the popularity of Large Language Model (LLM) chatbots such as ChatGPT, the generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) landscape has seen a massive increase in market size. Along with this boom in generative AI, other sectors of AI have seen massive growth as well. One such area of interest is the Edge AI software market. Because this market is so new, there is an immense amount of room for growth and profit since most firms have yet to obtain a firm foothold in this space. Therefore, it makes sense that Intel is seeking to enter this market. With the successful release of OpenVINO, an open-source AI development and optimization program, and GETi, a program for the development and deployment of computer vision models, Intel is seeking to understand the market landscape, overall potential returns, and broad applications for contingency in various scenarios before making further investments into this market.
Through our in-depth analysis of the market, which examines current competitors, and includes top-down and bottom-up analyses, we were able to create a detailed picture of potential market states, their effects on our recommendation, and the initial outlay needed for Intel to actively pursue our recommendation. As for our final recommendation, we believe that Intel should continue to market OpenVINO to draw users into Intel’s hardware ecosystem, similar to what Apple did with the iPhone, which will allow Intel to obtain a greater market share and long-term user loyalty. Software-hardware synergies will continue to drive an increase in Intel’s overall profits. This secondary source of hardware sales will be insulated from the cyclical nature of the CPU market, allowing for less variability in revenues during market downturns. This decrease in the hardware sales cycle should lead to higher stock prices and increase stakeholder confidence. Successful implementation of these strategies boosts the success of future Intel product launches and stops any competitors from entering the market, solidifying Intel’s hold on its market share.
ContributorsMto, Penina Feza (Author) / Bombardieri, Tristan (Co-author) / Stearns, Dawson (Co-author) / Trufanov, Nicholas (Co-author) / Simonson, Mark (Thesis director) / Hertzel, Mike (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Finance (Contributor) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
The goal of this study was to investigate the possibility of catch bond formation between nectin and actin during cellular adhesion by modeling the actin-filament binding protein, afadin, out of equilibrium. This was done through the in silico methodology of Molecular Dynamics (MD); more specifically using Steered Molecular Dynamics (SMD) and Replica Exchange Molecular Dynamics (REMD). The methodology of this experiment centered around generating physiologically probable structures through REMD, then using MD and SMD methods to generate structures in the absence and presence of force respectively. These structures were then analyzed through Solvent Accessible Surface Area (SASA) measurements to assess the overall compactness of the structure, which led to implicit observations on the overall resistance of force that this structure has. Overall, it was found that the structure displayed more compact conformations in the presence of force as the SASA values of the binding pocket and individual residues involved in the system tend to decrease as force was applied. This is indicative of more stable conformations and a force resistant quality that is indicative of catch bonding, thus leading to the natural conclusion that this structure displays catch bond character.
ContributorsChapman, Jonathan (Author) / Singharoy, Abhishek (Thesis director) / Beckstein, Oliver (Committee member) / Ros, Robert (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
In 2022, a previous team of computer science and accounting students worked together to design and build a fully-functioning website to automate accounting transactions. They created dynamic accounting applications using software frameworks such as React and Express. They then used the services provided by Amazon Web Services to make the website available online. The stakeholders of the project wanted to expand upon the services provided by the website so they entrusted our team with implementing new features and applications to the software system. Using the same software frameworks and services of the previous team, we redesigned the website and increased its functionality to better meet the needs of accounting automation.
ContributorsJain, Sejal (Author) / Macabou, Elise (Co-author) / Lim, Jonathan (Co-author) / Villani, Jacob (Co-author) / Chen, Yinong (Thesis director) / Hunt, Neil (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Information Systems (Contributor) / Computer Science and Engineering Program (Contributor) / School of Public Affairs (Contributor) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
The primary channel responsible for cold thermo-transduction in mammals is the transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8) channel. TRPM8 is a polymodal, nonselective cation channel with an activation that is dependent on a variety of signals, including the membrane potential, calcium concentration, temperature, and ligands such as menthol. Mathematical modeling provides valuable insight into biochemical phenomena, such as the activity of these channels, which are difficult to observe experimentally. Here, we propose a TRPM8 gating model, represented as a system of ordinary differential equations with menthol, calcium, voltage, and temperature dependencies. We use voltage-clamp data from transfected HEK293 cells in the presence of menthol to create a menthol-dependent voltage shift of activation. We fit the parameters of the TRPM8 gating model to replicate experimental TRPM8 transfected HEK293 cell voltage clamp electrophysiology data using a genetic algorithm. Using k-means clustering, we note eight clusters within 110 total parameter sets consisting of parameter solutions that provide a good fit to the experimental data. We then replicate novel fixed-voltage temperature ramp and fixed-temperature voltage ramp experimental data, demonstrating that our model can replicate the dynamic behaviors of TRPM8. With this TRPM8 gating model, we analyze the various parameter sets obtained from the genetic algorithm and find that different parameter combinations of calcium decay, calcium voltage shift of activation, and temperature sensitivity are able to match static voltage clamp data although differ in their effects on hysteresis and maximal current within prolonged temperature ramp simulations.
ContributorsDudebout, Eric (Author) / Crook, Sharon (Thesis director) / Van Horn, Wade (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor)
Created2024-05