This research project delves into the effects of Arizona's 'English-Only' law on education and the socioeconomic landscape, with a specific focus on linguistic minorities. By examining language acquisition, cultural identity, and access to public services and opportunities, this investigation sheds light on the unique challenges faced by emergent bilingual students. This study holds particular significance given Arizona's status as one of the few states maintaining such legislation, prompting critical reflections on its impact on linguistic minorities. By examining the constitutionality and legislative intent of ‘English Only” laws, the research seeks to unravel the motivations underlying their implementation. Furthermore, it evaluates the societal repercussions of the law, exploring its influence on the experiences and opportunities of linguistic minorities within Arizona. In the educational domain, the study assesses the law's effects on language acquisition and educational access for linguistic minorities, offering comparative insights with other states' approaches. Ultimately, this research aims to comprehensively analyze the current landscape and provide recommendations for future language-related legislation in Arizona. Given Arizona's distinct position as one of the few states upholding such legislation, this investigation raises critical questions about its implications for linguistic minorities within its borders. The research offers insights into the 'English-Only' law's background, including its constitutional examination and legislative motivations. Additionally, it evaluates the law's societal impact, considering its influence on the experiences and opportunities of linguistic minorities in Arizona. The study investigates the law's consequences on language acquisition and educational access within the academic sphere, drawing comparisons with alternative approaches in other states. Ultimately, this research seeks to provide policymakers and stakeholders with informed recommendations for navigating future language-related legislation in Arizona.

The field of quantum computing is complex and may pose risks to many existing technologies. One of the most prominent risks quantum computers pose is their potential to dismantle or completely bypass current cybersecurity systems. The importance of cybersecurity in today’s world cannot be overstated, as every organization has sensitive data that it wishes to protect. The idea of security protocols being rendered completely ineffective is enough for corporations and governments alike to have a vested interest in the ongoing development of quantum technology. Some organizations are trying to get ahead of the curve by looking into quantum cybersecurity, attempting to develop new security protocols that will be able to resist these quantum cyberattacks. Though the idea of someone being able to completely ignore current cybersecurity protocols is frightening, it is at present entirely theoretical. Quantum computing devices are still incredibly early in development, and are nowhere near able to complete some of the tasks that developers of this technology claim will revolutionize computing as a whole. They are also extremely unreliable at present, often producing a different result every time the same calculation is run. Quantum computing technology still has a long way to go before it poses any real threat, but the technology is still worth understanding.

Adaptive therapy is a novel up-and-coming cancer treatment strategy to minimize chemoresistance in cells to improve patient prognosis. The standard of care cancer treatment has a fixed linear approach known as Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) which promotes an exponential growth of resistant cancer cell populations in the tumor. Through this treatment procedure, a population of chemoresistant cells resurges, decreasing the survival in patients, and narrowing potential treatment options (Gatenby). An assortment of chemotherapeutic drugs and dosing schedules were tested on ER+ endocrine-resistant MCF7 breast cancer cells in an immunodeficient mouse model. After the cessation of treatment, some mouse models’ tumors remained stable or began to shrink. Several immunodeficient mouse models have indicated unexpectedly high levels of neutrophils stemming from an unknown origin. We aim to understand if neutrophils' innate immunity may affect tumor size post-chemotherapy treatment and if it has therapeutic implications along with adaptive therapy. MCF7 breast cancer tumors were extracted from the mice, embedded in wax, and sliced, and immunofluorescence was performed to detect neutrophils and nuclear components. Currently, the protocol is in its third round of optimization.

The gender gap in leadership has been shrinking over time, with women occupying 32% of managerial positions in 1983, and 40.5% of managerial positions in 2022 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2004, 2023). Within the United States, the cultural and social expectations for what it means to be a good leader include having agentic personality traits (Badura et al., 2018), being an active participant in group discussion (Bass, 1990), and expressing primarily achievement and antagonistic emotions (Fischbach et al., 2015). But, does a working man or woman’s desire to have children impact the way others perceive their ability to assume a position of leadership? Approximately one hundred and fifty college students and civil engineers were equally split into five groups. Four of the five groups were instructed to rate a different imaginary coworker, distinguished based on their gender and desire to have kids in the future. The fifth group was instructed to rate their ideal manager. All five groups used a descriptive index with 67 terms in order to complete their respective ratings. The results supported the hypothesis that men who want to have children have character traits that are most similar to those traits used to describe an ideal manager. However, the results did not support the hypothesis that women who want to have children would be least similar to the ideal manager group, as men who do not want to have children were rated least similar.

This thesis explores the strategies utilized when branding and marketing an artist. This idea was inspired by how Taylor Swift's Eras Tour has captured headlines consistently for over a year now. This thesis will discuss how aspects of Taylor Swift’s brand - her core values, fan engagement, co-creation, fear of missing out, scarcity appeal, and nostalgia - have promoted her success. The thesis will then consider what marketing and branding elements led to this phenomenon that an aspiring, or developed, artist can learn from and implement in their career.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) currently lacks a biological diagnostic test, ongoing research is being conducted to develop a urine biomarker test for autism. Researchers are investigating possible anions, such as sulfur-based anions, as a biomarker for autism. Although studies have not measured the quantification of sulfate-based anions within a biospecimen while using Ion Chromatography (IC) for a 24-hour period. Research studies on autism biomarker development could greatly benefit by investigating and quantifying sulfur-based anions such as sulfate, sulfide, sulfite, or thiosulfate. Our research investigated the quantifications of anions through the analysis of biospecimens across 24-hours in an IC. The results of our research indicate that sulfate fluctuates the least and was consistently read by the IC at each time point across 24 hours whereas the other anions of interest presented greater fluctuations and were not detected at each time point across the 24 hours under the conditions tested.

The kynurenine pathway (KP) is a biosynthetic pathway for the catabolism of tryptophan, the amino acid precursor to serotonin. The KP has been linked to neuroinflammation, as inflammatory agents upregulate an early enzyme in the pathway (Davis & Liu, 2015; Wang et al., 2009). In addition, the metabolite quinolinic acid (QA) has been found to induce tau phosphorylation and excess glutamate release, inducing further neuroinflammation (Guillemin, 2012; Rahman et al., 2009). However, in the presence of 2-amino-3-carboxymuconate-6-semialdehyde decarboxylase (ACMSD), the KP shifts away from QA production towards that of picolinic acid (PA), a metabolite with antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Our lab has previously shown that overexpressing ACMSD via adeno-associated virus (AAV) delivery in the alpha-synuclein (α -syn) model of Parkinson's disease (PD) animal model exhibits neuroprotective effects by preventing the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and limiting motor impairments caused by nigrostriatal denervation. Based on these findings, we predicted that ACMSD would provide neuroprotective effects in the P301S tauopathy model of neurodegenerative disease, a mouse model of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Specifically, we hypothesized that ACMSD would ameliorate behavioral deficits, including those related to cognitive and emotional processing. We also predicted that ACMSD overexpression would prevent histological indices of pathology, including the expression of hyperphosphorylated tau, gliosis, and neurodegeneration. As previous findings in the literature have denoted sex differences in pathological outcomes of the P301S mouse model (Sun et al., 2020) with males showing more pronounced behavioral deficits and increased hyperphosphorylated tau than females, we hypothesized that ACMSD would show a higher degree of neuroprotection in male P301S mice. P301S and litter/age-matched wild-type controls underwent stereotaxic surgery at two months of age prior to pathological onset to deliver either an AAV-dHS-ACMSD or AAV-dHS-GFP (control) to the dorsal hippocampus. Prior to euthanasia, the mice underwent the Barnes maze test to assess cognitive function focusing on learning and memory recall. Analysis of this assay revealed that male P301S mice treated with ACMSD displayed a trend toward shorter latency in locating the escape hatch during the Barnes Maze test than untreated males, albeit not significant, suggesting a potential enhancement in spatial learning. At eight and a half months, the mice were killed, and their brains harvested. The tissue underwent immunohistochemistry staining for a marker of hyperphosphorylated tau (AT8), markers of gliosis (Iba1 and GFAP), and the pan-neuronal marker (HuC/D) to quantify pathological indices. Preliminary histological analyses show decreased immunoreactivity of AT8 in the hippocampus of P301S mice injected with ACMSD, compared to those injected with GFP control, indicating potential neuroprotective effects by limiting the amount of hyperphosphorylated tau.

Sphaera Somnium is a 360 degree audiovisual installation that serves as a gateway for individuals to step into a realm filled with speculative spaces, where immersive techniques encourage the human senses to explore uncharted territories. Within Sphaera Somnium, we aim to demonstrate how new spatial media can enrich user experiences and offer glimpses into alternate perspectives. By seamlessly blending audio and visuals, this immersive journey is meant to evoke dreamlike, multi-sensory sensations. The project also offers accessibility to realities that would typically require significant time, expense, and transportation to access. This accessibility not only breaks down physical barriers but also levels the playing field on the cost of experience, making it available to a wider audience regardless of geographical location or financial means. By providing a platform for individuals to engage with these speculative environments, we hope to foster a deeper understanding of our relationship with technology, perception, and the world around us. As participants are transported into these immersive realms, they are encouraged to contemplate the emerging uses of new technologies and how they shape our understanding of reality.