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- Creators: College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Description
This thesis explores the role that diverse global perspectives play in informing culturally and politically considerate approaches to healthcare provision, aiming to understand how being a global citizen can aid healthcare professionals in their approaches to providing effective treatment and supporting equitable healthcare access. This project focuses on the lasting impacts of political and social disruption within the historical contexts of Eastern Europe, Eurasia, and beyond, revealing insights into the political, social, and cultural factors that inform public health systems and patient experiences. These insights, drawn from complex historical contexts, offer lessons that are applicable in addressing healthcare disparities and challenges in diverse populations worldwide, demonstrating the importance of healthcare provision that values cultural specificity and transnational understanding. The research conducted for this thesis is compiled in a series of 10 reflective essays, developed through participation in ten respective events hosted by the Melikian Center for Russian, Eurasian, and East European Studies at Arizona State University. These essays form the foundation of this project and are supported by associated background readings and additional research publications. Through an analysis of diverse geopolitical contexts, this thesis illustrates how patient care and equitable access to care are shaped by historical and political contexts, and how understanding these factors is essential for medical professionals seeking to provide equitable and effective healthcare in an increasingly interconnected world.
ContributorsKey, William (Author) / Jakubczak, Laura (Thesis director) / Inozemtseva, Julia (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor)
Created2025-05
Description
This study evaluates the influence of the Knowledge Donor Program (KDP), a high-fidelity surgical simulation platform, on a surgical resident’s confidence and preparedness in performing midline laparotomy closure. Participants' perceptions of program efficacy and value were collected through surveys, and closure time data was collected following one resident (Resident 8) over a 5-month period. Survey data demonstrated significant perceptions of training effectiveness (p=0.027) and value (p<0.001). Timing data revealed a non-significant, negative relationship between closure and knot time compared to the number of days in training. These results suggest that the KDP is a valuable tool to increase resident confidence and preparedness in surgical training.
ContributorsBallecer, Ethan (Author) / Michalec, Barret (Thesis director) / Gray, Kayla (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor)
Created2025-05
Description
This thesis explores the novel research that connects our diet with cancer. As cancer research continues, the role of the gut microbiome in cancer prevention becomes increasingly more important. Research links the health of the gut microbiome to the health of our body, which includes cancer risk. This thesis explores how our diet and the gut microbiome can enable or prevent carcinogenesis. The role of dysbiosis and chronic inflammation is also explored. By exploring examples of notable biomolecules and dietary patterns, an ideal dietary pattern for cancer prevention will emerge. By keeping our gut microbiome healthy through our diet, we can begin to build a dietary defence against cancer.
ContributorsHernandez Sumano, Jorge (Author) / Barca, Lisa (Thesis director) / Drost, Jennifer (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor)
Created2025-05
Description
Rubisco activase is a chaperone-like AAA+ ATPase essential for maintaining
photosynthetic activity by releasing inhibitory sugar phosphates from Rubisco’s active site. In
higher plants, including spinach, Rca exists in α and β isoforms and is believed to function
primarily as a nucleotide-dependent hexamer. Despite recent structural insights, questions remain
about the full-length assembly of Rca and its interaction with Rubisco under physiological
conditions.
Here, we present a detailed biochemical and structural analysis of spinach β-Rca,
including an improved purification protocol, oligomerization behavior under defined nucleotide
conditions, and structural characterization using negative stain electron microscopy. Both
SoβRca and Rubisco were purified to homogeneity, with SoβRca consistently forming hexamers
in the presence of ATPγS. When mixed under activating conditions, SoβRca and Rubisco
produced a reproducible early-eluting peak in SEC, distinct from either protein alone. Negative
stain imaging of these fractions revealed large, asymmetric assemblies containing multiple
Rubisco-like particles–raising the possibility of higher-order interactions. However, no strong
conclusion can be drawn due to the low abundance of SoβRca in these fractions and the
uncertainty surrounding the identity and stoichiometry of the observed complexes.
Higher-resolution work, and further trials are required to resolve the structure and determine the
relevance of these complexes.
ContributorsCarsten, Alexander (Author) / Chiu, Po-Lin (Thesis director) / Klein-Seetharaman, Judith (Committee member) / Sarkar, Susanta (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor) / School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (Contributor) / Department of Physics (Contributor)
Created2025-05
Description
Understanding the impact of macronutrient consumption on immune function across species has broad implications for both ecological and biomedical research. This paper presents a comparative analysis between desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) and various vertebrate models, focusing on how diet modulates immune responses to pathogenic infections. Previous research demonstrated that desert locusts infected with Metarhizium robertsii fungal pathogen exhibited increased resistance when fed a carbohydrate-biased diet compared to those on a protein-biased diet. This observation parallels findings from invertebrate and vertebrate models, including fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster), mice (Mus musculus) and chickens (Gallus gallus). Studies with D. melanogaster found that the protein:carbohydrates intake ratio can alter the expression of immune-related genes and modify an organism's resistance to fungal pathogens. Studies in mice have shown that carbohydrate-rich diets improve immune resilience and reduce susceptibility to viral infections like influenza, whereas protein-dominant diets can exacerbate disease outcomes. Similarly, in chickens, balanced diets with adequate carbohydrates support mucosal immunity and help control Salmonella colonization. By comparing immune responses across these taxonomic groups, we highlight the evolutionary conservation of nutritional immunology and justify the use of desert locusts as a complementary model for studying macronutrient-driven immune mechanisms. This cross-species perspective can inform human health interventions, particularly in optimizing diet for better health outcomes.
ContributorsLichaa, Tamir (Author) / Harrison, Jon (Thesis director) / Cease, Arianne (Thesis director) / Tahir, Mehreen Syeda (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor)
Created2025-05
Description
Fad diets are trendy, and come and go. They are a very profitable business to take part in. It is common for people to be against fad diets, yet so many people still try them. The people who try these diets are often vulnerable, trying to lose weight or to improve their health, and lack a foundation in nutrition knowledge. This makes them easy targets for the marketing of fad diets, which target people's fears and give them hope of improving their health. The people selling these diets misuse their credentials and data to provide their diets credibility that they are helpful and can do more than they do. People's cultures can also play into fad diets, especially with many cultures having a pressure to be thin.
ContributorsMorlock, Alexis (Author) / Connell, Janice (Thesis director) / McMullen, Mary (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences (Contributor) / School of Social and Behavioral Sciences (Contributor) / School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor)
Created2025-05