This abstract is intended to explain the main ideas and thoughts pertaining to the author's experiences over time while attending Arizona State University and how certain course teachings have created a more positive outcome in life for the author. The goal of this Independent Study Thesis is to convey the great significance that the Information Measurement Theory (IMT) courses' ideas and teachings have contributed to the author's life and how they have increased the author's overall quality and outlook on life, not only from an academic standpoint and setting, but also in every facet. Based on this, the author's intention is to convey the new skills obtained regarding The Kashiwagi Solution Model (KSM) as they pertain to Information Measurement Theory (IMT), based on the author's own recent experiences in college with what he has learned, and to explain how they have helped tremendously. This is mainly comprised of information based on the external sources and writings of Dr. Dean Kashiwagi, and also direct resources and teachings by Dr. Dean Kashiwagi and Dr. Jacob Kashiwagi that have greatly contributed to the author's overall understanding of Information Measurement Theory (IMT), its revolutionary new ways of thinking, and the new skill sets developed from it as well. This will also focus on the benefits that can occur for anyone by applying the various aspects of The Kashiwagi Solution Model (KSM), through the use of the concepts of Information Measurement Theory (IMT), and to convey the author's findings pertinent to helping mitigate stress in life, while also being able to enter into any situation or event with a more positive mindset in order to help conclude that event successfully and with the increased potential for a more positive outcome. This idea of always striving to have a more positive mindset in order to complete a task, goal, or event in life in a more positive and successful way is exactly what the author will focus on, mostly pertaining to the author's own life experiences, referred to as Mind Over Matter with IMT. This Thesis idea of Mind Over Matter with IMT stems from some of the main aspects that the author found to be most impressive and significant in the honors courses offered at ASU by Dr. Dean Kashiwagi and Dr. Jacob Kashiwagi, mainly because of the fact that they inform students of some new ways to help mitigate stresses and anxieties in their lives and to more accurately predict the outcome of future events based on using deductive logic and expertise. This leads to focusing more on dominant information in order to obtain the key ideas and main points of any situation, rather than requiring additional and superfluous details, data, and minutia. The fact that the courses also focus on natural laws and initial conditions of events have proven to be extremely useful because of their significant importance to determining the final conditions and concluding outcome of events, of which many people tend to not even be aware at first when initially learning about Information Measurement Theory (IMT). Because of this, the Deductive Logic and Information Measurement Theory courses offered at ASU have proven to offer invaluable insight, great knowledge, unique ideas, and alternative ways of thinking to the author, which have contributed greatly to the author's increased success as a student enrolled at Arizona State University over these past years. Keywords: Kashiwagi Solution Model (KSM); Information Measurement Theory (IMT); Deductive Logic; initial conditions; final conditions; natural law; Mind Over Matter

The relationship between mental illness (or "madness," as Socrates labeled psychosis, as well as a wide range of states of thought and emotion [Jamison, 1993]) and creativity has been noted since before the times of Socrates. The questions that this noted relationship pose are significant. Famous authors, poets, artists, and musicians who suffered from various forms of mental illness are littered throughout history. Edgar Allen Poe himself noted, "Men have called me mad but the question is not yet settled, whether madness is or is not the loftiest intelligence \u2014 whether much that is glorious \u2014 whether all that is profound \u2014 does not spring from disease of thought \u2014 from moods of mind exalted at the expense of the general intellect." Only in recent years have researchers begun to classify these disorders of past artists using modern diagnostic measures. While the concept of a relationship between creativity and mental illness is fascinating in and of itself, understanding the implications of a possible correlation is essential to the care and treatment that individuals with the diseases are given. If, indeed, creativity is linked with affective disorders, what does this mean for the treatment of these disorders? By eliminating the symptoms of mood disorders, are we also inadvertently eliminating creativity? It is important to acknowledge the possibility that mental illnesses like bipolar disorder include benefits to those afflicted. How can we treat the negative symptoms of mood disorders while enhancing the positive symptoms? In order to conclude that there is a link between creativity and mood disorders, it is first necessary to reexamine and reestablish the processes by which mood disorders are diagnosed. Although currently diagnosed on a categorical scale \u2014 meaning the patient is diagnosed under the black-and-white category of manic or depressive at a given point in time \u2014 this paper will argue that mood disorders can be better diagnosed and treated on a continuum of mood states. Furthermore, by viewing mood disorders on such a continuum, writers like Anne Sexton and Sylvia Plath, whose diagnoses are debated by historians and professionals, can be established as having a diagnosable affective disorder, since both experienced symptoms of depression and mania, if not in the precise timing and manner proscribed by the Diagnostic Manual. Finally, by determining these writers' diagnoses, a relationship can be explored between their creative states and their mood states.

A total of 154 families were included in the larger study in which this study is situated. A sub-sample of 32 parent-child dyads (balanced in terms of parent and child gender and ethnicity) were randomly selected for in-depth content analysis of transcript and video data. The fourth-grade students and their parents were recruited from elementary schools, community recreation centers, and public libraries. Each dyad participated in six science activities while researchers audio and video recorded sessions, which were then transcribed and coded for expressions of encouragement and discouragement. Parents filled out questionnaires while children were interviewed. Parents did not report that science was more important for one gender over the other. A significant difference in encouragement and discouragement based on child gender was not found. A significant difference in encouragement based on parental beliefs was not found, but a significant difference in discouragement based on parental beliefs was found. Neither parental beliefs nor parental behaviors predicted how children rated interest in the science activities they participated in. The implications and limitations of this study are discussed.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of various sodium and calcium-based saline treatments on the germination and early growth of Leucaena leucocephala. The evaluation of calcium-based salts has never been studied for its effects on Leucaena leucocephala. This experiment utilized 5 increasing concentrations of sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and a 1:1 ratio of NaCl: CaCl2. The growth and germination of these seeds were recorded over the course of 11 days. Two trials of this experiment were run- the first using seeds collected from ASU's Polytechnic campus and the second using seeds collected from roadside landscaping. The results of both trials indicated that germination and early growth are affected by the different saline treatments. For trial one, the seeds germinated best under treatments involving either 0.0125 or 0.025 M CaCl2 or NaCl: CaCl2. For trial two, the seeds germinated best under treatments involving either 0.025 or 0.05 M CaCl2 or NaCl: CaCl2. Thus, seeds from Leucaena leucocephala are best germinated under saline treatments consisting of either just calcium chloride or a 1:1 mixture of sodium chloride and calcium chloride.

My thesis project, "Reforming the NCAA: How the governing body of intercollegiate athletics should handle student-athletes into the future," sets out to create a working blueprint for how the NCAA should handle the relationship between student-athletes, universities, and the NCAA from this point forward. The NCAA has come under fire in the past 10 years for its failure to meet modern social constructs and provide student-athletes with the resources necessary to achieving a successful educational and athletic experience, and through my thesis, I formulated reforms the NCAA can adopt and enact to respond to the growing issues within intercollegiate athletics. I began the process last spring with my thesis director as we selected a topic together, and I researched a variety of topics relating to current NCAA issues throughout the summer and fall. In the fall, I outlined sources I hoped to interview, and I conducted interviews over winter break. I spent the first two months of 2015 writing and refining my thesis, and through March, I created a PowerPoint presentation I used to defend my thesis project. During the process, I met with my thesis director at critical junctures to discuss the direction of the project and to determine how to find a delicate balance between creating attainable goals for reform and overstepping my boundaries. After a successful thesis defense, I made small revisions to the thesis and had my project re-approved by my director and second reader. In the coming weeks after submitting my thesis, I plan on exploring the possibility of having my thesis published and received critiques from those in the industry who follow collegiate athletics closely.

Looking into the school community cohesion and how refugee youth integrate into schools is important when addressing refugee resettlement issues at large. It is important that school community identity (SCI) formation for refugee high school youth is understood in order to develop school programs that can better assist integration process of refugee families. Looking at high school refugee youth from Arizona a model was created that better displays the specifics this study found when dealing with this population. Unlike non-refugee high school youth, refugee youth do not develop school community cohesion through voice, resonance, or empowerment like other studies have shown. This study shows that they must first develop a SCI before they can have a strong school community presence. School community identity is an important first step that facilitates sense of school community. Two focus groups were down at the Somali American United Council, and from these two groups four common themes surfaced: faculty support, emotional security, cultural understanding, and partnership/collaboration. Using these themes a refugee school identity model was created to represent the data collected. The participants in the focus group often told stories and used phrases that indicated a lack of identity in their school, and no claims to a need of a voice within their school community was mentioned. This indicates that refugee students need an identity within their school community before they will express a need for voice or influence.

This project examines the secretive world of the Venture Capital Industry specifically focusing on the ideology of gender inequality. Through research it has been found that females within the industry at the partnership level have actually decreased. By completing a literature review, we found that there were several biases and stereotypes that are prevalent within the industry and could be contributing factors for the decreasing participation. Following our literature review, we focused on a sample of 100 from the LPJ Index, and gathered data on all individuals listed, those at the partnership level and all other individuals within the industry. Through analyzing our data we found that female participation at the partner level is low and more importantly that 68% of firms do not even have a female partner in their ranks. We found that male and female partners have relatively the same education and the same areas of interest, which should suggest that they are on the same playing field, which is clearly not represented in the partnership composition, where males are dominating the industry. These findings lend credence to some of the deep rooted stereotypes that are facing females in the Venture Capital Industry and could explain why there are not many opportunities for them. Through future research and participation from firms to actively help increase the opportunities for women, the gender inequality that is facing the Venture Capital Industry can begin to narrow.

Armenia is a radiant and unique country, known primarily for its vast history, delicious food, and traditional folklore dance. Although Armenia was constantly ravaged by invading armies, the nation was strong enough to retain its own identity and culture. The rich dance heritage remained a living tradition into the 20th century, when the Turks tried to destroy the dance heritage and left fragments of the dances. Even though many of these fragments were lost due to urbanization, the dance techniques are still continuously studied by scholars and people all around the world.  For my creative project, I chose to perform an Armenian Folk Dance, as dance is an immense part of Armenian’s lives, and is an essential part of the Armenian cultural heritage. Dance is one of the primary ways by which one can observe and gain understanding of the Armenian people, their identity and culture. Dance is a way for Armenians to express themselves, as it is a form of art which combines elements of their rich culture, event-filled past, and their spiritual nature. The folklore dance has always sustained a leading role throughout Armenian history, as it runs through the blood of Armenians, being passed down from generation to generation. The Armenian people have survived and endured various historical challenges, but they have been able to preserve their unique dance elements and forms. To this day, Armenians continue to use dance to keep their culture and identity alive. It is a way to express freedom, and celebrate that even though we as a nation have faced many hardships, us Armenians have survived, and will always continue to survive with our faith, passion, determination, and strong will.

This full-length, two-act play explores the way loss brings together and tears apart two families in the United States, a lower-middle class Mexican family and a relatively wealthy white family. Throughout the play we explore family dynamics, culture, and how we all ultimately cope with navigating a complex and often devastating world. While this thesis project has completed the honors requirements, the play itself is still under construction. The version you see here is a final thesis project, but not a final product.

This study addresses the question: is it possible for consumers to make informed decisions regarding their privacy, while using smartphones, in the face of the complex web of actors, incentives, and conveniences afforded by the technology? To address this question, the Social Construction of Technology (SCOT) model is used to analyze common situations consumers find themselves engaged in. Using the SCOT model, relevant actors are identified; their interpretations of various technologies are expressed; relative power is discussed; and possible directions for closure are examined. This analysis takes place by looking at three specific themes within privacy disputes in general: anonymity, confidentiality, and surveillance. These themes are compared and contrasted in regards to their impact on perception of privacy and implications for closure. Arguments are supported through evidence drawn from scholarship on the topic as well as industry and news media. Conclusions are supported through the framework of anticipatory governance.