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Truck drivers and autonomous trucks: a topic modeling analysis of truck driver posts
No full textSocial media provides a rich, alternative data source to interviews or survey-based research to study hard-to-reach populations (e.g., truck drivers, because of their transient work structure and unique subculture). This study uses public social media posts from the largest trucking forum in the United States to examine truck drivers’ views on autonomous trucks (ATs), which are poised to transform the trucking industry. We expand on traditional qualitative strategies of analyzing social media data by combining newer methods, including BERT-based topic modeling, sentiment analysis, stance detection, emotion analysis, topic similarity, and location analysis through a social interaction network, to analyze a large qualitative sample of social media posts (N = 4,245 posts from 1,319 users). Our BERT-based topic modeling results corroborated with research using traditional qualitative analytic approaches that drivers expressed a generally unfavorable view towards ATs, driven by a lack of trust in their feasibility and effective implementation, and concern for displacement. This study advances our current knowledge of truck drivers views of ATs by offering more comprehensive and nuanced insights enabled by novel combination of emerging methods for analyzing passive and active use of social media data, including sentiment analysis, stance detection, emotion analysis, and location analysis
Metacognition and the 5Cs of Positive Youth Development Programs: A Review of Metacognitive Interventions
Full text linkPositive youth development (PYD) programs have increased positive outcomes for adolescents, however research on the underlying change processes in these programs remains limited. The 5Cs (Competence, Confidence, Character, Caring and Connection) of PYD are a framework of desirable outcomes for youth programs. Change to metacognition is proposed as a mechanism by which PYD programming accomplishes these outcomes. This review describes findings from metacognitive interventions with PYD-relevant outcomes in adolescents aged 10-24. Fifteen electronic databases were searched using keyword phrases related to “metacognitive intervention” and “adolescents”. Seventeen studies met inclusion criteria. Included studies addressed 2 of the 5 goals of PYD programs (competence and confidence). Four studies included Randomized Control Trial and nine studies used quasi-experimental designs. Statistically significant improvements to study outcomes were seen in every study but one, with most studies examining cognitive competencies. Themes in the studies included 1) explicit instruction in metacognition and 2) measurement of metacognition. Metacognitive changes may, at least in part, explain the effects of PYD programs. Researchers should consider including metacognitive measures to explore their relationship to program outcomes. Understanding the change underlying PYD interventions will enhance researchers’ and practitioners’ ability to facilitate constructive and positive development in youth
Understanding Student Attitudes Towards Drug Deflection/Diversion
Full text linkDeflection and diversion programs continue to expand as a response to the opioid epidemic. These programs rely on officer discretion for referrals to treatment over arrest. While the number of programs grow each year, little is known about how officers make these discretionary choices. Additionally, little is known about who the community prefers to receive treatment referrals and if officers’ discretionary choices align with community expectations. In order to better understand who the community expects to be referred to treatment, I administered a survey to 457 undergraduate students examining their attitudes towards drugs and drug treatment. Students were shown five randomized, hypothetical offender profiles as part of a conjoint experiment where they selected which offender they would prefer to be sent to treatment. Overall, students preferred younger offenders to be referred to treatment over older offenders. Students were more likely to refer Black offenders to treatment than white offender and were more likely to offenders with prior drug convictions. Each drug presented in the conjoint had a positive effect on referrals for treatment, while shoplifting and burglary offenses were less likely to be referred to treatment. Undergraduate student preferences may not align with what prior research has demonstrated about officer discretion. Officers may treat marijuana offenses less punitively than other drugs and exclude offenders with prior records from diversion and deflection programs. However, students may prefer these kinds of offenders be referred to treatment. These findings can be used to inform law enforcement agencies when developing policies for treatment referrals
Interobserver Agreement of Human Osteological Analysis on the Szeged, Hungary Skeletal Collection
Full text linkBiological anthropologists develop human skeletal biological profiles to identify skeletal remains and build demographic knowledge of past and modern peoples. Biological anthropologists estimate age-at-death, sex, stature, ancestry, and the presence of injury or pathology to develop biological profiles. While biological profiles are at the basis of the work anthropologists perform, there is a lack of research concerning the reproducibility and interobserver agreement rates of the methods used to create biological profiles. Due to the risk of variability stemming from the education, training, and experience of observers, along with variation that can arise from population affinity, examining the interobserver agreement rates of observers using these methods is imperative to determine where variability exists to combat it and strengthen the methods used by anthropologists when developing biological profiles.
This study used human skeletal remains provided by the University of Szeged, Hungary, to examine interobserver agreement on the biological profiles developed by Clemson University students in 2023 and 2024. The aspects of the biological profile analyzed within this research are age-at-death estimation, sex estimation, and the presence of pathology. This research proposed two possible outcomes: either there will be no significant statistical differences between the aspects of the biological profiles created by students in 2023 and 2024, or there will be a significant statistical difference between the aspects of the biological profiles created by students in 2023 and 2024. This study is unique as it solely focuses on biological profiles created by students. Undergraduate and graduate students play an essential role in anthropological research; their roles and contributions are often not considered in this study\u27s analysis. Furthermore, this study adds to a work neglected in anthropological studies. Reproducibility studies are few and far between within the field but they are vital to scientific research. Studies that test interobserver agreement must be conducted to explore where variability exists; only then can it be remedied.
To test the hypothesis proposed, Cohen\u27s Kappa was used to determine the interobserver agreement of observers\u27 estimations of the categorical variables, sex, age categories, and the presence of pathology. T-tests were used to determine the interobserver agreement of the observers\u27 estimations of the continuous variables of numerical age estimations using transition analysis and non-metric methods. The Kappa and T-tests resulted in the findings of moderate agreement of age categories, fair agreement of sex estimation, moderate agreement of the identification of cribra orbitalia, moderate agreement of the identification of osteoarthritis, no significant statistical differences of age estimation using non-metric methods, and no significant statistical differences using transition analysis. The statistical analysis produced resulted in the ability to reject the null hypothesis. Thus, there were no significant statistical differences between the aspects of the biological profiles created by students in 2023 and 2024. While the findings of this study align with the few studies that examine the interobserver agreement of profiles created solely by undergraduate students, the results were typically lower than those conducted using professional anthropologists and graduate students.
While this research found no significant differences between the profiles created by students, there is still much room for improvement as variability exists within every aspect of the biological profiles tested. This research calls for increased reproducibility and repeatability studies within biological anthropology. More research must investigate how observers\u27 educational attainment, training, and experience can affect interobserver variability. Furthermore, this study identifies that an open-science approach could greatly benefit future research. Open access to methodology studies, validity testing, population and observer sample details, and data collection procedures allow for transparency, and future researchers will have an easier time facilitating reproducibility testing. Moreover, allowing students to engage with methodological and reproducibility studies helps them improve their knowledge of the concepts they are introduced to in their anthropology courses. Allowing students unrestricted access to anthropological work equips them with the necessary skills and understanding of the methods they will use in their coursework, produce research, and inspire future professional endeavors.
Additionally, the standardization of methodology and education within biological anthropology must be reinforced. As Galloway and Simmons (1997) and Passalaqua and Pilloud (2020) note, there are discrepancies between the topics, training, coursework, and methods undergraduate and graduate students learn. Standardization is needed in classrooms and anthropological texts to combat these differences that can lead to variability
The Impact of Irrigation on Agricultural Land Values in the United States Southeast and an Analysis of Farmland Prices in South Carolina
No full textLand is a key component of the agriculture industry in the United States. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, farm real estate (land and buildings) accounted for 82.8% of total US farm sector assets in 2022, consequently making land the largest source of wealth in a farmer’s investment portfolio and the primary source of collateral used for farm operating loans. The Southeastern region of the United States has seen rapid farmland appreciation and intense population growth in recent years. This research investigates the rising farmland prices across the Southeast from both a regional and state-level perspective. Chapter Two estimates the impact of irrigation adoption on agricultural land values in the Southeast using a linear fixed effects hedonic price model. Results reveal that the benefits of irrigation adoption are positively capitalized into higher farmland prices in the Southeast. We also find that population growth exerts tremendous upward pressure on farmland prices across the region. Chapter Three analyzes farmland market transactions in South Carolina using a novel data set consisting of land sales records from county tax assessor offices. Results reveal that farmland prices in South Carolina differ substantially across crop types and parcel size. We similarly find that population density is a key driver of farmland prices in South Carolina, with parcels proximate to urban areas exhibiting much higher prices than those in rural areas. Collectively, these studies provide insights into agricultural land valuation in the Southeast and farmland market transactions in a state experiencing rapid population growth
The Effect of Mango Consumption on Diet and Health Parameters in School-Aged Children
No full textThe recommended fruit consumption for children aged 9 to 13 years old is 1 ½ to 2 cups daily, but the average fruit intake ranges from 0.91 to 0.93 cups daily. Along with the under consumption of fruit, obesity in children is on the rise. The most recent NHANES reported 19.3% were obese. Mango (Mangifera Indica) offers several nutritional benefits including vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants, which may positively influence health outcomes. The purpose of the study was to examine the short-term effects of mango consumption and mango-based education on specific health parameters, behaviors, and knowledge among school-aged children. Participants who completed the study (n=140) were 4th and 5th grade students in rural South Carolina. Over six weeks, participants received weekly mango servings and lessons on mango nutrition, preparation, and origin. During the intervention, students were asked to track the amount of mango consumed daily. Students tracked daily mango intake, and pre-/post-intervention questionnaires assessed perceived knowledge, behaviors, and consumption. Physical measurements included anthropometrics, grip strength, blood pressure, and carotenoid levels. Paired t-tests and linear regressions were used for data analysis. Post-intervention, participants reported significantly improved mango knowledge and perceived intake (p \u3c 0.05), but overall fruit consumption remained unchanged. Significant improvements were observed in the Veggie Meter scores (p \u3c 0.001), grip strength (RHGS and LHGS: p-valu
Modeling DNA repair in Escherichia coli using a Boolean and Stochastic Framework
Full text linkDNA can be damaged through both internal and external sources. Therefore, cells have created methods to repair DNA damage. In Escherichia coli, the system responsible for DNA repair is termed the SOS response. This system consists of more than 50 genes and contains three main repair pathways: nucleotide excision repair, translesion synthesis, and homologous recombination. The response is initiated when DNA lesions result in the accumulation of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). The protein RecA is activated by binding to ssDNA and is then denoted RecA*. RecA* assists in the auto-cleavage of LexA which is the primary repressor protein involved in the SOS system. Inactivation of LexA allows for the transcription of operons, such as umuDC, uvrAB, recX, recN, recX, lexA, dinI, and yebG. In this study, we model the behavior of these genes and their gene products during the SOS response using a stochastic model and a Boolean model. In the stochastic model, we observe oscillations in some of the components of the system as well as two distinct responses: one in which DNA is repaired and the other where DNA is not repaired within 330 minutes. We find that the Boolean model exhibits two fixed points when the SOS system is induced which also suggests an oscillatory behavior and/or bistability. We hypothesize that these observations are due to 1) stalling/restarting the replication fork and 2) proteins inhibiting RecA*. In comparing our model to previous experimental results, we observe that it matches these data
Identification and Environmental Impact of 35 Different Cut Flower Retail Packages in the U.S.A.
Full text linkCut flowers represent 35-billion dollars of global spending with 10-million dollars per day in the U.S.A; each transaction involving packaging. Across the country, cut flower packaging is inconsistently sized, laminated, colored, and unlikely to be recycled. 35 unique cut flower packages were collected across 16 different marketplaces, representing 88% of top grocery retailers. Measuring the materiality of the predominately unlabeled and inconsistent packaging collected required calorimetry equipment, such as Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimeter, and precision gauges. Results unveil five materials representing the cut flower collection: Oriented Polypropylene (OPP), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Paper, Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), and Nonwoven Polypropylene (NW PP). Modified cradle-to-grave life-cycle assessments for all packages were conducted and analyzed using two unique functional unit approaches. The least impactful package was kraft paper, discovered in a farmer’s market, used by a local grower. Although paper was the most environmentally-friendly package in the collection, 80% of U.S.A flowers are imported as of 2025, and uncoated paper is impractical for overseas distribution. Following uncoated paper, OPP had the next lowest impact, protects flowers overseas, is the least expensive solution, but has an unestablished waste stream. HDPE is more impactful and hazier than OPP, but has an established waste stream. Many retailers have existing HDPE drop-off bins on-premises. Retailers need to identify packaging materials, as 82% of the collection was unlabeled, and encourage return of HDPE cut flower packaging to store. Further development of OPP recycling infrastructure is required to properly dispose of the least expensive and most transparent solution found within the collection. Local growers are well-positioned to offer the most environmentally friendly material identified
Silence in the Sound: Impacts of Sound Exposure in Greenville, South Carolina
Full text linkThe known environmental and health concerns have always been air, water, and dirt. Over time, human settlement introduced sound, impacting the environment and those within it. Transportation and daily interactions have continued to contribute to generated noise that is now an ever-present force. With urban planning grounded in health, safety, and well-being, the impact of sound on public health remains under recognized. This research explores the relationship between sound, health, and residential land use, with a focus on Greenville, South Carolina. This study seeks to address the gap between these variables by investigating whether elevated sound levels are present in residential land uses and how they might contribute to health disparities. The key findings of this research show the impact of exposure to noise. In Greenville, residential neighborhoods situated near Pleasantburg Drive generate the loudest noise levels between 4-5pm ET. This is concerning because most residents are likely at home during this time, meaning they are being impacted by the greatest noise exposure. There was no strong variance found between high- and low-income neighborhoods. This suggests that setbacks, vegetation, and landscaping normally found more frequently in high-income neighborhoods are not mitigating noise. Lastly, the greatest finding was the proximity to the highway. The closer to Pleasantburg Drive, the louder the noise generated. From these results, recommended mitigation strategies are provided, along with the encouragement for further research