SHAREOK Repository
Not a member yet
49261 research outputs found
Sort by
An Investigation of Digital Transformation Through Public Discourse
No full textDigital transformation has immense significance in the digital era and has garnered extensive research. Understandings of digital transformation are generally situated within an organizational context. In the era of everyday computing, we need a broader understanding of digital transformation as digital technologies transform social institutions and activities beyond organizations. Extensive public discourse about a phenomenon reveals the meaning of the phenomenon that is socially constructed by large community members. Therefore, the socially constructed meaning of digital transformation by a broader community, not just confined to organizational settings, may reveal more insights and consequently contribute to a better understanding of this phenomenon.
In this dissertation, I first asked: what is the socially constructed meaning of digital transformation in public discourse? To answer this question, I collected 6.8 million tweets “talking” about digital transformation as the discourse content. I drew on theoretical lenses of sociomaterial practice, digital objects, and rationality and combined machine learning coding with manual coding to the final text corpus to extract the meaning. The coding results surfaced a rich description of digital transformation, suggesting a new account of the phenomenon: digital transformation is a global rationalization of society catalyzed by digital technologies.
To theoretically strengthen this new account of digital transformation, I explored the second research question: How do digital technologies catalyze the rationalization of social activities? To answer this research question, I leveraged the patterns observed from addressing my first research question—digital technologies, social activities, and manifestations of activity rationalities—for further conceptualization, interpretation, and argumentation. Specifically, I extended the existing conceptualization of digital objects and digital materiality by categorizing material bearers into carriers, processors, transmitters, and converters, categorizing nonmaterial bearers into creators and organizers, and creating an abstraction of the corresponding affordances. I also conceptualized three types of social activities and the main social roles of bitstring in these activities. Based on these conceptualizations, I analyzed and interpreted the topic results and identified six activity transformation processes. I also argued how the digital technology affordances may facilitate these transformation processes and how these transformation processes may lead to higher levels of technical, substantive, communicative, and emancipatory rationalities. Based on these analyses, conceptualizations, interpretations, and argumentations, I propose a new theory of digital transformation.
This new theory posits that digital transformation is a global rationalization of society catalyzed by digital technologies. Specifically, digital technology affordances facilitate six activity transformation processes toward technological, substantive, communicative, and emancipatory rationalities. This new theory accentuates digital transformation’s societal change nature and global scope, the critical role of digital technology affordances, and how this phenomenon drives further rationalization of society. While complementing existing perspectives on digital transformation, this new theory provides a new angle to see digital transformation in a broader perspective and social context, enhancing our understanding of this phenomenon. I conclude this dissertation by discussing the contributions of the new theory of digital transformation to relevant literature and its implications for individuals, business managers, and policymakers
DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF A SYNTHETIC APERTURE RADAR VOLUMETRIC IMAGING SYSTEM
Get PDFSynthetic aperture radar (SAR) is a widely used technique for creating high-resolution images of scenes. While SAR is primarily used for 2-D imaging, there is growing interest in developing SAR imaging for 3-D reconstructions of objects and target scenes. This can be accomplished by adding a vertical motion dimension to the synthetic aperture setup, enabling elevation compression alongside azimuth compression. By employing two orthogonal linear actuators, high-resolution imaging in all three dimensions becomes possible. This thesis describes the design and development of a track-mounted SAR system leveraging a low-cost wideband automotive radar to form high-resolution volumetric images of a near-range target scene. The automotive radar industry has transitioned to operating in the 76 to 81 GHz band, which is ideal for applications requiring short-range target detection. Therefore, this system operates at 77 GHz, enabling precise object location in 3-D space without the drawbacks associated with large bandwidths over long distances. The setup incorporates an automotive radar module, an in-house signal processing toolkit, and a control system designed to autonomously and accurately position the radar evaluation module for sending and receiving radar pulses. These pulses and their corresponding positions are processed using the backprojection algorithm to generate a volumetric image of the target scene
Sportswashing in the Cold War: 1950s American golf
Get PDFThe conclusion of the Second World War brought immense power to the United States of America. The Cold War was the ideological conflict between capitalism and communism; the United States versus the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). Both nations were actively seeking to impose their own social and political practices on developing and recovering countries. Propagandic advertisement of each society was one of the means by which both the USA and the USSR tried to sway other governments. In America, the sport of golf served as a representation and reflection of society as a whole. However, the United States did not effectively use the institution of American golf to successfully sportswash its national image during the Cold War. Literature surrounding golf and the Cold War in the 1950s seldom intersect. It is at this crossroads between sports history and political/diplomatic history that this project finds academic relevance. Many have created works devoted to telling the story of professional and leisure golf during the 1950s but none other than Catherine Lewis come close to wedding golf and the Cold War. There is research done about Black golfers, women golfers, white male golfers, and the country club, but none seek to achieve what this project does. The United States failed to utilize organizations such as the Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour and the United Golfers Association to enhance its national image for political reasons. Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev was impressed by President Eisenhower's passion for golf. So much so that he picked up the sport himself. However, the connection made no lasting impact for the United States' Cold War efforts. The strict adherence to rigid social norms, including sexism and racism, prevented the United States from utilizing the luxuries of their society to sell capitalism on a global scale. Analysis of primary sources such as interviews, tournament records, government documents, speeches, letters, magazine articles, and advertisements served as crucial materials on which this research has been based. Secondary materials also aided in providing historical context to various chapters and made it clear what set this project apart from those before. Upon evaluation of these sources, my thesis was confirmed. American golf in the 1950s was largely reflective of American society at the time; both in a positive and a negative manner. Segregation of professional organizations led to an exclusive representation of the sport as a whole. Images of relaxation and luxury in American popular media catered to the white home exclusively; this extended to golf media. Black Americans had their own country clubs and communities that enjoyed golf together and the lifestyle that came along with it. Those stories were not told and were perceived to hold no value to the public mission of fighting communism and promoting capitalism. This research is significant in large part because of the geopolitical environment of today. The act of sportswashing has been continuously crafted and modified since well before the 1950s and is ever-present currently with the Saudi Arabian involvement in sports such as golf and soccer. Future endeavors into this subject area should aim to include the practice of sportswashing in a larger project about the employment of soft power tactics utilized by the United States during the Cold War. Personal interest in golf led to this project's creation but research questions surrounding other sports and the Cold War could also be asked and followed up on
Technologies of Purity: Decoding the Rhetoric of Purity Culture in Religious and Secular Spaces
No full textThis dissertation explores the pervasive influence of evangelical purity culture on identity, body politics, and societal norms, using a technologies of purity framework. Chapter 1 introduces the framework and its application to legislative and postcolonial contexts in Oklahoma. Chapter 2 examines purity culture in Falls Creek church camp dress codes and Instagram’s censorship practices. Chapter 3 analyzes historical weaponization of purity in Native American boarding schools. Chapter 4 presents interviews with Oklahoma millennials deconstructing Christian purity culture, highlighting its psychological impacts and strategies for resistance. This interdisciplinary study reveals purity culture's complex dynamics and suggests pathways for critique and recovery
ENHANCING INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE THROUGH INTEGRATION OF A MAX-MIN FAIRNESS-INSPIRED STRATEGY IN MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION AND SUPPLY CHAIN SYSTEMS
No full textThis dissertation's primary contribution to Supply Chain and Transportation Network
(SCTN) resilience lies in the implementation of a sequence of Multicriteria Mixed Integer
liners programming MCMILP models that incorporate Max-Min Fairness-Inspired
(MMFI) approach as a fundamental constraint, thereby delivering both effective
distribution and cost-efficiency. The research's novelty is accentuated by its reliance on
actual network data from Colombia's intricate multimodal transportation and supply chain
system, which involves a diverse flow of multicommodity. This setting provides a robust
backdrop for elucidating the real-world efficacy of the proposed models.
The foundational layer of resilient supply chains and transportation networks is their
capacity for an immediate and efficient response in the wake of disruptions. Chapter2
introduces the first model within this dissertation MCMILP model—that pioneers the
incorporation of MMFI strategy directly into the optimization process. This innovative
approach is essential for curtailing the detrimental effects of unforeseen events by
guaranteeing prompt and effective resource distribution. The effectiveness of this model is
not merely theoretical; its application to Colombia’s multimodal transportation data reveals
a substantial enhancement in user satisfaction. By significantly reducing the performance
loss across the network, the model demonstrates its exceptional capacity to uphold a high
level of service and requirements, validating the concept that immediate fairness can indeed
coexist with, and even bolster, operational efficiency.
In Chapter 3, the spotlight shifts to the critical long-term recovery phase, where the
principles of effective distribution are further operationalized to ensure sustained resilience. Here, a refined version of MCMILP model is employed, extending the concept
of MMFI strategy to a more complex and temporally extended recovery process. This
model proves to be a powerful tool in the unbiased distribution of resources over time,
promoting a swifter restoration trajectory. The Colombian multimodal transportation
system once again serves as the proving ground for this model's efficacy. The empirical
results showcase not only a higher rate of network-wide satisfaction but also demonstrate
that effective distribution strategies can effectively minimize the recovery timeframe. The
model's application thus substantiates the assertion that MMFI integrated into recovery
planning is paramount for expediting the restoration of services and maintaining a
consistent satisfaction rate during periods of gradual network recovery.
In Chapter 4 of the dissertation, the focus shifts toward enhancing strategic planning for
enduring resilience within Supply Chain and Transportation Networks (SCTN). The
chapter introduces an innovative evaluation model that incorporates MMFI, a pivotal
element that significantly strengthens the model's foundation. By embedding MMFI, the
evaluation framework is anchored securely in the principles of robust optimization. This
methodology is particularly adept at addressing the most challenging aspects of planning
and operation by emphasizing the preparation for worst-case scenarios. Such a focus
ensures that the network's integrity remains uncompromised in the face of severe
disruptions. The introduction of this evaluation model marks a critical phase in the
dissertation, laying down a comprehensive foundation for constructing a resilient network.
Unlike conventional approaches that primarily aim at survival in the aftermath of
disruptions, this model elevates the network's objectives. It seeks to enable the SCTN to
not just survive but to thrive amid adversities. This ambition is realized through the model's capability to maintain essential service levels, even under extreme conditions that typically
would cripple unprepared networks
Orientalism in British policymaking: Gertrude Bell and the Iraq Mandate, 1921-1932
Get PDFIn the wake of the First World War, the League of Nations established the mandate system to stabilize the territories that had, until recently, been under the control of Germany or the Ottoman Empire. It did so by assigning regions, known as "mandates," to member states, like Britain and France. The mandate system granted permission for these member states to control, influence, and administer a government in the mandated territory. This influence and occupation had a long-lasting impact, especially in the Middle East. This thesis examines how the British government employed Orientalists in order to better understand and thus dominate the people of Iraq. Of the many political officers that were invaluable participants and agents of empire, Gertrude Bell was a monumental player in this endeavor and aided the British by providing reports on the region and its people. I assert that Gertrude Bell is one of the best examples of an "Orientalist," as defined by Said: an expert on the Orient aiding in its domination and exploitation. This research relies heavily on Bell's reports to the British government, letters to family, and other published writings. Many scholars have mentioned Bell or Orientalism in their work on the Iraq mandate but have failed to examine their influence critically. I aim to provide a well-rounded analysis of Bell's influence as an Orientalist by focusing primarily on her official, governmental presence, rather than her personal life and letters, which has been the focus of other works
EVALUATION OF METHANE-OXIDIZING BACTERIA PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO CHANGES IN OXYGEN CONCENTRATION, INTERACTIONS WITH NON-METHANE-OXIDIZING HETEROTROPHIC BACTERIA, AND THE TAXONOMIC CLASSIFICATION OF METHYLOCYSTIS SUFLITAE SP. NOV.
Get PDFThis work describes an in-depth investigation into how the methane-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) respond to changes that allow them to effectively function in their ecological role. This includes understanding their response to unfavorable oxygen concentrations, and how they respond in co-culture with other bacteria. This work also presents the characterization of a novel species of MOB; Methylocystis suflitae sp. nov. MOB play a crucial role in the global methane cycle, serving as significant actors in biogeochemical cycling. However, their physiological response to changing oxygen concentrations remains incompletely understood. One of the studies presented in this dissertation investigates how two MOB species, Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b and Methylomonas sp. WSC-7, respond to changing oxygen concentrations and the addition of catalase, a hydrogen peroxide scavenger, in growth media. Through transcriptomics analysis, this work showed that under high oxygen conditions, M. trichosporium OB3b upregulates genes involved in reactive oxygen species (ROS) defense, including cytochrome c peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, suggesting a need to deal with elevated ROS levels. Conversely, Methylomonas sp. WSC-7 exhibits cell clustering behavior, potentially as a defense mechanism against ROS toxicity. Differential expression of flagellar biosynthesis genes and chemotaxis response genes further supports this adaptive response. Moreover, Methylomonas sp. WSC-7 shows reduced expression of soluble methane monooxygenase genes under low oxygen conditions, while M. trichosporium OB3b exhibits higher expression under catalase-amended conditions, and that rates of methane oxidation for both strains are impacted by the concentration of oxygen and amending the growth media with catalase. Our findings underscore the importance of oxygen concentration in modulating MOB physiology and suggest potential strategies for optimizing their growth conditions. Additionally, despite the MOB’s crucial role in biogeochemical cycling, there is still a lot to learn about how the MOB interact with other bacteria in their environment. Another aspect of this study investigates the growth conditions and community dynamics of methane-oxidizing co-cultures, focusing on the interactions between M. trichosporium OB3b (MOB) and the non-methane-oxidizing heterotrophic bacteria (NMOHB) of the genera Flavobacterium, Cupriavidus, and Pseudomonas. Heterotrophic plate counts were used to determine whether NMOHB could grow in methane-oxidizing co-cultures. There was growth of all three NMOHB, suggesting carbon substrate utilization derived from methane oxidation. Furthermore, co-cultures with Pseudomonas chlororaphis HC exhibited enhanced methane oxidation rates compared to monoculture, indicating a stimulating effect of P. chlororaphis HC on methane utilization by MOB. Transcriptomic analysis revealed differential gene expression patterns in both MOB and NMOHB during co-culture and points to potential cross-feeding of C4 dicarboxylates and methanol from the MOB to the NMOHB. Further, NMOHB displayed upregulation of genes involved in ROS remediation, suggesting a response to oxidative stress induced by methane oxidation. Additionally, NMOHB exhibited alterations in nitrogen utilization and amino acid metabolism genes, possibly reflecting adaptations to the co-culture environment. Overall, these findings shed light on the metabolic interactions between MOB and NMOHB in methane-oxidizing systems, highlighting the potential for carbon sharing, nitrogen exchange, and ROS defense mechanisms
THE COMEBACK KIDS: BOOMERANG AUDITOR INDEPENDENCE THROUGH THE LENS OF IDENTITY THEORY
No full textBoomerang hiring, the re-hiring of employees who have previously worked for an organization is on the rise. With this rise comes a need to understand the benefits and drawbacks of this labor market strategy. In the field of accounting studies so far have yet to examine the potential effects of time spent in industry on auditor independence. This study uses an experimental design with practicing auditors to examine the differences in decision making between non-boomerang hires and boomerang hires in a goodwill impairment decision situation. Results suggest that there are indeed differences between non-boomerang auditors and boomerang auditors, with boomerang auditors being more likely to acquiesce to client preferred accounting treatment. This relationship is mediated by auditor identification with their client, which suggests a psychological mechanism related to Identity Theory. Additionally, I find evidence that whether a boomerang auditor’s tenure in industry was a positive or negative experience matters in their decision-making process. Overall, the findings of this study suggest that time in industry before returning to public accounting perhaps introduces subconscious biases that lead to impaired decision making on the part of boomerang hires in public accounting with implications for future research and hiring practices on the accounting labor market
A Lithic Analysis of School Land I (34DL64) A Northern Caddo Village in the Foothills of the Ozarks
Get PDFSchool Land I (34DL64) is a Harlan Phase (A.D. 1050-1250) Caddo village site set in the Arkansas River basin at the confluence of the Grand and Elk Rivers in Delaware County, Oklahoma. This site was originally excavated by the Works Progress Association (WPA) from 1939 to 1940. While the faunal and ceramic assemblages from this site have since been formally analyzed, the lithic assemblage has been unanalyzed until now. These assemblages are important because residential sites in this area are not well understood and there are very few opportunities to recover more data. This is further complicated by the fact that the WPA did not collect debitage and rarely used screens. This means that while there are 1769 lithic specimens studied here, only 36 of them are flakes. The research question of this thesis is: Will analyzing the lithic assemblage of School Land I confirm or deny the various interpretations of the site? Broadly summarized, these interpretations are that the site was only occupied from the Evans Phase (~A.D. 1000-1100) to the Spiro Phase (~A.D. 1350-1450), the most intensive occupation was the Harlan Phase (~A.D. 1100-1250), and this site may have ritual significance along with special-purpose structures. I have employed a biface breakage typology in conjunction with a formal tool typology, material type identification, and spatial analysis to answer this question and hypothesize why material assemblages have differences and similarities. These methods led me to the answer that human activities at the site are much older and more nuanced than previously thought and this pattern could extend to other sites in the region. Time depth at the site goes back at least to the Middle Archaic (5000-2500 B.C.) with the presence of the Calf Creek archaeological culture. Material evidence here indicates that the Harlan Phase occupation was the most intensive. This analysis also supports the ideas of previous researchers that ritual is integrated with domestic life at School Land I. Lithic evidence demonstrates that School Land I was originally used as a hunting area at varying degrees of intensity from the Middle Archaic up until the Harlan Phase when people constructed eight rectangular houses. I also apply a life history approach in conjunction with other archaeological models of human behavior to formalize the interpretation of my results and speak on the differential use-lives within and among morphological categories and formal tools. These interpretations highlight how the Harlan phase inhabitants of School Land I chose this location not only because the site was in an ecologically advantageous position and because it was close to other sites like Reed but also to maintain connections with their ancestors. This assemblage may also be a reliable foundation for investigating more symbolic and social considerations at the site like gendered tool use and tattooing which are relevant to the site's mixing of ritual and domestic spaces
Understanding the Spatial Ecology and Space Utilization of Copperhead Snakes in Tennessee
Get PDFThe exploration of animal movement data has greatly advanced animal habitat studies with broad applications in conservation planning, land management practices that improve habitat quality and connectivity, and resolving wildlife related problems such as Human-Wildlife Conflicts (HWC). Majority of these studies have been applied to birds and ungulates, but less is known about reptile species, especially snakes. Copperhead snakes account for the second most reported snake bites due to their abundance and are of Least Concern to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). However, it is beneficial to study them because of the potential HWC they present and to dispel the bad reputation surrounding snakes leading to their persecution as they are very important in maintaining food security. The first chapter of this document explains the importance of species conservation and a literature review of concepts such as habitat fragmentation and loss, human-environmental interactions, movement models and the utility of Geographic Information Science/Systems (GIS) in biodiversity conservation. The second chapter delves into the research executed to mitigate human-snake conflicts. We use a time geographic method – Probabilistic Space-Time Prisms (PSTPs) – to analyze copperhead snakes’ trajectory recorded for three years in Overton Park (urban) and Meeman Park (rural), Tennessee to understand their daily activity patterns and space utilization. We highlight copperheads’ habitat preferences by time of day and created risk maps to identify areas where incidents of HWC may likely occur. Our research reveals that urban and rural copperheads are very active in the morning periods and do not alter their spatial behavior regardless of time of day and landscape composition as their habitat use is consistent across the rural and urban park. The third chapter is an extended discussion of the applicability and replicability of this research as well as study limitations. This research may be utilized by park and wildlife managers to construct caution signages alerting the public of the presence of snakes in the park thereby increasing visitor satisfaction. It could also be used by the government and other conservation agencies to prioritize areas that require conservation interventions