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A FRAMEWORK OF EPIDEMIC MODELING CONSIDERING PREVENTIVE BEHAVIORS: COMPARTMENTAL MODELING, TEXT ANALYTICS, AND MACHINE LEARNING
Get PDFThe goal of this research is to provide a novel framework for epidemic modeling incorporating metrics derived from social media to predict epidemic dynamics and to estimate the impact of preventive behaviors. This study employs empirical data collected from Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, and Twitter (or X) to demonstrate the practical usability of the proposed framework. Specifically, this research utilizes optimization, simulation, and compartmental differential equations to predict the number of infected and deceased individuals. The research estimates the basic reproduction number (R0) for diseases dynamics. In addition, this study utilizes artificial intelligence and develops a self-training machine learning algorithm to predict the individual compliance level with prevention behaviors. In the analysis, the effect of preventive behaviors on mitigating transmission is evaluated quantitatively. The research contributes to enhance the accuracy of epidemic modeling and to improve decision-making within public healthcare systems, ultimately leading to a reduction in mortality rates and the saving of more lives
INSIGHTS INTO HOW STIMULUS ORDER, STIMULUS CLASS, AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES INFLUENCE PERFORMANCE FOR FACT-CHECKED TRUE AND FAKE NEWS HEADLINES
Get PDFObjective: I evaluated 1) how well people can objectively discriminate fact-checked true and fake news headlines, 2) whether the order headline stimuli are presented to participants influences aspects of performance, and 3) what individual differences predict participants confidence judgments, discrimination, and response bias.
Background: There are multiple verbal theories explaining what makes people susceptible to misinformation. However, many of these studies focus on perceived accuracy rather than objective accuracy. Accuracy and discrimination should be influenced by other stimulus effects involving the order in which headlines are presented to participants and the degree to which headlines are true or fake.
Method: Stimuli used in this study consisted of fact-checked true and fake headlines obtained from Politifact.com – a fact-checking website. In study 1, the original headline source was removed and was included in study 2. In two studies, participants were first randomly assigned to stimuli order conditions (true-fake, fake-true, or random) and then rated sharing likelihood and confidence in judgments for 30 fact-checked true and fake headlines using a Likert-style scale. Finally, participants completed individual difference measures associated with misinformation susceptibility.
Results: I found more similarities than differences in my studies. In general, participants were able to discriminate true and fake headlines, but not very well, when subjected to signal detection analyses. Interestingly, I found that participants were better calibrated in their confidence judgments and accuracy for fake headlines than true headlines. I suspect this was driven by decreases in discrimination participants exhibited for headlines labeled as definitely true. Mixed effects models found that order only predicted participants’ confidence judgments when the degree to which stimuli were true of fake was considered. Individual differences in conspiracy belief and political orientation consistently explained the variance in participants’ performance when in competition with other measures. Moreover, individual differences in participants’ cognition supported a classical cognitive account of misinformation susceptibility in study 1, while study 2 found support for an integrated motivational account.
Conclusion: Findings revealed that while participants struggled to discriminate true from fake headlines, they were better calibrated and accurate with fake headlines. The effect of stimulus order on confidence judgments was dependent on the stimulus class. Individual differences in conspiracy beliefs and political orientation consistently influenced performance. Methodological considerations for future research are discussed.
Keywords: misinformation, fake news, signal detection theory, individual differences, confidence, calibration, order, fact-checked, source, mixed effects modelin
THE IMPACT OF REPRESENTATION IN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR POSITIONS IN SOCIAL SERVICE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
Get PDFThis qualitative research project used a comparative analysis methodology to analyze and compare current executive directors in active social service nonprofit organizations in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. This study was designed to investigate how their views on the importance of diverse representation within their own organizations’ leadership and other social service nonprofit affect the services these organizations provide. Interviews were conducted with two executive directors of nonprofits that provided social services to the Oklahoma City community. This study highlights and discusses five major themes: representation of the people served was considered a strength for the organization, diverse representation in leadership was an aid to provide better services, lack of candidates for the board as a challenge to bring representation to the organization, lack of qualified diverse board member prospects, and having board members who represented the nonprofit well but did not represent the people served. A link between diverse representation in social service nonprofits in Oklahoma City and the type of programming that said nonprofits offered to the public was found
First Generation Hispanic/Latine Students in Higher Education
Get PDFThis qualitative research project used an ethnographic research methodology to analyze the qualitative questionnaire presented to participants who identify as first generation Hispanic/Latine students in the state of Oklahoma. From attending any academic institution in the state of Oklahoma, this study was to identify any ongoing and new challenges, limitations, and the different experiences that these first generation Hispanic/Latine students undergo on a daily basis in their higher educational journey
2024-2025 Graduate Catalog
Get PDFNoAnnual publication of degrees offered and their requirements for all graduate students enrolled at the University of Central Oklahoma
A review of opioid-related death trends in Oklahoma
Get PDFOpioids are a popular analgesic compound that act at the opioid-receptors in the body to create effects of reduced pain and consciousness, euphoria, and dependence (Pathan, H. and Williams, J., 2012). The concept of pain as a fifth vital sign catalyzed the opioid epidemic through the over prescription of opioids. The opioid epidemic is characterized by three distinct waves beginning in the late 1990’s consisting of prescription opioids, heroin, and fentanyl. The state of Oklahoma is lacking an encompassing model of the opioid epidemic within its borders. A variety of studies have been done in the United States and on an international scale that use spatio-temporal designs to evaluate demographic and geographic variables over time as they relate to the opioid crisis. The study herein presents a consolidated model of opioid-related deaths in Oklahoma from 2008-2022 using data from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Summary statistics were performed centering on demographics, location, and drug categories for each year using Statistical Analysis Software (SAS). The results found that in Oklahoma overall opioid-related deaths were most common among Whites (86%), Males (57.8%), and people ages 25-44. There was an approximately 500% decrease in prescription opioid deaths from 2008-2022. Heroin deaths peaked in 2018 at 54 deaths. From 2008-2019 fentanyl deaths remained consistently low then saw an almost 7-fold increase from 2020-2022. Total opioid-related deaths were highest in Carter, Coal, Jefferson, Muskogee, Pawnee, and Pushmataha counties. Prescription opioids showed no geographic inclination while fentanyl deaths were concentrated in urban counties (Tulsa and Oklahoma). This study is the first of its kind in Oklahoma and its dissemination will inform both public and private entities on the use of funding, proactive resources, and treatment for opioid use and abuse. The datasets developed in this study will serve as a resource for future substance abuse research that can bring greater specificity to demographic and geographic factors of deaths involving other prevalent drug classes
MATRIX SCHEDULER FOR INSTRUCTION QUEUE IN OOO PROCESSORS
No full textMulti-core architectures and multi-threaded programs dominate today's world. In this world, delivering the highest IPC is of the utmost importance. Many mobile devices, including desktops and servers, require high performance and minimal power consumption. This has led to the RISC architecture revolution, led by ARM with the first iPhone. Since then, both Moore's law and new architectures have contributed to ever-faster and more power-efficient chips. What once were in-order processors are now being replaced with out-of-order designs to improve the throughput of instructions at the same power. The instruction queue is one of the most power-hungry regions of an out-of-order processor. An instruction queue, in its essence, is an entity that dispatches instructions to the execution units as soon as their input data is ready. Most modern processors use a CAM (content-addressable-memory) to realize the instruction queue. In a traditional IQ using CAM, the source arguments are constantly checked every cycle to see if they are ready, and the instruction is dispatched if all of the instruction's source arguments are ready. This approach is inherently power-hungry. The matrix instruction queue is an alternative to the traditional IQ and avoids CAM. The techniques that can be used to compress the matrix IQ to run efficiently, as well as the details of the IPC of this compressed matrix IQ and its resource usage, are presented in this thesis
USE OF POST-CONSUMER RECYCLED (PCR) PLASTICS IN ASPHALT MIXES: A LABORATORY STUDY
No full textIn recent years, the use of recycled materials in asphalt mixes has gained popularity among asphalt producers and users to reduce environmental pollution, enhance sustainability, and conserve natural resources. Among different recycled materials, the use of Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) plastic poses several challenges. These challenges stem from the processes used to incorporate PCR plastic, mixing protocol, sample preparation, testing, and field implementation. Asphalt mixes containing PCR plastic pose several challenges both from the volumetric properties and performance standpoints. Specifically, this study investigates the changes in the volumetric properties and performance of PCR plastic-modified asphalt mixes designed using the Balanced Mix Design (BMD) approach. For this purpose, a control mix (0% plastic) was designed using the BMD approach. This mix was modified using different percentages of two PCR plastics, namely Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE). The PCR plastics were added using the dry process. A suitable mixing protocol was developed for incorporating PCR plastics by simulating the production process used for incorporation of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) in an asphalt plant. Volumetric properties, namely maximum theoretical specific gravity of the mix, bulk specific gravity, voids in mineral aggregate (VMA), voids filled with asphalt (VFA), air void contents, and densities were determined for both control (0% plastic) and plastic-modified mixes. Also, Indirect Tensile Strength (ITS), Indirect Tensile Asphalt Cracking Test (IDEAL-CT), and Hamburg Wheel Track (HWT) tests were performed to assess performance of these mixes. Changes in the volumetric and performance properties of asphalt mixes due to plastic modification were studied and are reported in this dissertation. To study the cracking behavior of plastic-modified mixes, effect of loading rate and notch depths on fracture properties was evaluated using Illinois Flexibility Index Test (IFIT), Louisiana Semicircular Bend (L-SCB) and IDEAL-CT. Fracture properties, specifically, fracture energy, Flexibility Index (FI), Cracking Tolerance Index (CTIndex), Strain Energy at Failure (SEF), and Critical Strain Energy Release Rate (J-integral) were evaluated. In addition, the effect of aging conditions on the performance of plastic-modified mixes was evaluated in this study. For this purpose, asphalt mixes without plastic (control mix) and with (LDPE and LLDPE) modification were subjected to three aging conditions, namely short-, medium- and long-term aging. Mechanical tests, including IDEAL-CT and Dynamic Modulus (DM), were conducted to evaluate the effect of aging on cracking resistance and stiffness. Additionally, binders were extracted and recovered from all aged mixes and the extracted aggregates were visually inspected. The effect of aging on the rheological properties of the recovered binder was assessed using Rotational Viscosity (RV), Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR), and Multiple Stress Creep Recovery (MSCR) tests. The impact of aging was further examined by identifying changes in chemical functional groups using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) tests. Finally, AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design (PMED) simulations were used to evaluate the effect of aging on the field performance. Over stiffening of plastic-modified mixes was observed due to the higher amounts of plastics, which resulted in reduced cracking resistance. Consequently, this study aimed at increasing the percentage of plastic in asphalt mixes by incorporating a bio-rejuvenator. The plastic-modified mixes were modified by adding bio-rejuvenator modified binder. The volumetric properties were determined and the mechanical performance, namely rutting, cracking and moisture induced damage resistance, of the asphalt mixes were evaluated using the HWT and IDEAL-CT tests. The optimum dosage of plastics was determined using the BMD criteria. Moreover, the environmental impact analysis was performed on plastic-modified mixes. A significant reduction in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions was observed from the use of plastic in asphalt mixes. Knowledge gained from this study on the effect of addition of PCR plastic on the performance of asphalt mixes designed using the BMD approach is expected to be helpful in incorporating waste plastic in future asphalt mix designs
Innovative Pavement Design Using Fiber-Reinforced Low Carbon CSA Cement
No full textMotivation towards reducing the environmental impacts of concrete in the construction industry has spurred increased research on alternative cements. Calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement concretes offer significant gains in sustainability while offering additional advantages in performance. Expansive Type K CSA cement concretes offer mitigation of shrinkage-related cracking and belitic CSA (BCSA) cement concretes benefit accelerated construction due to its rapid-setting behavior. Further enhancements in concrete performance can be gained with fiber reinforcement, particularly by providing post-cracking tensile strength. Additionally, the expansion of a CSA cement concrete in-tandem with the confinement offered by the fiber reinforcement has the potential to induce chemical prestressing, further enhancing performance.This research studies a novel fiber-reinforced belitic CSA (BCSA) cement concrete that exhibits both rapid-setting and expansive behavior aiming to determine its viability for highway pavements. Fatigue tests were conducted on large-scale specimens placed on an elastic foundation with various pavement designs, including with fiber reinforcement. Standard material properties of fiber-reinforced specimens along with creep and expansion were also characterized in this research for comparison with plain specimens. An improvement in fatigue performance was seen in fiber-reinforced BCSA specimens. However, a comparison between plain and fiber-reinforced specimens showed no significant confinement of expansion. Fiber-reinforcement specimens showed a 30% gain in the modulus of elasticity and flexural tests revealed that the fiber-reinforced specimens could withstand 74% of the cracking load after cracking