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2023 Community Bank Case Study Competition
Get PDFWe studied a community bank in Danville, Arkansas named Chambers Bank. This was part of a 2023 Community Bank Case Study Competition, which illustrated the financial analysis, staffing, and training of the bank. We learned about technology implemented into the bank, and how the bank works with customers locally to ensure the best quality care
Utilizing Biomimicry to Design Sustainable Architecture
Get PDFNature has an integral relationship with architecture and serves as a sustainable role model and inspiration for designers. The process of biomimicry in architecture has the potential to produce more sustainable design solutions and foster a connection between humans and nature. Existing biomimetic design projects have varying strengths and weaknesses as examples of the process. Utilizing guidelines and references from key leaders in biomimetic design consultancy (Biomimicry 3.8), selected case studies are assessed for their ability to demonstrate the benefits of this design strategy. Using these evaluations, the case studies are diagrammed and critiqued to determine how new projects could go further to improve the future of biomimicry
The Demotechnic Index of Nations (1980 - 2018) and its Correlation with the Human Development Index (1990 – 2021)
Get PDFThe Demotechnic Index (DI) and the Human Development Index (HDI) are both useful metrics for assessing the development of nations, with each providing unique insights about a country’s standard of living. The DI, which uses energy consumption as a gauge, excels in capturing the impact of conflicts and economic disruptions. Additionally, its ability to be calculated based on different energy sources allows for evaluation of a nation\u27s progress towards sustainable consumption patterns. Conversely, the HDI combines healthcare, education, and income dimensions, and uses them as a proxy that highlights human health crises, educational improvements, and economic growth, albeit with less sensitivity to conflict and sustainability. While both metrics lack considerations for income inequality and an inherent judgment framework, their utility is enhanced when complemented by other effective metrics, such as the Gini Inequality Index, as well as a guiding value system, such as the Doughnut Economic model. By integrating these metrics alongside frameworks, scientists and policymakers can gain a more comprehensive toolkit to prioritize efforts towards a more equitable, sustainable, and peaceful future
GAN with Skip Patch Discriminator for Biological Electron Microscopy Image Generation
Get PDFGAN models have been successfully used for image generation in various sections such as real-life objects like human faces, cars, animal faces, landscapes, etc. This work focuses on biological electron microscopy (EM) image generation. Unlike other real-life objects, biological EM images are obtained through electron microscopy techniques to study biological specimens. Electron microscopy offers high resolution and magnification capabilities, making it a powerful tool for visualizing biological structures at the nanoscale. However, using GAN models for biological EM image generation poses challenges due to the complex and unique arrangements of biological structures and the sparse and asymmetrical patterns in EM images, making it difficult for the model to generate realistic images accurately. The patch-based GAN discriminator lacks the capability of simultaneously accessing both the global and local structures of the generated image. The patch discriminator operates at a small receptive field (16x16 patch) in capturing precise local structures while struggling to represent global structures accurately. Conversely, the patch discriminator equipped with large receptive fields (70x70 patch) effectively captures global structures but often fails to reproduce detailed local textures accurately. By addressing the challenges, I have proposed a new discriminator architecture for training GAN models in settings with limited data availability and the presence of both global and local structures to generate realistic biological EM images. The proposed architecture is called a skip patch discriminator
Essays on Empirical Investigation of Extended Warranties of Consumer Electronics
No full textExtended warranties (EW) have gained significant traction as a powerful revenue stream for retailers, boasting substantial profit margins ranging from 50% to 70% (Bloomberg week). These warranties offer consumers peace of mind by providing additional protection beyond the standard manufacturer warranty and are to be purchased at an additional cost. By offering extended warranties, retailers can differentiate themselves in a competitive market, build stronger customer relationships, and enhance their overall profitability. However, effectively capitalizing on their potential necessitates a strategic approach. The extant literature is focused on studying extended warranties from the perspective of a consumer and lacks a retailer perspective. This dissertation fills this research gap by evaluating how managers can enhance profitability from selling extended warranties. Specifically, this research delves into the impact of a dynamic, personalized pricing strategy for extended warranties on retailer profitability and examines the store and market factors that drive EW sales across various categories, aiming to identify the optimal approaches that maximize revenue for retailers. The findings from this research have significant implications for how retailers can enhance their overall revenue through strategic pricing and targeted marketing of extended warranties. The first chapter of this dissertation examines the benefits of implementing a pricing strategy to boost revenue from extended warranties. Specifically, it assesses the current pricing of extended warranties on electronic products and develops a dynamic, customized pricing strategy that considers consumer engagement, price sensitivity, and the price ratio of extended warranties to the underlying product price. A demand model captures how the price ratio affects the purchase decision, using a logit model and maximum likelihood estimation. Results show that the EW decision is influenced by the price ratio, engagement, and sensitivity, leading to a revenue-maximizing personalized pricing strategy. This strategy increases overall electronic product revenue by 1.3% and extended warranty revenue by 53%. Additionally, a simplified framework for smaller retailers is proposed, highlighting the importance of leveraging customer engagement and price sensitivity to develop dynamic personalized pricing strategies. The second chapter of this dissertation investigates the impact of store features and the risk preferences of neighborhood consumers on the demand for extended warranties (EWs) for electronic products at the store level. Utilizing a fractional logit regression model with EW and electronics sales data from a major US retailer, the study examines how market characteristics (such as income, education, unemployment, and gender) and store features (such as product variety and average cost) influence EW sales. The findings indicate that factors such as the average price of electronic products, repeat buyers, product variety, and market characteristics significantly affect EW sales, reflecting consumer preferences for risk aversion and variety seeking. The study also explores variations in EW sales across product categories and finds that EWs are more popular for household products than for personal use products. These insights can help retailers optimize inventory and promotion strategies to effectively incentivize the purchase of extended warranties
Turfgrass Soil Surfactants: Examining Active Ingredients, Application Strategies, and the Structure–Function Relationship in Sand-Based Putting Greens
Get PDFSoil surfactants, commonly referred to as wetting agents, are a leading water management strategy for golf courses. Non-ionic block copolymers are the most common type of turfgrass soil surfactant. However, differences in the registration process and labeling requirements allow soil surfactants to enter the marketplace accompanied by far-less data compared to other products used on golf courses. This has led to considerable confusion among golf course superintendents. Three primary sources of confusion are: (i) the widely-used marketing terminology of “penetrants” and “retainers” to classify wetting agents; (ii) active ingredients which in some cases are not disclosed at all; and (iii) multiple application rates and intervals given on product labels. Therefore, three separate field research experiments were conducted with objectives to (i) compare the penetrant and retainer products from four different manufacturers (Aquatrols, Precision Laboratories, Floratine, and Harrell’s) for their ability to move/hold water at different depths within putting green rootzones; (ii) evaluate soil surfactants at the active ingredient level, working with four structurally related block copolymer compounds (Poloxamers 181, 182, 184, 188) all with the same molecular-weight central hydrophobe, and each with a different percentage of terminal hydrophile; and (iii) compare five different application rates and intervals that included: two season-long applications at standard and high rates, two recurring monthly applications at standard and reduced rates, and a recurring application every two months. All experiments included non-treated controls (NTC). Data collection included (i) estimating volumetric water content (VWC) using portable moisture meters at multiple depths in the rootzone; above-ground assessments using (ii) digital image analysis to determine percent green turfgrass cover, color, and turfgrass quality, and (iii) visual ratings for turfgrass quality and localized dry spot (LDS) development. Between 2018 and 2023, studies were conducted primarily in Fayetteville, AR on sand-based putting greens of both creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera, L.) and ultradwarf bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers x Cynodon transvaalensis Burt-Davy). In the first study, penetrant and retainer terminology was problematic because of, (i) lack of significant differences between penetrants and retainers, (ii) significant differences between soil surfactants within the same category, (iii) inconsistent abilities of both penetrants and retainers to predictably affect VWC relative to NTC, and (iv) variability in the performance of penetrants and retainers from manufacturer to manufacturer. In study two, Poloxamers 181 and 182, with the lowest HLB values of 3 and 7, respectively, consistently performed similar to a commercial turfgrass wetting agent, whereas Poloxamer 188, with the highest HLB value (29), resulted in lower turfgrass quality and lower average VWC, along with a greater incidence of LDS. Study three observed the potential for cost savings through reduced soil surfactant rates and extended intervals, as well as a three week lag-time between significant VWC differences below-ground in the rootzone and significant above-ground differences in LDS; a strong influence of weather, especially rainfall, on soil surfactant performance; and an ability to assess moisture uniformity through standard deviation of VWC. Future turfgrass soil surfactant research should include investigations into hydrophobicity development at the root-soil interface (rhizosphere)
Navigating Transitions: Utilizing Autoethnographic Writing Prompts to Support Nontraditional College Students
Get PDFThis study explores the transition nontraditional students undergo as they embark on their college journey and the unique challenges they face. Leveraging autoethnographic writing prompts as an intervention strategy, the project employed a participatory approach over virtual platforms to capture the tapestry of experiences and connect participants to form a supportive community. Participants included older individuals with work experience, some who experienced parenthood, or those returning after an extended break. Through crafted prompts, individuals shared their academic journey, balancing work, and family responsibilities. The reflections gathered provide valuable data, offering insights into the challenges and triumphs of nontraditional students. The study demonstrated the power of autoethnographic writing prompts in fostering connections which led to the formation of peer support networks. The study presents targeted strategies for supporting nontraditional students nationwide during their college transition
A Mobile Application Intervention for Insomnia among College Students
Get PDFPrevious studies have found that the prevalence of insomnia among college students is high. This has implications for students mental and physical well-being, academic performance, and the onset of more chronic insomnia symptomology. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is the front-line treatment for insomnia, but cost and time are often barriers to treatment access. The goal of this study was to test the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of a more cost-effective self-guided version of CBT-I (via mobile application). Fifty-five college students, who were mostly women (82%) and mean age 19.3 (SD = 2.3) years with moderate insomnia symptoms were randomized to CBT-I Coach (n = 27) or a wait-list control condition (n = 28) for 8 weeks. Participants in both groups completed self-report measures biweekly across the 8-week study period. Findings suggest that CBT-I Coach is feasible. Participants reported using the app for an average of 5 days a week. More than half of the sample utilized the learning materials, and more than one-third of the sample made use of the tools section. For acceptability, nearly 70% of the participants found the app moderately to extremely effective. Further analyses found that the self-guided mobile intervention was efficacious. The intervention group experienced a larger reduction in insomnia symptoms from baseline to week 4 than the waitlist control group (g = 0.88, p \u3c 0.001). The intervention group did experience a slight rebound at week 8 while the waitlist group reported further symptom reduction. However, the difference in change scores between the groups at post-treatment was not significant (p = 0.43). Additional treatment effects were seen from week 4 to week 8 for depression symptoms (g = 0.94, p = 0.004). These findings provide preliminary evidence that utilizing a self-guided mobile intervention for insomnia among college students is feasible, acceptable, and effective for improving moderate insomnia symptoms. CBT-I Coach and other self-guided app-based versions of CBT-I may increase the dissemination of behavioral sleep interventions for populations who often lack access to behavioral sleep medicine providers or find their insomnia symptoms not being addressed by other healthcare professionals
What is a Person? How Does One Become a Morally Good Person? The Intuitive View!
Get PDFThis thesis centers around two philosophical problems: the concept of a person and the process by which one becomes a morally good person. Drawing on the works of philosophers such as Harry Frankfurt, Strawson, and A.J. Ayer, it begins with an inquiry into what it means to be a person. It argues that while humanhood, with its rational capacities, is a contingent rather than a necessary condition, it can serve as an accurate predictor of personhood. The thesis posits that personhood is an achievement rather than an inherent state, facilitated by interactions within a social framework that refine these rational capacities. Examples such as feral humans, who only achieve personhood through integration into society, illustrate this dynamic process. Furthermore, the thesis contends that becoming a morally good person is not an inherent trait, challenging the nativist view. Instead, it proposes that moral personhood is cultivated through active engagement with moral frameworks within community norms, insofar as they advance the ideal interactive environment and collective wellbeing