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Derived Jet Schemes and Arc Spaces, and Arithmetic Arc Space Representability
Get PDFAssociated to a given scheme X one can define geometric and arithmetic notions of jet schemes and arc spaces. We develop a construction of the geometric jets and arcs in the setting of derived schemes and explore consequences thereof. In particular, we prove an analogous theorem to that of one by Tommaso de Fernex and Roi Docampo concerning the cotangent sheaves of geometric jets and arcs. Our version then produces many subsequent results which allow us to prove stronger versions of results concerning geometric jets and arcs by removing unnecessary hypotheses. Separately, we explore evidence as to why, in contrast to the geometric setting, the arithmetic arc space is not in general a scheme. The arc space is a natural limit of the jet schemes, and we show that this limit need not be a scheme in the arithmetic setting. The arc space also has a highly nontrivial description as a certain representing object of a representable functor, and we show that this functor need not be representable in the arithmetic setting
Cobblestone Farms, Fayetteville: A Study of a Non-Profit Teaching Farm’s Volunteer Management Programs
Get PDFNon-profit teaching farms (NPTFs) represent a unique intersection of mission-driven non-profits, agricultural education, and sustainable food production. Despite their growing presence, research on NPTFs, particularly regarding volunteer management, remains limited. This thesis examines volunteer management practices at Cobblestone Farms (CF), a prominent NPTF in Northwest Arkansas, focusing on its strategies to engage and retain volunteers. Through qualitative methods including semi-structured interviews with staff and volunteers, the study identifies, describes, and evaluates key components of CF\u27s volunteer management program. Major findings reveal that CF leverages digital media, online platforms like Give Pulse, and strategic partnerships to recruit and maintain volunteers. The farm\u27s approach emphasizes experiential learning, agricultural education, and fostering a strong organizational culture aligned with its mission of sustainable agriculture and community food security. Recommendations include enhancing digital outreach, cultivating a supportive organizational culture, and implementing structured volunteer recognition to optimize volunteer engagement and retention. This research contributes to filling the gap in understanding effective volunteer management strategies tailored for NPTFs, offering insights applicable to similar organizations seeking to maximize volunteer impact and organizational sustainability
To Be Framed: Investigating the Influence of American Media Frames on Gun Control
Get PDFGun control may be one of the most polarizing political issues facing America today. While there are many factors that contribute to gun control controversy, one may be how it is framed by news organizations. Research suggests that the emergence of partisan news media, differing levels of issue salience, and the public’s increased willingness to selectively expose could widen the gap between both Republicans and Democrats through their opinions on the issue of gun control, causing polarization. Using a survey, this study found that both Republicans and Democrats are likely to selectively expose to partisan media outlets and that a correlation exists between the consumption of partisan media outlets and the level of support for gun control. Additionally, a multiple regression found that one’s consumption of partisan media was a significant predictor of the level of support one showed for gun control. Finally, this study also found a positive correlation between higher levels of issue salience on gun control and support for gun control. Overall, this study concluded that it is likely that partisan media’s framing of gun control is a significant cause of political polarization, and further research would be useful in furthering our understanding of political polarization
Strategies for Misinformation Correction: Evidence for the Power of Negation
Get PDFThe current study investigated the effectiveness of different correction strategies for misinformation using a 2 (Source: no source, credible source) x 2 (Structure: negation, affirmation) within-subjects design with an additional control condition that had no corrections. Participants read 40 Twitter-like statements, which included 25 pieces of misinformation and 15 truthful statements, and rated their emotional responses on a Likert scale. After completing a distractor task, participants read additional Twitter-like statements across five different conditions. The first four conditions aimed to correct misinformation: negation with a credible source, negation without source, affirmation with a credible source, affirmation without source. The fifth condition, a hidden control, provided no correction. Following this, participants were given a general knowledge test covering the 40 pieces of information they had encountered during the experiment. In this test, they were asked to determine whether each statement was true or false. Additionally, after providing their answers, participants rated their confidence in their response. The results revealed that negations were more effective than affirmations in correcting misinformation. Both correction strategies (negations and affirmations) outperformed a control condition with no correction. Interestingly, the credibility of the source did not significantly impact the effectiveness of the corrections. These findings might suggest that negations are a more powerful tool than affirmations for misinformation correction, regardless of source credibility
Hierarchical Spatial Abundance Models for Migratory Shorebirds
No full textPredicting the distribution and abundance of migratory shorebirds is crucial for effective conservation planning. This research applies hierarchical spatial models to predict counts and spatial variations of three shorebird species: Semipalmated sandpiper (sesa), Ruddy turnstone (rutu), and Whimbrel (whim). Different versions of the Poisson, Negative Binomial, and Hurdle regression models are employed to tackle specific data characteristics, such as overdispersion and excess zeros. Model comparisons are performed in terms of likelihood measures and cross-validation. The Hurdle model for sesa and rutu and the Negative Binomial model for whim effectively captured spatial patterns, highlighting potential hotspots. Mean predictive count further emphasized spatial variability, with the Hurdle model predicting high counts for sesa and rutu in specific areas, identifying critical habitats. The Negative Binomial model efficiently handled overdispersion by accurately depicting regions with high predicted counts for whim. This study\u27s approach provides valuable information on model effectiveness and spatial patterns, identifying specific areas requiring focused conservation efforts and offering guidance for optimal habitat management
Determination of Soil Moisture Content Using Remote Sensing Techniques
No full textThe amount of moisture within soil is important for geotechnical engineering properties (soil strength, compressibility, and permeability), plant growth, and hydrological flow within the environment. Traditional methods of measuring soil moisture content include gravimetric (through oven-drying), nuclear, electromagnetic, and ground penetrating radar methods. The use of remote sensing of soil moisture content is a viable alternative with the advantages of being fast, non-destructive, and able to be used across a large area of interest. Remote sensing methods to determine soil moisture content were investigated and applied to validation specimens to study the applicability of the methods at future field sites. Three technologies were investigated for the purpose of determining soil moisture content using remote sensing: 1) the color of cobalt chloride filter paper in contact with the surface of soil specimens, 2) spectral reflectance values within the visible, near-infrared, and short-wave infrared wavelength regions (350 – 2500 nm) using a spectroradiometer, and 3) values obtained from a microwave moisture sensor. For each method, soil specimens were prepared and tested, and the oven-based gravimetric moisture content was determined for use in developing calibration equations. After the development of calibration equations, the calibration equations were applied to validation specimens to determine the accuracy of the method by comparing the predicted moisture content with the oven-based gravimetric moisture content. For each method, the mineralogy and geotechnical engineering behavior of the soil affected the calibration result. As a result, calibration equations were developed for individual soil types. Statistical parameters were evaluated for each method, with coefficients of determination (R2) greater than 0.9, mean absolute error (MAE) values within 2.5 percent of the measured moisture content, and root mean square error (RMSE) values within three percent of the measured moisture content. To increase the practicality of the results, similar soil types were combined and updated calibration equations were developed based on groups of soils. Updated statistical parameters were evaluated, with coefficients of determination as low as 0.88, mean absolute error values at approximately two percent, and root mean square error values less than three percent. With continued study on a wider range of soils, the methods discussed have the potential to be used in field applications in place of traditional methods. The methods will reduce the time and transportation cost related to gravimetric methods and reduce the health hazard risk and cost associated with nuclear methods. Future uses expand to other soil properties, including particle size, salinity, and mineralogy analyses
The Impact of Algorithmic Control and Algorithmic Management in Online Labor Platforms
Get PDFOnline labor platforms (OLPs) are transforming the way organizations operate and how people work. Platform work has been characterized as promoting autonomy and flexibility. Workers interact with a platform rather than human managers to accomplish tasks and they have the freedom to decide when, where, and how much to work. Yet, platform workers increasingly bemoan working conditions, revealing that the expected autonomy and flexibility benefits of platform work have not materialized. Current IS research sheds light on this phenomenon by explaining that platform organizations use algorithms to manage and control workers (i.e., algorithmic control). Yet, our understanding of how algorithmic control affects workers and how they react to it remains limited. Anecdotal evidence suggests that platform workers are experiencing deteriorated wellbeing and concerns for humanity of having AI managers are growing. This dissertation aims to address the issues in two essays. In the first essay, we investigate how platform workers react to algorithmic control and associated worker outcomes using a mixed-methods research design. In phase 1, we conduct a netnographic study to extract a rich understanding of workers’ reactions to algorithmic control and develop a taxonomy of workarounds. In phase 2, we conduct a survey of platform workers to test the research model, thus unravel the impact of workarounds on worker welfare. In the second essay, we address a broader question that is becoming a major humanitarian concern in today’s world of AI and algorithms by exploring how algorithmic management affects workplace dignity. We examine this question through a qualitative study in the largest sector in the online labor platforms (ridesharing and delivery). We further examine how algorithmic management affects the effort or engagement workers devote to their work. The two essays provide several theoretical and practical contributions that advance our understanding of the relationship between algorithms and workers
Developing a virtual Enterprise/IT/OT Cyber Test Bed (GHOST)
Get PDFDeveloping a virtual Enterprise/IT/OT Cyber Test Bed (GHOST)
Presented at UA Power Group Undergraduate and REU Summer Research Poster Session on July 18, 2024.https://scholarworks.uark.edu/elegreu/1013/thumbnail.jp
What effects Americans’ Attitudes towards Refugees?: An Analysis of the Impact of Reputational Framing
No full textIn recent years, American policy regarding refugee admission has changed resulting in fewer refugees entering the U.S. in 2016. In 2017, Dr. A. Burcu Bayram of the University of Arkansas and Dr. Faten Ghosn conducted a public opinion survey asking 1,000 participants if they supported or opposed the United States taking in refugees from the conflicts in Syria and other Middle Eastern countries after carefully screening them for security risks. The questionnaire asks the surveyor a series of questions regarding their views and opinions through a mix of scale and open-ended questions.
Half of the survey’s participants were given an additional treatment that consisted of reminding the respondents of the United States’ reputation for being “a welcoming nation of immigrants and being willing to help those in need.”
In this paper I analyze the results of the survey and compare my findings to other public opinion surveys that explore the different explanations of Americans attitudes toward refugee acceptance. The goal of this research is to determine if reminding Americans of our reputation has a significant impact on attitudes toward refugee admission to the United States
Factors Affecting Graduation with Honors: A Case Study in Bumpers College
Get PDFThis study aimed to understand the factors influencing the graduation rate with honors in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food, and Life Sciences (Bumpers College) at the University of Arkansas Fayetteville (UAF). Utilizing a data set of 220 Bumpers College Honors graduates from 2004 to 2014, provided by the Office of Strategic Analytics & Insights at UAF, this research investigated several demographic and academic variables to potentially identify predictors of successfully graduating with honors. The methodology involved cleaning the data, statistical analyses including t-test and Chi-square tests, and logit regression models to determine significant factors impacting graduating with honors. After Chi-square and t-tests and seven iterations of logit models, three factors were found to significantly increase a Bumpers College student’s chances of graduating with honors: remaining in Bumpers College through their entire college career, ACT score, and third term GPA in college. The results provide valuable insight for Bumpers College administrators to better adapt interactions and incentives aimed to enhance the graduation rates of incoming freshmen from the honors college. Future research could incorporate additional factors, such as student engagement and funding for high-impact programs, to better refine the model and predict honors success