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Social media marketing, overconsumption, and the female Gen Z consumer
Get PDFSocial media has fundamentally changed the way consumers engage with products, trends, and purchasing decisions. The rise of digital marketing has amplified consumption patterns, particularly through influencer culture, microtrends, and the fear of missing out (FOMO). Over time, these factors have contributed to a cycle of overconsumption, where consumers are encouraged to make frequent, impulsive purchases with little consideration for sustainability or long-term value. This research examines the role of social media in driving overconsumption, with a specific focus on female Gen Z consumers. Through qualitative interviews, this study explores consumer motives, social validation, and the influence of marketing strategies that promote excessive purchasing. The findings highlight how social media platforms not only facilitate consumption but also shape consumer identity and perceived social value. While sustainable practices are often presented as a solution, they do not fully address the root causes of overconsumption. By acknowledging the psychological and social factors behind digital consumerism, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of how social media-driven consumption behaviors can be mitigated in an increasingly digital world
Funneling chaos: Interiority in the landscapes of dystopian fiction
Get PDFDystopian fiction immerses readers in chaotic worlds where survival often hinges on understanding unspoken rules. Readers navigate these landscapes through the lens of the protagonist’s interiority. This thesis explores how interiority serves as a crucial narrative tool in dystopian literature, enabling readers to connect with protagonists and interpret their worlds. Through an analysis of Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, Divergent by Veronica Roth, and The Stand by Stephen King, this study examines how interiority is achieved through point of view, layered emotions, and desire and misbelief. This study not only highlights the role of interiority in dystopian fiction but also provides a framework for applying these strategies to my own novel-in-progress, Hidden Bruises. The document concludes with the first chapters of Hidden Bruises, which follows Lucas, a senior cadet at St. Arthur’s Military Academy in war-torn America, as he navigates life with his abusive father
A Graph Convolutional Network approach for enhancing Set Covering Problem solvers
Get PDFThe Set Covering Problem (SCP) is an NP-hard combinatorial optimization problem with applications in telecommunication, logistics, and transportation. Solving SCP is computationally challenging due to the combinatorial explosion of potential solutions, particularly for large instances. This study proposes a Graph Convolutional Network (GCN) to approximate optimal solutions for SCP. A bipartite graph representation of SCP is employed to predict node priority, serving as a warm start for the Gurobi solver. The GCN is trained on solutions from a classical greedy algorithm. The method integrates GCNs and Gurobi, unifying data-driven prediction and exact solver for better computation efficiency and scalability. Experimental evaluations on benchmark SCP instances show that the Hybrid Model reduces computational time and enhances Gurobi\u27s performance, offering a robust framework for SCP and other large-scale combinatorial optimization problems. Ultimately, this research will help in my future work to predict and identify conservation regions in ecological conservation
Increasing accessibility and enhancing value of two university small vertebrate collections through digitization and online database publication
Get PDFNatural history collections (NHCs) are widely considered to be an exceptionally valuable resource and a critical foundation for research. Of the thousands of collections maintained today, the majority are considered small with a local or taxonomic focus. Collaboration among smaller NHCs through online publication contributes a largely underutilized resource for collections-based research. Past digitization efforts have resulted in the mobilization of collections data that enhance their preexisting value without significant additional costs. With this project I digitized and published the mammal collection (2,525 records) and, separately, the ornithology collection (403 records). Upon publication these records are the only mammal and bird datasets from the state of Tennessee uploaded to the Consortium of Vertebrate Collections on Symbiota. Online accessibility of these collections increase their utility and provides feedback regarding the quality, usage, and distribution of our datasets to inform future management decisions and collection goals
AI-driven smart cities: Digital twin simulation, V2X communication, and EV infrastructure optimization
Get PDFAs urbanization accelerates, cities face mounting challenges in transportation efficiency, safety, and sustainability. This dissertation explores the integration of Digital Twin (DT) technology, Connected Vehicle Communication (C-V2X), and Electric Vehicle (EV) infrastructure optimization to advance smart city mobility solutions. The research presents a comprehensive framework leveraging real-time data analytics, machine learning, and simulation technologies to enhance urban transportation systems. The first component focuses on Digital Twin-driven traffic simulation, which enables scenario testing, predictive modeling, and real-time decision-making. A key contribution is the calibration of traffic simulation models using real-world speed data, facilitating optimized traffic management, transit planning, and road safety assessments. The study includes BTE-Sim, a fast simulation environment for public transit, and a Digital Twin-based road diet analysis for Chattanooga’s Frazier Avenue, demonstrating how simulation can enhance urban mobility. The second component investigates C-V2X technology for pedestrian safety, particularly in vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) communication. The research conducts a comparative study of V2P architectures and pre-crash scenarios, along with field tests evaluating LTE, DSRC, WiFi, and Bluetooth-based safety systems. These findings contribute to the development of intelligent transportation networks that improve pedestrian protection through real-time communication technologies. The third component explores machine learning techniques for EV charging infrastructure optimization, leveraging embedding vector representations, matrix factorization, and clustering methods. By analyzing real-world EV charging station data, the study uncovers key utilization patterns, proposes location optimization strategies, and introduces Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring (NILM) techniques for identifying EV charging events in residential settings. This dissertation advances the scientific and practical understanding of next-generation urban mobility systems, providing a scalable, data-driven framework for intelligent transportation planning, enhanced road safety, and sustainable EV infrastructure development. The methodologies and findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, urban planners, and transportation engineers, contributing to the realization of smart, connected, and sustainable cities
Assessing correlation of dental health and Appalachian culture
Get PDFProper dental health is crucial for overall well-being, yet access to dental care remains a significant challenge in rural Appalachia. This study examines the relationship between Appalachian cultural identity, fatalistic beliefs, and dental health. Using survey data from 20 participants at dental offices in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the study assessed correlations between Appalachian identity, fatalism, and self-reported dental health. Results indicate a high prevalence of dental health issues (95% reported significant problems), with 70% lacking dental insurance. However, correlations between Appalachian identity, fatalism, and dental health were not statistically significant. Findings suggest that while cultural factors play a role in healthcare perceptions, structural barriers may be more immediate obstacles to dental care. These results highlight the need for expanded preventive care and culturally competent dental outreach. Future research should incorporate larger, geographically diverse samples and explore qualitative insights into Appalachian health-seeking behaviors
Bridging the nature gap: understanding barriers and promoting outdoor engagement among African Americans in Chattanooga
No full textThis paper outlines my process of writing a physical guidebook for outdoor engagement in Chattanooga. It explores the historical context of Black exclusion from outdoor spaces and examines the health disparities that disproportionately affect Black communities. The physical connection between outdoor activity and overall well-being will also be explained. Additionally, this paper details my methodology for conducting focus groups to better understand barriers to outdoor engagement and how participant insights could inform the guidebook’s development. This paper also outlines my research on best practices for structuring an effective guide, writing process, challenges faced, and considerations for extending this project in the future
The induced path number of complementary prisms
No full textThe complementary prism GG of a graph G is formed from the disjoint union of G and its complement G by adding the edges of a perfect matching between the corresponding vertices of G and G. The induced path number, denoted ρ(G), of a graph G is defined as the minimum number of subsets that the vertex set of G can be partitioned into such that each subset induces a path. In this paper, we study the induced path number of complementary prisms of complete graphs, stars, paths, and cycles
Introduction to the criminal justice system
No full textIntroduction to the Criminal Justice System is an open educational resource that explores the history, concepts, and foundational knowledge of the contemporary criminal justice system in the United States. The text includes examinations of current events and includes coverage of some controversial topics that may be commonly excluded from introductory texts. Institutional memory, best practices in public safety, and statistical data are incorporated in ways intended to provide an unbiased viewpoint of the current status of the criminal legal system today in order to provide students with a clear picture of the system.https://scholar.utc.edu/open-textbooks/1006/thumbnail.jp
The impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) on ethics and ethical gaps in accounting
No full textThis study examines the ethical impacts of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the accounting industry in Tennessee by identifying how national trends in AI adoption potentially surpass the ethical oversights established by the regulatory bodies, such as the AICPA, and relating these trends to Tennessee. A Qualtrics survey was distributed to accounting professionals across both firms and corporations across Tennessee, resulting in 64 responses. Results indicate that AI adoption is in its early stages and that significant awareness gaps remain regarding transparency and bias. As AI becomes more widely adopted, these ethical gaps could create risks that harm stakeholders. The study concludes that while AI offers meaningful benefits, additional ethical frameworks and stronger oversight will be necessary to ensure responsible use of AI in accounting