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Inhibited intentionality and the docile imaginations of women
Get PDFThis paper explores the nature of women\u27s extension in rigorous conversational settings, such as an academic or professional settings. Even in a society where women have more educational and economic opportunities than ever before, there remains the concerning phenomena of women not extending themselves in conversation in the way that men do. The author contends that women\u27s minds exist within the embodied experience of being female, and therefore of being objectified, because the imagination is subject to similar disciplinary measures as Bartky identifies as disciplining the female body
Monogamy, Who? Cheating in the Animal Kingdom
Get PDFAnimal social systems have four interrelated components, two of which are social organization and the mating system. One way to represent the mating system is through multiple paternity, which is defined as the percentage of litters with more than one father. This research project looks at variables that might influence multiple paternity including evolutionary relationships, litter size, female body mass, sexual size dimorphism, and male social organization. Results support the literature that multiple paternity increases with increasing litter size. While not significant, multi-male groups seem to have more influence on multiple paternity than other male social organization groups. Lastly, there was no evolutionary relationship to multiple paternity which may be due to behavioral traits not being genetically inherited
Transportation Access and Social Inclusion in College Students
Get PDFThe prevalence of social isolation in the United States is rising due to such disparate causes as COVID-19, increases in the cost of living, and the introduction of new technologies (Kannan & Veazie, 2023). Although experiencing social support and inclusion during the college years contributes importantly to young adults’ feeling valued, loved, and belonging to a community (Arslan et al, 2018), young adults in college are reported to be one of the highest-risk populations for depression, social isolation, and mental health issues (Elliott, 2021). The nationwide Healthy Minds Survey found that two-thirds of nearly 33,000 students surveyed at schools around the United States reported significant experiences of loneliness and isolation, and over 83 percent of students reported that emotional or mental health issues had significantly impacted their academic performance (Eisenberg et al., 2020). We hypothesize that transportation access issues are a significant driver of social isolation. Murphy et al. (2022) found that 25 percent of respondents in a nationwide study experienced transportation insecurity daily. While the relationship between transportation access and well-being has been studied in some populations (Banister & Bowling, 2004; Currie & Delbosc, 2010; Mollenkopf et al., 2005; Delbosc & Currie, 2011.), few of these studies have focused on the effects of lack of transportation on rates of social isolation, and there is a lack of data on transportation issues among college students. This gap is the driving force behind our research. We collected survey responses from 100 UTC students to determine how secure their access to transportation was and how frequently respondents participated in a variety of social activities. Using the Transportation Security Index (TSI) to assess reliable access to transportation and the Australian Community Participation Questionnaire (ACPQ) to quantify social inclusion, we determined that there was no significant correlation between transportation access and overall social inclusion in our sample. Investigating the ways that transportation access impacts the social lives of UTC students helps us better understand the flow of life in Chattanooga as the city grows and changes. Our hope is that the results of this study can help guide future research in this area, and that our results will inform policy conversations surrounding transportation access. Our results are of interest to UTC as an indicator of the extent to which our campus population needs transportation reform policy
Integration of Decentralized Graph-Based Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning with Digital Twin for Traffic Signal Optimization
No full textMachine learning (ML), especially reinforcement learning (RL), has garnered significant attention for optimizing traffic signal control in intelligent transportation systems. However, existing ML approaches face scalability and adaptability challenges, especially in large traffic networks. This paper proposes an innovative solution by integrating decentralized graph-based multi-agent reinforcement learning (DGMARL) with a Digital Twin (DT) to enhance traffic signal optimization, aiming to reduce traffic congestion and network-wide fuel consumption associated with vehicle stops and delays. DGMARL agents learn traffic state patterns and make informed decisions on traffic signal control, further facilitated by the Digital Twin module simulating real-time traffic behaviors. Evaluation utilized PTV-Vissim, a microscopic traffic simulation platform, focusing on the MLK Smart Corridor in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Comparative analysis against an actuated signal control baseline showed significant improvements, with a remarkable 55.38% reduction in Eco_PI over 24 hours. In a PM-peak-hour scenario, the average Eco_PI reduction reached 38.94%. These findings underscore the effectiveness of the proposed approach
Pedestrian-Involved Traffic Signal Optimization Using Decentralized Graph-based Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning
No full textIn urban transportation systems, integrating pedestrian movements into traffic signal timing optimization is crucial for smooth and safe traffic flow. This study investigates the Decentralized Graph-based Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning (DGMARL) method for signal timing optimization, considering both pedestrian and vehicle traffic states. Evaluating fixed and adaptive pedestrian accommodation strategies, the study assesses their impact on traffic flow and signal timing. Using a Digital Twin microscopic traffic simulation model of the MLK Smart Corridor in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the approach\u27s effectiveness is analyzed. Results show that the strategy of signal timing optimization with adaptive pedestrian request improves Eco_PI by significantly compared to fixed pedestrian recall methods
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Faculty handbook, 2024 August 1
Get PDFGovernance, policies, guidelines, services, and resources managed by and for the faculty at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Racial disparities in domestic violence: Analyzing the Intersection of race and gender
Get PDFThis research explores the intersection of race, gender, and the litigation of domestic violence cases in Memphis, Tennessee. This is explored through qualitative research that combines a theoretical framework with structured interviews of criminal defense attorneys. Utilizing a sample of 5 attorneys with recent exposure to domestic violence cases, this study aims to reveal whether or not intimate partner violence is litigated differently across racial lines. This is done through analysis of the treatment of victims depending on race, sentencing rates, and perceptions of credibility within the justice system. The methodology involves five key steps: conducting a literature review to establish theoretical frameworks, scheduling and conducting structured interviews, compression and sorting of the information found, and culminating in a comprehensive analysis of the findings. The diverse demographic makeup of Memphis allows for an in-depth analysis of how race and gender intersect in legal proceedings. Though White Americans are the overwhelming majority in the country, the city of Memphis is comprised of a 64% African American population and a 24% White population (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023). This provides a unique context for this investigation. Questions posed to participants explore perceptions of attorney’s opinions regarding judicial equity, the influence of state and federal laws, and the impact of racial biases on the litigation process. Additionally, the study investigates disparities in legal representation and support services for victims. By analyzing attorney narratives, this research seeks to reveal if racial, systemic issues are prevalent in domestic violence litigation
Giving True Blood some credit: A paratextual analysis of a TV show’s opening sequence
Get PDFHBO’s television series True Blood is clear in the statement it is making about the mistreatment of minority groups in society. The show uses vampires as an allegory for these people with thinly veiled allusions. The purpose of this proposed study is to apply Gerard Genette’s theory of paratextuality to explain how the opening credits are an avenue to understanding not only the show, but the statement to society the show is making. The method to discuss paratextuality in the show will be to analyze each clip of the opening credits to see how it relates to the diegesis–the narrative itself–and historical happenings
Transcendence in Kierkegaard and Barth
Get PDFThis paper examines the theological intersections and divergences between Karl Barth and Søren Kierkegaard, focusing on their conceptualizations of God\u27s transcendence. Barth, influential in the twentieth century, viewed divine knowledge as accessible only through Jesus Christ\u27s revelation, critiquing any historical or metaphysical bases for such knowledge. He was significantly influenced by Kierkegaard, who emphasized paradox and the infinite qualitative distinction. This study traces Barth\u27s evolving thoughts on transcendence across his works, including his critiques of Kierkegaard in his later years. While some scholars suggest a shared theological trajectory based on transcendence, this paper argues for nuanced differences, engaging with the interpretations of scholars like Alastair McKinnon and George Pattison. This paper seeks to clarify the theological dialogue between these two influential figures, suggesting that Barth’s later works and critiques might still align with Kierkegaard\u27s foundational ideas on transcendence, albeit through a complex interplay of acceptance and reinterpretation
Disney\u27s postfeminist follies: Disney’s postfeminist portrayal of women in the age of fourth wave of feminism
Get PDFIn 2022, Disney CEO Bob Chepak spoke out against the Don\u27t Say Gay bill signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. DeSantis’ supporters derisively labeled Disney as “woke. However, the company does not warrant the label. Though Fourth Wave feminism has broadened Disney’s idea of a woman, the entertainment company largely operates with a postfeminist lens that prevents its heroines from being feminist representations of women. Audiences see this in Frozen, (2013), Moana (2016), Encanto (2021), and Turning Red (2022). Disney’s postfeminist rhetoric allows it to portray supposedly progressive women without challenging societal notions of misogyny. Thus, Disney’s criticisms for “wokeness” are largely unfounded claims as it remains largely conservative in its portrayal of masculinity and femininity