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Nontrivial solutions for nonlinear discrete boundary value problems of the fourth order
Get PDFWe study the existence of multiple nontrivial solutions for two nonlinear fourth order discrete boundary value problems. We first establish criteria for the existence of at least two nontrivial solutions of the problems and obtain conditions to guarantee that the two solutions are sign-changing. Under some appropriate assumptions, we further prove that the problems have at least three nontrivial solutions, which are respectively positive, negative, and sign-changing. We include two examples to illustrate the applicability of our results. Our theorems are proved by employing variational approaches, combined with the classic mountain pass lemma and a result from the theory of invariant sets of descending flow
Illuminating the true light of northern courage: Gandalf as J.R.R. Tolkien\u27s revised Odin
Get PDFIn this thesis, I argue that J.R.R. Tolkien was determined to re-write the character of the Norse god Odin as Tolkien thought he ought to have been. I argue that this desire was rooted in Tolkien’s belief of “true light”: a thing’s essential goodness which is often corrupted or disguised by evil perversion. Tolkien wanted to present Northern courage—the Norse view of fighting to the end despite certain doom—in its true light. Odin was the perfect character through which this virtue could be expressed and revised, principally through the character of Gandalf. This project is present in Tolkien’s retelling of the The Saga of the Volsungs in his poem “The New Lay of the Volsungs,” but is more fully realized in his depiction of Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings
Using the job demands-resources model to understand burnout in police officers in the UK and the US
Get PDFRates of burnout among police officers vary between countries and types of officers, which necessitates further exploration of the workplace conditions that impact how and why officers experience burnout. I examined data from two samples of police officers from the United Kingdom (N=356) and the United States (N=118). I found support for the general JD-R model of burnout, where high demands and few resources correlate with more burnout. I also looked at the patterns of demands and resources that significantly predicted burnout for each sample separately, and found that there are nuanced differences in which work conditions are salient in different samples of officers. Lastly, I examined the role of perceived community support in the US sample and found that officers’ perceptions of community respect for and confidence in police were associated with all three dimensions of burnout. Officers who perceived stronger community support and respect had significantly less burnout
Sensitivity and uncertainty analysis in hydrological modeling: a case study of South Chickamauga Creek watershed using BASINS/HSPF
Get PDFSensitivity and uncertainty analyses are crucial for the quality control and application of hydrological models in water resources management. While sensitivity analysis identifies major input parameters affecting model response, uncertainty analysis evaluates the uncertainty in model predictions. In this analysis, a Hydrological Simulation Program-Fortran (HSPF) model was developed for simulating surface and sub-surface hydrology, and creek flows in the South Chickamauga Creek Watershed, TN. The HSPF model was calibrated against USGS observed data from January 2013 to December 2017 and was validated for the period January 2018 to October 2019. Parameter Sensitivity analysis using the one-at-a-time (OAT) perturbation method revealed that watershed hydrology was highly sensitive to evapotranspiration and groundwater-related parameters. Uncertainty analysis with Monte Carlo and Latin Hypercube parameter sampling demonstrated the highest uncertainty in extreme flows and least uncertainty in annual runoff predictions. Overall, model output distribution was more uniform and achieved convergence faster with Latin hypercube sampling
Weird and cosmic short horror fiction and the illustration of existential fears
Get PDFThe literary genre of horror fiction is uniquely capable of presenting its readers with the horrific, terrifying, and repulsive while remaining an acceptable and sought-after genre. Moreover, the horror genre is also often able to serve as a type of lens through which readers can recognize socio-historical and cultural fears. Within the many subgenres of horror, cosmic and weird horror continue in this ability, but are able to present their readers with more abstract, existential fears. This research is an exploration and analysis of the ability of cosmic and weird horror to reveal the real, personal existential fears of their readers, and why these two subgenres of horror fiction specifically are acceptable and oftentimes desired ways to confront those fears
Adaptive decision-making as a mediator between self-complexity and stress
Get PDFAbstract Empirical studies have indicated a relationship between self-complexity and stress, such that greater self-complexity is associated with reduced stress. In addition, previous research has suggested that greater self-complexity allows for more advantageous decisions. Finally, previous studies have demonstrated a bidirectional relationship between adaptive decision-making and stress, such that increased stress is associated with a decreased ability to make adaptive decisions, which, in turn, increases future stress. However, no research to date has examined the mechanism behind these relationships. We hypothesized that greater self-complexity would lead to less stress and this relationship would be mediated by increased adaptive decision-making. Fifty-six college students at a private Midwestern university took part in the study. We manipulated self-complexity by asking participants to assign traits to their future self according to three (low complexity) or seven (high complexity) different self-aspects, consistent with a previous manipulation of self-complexity by Setterlund (1994). Next, participants underwent a task—used previously by Levin et al. (2007)—to measure their adaptive decision-making in which they selected either one cup for a guaranteed amount of money, or a set of cups, which would statistically yield a greater or lesser sum of money. Finally, participants took a college student stress scale. The main hypothesis was not supported, as the present study did not find that adaptive decision-making mediated the relationship between self-complexity and stress. However, self-complexity did significantly predict adaptive decision-making for the “risky loss” trials. No other paths yielded significant relationships
HIV-related stigma: A negative & intersecting life experience
Get PDFIn 2016, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) affected over 1.1 million people in the United States. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) medications have allowed HIV-positive individuals to live longer lives, but this has meant greater exposure to HIV-related stigma. This literature review examines how HIV exists as a chronic disease and how HIV-related stigma contributes to a negative life experience. The concept of intersectionality is used to analyze the overlapping identities of (a) gay, bisexual men, (b) women, (c) and youth and adolescents. Even though individuals may be managing their diagnosis, added stress, stigma, and maladaptive coping mechanisms can lead to negative health outcomes. This review reveals the importance of understanding intersectional identities surrounding HIV-related stigma and individuals’ experiences in the societal environment
Hey, are you busy right now? stressor appraisals of interruptions to workflow
Get PDFThe present study explored attributes of work interruptions (duration, domain, and urgency) and their impact on appraisals of threat and changes in perceived energy. Participants (N = 290 Amazon Mechanical Turk workers) read and responded to a series of interruption vignettes, appraising each scenario as a threat to personal resources, and evaluating an anticipated impact on their personal energy. Results from a repeated measures ANOVA indicated main effects of each interruption attribute and interactions on appraisals of threat and changes to personal energy. Interruptions characterized by high urgency or long duration were more likely to deplete personal energy, whereas low urgency, short duration, or social interruptions resulted in no changes in personal energy. These findings indicate that some interruption events in the workplace are more threatening than others, however not all interruptions are negative. Study findings indicate that some interruption events are neutral experiences, and some may be potentially energizing
Mental health and its impact on the school-to-prison pipeline: A look at Tennessee schools
Get PDFThis project sought to examine if and how school-based mental health service accessibility affected long-term student interactions with the criminal justice system. The study is both quantitative and qualitative; it researched existing literature and theories on the subject matter and also sourced over 750 data points published by varying organizations and agencies. By using proxy data including school guidance counselor-to-student ratios, out of school suspension rates, and juvenile court referrals, this research tested whether or not a direct relationship existed between the number of school counselors and both out of school suspensions as well as juvenile court referrals. The findings largely indicated that race and economic levels, respectively, most directly related to the suspension rates examined. This aligned with previously published research and working theories in the field, but limitations in data specificity prevented fuller exploration of the impact that mental health could have on school disciplinary outcomes and longer-term interactions with the justice system
Reparations
Get PDFThis collection of original poems is a testament to the tenacity of Black American women. It deals with the connection between personal and collective identities, and attempts to make tangible the pervasive themes of racial oppression, familial tension, societal vulnerability, and hope that are uniquely found in the experiences of southern Black women. This collection began as an exploration of transgenerational trauma, and while the final project addresses that theme, it is primarily an exercise in grappling with the modern manifestations of a complex history, a process with an importance that grew exceedingly more obvious as the nation faced a dramatic reckoning with its role in perpetuating racial injustice. “Reparations” is a testament to the modern Black woman’s participation in a legacy of adaptability, persistence, and faith