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Assessing the Recall of Traffic Safety Campaigns in Arkansas
Get PDFThis study estimates the degree to which drivers recall traffic safety campaigns based on sociodemographic characteristics including driving frequency, vehicle type, education, income, age, household composition, race, and gender. Traffic safety campaigns are efforts to educate, persuade, and inspire individuals to adjust their attitudes and behaviors for improved road safety, utilizing planned communications over a set time period. They aim to encourage safe driving using slogans shown on television, radio, social media, billboards, and variable message signs. Two years of a mail-based survey conducted in Arkansas were used to estimate binary logistic regression models for each of four safety campaigns. The findings indicate that overall recall is 92%, yet variability exists across campaigns. For example, the “Click it or Ticket” campaign aimed at encouraging seat belt use achieved an 83% recall rate, whereas the “Speeding Slows You Down” campaign aimed at promoting safe driving speeds was recalled by only 7% of respondents. Key predictors of recall include gender, with males exhibiting higher recall (ORs ≈ 1.38 – 1.68) compared to females, and driving frequency, where non-daily drivers have about 40–45% lower odds of recall (ORs ≈ 0.55–0.63) than everyday drivers. Additionally, respondents surveyed in 2024 had between 1.68 and 1.74 times the odds of recalling campaign messages compared to those surveyed in 2023. Other significant factors influencing recall were income, driving frequency, race and age. These model results underscore that not only does overall recall vary, but specific demographic and temporal factors consistently influence the likelihood of campaign recall
Shortage to Surge - Studying the Post-COVID-19 Guitar Retail Market
Get PDFThe COVID-19 pandemic was one of the most catalyzing events of the 21st century, leading to supply chain disruptions, lifestyle changes, and a massive shift towards digital technologies. During the COVID-19 lockdown, many people had more free time, and over 16 million individuals learned to play guitar in the first 2 years of the pandemic. According to a study by Fender, 62% of these new guitar learners cited the pandemic as their primary reason for learning the instrument. However, pandemic policies and supply chain disruptions meant that many guitar retailers were unable to satisfy demand, and backorders accumulated. After the pandemic, this demand dramatically shifted, leaving many companies with too much inventory. This student-led research project seeks to compare the guitar retail market to a similar retail market before and after the COVID-19 pandemic (2019-2023), discover guitar market category trends, and predict future guitar market growth to better inform manufacturers, retailers, and consumers. The study includes a literature review, hypothesis testing, a preliminary study of the datasets through summary statistics and basic visualizations (using Python), and several iterations of predictive/forecasting models (SARIMA, LSTM, etc.). The modeling results were subsequently compared with interviews with industry experts from the Northwest Arkansas region and the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) show in California, and an appropriate final model was selected to predict the guitar retail market’s growth in the next five years
Parole Predictions: Estimating the Likelihood a Humanitarian Parole Group will Receive a Status Adjustment
Get PDFHumanitarian parole is an immigration policy that allows paroled individuals to enter or remain in the United States temporarily. The standard pathway for parolees to gain legal permanent residency (LPR) is limited by a number of requirements and restrictions, i.e., sponsorship from a family member or employer is usually required. However, in some instances, laws have been passed that grant an automatic adjustment to LPR status for select groups of parolees. This study is intended to investigate the circumstances that lead some groups to receive a status adjustment while other groups are denied a dedicated pathway to legal permanent residency. Specifically, this paper asks what variables best predict if a group paroled into the United States will receive a status adjustment. Using logit regression, I find that the group majority religion and group majority ethnicity have no statistically significant relationship with the granting of a status adjustment. Data analysis indicates that as the polarization level during the year a parole group is recognized increases, the probability that a group will receive a status adjustment decreases
Livestock Risk Protection Basis Risk for Feeder Cattle
Get PDFRecent government subsidies make livestock risk protection (LRP) insurance an affordable price risk management tool for many U.S. cattle producers. LRP insurance triggers a loss when the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Feeder Cattle Index falls below the selected coverage price. The CME Feeder Cattle Index is a 7-day weighted average of feeder cattle prices in 12 states. This paper determines if LRP policy holders who produce feeder cattle in states whose feeder cattle prices are not included in the CME Feeder Cattle Index are exposed to excess basis risk. To do this, we use a hedonic regression model to determine how state, year, month, and cattle types contribute to expected feeder cattle basis. We also consider asymmetric differences in LRP basis risk by separately modeling upside and downside risk. We find that Southeast cattle producers and producers marketing cattle in the fall face more LRP basis risk. The results have important implications for risk management tools for small cattle producers in the Southeastern United States, who have traditionally lacked access to livestock price risk tools such as futures and options
Liquid-Liquid Crystal Phase Separation in Solutions of Binary Rod-like Systems
No full textLiquid-liquid crystalline phase separation (LLCPS) is an intricate phenomenon observed in the presence of LC-forming molecule governed by intricate molecular interactions and thermodynamic forces. LLCPS manifests as the demixing of a solution into two distinct phases: a dense phase enriched with LC-forming components coexisting with a supernatant phase depleted in LC content. In this study, we highlight the interplay between lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals (LCLCs) and other rod-like molecules, leading to LLCPS. We note that the phase separation can be associative or segregative. Associative phase separation, more commonly known as complex coacervation, arises due to an attractive interaction such as charge-based interactions, hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions, and π-π interactions between two molecules. The basic form of LC coacervation consists of an LC-forming molecule and an oppositely charged polyelectrolyte. Here, the dense (coacervate phase) consists of the LC-forming molecule and the polyelectrolyte, while the supernatant is mostly water. We uncover surprising LC coacervate droplets with sensitive and unique optical properties that can be influenced by external stimuli. We exploit chiral LCLCs – induced by chiral molecules dopants to explore the role of chirality in the type of complex formed (isotropic or nematic). The primary mechanism that drives segregative LLCPS is the entropic depletion force, which arises when large particles are placed in a solution of smaller ones and sterically constrained to avoid them. Existing studies have however largely focused on understanding LLCPS from the lens of the participating polymers/particles being spherical/isotropic, rather than rod-shaped, despite the prevalence of rod-shaped biopolymers participating in LLCPS in vivo. We harnessed the LLCPS phenomena of rod-shaped particles to eventuate the development of biosensors for DNA. We emphasize that the biosensing mechanism and/or the sensitivity achieved with rod-shaped particles is unattainable with their spherical counterparts
Impact of Various Sealant Materials on Low Temperature Properties of Asphalt Mixtures
Get PDFIn the United States, 43% of the pavement network is in poor condition which can be attributed primarily to different modes of cracking. This network is constantly exposed to the elements and loading leading to thermal and fatigue cracking respectively. Cracking can be addressed through two primary means: mix design and preservation through the application of treatments. However, evaluating these two avenues requires a test that can easily and effectively measure the influence of these factors on thermal and fatigue cracking performance. The two main objectives of this study were to explore the influence of non-standard treatment material (sealant material) on thermal cracking and the development of a dynamic loading fatigue test in the BBR. Little research has been done regarding the effect of sealant material application on the thermal cracking properties (creep stiffness and m-value) of asphalt mixtures in the BBR. In addition, as of 2025 there has been no dynamic loading test developed using the BBR. The experimental matrix included five different mixtures consisting of 3 binder grades (PG 64-22, PG 70-22, and PG 76-22), two NMAS (9.5 and 12.5 mm), and three levels of aging (0, 3, and 5 days). This was followed by five different sealant materials (PJS, FAMF, CTE, CRS-2P, HAAS) applied onto aged base beams. The development of the dynamic loading test was developed using AASHTO T 321 as a basis. PG 76-22 12.5 mm was the best mixture with average creep stiffness and m-value ranging for 4938-6391 MPa and 0.135-0.108 respectively over the 0 day to 5 days of aging. FAMF was the best sealant with an average creep stiffness and m-value of 2611 MPa and 0.114, respectively. The development of the new fatigue test resulted in a functioning software, but the presence of hysteresis couldn’t be addressed so an observed flexural stiffness value was proposed. Both PG 76-22 12.5 mm and PG 64-22 9.5 mm exhibited an increase in stiffness during dynamic loading testing. It was concluded that polymer modification and the application of sealant greatly improved the thermal cracking performance of asphalt mixtures. In addition, in order to further the development of the dynamic loading test the presence of hysteresis must be addressed as well as the variation in loading waveforms because of switching mixture types
The Future of Fashion: A Systematic Literature Review on Consumer Willingness to Pay for Green Apparel
Get PDFIn recent years, consumers have become highly aware of the environmental impact of their purchases, specifically of apparel products. Accordingly, apparel brands have increasingly focused on enhancing the sustainability of their product offerings to attract environmentally conscious consumers and elevate their brand image (Dangelico et al., 2022). Furthermore, most sustainably produced products are priced higher for consumers compared to standard alternatives (Elmanadily & El-Deeb, 2022). Research has shown that consumers can accept higher prices for products that do less harm to the environment (Gomes et al., 2023), but it has yet to be determined in which cases this is consistently true.
Willingness to pay (WTP) is an economic concept defining the amount of money an individual is willing to forgo to obtain a product or gain a higher degree of a particular attribute (Narayanan & Singh, 2023), making it a valuable measure for evaluating consumers’ assessment of green product attributes. The purpose of this study is to develop an integrative framework of consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) more for environmentally friendly apparel products through conducting a systematic literature review (SLR). Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines to locate and extract relevant articles, this study systematically reviews the pertinent literature. The findings are enriched through the application of the Theories-Characteristics-Contexts-Methods (TCCM) framework.
Guided by the research questions, this systematic review first analyzes the definitions of green apparel across the retained articles. A key finding of this review is regarding the absence of a unifying definition for classifying green products. Varying definitions of green apparel are shown to be a significant barrier for both consumer behavior research and consumer education. Second, this review identifies patterns across WTP measures in research. The findings demonstrate that there are several barriers leading to a lack of comparability of measures across WTP research. Suggestions for addressing this barrier are provided. Third, this review presents theories, contexts, characteristics, and methods (TCCM) that have been utilized in green apparel WTP research. Patterns highlighted through the application of the TCCM framework provide an overview of the present standing of the research domain. Fourth, this review analyzes outcomes associated with green apparel attributes. Interestingly, other product and respondent characteristics were shown to influence WTP more significantly than specific green attributes in and of themselves. Fifth, the influence of sociodemographic characteristics on WTP is evaluated. Lastly, this study provides future research directions.
In conclusion, the studies in the review agree that consumers are generally willing to pay a premium for green attributes in apparel, though the amount varies based on many considerations. The amount of premium consumers are WTP has been shown to be impacted by green attribute type, other product attributes, labeling or information provided about the green product, and individual consumers’ values and attitudes. Research concludes that translating consumers’ expressed WTP into actual purchasing behavior is a leading issue in the domain. Furthermore, the formulation and adoption of a universal definition of green apparel could significantly positively impact future research on the topic
The Efficacy of Foam-Based Hand Sanitizers for the Control of Enveloped and Non-enveloped Virus Transmission
Get PDFInfectious disease transmission due to viruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), influenza virus, human noroviruses (HuNoV), and hepatitis A, can occur via person-to-person contact or contaminated surfaces. Effective hand hygiene, including hand washing and use of hand sanitizers, is considered a critical tool for the control of infectious disease transmission, as recommended by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. However, while research on hand washing efficacy is well-documented, research on hand sanitizer efficacy, particularly for foam-based products, remains limited. This research addressed critical gaps in the area of hand sanitizer efficacy, particularly with foam-based hand sanitizers which are widely used but generally underexplored. First, the recovery of bacteriophage phi6 (Φ6; a surrogate for enveloped viruses such as SARS-CoV-2) from the whole hands was optimized. Φ6 was applied on either the palmar surface or the whole hand, recovered based on wet or dry conditions using three eluents [lysogeny broth (LC), tryptic soy broth (TSB), and 1.5% beef extract (BE)] and three recovery methods [glove juice method (GJM), hand rinsing, and modified dish method]. Recovery methods, inoculum application type, and recovery basis significantly impacted Φ6 recovery. Study results revealed that GJM and dry basis recovery are not ideal for Φ6, however, to maximize Φ6f recovery from the hands, inoculum should be applied to the palmar surface and recovered using LC medium while the inoculum is still wet. The study also examined the in vitro efficacy of foam hand sanitizers against enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. The efficacy of one non-alcohol-based hand sanitizer (NABHS) and four alcohol-based hand sanitizers (ABHS) with benzalkonium chloride (BZK) and ethanol as active ingredients, respectively, were explored using Φ6 as a surrogate for enveloped viruses and bacteriophage MS2 (Emesvirus zinderi) and Tulane virus (TuV) as surrogates for non-enveloped viruses (e.g., HuNoV and hepatitis A) with an exposure time of 10 s. While Φ6 was completely inactivated (5.23 ± 1.64 log reduction), MS2 proved resistant to inactivation (0.04 ± 0.08 log reduction). Conversely, efficacy against TuV significantly varied across products, indicating that while 10 s may be sufficient to inactivate enveloped viruses, higher exposure time may be necessary to achieve similar log reductions against non-enveloped viruses such as human norovirus based on the tested surrogates. Finally, the in vivo efficacy of commercially available ABHS and NABHS against enveloped and non-enveloped viruses was evaluated, assessing varying dosing volumes and rubbing time. The findings revealed that the efficacy of the products is significantly affected by virus type, rubbing time, and overall formulation. Employing Φ6 as a surrogate for enveloped viruses yielded a significantly higher log reduction (2.83 ± 1.98) than MS2, the surrogate utilized for non-enveloped viruses (0.50 ± 0.53). Furthermore, when hands were rubbed until dry following hand sanitizer application, a significantly higher log reduction (2.69 ± 2.06) was observed compared to 10 s rubbing time (0.65 ± 0.75), which is typical among users
Understanding and Redesigning Membrane-based Unit Operations for Bioseparations
No full textThe biopharmaceutical industry has developed dramatically in the past decades, alleviating and curing numerous diseases that are not curable with traditional therapies. However, producing biopharmaceuticals is a challenging, complex, and expensive process. Membrane-based technologies have been widely used in biopharmaceutical production, especially downstream processing steps, including clarification, polishing, and other unit operations.
Our research interests focus on the production of two major biopharmaceutical categories: monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors. Monoclonal antibodies are the largest class of approved biopharmaceuticals, with more than 130 mAb-based therapies having received regulatory approval in the United States or the European Union. In contrast, AAV-based gene therapy is an emerging but rapidly evolving field. Although there are only five FDA-approved treatments as of June 2024, AAV has attracted considerable research interest due to its potential for gene delivery. Currently, hundreds of AAV-based gene therapies are in various stages of clinical trials.
This study explored the application of membrane technologies for both clarification and polishing steps in producing mAb and AAV capsids. The investigation was divided into four key areas. Firstly, foulants associated with ATF membrane filters employed in mAb production using a perfusion cell culture system were analyzed. Secondly, the removal of mAb aggregates was investigated using environmentally responsive HIC membranes. Thirdly, the clarification of HEK cell lysate for AAV production was achieved using BioOptimal membrane filters in TFF and diafiltration mode to enhance AAV recovery. Finally, the separation of empty and full AAV capsids was examined by applying multimodal AEX membranes
Community Perceptions of a Crisis Response Collaboration: A Community Survey of Attitudes Towards Police and the Crisis Intervention Response Team.
Get PDFThis thesis examined community perceptions of the Fayetteville Police Department (FPD) and its Crisis Intervention Response Team (CIRT), focusing on how racial minorities and individuals from lower socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds view these professionals and their roles in crisis situations. The research also aimed to determine whether perceptions of the collaborative effort through CIRT influenced views of the FPD. Previous research has explored perceptions of police, social workers, and co-response teams individually, but a gap remains in understanding how community members feel about the collaboration between police and social workers and whether these perceptions influence their views of the police. Regression analysis indicated that SES does not significantly predict views of the FPD or CIRT, rejecting the first hypothesis. Race was a significant predictor for traditional optimism towards CIRT, with White participants reporting higher optimism compared to non-White participants, partially supporting the second hypothesis. Finally, attitudes towards CIRT, particularly optimism for non-traditional policing outcomes and pessimism toward potential burdens on police, significantly influenced perceptions of police legitimacy, supporting the third hypothesis. Consequently, community perceptions of co-response programs, which involve collaboration between police and social workers, might be more positive than those of the police alone and could potentially influence overall community perceptions of the police. Understanding how community members view co-response teams is crucial for improving trust, enhancing service delivery, and ensuring that these teams meet the needs of vulnerable populations. Additionally, community support is essential for the sustainability of publicly funded programs like these