Cross-Facility Reliable Deep Learning Based Beef Marbling Assessment Via Unsupervised Domain Adaptation Regression

Inconsistent quality grading in beef production leads to inefficiencies, economic disparity, and consumer mistrust. While USDA meat grading traditionally relies on skilled visual inspectors, these human evaluations suffer from cross-facility variability and subjectivity. This paper introduces the first known application of unsupervised domain adaptation regression for cross-facility beef marbling score prediction—an innovation that improves generalization across diverse environments in the beef supply chain. Utilizing numerical scores ranging from 100-900, the research employed convolutional neural networks (CNNs), including ResNet, VGG, and AlexNet architectures. The study specifically introduced and validated a unified unsupervised domain adaptation regression method using the ResNet-50 architecture to enhance model generalization across diverse environments, accounting for variations in lighting, equipment, and operational practices. Statistical analyses demonstrated that the deep learning approach significantly reduced grading variability compared to human graders, achieving greater consistency and accuracy across facilities. The proposed domain adaptation model notably outperformed conventional CNN approaches, offering a scalable, robust, and practical solution for widespread industry adoption. Beyond automating grading, this work lays a foundation for scalable machine vision systems in livestock and distribution logistics, with implications for robotics, food equity, and next-generation supply chain automation

Rekindling Hearth: An Investigation and Discussion of the Traditional and Evolving Roles of Hearth in Architecture

This research explores the evolving role of the hearth in domestic architecture, examining its historical significance and its continuing symbolic and architectural significance. Once essential for heat, cooking, and gathering, the hearth has shifted from necessity to nostalgic artifact due to technological advances and changing domestic patterns. This study reexamines the hearth’s spatial, social, and functional roles in architecture through a combination of literature review, theoretical analysis, and visual diagramming. Six case studies, spanning pre-modern to contemporary housing, are analyzed to identify patterns and transformations in hearth placement and significance. Through detailed diagrams, the paper offers a visual and theoretical framework to understand hearth as both a cultural artifact and architectural feature, encouraging readers to question the role of comfort, memory, and centeredness in modern homes. Interpretations suggest that the hearth remains a vital architectural and cultural element, offering insight into how we define comfort, community, and home. This study concludes by advocating for a renewed understanding of the hearth in contemporary architecture as a meaningful tool for fostering well-being, and long-lasting domestic design

Multi-City Travel Routing Tool: Reducing Travel Costs and Time Spent Planning using APIs

Travel planning is a time-consuming and ever-changing problem that can diminish the travel experience and greatly increase expenditure, if not done correctly. It is important to have an easy travel planning experience so you can enjoy the travel experience more and not waste time where it is not needed. This thesis aims to minimize the costs and time spent on travel planning using APIs and simple optimization models, creating a travel planning tool. This travel planning tool was developed in Java with the main API being Amadeus, this was combined with a greedy best-permutation heuristic to create the main route optimization function. Fixer.io was an API used to convert currency, and a database caching system was created to decrease the total amount of API pulls consumed. The average travel costs for a user-input travel itinerary that was put into the tool received an 11% average reduction in costs. There is currently no application or website dedicated to optimizing your travel route to decrease the cost of flights. This tool can be developed to fill that gap, helping users decrease the amount of time and money spent on travel planning

Diving Into Commercial Banking: Internship experience at Hilborn & Howell, LLC

This paper attempts to provide insight into the commercial banking industry through personal experience and the help of high-level lending professionals

Non-Profit Foundation Boards: An Investigation into Best Practices using Fayetteville Public Library Foundation Board as a Test Case

Effective governance is critical for the success of non-profit organizations, with foundation boards playing a central role in ensuring accountability, strategic direction, and resource allocation for the organization. This thesis investigates best practices for non-profit foundation boards, using the Fayetteville Public Library Foundation Board as a case study to evaluate the efficiency of its governance practices. The research aims to identify whether the foundation board operates efficiently and adheres to established best practices for non-profit governance boards. To address this, a two-phase methodology was employed. The first phase involved an extensive review of scholarly journals, industry guidelines, and other resources to define criteria for best practices in non-profit board governance. In the second phase, interviews were conducted with board members and library executives with questions informed by the findings from the first phase designed to assess the efficiency of a non-profit board. The research supports the hypothesis that the Fayetteville Public Library Foundation Board operates efficiently and incorporates several recognized best practices, including strategic alignment with the organization’s mission and active engagement of board members. These results can contribute to the broader understanding of non-profit governance by highlighting how established best practices can be implemented and tailored within a specific organizational context to improve overall board effectiveness. By combining theoretical research with practical application, this study offers valuable insights for non-profit boards seeking to improve their governance practices and better fulfill their organizational missions

The Log Cabin | Public Perception and Mediated Reality (1840 – 1980)

This capstone examines the evolution of the log cabin from 1840 to 1980. At its core, the project questions the legacy of the log cabin from its origins as simply being a traditional dwelling typology to its establishment as a cultural icon or rather, an enduring vessel that established the American Dream and ideals of self-reliance, freedom, and individualism deep within the heart of American culture. Chapter One situates the log cabin historically and architecturally, defining the popular frontier dwelling as being a single-pen horizontal log constructed cabin. It then explores the cabin’s emergence as a cultural image through political propaganda, focusing on the 1840 presidential election, Abraham Lincoln’s log cabin birthplace, and the lasting “humble beginnings” narrative. Chapter Two features a case study of Lincoln Logs, a toy introduced in 1916, to analyze how log cabin imagery was used to shape American childhood. By studying advertisements from 1922 to 1935, this chapter reveals how a log cabin toy reinforced traditional gender roles, national values, and historical narratives—embedding these ideologies within American youth through play. Chapter Three examines how literature and television sustained and exaggerated the log cabin myth, using Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House series as a central case study. Focusing on Wilder’s early novels and their television adaptation, the chapter considers how the log cabin was not only portrayed with emotional and symbolic weight but also exported internationally—most notably to post–World War II Japan—as a representation of American democracy and history. In conclusion, each chapter works to prove that, yes, the log cabin, through various medias, has established itself and fundamental American myths in the nostalgic folder of the American brain

Tribological Evaluation of a Graphite Coating Using a Custom Miniature Conveyor

Reducing friction in conveyor systems has significant economic and environmental implications, as a substantial portion of energy losses originates at the belt-bed interface. This thesis outlines the design, construction, and validation of a miniature conveyor tribological test system. Unlike conventional tribometers, which impose concentrated point contacts, the miniature conveyor replicates the distributed load consistent with industrial conveyor systems. It can measure real-time mechanical responses of steel samples coated in a low friction coating. The mini conveyor was validated by evaluating three materials: uncoated mild steel, PDA/graphite coated steel, and Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Electrical power, temperature, sound, and acceleration were recorded. Electrical power results for the uncoated and PDA/graphite coated samples showed minimal differences under the current testing conditions, while the PTFE samples exhibited decreasing power consumption due to PTFE transfer onto the belt during extended testing. Sound, acceleration, and temperature measurements demonstrated the system’s sensitivity to subtle mechanical changes. Temperature proved to be the most consistent indicator of frictional behavior, with the uncoated samples showing the highest temperature rise while the PDA/graphite coated samples showed lower changes in temperature. Coating wear was assessed using 3D confocal microscopy, revealing nonuniform wear along the samples, suggesting uneven load distribution during testing. Overall, the results confirm the conveyor system’s capability to distinguish material behavior and pick up on minute differences in conveyor health during operation. This work provides a foundation for future studies involving prolonged testing, increased loading conditions for accelerated wear, and improved mechanical stabilization to enhance measurement reliability and tribological insight

Taste of Florence: A Hospitality Student\u27s Guide to Study Abroad in Florence

The goal of this creative project is to better prepare hospitality student for studying abroad in Florence, Italy. Studying abroad can be a daunting class, but there’s so many benefits from doing it. For example, you learn a lot about yourself and others around you. It better prepares you for after college because it teaches you life lessons like becoming more aware of the world around you. It also sets you apart from others when you start to apply for internships or jobs, because it shows the companies that you are independent and culturally diverse. The results that I gathered are from when I studied abroad in Florence. While I was there, I gathered information about the things that I liked to do and see. I compiled all this information together to make a tour guide for other students to be able to become more prepared for their trip. In addition, this guide can provide an example for other hospitality students to create their own travel guide to another major city, like Rome or Milan

Behavioral Bottlenecks in Belizean Smallholder Farming: An Action Plan

Behavioral Bottlenecks in Belizean Smallholder Farming: An Action Plan investigates why Belizean smallholders hesitate to adopt new practices informed by a two-month internship with the Ministry of Agriculture at the Stann Creek branch. During the internship, a seventeen-page bilingual farm plan outline integrating SMART goals, a standard business plan, and farming essentials relevant to the local culture and environment was designed and developed. The Farm Plan Outline is grounded in observations in goal-setting theory, risk aversion under price uncertainty, and knowledge gap literature (AKIS/AKAP) tailored by smallholder Belizean contexts. Farmers were assisted with the Sustainable & Inclusive Belize Program grant application, which subsidizes 85% of costs for smallholder farms. Qualitative data indicates that limited digital literacy coupled with psychological and knowledge barriers presents a significant behavioral bottleneck. This thesis recommends addressing this through workshops linked to current subsidization programs to improve and impact knowledge, profit, and yields. This thesis shows the potential to overcome such adoption barriers by weaving behavioral insight with existing social strata

Delivering Food, Exercise, and Nutrition Education for the Prevention of Chronic Disease

Chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart and respiratory diseases, cancer, and stroke pose significant health challenges in the United States, with Arkansas experiencing some of the highest rates of related mortality. This project aimed to improve health literacy related to nutrition and physical activity among adults at risk for chronic disease in Arkansas, focusing on those living independently in Ozark, Ouachita, and Delta regions, as well as cooperative extension agents in Family & Consumer Sciences. Using a mixed-methods approach involving surveys and focus groups, the study explored participants’ nutrition knowledge, health awareness, physical activity engagement, and preferred methods of receiving health information. Results revealed distinct differences between community members and extension agents in information sources and delivery preferences, with community members favoring social media formats and agents relying on established educational materials. Challenges related to trustworthiness and the need for easily accessible, evidence-backed information were identified. Findings highlight the importance of tailoring health education programs to meet the diverse needs and preferences of Arkansans at risk for chronic disease. Recommendations for future research include conducting in-person focus groups, organizing participants by age to better understand generational differences, and incorporating objective measures to complement self-reported data. This research contributes to the development of effective, community-informed strategies to prevent chronic diseases through improved nutrition and physical activity education in Arkansas