Consumer Preferences for Delayed Ripening in Apples: A Comparative Study of Gene-Editing and All-Natural Fruit Coating

This study investigates consumer preferences for food waste reduction technologies using a discrete choice experiment and Latent Class Analysis (LCA). Willingness to pay (WTP) results reveal a higher WTP for gene-edited ($2.64/lb) and spray-coated apples ($3.05/lb) relative to untreated apples ($1.80/lb). LCA identifies three consumer segments with distinct preferences and behavioral traits. Segment differences in WTP, food waste concern (F = 12.13, p \u3c 0.001), and consumption habits (F = 20.40, p \u3c 0.001) were statistically significant. Findings highlight the need for tailored marketing and policy strategies to promote the adoption of sustainable technologies and reduce food waste

Effects of sensor separation on flux calculations in the Eddy Covariance Method.

Rice production contributes approximately 8% of global anthropogenic methane emissions. Methane (CH4) is a powerful greenhouse gas with a global warming potential 28 times greater than carbon dioxide (CO2) which makes it important to monitor for understanding and mitigating its contribution to climate change. The Eddy Covariance (EC) method is used to monitor greenhouse gas emissions such as CO2, CH4, etc. As part of the EC method, the instruments on the EC towers are used to record the gas concentrations in the atmosphere; these concentrations are then run in the EddyPro software to be able to analyze the collected data. This study examines the methane emissions from a commercial rice field in Lonoke, Arkansas on July 06, 2022, and evaluates the effect of sensor separation values on corrected fluxes from EddyPro. A spectral analysis was done with the spectral correction factor in EddyPro using the method described by Moncrieff et al (1997) method. It was found that the methane fluxes were higher in the morning, dipped around 6:00 am, remained low during the day, and went up again later in the afternoon. The methane emission patterns were also influenced by atmospheric conditions. The sensor separation correction, applied during data processing, significantly affected CH₄ flux estimates, with greater horizontal separation leading to larger correction factors. In contrast, vertical sensor separation had minimal impact on final flux values compared to horizontal separation. Canopy height also had minimal impact on corrected methane fluxes. The findings emphasize the importance of careful sensor separation and tower setup measurements in EC studies. Small errors in measurement configuration can introduce notable biases, affecting data accuracy and interpretation

Agent-Based Modeling for Faulty System Analysis

Numerous approaches exist for computational modeling of complex, dynamic systems. One particular option is the use of agent-based modeling, which simulates the behavior of numerous autonomous agents interacting with each other and with the system at large. Current agent-based modeling research has largely focused on studying the system level behavior of a model, as this is generally the main concern for any real world application. However, the characteristics and behaviors of agents deserves consideration as well. The issue with this area of interest lies in the fact that the agent data cannot be as quickly obtained and analyzed as system level data. In order to develop this idea, this paper focuses on utilizing system level data to determine the state of agents in a model. Specifically, it will consider systems where faults have occurred and find the point(s) of failure. A Python model will be developed and study for this purpose, focusing particularly on an electrical network. From this research, it is found that agent- based models can be effective for identifying faults and their source in a system. These models are limited by a lack of learning on the part of agents and could be improved through the implementation of reinforcement learning algorithms

Mind Matters: Curriculum and Design for a 16-Week Traumatic Brain Injury Support Group Addressing the Most Prevalent and Overlooked Needs of Individuals Post-TBI

Background Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a global health issue that affects millions of individuals. Despite its prevalence, there is minimal research on the most effective support group content for patients with a TBI. Purpose This project aims to investigate the need for traumatic brain injury support groups, along with what curriculum and design would be beneficial in a TBI support group. Method This study proposes a TBI support group program that focuses on addressing prevalent yet overlooked struggles post-TBI through the content and design of a 16-week support group. Results/Conclusion Ultimately, this project aims to improve patients with a TBI’s quality of life through addressing difficult primary and secondary symptoms of TBIs within a community context

Redefining Children’s Experience in Social Services Offices

The effects of childhood trauma are far-reaching and diverse, influencing physical, emotional, and mental health across a child’s entire lifetime. Research indicates that children who experience adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) such as abuse or neglect are at an increased risk for various consequences and that the environments they encounter post-trauma play a significant role in shaping their experiences. Social services offices, where many traumatized children are taken for interviews or assessments after being removed from their homes, can often become places of additional distress. This project seeks to address this issue by proposing redesigns for social services offices to create safer, more welcoming environments for children. By incorporating trauma-informed design principles, this project aims to minimize the potential for further emotional turmoil caused by the physical environments children encounter. To achieve this, a generative artificial intelligence (AI) model has been developed and integrated into a free-access website. This website allows the user to upload images of their current office and receive AI-generated redesign suggestions that are backed by the literature. The AI tool, coupled with resources and other supplemental information provided in the website, is a complete and easy-to-use resource for offices seeking to make positive changes for the children and families they serve. This project draws inspiration from non-profit organizations such as LilyPad Inc., which has demonstrated the power of child-focused spaces in reducing trauma. The website is intended to be a free and accessible resource for social workers and other professionals in Northwest Arkansas and beyond, with the hope that it will inspire change both locally and nationwide. By offering a tangible solution to creating trauma-informed offices, this project aims to enhance the well-being of children and ensure that they are met with office spaces that support their healing, rather than spaces that could cause further distress or harm

The Fathers Have Eaten Sour Grapes: History is the Wrong Test for Establishment Clause Questions in Public Schools

The old quip goes, “As long as there are math tests, students will pray in the schools.” There is, however, a distinction between private and public prayers; the former allows religious students to find peace and comfort in a moment of anxiety, and the latter openly divides the religious majority from the religious and nonreligious minority, ostracizing the minority and exacerbating their nerves. This Note examines the constitutionality of religious exercises initiated by public school faculty and staff at public education’s founding, arguing that the special considerations present when considering prayer in these contexts are too important to be limited by history. This Note will demonstrate that religion in schools cannot be held constitutional based on historical practice alone because the practices promulgated in early American educational history are incompatible with modern values. Part II discusses Establishment Clause jurisprudence. Part III discusses the ambiguities in Kennedy’s historical standard and the history of American public education, noting specifically the policies and practices implemented to effectuate early education reformers’ goals of a “nonsectarian” education. Part IV discusses how those practices are incompatible with modern values, beliefs, and practices, demonstrating the prospective harm posed by Kennedy’s vague historical standard. Part V briefly concludes and implores the Court to consider the impending repercussions of using history, alone and unqualified, as the sole consideration to evaluate religious expression in public schools

From Plate to Perception: A Comparison Between Fine Dining, Fast Casual, and Fast-Food Restaurant Lighting Design in Dallas, Texas

This capstone explores the intersection of lighting psychology and interior design within restaurant environments, focusing on the impact that lighting design has on the dining experience. The research evaluates how lighting design varies across fine dining, fast casual, and fast-food restaurants in Dallas, Texas, and how it affects customers’ perceptions, emotions, and satisfaction. A mixed-method approach was used, combining qualitative interviews with industry professionals and restaurant employees with quantitative analysis of lighting parameters such as color temperature, illuminance, and fixture types across nine case studies. Key findings reveal that fine dining restaurants prioritize warm, high-contrast lighting to enhance intimacy, fast casual spaces balance functionality with comfort, and fast-food establishments rely on bright, even lighting to withstand high traffic and quick turnover. This study highlights how lighting choices can shape the dining ambiance, offering valuable information for young designers, restaurateurs, and lighting professionals seeking to improve customer experiences

Survey of a Paired Gravity Anomaly within the Benton Uplift of the Ouachita Mountains

The Benton Uplift west of Hot Springs, AR is underlain by a paired gravity anomaly on the order of 80 mGal. Nicholas & Rozendal (1975) have theorized that the gravitational low is caused by a “downwarp of the crust into the mantle”1 however the cause of the gravitational high is still debated. This paired gravity anomaly within the Benton Uplift follows the Ouachita orogenic belt southwest for 500 miles where it meets the Marathon uplift in southwest Texas. We conducted a gravity survey along a 108-km-long transect east of two previous gravity surveys.2,3 We corrected the data from this transect using Oasis Montaj and, alongside magnetic data from the United States Geological Survey, we built a model within Geosoft GM-SYS of the cross section of our study area.4 The topography of the upper crust within our cross section is consistent with the cross section from Mickus & Keller (1992), Figure 5, however the mafic intrusion under the Ouachita accretionary wedge was absent within our data, likely because our transect did not go south enough. Previous research has theorized the gravity maximum to be caused by a combination of basement uplifts and mafic intrusions produced during aborted Precambrian rifting along the Ouachita orogenic belt.5 Additional seismic and magnetic surveys south of the study area and across the Ouachita orogenic belt are needed to further test the hypothesis that a combination of basement uplifts and dense deep crustal mafic intrusions are the most likely cause of the paired gravity anomalies

“Are We There Yet?”: The Long Journey to Defining Motor Home Protections Under the Fourth Amendment

From the time of the Revolutionary War, United States citizens have prioritized one thing over almost everything else: that “a man’s house is his castle.” This is immortalized in the Fourth Amendment’s prohibition against unreasonable and warrantless searches. The protections granted by the Fourth Amendment are not centered around the rights a person has in their property. Instead, “the principal object of the Fourth Amendment is the protection of privacy rather than property.” This protection is so important that the Supreme Court has been explicitly clear that warrantless searches should only be permitted in the most “exceptional” of circumstances. One way in which Fourth Amendment protections have been diminished is through the broad application of the “vehicle exception” to warrant requirements. At its inception, the vehicle exception applied only to traditional vehicles. However, as time went on, states did not uniformly apply the vehicle exception and were specifically divided regarding whether the exception should apply to motor homes. In order to resolve the disparate application, the Supreme Court stepped in with its decision in California v. Carney in 1985. The Court held in this case that any home that has wheels could be considered a vehicle under this exception. The only real check on this rule is that the Court instructed lower courts to only apply this rule in cases where the motor home functioned more like an automobile than a residence. Unfortunately, this standard is very confusing in application and does not consider motor homes that are equal parts automobile and residence. This Note will describe the Court’s relevant decisions regarding the Fourth Amendment, leading to the decision to apply the vehicle exception to motor homes in California v. Carney. It will also suggest factors the Court should adopt to determine whether a motor home is considered a residence or a vehicle, in lieu of Carney’s confusing precedent. Necessarily, Part II will cover the general principles of the Fourth Amendment, the vehicle exception, and its application to motor homes through Carney. Part III will explain the modern-day reasons that the Carney decision should be revisited, including informal housing, the #VanLife practice of living in a van as one’s residence as well as their vehicle, and other non-traditional housing in a modern setting. Part III will also introduce the list of possible factors this Note suggests should replace the Carney decision