Don’t miss our latest research from our current issue, featuring: Stream Restoration Effectiveness in Mullins Creek in Fayetteville, Arkansas by Amadeo Scott and Shannon L. Speir

Amadeo Scott identifying macroinvertebrates collected at a Mullins Creek site upstream of the on-campus restoration.https://scholarworks.uark.edu/discovery_images/1055/thumbnail.jp

The quick service food and beverage line of business and how it is aligned with the overall objectives for the Walt Disney World® Resort and The Walt Disney Company

The Disney College Program allows for many opportunities, such as instructor lead offerings, experiential learning, career path development, and academic support. This internship gives us hands-on work in a global company but also helps us further ourselves in our career by providing networking opportunities and behind-the-scenes access to things others may never experience. As an intern in Food and Beverage, it was my job to provide not just food but experiences to guests from all around the world. It was my job not only to make sure guests left the restaurant locations happy, but also to maximize production. To do this, all workers had to perform at their highest potential

An In-Network Approach for PMU Missing Data Recovery with Data Plane Programmability

Phasor measurement unit (PMU) systems often experience unavoidable missing and erroneous measurements, which undermine power system observability and operational effectiveness. Traditional solutions for recovering missing PMU data employ a centralized approach at the control center, resulting in lengthy recovery times due to data transmission and aggregation. In this work, we leverage P4-based programmable networks to expedite missing data recovery. Our approach utilizes the data plane programmability offered by P4 to present an in-network solution for PMU data recovery. We establish a data-plane pipeline on P4 switches, featuring a customized PMU protocol parser, a missing data detection module, and an auto-regressive model for efficient data recovery. This methodology is implemented in a container-based network emulator and comprehensively evaluated using real PMU data from a campus microgrid. Our results indicate an end-to-end delivery and recovery time for missing packets of approximately 3.96 ms, sufficiently supporting most real-time applications reliant on PMU data. With a 5% packet loss rate, the mean absolute percentage error for voltage magnitude is a mere 0.04%, and the phase angle error typically hovers around 0.06 degrees

Arkansas Soybean Performance Tests 2023

Soybean variety and strain performance tests are conducted each year in Arkansas by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Arkansas Crop Variety Improvement Program. The tests provide information to companies developing varieties and/ or marketing seed within the state and aid the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service in formulating variety recommendations for soybean producers

Investigating the Relation Between Family Income and Barriers for Black Caregivers of Autistic Children

Black caregivers and families of autistic youth experience racial barriers (e.g., racial microaggressions, stigma;) and practical barriers (e.g., cost of treatment, long waitlists), when seeking treatment and diagnostic services (Lovelace et al., 2018). The current study aimed to ascertain whether family income influenced the racial and practical barriers experienced by a sample of Black caregivers of autistic youth (N = 101). Overall and item-level analyses were conducted to explore the relationship between racial and practical barriers experienced across Lower (below 39,693; n=32), Lower-Middle ($39,693-$59,540; n=28), Middle-Upper ($59,540 to$119,080; n=21), and Upper income groups ($119,080 and above; n=20). The findings revealed that there were no significant differences in severity of racial barriers and practical barriers experienced by families in these income groups. Ordinal regression analyses revealed differences in specific practical (e.g., no available transportation) and racial barriers (e.g., no community or educational resources were provided to them; they were too afraid to ask questions) between income groups. Ultimately, findings suggest that overall, Black caregivers of autistic youth are vulnerable to experiencing racial and practical barriers, and the severity of these barriers is not a function of household income. However, there may be specific barriers that families of certain incomes are more likely to experience

Storybooks as a Vehicle for Agricultural Education

But, Mom?!, the illustrated children\u27s book manuscript was the result of this thesis project, which explored the utilization of storybooks to increase agricultural literacy among early elementary students. With a decline in farms across America and an aging farmer population, the need for agricultural literacy among Americans is urgent. This study portrays the significance of agricultural literacy and its role in bridging the gap between producers and consumers. Drawing upon Piaget\u27s cognitive development framework and educational theories, current research literature calls for the creation of more agriculturally accurate children\u27s storybooks. Through interviews with farmers and industry leaders, a narrative centered around an Arkansas strawberry farm and a female farmers\u27 farm-to-table journey emerges, with a special emphasis on labor issues facing some small farmers. The design process involved crafting an agriculturally accurate, non-stereotypical depiction of an Arkansas farm with engaging visuals. The manuscript draft serves as a tool for increasing agricultural literacy, in alignment with National Agricultural Literacy Outcomes and educational benchmarks. Recommendations include pilot testing the storybook in schools, collaborating with illustrators for publication, and further research on the impact of agriculturally accurate children\u27s literature. By harnessing the power of storytelling, this study proposes an innovative approach to cultivating agricultural literacy among young learners, fostering a deeper understanding of agriculture\u27s role in society

Genocide Dressed in Jeans: Does Sharing a Narrative About the Uyghur Population Alter Opinions about Fast Fashion

One of the most cherished traditions on our University of Arkansas campus is the etching of names onto Senior Walk each year. On any given day, thousands of students stroll across these beautiful sidewalks as they venture to and from class. Dressed in the latest fashions from iconic brands such as Zara, H&M, and Nike, these students are far removed from the tragedy that has befallen the Uyghur population living in the Xinjiang province, 6,914 miles away. Evidence has been mounting that the Uyghur population has been suffering through massive displacement, forced labor camps, and atrocities that we cannot even fathom – all while producing the fast fashion products we see every day on our campus (Thanhauser, 2021). In a seminar that I took two summers ago while studying abroad, I learned about the Uyghur population, the inhumane treatment of these individuals, and the complicit role that many well-known companies have taken in this exploitation (Daniaud & Alwani, 2022). Numerous crimes against humanity are reported to be taking place in the Xinjiang region against the Uyghurs, but the torment travels internationally as the ethnic group is placed at the forefront of labor fueling the rapid-growing world consumers recognize as the world of fast fashion (Gan, 2020). While many companies have press-released their concern, they continue to use the cotton as well as finished products that are produced in these labor camps (Gan, 2020). A tale that is severely underreported yet extremely relevant. The alleged ethnic cleansing and forced labor of the Uyghur population has crossed my thoughts nearly daily since learning about the ongoing humanitarian crisis back in the summer of 2022. From social media video “hauls”, where people are sharing their mass purchases from the culprits of exploitation, to simple conversations with my fellow peers about their new pair of “sneakers I don’t care to wear out because they were so cheap,”. The lives behind the fabric consume my thoughts whilst being unbeknownst to others. For 675 days, since I first learned of this situation, this issue has stayed with me and has become the focal point for my research project, studying genocide dressed in jeans

Functional Stereotyping of Women’s Self-Objectification as a Function of Life History and Body Fat

Individuals prioritize different goals as a function of stability in their environment, oftentimes leading people to prioritize reproduction in hostile ecologies. From this shift in priorities, perceivers could develop heuristics about how women may attempt to attract mates. Previous research suggests that higher levels of body fat are more attractive to men with a fast life history. With this awareness of men’s preferences in body fat, high-fat women from hostile ecologies could be expected to engage in more self-objectifying behavior in the service of mate attraction or attempting present themselves as objects of affection to men. This study tasked participants with reporting their perceptions of women described as living in a hopeful or desperate ecology (proxies for slow and fast life history, respectively) who exhibited either high or low levels of body fat. These evaluations tracked expectations of these women to objectify themselves. Women were perceived as more self-objectifying at low levels of body fat. However, no effects emerged as a function of ecology. These results reflect a potential implicit theory from perceivers about how body fat shapes expectations of women’s reproductive strategies while indicating limitations in ecological cues in tracking self-objectifying tendencies

Smartphone Gaming and International Students: Exploring the Experiences of Hypercasual Gameplay for Practicing English Vocabulary and Learning about the United States Culture in Mediated Action

The use of smartphones in everyday settings is widespread, and people around the world use smartphones not only for making phone calls and sending text messages but also as a tool for searching for information and playing smartphone games during their free time. Since people around the world have easy access to smartphones regardless of their physical locations, smartphones can function as a tool for learning purposes, and playing games for learning purposes also supports the students to learn information in less stressful settings since playing games is predominantly for entertainment. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study in mediated action aimed to investigate the overall experiences of playing a smartphone hypercasual game as a means of practicing English vocabulary and learning about the United States culture for international students who have culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. This research also explored the affordances or benefits and the constraints or challenges of practicing English vocabulary and learning about the United States culture. This study had a total of seven agents or participants for data collection, using cultural tools or research instruments, including a smartphone hypercasual game named Text or Die, three-phase interview questionnaires, and observation field notes to reflect the research questions. The findings of this study revealed that the hypercasual gameplay facilitated the agents to practice recalling vocabulary, repeating English vocabulary spelling practices. In addition, the auto-correcting spelling function from the game stimulated the agents’ or the participants’ English vocabulary practices. In addition, the findings of this study also illustrated that the broad categories of questions supported the agents in obtaining information regarding the United States culture. The constraints or the challenges of this study suggested that advertisement displays while playing the game interrupted the agents’ playtime in Text or Die, and the lack of background information on certain question categories was a barrier to playing the cultural tool smoothly. To sum up, this qualitative phenomenological study in mediated action illustrated the potential of using a hypercasual game as a learning tool to support international students in practicing their English vocabulary and learning about the United States culture during hypercasual gameplay while using their smartphones in everyday settings. Keywords: smartphones, mobile devices, hypercasual game, mediated action, agents, affordances, constraints, mastery, appropriation, cultural tool, English vocabulary, the U.S. culture, international students, culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, phenomenological study, qualitative researc

ESD-robust 4H-SiC Low-voltage CMOS Technology Development for High Temperature

This dissertation explores the development and optimization of electrostatic discharge (ESD)-robust, low-voltage CMOS technology using 4H-silicon carbide (SiC) tailored for high-temperature applications, addressing the critical need for reliable semiconductor devices in harsh environmental conditions. The advent of SiC as a semiconductor material offers significant advantages over traditional silicon (Si) in harsh environments, including higher thermal conductivity, greater electron mobility, and improved electrical characteristics at elevated temperatures. This research explores the integration of 4H-SiC into CMOS technology to enhance device reliability and performance in extreme conditions such as those found in aerospace, automotive, and energy sectors. The study begins with a comprehensive review of the material properties of SiC, focusing on its robustness and suitability for high-temperature operations. It proceeds to discuss the challenges of implementing SiC in CMOS processes, particularly the issues of oxidation, interface traps, and the reliability of gate oxides. Experimental methodologies involved detailed characterization of n-channel and p-channel MOSFETs fabricated using a tailored fabrication process for high temperature. Theoretical analysis, backed by Technology Computer Aided Design (TCAD) simulations and physical experimentation, was employed to investigate and mitigate phenomena such as channel mobility degradation and threshold voltage instability. Key findings from the research demonstrate that 4H-SiC-based CMOS devices exhibit significant improvements in durability and operational stability up to 500°C. Furthermore, the study provides an insightful discussion on the ESD protection design based on the 4H-SiC CMOS technology. The dissertation explores the ESD performance of a variety of SiC ESD devices (such as resistor, diode, bipolar, MOSFET, SCR, etc.) and highlights the status and development in terms of the implementation to commercial applications. In conclusion, this research substantiates the viability of 4H-SiC CMOS technology for next-generation semiconductor applications, proposing a solid foundation for future explorations into more complex integrated circuits and systems. Meanwhile, the development of ESD protections in this work are significant, offering a pathway to more reliable and efficient electronic components capable of operating under high-voltage and high-current conditions, thereby improving the reliability of the electronics under high temperature