Open Research Oklahoma (ORO) serves as the home for Oklahoma State University's open-access intellectual output. It includes digital dissertations, faculty publications, OSU Extension publications, undergraduate research, open educational resources, and more. Email openresearch@okstate.edu to see how your Oklahoma-based institution can join.
Open Research Oklahoma
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Publication Open Access What do customers share about independent restaurants on social media: A content analysis of text and photographs(2019-05)This study conducted a directed qualitative content analysis on 2,056 customer reviews of 97 independent restaurants in the United States. The main purpose was to identify the salient consumption values and value attributes in the text and photographs of online reviews. The Theory of Consumption was used as the frame for the study. The results revealed that functional value is the most salient value both in texts and photographs, and a comprehensive list of sub-attributes led to a new grouping of food-related aspects. Contrary to the expectation, photographs were relatively limited in terms of reflecting consumption values and attributes; however, branded products and logos are commonly captured in the photographs as a reflection of social value. Results also revealed that some of the attributes, such as nutrition value and food safety, were not observed in the reviews whereas some new topics such, as special occasions or food-beverage pairing, emerged. The analysis of text also showed that customers tend to compare and evaluate their experience even after their dining experience with a reference to their previous experience in the same restaurant, another branch of a restaurant, or another restaurant, before making a decision. The value was named as reference value and was added to the consumption values within the independent restaurant context. From the academic perspective, the study provided a basis for a dedicated scale development for consumption values for the user-generated content within the independent restaurant context. It also proposes a new aspect to the Theory of Consumption, a reference value based on customers’ ongoing evaluation and comparison with some references. In practice, the results are applicable for a variety of stakeholders, such as social media hosts and social media users, with restaurants being the main beneficiaries.Publication Open Access Embedding security awareness into a blockchain-based dynamic access control framework for the zero trust model in the distributed system(2025-05)The Zero Trust (ZT) model strengthens distributed system security by enforcing strict identity verification, fine-grained access control (AC), and continuous monitoring. Unlike traditional models that assume implicit trust, ZT treats every entity as a potential threat, requiring dynamic access control mechanisms to regulate privileges and mitigate risks. Dynamic Access Control Schemes (DACSs) are vital for ZT implementation, adjusting policies based on real-time context to reduce insider threats and suspicious behaviors. DACSs autonomously coordinate Access Control Lists (ACLs) with security events and evolving policies. Embedding security awareness enables real-time risk assessment and permission adjustments. However, as systems grow in complexity, centralized policy management struggles to scale and adapt, making decentralized solutions necessary. Blockchain-based management addresses these challenges by providing tamper-proof policy storage and immutable access logs. This research introduces a blockchain-based DACS framework to implement ZT principles in distributed systems. The framework dynamically manages ACLs and enforces policies through smart contracts. I developed an extended blockchain node architecture that maintains ACLs for each node’s objects, incorporating a minimum trust metric (TM) threshold to evaluate access requests. The TM, reflecting trustworthiness, adjusts dynamically based on observed behavior. A security awareness component analyzes access request patterns in real-time, enabling proactive risk assessment through a newly introduced Risk Factor (RF) metric. This metric continuously evaluates operational risk and informs dynamic privilege adjustments. I also extended smart contracts to enable continuous monitoring and real-time updating of trust metrics. Nodes exhibiting suspicious behavior are automatically penalized through a dynamic enforcement mechanism embedded in the smart contracts, ensuring adaptive policy adjustments even against credentialed but untrustworthy entities. I validated the blockchain-based DACS framework by deploying extended smart contracts and node processes on an Ethereum test network. Through simulations of broken access control attacks and normal access scenarios, the framework demonstrated enhanced security, scalability, and adaptability. These results confirm the model’s effectiveness as a next-generation security framework for dynamic, decentralized environments.Publication Open Access Survey on diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in communication sciences and disorders programs in the USA(2025-05)In recent years, the concept of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) has gained widespread recognition in higher education. These concepts have been at the center of institutional policies, faculty development initiatives, and student support programs as universities and colleges strive to create environments where all students feel valued and supported in their academic pursuits. Past literature has highlighted the progress and evolution of DEI, but there is a limited amount of research on the standardized implementation of DEI practices within communication sciences and disorders (CSD) programs, creating inconsistencies in how these principles are taught and applied. Addressing this gap is essential for fostering a more inclusive and representative profession. The objective of the current study was to establish a comprehensive understanding of the current DEI practices within CSD programs across the U.S. as well as identify how these practices are affecting the well-being of students and faculty within the programs. This was achieved through data gathered from current CSD faculty and staff within the U.S. and Puerto Rico. This survey elicited responses about the participants’ demographics as well as their thoughts and feelings on DEI within their academic departments. The findings of this study, discovered through qualitative and quantitative analysis, unearthed several trends by showing how response patterns shift across subgroups as well as found four main themes from open response questions: (1) Equity and Inclusion Considerations, (2) Recruitment, Admissions, and Hiring, (3) Education, Training, and Institutional Development, and (4) Support, Funding, and Community Engagement. Further research is needed to reveal students' thoughts and opinions on DEI practices within their academic departments as well as a need for greater diverse perspectives on this topic. Through the findings of this survey, CSD professionals can find new ways to encourage DEI in their departments and help foster an environment that prioritizes inclusivity and equity for all those involved.Publication Open Access Spatial analysis of cannabis dispensaries and primary care access across Oklahoma's socioeconomic gradient(2025-05)Background: Cannabis dispensaries and primary care providers exist within complex spatial and socioeconomic landscapes that influence community health outcomes. Oklahoma's implementation of the nation's least restrictive medical cannabis program in 2018 created an unprecedented market growth, making it an ideal case study to examine how these establishments distribute across neighborhoods with varying levels of socioeconomic advantage and disadvantage. Methods: This spatial analysis examined 1,846 verified cannabis dispensaries and 3,911 primary care providers across Oklahoma census tracts. Geographic Information Systems were used to analyze dispensary clustering using Getis-Ord Gi* hot spot analysis. The Enhanced Two-Step Floating Catchment Area method measured spatial accessibility to primary care. The Index of Concentration at the Extremes quantified socioeconomic polarization. Negative binomial regression and Spatial Durbin models examined relationships between dispensary density, healthcare availability, and neighborhood socioeconomic status. Results: Cannabis dispensaries demonstrated significant spatial clustering (10% hot spots, 3% cold spots), with hot spots found in areas of lower socioeconomic status. Census tracts in the highest income quintile had 65% fewer dispensaries than those in the lowest quintile. Primary care availability showed significant spatial heterogeneity and was negatively associated with dispensary density. Rural areas had 30% higher dispensary density than urban areas after controlling for other factors. Conclusion: Oklahoma's cannabis retail establishments concentrate primarily in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas with limited primary care availability, creating a concerning dynamic where communities with the greatest healthcare needs face heightened exposure to cannabis while experiencing restricted accessibility to primary care providers. The rural concentration of dispensaries further complicates this picture. Future research should monitor public health impacts of these spatial relationships on cannabis use patterns, healthcare utilization, and community health outcomes.Publication Open Access Lone star ticks in northcentral Oklahoma: Investigating seasonal shifts and infection prevalence trends(2023-05)Amblyomma americanum, the lone star tick, is an important vector in Oklahoma due to its abundance and competence to transmit multiple pathogens to both humans and animals. Active surveillance of tick populations is needed to assess change in prevalence and risk due to the expanding distribution of lone star ticks and the global rise in tick-borne disease pathogens. The objectives of this study were to assess the seasonality of A. americanum activity in northcentral Oklahoma, associated infection prevalence, and potential seasonal trends of pathogens in lone star ticks. Tick collections were performed twice a month for two years at a field site located at Lake Carl Blackwell in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Collection methods included dragging, flagging, and dry ice trapping. A subset (n=522) of adult A. americanum were screened through established PCR protocols for Rickettsia spp., Ehrlichia spp., and Borrelia spp. A total of 7,990 A. americanum were collected, including 941 adults, 2,767 nymphs, and 4,282 larvae. Adults were primarily active from March–June (90.0%); nymphs March–August (94.4%); and larvae July–September (91.9%). Males were collected more than females in March (P < 0.0001) and females were collected more than males in May (P = 0.0001). Rickettsia spp. were detected in 26.4% of adult A. americanum, most (89.9%) of which were R. amblyommatis, although some (10.1%) were identified as an uncultured Rickettsia sp. Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Ehrlichia ewingii, and B. lonestari were detected in 6.1%, 2.5%, and 1.1% of adult ticks, respectively. Co-infections were identified in 2.5% of adult ticks. Cochran-Armitage trend analysis showed no seasonal patterns in Rickettsia spp. prevalence. The A. americanum adults at this site were primarily active one month earlier in the year than historically reported. This apparently shifting phenology resulting in a longer period of lone star tick activity, especially of males in winter, has implications for tick-borne disease risk as pathogens were detected in all months of the year. Understanding the seasonal dynamics of lone star ticks and associated infection prevalence can inform the development of effective strategies to prevent and control tick-borne diseases.
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