bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RELEVANSI RETORIKA DAN KOMUNIKASI DALAMAKTIVITAS DAKWAH
Authors: Elhany Hemlan , Pujianto Wawan Trans
Published: September 2022

Rhetoric is a term that refers to art in communication with language as the main medium in its delivery with the aim of influencing the audience.  Therefore rhetoric becomes significant in preaching so that messages can be conveyed effectively and efficiently so that it has an influence on society as an object of da'wah. This article aims to explain how rhetoric and communication in preaching are not only focused on linguistic aspects but also include other aspects by referring to the description of the verses of the Al-Qur'an and the practices carried out by the Prophet Muhammad SAW in preaching.
HUBUNGAN TEKNIK KOMUNIKASI PERSUASIF ORANG TUA KEPADA ANAK DENGAN KECERDASAR EMOSIONAL
Authors: Lumbu Aliyandi A. , Nopryana Rahmah Dwi
Published: September 2022

Teknik persuafif yaitu cara yang digunakan oleh orang tua dalam menyampaikan pesan kepada anak, di mana isi pernyataan atau pesan yang disampaikan disertai dengan bujukan. Sedangkan teknik komunikasi coersif adalah cara yang digunakan oleh orang tua dalam menyampaikan pesan kepada anak, di mana isi pernyataan atau pesan yang disampikan dierrai dengn ancaman, paksaan atay tekanan-tekanan. Menuurut Setiadarma, apabila teknik komunikasi yang digunakan oleh orang tua cenderung bersifat kasar, kurang mendidik, dan cenderung mengndung nilai negatif, maka anak-anak pun akan cendrung tumbuh dengan bentuk kepibadian kurang terpelajar serta memiliki persepsi negatif pula terhadap lingkungan sosial bahkan terhadap dirinya sendiri. Pada penelitian ini menggunakana metode penelitian teknik komunikasi persuasif dengan teknik pengumpulan data studi pustaka, kuisioner, dan observasi. Hasil penelitian ini Setiap keluarga memiliki aturan yang berbeda dalam mendidik anak titik dan dalam penelitian ini, terdapat tiga poin utama berkaitan dengan aspek aturan yang diterapkan dalam keluarga yang berpengaruh pada penggunaan teknik komunikasi persuasif orang tua, yakni aturan bersifat fleksibel anak diberi kebebasan untuk mengungkapkan pendapatnya, serta orang tua lebih bersifat otoritatif.
#LawrenceHive vs #TeamIssa: how Insecure fans use fandom communities to perform social and cultural identity
Authors:   , Alphonse Tia
Published: September 2022

HBO hit-series Insecure became a social media sensation much like the web series that inspired it. The relatability and freshness of the characters made the show an instant standout among fans and critics in a market starved for Black representation since the decline of UPN and the WB. Black fans created digital communities on Facebook and Reddit where they discussed the show, and these spaces quickly became places that prompted conversations about Black identity and traditional gender roles. This study will use textual analysis of the posts and comments in a Facebook group and a subreddit group to examine how users' discussion forums for popular Black television shows are used to define social and cultural identity.
Serious comedy: how late-night shows framed COVID-19
Authors:   , Cooper Grace
Published: September 2022

During the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, late-night shows served as alternative news sources. This thesis analyzed how late-night shows used storytelling strategies to frame the pandemic as a serious issue at a time when news about the virus was often confusing and unclear. Through a textual analysis of the videos and accompanying transcripts, this research analyzed 28 episodes of six late-night shows, following a timeline of eight major COVID-related events from March, 2020 to April, 2021. The study identified 14 strategies that the late-night hosts employed to break down and frame complex news events relating to the pandemic. These findings can benefit the field of journalism by providing a different perspective and toolkit for engaging audiences.
Investigating physical activity dispersion throughout recess to maximize activity on the playground: a baseline study
Authors:   , Emerson Travis S.
Published: September 2022

Introduction: Obesity is an ongoing epidemic due to a surplus of caloric intake and a lack of physical activity (PA). Longitudinal data suggests that physical inactivity translates from childhood into adulthood. Therefore, it is important to provide youth multiple opportunities to be active and maximize periods of PA. One critical time youth can be active is on the playground during recess. Purpose: Compare a traditional playground (TP) to a zoned playground (ZP) for the percentage of youth participating in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). A secondary purpose is to assess how MVPA fluctuates on both a TP and ZP over the course of a recess period. Methods: 380 third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students from two elementary schools were observed during a post-lunch time recess over the course of three weeks. The System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth (SOPLAY) was used to measure the percentage of youth participating in MVPA on a TP for one week. After this baseline period, a ZP was implemented at each school and SOPLAY was used to measure MVPA for two weeks. Results: The number of youths participating in MVPA was higher on ZP compared to TP at each interval of recess (p [less than] .05). Children were significantly more active in the middle of recess (p [less than] .05) than at the beginning and end of recess on a TP (p [less than] .05). The percentage of youth participating in MVPA for the ZP did not change across the beginning, middle and end intervals. Conclusion: The percentage of youths participating in MVPA was higher on ZP compared to TP. The difference may be due to how MVPA fluctuates on a TP. Schools should consider implementing zoned playgrounds to maximize physical activity during recess. Schools using TP should find ways to help youth get active sooner and help maintain that activity throughout the recess period.
Ritual and Sacrifice
Authors:   , Fitzpatrick Daniel
Published: September 2022

Ritual and Sacrifice is an orchestral work that was composed for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. While the title provokes vivid and troubling imagery, the piece is metaphorical and focuses on the thoughts one might have when faced with troubling times. Often to overcome our struggles we commit to regimented practices to regain our strength and maintain ourselves. These "rituals" are represented in the beginning of Ritual and Sacrifice with a solemn musical introduction featuring a dark yet rising musical motive that is first introduced by the harp and piano. Keeping true to the rituals required of us becomes difficult as time goes on, and the path ahead may no longer be certain. Following the introduction of Ritual and Sacrifice I emulate these tense feelings of uncertainty by having two subsections that both get gradually louder and more dissonant. However, the musical conflict eventually grows to a breaking point, and composure is regained with a ritualistic timpani entrance. The music becomes more melodic and lyrical at this point, and while it begins solemnly, it becomes a section full of peace and hope. This hopeful section represents moments where we are reassured in life and have faith that our endeavors are not in vain. Throughout the middle section of Ritual and Sacrifice, I explore the momentary peace, growing internal turmoil, and absolute confusion resulting from running away from our problems. Ultimately, the thoughts that plague us will not go away on their own, and eventually sacrifice is required to move on to the serenity we so desire and need.
Climate crisis: an exploration of climate fiction, magical realism, and intersectional trauma
Authors:   , Flagg-Bourke Olivia
Published: September 2022

The genre of climate fiction has never been more relevant than in the current age. With climate change affecting all parts of life from rising seas to food supply, it is more important than ever that authors find a way to discuss the subject. Climate fiction as a whole gives authors the space to discuss the effects of climate change on a more personal scale. Not only are authors able to make larger-scale issues more palatable through the shrinking of narrative, but they also often use magical realism to further engage with climate change. Magical realism enables authors to add another layer between reader and reality. By adding layers between the reality of climate change and a portrayal of it, the authors give readers a chance to deal with the larger trauma and implications of climate change while bypassing the need to deal with the actual situation at hand. Climate fiction also gives writers a chance to imagine how issues of today will shift under the pressures of climate change. Two major categories that authors have been drawn to in this vein are issues of gender and class differences. This paper will look at how authors delve into both of these subsections and use magical realism to bring the intersections between climate change and other issues to light. The works that this paper will interact with are Lidia Yuknavitch's The Book of Joan (2017), The Swan Book (2018) by Alexis Wright, and The Roar (2008) by Emma Clayton. On some level, each of these works deals with the injustices of today and plays out how these injustices will be either remedied or exacerbated under the pressures of climate change. The genre of climate fiction with the inclusion of magical realism enables authors to create complex allegories about the present and future of climate change.
Fact or fiction? What a multidirectional analysis of Heinrich Bornstein's novel Die Geheimnisse von St. Louis (Mysteries of St. Louis) tells us about the German immigrant experience in the mid-nineteenth century
Authors:   , Gray Kader
Published: September 2022

The utilization of various supporting materials to reconstruct the context of mid-nineteenth century St. Louis, shows that Bornstein's novel crystalizes German Immigration experiences. The purpose of this study is to encourage the investigation of nineteenth-century German-language literature, including periodicals, by stressing its necessity for a better understanding of America's history and culture. The novel itself, even though it serves as the foundation of this work, cannot be approached from one perspective alone without considering all aspects that shaped German immigration experiences. Religion, education, time, politics, gender, age, financial means, and "push and pull" factors driving immigration all need to be considered in order to be able to show how or if Die Geheimnisse von St. Louis represents reality for most German immigrants in the 1850s, keeping in mind that no experience is always collective.
Adsorption interactions of UV-aged microplastic particles with sulfamethazine
Authors:   , Harmon Ian
Published: September 2022

Due to growing plastic demand and production without proper waste management, microplastics have become common around the world throughout diverse systems. At the same time, increased detection of antibiotics in the environment has led to concerns over the spread of these antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. Evidence for microplastics' ability to adsorb and carry environmental contaminants has led to concern over the intersection of these two pollutants. Microplastic PET and recycled PET particles were UV-aged before they were used in batch adsorption tests with the antibiotic sulfamethazine. Neither the pristine condition nor the aged microplastic PET exhibit signs of adsorption with the sulfamethazine solution. Some interference was measured that may explain why adsorption was not detectable in these samples which bring up questions of leaching or desorbing compounds from microplastics that require further study.
Two essays on food manufacturer resilience: regional factors and workforce challenges
Authors:   , Isley Catherine
Published: September 2022

Researchers and policymakers worldwide have increasingly viewed resilient food systems as important. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been particular emphasis on food manufacturer resilience. This thesis investigates factors related to food manufacturer resilience. The first study defines resilience through a workforce lens. Utilizing logit models and Firth's penalized maximum likelihood estimation, it examines what drives worker shortages. Results suggest that food manufacturing plants prioritizing training and education face reduced odds of worker shortages. Additionally, results suggest plants view automation as a way to mitigate worker shortages, but that this strategy may not be effective. The second study defines resilience through a plant survival lens. Using Cox proportional hazards models, it explores what factors are related to meat processing plant survival, particularly small- and medium-sized plant survival. Results suggest that the relationship with survival is strongest and most robust for plant characteristics. This holds especially true for small- and medium-sized processors. However, local labor market characteristics are also related to plant survival. Specifically, probability of survival is higher where the county manufacturing employment share is higher, where plants are relatively remote, and where unemployment is lower, all else being equal. Overall, the two essays examine food processor resilience in largely different contexts -- one with detailed survey data and only in Missouri, the other national with high-level plant data -- but two themes do emerge: workforce factors matter for resilience, and plant-level factors matter for resilience. Results of the two essays have important implications, suggesting practices that may help both business managers as well as policymakers strengthen food manufacturer resilience.
An investigation of hydraulic and GIS processes to inform environmental justice decision-making regarding 10 percent annual chance flooding events
Authors:   , Peterein Amber Lee Reitz
Published: September 2022

There is very little information available to the public regarding 10-year annual chance pluvial flooding events. This leaves communities, individuals, stakeholders, and advocates with very few resources available to them to evaluate and determine the risks and health hazards associated with these more recurrent flooding events. Almost all research conducted on inland flooding events uses the 100-year annual chance event as the standard for investigating the intersection of flooding and environmental justice. While the 100-year has a greater potential for creating environmental hazards, this thesis looks at the gradual and subtle harmful effects these recurrent flooding events have on a community. This is accomplished by determining the demographic and social makeup of the people who reside within inland floodplains and evaluate if those factors meet the criteria of an environmental justice community -- a group of people within a community who endure a disproportionate burden of environmental hazard exposure; in this case, environmental health hazards attributed to recurring flooding. Additionally, hydraulic analyses were conducted to observe what new up- or down-stream water surface elevation conditions would be created by new infrastructure built across waterbodies under these flood conditions. The publicly available Geographic Information System (GIS) and datasets from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Missouri Spatial Data Information Service, and the National Flood Hazard Layer were used to establish a method to refine raw data into useable shapefiles that identify the 10-year flood inundation boundary. These shapefiles were then uploaded to EJScreen (EPA's environmental justice data management system) and used to evaluate the demographic data of the population that resides within the inundation zone. Additionally hydraulic and hydrologic analyses of rendered data were used to investigate different scenarios of infrastructure development--channel constriction and backwater rise potential along a 10-year flooded waterbody segment. These analyses reveal that a small increase in water surface elevation creates a large horizontal flood extent boundary expansion. The findings of this thesis raise awareness of the lack of available information pertaining to all aspects 10-year annual chance flooding events, such as population identification, inundation zones, and at-risk properties and parcels of land. In addition, the analyses identified the barrier that exists as many small or disadvantaged communities may not have access to the required technological expertise.
Design of a simple drive train and control system for an oxygen blend valve for use with premature infants
Authors:   , Pierce Erik
Published: September 2022

Automating the regulation of the fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) in neonatal mechanical ventilation shows great promise of providing better patient outcomes. Historically, controlling the FiO2 valve has required manual adjustment of a control knob, allowing 21 percent-100 percent oxygen to flow to the patient. The current approach requires intense vigilance on the medical staff to ensure that the patients arterial oxygen saturation levels (SpO2) are above the minimum threshold while simultaneously not high enough to risk retrolental fibroplasia (RLF). Retrolental fibroplasia is an abnormal proliferation of fibrous tissue behind the eye lens that can lead to blindness. Retrolental fibroplasia is caused by the administration of excessive oxygen to premature babies. Previous work has included the design and physical construction of an automated FiO2 control valve prototype as well as explored advanced modeling techniques of the prototype and the patient as a complete control system. From this work a second-generation design and six working units were desired with the goal of providing enhanced automated control of the FiO2 valve and the development of a manufacturable design. A design for the mechanical interface was created with the following general requirements: utilizing as much of the existing FiO2 valve design as possible, maintaining the same look and feel to the end user, a desired response time for valve position of one second and allowing for a modular, repeatable manufacturing cycle. After the new mechanical design became functional, open-loop experiments were conducted to provide data for a basic control model. The model was then refined into a closed-loop system with the objective of minimal position error within an acceptable response time based on previous work. This model was then incorporated into the design of the digital controller.
Characterization of the genetic landscape of feline oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors:   , Rodney Alana R.
Published: September 2022

Over 94 million domestic cats are susceptible to cancers and other common and rare diseases. While cancer treatment in cats increasingly mirrors that available in humans, treatment failures are more frequent. There are no FDA or USDA approved cancer drugs for cats and a paucity of cancer treatments beyond surgery, radiotherapy, and cytotoxic chemotherapy indicate an urgent need to define the molecular properties of aggressive feline cancers including common cancers such as soft tissue sarcoma, mammary carcinoma, lymphoma, and feline oral squamous cell carcinoma. Whole exome sequencing (WES) is a proven strategy to study these disease-causing variants in humans and other organisms. To examine the effectiveness of WES in the study of feline cancer and Mendelian diseases, whole exome sequencing was conducted on 41 cats with known and unknown genetic diseases and traits, of which ten cats had matching whole genome sequence (WGS) data available, used to validate WES performance. Within the 41 cats, we identified 31 previously known causal variants and discovered new gene candidate variants, including novel missense variance for polycystic kidney disease and atrichia in the Peterbald cat. The WES data was sufficient to identify novel gene candidate alleles for diseases and traits in a feline model. Feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (FOSCC) is a cancer of the squamous cell lining in the oral cavity and represents up to 80 percent of all oral cancers in cats, with a low one-year survival rate of <10 percent. The cancer pathology associated with feline oral squamous cell carcinoma is similar to human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), which accounts for 90 percent of oral cancers in humans. FOSCC may present as a potential model to study HNSCC due to spontaneous formation, similar genetic landscape, pathology, and survival rates. We have generated single nucleotide variant calls using GATK-Mutect2 on six cats with FOSCC and have fully annotated and identified driver genes in common with HNSCC. Due to low sample size, a larger cohort is needed to draw stronger association of disease-causing traits. Our results show some overlap in the genetic landscape of both cancers, with five samples have mutations in p53, a common mutation in HNSCC, and two samples having four genes in common with HNSCC each. Several samples with mutations in p53 and mutations in genes implicated in HNSCC suggests that the domestic cat could be a viable model for HNSCC.
Deployment pipeline development at scale: automating software as a service
Authors:   , Weekley Brock D.
Published: September 2022

In recent years, adaptability has become the most important aspect of software. As technology companies grow, sustainable scalability and increased security become the main goals for developers, while the company's goals become increased scalability and decreased development time. In this overlap of goals, the delivery model of Software as a Service has gained particular notoriety. This model has inspired the development of new types of tools, such as Content Management Systems, Continuous Integration Continuous Deployment Pipelines, and Progressive Delivery Tools. These tools, while beneficial, offer persistent disadvantages to the development of Software as a Service applications, such as high costs or high initial development time. Many companies, in all size classifications, have decided to build multiple applications for multiple clients, despite a large aggregate of code and design shared between apps. Within this market, there is a need for tools that allow developers to automate the process of creating SaaS apps. In this thesis, a new tool has been developed that allows for the automatic style change and packaging of any web application for use by many companies at once. The tool, titled Banquet, is a command-line tool and API which will allow programmers to create CICD pipelines in a fraction of the time of normal development. This enables a low-cost, low development time solution for building Software as a Service that is abstract and multifaceted to fulfill as many use cases as possible. The tool utilizes some of the most prominent technologies of pipeline development and is open for customization to allow more technologies to be added. This makes Banquet essential for serving elaborate apps for many companies.
Separation and detection of chemical and biological contaminants in fresh produce by plasmofluidic device
Authors:   , Asgari Sara
Published: September 2022

Plasmofluidic platforms are considered powerful approaches for onsite, fast, and reliable detection of chemical and biological contaminants in food products. In this study, two different protocols have been developed to separate and detect pesticides and foodborne pathogens, either individually or simultaneously, in fruits and vegetables. For detection of pesticides, a filter-based optofluidic SERS sensor was developed to detect four pesticides, thiabendazole, thiram, endosulfan, and malathion in strawberries. In this method, gold-silver (core-shell) nanoparticles (Au@AgNPs) were synthesized and used for SERS measurement owing to their multiple pesticides SERS detection ability. On-line filtration, sample-nanoparticles mixing, and SERS detection resulted in a fast and powerful detection and determination method for probing trace amounts of pesticides in strawberries. The results of our research showed that our filter-based optofluidic SERS sensor achieved very low limit of detection (LOD) values of about 55, 44, 88, and 54 [mu] g/Kg for thiabendazole, thiram, endosulfan, and malathion, respectively. For detection of food-borne pathogens, a SERS-based microfluidic immunosensor was designed to detect Escherichia coli O157:H7 individually and the mixture of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella enteritis, and Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica in lettuce and packed salad. The integration of a primary enrichment step with a hydrodynamic flow-focusing microfluidic device and immune SERS-nanoprobes provided a reliable technique for bacterial detection in complex food samples. For individual E. coli O157:H7 analysis, our developed SERS-based microfluidic immunosensor reached a LOD of 0.5 CFU/mL in lettuce. In the multiplex assay, the LOD for the bacterial mixture was found to be 10 CFU/ml in both lettuce and packed salad. This project demonstrates and proves the potentiality of plasmofluidic SERS devices to separate and simultaneously detect multiple chemical and biological contaminants in fresh produce.
Experiences of students with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in online learning environments: a multi-case study
Authors:   , Friel Cathryn Lynne
Published: September 2022

Students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have shared that online learning environments present barriers to learning, challenges, and opportunities. Many higher education institutions have incorporated online courses as part of the institution's course offerings. Furthermore, the onset of coronavirus in 2020 triggered a dramatic increase in online courses offerings at institutions, and students with ADHD were required to participate in an increased number of online courses. The guiding research question was how do students with ADHD experience the online learning environment? A multi-case study design was used. The bounded system for the study was students with ADHD enrolled in online courses. The four participants selected for the study were identified using unique criterion-based sampling. Each participant self-reported a diagnosis of ADHD and was enrolled in at least one online course during the study. Twelve in-depth interviews were conducted during the 2020 fall semester. Triangulation occurred using observation notes and documents consisting of reflective journals, transcripts of interviews and research meetings, and participant artifacts. The constant comparative analysis was used to develop themes for within- and cross-case analyses. Challenges faced by the participants when taking online courses far outweighed perceived benefits. Participants shared strategies they used in their online courses and provided suggestions on changes in the design and teaching to reduce challenges they encountered in online courses. The research revealed a disconnect between the participants' learning needs and preferences, and attributes of their online learning environments. The findings have implications for the design, development, and teaching of inclusive online learning environments in higher education.
An analysis of discipline disparities of Black and White students in Springfield public schools
Authors:   , Griffith Margaret
Published: September 2022

In the existing literature, there is evidence of inequities in the use of exclusionary discipline, however, there is an absence of literature examining why this discrepancy exists in light of substantial efforts to address the problem. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to address these concerns. First, the study examines any existing disparities in school discipline within a Midwest school district. Then, the study seeks to determine what contributing factors have led to an environment where Black students may receive exclusionary discipline significantly more often than their White counterparts. Quantitative findings from this mixed-methods study confirmed Black students received exclusionary discipline at a higher rate than White students at the school district, despite a reduction in the overall use of exclusionary discipline in the district. Qualitative data revealed 1) some, but not all, district staff believe there was a significant disparity in exclusionary discipline between Black and White students, 2) all participants agreed the district policies regarding exclusionary discipline are imprecise, subjective, and inconsistent, 3) all participants identified the primary cause of inequities in the use of exclusionary discipline were identified as staff members' lack of appreciation for cultural and ethnic differences. The researcher recommends a three-fold approach to ameliorate this inequity. These include sharing these findings with all employees, providing sensitivity training for employees, and moving toward more objective criteria for the assignment of exclusionary discipline.
Virtual learning in elementary school: a phenomenological study of student engagement
Authors:   , Howard Amber
Published: September 2022

The Covid-19 pandemic necessitated an unprecedented shift to virtual learning in America. It is unlikely that this method of instruction will end when it is safe to return to in-person instruction, even though there is limited research supporting virtual learning at the K-5 level. This phenomenological qualitative study explored the professional identities of virtual elementary school teachers, and what strategies they used to engage their K-5 students in a synchronous virtual setting in the state of Missouri. Data for the present study were collected through a census survey sent to all virtual elementary teachers, two focus groups of the same teachers, and two one-on-one interviews with the assistant principals of virtual learning from one large virtual learning provider in Missouri. Through basic descriptive statistical analysis, findings regarding professional identities showed that teachers had a wide range of backgrounds and expertise areas; but most reported a lack of preparation to teach elementary school online. To investigate engagement strategies, Fredericks et al.'s (2004) Multidimensional Engagement Framework was used. Using a combination of inductive and deductive analysis, findings suggest there are certain teacher dispositions that contribute to successful engagement in elementary virtual learning. In addition, several specific strategies for cognitive, affective, and behavioral engagement were uncovered as well as several challenges regarding engagement in K-5 virtual learning. This research begins the important work of uncovering best practices in virtual learning at the K-5 level and paves the way for future research on the topic.
Turning money into speech: campaign finance, political advertising, and the civic sphere
Authors:   , Katz Nathan
Published: September 2022

In this dissertation, I trace the history of campaign finance reform's influence on political advertising. I track the discourses held within Congress and court hearings to uncover what I call the money-speech paradigm, the ideological principles behind the construction of the marketplace of ideas. I then examine how the relationship between money and speech impacts the production of political advertisements to evaluate the strength of speech within presidential elections from 1976 to 2016. My findings show that campaign spending is being increasingly reregulated to serve interest groups rather than the public. While more opportunities to engage in independent speech emerged, the number of truly autonomous groups has seen little change. In contrast, the number of political advertisers coordinating with one another regularly grows. This came about through a view competition that assumes diversity will naturally occur, resulting in the deregulation of political speech by emphasizing that political advertisers be independent from the government and not each other while expanding who can produce advertisements. As a result, the U.S. government left the diversity of speech unprotected. I use this data to suggest the use of a new metaphor for campaign finance reform. Specifically, I suggest that viewing campaign finance reform as the creation of icebergs-large dense networks of political power that are only partially visible is more apt than the hydraulics used by some legal scholars in the past.
Border pedagogy: how white teachers cross intellectual borders to enhance students' critical thinking skills in racially homogeneous, low poverty spaces
Authors:   , Knowles Amy E.
Published: September 2022

This research addresses the challenges of engaging students in critical conversations about controversial topics in racially homogeneous settings. Data analysis from this qualitative, phenomenological study reveals how veteran high school teachers understand and experience their contexts and how they navigate the complex instructional strategies required by English language arts state learning standards yet may be challenged by community stakeholders. Findings suggest that teachers enjoy differing levels of freedom regarding content yet focus on building relationships and engaging students' thinking. This study offers a framework for critically engaging students while attending to distributive and relational aspects of justice-oriented teaching.
Do stock prices influence corporate tax behavior?
Authors:   , Kunz Philip
Published: September 2022

This study examines how the firm-specific information in stock prices influences corporate tax behavior. Research demonstrates that managers learn from and respond to information contained in stock prices. However, the extent to which this information affects tax-related decisions remains unclear. I find that price informativeness increases the volatility of effective tax rates. Additional analyses demonstrate that the effect is driven by price informativeness encouraging managers to pursue additional short-term tax planning opportunities. Further, in settings where stock prices are more likely to contain tax-related information, my results are more pronounced as the proportion of taxrelated information in stock prices increases. The results of this study demonstrate that managers learn from the market when making tax planning decisions.
An investigation of the administrator's role in the design, support, and evaluation of induction programs in rural, public K-12 schools in Northwest Missouri
Authors:   , Lynn Tamara G.
Published: September 2022

Novice teacher induction programs impacted teacher fulfillment and confidence (Coffey, 2010; Darling-Hammond, 2003), and high-quality induction improved effectiveness of instruction and improved student learning (Brownell et al., 2010; Potemski et al., 2014; Strong, 2005). Administrators are challenged in their responsibilities to develop teachers, manage turnover, and retain teachers (Chan et al., 2019). This qualitative study provides awareness of the administrator's role, using the conceptual underpinnings of novice teacher induction, rural education, and leadership in public K-12 school districts. Fifty-nine school districts in Northwest Missouri served as the participant pool for surveys, interviews, and a document analysis of districts' induction materials. The lived experiences of administrators provided insight into their roles in the design, support, and evaluation of induction programs, and formal and informal roles emerged as the themes. Recommendations for practitioners included: (a) the design of a formal evaluation tool to make data-driven decisions (Newcomer et al., 2015), (b) a review of literature surrounding successful induction programs to guide decision making (Kaufman, 2007), and (c) a design of formal activities to reduce novice teachers' stress (Coffey, 2010; Darling-Hammond, 2003) and to further create a sense of belonging within their new school districts (Schein, 2004). Recommendations for scholars include further investigation surrounding: (a) how administrators transfer the culture of growth mindedness (Dweck, 2016) during the novice teacher induction process, (b) how the administrators' modeled behavior supports novice teachers' social identities and their sense of belonging (Schein, 2004), and (c) tools available to administrators for formal evaluation of novice teacher induction (Newcomer et al., 2015).
A quantitative analysis of college student communication recruitment preferences at a Midwest public higher education institution
Authors:   , Machovsky Kathryn L.
Published: September 2022

This quantitative study analyzed more than 240 first-year freshmen from Generation Z at a rural, Midwest, four-year public higher education institution. The data included first-year college students and were categorized by domestic underrepresented or domestic non-underrepresented, first generation or non-first generation, and male or female. Because there were fewer than five individuals who did not self-disclose their gender, their responses could not be included in the study results. The results of the study found that there were not statistically significant findings for the preferred mode of communication for domestic underrepresented and domestic non-underrepresented or male and female college students from Generation Z. However, there was a statistically significant finding for the preferred mode of communication for first-generation and non-first-generation college students from Generation Z, which is contradictory of research about the preferred communication style of Generation Z individuals.
STING signaling modulates CD8 T cell memory fitness via differential TCR signaling
Authors:   , Quaney Michael J.
Published: September 2022

STING functions as a critical mediator of DNA sensing to direct both innate immune responses as well as functioning to maintain cellular homeostasis. While STING has been extensively investigated in innate cells, autoimmune disorders, and cancer, little is known about STING's role in CD8 T cell processes. We show here that high levels of STING signaling induce potent reductions in CD8 T cell memory formation. STING functions in both a T cell intrinsic and T cell extrinsic manner to regulate the survival of T cells as they progress to a memory phenotype. Moreover, TCR signal strength regulates the sensitivity of T cells to STING-induced cellular apoptosis and the ability of T cells to join the pool of memory cells. Our data suggests that STING signaling pushes ER stress and death through the UPR to regulate T cell memory. Together, these provide insight into how enhanced STING signals and TCR signaling coalesce to regulate the T cell memory pool and the efficacy of the immune response.
A qualitative study of teachers as path-goal leaders with an emphasis on clearing the path of distraction
Authors:   , Scott Keely Harris
Published: September 2022

This qualitative phenomenological study investigated teachers as leaders in their classrooms. The study focused on the various ways high school teachers facilitate deep work in their students to lead them to learning goals, by examining how teachers define goals, clarify paths, remove obstacles, and provide support to learning. The study acknowledges the current problem of students needing help to overcome learning obstacles such as distraction. The setting of the study was a single high school in the Midwest. Findings from interviews of teachers, principals, and students include a consensus on the importance of controlling the context of the learning environment by clarifying task relevancy and monitoring focus intensity. Findings also showed the importance of the dynamic interplay between teacher and students; continual feedback is necessary to meet student needs. Preferred feedback is verbal, and data showed strong agreement in student engagement in a positive student/teacher relationship as the most effective way to learn and avoid distractions. The implications for practice apply to both teachers and instructive decision-makers in terms of planning and expectations of class organization, management, and content delivery. Future research is needed in how the brain science of cognitive load theory can inform classroom practices.
Local funding percentages as a predictor of seventh grade student success on the Missouri assessment program in mathematics
Authors:   , Sickels Ethan G.
Published: September 2022

School finance formulas vary from state to state, impacting school district educational outcomes. Rural school districts are especially affected due to inherent challenges in producing high student achievement scores. This study examined whether variables including socioeconomic status and per-pupil local tax level impacted student achievement percentages on the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) Mathematics assessment given Spring 2019. For this quantitative research, one-way ANOVA and multiple regression analyses were utilized. While ANOVA results indicated that student free and reduced lunch percentages and per pupil allotment from local taxes both have statistically significant effects on student achievement, multiple regression analyses indicated only free and reduced lunch was a significant predictor in the model. Recommendations for further research include examining reasons Missouri free and reduced lunch percentages continue to rise and conducting a similar study with differing grade levels and subject levels to determine whether results remain consistent.
The relationship between psychological well-being, student persistence, and retention at a rural public higher education institution
Authors:   , Taylor Boyd Keith
Published: September 2022

Mental health is a substantial concern in higher education. Fostering positive psychological attributes may improve mental health and contribute to student success. This research analyzes the relationship between positive psychological attributes and student persistence, an element of student success. The research also explores the impacts of mental health on higher education in rural areas. Additionally, it examines how society's view of the purpose of higher education can be revised and expanded by fostering psychological well-being. Employing a logistical regression model, the study results indicate that grit, engagement, resilience, and life satisfaction are statistically significant predictors of students' persistence from one semester to the next. However, this model is limited by a low r^2 number, which requires further research.
Quality of tier 1 instruction in an integrated multi-tiered system of support: a mixed methods study
Authors:   , Thomas Elizabeth R.
Published: September 2022

To effectively and efficiently address both the academic and behavioral needs of all students, integrated Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (iMTSS) is an initiative gaining strength in elementary schools across the U.S. Tier 1 instruction within an iMTSS, should be evidence-based and differentiated to provide high quality educational opportunities to all students. One established approach to providing accessible and differentiated instruction is Universal Design for Learning (UDL), an instructional planning framework that can be embedded within a tiered prevention system. A mixed methods study was conducted to learn about the state of concurrent implementation of iMTSS and UDL within Tier 1 instruction in elementary schools. Participating schools were found to be either implementing the two initiatives concurrently in Tier 1 or not implementing UDL at all. Follow-up inquiry found additional qualitative characteristics that differentiated these two groups and barriers to implementation were identified.
Single and multi-object video tracking using local and deep architectures
Authors:   , Al-Shakarji Noor Mushreq Abdelhameed
Published: September 2022

[EMBARGOED UNTIL 6/1/2023] Moving object tracking is a fundamental computer vision task with a wide variety of real-life applications ranging from surveillance and autonomous systems to biomedical video analysis. A robust, accurate, scalable, and high-performance multi-object tracking (MOT) system of sized objects, requires novel approaches for visual appearance adaptation and generalized learning to handle challenging cases including object shape and viewpoint invariance, illumination invariance, complex object dynamics, clutter in the scene, partial or full occlusions and degraded environments. In this dissertation, our tracking system develops two pipelines and a fusion mechanism to provide precise trajectory information for detecting moving objects of interest and trajectories for object behavior and activity-based scene understanding. For single object trajectory estimation, we extended the recognition and feature fusion based single object tracking framework called Likelihood of Features Tracker (LoFT) with color attributes, scale selection, and kernelized correlation filter modules, to improve object appearance description, adaptation to scale changes, and localization of the target within the search window. For multi-object trajectories, we propose a time-efficient detect-track-and-predict system based on a novel three-step cascaded data association scheme. M2Track combines a fast hybrid spatial distance-based gating short-term data association, a robust tracklet-linking stage using discriminative and deep-learning-based object appearance models, with an explicit occlusion handling module relying not only on motion patterns but also on environmental context including the presence of potential occluders, and other foreground and background objects in the scene. Experimental results on different international challenge benchxiii marks, tasks, and datasets ranging from wide aerial motion imagery and full-motion video to biomedical microscopy videos demonstrate the robustness and efficiency of our pipelines that reach state-of-the-art performance.