bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
(Re)constructing the Notion of Identity in Jhumpa Lahiri’s Interpreter of Maladies: A Diasporic Study of Selected Stories
Authors: Shahid Khan Farkhanda
Published: December 2023

The current study poses its focus on the complexities of diasporic tensions, especially concentrating on the reductive methods, contributing towards the homogenization of the formed and consolidated cultural and national identities. The concept of nationalism has often been utilized by third-world countries to express their views of cultural hegemony. However, the current research aims to provide an alternate perspective concerning globalization and cosmopolitanism. Furthermore, this study presents a diasporic picture of Lahiri’s characters celebrating multiculturalism and transnationalism. This study draws its foundation from Postcolonialism as a theoretical framework along with other concepts of leading theorists to conduct a close textual analysis of the selected works. Moreover, this study aims to analyze the representations of cultural and national identities in the characters of the selected text whom Lahiri puts in the in-between space of nation and identity, where they represent multiple cultures and histories. By so doing, Lahiri rejects the appeal to original accounts, which unfold cultural identities, while attempting to break and reconstruct the foremost chronicle of the nation. In the selected text, the Interpreter of Maladies (1999) nation and home are re-imagined not as a monolithic or stagnant space but rather as a precisely created structure, transformed and confronted, and resultantly shaping identities in a struggle. Consequently, the re-constructed diasporic approach unveils a deep crack in the consolidated unity and arises, instead, with multiple identities, which in Lahiri’s terms must be accepted, while coming out of the rhetoric of nationalism.
Paraphrase and Definition: Two Translation Techniques in Conveying Islamic Economic and Financial Terminology in Arabic-English Dictionaries
Authors: Ali Antar Fuad , Shunmugam Krishnavanie , Alhebshi Sukainah Hasan
Published: December 2023

This paper aims to investigate the frequency of two prevailing translation techniques in the bilingual lexicographic context, which analyzes the Arabic and English writings with a specific focus on Islamic financial and economic terms (IFETs). Furthermore, it attempts to report the preferences of dictionary users who are either translators or translation students. For this purpose, a monolingual dictionary specialized in IFETs was carried out to conduct the analysis, out of which, one hundred terms were randomly selected. These terms were analyzed referentially and technically. Additionally, a search of translational equivalents in two Arabic-English specialized dictionaries was carried out. The IFETs with no entries in the said bilingual dictionaries were rendered into English by using two translation techniques, namely paraphrasing and definition techniques. The results revealed that paraphrasing using a related word was the most frequently used technique than the definition technique. The meanings of 31 terms were adequately conveyed via paraphrasing technique, while only one term was translated with a definition technique. Thus, this study pointed out the pertinent role of the paraphrasing technique in solving the untranslatability of many deeply cultural-bound terms. However, a preliminary survey was conducted to fulfill this study's second aim, which showed that most of the respondents preferred to utilize definitional technique, instead of paraphrasing.
The blue light responses and lifetime fitness of a hyper-phototropic mutant in Arabidopsis thaliana and Zea mays
Authors:   , Koskie Katelynn A.
Published: December 2023

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Optimal plant growth and development hinges on the plant's ability to absorb sunlight. Because plants are sessile, they have evolved a variety of responses to maximize their photosynthetic light capture. One response, called phototropism, allows plants to bend toward or away from a directional light source via blue-light (BL) induced differential cell elongation. Phototropism is mediated by a family of membrane-bound, BL-absorbing photoreceptors called the phototropins of which there are two members, phot1 and phot2. During a phototropic gain-of-function mutant screen in Arabidopsis, an allele encoding a truncated form of PHOT1, called phot1[delta]PKD, was discovered. This allele contains a premature stop codon, thus producing a protein without the C-terminal kinase signaling domain. Further analysis revealed that only plants heterozygous for PHOT1 and phot1[delta]PKD alleles display the hyper-phototropic phenotype. We hypothesize that the gain-of-function phenotype results from the heterodimerization of phot1 and phot1[delta]PKD as well as the altered subcellular localization of phot1[delta]PKD. In addition to mediating BL-induced phototropism, the phots also improve lifetime fitness. Previously work from Galen et al. (2004) has shown that field grown Arabidopsis phot1-5 and phot2-1 null mutants have reduced rates of seedling emergence from the soil, survival to flowering, and total seed set. Interestingly, Arabidopsis PHOT1/phot1[delta]PKD heterozygous plants display fitness benefits in field and greenhouse studies as measured by early bolting and increased whole plant dry weight and seed set. Though Arabidopsis is not an economically important species, such a change in a crop might be advantageous. Here, we used newly created Arabidopsis PHOT1/phot1[delta]PKD mutant lines to test BL-induced responses, analyze the subcellular localization of phot1[delta]PKD, and investigate the fitness benefits displayed in previous lines. In addition, to test fitness benefits in a crop species, maize lines containing this mutation have been generated and tested in an outdoor field setting.
A comparison of continuous versus intermittent presentation of instructive feedback on secondary target acquisition
Authors:   , Bryant Devyn
Published: December 2023

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Previous research has shown that instructive feedback allows for effective and efficient teaching because it allows individuals to acquire two targets while only being taught one directly. However, limited research has been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of instructive feedback when presented on an intermittent schedule in comparison to a continuous schedule. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the use of intermittent and continuous schedules of instructive feedback with individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Results extend previous research by demonstrating that the majority of participants acquired secondary instructive feedback targets. In addition, two of three participants acquired continuous secondary targets before acquiring the intermittent secondary targets.
A study of reading in 'Little Women'
Authors:   , Donovan Maria
Published: December 2023

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] The novel Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is often thought of as a book that focuses on the development of girls into women, but also on the development of the female writer. However, good reading usually precedes good writing; therefore, looking at how Alcott depicts reading in the novel is crucial to understanding a deeper analysis of Little Women. This thesis will examine all of the instances of reading in Little Women and explore who is reading, what they are reading, where they are reading, and how they are reading. It is through this deeper understanding of the novel that Alcott challenges readers to read with the characters in Little Women and interpret their reactions while they read poems and letters. Readers of the novel can also make background observations about the specific novels that the characters read. To specifically analyze this layered reading, the audience will use reader response theory to interpret these named references to 18th and 19th century novels. This study will conclude with an examination of the film adaptations of Little Women because the adaptations themselves are interpretations or readings of the novel, which will influence how future readers of Little Women will understand its message of reading and growing up.
Improving viability of immunodeficient RAG2-/- pigs by non-specific porcine antibody administration
Authors:   , Hammond Sabrina L.
Published: December 2023

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Immunodeficient swine models such as the RAG2-/- model, are valuable to the field of regenerative medicine; however, their utility would greatly benefit from increased longevity. Their immunodeficient state shortens their lifespan to 1-2 months, but most applications of this model will require that the pigs survive beyond 2 months. Therapeutic antibodies are used clinically to treat immunodeficient, autoimmune, and inflammatory conditions. Human studies support the use of an intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) or subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIG) therapy to provide a passive source of immunity; such as to those who are afflicted by Omenn's syndrome. Using this knowledge from human studies, we attempted to purify immunoglobulins from gilt or sow serum by caprylic acid and ammonium sulfate precipitation to create a swine immunoglobulin therapy product. RAG2-/- pigs (n=10) were ported with a vascular access port (VAP) and dosed with an estimated 400 mg/kg of immunoglobulin G to assess if the dose would help extend their lifespan, therefore improving the model's viability. IgG levels were followed in 3-week-old pigs dosed with the immunoglobulin product via an intravenous (IV) (n=3), subcutaneous (SQ) (n=3), or intraperitoneal (IP) (n=4) route to evaluate which presented the best uptake. Average lifespan for the IV, SQ, and IP pigs was 60 days [plus or minus] 5.72, 56.3 [plus or minus] 14.97 days, and 102.5 [plus or minus] 6.1 days, respectively. To evaluate if this immunoglobulin product exhibited a shorter half-life than commercial IVIG or SCIG, the same immunoglobulin preparation was biotinylated and used to dose 3-week-old immunocompetent wildtype pigs (n=5). Pigs were dosed with an estimated 500 mg of biotinylated IgG to determine the half-life/clearance rate of the product. Our results indicate that swine IgG can be purified with a protocol by using caprylic acid precipitation and ammonium sulfate precipitation. RAG2-/- pigs that received IPIG showed a significantly longer lifespan compared to the IVIG and SCIG treatment groups by an excess of approximately 45 days (P[less than]0.01). The half-life of our swine IgG prepared using a caprylic acid and ammonium sulfate precipitation was reported in our immunocompetent wildtype pigs as remaining present in vivo over 0.05 [mu]g/mL for 10 days yielding a half-life of approximately 3.5 days, even though IgG has been described to have a half-life of 21 days.
Documentary advertising and consumer perception of a brand : a case study of Dove Beauty's 'Selfie' advertisement
Authors:   , Jacobson Olivia
Published: December 2023

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Advertising is an ever-evolving field. Brands are always looking for new and exciting ways to connect with their target audiences. One way in which brands have begun to do this is through a style of advertising that tells the real stories of real people. This is what the study refers to as "documentary-style advertising." It is not a term used in academia or in the advertising industry, but rather a term created for this research. The purpose of this study is to understand how documentary-style advertising influences a consumer's perception of a brand. Through the use of video elicitation and semi-structured interviews, this study will examine how documentary-style advertising employed by the brand Dove Beauty influences customer perception of the brand by looking at participants perceived authenticity of the brand, connection to the brand, and future interaction with the brand after the viewing of a documentary-style advertisement.
Justifying brutality : news readers' perceptions of police violence and race
Authors:   , Morrow Ethan
Published: December 2023

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Over the past few decades, police brutality has attracted the attention of the American public and news media. With increased attention, one topic of interest pertains to how audiences process news about police brutality. As the news media is one of the primary influencers of public opinion, it is essential to understand how the audience perceives these messages. The current study seeks to expand on previous research by analyzing readers' evaluations regarding issues of police brutality based on the framing of fatality and victim race. Additionally, through agenda-setting theory, this study will explore frame-setting implications that result from such evaluations. Results show indirect effects of the victim's race on justice variables through transportation, such that the situation involving the Black victim is seen as less just than that involving a White victim. Furthermore, compared to those who read about the White victim, those who read about a Black victim indirectly felt less safe in their community and thought police brutality was a more important issue. These findings have implications for both journalists and society as a whole. In addition, this study offers further support for the effectiveness of framing and agenda-setting theories, as well as the important role of transportation, in examining the context of police brutality in online news
Validating the use of machine learning techniques in evaluating additive manufactured elastic materials
Authors:   , Donovan Samuel
Published: December 2023

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] As additive manufacturing continues to find widespread use in research and industry and the number of materials suitable for use in additive manufacturing, there is increasing desire to exploit the potential offered by these techniques and materials. Some materials exhibit auxetic mechanical responses, and some exotic designs can exhibit auxetic-like responses. Additive manufacturing allows the use of these designs and materials and will continue to support more of these designs and materials. Using traditional design analysis tools on exotic and rapidly evolving design can be expensive and time consuming, stifling innovation. Machine learning could allow for rapid and accurate predictions of the mechanical responses, but normally requires a very large number of learning samples which is uncommon for mechanical analysis. This project analyzed whether machine learning principles could be used for a low learning sample size. 143 unique structures were constructed from additively manufactured elastic samples and tested to find the buckling loads and effective moduli. A random forest regression model was applied to a learning set of the samples and tested on the remaining samples. It was found that the model used was accurate enough to predict responses despite the small sample sizes. Further work is encouraged on testing actual auxetic materials and structures as well as optimizing a model for limited sample size materials research.
For us, by us : sociocultural targeting of HIV prevention messages to black MSM
Authors:   , Davis Mathew
Published: December 2023

When compared to other racial and ethnic demographics of men who have sex with men (MSM), Black MSM contract HIV at disparately high rates. To combat these high HIV infection rates, scholarly research suggests HIV interventions, confirmed by meta-analyses to be successful in decreasing HIV risk behaviors, such as unprotected sex. However, the continued disparity in HIV infection rates among Black MSM suggests that these interventions do not effectively meet the demographic's needs. Given this continuation of HIV risk behavior among Black MSM, who bear the most inequitable burden of HIV infection, the development of HIV intervention campaigns that target the population with relevant sociocultural messaging designed to decrease said risk behavior is critical. This pilot, or pre-study, examines the potential inclusion of Health Belief Model based, sociocultural targeting into HIV intervention campaigns. Through in-depth interviews with 11 Black MSM, this research studies how HIV intervention campaigns, operationalized with the (1) common message elements, (2) barriers to HIV prevention behaviors and (3) normalization of HIV prevention behaviors -- all identified by Black MSM -- might influence HIV risk behavior of the demographic.
Place-making and transculturation in Little Havana, Miami
Authors:   , Fox Taylor Elise
Published: December 2023

Beginning in the 1960s, Miami has transformed into a Latin city. One in which it is possible to buy groceries, get a job, and even go to school without necessarily having to utilize the English language. As time has progressed, Miami itself has come to be known as a Latin place; but when this transformation began, Spanish-speakers, primarily Cubans, clustered together in what is now known as Little Havana. At the time, the place between 37th street and highway 95 was full of low-income, multi-family homes, creating a perfect space for the incoming Cuban refugees to make their home. Due to their initial place-making of the community, Little Havana is now a thriving place known around the world as a Cuban cultural center. However, the mass exodus of Cubans entering Little Havana has slowed and more and more Latin people have settled into the area changing the demographics and, inevitably, the culture of the place. Today, one can walk down the infamous Calle Ocho (8th Street) and enjoy Cuban culture with a side of Mexican, Peruvian, Puerto Rican, and other additions. I argue that this change in demographic representation is leading to a change in the community that now does not solely identify as Cuban, but as the more inclusive term Latin, and attempt to discover how this change is affecting the overall cultural landscape of Little Havana.
Protein source selection in nursery pigs during choice-feeding
Authors:   , Harr Jackie
Published: December 2023

The animal processing industry is continually growing to meet the demands of a growing human population. It is estimated that with the increasing human populations, the demand for animal proteins will be increasing more rapidly. This trend will be higher in developing countries than in developed countries (Nozaki, 2016). These areas have lower agricultural industries and less crop production. The estimated increase in demand for meat in 2030 will be 1.44 times the consumed amount in 2011 (Nozaki, 2016). This growth and rise in demand means more plant sources will need to be diverted to animal feed (USDA, 2019b). This will create a larger amount of waste throughout the production of the livestock. To mitigate the environmental impact, rendering processes can be used. Rendering creates animal by-product meals that allow for highvalue feedstuffs to be made from low-quality waste materials that have nutrient profiles to meet animals' nutrient requirements while decreasing the amount of plant proteins required. It's estimated that the potential savings of using animal by-products was approximately $10 for a ton of feed in 2006 (Meeker and Hamilton, 2006). Utilization of animal by-products has become more regulated due to concerns of spreading pathogens through feeds. The FDA (2020) continually updates the regulations regarding by-products of both animal and plant origins for the safety of the consumer and animals. Along with government regulation, there has been an increase in programs to entice the consumer with welfare labeling. Many countries are seeing increases in average household income (Buchholz, 2019). This has caused consumers to place a higher emphasis on the type of products being purchased including the labels placed on packages. A growing focus is on the concern for animal welfare on farms (Deemer and Labao, 2001). Programs have been created to capitalize on this trend and create products deemed more ethical from mainstream production. Most of which do not back their practices by science. Regulations on livestock production have increased with public concern resulting in laws to be voted upon and placed into effect (Lusk, 2010). To look at the implications of animal by-product feeding from a welfare standpoint, not much literature is found. Most of the animal welfare programs do not have scientific backings or reasonings for their regulations and standards. Scientific methods for observing animal behaviors include allowing animals to have their own choices. These choices can be focused between flooring type, feeder style, feed, among other aspects of production. Choice-feeding allows animals to choose what diets or feedstuffs they want to eat based on animal instinct to meet physiological requirements (Evvard, 1915).
Investing in newsrooms during the layoff era
Authors:   , Kinder Kevin
Published: December 2023

Local newspapers around the country are in trouble. But as the primary source of information in many of the communities they represent, these organizations provide valuable spaces for the exchange of ideas and information. As such, solutions that reverse dwindling circulation numbers remain a worthy pursuit. This study examines medium-sized newspapers from around the country during what's described as the "layoff era" -- the period of time following the economic recession that began in 2007. It revisits a previously established method for increasing circulation: newsroom investment, which can be understood as a commitment of resources into the printed product. To study the correlation between investments and circulation in a more modern era, the baseline performance of a group of medium-sized papers was found by locating and then analyzing the circulation change at each publication. Subsets within the sample were then further examined for evidence that investments made by newsrooms leaders had an effect on circulation figures. While the link between investments and circulation gains was clear during the pre-layoff era, evidence showed the opposite during the layoff era. Commitments to the printed product were not met with circulation gains. The research serves as a historical take on the effects of the Great Recession on newsrooms and as a caution to current newsroom leaders as they search for ways to combat circulation declines.
Dynamic spatio-temporal graph neural networks for hot topic prediction in scientific literature
Authors:   , Ren Yijie
Published: December 2023

With information explosion occurring in past decades, the rapid growth of papers published results in the rapid change of hot topics, especially in the biomedical domain. It turns out very hard for researchers who are interested in biomedical domain to track hot topics over time, as well as to predict the trends of them in the near future. Based on the above demand, it is important to have a model which is able to follow and predict the trend of hot topics continuously. Deep learning has been proven to be an efficient method to extract information from texts and use the information to predict the future trends. Under the thriving background of Deep Learning, Graph Neural Network (GNN) is able to capture the information from graph structures. There are various applications using GNN models, such as traffic flow prediction, chemical structure discovering, etc. In this research project, a dynamic spatio-temporal graph neural network is presented to keep track of the selected hot keywords and topics in the biomedical domain and predict the possible frequencies in the near future. The input of the model is obtained by extracting the monthly frequency information of selected keywords and topics from paper abstracts in PubMed, the largest biomedical literature collection. After training with data over a decade, the model is able to predict trends of selected hot keywords and topics in next 5 months. Thus, the presented model can help follow the trend of hot topics in the biomedical domain.
Obsidian procurement in the Gallinas Mountains of west central New Mexico
Authors:   , Schaefer Jonathan
Published: December 2023

The Gallinas Mountains of west central New Mexico are a relatively understudied area within the greater American Southwest. The area effectively lies within a transitionary zone between three classically defined culture areas, the Cibola region to the northwest, the Mogollon Highlands to the southwest, and the Rio Abajo region (or Lower Rio Grande Valley) to the east. New projects in the Gallinas Mountains area have sought to better understand how its extensive Pueblo period occupations interacted with the surrounding regions. The following research uses in-field X-ray fluorescence to analyze the surface obsidian assemblages of ten late Pithouse and Pueblo period sites in the Gallinas Mountains in order to determine source use and ultimately provide a narrow but precise indication of procurement strategy and inter-regional interaction. Results show that residents of the area utilized a variety of obsidian sources through time. Chief among these were Mount Taylor and McDaniel Tank, with Jemez also being somewhat common. Mule Creek along with several other sources were utilized in a more minor capacity. Residents of the area during the late Pithouse, early Pueblo, and late Pueblo periods showed a preference for northern source material, especially Mount Taylor, while middle Pueblo period sites (with the exception of the possible Mesa Verde migrant community of Gallinas Springs Pueblo) showed quite the opposite, with assemblages dominated by material from the relatively local McDaniel Tank source. The variable obsidian source use patterns and procurement strategies observed through time and across cultural boundaries are indicative of a complex and shifting system of exchange and interaction between the residents of the Gallinas Mountains area and those of the surrounding regions.
Iterative approximation of Markov process parameters in a model of large scale business purchases
Authors:   , Highsmith Max
Published: December 2023

Large scale business to business purchases often involve a series of vetting stages which must be satisfied prior to their resolution. This paper models the progression of sales projects through a company's sales pipeline via a stochastic process. The pipeline is viewed as a sequential Markov chain wherein each time step permits: failure, no movement, or advancement in a linear ordering of potential states terminating in a successful purchase. The transition probabilities which parameterize this model are determined via time series data of each salesman's progression in selling their products. In theory, the parameters guiding such a Markov process can be estimated analytically via the Maximum Likelihood procedure. However because the state transitions of sales projects can not be provided in real time, the Expectation Maximization algorithm is applied to estimate these parameters. Our results suggest that more data is needed to generate a reasonable approximation of transition probabilities.
Exploring educational values of deliberative pedagogy as a means of climate change communication
Authors:   , Thuston Sara
Published: December 2023

Climate change is a major obstacle facing the world today, impacting the environment and communities across the globe. With rising greenhouse gas emissions and subsequent rising surface temperatures, evidence shows that humans are the culprit. Ninety-seven percent of scientists agree that a global disaster is eminent if there are no changes (Cook et. al., 2016). Strategic action is needed to respond to climate change, and education and effective communication could be imperative to increasing public awareness and better decision-making. One tool used to increase education and communication is public forums. Public forums allow for deliberative public dialog, or deliberation, which provides individuals the opportunity to come together, discuss, and work through complex issues in an open format. According to recent studies, deliberation is an effective means of exploring issues and ultimately leading to potential solutions. Deliberation delivers new ideas and perspectives to individuals, and can help deepen general understanding of climate change. The effects of climate change are felt most by those not included in the conversation. This study evaluated the effectiveness of deliberative pedagogy as a means of climate change education by using a quasi-experimental design. The study involved 18 high school students. We hypothesized that deliberation through environmental issue forums (EIF) would promote knowledge, awareness, hope, and trust regarding climate change, leading to action and solutions. Program effectiveness was measured using pre-and post-test instruments. Results of the study suggest that deliberation as a means of education and communication can be an effective way to engage high school students with climate change. There was significant data indicating that knowledge, awareness, and hope regarding climate change increased after individuals participated in deliberation and the forum. These findings lead to recommendations of deliberation research that should consider examining wider demographics and various diverse, youth populations.
Persistence of treatment effects in token economies informed by dimensions of reinforcement
Authors:   , Hathaway Kristin L.
Published: December 2023

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI--COLUMBIA AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Problem behavior, including noncompliance with academic tasks, are a common occurrence in classroom settings, which is often addressed with the use of token economy systems. The purpose of this three phase study was to evaluate (a) the effects of the most- and least-preferred dimensions of reinforcement on problem behavior and task completion when embedded into token economy arrangements, (b) if the preferred token economy arrangement observed in isolation was effective in the classroom when implemented by the classroom teacher, and (c) the persistence of treatment effects when treatment was removed intermittently for three typically developing elementary students. Results demonstrated that participants displayed individual preferences for the dimensions of reinforcement, and that when those preferences were used to develop a most preferred token economy, reductions in problem behavior and improvements in task completion occurred for all participants. Although robust persistence effects when the token economy treatment was removed were not obtained, small effects were observed for two participants, suggesting that token economy arrangements derived from an individual's preferences for dimensions of reinforcement may enhance behavioral persistence.
Displaced voices and accentscapes in French and Francophone Sub-Saharan cinema : recasting, reshaping, and restoring identity (-ies) in transnational films
Authors:   , Compaore Seth A.
Published: December 2023

This study features notions of identity, language, integration, journeys of home seeking and homecoming, and the wanderings of homelessness. It explores displaced voices and the self-coined term "accentscape" in ten films made by either established French film directors or less renowned and/or second-generation African immigrant film directors. Inspired by Arjun Appadurai's term ethnoscape, accentscape refers to how accents construct meaning and social identities for the films' exilic, diasporic, and postcolonial characters. I demonstrate the intervention of "accentscapes" by oral, vocal, and musical means, or in the film narratives as fragmented, emotive, and lyric structures. In relation to Mikhail Bakhtin's notion of heteroglossia, accentscapes appear in linguistic landscapes challenging Eurocentric perceptions of the exilic or diasporic communities in France in Nous, sans papiers de France (Nicolas Philibert et al., 1997), Paris Mon Paradis (Elenore Yameogo, 2011) and Le Point de Vue du Lion (Didier Awadi, 2011). Accentscapes intervene by calligraphic and pictographic means in Fatima (Philippe Faucon, 2015) and L'Esquive (Abdellatif Kechiche, 2004). Thirdly, as versions of Michel Foucault's heterotopia, accentscapes are the counter-spaces that the postcolonial protagonists in L'Esquive (Kechiche, 2004), Adama (Simon Rouby, 2015), and Qu'Allah Benisse la France! (Abd al Malik, 2015) create in France to replace their homelands. Finally, using Michel Chion's concept of sounds and voices that are left "wandering the surface of the screen," this study shows "accentscapes" in Fatima (Faucon, 2015) and Amin (Faucon, 2018) as "wandering" sounds emanating from an interstitial context and negotiating between two sources characterized by the seen and the unseen. [NEEDS DIACRITICS]
Comparison of media portrayals of poverty in low-income versus affluent metropolitan areas
Authors:   , Chapoco Ralph
Published: December 2023

Poverty has become a salient issue for many Americans. The economic recovery from the Great Recession has been uneven, with large portions of the country continuing to live in poverty. The public has a range of views on the subject, shaped by their perceptions of what they believe causes the problem. A significant component responsible for that perception depends on how media organizations represent people living in poverty and the attention they give to the subject. This thesis focused on the amount of coverage that newspapers, based in geographic locations with differing levels of socioeconomic status, devote to poverty, and the degree to which reporters and editors from those publications misrepresent the demographics of those suffering from it. The theoretical framework for this research is agenda setting. The frequency with which journalists devote report on a subject, and how they portray it can determine its importance to the public, and whether people's perceptions are based in reality. The research supports prior work confirming that poverty is not well covered. Newspapers in this study devoted a fraction of their coverage to the topic, less than one percent overall. The Philadelphia Inquirer and Star Tribune cover the subject the most, both nearing two-tenths of one percent. Journalists also misrepresent the demographics of people living in poverty, generally underrepresenting males while some overrepresent females. All publications in the study overrepresent the adults in their articles but include children at proportions less than their actual poverty rates. How they misrepresent racial and ethnic groups could not be well understood because many reporters failed to include that information in their articles. Results from this study can serve as a tool for improving poverty coverage among journalists. It can highlight the publications presenting a more objective view of the subject, allow others to learn from the work of the reporters and editors who managed to correct for their biases to some degree.
The monstrous woman : gothic monstrosity and graphic novels
Authors:   , Daller Olivia
Published: December 2023

I fell in love with a monster once. Although I never knew his name, he still managed to change my life. He came to me through the words of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, and I would be remiss if I did not pay some homage to her work (especially considering it was the catalyst for this project, over a decade in the making). Now, before you say it--"Oh no! Not ANOTHER Frankenstein narrative!"--let me assure you that this paper is not only about Frankenstein's Monster. Rather, this paper is about asserting positionality, altering notions of disgust to locations of glory, and declaring monstrosity as one possible site for cultural reclamation. I find this is particularly interesting when considering something Frankenstein was missing--female monstrosity. I remember devouring Frankenstein the first time I read it. Perhaps it is true that humans only see reflections of themselves in literary characters because I instantly fell in love with the Creature. He was a beautiful, complicated outsider, and although he was pieced together with corpses, it was like we shared the same skin. Frankenstein's Monster is undoubtedly responsible for my attraction to monstrosity; but more importantly, it was his unborn 'wife' who brought me to concepts of female monstrosity. Our love story began at first when I started collecting copies of the book, initially interested in the various publishers, cover art, and introductory content. Soon I discovered new adaptations, retellings, and 'spin-offs' that seemed to rework or revision the classic. Then I found graphic novels and comic versions, all of which deepened my fascination. In each adaptation or new creative version of the text, the Monster looks and speaks in an entirely new manner, and ultimately its "function" shifts as well. Sometimes he is the villain, sometimes he is the hero, and sometimes, he is neither. In Frankenstein, I saw myself in the Monster, but when I started exploring critical analysis of the text over time, I realized that the Monster did something different with each new perspective. He was not just a character, or terrifying "thing," but a figure, a placeholder, a symbol. He stood for something special, something Other, and it was glorious.
Using DCIN and DCAPE to evaluate severe surface winds in the case of elevated convection
Authors:   , Sumrall Paula
Published: December 2023

A series of case studies were analyzed using the ratio between the downdraft convective available potential energy (DCAPE) and the downdraft convective inhibition (DCIN). The hypothesis is that with a ratio |DCIN/DCAPE| approaching zero, momentum aloft may penetrate the stable layer and reach the surface resulting in severe criteria winds. Two case studies were preformed, the first one producing the near zero value for the ratio, and the second having a value near one for the ratio. With the first case, severe winds were observed at the surface. With the second case, winds at the surface did not reach severe criteria. However, wind damage was still observed. In addition to these cases, another case study was done over the evolution of a storm. It was noted that the majority of storms analyzed started out as either hail dominant events or wind dominant events then switch to wind dominant/hail dominant. Further analysis was done to determine how the ratio between the DCAPE and DCIN changed as the storm changed. In addition to the using the DCIN/DCAPE ratio, an analysis on the presence of gravity waves were done to determine what, if any, effect they had on convection.
Examining the relationships between socio-scientific reasoning, content knowledge, and personal interest
Authors:   , Nguyen Hai Thanh
Published: December 2023

Socio-Scientific Issues (SSI) appear to be a viable means for promoting students' development of science literacy, providing relevance to scientific concepts for students to apply their understandings and make sense of science-related issues. However, the question remains as to how their reasoning competencies regarding these issues interact with their content knowledge and personal interest. The purpose of this study is to explore and examine the relationships among Socio-Scientific Reasoning (SSR) competencies and between SSR and Content Knowledge and Personal Interest of students as they engage in a series of SSI. A total of one hundred and thirty students completed three sets of Quantitative Assessments of SSR (QuASSR), personal interest surveys and summative science unit tests. Correlation analysis and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) were used to elucidate relationships between SSR and Content Knowledge and Personal Interest across three SSI scenarios. The results of the analysis revealed that students' SSR competencies varied across three different SSI scenarios. Students showed greater their SSR competencies in the Vaccinations scenario than in the Global Warming and Genetically Modified Organisms scenarios. The analysis also revealed that SSR competencies have interactions with cognitive and affective domains, in which lower-order Content Knowledge and Personal Interest have a significant impact. Particularly, the level of Personal Interest in each SSI might have a large effect on the increasing level of SSR. This study highlights that SSR is a dynamic multi-dimensional construct and influenced by Content Knowledge and Personal Interest across three different SSI contexts. These findings have implications for science teachers when they want to develop meaningful SSI scenarios to support SSR development and to integrate SSI into a science course with diverse topics. In addition, the SSR conceptual framework employed and findings in this study would be helpful for science education researchers who want to find a better way to support students' success in scientific literacy. Limitations of this study and recommendations for future research are also discussed in this dissertation.
Book of apparitions
Authors:   , Husic Vedran
Published: December 2023

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI--COLUMBIA AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Book of Apparitions is an account of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, narrated by one of the assassins, Vaso Cubrilovic. On the eve of World War II, Cubrilovic has exiled himself to a small sleepy town in Bulgaria. There, recuperating from gunshot wounds in a hospital room while trying to write his autobiography (thus a double act of recovery), he is confronted by ghosts--haunted by women he's mistreated and men he fearfully resembles, ghosts from his past but also by the ghost of history--as he recounts the assassination and his motivation behind it, in the process turning personal events into historical facts and vice versa. Tormented and tormentor, alternatingly elegiac and parodic in tone, a reckless confessor yet defiantly elusive, Cubrilovic exhumes certain truths of his past while burying others, trying to simultaneously prove both his guilt and innocence regarding his role in the assassination plot. Part coming-of-age narrative, part historical inquiry, a tale of both public retribution and personal redemption, Book of Apparitions attempts to not only offer a penetrating portrait of its narrator but as a multifaceted meditation on brotherhood and misogyny, terrorism and martyrdom, and history and myth.
"I can speak for myself." : #whitewednesdays, Iranian feminism, and hijab in media discourse
Authors:   , Hendrixson Sara Shaban
Published: December 2023

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] In December 2017, Viva Movahed stood on top of a utility box in Tehran with her hijab tied to an end of a stick in protest against Iran's compulsory hijab law. Movahed's actions initiated the campaign #WhiteWednesdays on Twitter, inspiring a global movement challenging hegemonic discourses on women, hijab, and the freedom of choice. This dissertation examines the mediated dialogue related to #WhiteWednesdays, particularly between U.S. mainstream news narrative and Iranian activists on Twitter. Specifically, this dissertation explores how hierarchies of visibility in both news and social media discourse can overshadow transnational feminist politics while reinforcing femonationalist narratives. Such discourses seemingly support women in Iran but simultaneously promote Islamophobic messages aligned with U.S. geopolitical politics. A critical discourse analysis of the #WhiteWednesdays campaign on Twitter and mainstream U.S. news coverage of the movement complicates representations of Iran, Muslim women, and feminist politics. Furthermore, this study unpacks the politics of representation, where certain voices on the ground are obscured in favor of elite sources who re-affirm U.S.-based Islamophobic and xenophobic ideologies.
Teachers' views of the mathematical capabilities of students with disabilities : a mixed methods study
Authors:   , Mason Erica N.
Published: December 2023

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Students with disabilities often have difficulty demonstrating mathematical understanding on conventional measures. One reason for this difficulty could be an instructional opportunity gap. Federal law, recent case law, and recommendations from professional organizations converge on the need for students with disabilities to have access to mathematical learning opportunities aimed at rigorous learning outcomes. However, beyond the existence of these policies and recommendations, enactment relies on individual teachers. Recent research suggests teachers views of their students' mathematical capabilities may relate to the enactment of learning opportunities aimed at rigorous learning outcomes. A mixed methods study was conducted in order to understand teachers' views of the mathematical capabilities of students with disabilities. General education mathematics teachers gave unproductive explanations for students' struggle and articulated rationales for instructional adjustments aimed at unproductive learning outcomes. When examined more closely, teachers' views qualitatively and quantitatively differed between students with and without disabilities.
Using feedback linearization to alter the performance of multiple linear hydraulic-actuators powered by the same pump
Authors:   , Muhi Laheeb Noori
Published: December 2023

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] In this study, a feedback linearization technique is presented to improve the tracking and energy performances of a hydraulic system using multiple linear hydraulic-actuators with both actuators being powered by the same pump. This research uses two open-centered 4-way valves to control the displacement of the two hydraulic actuators for a wheel loader implement system, based upon an input command from the operator who is modeled as a first-order system with a bandwidth frequency of 2 Hz. The feedback linearization control method is used to adjust the operator input based on the measurement of fluid pressure on one side of each actuator, and the pump pressure that supplies both valves with no additional sensing needed. The feedback linearization improves the tracking performance as measured by the R-squared value and increases the bandwidth frequency for lift and dump actuator thereby the operator's fatigue is decreased by 7.50, 7.25, and 6.75 times for the lift actuator and 6, 4, 4.5 times for the dump actuator under constant, step, and sinusoidal loading, respectively. Also, the feedback linearization reduces the overall energy consumption for the system during an applied step load by 9.79 [percent] , however, it increases the consumption by 0.37 [percent] and 5.12 [percent] during applied constant and sinusoidal loading, respectively. Moreover, a slight increment in feedback linearization gains reduces the energy consumption by 8.82 [percent], 18.52 [percent], and 4.75 [percent] during an applied constant, step, and sinusoidal loading, respectively. Finally, the feedback linearization technique improves the robustness of the system by rejecting external disturbances and nearly eliminating the load dependence of the tracking response over a wide range of operating frequencies. This finding suggests that the operators should have less difficulty learning how to operate the machine with this controller, and the overall productivity of the machine should increase.