bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Narrative, online community, and health belief systems : the forms and functions of YouTube vlogs on Bipolar Disorder
Authors:   , Holtgrave Darcy
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] With the advent of widespread, user-driven video sharing on Internet sites like YouTube, a recognizable folk genre of the vlog has sprung up, with its own set of identifiable traditions and influences. This dissertation engages in a narrative analysis of YouTube vlogs about a particular mental illness, bipolar disorder. The vlogs in this study serve the purpose of information sharing, community identification and formation, and fighting against stigma of mental illness. Analysis of the use of these vlogs within this group reveals how they demonstrate the health belief systems of the vloggers and their audience. These uses of this form of video communication are made possible because of an underlying belief in narrative as a form of agency and as a tool of healing for mental illness, both for those talking and those listening. This belief is combined with an underlying belief that the Internet in general, and YouTube in particular, is a context that is and should be a democratic venue for free expression. This dissertation presents and analyzes the narratives that are posted by persons who identify themselves as having bipolar disorder, as well as what has evolved in response to these narratives, where users exchange comments, create their own videos, and, ultimately, form a viable online community.
Immune Mediators of Murine Lyme Arthritis
Authors:   , Cunningham Anna Maria
Published: April 2021

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in both the United States and Europe; however, its pathogenesis is incompletely understood. The studies described in this thesis aid in the elucidation of mechanisms regulating murine Lyme arthritis and may suggest mechanisms by which human Lyme disease is mediated. (1) We found that the chemokine KC is responsible for neutrophil recruitment and subsequent development of Lyme arthritis and carditis. This was the first study to describe an immunological regulatory mechanism mediating disease susceptibility to murine Lyme disease, as resistant mice (B6) produce less KC than susceptible (C3H/HeJ) mice and do not develop disease. (2) We found that metabolites produced via the COX-2 pathway are important for functional resolution and that resolution is likely mediated via the PGE2/EP2 axis. (3) We found that although dietary fish oil substitution leads to a global shift in eicosanoid production (from AA/LA-derived eicosanoids to EPA/DHA-derived eicosanoids) and promotes antiinflammatory prostaglandin production, disease severity is not altered. (4) We found that eicosanoid production throughout the course of autoantibody-drive K/BxN serum-transfer arthritis differs significantly from that seen during Lyme arthritis and that patterns of eicosanoid expression reflect the severity and kinetics of each type of arthritis. These studies aid in understanding the immunological mechanisms regulating the occurrence and severity of murine Lyme arthritis.
Understanding teacher knowledge of the use of assessment for learning in the context of homework
Authors:   , Harris Daren
Published: April 2021

The researcher conducted a qualitative study to develop a deeper understanding of teacher perceptions use, and understanding of homework as a formative assessment tool. The work of Black et al. (2004), Moss and Brookhart (2009), Stiggins et al. (2006) provided a lens to improve understanding of formative assessment. Cooper (2007), Kohn (2006), and Vatterott (2009) provided a lens to improve understanding of homework. Participants were teachers from three Midwestern high schools in one Midwestern state. Data were collected from focus group interviews, an online open-ended survey, and document analysis. All segments of the participants identified three categories as related to perception, use, and understanding homework as a formative assessment tool: teacher perception of the purpose of homework, the uses of homework as part of classroom assessment practice, and teacher understanding of homework as a formative assessment tool. The findings of this study have implications for teachers and administrators. One of the findings of this study was teachers formulate their perception of homework on assumptions embedded in educational culture. The other important finding was the lack of understanding of formative assessment and homework as formative assessment. Implications for future practice include recommendations for school leaders to take the lead in providing organizational learning, utilize the principles of transformational leadership, and be a provider of professional development in the areas of assessment. Implications for future research include recommendations for gaining an understanding of teacher attitudes before and after professional development in assessment, how effective change is achieved in the area of assessment, and student attitudes toward education in classroom which employ formative assessment versus those who do not.
Intrinsic, extrinsic and environmental regulation of muscle satellite cell motility
Authors:   , Siegal Ashley Lynn
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Skeletal muscle repair and regeneration requires the activity of satellite cells, a population of myogenic stem cells. Previously, little data existed on the motility of satellite cells a critical component to tissue repair. Using timelapse videomicroscopy to assess satellite cell motility on the surface of single living myofibers, we have identified a requirement for the laminin-binding integrin a7b1 in satellite cell motility, as well as a role for hepatocyte growth factor in promoting directional persistence. We also observed more persistent long-term contact, potential cell-cell attractive and repulsive interaction, and migration between host myofibers. We found that satellite cells express multiple members of each of the four major families of guidance molecules. Satellite cell migration in vivo may be more extensive than currently thought, and could be regulated by combinations of signals including adhesive haptotaxis, soluble factors, and guidance cues. CXCL12/SDF-1 and hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF) are included in these released factors satellite cell displacement and velocity and chemotaxis were quantified. Purified HGF and SDF-1a were injected into the Tibialis Anterior muscle (TA) to test the sufficiency of these factors for satellite cell movement in vivo. A better understanding of how satellite cells actually respond to an injury in a healthy muscle and if they are mobilized and motile from a distance will be critical to knowing if they can be induced to move through damaged or diseased muscle tissue.
Bioreductive metabolism of small molecule nitroaromatics and N-oxides in hypoxia
Authors:   , Rajapakse Anuruddha
Published: April 2021

Hypoxia in tumors causes adverse effects to therapy and negatively impacts on patient prognosis. Identification and quantification of hypoxia is considered to have a strong impact on treatments in tumor therapy. Fluorescent-based detection to mark hypoxia may be vital to be used along with available methods such as radiochemical and immunohistochemical staining. In this work, the non-fluorescent 6-nitroquinoline (42) was used to investigate the production of a fluorescent 6-aminoquinoline (43) and other metabolites under bio-reducing hypoxic conditions. In the presence of the enzymatic reducing system NADPH:cytochrome P450 reductase/NADPH, 6-nitroquinoline (42) produced the fluorescent helicene (44), along with the non-florescent azo (45). An authentic sample of (44) was chemically synthesized and characterized and used to confirm the production of this molecule in the enzymatic process. Interestingly, the expected fluorophore (43) is not produced by NADPH:cytochrome P450 reductase/NADPH. In another study, the enzymatic reducing system xanthine/xanthine oxidase was used to reduce (42) under hypoxia to obtain (43). In these experiments (43) was produced and the yield is increased with xanthine concentration. Metabolic identification revealed that intermediates of typical nitro reduction pathway are present along with 6-nitroquinolone (51).which is formed by xanthine oxidase mediated oxidation of (42). The absence of (44) as a metabolite with xanthine/xanthine oxidase system highlights the complexity of bioreduction of nitroaromatics under hypoxia. In our laboratory, bio-activation of di-N-oxides such as tirapazamine (TPZ, 42) has been studied. TPZ undergoes one-electron bio-reduction to produce oxidizing radical, which causes DNA damage under hypoxia. In our laboratory, the mechanism by which TPZ mediated DNA damage has been investigated using TPZ and its analogs. Our evidence suggests that upon undergoing bio-reduction, TPZ produces hydroxyl radical as the DNA damaging radical species. Others have suggested another mechanism, which proposes the formation benzotriazine radical (38) upon dehydration process over the bio-reduction step. In the current work, TPZ analog 1,2,4-benzotraizine-1,4-dioxide (55) and deuterated (60) were used to test the dehydration mechanism. Isotopic content analysis of metabolites, derived from bio-reducing metabolism of (55) and its deuterated analog (60), using HRMS show evidence against the dehydration mechanism.
Exploring the lived experience of Olympic gold medal champions
Authors:   , Shadle Anne Helena
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of three Olympic gold medal-winning athletes in the sport of Track and Field. Specifically, the study sought to identify the lived experiences, the critical moments, and the intentional responses that influenced each gold medal winning performance. The study uses the qualitative approach of narrative design. Many athletes dreamed and prepared to make the Olympic team and to win an Olympic medal. Only a very few succeeded in standing on the Olympic medal podium. For these athletes, their process of preparation and performance delivery worked. The interest of this study was to explore what were the key factors, beyond talent, physical ability and technical training that impacted their achieving success and winning the medal at the Olympic Games. A cross case analysis was employed to illuminate the findings. When each of the three athletes walked out of the tunnel, onto the Olympic stage, we saw how in that moment they took control of their Olympic moment. This is the challenge for every Olympic athlete. There is evidence from the narratives that suggest, "Controlling the Olympic Moment" was the ultimate critical moment, and it did not start when they entered the Olympic stadium. The athletes shared intimate understandings, found within the crevices of the lived experiences at the Olympic Games. Either the athlete controls the environment or the environment controls the athlete. The athletes were prepared, they were experienced in making autonomous decisions, they were intrinsically motivated and determined, they recognized the critical challenge in the moment, and they took control. Additionally evidence was identified in the athletes' reported experiences that are consistent with, and reflect key elements of Self-Determination Theory and the Flourish: PERMA model. This research suggests that "Controlling the Olympic Moment" uncovers an entirely different configuration and context for examining Olympic athletes' experiences, as well as other high performing/intense environments for athletes.
NIR fluorescent sensors for blood pH and fructose
Authors:   , Shao Xiaole
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] Blood serum parameters are tightly associated with human beings' physiological activities, therefore the real-time monitoring of blood serum parameters attacks great attention. Many fluorescent sensors exist to measure such parameters, but most would be readily exclude from serum. A novel NIR fluorescent pH sensor was designed and synthesized to test the sensor system in the serum. This NIR- pH sensor was trapped inside RBCs to characterize its response and the result shows the RBC trapped NIR-pH sensor behaves similar as in the free conditions. Based on the NIR fluorophore, a series of novel NIR fluorescent fructose were also designed and synthesized. By using different linkers, these NIR fluorescent sensors showed different binding affinities and fluorescence increase. It appeared the rigid linker had the highest binding affinity and the lowest fluorescence increase upon binding with the fructose. These NIR fluorescence fructose sensors would be used as the reference for the future glucose design.
Indigenous culture as an asset for student academic success : a formative mixed method case study to examine school leaders' roles in policy development, adoption and application in schools serving American Indian students
Authors:   , Ratchford Mary E.
Published: April 2021

This study explored one public school on a tribal reservation to construct understanding of leadership effect on policy supporting academic achievement. Primary data were collected between June 2011 and August 2011 providing sequential opportunities to collect School Culture Survey (SCS) (Gruenert, 1998) data and follow-up interviews with stakeholder groups. The SCS and interviews gathered data about cultural values and beliefs, patterns of behavior and relationships from multiple stakeholder groups. Secondary data included school report cards, websites, Board of Education meeting minutes, school forms, and professional development in-service training documents. The data described strengths including unity of purpose, transformational leadership, faculty collaboration, professional development, equality development, culture departmental support, the new school building, tangible assets of lands and enterprises, and intangible assets that are the people and their unique culture. Areas of concern were expectation of failure, equity measures, parent involvement, discipline, health services, a culture clash, attendance, and community infrastructure. This study brought together American scholarly expertise and indigenous scholarly expertise from the United States, New Zealand and Canada. The findings suggest a formative comprehensive systemic school improvement plan process can be developed as recommended practice for replication in other schools serving American Indian children across North America.
Work engagement of hospitality employees: examining work stresses as antecedents and customer orientation and employee voice as outcomes
Authors:   , Liu Juan
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] This dissertation investigated the antecedents and outcomes of work engagement that commonly exist in the hospitality industry. The antecedents studied in this research include multitasking job demand, display rules, and hospitality employees' perception of multitasking and display rules in terms of challenge stress and hindrance stress. This study also examined the moderating effects of polychronicity and emotional intelligence on hospitality employees' perception of multitasking and display rules. The outcomes studied in this dissertation include customer orientation and employee voice. This research conducted a survey with the study variables on hotel employees in a coast city in China, and 342 usable questionnaires were used to test the study model. Structural equation modeling was employed to test the hypothesized model including work engagement and its antecedents (multitasking, display rules, challenge stress and hindrance stress) and outcomes (customer orientation and employee voice). Multi-group SEM analyses were conducted to test the moderating effects of polychronicity and emotional intelligence on respondents' perception of multitasking and display rules respectively. The main findings of this study include: hospitality employees perceive multitasking as both challenge stress and hindrance stress, perceive display rules only as challenge stress; polychronicity moderates hospitality employees' perception of multitasking as hindrance stress; challenge stress increases work engagement, and work engagement increase customer orientation and employee voice. The contributions, implications and limitations of the study were discussed and suggestions for future study were addressed in the final chapter of the dissertation.
College students' choice of informal learning spaces
Authors:   , Vo Ngoc Thi Bao
Published: April 2021

The wide adoption of mobile technologies in education has made it possible to turn every common space in a higher education campus into a learning place. Libraries, student commons, lounges, or even corridors are all now potential places to learn. Having so many places to choose from, current college students - many of whom belong to the Net Generation - have the luxury of selecting the ones that best match their learning styles and needs. This research study focuses on the relationship between current college students and informal learning spaces, specifically the college students' choice of informal learning spaces. Adopting Lewin's (1951) formula of human-environment relationship in which behavior is the result of the interaction between person and environment, this study further examines the relationship between current college students and informal learning spaces in higher education campuses. Specifically, the study investigates factors that contributed to students' choice of campus informal learning spaces. Data were collected through observations at ten informal learning sites (two libraries, two student centers, two residence halls, and four academic halls) in a Midwestern university and 54 interviews with students, professors, campus facility planners, designers, and administrators. Using grounded theory, a model to illustrate the ways current college students chose informal learning spaces was developed from the data. The findings showed that current college students adopted a unique relationship with the physical environment as they chose informal learning spaces on campus to study. There were many factors affecting their choice of informal learning places including their preference to balance academic success and social success, the nature of the learning tasks, the environmental factors (setting, noise, crowding, lighting, furniture, amenities, and location), and the facility management factors (accessibility and control). They preferred private zones inside these social facilities such as study booths, study rooms, study nooks, or even corridors rather than places with extreme privacy or sociability. Adjustments of place selection were found to base on the situations, their needs, and the students' ability to adjust to the distractions within the informal learning spaces. The study contributes to the literature about the Net Generation and their choice of informal learning spaces. The findings helped teachers, administrators, parents, and designers to understand more about current college students and their learning spaces. Campus facility planners, educational designers, and campus administrators in particular can now refer to the factors influencing students' choice of informal learning spaces identified in this study to design compatible informal learning spaces for current college students.
Communication frames of hotel managers and their effects on job satisfaction, intent to leave, and job regret
Authors:   , Bellemare Julie A.
Published: April 2021

The hotel industry is plagued with turnover. This study uses Framing Theory to examine hotel turnover. This study consisted of two phases. Phase I used qualitative research methods to answer RQ1: What communication frames do hotel managers use when describing the jobs at their hotel? Thirteen hotel managers were interviewed to discover the communication frames they use to describe their jobs. The nine communication frames of family, fun, team, manager as an advocate, autonomy, hard work, professional hotelier, comfortable, and communication style were revealed. The communication frames of professions, meaningful work, calling, dirty work, family, real jobs and work as flow were revealed through the literature review. The data from the literature review and Phase I was used to create a survey for Phase II. Phase II used quantitative research methods to answer RQ2: What is the relationship between the communication frames and job satisfaction, turnover intention and job commitment? Nine communication frames that formed valid and reliable scales were analyzed. Factor analysis revealed three work outcomes of job satisfaction, intent to leave and job regret. Several correlations between the communication variables and the work outcomes were revealed. Predictors of job satisfaction were fun and fulfillment. Predictors of intent to leave were fun, manager as an advocate, hard work, pay and real job. Predictors of job regret were fun, professional hotelier, and real job. This study expands the use of Framing Theory in organizations and expands previous research. This study also has application for managers wishing to reduce turnover. Limitations and ideas for future studies were stated.
A new heroism : a study of the battle scenes in Lucan's Bellum Civile
Authors:   , Crutchfield Matthew Dale
Published: April 2021

This dissertation provides an examination of how Lucan's Bellum Ciuile redefines epic heroism by focusing on the poet's use of the narrative structures that make up epic large scale battle. It argues that Lucan engages his readers in a literary dialectic, through which he questions the degree to which the epic tradition can address civil war. In this reading, Lucan's epic offers a new type of heroism that promotes community and society over individual strength and prowess. This study centers on the three battle scenes in Lucan's epic, the siege and naval battle at Massilia, the battle at Pharsalus, and Cato's march through the Libyan desert. The opening chapter examines how epic poetry has traditionally presented heroism within the context of proper warfare, which poets create through their use of the large scale narrative scenes: the advance scene, the collective fight, the melee, and the rout. The next two chapters read Lucan's account of Massilia and Pharsalus through these structures and argue that Lucan feels traditional epic and definitions of heroism are no longer applicable in civil war. The fourth chapter presents Cato's desert march through Libya as a successful large scale battle. Lucan uses the success of this battle narrative to further his argument for a new heroism that is defined by philosophy and not warfare. Lucan's use of the narrative structures of traditional epic reflect his greater concern, which is to redefine traditional epic narrative and heroism for life under the principate.
Development of genome-wide genetic assays in Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough
Authors:   , Fels Samuel R.
Published: April 2021

Illumina sequencing and other massively-parallel, short read sequencing technologies have become prevalent methods for querying the genetic systems of organisms. This trend was initially driven by the demand for general de novo and resequencing applications in eukaryotes, but uses for these instruments have recently grown in scope to also include more specific assays and methods intended for use in prokaryotic systems. This thesis seeks to develop two such assays for use in the sulfate reducing bacteria type species Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough. These novel assays continue advances made in other bacteria, and the use of this environmentally relevant obligate anaerobe will ensure their extension to other bacteria outside the easily-manipulated groups studied previously. The first assay is a variation on existing transposon sequencing (Tn-seq) assays, which seek to determine gene fitness profiles and essential genes by simultaneous analyses of whether the absence of each gene product alters the growth kinetics of the bacterium. Here we modify the standard Tn-seq procedure by including delivery of the transposon through conjugation and liquid culture enrichment of the mutant pool, creating transposon liquid enrichment sequencing (TnLE-seq). This simplifies and shortens the process, and also reduces barriers to application of the technique in microbes lacking a facile genetic system. The second assay provides a means of mapping consensus 3' end sites of RNA transcripts across a reference genome. This method is known as 3' RNA-seq and compliments an established technique for determining 5' start sites of transcripts. Together these facilitate the application of current sequencing technology to a wider array of microbes and a new type of biologically relevant genetic data.
Variables Predicting the Retention of Community College Students in Online Courses
Authors:   , Follis Chad Christopher
Published: April 2021

Community colleges have seen large increases in students enrolling in online courses nationally. This trend does not appear to be slowing down, in-fact, the number of students enrolling in online courses is increasing. A number of these students come from disadvantaged backgrounds with community colleges being their first chance at a college education. This study attempted to isolate variables that can best predict a community college student's chance of successful completion in the online environment. Ten variables were studied at one community college in Missouri (MOCC) during academic years 2010-2012. The variables were; College division, age, gender, academic semester, academic level, prior remediation, prior online course, grade point average, financial assistance, credit hours enrolled. The study used archived data with 9,540 individual cases. All variables except prior remediation showed significance. The predictive abilities of logistic regression showed that students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, enrolled in a Career and Technology field of study, male, receiving financial aid, enrolled in 10.5 credit hours in the 07 and an age of 30 were the most likely to successfully complete online courses at MOCC.
Working hard or working class? : neoliberalism and working-class representation in contemporary television
Authors:   , Holladay Holly Willson
Published: April 2021

Neoliberalism, an economic philosophy that promotes principles of the free market and private, individual responsibility, has become a pervasive way to organize cultural and political life. This study used neoliberalism as a framework to investigate television's representation of the working-class in contemporary American society by analyzing current working-class programs The Middle, Raising Hope, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, and Duck Dynasty, and by interviewing audiences of these shows. The textual analysis of my study revealed, first, that working-class identity is a complex concept that takes into account not only socioeconomic variables (e.g., income, occupation, and education), but also the culture of individuals. Each text's representation of the principles of neoliberal capitalism influences the portrayal of the families' working-class identities. The audience portion of my study investigated how audiences employed these representations to understand working-class identity in their own lives and in broader culture. Participants applied many of the same neoliberal tenets represented in the textual analysis to characters in a broad spectrum of domestic sitcoms and reality programs. In the programs about which they spoke, they valued hard work, individual achievement, and suggested that engaging in risky decision-making often justified the negative consequences that followed. Participants used the representations of working-class characters as comparisons to individuals they knew in their lives.
Development of advanced chemometric methods for analysis of deep-ultraviolet resonance Raman and circular dichroism spectroscopic data for protein secondary structure determination
Authors:   , Oshokoya Olayinka
Published: April 2021

Determination of protein secondary structure has become an area of great importance in biochemistry and biophysics as protein secondary structure is directly related to protein function and protein related diseases. While NMR and x-ray crystallography can predict placement of each atom in proteins to within an angstrom, optical methods are the preferred techniques for rapid evaluation of protein secondary structure content. Such techniques require calibration data to predict unknown protein secondary structure content where accuracy may be improved with the application of multivariate analysis. We compare protein secondary structure predictions obtained from multivariate analysis of ultraviolet resonance Raman (UVRR) and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopic data using classical and partial least squares, and multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares is made. Based on this analysis, the suggested best approach to rapid and accurate secondary structure determination is a combination of both CD and UVRR spectroscopy. While initial studies suggest that a complementary use of spectroscopic data from optical methods such as circular dichroism (CD), infrared (IR) and ultraviolet resonance Raman (UVRR) coupled with multivariate calibration techniques like multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) is the preferred route for real-time and accurate evaluation of protein secondary structure, further study presents a new strategy for the improvement of secondary structure determination of proteins by fusing CD and UVRR spectroscopic data. Also, a new method for determining the structural composition of each protein is employed, which is based on the relative abundance of the (phi,psi) dihedral angles of the peptide backbone as they correspond to each type of secondary structure. Comparison of the predicted protein secondary structures from MCR-ALS analysis of CD, UVRR and fused data with definitions obtained from dihedral angles of the peptide backbone, yields lower overall root mean squared errors of calibration for helical, sheet, poly-proline II type and total unfolded secondary structures with fused data. Considering that a disadvantage of multivariate calibration methods is the requirement of known concentration or spectral profiles, and second-order calibration methods, such as parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC), do not have such a requirement due to the "second-order advantage", PARAFAC was employed for analysis of UVRR data. An exceptional feature of UVRR spectroscopy is that UVRR spectra are also dependent on excitation wavelength as they are on secondary structure composition. Thus, higher order data can be created by combining protein UVRR spectra of several proteins collected at multiple excitation wavelengths. PARAFAC has been used to analyze UVRR data collected at multiple excitation wavelengths on several proteins to determine secondary structure content.
Spectroscopic distinguishability, forced degradation kinetics and lc-ms/ms degradation product characterizations involving 5-fluorouracil and similar or affiliated compounds in relation to environmental concerns
Authors:   , Pittman Eddie LaReece
Published: April 2021

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a commonly used antiviral and anticancer drug. 5-FU is believed to exist in various tautomeric forms, which are believed to contribute to 5-FU's cytotoxicity. In order to understand the activity of 5-FU in biological and environmental settings, a combined theoretical and experimental approach was used to determine the predominant tautomer in aqueous environments. Spectral characterization of 5-FU will enable development of improved analytical methods for 5-FU. The structures of the 6 most relevant tautomers of 5-FU were optimized using DFT (B3LYP/6-311++G(d, p)) and their respective UV absorption, IR, Raman and NMR spectra calculated. The UV resonance Raman spectrum of 5-FU is also reported. The C=O (1711(cm-1)), C=C (1673(cm-1)) and C-N (1463(cm-1)) and N-H (1510(cm-1)) stretching frequencies are strongly enhanced in the deep UV resonance Raman spectrum of 5-FU. Comparison of the theoretical spectra with measured UV absorption, IR, UV Raman and NMR indicate that the 5-FU keto tautomer is the predominant species in aqueous environments. Four applicable set of environmental conditions were applied towards 5-FU which all produced results that can be used to help further the overall agenda. Thermal/Saline and Photolytic/Alkali both completely degraded 5-FU but Thermal/Saline did it quicker. While the Thermal/Alkali caused some degradation over the course of a week, Thermal/Acidic didn't come close to matching over the same period of time. Synergism was demonstrated and definitely raises even more concerns regarding the realistic adverse potential these sort of compounds may have once they make their way into the environment; thus, this study's statement was made.
Mapping natural and artificial selection events in animal genomes
Authors:   , Ramey Holly Rene
Published: April 2021

Selection events, of both artificial (human-imposed) and natural origin, have left their mark on animal genomes. These signatures are detectable through a variety of analyses and utilizing these types of studies in large animal datasets and are advantageous for the discovery and identification of causal mutations that significantly affect the way an animal or even human look or behave. Elucidating the mutations or variants responsible for these types of variation is important to understand what makes individuals or groups of animals unique. Which mutations create the change in nucleotide sequence that is responsible for black coat colour in Angus cattle, the flattened facial appearance in Pugs, or the quality of meat an animal produces? These types of questions can be investigated by genetic mapping. The research herein pertains to mapping within the genes of an individual or a breed group. Runs of homozygosity, regions of the DNA where every individual or a large proportion of individuals within a population share the same genetic sequence, are indicative of selection events. Furthermore the interaction of multiple genes, epistasis, is helpful in determining where not only one mutation but multiple mutations interact and have an effect on a trait that is larger than any single mutation. This dissertation provides a look at homozygosity mapping and detection of epistasis to determine genes and regions of the genetic sequence that are under selection for various reasons. The work presented will help to provide deeper insight into the unique genetic variation that makes individuals.
Generation of graphite particles by abrasion and their characterization
Authors:   , Troy Raymond Steven
Published: April 2021

Characterization of graphite particles (dust) produced by abrasion that would occur in an operating pebble bed reactor is of interest for reasons of safety, operation, and maintenance. To better understand this abrasion and particle generation, I have completed two independent tests using a custom in-house, designed and built, testing system. One test of sliding abrasion and one test of spinning abrasion was conducted, both in a low relative humidity air environment. I have used both a commercial non-nuclear grade graphite denoted, GM-101, and a nuclear grade, MLRF1, from SGL Carbon for these tests. For spinning abrasion, GM-101 and MLRF1 were used. For sliding abrasion, only GM-101 was used. I have obtained size distributions for the abraded particles, fit lognormal functions to those size distributions (for use in computer codes), determined particle shapes, measured temperature and humidity during the tests, measured surface temperatures at the contact point of the samples, calculated wear rates, measured the surface roughness of both pre-test and post-test samples, measured particle surface areas, measured pore volumes, and pore volume distributions of particles produced during abrasion of graphite surfaces under different loadings and sliding speeds, or rotational speeds, for both experiments. The experiments showed that as loading (analogous to pebble depth in the reactor) and rotation speeds or sliding speeds increase, so do wear rates, concentration of particles and particle surface area. The shape of the dust particles was in every case non-spherical. In all, our research shows that pebble abrasion is a complex process that is not constant during operation and thus should be considered for future work. This research makes new data available and will, in turn, help make nuclear power plants safer.
Modeling regeneration and early stand dynamics of Missouri Ozark forests
Authors:   , Vickers Lance Alan
Published: April 2021

Projecting the effects of silvicultural choices on forest regeneration has traditionally been difficult. In an effort to improve upon this, a collection of empirical models based on leading hypotheses and theories of tree and stand development were constructed to simulate regeneration and early stand dynamics in Missouri Ozark forests. The stochastic models of establishment across a gradient of residual overstory density (Chapter 2) are consistent with the variable nature of the regeneration process. Linking establishment outcomes with models of annual height growth based on residual overstory density (Chapter 3) and size (Chapter 4) provides a powerful tool for both applied and empirical objectives. Quantitative interpretation of the regeneration process is as important as simulation of it. Developmental milestones for successful canopy recruitment were identified to improve evaluations of individual trees in even-aged stands during the regeneration process (Chapter 4). The reference chart methodology presented in Chapter 5 increases the inference obtainable from a single measurement by providing interpretation of individual tree development in the context of a variety of peer groups. Though imperfect, the combination of these models and tools should increase our understanding and ability to recreate the regeneration process, and as a result, the efficacy of our efforts to manipulate it.
Sacred space evaders : religious hegemony in gaming journalism
Authors:   , Perreault Gregory P.
Published: April 2021

In the modernist paradigm, the news is assumed to be secular, or rather, devoid of religious content. Recent research implies that in actuality, journalism contains latent religious values (Silk, 1995; Underwood, 2002). This research aims to challenge the modernist paradigm by uncovering the religious hegemony operating in a niche area of journalism. This research explores the nature and operation of religious hegemony in gaming journalism through in-depth interviews with gaming journalists (n=17) and a narrative framing textual analysis of gaming journalism texts from 1993 and 2013 (n=116). Gaming journalism is a valuable resource for such research, in that much of digital gaming news still originates from outside of the American paradigm. Thus reporting on such content reveals normative conceptions about what American journalism considers normal and acceptable (Berdayes and Berdayes, 1998). By looking at the development of gaming journalism over a 20-year period, it is also possible to explore the extent to which a paradigm shift has taken place (Kuhn, 1996). This study makes a case that Modernist Protestantism is what has been normalized in gaming journalism conceptions of religion. Such research addresses central scholarly journalism concerns regarding objectivity, societal normalization through media, and misrepresentation of minority perspectives.
College and career readiness : exploring rigor through relevance and its relationship with adolescent identity development
Authors:   , Schmitz David L.
Published: April 2021

The purpose for this study was to examine the relationship between adolescent identity development, relevance, and rigor among high school students. The premise under investigation is rooted in the concept of building rigor through relevance. Students who have engaged in personal exploration and commitment to certain ideological and interpersonal issues, specifically personal and occupational identity (Erikson, 1982; Marcia, 2002; Super, 1980) are purported to find increased relevancy in their coursework (Crumpton and Gregory, 2011) and in turn engage in more rigorous studies. This study used a profile of high school seniors to explore the relationship between adolescent identify development, student participation in relevance building activities, and engagement in academic rigor. This cross-sectional study utilized quantitative methods to analyze archival survey, transcript, and performance data on student engagement in relevance, rigor, and identity producing activities (Fink, 2009). A Midwest school district, granting access to archival data, had engaged in extensive research on relevance, rigor, and identity. A review of literature resulted in the emergence of six factors related to college and career readiness. The focus on career exploration, adult guidance and support, career planning, occupational identity status, academic intensity, and performance benchmarks were aligned with the research questions for this study. Findings of the study revealed students had positive experiences with adult guidance and support and career planning. Students reported parents or guardians and teachers as having a significant influence on their career aspirations, while counselors were viewed in a less significant role. Perceptions of career exploration experiences were reported low, however a lack of workplace experience was found as a key factor in that finding. Students in the study were found to have engaged in overall low levels of academic intensity which was consistent with the literature on academic rigor. A key finding was that adolescent identity status matters in relation to academic rigor and relevance. Exploration of individual passions and interests followed by commitment to an occupational identity was found to be related to engagement in rigor and relevance. The study provided insight into the relationship between adolescent identity development, relevance, and rigor among high school students. However, additional questions about this relationship emerged during the study. Further research into the role of school counselors as leaders, impact of workplace experience on occupational identity development, exploration of how identity develops over time, analysis of career exploration variables related to identity, and exploration of findings for ACT composite will support more clarity in the arena of college and career readiness.
A case study of organizational culture change in a hospital
Authors:   , Vale Whitley Walker
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] This dissertation presents a case study that describes and analyzes the organizational culture change that occurred at a hospital over a period of time (i.e., about 12 years, from 1993 through 2004). Qualitative data from five sources -- questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, observations, and documents -- was analyzed by applying the 'transformation of intentions model' for policy analysis. This dissertation proposes that this sociological model is a theoretical framework that is conceptually applicable to the empirical analysis of organizational culture change. The application of the 'transformation of intentions model' of policy analysis to the analysis of organizational cultural change resulted in a detailed description of the organizational structures and processes that were essential to the organizational culture change at the hospital. The analysis revealed a pattern in the transformation of intentions at the hospital. More specifically, it was revealed that the organizational culture change at the hospital was 'top-down' -- administratively led -- change initiated in response to interorganizational directives -- specifically, policy changes by the healthcare organization that managed the hospital.
From Lunatic Woodhull to Polarizing Palin : a historical-diachronic media discourse analysis of women political pioneers
Authors:   , Finneman Teri
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] Recent history suggests the United States is within reach of its first woman president. This study examines the media experiences of women political pioneers who helped pave the way to the breaking of the glass ceiling. It analyzes newspaper treatment of four pioneering politicians between the 1870s and 2000s and explores how media discourse of women politicians has and hasn't changed over 150 years. The women featured are Victoria Woodhull, the first woman to run for president; Jeannette Rankin, the first woman elected to Congress; Margaret Chase Smith, the first woman to receive a presidential nomination at a major party's convention; and Sarah Palin, the first Republican woman vice presidential candidate. This study employs a historical-diachronic framework that takes into account the social, political, and journalistic cultures of each woman's era to provide context for their media coverage. The findings illustrate that the press has used a variety of discursive strategies to delegitimize the candidacies of women politicians throughout history, which might have contributed to negative voter attitudes toward women in politics. Gendered stereotypes, gendered news frames, and double binds utilized in news coverage served to protect a male-dominated status quo. Yet a significant finding in Palin's coverage indicates that gender bias in news coverage is increasingly facing criticism, suggesting the tide may finally be turning in favor of more equalized discourse.
Knowledge-based radiotherapy treatment planning
Authors:   , Olsen Lindsey Appenzoller
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] Knowledge-based planning (KBP) has become a prominent area of research in radiation oncology in the last five years. The development of KBP aims to address the lack of systematic quality control and plan quality variability in radiotherapy treatment planning by providing achievable, patient-specific optimization objectives derived from a model trained with a cohort of previously treated, site-specific plans. This dissertation intended to develop, evaluate, and implement a knowledge-based planning system to reduce variability and improve radiotherapy treatment plan quality. The project aimed to 1) develop and validate an algorithm to train mathematical models that predict dose-volume histograms for organs at risk in radiotherapy planning, 2) implement the algorithm into a software application in order to transfer the technology into clinical practice, and 3) evaluate the impact of the software system (algorithm + application) on reducing variability and improving radiotherapy treatment plan quality through knowledge transfer. The presented work demonstrates that a KBP model is beneficial to radiotherapy planning. The developed models adequately describe what is dosimetrically achievable for patient specific anatomy and have proven useful in outlier detection for quality control of radiotherapy planning. The KBP paradigm has also demonstrated ability to improve treatment plan quality through benchmarking and transfer of knowledge between institutions.