bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Isolation and characterization of alginate producing Azotobacter sp, isolated from rhizospheric soil of Oryza sativa (L.) and Triticum aestivum (L.)
Authors: MALVIYA DIVYA , TIWARI SHREE PRAKASH , SHARMA RAJESH
Published: September 2024

Alginate as biopolymer consisting of β-D Mannuronic acid and α-L Guluronic acid monomer residues linked by (1-4) glycosidic bond. Brown seaweeds mostly Laminaria sp, Ascophyllum nodosum, Eclonia maxima, Sargassum sp. and Macrocystis pyrifera were earlier used for commercial alginate production. Major drawback of using sea weeds for alginate production were high production cost, impurity issue and safety concerns includes the reasons behind discovery of novel bacterial sources to make an efficient alginate production system. Later two bacterial genera Pseudomonas and Azotobacter were reported for alginate production. However, due to pathogenicity, and quality issue associated with some Pseudomonas strains, Azotobacter sp. was found to be most reliable and prioritized bacterial sources for alginate production with appreciable qualities which will be ready to be used for industrial applications. Therefore, current research aims to isolate and characterize a new strain of Azotobacter sp. with alginate-producing ability. Two different soil samples were collected from two places Deokali and Parsurampur, Jaunpur district in the spring (06 August 2022) and winter (06 February, 2023) seasons from Oryza sativa and Triticum aestivum rhizospheric region respectively. Azotobacter sp. was isolated by using Nitrogen Free Burk’s medium and alginate production was confirmed by gel formation assay method in the presence of CuSO4 and CaCl2 solutions. The carbohydrate qualitative test was done by using Molisch’s Test. Two novel strains Azotobacter chroococcum PU-RSD01 and Azotobacter chroococcum PU-RSD02 were isolated on the basis of high alginate producing ability. Morphological, biochemical and molecular techniques further characterized the isolates.
Liberals and the «historical state power» at the dawn of the great upheavals
Authors: Almazov Mikhail G.
Published: September 2024

The article is devoted to the analysis of the first scientific edition of V.A. Maklakov's memoirs. The author examines the problems of the relationship between the autocracy and the social movement in the Russian Empire at the beginning of the twentieth century.
Government authority and the idea of public representation in 1905
Authors: Novoselskiy Sergey S.
Published: September 2024

The article is devoted to the development of projects for popular representation by the Russian bureaucracy and the public in 1905. Particular attention is paid to four concepts - the reform of the State Council, the convening of the Zemsky Sobor, the “bulyginskaya duma” and the parliament. The article shows that the choice that was ultimately made in favor of the State Duma meant the government’s conscious refusal of the models of representation born in the 19th century, and finally determined the transformation of the political system of the Russian Empire.
People’s commissariat of property of the Republic
Authors: Gordeev Petr N.
Published: September 2024

The article is devoted to the history of the state institution that existed at the dawn of the Soviet period of the history – the People’s commissariat of property of the Republic (NKIR). Based on the materials of the archives of Saint Petersburg and Moscow, which are being introduced into scientific circulation for the first time, the process of the emergence, activity and abolition of this peculiar department, which was the historical successor of the Ministry of the Imperial Court, is shown. A great influence on the fate of the People’s commissariat of A.V. Lunacharsky was revealed, who formally headed another central institution, but at all stages of the history of the NKIR actively intervened in its work and eventually succeeded in joining the NKIR to the People’s commissariat for education.
Moscow State Conference in the crosshairs of confrontation
Authors: Shelokhaev Valentin V.
Published: September 2024

The author focuses on the initiative minority, which, in fact, was mobilized during the days of the Moscow State Conference. The article notes the great contribution of A.B. Nikolaev in the study of this significant and often ignored political forum in historiography. Thanks to this monograph, it is possible to trace the motivation of key political forces, as well as their leaders. They all had to adapt to the conditions of revolutionary Russia in one way or another. However, in most cases these attempts were unsuccessful, as was clearly demonstrated in August 1917.
PENGARUH ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL DAN GOVERNANCE TERHADAP FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT MELALUI FIRM PERFORMANCE
Authors: Wulandari Fitri , Sitorus Riris Rotua
Published: September 2024

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji pengaruh environmental, social, governance terhadap foreign direct investment melalui firm performance. Jumlah Sampel dalam penelitian ini perusahaan pertambangan yang terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia Tahun 2015-2019 yang berjumlah 13 perusahaan yang diperoleh menggunakan metode purposive sampling. Hasil penelitian ini yaitu environmental tidak berpengaruh terhadap foreign direct investment, social berpengaruh terhadap foreign direct investment, governance tidak berpengaruh terhadap foreign direct investment, firm performance tidak berpengaruh terhadap foreign direct investment, environmental tidak berpengaruh terhadap firm performance, social tidak berpengaruh terhadap firm performance, governance berpengaruh terhadap firm performance. Firm performace tidak memediasi pengaruh environmental terhadap foreign direct imvestment, firm performace memediasi pengaruh social terhadap foreign direct investment, firm performace memediasi pengaruh governance terhadap foreign direct investment.
Impact of green manure plants on the yield and bioactive compounds content of lettuce
Authors: Martirosyan Gayane , Sargsyan Gayane , Sarikyan Karine , Adjemyan Gohar , Hakobyan Anna , Avagyan Alvina , Tadevosyan Laura , Pahlevanyan Armenuhi
Published: September 2024

Background: Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is a nutrient-rich vegetable that delivers a variety of essential vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds, including polyphenols, carotenoids, and chlorophyll. These compounds contribute to health benefits, particularly through their antioxidant properties, while keeping the vegetable low in calories. Organic farming practices, which exclude synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, have been demonstrated to enhance the levels of beneficial compounds like antioxidants and polyphenols in vegetables. Additionally, practices like green manuring improve soil health and fertility, contributing to the overall quality of the produce.
Objective: The primary objective of the research was to assess the impact of different green manure plants on the bioactive component content, including polyphenols, carotenoids, and ascorbic acid, of various lettuce varieties.   Additionally, the productivity of the various green manure plants was measured with the aim of enhancing food functionality.
Materials and Methods: Green manuring plants for fertilization in crop rotation with lettuce, bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), green pea (Pisum sativum L.), and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) were used. Soil analysis for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), were performed using a Gallery Aqua Master Discrete Analyzer. Soil analyses were conducted both before the sowing of green manure plants and after the harvesting of lettuce. The content of ascorbic acid, polyphenols and carotenoids were identified with spectrophotometer.  
Results:  The agrochemical analysis showed that the use of green manure reduced the soil's bulk density by 9.2% to 14.4%. Green manuring plants demonstrated the most nitrogen accumulation, exceeding the control by 1.69-2.39 mg/100g, potassium by 1.2-3.1 mg and phosphorus by 0.1-0.05mg. The lettuce variety ‘Manushak’ from soybean-treated plots had the highest phenolic acid content, 1.68 times more than the control, and the greatest Vitamin C increase (13 mg/%).  In ‘Veradarz’ lettuce, leaves from plot manured with soybean Vitamin C increased by 11.5 mg/%, and β- carotinoids increased by 1.28 times. Green manuring contributed to increasing the yield of lettuce by 8.1%-30.0%. The highest lettuce yield (358.4 c/ha) was from the Veradarz variety obtained in the soybean-fertilized field.
Conclusion: Applying green manure plants, specifically soybean, enhanced the lettuce leaves’ functional properties by improving soil quality and increasing nutrients and bioactive compounds like phenols, carotenoids, and Vitamin C. This technology boosts lettuce quality, productivity, and functionality, making it a recommended method for producers.
Keywords: lettuce, green manuring, soil quality, carotenoids, phenolic acid, vitamin C, productivity
Use of a handheld system for interventional ultrasound with puncture and biopsy in an in vitro liver model
Authors: Kaiser Ulrich , Kaltenhauser Simone , Kaiser Florian , Vehling-Kaiser Ursula , Herr Wolfgang , Stroszczynski Christian , Becker Claus , Dropco Ivor , Jung Ernst Michael
Published: September 2024

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Ultrasound-guided interventions (such as biopsies) of unclear lesions are indicated if microcirculatory changes indicate possible malignant lesions. These place high demands on the ultrasound device used. In order to potentially reduce the often associated high technical effort, the wireless ultrasound device Vscan AirTM was examined as a possible ultrasound device for the intervention biopsy. METHODS: As part of an advanced training course on Computertomographie- and ultrasound-guided biopsy and ablation procedures, participants were asked about the image quality of the handheld device used by means of questionnaires. Various lesions were evaluated at a depth of 1.0 to 5.0 cm in an in vitro liver model. The image quality was evaluated independently before, during and after the intervention. The rating scale contained values from 0 (no assessment possible) to 5 (maximum high image quality). A high-end device was used as a reference. RESULTS: A total of 11 participants took part in the study (n = 4 male [36.4%], n = 7 female [63.6%]). A total of five tumor like lesions at different depths (1 cm, 2 cm, 3 cm, 4 cm, >4 cm) were assessed separately. In all cases, an adequate biopsy of the target lesion (1 cm in length, core filling 5 mm) was successful. From a depth of 3 cm, the image quality of the mobile device increasingly decreased, but the image quality of the high-end system was still not impaired. Compared to the high-end device, there was a highly significant difference in image quality from a depth of 3 cm (p < 0.01). Assessment by inexperienced examiners using a handheld device was adequately possible. CONCLUSIONS: Mobile interventional ultrasound represents a potential alternative for the biopsy of unclear tumorous lesions with microcirculatory disorders with limited depth localization.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning in corporate governance: A bibliometric analysis
Authors: Samara Husni Hasan , Qudah Hanan Ahmad , Mohsin Hayder Jerri , Abualhijad Seba , Bani Hani Laith Yousef , Al Rahamneh Samer , AlQudah Mohammad Zakaria
Published: September 2024

BACKGROUND: The study deeply explores the thriving domains of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in corporate governance. OBJECTIVE: The study aims to thoroughly examine the rapidly developing fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in corporate governance. METHODS: After completing an in-depth analysis of 229 research studies published between 2008 and 2023 (using software tools such as RStudio, VOSviewer, and Excel),), the study reveals a notable increase in publications since 2022. Corporate social responsibility (CSR), environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues, executive remuneration, and sustainability are all considered as important key focal areas of focus. Scholars in this field are notably at the forefront from Taiwan, the United States, and China. IMPLICATIONS: However, the study stress the necessity for further researches to estimate the efficacy of different AI and ML methodologies. This may guide evidence-based governance practices various industries and geographical areas.
Non-Pharmacological Exercise Randomized Controlled Trials in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Wang Nizhuan , Tai Hsu-Chih , Tzeng I-Shiang
Published: September 2024

This narrative review aimed to summarize evidence on responses to exercise in pre-clinical Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and on how long-term exercise programs work to improve neuropsychiatric symptoms and cognitive performance. We conducted a narrative review of the body of research on the benefits of long-term exercise programs in improving cognitive performance and reducing neuropsychiatric scores in patients with AD. Long-term exercise therapy appears to improve blood flow, increase hippocampal volume, and promote neurogenesis in patients with AD. Higher levels of physical activity are associated with a lower chance of developing the disease, and most prospective studies have shown that physical inactivity is one of the most prevalent modifiable risk factors for the development of AD. Exercise appears to be beneficial in improving cognitive function, a neuropsychiatric symptom of AD. Exercise has been shown to have fewer side effects, such as non-pharmacological effects and better adherence than medication. In this review, experts provided a snapshot and authoritative summary of evidence for non-pharmacological exercise in patients with AD based on the best synthesis efforts, identified the main knowledge gaps and relevant barriers, and provided directions for future research. Furthermore, experts in randomized trial designs provided practical details and recommendations for researchers working in this area, underscoring the importance of relevant topics.
Association of GLOD4 with Alzheimer’s Disease in Humans and Mice
Authors: Utyro Olga , Włoczkowska-Łapińska Olga , Jakubowski Hieronim
Published: September 2024

Background: Glyoxalase domain containing protein 4 (GLOD4), a protein of an unknown function, is associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Three GLOD4 isoforms are known. The mechanism underlying GLOD4’s association with AD was unknown. Objective: To assess GLOD4’s role in the central nervous system by studying GLOD4 isoforms expression in human frontal cerebral cortical tissues from AD patients and in brains of Blmh–/–5xFAD mouse AD model of AD. Methods: GLOD4 protein and mRNA were quantified in human and mouse brains by western blotting and RT-qPCR, respectively. Mouse brain amyloid-β (Aβ) was quantified by western blotting. Behavioral assessments of mice were performed by cognitive/neuromotor testing. Glod4 gene in mouse neuroblastoma N2a-APPswe cells was silenced by RNA interference and Glod4, Aβ precursor protein (Aβpp), Atg5, p62, and Lc3 proteins and mRNAs were quantified. Results: GLOD4 mRNA and protein isoforms were downregulated in cortical tissues from AD patients compared to non-AD controls. Glod4 mRNA was downregulated in brains of Blmh–/–5xFAD mice compared to Blmh+/+5xFAD sibling controls, but not in Blmh–/– mice without the 5xFAD transgene compared to Blmh+/+ sibling controls. The 5xFAD transgene downregulated Glod4 mRNA in Blmh–/– mice of both sexes and in Blmh+/+ males but not females. Attenuated Glod4 was associated with elevated Aβ and worsened memory/sensorimotor performance in Blmh–/–5xFAD mice. Glod4 depletion in N2a-APPswe cells upregulated AβPP, and downregulated autophagy-related Atg5, p62, and Lc3 genes. Conclusions: These findings suggest that GLOD4 interacts with AβPP and the autophagy pathway, and that disruption of these interactions leads to Aβ accumulation and cognitive/neurosensory deficits.
A scoping review of cane use in people who have had a stroke
Authors: Aerken Rufeina , Clark Helen , Broderick Patrick
Published: September 2024

BACKGROUND: Various types of canes are frequently utilised in stroke rehabilitation to support walking ability by compensating for hemiplegic gait. However, Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) design varies considerably in the area of cane use following stroke and there is no scoping review published to date on this topic. Thus, it is crucial for better evidence informed clinical care and future research that RCT evidence regarding specific assistive walking devices is examined. OBJECTIVES: Identify and map the types of canes that currently exist and review their impact on the rehabilitation of functional mobility post-stroke. METHOD: The following databases were searched: PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and CINAHL in Ebsco. Two authors independently screened 425 titles, identifying 16 RCT studies for inclusion in the review. RESULTS: 16 studies were selected for review. Five different cane designs were identified, including one-point cane, three-point cane, quad cane, weight-supported feedback cane, and rolling cane. Twelve studies were crossover RCT and four were parallel RCT. Stroke phase varied widely among subjects included in the studies and outcome measures utilised and resultant findings are heterogeneous. CONCLUSION: More evidence is required to clearly indicate the effect of canes on people who have had a stroke and parallel long-term RCTs with follow-up assessment are lacking. Furthermore, there is a lack of research examining variations in new cane designs that specifically target motor function in people who have had a stroke at specific stages. Future research should aim to address the identified inconsistencies and knowledge gaps to facilitate novel and evidence-informed clinical care regarding assistive walking devices for post stroke rehabilitation.
Techno-economic assessment of utilizing solar thermal energy in manufacturing processes
Authors:   , Balajiveeraragavan Rajesh Raghavan
Published: September 2024

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] In the past century, fossil fuels have been a primary source of mankind's energy production as they are cheaper and more readily available due to well-developed technology when compared to renewable energy sources. Fossil fuels can be substituted with alternate energy sources, but their usage is dictated by the economic, environmental and safety considerations. The objective of this research is to determine the potential for utilization of solar energy in manufacturing processes and provide the associated performance and financial metrics. Manufacturing industries in Missouri and adjoining regions were surveyed to obtain their viewpoints on the current state of solar technology and the potential barriers that need to be overcome to make solar energy a viable option. A theoretical methodology has been developed to determine the current thermal energy demand, the energy that can be generated by a solar thermal collector and the number of thermal collectors that are required to meet the thermal energy demand. System Advisor Model (developed by the national renewable energy laboratory, USA), a renewable energy analysis software was used to validate the methodology and determine the solar industrial process heat potential. Through three case studies for different sectors of manufacturing that use process heating this study has determined the solar fraction in each case, which is the percentage of the current thermal energy demand that can be met by solar energy.
A bayesian investigation into inhibition mechanisms of contrast and assimilation
Authors:   , Snyder Hope K.
Published: September 2024

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] The ability to inhibit distractors within an environment while focusing on specific information is crucial to proper functioning. In most inhibition tasks, such as Stroop, the to-be-ignored information affect the response to be more like the distractors rather than the target, termed assimilation. In other tasks, the opposite effect occurs, termed contrast. Contrast and assimilation are opposing effects that both occur when distracting information affects judgements. It is asked whether inhibition across contrastive and assimilative tasks have common underlying mechanisms or if they are distinct processes. A series of Bayesian hierarchical models were used to conduct a correlational analysis and assess the hypothesis. A task was designed, in which common target stimuli were used, that displayed large assimilation and contrast effects depending on the background context. Three models are discussed in detail to better understand the relationship between these two inhibition effects. A positive correlation was found between assimilation and contrast effects. Individuals who better inhibited assimilation-inducing contexts appear to be better able to inhibit contrast-inducing contexts. An overall summary of the analyses is provided.
Stadiums and sports entertainment districts on the landscape : an urban sports-anchored entertainment development model
Authors:   , Boese Ian Alexander
Published: September 2024

With sports stadiums being built at an incredible rate, particularly since the 1990s, the need to examine how these facilities (and the development around them) impact cities is crucial to understanding changing urban landscapes. By creating a two-dimensional spatial model of all Major League Baseball stadiums and their surrounding entertainment districts built since 1992, I assess what components these ballparks share and what sort of development is common between them. Additionally, I apply this spatial model to two Major League Baseball stadium case studies, Petco Park in San Diego, and Busch Stadium III in St. Louis to determine the accuracy of the model. Finally, I investigate a third stadium, the English Premier League's (soccer) Tottenham Hotspurs still-in-construction stadium, to assess the international and multi-sport validity of my model. For each case study site, I sought common themes in their public promotion, including whether gentrification (or any of its various synonyms) was encouraged by their respective projects. This is done by reviewing government and planning documents related to development plans, media reports, and any historic or contemporary imagery publicly available. The purpose of this research is to create a model capable of explaining how new stadiums and sports-anchored entertainment districts are situated within urban landscapes and to address how gentrification plays a key role in shaping American and global cities.
Simulation of solar photovoltaic power station
Authors:   , Li Xuqiang
Published: September 2024

It is predicted that in the 21st century, solar photovoltaic power generation will occupy an important seat of world energy consumption, and will replace some conventional energy. Solar photovoltaic power station is a kind of power stations which use solar cell array to convert solar radiation into electricity. The system is mainly composed of solar cell array, system controller, battery, DC / AC inverter and other components. This article will mainly introduce the principle and equipment of photovoltaic power generation system and lay the foundation for the computer simulation afterwards.
Framing practices of wire services in modern wartime : international frames during the final six months of the Battle of Aleppo
Authors:   , Sadler John
Published: September 2024

This thesis focuses on the journalistic articles published by three major wire services-Associated Press, Reuters, and TASS -- during the final six months of the Battle of Aleppo, a major offensive that essentially tilted the tide of the Syrian Civil War to the regime of Bashar al-Assad. The goal of this work is to discern the types of frames utilized by these three wire services, and how source selection may have influenced the creation of these frames. The articles, limited to the longest 15 published by each service, were analyzed for six frames defined by the researcher -- finality, sympathy for civilians, legitimacy -- opposition, legitimacy -- Assad, internal affairs, and international affairs. They were also analyzed for source selection, in which the types of sources were broken down into aid/research organizations, U.S. government, Russian government, civilians, journalists, Assad government, and rebels. The work found that Reuters and Associated Press framed the battle as an internal affair and an international affair, respectively, and integrated elements of the sympathy for civilians frame, while TASS was predominately interested in the international affairs framing. The use of sources in the studied articles also fit into the framing scheme they employed
Vegetation management along roadside and railroad right-of-ways
Authors:   , Terry Matthew R.
Published: September 2024

Efficient transportation of freight as well as motorists requires effective control of vegetation on right-of-ways (ROW's). Traditionally on railroad ROW's, residual herbicides are applied early in the growing season with POST applications to restrict weed emergence. Field studies in central Illinois (three), Missouri (one), and Kansas (one) were established in 2015 and 2016 to compare fall single versus multiple application timings of residual herbicides from fall through the following summer. The objective was to optimize the timing of residual herbicides to minimize weeds over the greatest duration of the growing season. Residual herbicides were applied in the: fall (full rate), fall followed by spring (half-rates) spring (full rate), and spring followed by summer (half-rates). Spring/summer split applications resulted in consistent weed control throughout the growing season in four of five locations. Fall application at half-rates delayed the spring timing of spring half-rates up to 40 days compared to no fall application. Split programs extended the length of time that herbicides remained at active levels in the soil. In a separate study, management of an emerging invasive tree species along roadside ROW's was determined. Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana) has escaped cultivation and invaded undisturbed areas such as roadsides and pastures from the mid-west to eastern United States. Experiments were initiated in 2015-2017 to determine the response of herbicides delivered by foliar, basal bark, and cut-stump methods. Initiation of symptoms with foliar applied growth regulator herbicides was slow at 3 months after treatment (MAT); control at 12 MAT control ranged between 95 and 100 percent. Basal bark and cut-stump experiments were conducted on trees with a basal diameter between 10 and 15 cm. At 1 year after treatment (YAT) for basal bark treatments, triclopyr + aminocyclopyrachlor resulted in the highest control (57 percent). Remaining basal bark treatments resulted in 25 and 50 percent control. Cut-stump treatments involved application of herbicide on cambium tissue and effectiveness was high (95 to 100 percent at 1 YAT). In densely infested areas with small trees, a number of foliar herbicides can be effective. In areas with desirable species, Callery pear can be selectively removed using cut-stump applications. The use of basal applications may require different timing for initial application or sequential treatment.
Red lion in winter : the life and times of Claude M. Lightfoot
Authors:   , Olson Michael Dennis
Published: September 2024

"In August 1985, a 75-year-old man in South Chicago saw an eviction in progress at 8051 South Yates Boulevard. Movers carried the family's goods and possessions out to the street, as police watched nearby. For the old man watching on Yates Boulevard, this was an intolerable reminder of the cruelties of the economic system. It brought back memories of a similar experience on a long-ago afternoon, not unlike this one, fifty years and more in the past. The old man, suffering from heart trouble and emphysema, at times struggling to breathe, had come a long way since then. Then, he was a nervous, frightened young man protesting an eviction, confronted with crowds of people and a phalanx of police. There, in the depths of the Great Depression, he was awakened. The nervous, frightened young man found his courage. He stepped up boldly and ordered the crowd to take the furniture from the street and put it back in the house. He dared the police to stop them. The crowd restored the family to its home and marched away, to nearby Washington Park, singing "We'll hang Herbert Hoover to a sour apple tree, when the Revolution comes!" ... First, the autobiography provides us with Lightfoot's own perspective, always helpful when writing about a historical figure, but also reminds us that he is a political figure with an agenda of his own, and his recollection of events and people could be tinged with his own personal biases. Second, the autobiography makes little mention of Lightfoot's personal life. There is little information about his family, his parents, his first and second wives, and his adopted son. Third, the bulk of Lightfoot's papers date from after 1961, with the vast majority dating from the 1970s. There is precious little in the archive from prior to 1961 and after 1980. This lack of primary source material forces us to lean heavily on the autobiography to tell the story of Lightfoot's first fifty years. Nevertheless, there is enough in both the autobiography and the Lightfoot papers for a thorough study of his life and career." -- Introduction
A textual analysis of public Facebook posts from disability advocates : examining how those with disabilities choose to represent themselves via social media
Authors:   , Stengel Timina
Published: September 2024

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] Those with disabilities can post on any variety of social media platforms, using their own words and images to represent themselves as they choose. And their picture of disability often looks very different than what mainstream audiences have come to expect based on the mass media's historically stereotypical portrayal of those with disabilities. Through textual analysis, this study examined how five socially and ethnically diverse disability advocates represented themselves on Facebook from Sept. 1, 2017 to Dec. 31, 2017, and their followers' responses via comments. An in-depth analysis revealed that the advocates have varied interests and were concerned with issues of accessibility, disability law, ableism, and media coverage of disability. This research has the potential to help disrupt long-held stereotypes of people with disabilities and can add to the current body of literature on media and disability representation. To assist journalists, media recommendations are included for telling disability stories more consistently with how those with disabilities have chosen to represent themselves.
A textual analysis of women's health magazines : how women's health magazines set the agenda for women's beliefs about cardiovascular disease
Authors:   , Salela Alyssa
Published: September 2024

While heart disease kills an average of 399,028 women in the United States every year (Benjamin et al., 2017), women do not seem to be aware of the high risk of heart disease that they face (Mosca, Hammond, Mochari-Greenberger, Towfighi, & Albert, 2013). This thesis examines the messages that are presented to women about heart disease through the three highest circulating women's health magazines in the United States. By examining these messages through a textual analysis, the researcher was able to gain insight into what messages women may be internalizing about heart disease because of the messages they are viewing in mainstream publications designed to provide health information. Through an analysis of 349 articles (n = 349), the researcher found that heart disease was not portrayal lacked an emphasis on severity, despite the common use of expert sources and research findings to support the messages within the articles. Themes that provided a realistic picture and actionable advice for heart disease were much fewer in comparison to the articles that simply stated risks or behaviors that were associated with increased risk of heart disease. There was also a lack of information about social risk factors and treatment options that include seeking medical attention. Overall, this research found that there is a superficial level portrayal of heart disease in women's health magazines.
Associations between cumulative genetic influence for risk-taking and hazardous alcohol use in two independent samples
Authors:   , Miller Alex P.
Published: September 2024

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] A propensity for risk-taking may be associated with hazardous alcohol-related behaviors especially in men. Prior research indicating substantial heritability and genetic overlap for risk-taking and disordered alcohol use suggests that risk-taking may function as an endophenotype for more complex hazardous drinking behaviors. The current study aimed to examine the associations between polygenic risk scores (PRSs) for risk-taking and hazardous alcohol use phenotypes in two independent samples: a young adult, moderate drinking sample and a middle-aged, heavy drinking family-based sample. Genome-wide association summary results from the UK Biobank project were used to calculate risk-taking PRSs which were then used to predict hazardous alcohol use phenotypes in both samples. Possible sex-specific associations were examined using PRS-by-sex interaction models. Results indicated significant relations between PRSs and experiencing blackouts and regular intoxication in the older heavy-drinking sample and between PRSs and experiencing blackouts in an older sub-group of young adults. Strong evidence for sex-specific associations were not supported. These results build on prior studies by demonstrating that genetic influence for a risk-taking endophenotype may confer risk for specific hazardous alcohol use outcomes and may exert a greater effect in the absence of strong environmental influences or in the presence of heavier drinking. Findings also underscore the importance of specific hazardous alcohol use phenotypes for genetics research above and beyond general measures of consumption or disordered use.
Gender and propaganda at the crossroads (the case of Svetlana Alexievich)
Authors:   , Konatar Biljana
Published: September 2024

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Soviet women played an important role during World War II, both in combat, and on the home front. The purpose of this thesis is to examine their role through gender in political discourse, with the focus on two media, i.e. Soviet war propaganda posters and a documentary prose piece The Unwomanly Face of War, published in 1985 by a Belarusian author and journalist Svetlana Alexievich. Interesting is the fact that the two media in question offer different commentary on the same time period (WWII). Due to the fact that Alexievich's narratives challenge the traditional narratives of the Soviet period, they are met with no little controversy in the former Soviet Union. Thus, the main objective of this thesis is to examine what changed in the social and political conditions at the turn of the 20th century in the Soviet Union that made Soviet female war veterans reinterpret their position during World War II. The extensive analysis of the aforementioned conditions through gender in political discourse showed that the woman question in the Soviet Union was used as a device in the ongoing political struggle, and it is used to comment on and clarify contemporary political and social demands. Alexievich's work can also be seen as propaganda, but in a different way than posters, as her work is aimed at the international audience, instead of only the Russian/Soviet one. Thus, by using her literary authority, Alexievich opened the door of the external market, previously inaccessible to her, and shed light on the current political moment where the underrepresented groups are still being silenced.
Pixel level pavement crack detection using deep convolutional neural network with residual blocks
Authors:   , Hou Yu
Published: September 2024

Road condition monitoring, such as surface defects and pavement cracks detection, is an important task in road management. Automated road surface defect detection is also a challenging problem in computer vision and machine learning research due to the large variety of pavement crack structures, variable lighting conditions, interfering objects on the road surface such as trashes, fallen tree leaves and branches. In this work, we develop a deep learning-based method for automated road surface defect and pavement crack detection. We design a deep convolutional neural network based on using residual blocks to predict the heatmaps which indicate the location and intensity of defects and cracks. To reduce false detection rates, we couple this heatmap prediction network with a binary classification network which is able to determine if the input image patch is normal or has defects. We test our method on the CFD benchmark dataset. Experiment results show that the proposed network is very effective for pavement crack detection and has more advanced performance than other methods.
A study of bacterial ribosome 70S complex using smFRET analysis
Authors:   , nan nan
Published: September 2024

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI SYSTEM AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] The Ribosome is a fundamental molecular machine found in all cells and is responsible for synthesizing proteins.(Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry 5th Edition) Determining the mechanism underlying ribosome function is of interest to a large number of research laboratories around the world. The Cornish laboratory at MU has recently identified inter subunit rotational states related to specific steps of the protein synthesis cycle.(Cornish P, 2008) Following up on this recent work, I set out to study conformational dynamics of the ribosome at the single molecule level. In particular, I wanted to learn about how the rotational states of ribosome identified would be modulated by varying the ionic strength of the buffer solution. In order to execute this research, I needed to learn a number of biochemical techniques as well as how to operate a state-of-the-art total internal reflection microscope capable of observing the florescence signal generated by a single molecule. Overcoming technical aspects of the project turned out to be more time consuming that I originally thought. Indeed, the bulk of my M.S. thesis work was taken up trouble shooting a number of sample preparation protocols, benchmark samples, as well as instrumentation. That said, I was able to observe smFRET from a few ribosome samples, but the project came up short in my effort to study the salt concentration dependence of the inter subunit rotational states of the ribosome.
Investigation of finger plate expansion devices behavior
Authors:   , Mutnbak Mohammed
Published: September 2024

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] Finger plate expansion devices are frequently used to account for medium and large expansive or contractive movements and reasonable rotations of two bridge deck slabs. Under high traffic volume, these expansion devices experience some premature damage that affects the structural integrity of the joint, which causes safety concerns for vehicular traffic. Therefore, a group of experimental tests and 3D elastic-plastic finite element models (FEMs) were conducted in this thesis to study the structural behavior and modes of failure of finger plate expansion devices. The experimental results were also used to validate the FEMs of the finger plate expansion devices, from which additional FEM models were evaluated to study the effects of various design parameters. There is a good agreement between the experimental measurements and numerical results. In general, welding zones were the sites of crack initiation in most of the cases studied. The numerical results showed that the site of the highest stress concentration was in the weld between the finger plate and the supporting beam top flange. Other sites of stress concentrations were located at vertical stiffener weld and finger base curve. To study the effects of finger thickness, stiffeners presence in both sides of the support beam, a stiffener in the front side and back side of the beam, and supporting beam dimensions, a parametric study was conducted using the validated FEM. The results of the parametric study showed that the finger thickness did not influence the response in the absence of stiffeners. On the other hand, the presence of stiffeners increased the finger plate expansion device stiffness, while decreased the device ductility. All cases investigated in the parametric study indicated that welding areas were the sites of stresses concentrations and failure initiation.
The relationship between pupil diameter changes and vehicle accidents in a driving simulator environment
Authors:   , Tang Rui
Published: September 2024

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between changes in pupil diameter at the moment of a vehicle accident and the severity of the accident. Drivers' pupil diameters were analyzed using an eye-tracking device within a driving simulation environment. The diameter of a pupil changes not only in response to light, but also in response to other factors involving both cognitive and emotional activities. In this study, we hypothesize that the patterns of pupil diameter changes could serve to indicate when an accident occurs as well as the severity of the accident. To investigate the relationship between the drivers' pupil diameter and the seriousness of a car accident, multiple hazardous events were tested in a driving simulation environment. The eye-tracking technology was applied to measure and analyze changes in a driver's visual attention level and pupil dilation during vehicle accident events. The patterns of pupil diameter changes were compared based on the severity of car accidents. The experiment results showed that there was a significant difference in pupil dilation patterns between minor crashes and severe crashes. The slope of the pupil diameter change in major vehicle accidents is steeper than in minor vehicle accidents. Furthermore, the results from the vehicle accident videos and pupillary data show that the drivers attention level and the time to collision have a significant impact on the pattern of pupil diameter changes. The findings of this study provide a new way to develop human-centered driver assistant systems and improve the speed of roadside rescues when an accident occurs. This study will also contribute to the development of an algorithm to measure accident severity levels and better inform emergency medical personnel to enable them to deal with car accidents quickly and efficiently.
Association between positive emotion regulation strategies and the reward positivity
Authors:   , Irvin Kelsey Morgan
Published: September 2024

Emotion regulation dysfunction is a core feature of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Recently, research has begun to focus on positive emotion regulation strategies such as dampening and savoring of positive emotion. Dampening has been associated with higher depressive symptoms, higher symptoms of anhedonia, higher negative affect, and lower positive affect, whereas savoring has been associated with well-being and lower depressive symptoms. A separate area of MDD research -- reward processing and its neural correlates -- has yielded a similar pattern of findings. A blunted response to rewards has beenrepeatedly associated with depression in both behavioral and psychophysiological studies. In Event-Related Potential (ERP) studies, this blunted response is captured by the ERP component, Reward Positivity (RewP). The current study aims to examine the psychophysiological underpinnings of depression and its association with dysfunctional reward processing by exploring the RewP's relationship with positive emotion regulation strategies. N=100 participants completed two computerized gambling tasks while ERPs were recorded, as well as a battery of questionnaires assessing a variety of depressive symptoms and emotion regulation strategies. Consistent with previous literature, dampening was associated with higher depressive symptoms, while savoring was associated with lower depressive symptoms. Interestingly, the RewP response was largely unassociated with depressive symptoms and emotion regulation strategies. However, there is some evidence that the RewP is malleable with a simple savoring intervention. Such findings may provide insight into the underpinnings of depression and have implications for clinical prevention and intervention efforts for MDD.
Lean and mean : determining how hiring multimedia journalists transforms communications teams
Authors:   , Yesenosky Daniel George
Published: September 2024

The purpose of this research was to determine if MMJs who previously worked in local TV news are adding efficiency and value to communications departments of non-publicly traded, non-Fortune 500 organizations located in TV news markets 1-50. The study used literature to examine the skills of a MMJ and analyze how transferable they are to the content creation roles on communications teams. Using a quantitative survey of communications managers who hire content creators, this survey gathered insights on how efficient and valuable MMJs are to the companies they work for. With this data, this research attempts to unveil the reasons that MMJs may or may not add efficiency and value to their organizations. The survey worked to compare communications teams that have hired MMJs with those that have not. With this collection of quantitative data, the goal was to determine if companies who have hired MMJs onto their communications staffs have improved efficiency and value. Through the transformative theory, this research could lead more companies to hire MMJs, impacting their career opportunities. Long-term, this data collection may call for change in the way companies hire for content creation openings by creating a mindset among communications managers that MMJs could be valuable additions.
The high cost of living : death and social identity of Missouri's historic Columbia cemetery
Authors:   , Martin-Apostolatos Gwendolyn
Published: September 2024

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] The gravestones of Missouri's historic Columbia Cemetery demonstrate the changing social identity of the population of Columbia, Missouri. These stone artifacts display information that reflects the mortuary values of the residents of this city, spanning more than a century. This study resulted in the analysis of local historic mortuary monuments documenting their demographic, morphological, materialistic, and stylistic characteristics. These traits were evaluated in order to track the gravestone choice trends for the early inhabitants of Columbia, Missouri, during the first century after the founding of the city. The grave markers in Columbia reflect changing preferences from tall, statuesque limestone and marble monuments to more modest granite headstones. Overall this Midwestern town has had a decline in elaborate monument use when memorializing the dead along with a decrease in descriptor and epitaph use, an increase in family stone use, and a rise in the popularity of cheaper utilitarian grave markers. These results point towards a community wide shift away from intricate descriptive memorials and towards cognate and inexpensive grave markers.