bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
МОВНА ПОЛІТИКА США ТА КИТАЮ
Authors: СОВА МАЙЯ
Published: September 2024

Стаття присвячена розкриттю особливостей мовної політики США та Китаю на сучасному етапі. Встановлено, що США відомі своєю мовною диверсифікованістю, характеризуються як монолінгвальне суспільство з багатими мовними ресурсами у вигляді рідних мов іммігрантів. Констатовано, що основна мета розвитку мови – це об’єднання людей, яке було б неможливе, якби англійська мова отримала статус офіційної мови у США. Доведено, що мультилінгвізм мовної політики США сприяє розвитку багатомовних навичок, які забезпечують міжнародну конкурентоспроможність країни та її національну безпеку.
Встановлено, що китайське суспільство має надзвичайну лінгвістичну різноманітність. З метою розвитку мандаринської мови в КНР та за її межами, Китай був змушений зробити значні зусилля щодо реформування мови, спрощення написання та уніфікації ієрогліфів шляхом їхньої стандартизації.
Представлено порівняльний аналіз основних напрямів і тенденцій мовної політики, її механізмів та основних інструментів в умовах глобалізації США та Китаю. Встановлено, що одним з важливих результатів мовної політики США та Китаю в умовах глобалізації є зростання багатомовності та мультикультуралізму. США та Китай зосередились на розповсюдженні англійської та китайської мов шляхом «мовної дифузії» та політики «м’якої сили».
Розкрито значення терміна «мовна політика» та виокремлено різні рівні її реалізації. Виявлено вплив іммігрантів на сучасну мовну ситуацію та показано, як зміна патернів імміграції призводить до зміни мовної ситуації в країнах в умовах глобалізації. Зроблено висновок, що розвиток мов є унікальною галуззю, в якій співпраця між країнами є взаємовигідною. Мовне розмаїття США та Китаю можна пов’язати зі зростанням багатомовності та мультикультуралізму, що є одним з важливих результатів мовної політики в умовах глобалізації.
Незважаючи на подібність проблем, сутність мовної політки та її планування значно варіюється в США та Китаї. Разючою є різниця між заявленою мовною політикою на державному рівні та вибором певної мови на індивідуальному рівні, який здійснюється під впливом прагматичних чинників.
ANALISIS FAKTOR YANG MEMPENGARUHI KEPUTUSAN MASYARAKAT PADA PEMILIHAN LAYANAN KESEHATAN BERDASARKAN TEORI BAURAN PEMASARAN
Authors: Emiarti Endah , Rateh Nali
Published: September 2024

Bauran pemasaran adalah alat pemasaran yang pada umumnya dimiliki oleh rumah sakit guna memberi stimulus positif terhadap pembelian jasa pelayanan kesehatan. RSU Muhammadiyah Babat sebagai salah satu rumah sakit yang belum mencapai standar grafik Baber Johnson yaitu pada tahun 2021 dengan angka BOR 29,52%. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh bauran pemasaran terhadap keputusan pasien dalam memilih fasilitas layanan kesehatan. penelitian ini menggunakan design analitik kuantitatif dengan pendekatan cross-sectional. Sampel penelitian 95 pasien umum rawat jalan dengan teknik purposive sampling. Penelitian ini dilakukan di rumah sakit umum Muhammadiyah Babat. Instrumen berupa kuesioner. Variabel dependen pada penelitian ini adalah keputusan memilih rumah sakit dengan variabel independen adalah 7 faktor bauran pemasaran yaitu product, place, price, people, promotion, process, dan physical evidence. Analisis yang digunakan adalah uji regresi linier berganda. Hasil penelitian uji parsial menunjukan bauran pemasaran yang berkaitan dengan keputusan memilih yaitu bauran product, bauran physical evidence. Sedangkan yang tidak berhubungan yaitu bauran price, bauran place, bauran promotion, bauran people, bauran process. Hasil uji menunjukkan bahwa bauran pemasaran 7P secara bersamaan berpengaruh terhadap keputusan memilih pasien rawat jalan. Penilaian pasien terhadap bauran pemasaran 7P baik di RSU Muhammadiyah Babat.
CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR KUALITAS LAYANAN : STUDI PADA TIGA EDUCATIONAL HOTEL DI BANDUNG TAHUN 2024
Authors: Wafa Najla Athallah , Hanifa Fanni Husnul
Published: September 2024

Industri perhotelan di Indonesia telah mengalami peningkatan yang signifikan sejalan dengan kemajuan ekonomi dan pariwisata di negara ini. Untuk melakukan peningkatan pada Educational Hotel, dibutuhkan beberapa poin pendukung seperti peningkatan layanan yang diberikan kepada konsumen. Pelayanan merupakan poin yang sangat penting karena dapat mempengaruhi keputusan pembelian produk atau jasa pada suatu perusahaan, maka dari itu pertumbuhan industri perhotelan di Indonesia harus diimbangi dengan kualitas pelayanan yang tinggi. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk menganalisis kualitas layanan full service di beberapa Educational Hotel Bandung, diantaranya yaitu Lingian Hotel, Enhaii Hotel, dan UTC Dago Hotel Bandung. Data penelitian ini dikumpulkan dengan melakukan metode triangulasi, dengan metode ini peneliti mengumpulkan data dengan melakukan wawancara dengan informan terkait, observasi secara langsung pada objek penelitian, dan juga mengumpulkan beberapa dokumentasi. Metode penelitian yang digunakan yaitu metode penelitian kualitatif deskriptif, yang dilakukan dengan wawancara secara detail dengan beberapa informan. Hasil dari penelitian yang dilakukan oleh peneliti yaitu adanya Analisis Perbandingan Critical Success Factor Terkait Dengan Kualitas Layanan (Studi Pada Tiga Educational Hotel di Bandung Tahun 2024).
Bending the Riemann Critical Strip to a Lunula: No Zeroes in 1/2 < Re(z) < 1
Authors: Fortunato Lorenzo
Published: September 2024

The critical strip of the Riemann \(\zeta(z)\) is transformed into a crescent-like lunula and the critical line into the unit circle by a conformal transformation. In the new extended complex plane, the argument principle is used to show that there are no zeroes outside of the unit circle, thus proving that there are no zeroes in the right half of the strip, \(1/2 < Re(z) < 1\). This constitutes a truly elementary proof of the Riemann Hypothesis.
To protect and to serve? A phenomenological exploration of interactions between black transgender women and law enforcement in the Midwest
Authors:   , Banks Anthony Jason
Published: September 2024

Current research indicates transgender women of color are experiencing what is being referred to as an "epidemic of violence," with increased prevalence of murder, physical and sexual assault, and verbal harassment in their communities. Prevalence rates are likely underestimated due to potential underreporting of rates of violence and discrimination. Law enforcement personnel are in a unique position to mitigate this violence among transgender women of color, however past research shows that law enforcement may in some instances perpetuate already existing violence with this population instead of preventing and intervening in these situations. One limitation of the existing research is that little is known about how transgender women of color experience interactions with police. This study aimed to add to the limited research by using an intersectional theoretical framework to better understand these interactions. Research questions were answered using a phenomenological research design. Data from interviews with transgender women of color in the Midwest about their experiences with law enforcement and what they take away from these experiences were analyzed using an inductive interpretive analysis. The results from this study can be used to inform policy intervention development to enhance the safety of transgender women of color in their communities
Machine learning integration with robotics for biosensing : an automated medicine approach
Authors:   , Byfield Richard
Published: September 2024

Currently, the United States is experiencing a nursing shortage driven by the ageing population. This shortage is projected to worsen in the coming years as the percentage of retirement aged individuals increases. To mitigate the impacts of the nursing shortage, a system capable of automating certain daily tasks of nursing professionals is desired. To address this need, this dissertation focuses on utilizing the recent technological advancements in machine learning (ML) and robotics to design an automated biosignal monitoring robotic system. To accomplish this, electromyography (EMG) and photoplethysmography (PPG) are explored in detail to examine their capabilities in robotic control and vital sign monitoring. This dissertation consists of five chapters, each exploring different aspects of biosignal analysis and robotic integration. Chapter 2 explores EMG for simplified robotic control, using traditional ML models for classification. Chapter 3 extends this to medical EMG applications, employing deep network regression. Chapter 4 examines PPG signals for non-invasive blood pressure monitoring, utilizing traditional ML models for regression. Chapter 5 develops a PPG-integrated robotic system for autonomous vital sign monitoring. Finally, Chapter 6 summarizes the results, discusses their implications, and suggests a future research direction. This dissertation contributes to reducing the challenges associated with nursing shortages by providing an automated vital sign monitoring framework, potentially easing the burdens on nurses while enhancing patient care.
Normed inequalities for fractional derivatives
Authors:   , Douglas Sean Patrick
Published: September 2024

The objective of this thesis is to obtain weighted norm estimates for the homogeneous and inhomogeneous fractional derivatives. The primary focus is on a detailed exploration of the weighted fractional Leibniz rule and the weighted fractional chain rule. This work seeks to augment the current body of knowledge by establishing appropriate inequalities for more generalized weight classes and extending the range of indices for which the inequalities are valid. In particular the fractional Liebniz rule is extended to the product of m factors and the weight class is improved from the product of Muckenhoupt weight classes to the more natural multiple weight class denoted Ap. Furthermore, a fractional chain rule is extended from Lebesgue spaces for p [greater than] 1 to weighted Triebel-Lizorkin spaces with 0 [less than] p [less than] [infinity], where an explicit relationship holds between the permissible Muckenhoupt weights, the smoothness index, and the integrability index.
Coloniality in the Guidelines for Inclusive Higher Education for Indigenous communities by the National Ministry of Education in Colombia : a critical discourse analysis
Authors:   , Hoyos Ensuncho Maryluz Del Carmen
Published: September 2024

After changes to the National Constitution in 1991, the last three decades have seen changes to address the historical marginalization of different groups in education. However, policies have not been effective in creating more inclusive environments for Indigenous peoples. Literature has focused on inclusion strategies implemented by higher education institutions, but there has been little attention to discourse in policy. This study examined the underlying coloniality in the discourse in the Guidelines for Inclusive Higher Education in Colombia, issued by the National Ministry of Education in 2013. I used the analytics of coloniality (Maldonado-Torres, 2016) for a critical discourse analysis (Fairclough, 2015) to examine how discourse in this document either challenged or reinforced the legacy of coloniality in three dimensions: power, knowledge, and being. Coloniality refers to the ongoing colonial power relations and cultural patterns that have been maintained after the end of colonization (Maldonado-Torres, 2016). The findings revealed existing hierarchies and power imbalances that continue to marginalize Indigenous communities, knowledge hierarchies, and inequalities in narratives that erase Indigenous communities' identities in educational discourse, reflecting colonial legacies shaping educational policies and social structures.
Training to act : the experience and impacts of BFA actor training
Authors:   , Pardoe Jennie Jennae
Published: September 2024

The process of professional actor training is one that requires vulnerability and often leads to self-discovery. At the same time, studies have shown that the impact of acting on performers is complex and can also lead to psychological trauma. This dissertation addressed the questions (a) What are the experiences of former students of BFA Actor Training Programs? and (b) What are the perceived long-term impacts of participation in a professional undergraduate acting program, if any, according to former students? This study employed the qualitative research design of narrative inquiry to study the experiences of former BFA acting students. The data comprises six interviews with former students from a variety of BFA programs around the United States. The interviews were coded and re-storied into narratives. A number of findings surfaced through analysis including that (a) all participants felt vulnerable during their actor training experience, (b) each felt in some way like an outsider in their program, (c) each participant felt they had professors who were unable to articulate feedback in a way that was constructive to the performer, and (d) all participants reported that their experiences in their actor training program have impacted them in some way. This study suggests that universities that are invested in BFA Actor training offer mental health resources to students. It also suggests that mentoring programs between graduates and current students may be helpful in mitigating some of the challenges for students that surfaced in the study. The study also suggests a theoretical connection between vulnerability in actor training and transformational learning.
Nutrient partitioning in pregnant and lactating beef females
Authors:   , Redifer Colby Allen
Published: September 2024

We investigated the impacts of late gestational nutrient restriction in first-parity beef females on prenatal and postnatal nutrient availability to the offspring. During late gestation, nutrient restricted dams lost maternal body weight and body condition and had less circulating metabolites than adequately-fed dams. Despite contralateral placental growth being less in nutrient restricted dams, total uterine blood flow and total placental mass were maintained, and cotyledonary expression of nutrient transporters and an angiogenic factor were upregulated, which collectively allowed for calf size at birth to be spared. Nutrient restricted dams produced less colostrum, yet it was generally more concentrated so that total colostral nutrients and immunoglobulins, except lactose, were similar. When fed to meet nutrient requirements during lactation, previously nutrient restricted dams recovered quickly metabolically and experienced compensatory growth, but still had less body condition at weaning than adequately-fed dams. Nutrient restricted dams had decreased mammary blood flow, lower milk yield, reduced milk protein concentration, and less total milk nutrients available for their calves. Calves born to nutrient restricted dams diverged in body weight by day 42 of age and weighed less at weaning, but metabolic status pre-weaning was not greatly altered. In summary, first-parity beef females experiencing late gestational nutrient restriction prioritized partitioning nutrients to fetal growth and colostrum production over maternal growth. After parturition, previously nutrient restricted dams fed adequately during lactation partitioned nutrients to maternal growth and basal energy reserves over milk production.
Communication motives as mediators of sibling intimacy and relational maintenance and communication frequency
Authors:   , Salinas Eric Eduardo
Published: September 2024

We tested whether sibling communication motives (i.e., pleasure, affection, and inclusion) would mediate the link between sibling intimacy and both sibling relationship maintenance and communication frequency. A total of 171 Mexican origin college students were recruited from a predominantly Hispanic university. Parallel mediation models revealed that having a close intimate sibling relationship was negatively associated with pleasure, which, in turn, was negatively associated with relationship maintenance. Having a close intimate sibling relationship was also positively associated with affection and inclusion; however, these motives did not significantly predict relationship maintenance. Similar associations emerged for communication frequency, except that neither of the motives significantly predicted communication frequency. Our findings may suggest that primarily communicating with siblings for pleasure reflects a less intimate sibling relationship, by which maintenance behaviors are less likely to occur. We also tested whether these processes would be moderated by maternal warmth, paternal warmth, and familism. None of the moderators significantly impacted the mediating role of communication motives. However, the positive association between sibling intimacy and inclusion was strongest under conditions of high parental warmth. Our findings corroborate the notion that sibling relationships complement parent child relationships during early adulthood, but they may also play a compensatory role.
Physics-informed data-driven frameworks for materials discovery
Authors:   , Sattari Kianoosh
Published: September 2024

This dissertation presents a comprehensive exploration of scientific machine learning methodologies applied to various aspects of material science and additive manufacturing. Chapter 2 introduces a scientific machine learning framework tailored to understand the synthesis process of flash graphene. Leveraging advanced algorithms and data-driven approaches, this framework facilitates a deeper comprehension of the intricate mechanisms involved in flash graphene synthesis, thereby offering valuable insights for optimization and enhancement. In Chapter 3, physics-informed machine learning models are developed for the classification of printability and glass transition temperature (Tg) in additive manufacturing processes. By integrating fundamental principles of physics into the machine learning models, this chapter demonstrates improved accuracy and reliability in predicting printability and Tg. Chapter 4 focuses on physics-constrained multi-objective Bayesian optimization techniques to expedite the 3D printing of thermoplastics. Through the utilization of Bayesian optimization algorithms that incorporate physical constraints, this chapter presents a systematic approach to accelerate the optimization process while maintaining the integrity and stability of printed structures. Collectively, these chapters contribute to the advancement of scientific machine learning methodologies in material science and additive manufacturing, offering novel insights, techniques, and tools for enhancing process understanding, optimization, and control.
Understanding the interaction between urban bat populations and the urban citizens of Columbia, Missouri
Authors:   , Shroyer Jordan
Published: September 2024

Bats are increasingly being forced to adapt to urban settings to survive. Research into understanding how the actions of urban bat populations and homeowners influence their respective behavior is needed, so that the two can co-inhabit in cities. Knowing why people have the perceptions towards bats they hold is important in understanding what we as researchers, managers, and conservationists can do to help urban bat populations. Our research aim was to better understand perceptions and behaviors towards bats, including how perceptions and behaviors may be shaped by socioeconomic factors including where people live and where people may encounter bats. We used Anabat recorders to locate urban bat presence in Columbia, Missouri and then correlated bat presence with socioeconomic and bat habitat variables for the area. Using regression modeling, our findings indicate that a combination of bat habitat variables (canopy coverage, impervious surface coverage, and number of trees) and socioeconomic variables (median home value and median household income) can be used to best predict bat presence. Next, a bat perceptions survey and a focus group were conducted with homeowners in Columbia, Missouri to understand the "how" and "why" of perceptions and behaviors towards bats and other urban wildlife. There were largely positive perceptions towards wildlife and bats among the citizens of Columbia, Missouri, particularly amongst males and individuals with higher levels of education. Qualitative analysis of the focus group underscored the importance of wildlife conflict and educational opportunities to citizens in explaining perceptions and behaviors towards bats.
From past to present : a decadal review of Missouri teachers' views on student mental health in times of social and educational transformation
Authors:   , Simpson Jessica
Published: September 2024

The mental health of students is a critical concern in educational settings, particularly in the context of remote learning environments, which have become increasingly prevalent due to global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This dissertation explores the perceptions of elementary and middle school teachers in Missouri regarding student mental health during remote learning. The study investigates various factors, including teachers' ability to recognize mental health issues, the extent of training provided, overall perceptions of the impact of remote learning on student mental health, and observations of increases in social emotional learning (SEL) and mental health (MH) needs. Data were collected through surveys distributed to teachers, and statistical analyses were conducted to examine associations between demographic variables and teachers' perceptions. Results reveal significant associations between teachers' demographic characteristics and their ability to recognize student mental health issues and SEL concerns during remote learning. Notably, factors such as race, socioeconomic status (SES), level of education, and locale influence teachers' confidence in identifying students in need of mental health support. Additionally, disparities in access to mental health resources based on location, such as rural or urban settings, highlight the need for targeted interventions and equitable distribution of services. The findings underscore the importance of inclusive and diverse training programs to enhance teachers' abilities to support student mental health effectively. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on student mental health in educational settings, particularly in the context of remote learning. By understanding teachers' perceptions and experiences, policymakers and educational stakeholders can develop strategies to address the diverse mental health needs of students and ensure equitable access to support services. Ultimately, prioritizing student mental health is essential for promoting overall well-being and academic success in remote learning environments and beyond.
Investigating the role of masculinity and alcohol use on alcohol expectancies and motivation to change
Authors:   , Swanson Alex Jon
Published: September 2024

In the United States (US), and many other countries around the world, problematic alcohol use is a significant public health concern, especially among young men. While it would be hard to capture the scope of the physical and mental benefits to reducing problematic alcohol use among men, it is likely to be very high. This study aims to add to the understanding of why the most at-risk group for problematic alcohol use on college campuses is also the most resistant to treatment efforts. In total 377 males participated in the online survey. This study found that adherence to several norms associated with stereotypical masculinity were consistently predictive of both motivation to change and outcome expectancies. Further, alcohol use mediated the relationship between masculinity and both motivation to change behavior and outcome expectancies.
A study of flatness
Authors:   , Bitting Eliot Capen
Published: September 2024

Descent theory, in the sense of descending various properties of modules, is an indispensable tool in commutative algebra and algebraic geometry. In [RG71, Part II], Gruson and Raynaud delve into the subject by introducing several descent properties of modules with an eye toward showing that these properties also descend flatness in commonly occurring cases. In this paper, we focus on some of these properties and study their connection with other important questions in commutative algebra such as the direct summand theorem.
Honor thy maker
Authors:   , Cano Marina Graciela
Published: September 2024

My MFA thesis exhibition HONOR THY MAKER interrogates the concept of who the maker may be in relation to indigenous and non-indigenous traditions, as well as their intercultural exchanges. My main medium is thread and cloth; I understand fiber processes as an internal resistance as I begin to confront my sense of self in relation to the antagonistic cultural identity that I embody caused by colonialism. As a mixed Mexican and American woman from the U.S Southwest Mexico Border, I wrap and bind religious icons, sentimental objects, and raw materials to create a personal narrative that speaks to the amalgamation of religions and bi-cultural aesthetics within the borderland region. The action of wrapping and binding references the Maya sacred bundles to connect with my indigenous ancestry, and question what the foundations of my ethnicity truly are. My wrapped works reference this ritual, by using symbols connected to place, spirituality, and practice into non-binary structure. This action visually expresses my refusal to accept forced westernized belief systems imposed on myself and my undiscovered ancestry. Tensioned threads merge these concepts together and they become one like my heritage, like the border. This research elaborates the conceptual framework behind the artwork and their final immersive installation featured in HONOR THY MAKER.
A survey of pathogens in Missouri soybean and corn
Authors:   , Carraher Melanie McGregor
Published: September 2024

Missouri ranks within the top 10 states for the production of soybean and corn crops in the US. Missouri farmers planted an estimated 2.4 million hectares of soybean in 2022 and 2.2 million hectares in 2023. Corn planting increased from 1.4 million hectares in 2022 to nearly 1.6 million hectares in 2023. A subset of corn and soybean fields were scouted across 17 counties for mid to late-season disease symptoms caused by fungal infections during the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons. Cercospora leaf blight (CLB) symptoms were observed in more than half of the soybean fields scouted in 2022 and approximately one-third of fields scouted in 2023. Many questions exist regarding how to properly manage this disease and under what conditions it needs to be managed. CLBdiseased soybean leaves were collected from fields across Missouri and we cultured and sequenced isolates to identify the diversity of Cercospora species present in the CLB complex. Five genes were sequenced from each isolate and used to develop a phylogenetic tree. Interestingly, the species assumed to be the cause of CLB was rarely found in our analyses. The information generated from this project has allowed us to work directly with Missouri farmers and MU Extension field specialists to learn more about what Cercospora species may be most prevalent and concerning.
How progressive are we, really? : Solidarity reporting in nonprofit local news
Authors:   , Davis Hope Anne
Published: September 2024

Nonprofit newsrooms have become a larger part of the news ecosystem and commonly claim to challenge stereotypes or cater to new audiences (Usher, 2021, 2023; McLellan et al., 2022). This study examines how these startups may or may not defy dominant journalistic norms to do justice by marginalized groups. Using the framework of solidarity journalism (Varma 2020, 2021d, 2022, 2023), this study applies qualitative textual analysis and interviews to evaluate the normative qualities of housing coverage from a regional nonprofit news organization with two local newsrooms. The research found that solidarity reporting in a local nonprofit newsroom is shaped by organizational structures, by journalists' consideration of marginalized groups as both sources and audiences, and by the ways journalists frame structural conditions.
Parataxis in Latin colloquial and poetic texts : a treebank-based analysis
Authors:   , DeHass Matthew Timothy
Published: September 2024

Paratactic is a label applied to texts which are more informal and spontaneous in their construction. The conventional cause of this difference is that there is a natural preference for parataxis in spoken Latin which is adopted in registers similar to the spoken language in their context and style. A text is paratactic if it uses fewer finite subordinate clauses and instead constructs discourse out of disconnected main clauses. I argue here that this definition of parataxis is a poor descriptor of informal Latin, and that, defined this way, it rather characterizes stylized speech such as that found in poetry and forensic speeches. If we define simplicity as fewer components which in turn have fewer embedded components, and complexity as instead an increase in said components, then texts which are traditionally considered informal are not simpler at the level of the finite clause. I argue here that it is actually at the level of the noun phrase and specifically in participial phrases that informal texts are simpler. I use a medium-sized corpus of manually annotated dependency treebanks to operationalize this study and describe the differences between informal Latin texts, poetry, and other prose works.
Hydra-machine
Authors:   , Frew Connor
Published: September 2024

hydra-machine is an installation and expanded artist's book which employs print, poetry, light and sculpture to triangulate queer and trans subjectivities within provisional structures of digestion, multiplication and refraction. hydra-machine is concerned with histories of experimental and interdisciplinary artist's book practices, and asserts that the book's structural flexibility and capacity as a technology of collation provides substantial grounds for investigating its queer possibilities. In hydra-machine, commercial and institutional technologies of sight and print under hierarchical value systems (historically allegiant to capitalism) are made abject in their misuse and appropriation, softened into poetic instruments of contact. The scanner and overhead projector mediate encounters between dissonant forms and establish fields of contingence, fields framed as "queer wilderness"--unstable networks of relation that frame and challenge structures of ordered language and meaning as extensions of heteropatriarchal violence and control. This primary strategy of refraction becomes a metaphor for irrepressible trans and queer desire, and the gallery becomes a site for embodying new organizations of love, body, perception, language and touch. The wild subject is finally able to trace the silhouette of desires which have always been present. In this, my thesis is a machine for myself, located within an uncomfortable, buried and obstinate trans desire. hydra-machine is a book built from a cracked-egg daydream; a book and poem and body which might become refractory and vast and unmappable.
Funding the news : finding a viable revenue model for Uganda's private news organizations
Authors:   , Kamukama Eronie
Published: September 2024

This research examines the revenue models used by private news organizations in Uganda, their impact on the bottom-line, and whether they can facilitate the financial sustainability of these news outlets in the long-term. Using in-depth interviews, the study assessed the unique constraints that private news organizations face as they operate in the current socioeconomic and political landscape to find out what revenue model works or does not work for the Ugandan market. This study finds that digital subscriptions, advertising, events, and grants are the commonest revenue models used by private news organizations in Uganda and that the revenue made from these models is not substantial enough. The findings show that the absence of a culture of media subscriptions, poor adoption of online payment systems for news, dwindling content quality, and challenging economic times make it difficult for the above revenue models to work for the Ugandan private news ecosystem. The research uses the political economy theory of media and it was found that the effectiveness of these revenue models is further impacted by the government's increasing intolerance for independent news media and a restrictive civil space. The study discusses what might effectively support the financial sustainability of private news organizations in Uganda in the future and makes suggestions for further research.
American elderberry (Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis) biomass nutritive value assessment as a potential feed source for ruminant livestock
Authors:   , McKenzie Eric L.
Published: September 2024

The perennial, fruit-bearing elderberry plant has been used by humans for a variety of purposes throughout recorded history. Elderberries ripen and are ready for harvest in mid to late summer. After harvest, the leaves stay on the plant into the fall. This study examines the viability of using the post-harvest, latent American elderberry (Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis) leaf biomass as a feed source for ruminant livestock by analyzing its nutritive value as measured by dry matter, organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, acid detergent lignin, and crude protein. Six cultivars of elderberry were analyzed over two seasons at two locations in Missouri. There was little consistency observed within plant nutrient content between the two locations when looking at individual cultivars, suggesting that growing conditions may have a larger effect on leaf biomass quality than cultivar traits. Similar to other forages, the analyses in this study showed an increase over the growing season in neutral detergent fiber content (P [less than] 0.001), with the lowest concentration in May (22.5 [plus or minus] 1.30 percent), and the highest in August (27.3 [plus or minus] 1.31 percent). An expected decrease in crude protein content was observed over the growing season (P [less than] 0.001), with the highest concentration in May (24.8 [plus or minus] 0.50 percent), and the lowest in September (10.6 [plus or minus] 0.54 percent). When compared to other tree fodders such as willow (Salix sp.) and mulberry (Morus sp.), elderberry leaf biomass displayed a comparable nutrient profile. Analysis of four cyanogenic glycosides known to be present in elderberry juice shows only dhurrin concentration differed between cultivars at both locations (P = 0.007). This study found that the sampled biomass had a maximum potential cyanogenic glycoside concentration of 117.4 [mu]g/g, but the average concentration was much lower at 12.1 [mu]g/g, which is well below the recommended threshold for acute cyanide toxicity of 500 [mu]g/g. This suggests that American elderberry leaf biomass likely presents a low risk of toxicity for ruminant livestock throughout the growing season when grown under study conditions.
The unwritten edit : gatekeeping images of diversity in higher education
Authors:   , O'Keefe Samuel Edward
Published: September 2024

The university photographer plays a key role in producing photographs to show and sell the image of diversity through an institution's marketing materials. This research aims to understand the role of university photographers and the institutional expectations for them to produce diverse photographs, as well as to explore perceived pressures the photographers may feel. Institutional expectations include depicting racial and gender diversity, showing students with a socially constructed preapproved appearance, and the understanding that photographs can be used in a variety of marketing materials without the photographer's approval. A semistructured interview process was used as the qualitative method for this research.
Relationship among body mass index, survival, and health-related quality of life among older patients with bladder cancer
Authors:   , Rajpurohit Mitesh
Published: September 2024

INTRODUCTION: The relationship between body composition and bladder cancer outcomes is complex. A higher Body Mass Index (BMI) seems to predispose to the development of bladder cancer, though the impact on survival is more convoluted. We sought to study this relationship in a cohort of older patients with bladder cancer and to examine the relationship between BMI and Health-related quality of life. METHODS: We included patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare Health Outcomes Survey database, 1998 to 2021, with a diagnosis of bladder cancer. We assessed demographic characteristics, BMI, overall survival, and the Physical Component Summary(PCS) and Mental Component Summary(MCS) of the Short Form 36 Health Survey. We used ANOVA for univariate analysis and generalized linear models for multivariate analyses. Log-rank test was used to compare survival curves. RESULTS: The analysis found that BMI was predictive of overall survival, with improved survival for those who were overweight, obese, or severely obese when compared to those in the healthy range or underweight. PCS and MCS were correlated with BMI, with overweight patients demonstrating the highest scores These relationships remained statistically significant in multivariable analysis that accounted for other variables. CONCLUSIONS: We that the quality of life was highest among patients who were overweight (BMI 25-30) with severely obese patients having the worst quality of life. Increased BMI appears to offer a survival advantage among older patients with bladder cancer, while moderately elevated BMI offers a quality of life advantage as well.
A systemic comparison comparison of concurrent multiparty secret sharing with SGD regression and classification
Authors:   , Schutzenhofer Ethan Wyatt
Published: September 2024

In recent years Secure Multiparty Computation (MPC) via Secret Sharing has emerged as a key intersection between the fields of cryptography and machine learning. MPC's ability to allow N-number of participants to hide their inputs while able to share their outputs has presented itself as a solution for creating machine learning models for datasets with sensitive information such as those used in healthcare. Prior to or without MPC creating these models required that the information in these datasets would have to be shared with all participants in cleartext which then could be stolen or misused by dishonest participants or even in transit between the parties. As the demand for answers from machine learning models grows so does the need for privacy and confidentiality for data in those models. But MPC does have some pitfalls with both an increase in the cost of computations of secret shares and the increase in the amount of data transferred between the participating parties. In the context of my research, I Introduce A Systemic Comparison of Concurrent Multiparty Secret Sharing with SGD Regression and Classification in which I create and run experiments that compares different methods of MPC and different machine learning algorithms. The results of the experiments provide valuable insights into the practical viability of secure multiparty computation for machine learning applications. By comparing the performance of different secure computation methods, this research contributes to the understanding of the trade-offs between security and efficiency.
A geochemical investigation into the genetic history of the lower Cambrian Flinders Unconformity and red crust
Authors:   , Wong Clara
Published: September 2024

The Flinders Unconformity (FU) represents a significant regional disconformity in the Early Cambrian carbonate successions of the Arrowie Basin of South Australia. However, the genetic history associated with the FU and conspicuous ferruginous microstromatolitic "red crust" that caps the disconformity surface has yet to be unraveled. Herein, we investigate the environmental conditions of both the FU and red crust's formation using a suite of geochemical proxies combined with targeted sampling of carbonate cements in tandem with microstratigraphic sections across the unconformity surface. Lithological samples were analyzed for stable isotopes [delta]^13C and [delta]^18O and rare earth elements and yttrium (REY). Results show both stratigraphic and lateral differences indicative of environmental shifts across the boundary. On average across all localities, [delta]^13C trends negatively across the FU with a slight shift towards 0[percent] above the red crust horizon. This is, however, dependent on lateral variations in lithology. Little to no change in [delta]18O is observed, regardless of the lithology. The normalized REY data reveal relatively flat curves, excluding notable positive Ce anomalies, which increase across the red crust horizon. With limited evidence for meteoric diagenesis from the stable isotope data and no conclusive evidence for normal seawater conditions, evidence of subaerial exposure in connection to the FU remains inconclusive. However, together, the Ce anomaly and low Y/Ho ratios across the FU suggest anoxic conditions just prior to and during the red crust formation.
Pouvoir discursif et voix subalternes : representations intersectionnelles du travail domestique feminin au cinema et a la television
Authors:   , Zemirline Maelle Romane
Published: September 2024

Cette etude examine la representation du travail des femmes dans les metiers domestiques et de l'aide a la personne, en mettant en lumiere les experiences des femmes racisees, telles qu'exprimees dans des oeuvres cinematographiques et televisuelles. En se concentrant sur trois oeuvres specifiques : le court-metrage La Noire de... (1966) d'Ousmane Sembene, le film Roma (2018) d'Alfonso Cuaron, et le documentaire Debout les femmes (2021) de Francois Ruffin et Gilles Perret, cette analyse vise a explorer les mecanismes d'oppression et de resistance a travers les prismes de la race, du genre et de la classe sociale. En s'appuyant sur la theorie du biopouvoir de Michel Foucault et en integrant des perspectives critiques non euro-centriques, notamment celles de Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak et Maria Lugones, cette etude cherche a elucider les discours persistants sous-jacents aux productions anticoloniales et/ou marxistes. A travers une approche comparative des oeuvres malgre leurs divergences culturelles, geographiques et temporelles, cette analyse examine la persistance des paradigmes coloniaux dans les representations contemporaines du travail des femmes.
Using the elaboration likelihood model to predict the effects of interactive data visualizations about STI testing
Authors:   , Frost Sarah Elaine
Published: September 2024

[EMBARGOED UNTIL 05/01/2025] Human trafficking is a clandestine topic whose ramifications for victims can be lifelong. Rather than take a "front end" approach to trafficking research by mapping the risk or occurrence of trafficking, this project analyzes the "back end" of trafficking by examining spatial patterns of resources that assist trafficked persons exit their trafficking situation. Ultimately, interest is in how Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can be used to depict and analyze such arrays of exit-assisting resources--introduced in this research as "exit landscapes"--with Missouri data explored as a case study. Common GIS techniques of spatial autocorrelation, hot spot analysis, and overlay analysis are used to identify clustering and distribution patterns as well as juxtapose resource data with social vulnerability data. Guided by feminist legal geographic theory, this research uses community geography methodology to leverage the expertise of anti-trafficking organizations in comparing existing resources to needed resources across Missouri. Findings suggest that while Missouri has an exit landscape, it is sparse in rural areas and in terms of specific needs such as LGBTQ+-friendly services, enhanced training among law enforcement, and reproductive health services. Geographic Information Systems is found to offer a useful but incomplete visualization of an exit landscape, that is perhaps more useful in identifying shortcomings than strengths of a given exit landscape.
Sustainable bacteria-based self-healing fiber reinforced concrete
Authors:   , Helal Zinab Abdalla
Published: September 2024

[EMBARGOED UNTIL 05/01/2025] Self-healing concrete presents an innovative and eco-friendly solution with the potential to reduce maintenance costs through self-activated crack repair. This study examined the effect of varying bacterial content across different environmental conditions. Additionally, the coupling effect between bacteria and steel fiber to enhance the mechanical and physical properties at different ages has been investigated. Bacillus Sphaericus (B. Sphaericus) was incorporated into the concrete at concentrations of 2 x 109 (CFU/ml), and different bacterial percentages selected utilizing calcium lactate as a nutrient source. Bacterial content of 0.0 percent, 0.25 percent, 1.0 percent, and 2.5 percent, cured in both fresh water and magnesium sulfate water solution, were tested to examine concrete behavior in harsh environments. Additionally, steel fibers at volume fraction percentages (Vf percent) of 1.0 percent and 1.5 percent, along with 1.0 percent bacterial content, were tested to highlight their combined effect. Tests were conducted at different ages to measure compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths. In addition, SEM and EDS analyses for cracked and uncracked specimens were performed. The results showed a significant increase in the long-term compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths at 180 days by 47 percent, 80 percent, and 50 percent, respectively, with a bacterial content of 2.5 percent. Moreover, the incorporation of steel fibers, 1.0 percent and 1.5 percent content, in the bacterial concrete resulted in a long-term compressive strength increase at 180 days by 45 percent and 55 percent, respectively with 1.0 percent bacterial content, compared to 15 percent and 27 percent for 0 percent bacteria. Curing in sulfate-rich water, concrete specimens exhibited increasing compressive strength at 180 days from 47 MPa for 0 percent bacteria to 77 MPa with 2.5 percent bacteria content. Despite lower initial strength of 29 MPa at 7 days, bacterial incorporation led to significant strength improvements, highlighting effective self-healing even in aggressive curing environments.
To prove her worth : constructing black girlhood in Kansas City, 1881-1941
Authors:   , Haney Bridget Deona
Published: September 2024

This dissertation explores the socio-educational experiences of Black high schoolaged girls in the Kansas City region. It begins with the opening of Lincoln High School, the first high school for Black students in Kansas City, Missouri, and ends with the passing of the Taylor Bill (HB 195) in 1941. This work examines the evolution of segregated schooling in Kansas City, tracing the establishment and growth in Kansas City secondary schools against the backdrop of progressive ideals and progress pedagogy. It also examines the evolution of Black girls as high school students and intellectuals. The narratives of Kansas high school students like Marian Nettie Freeman and the students of KCK High highlight the pervasive social, political, and economic impacts of segregation practices in early twentieth-century Kansas. The aim is to move from narratives that stigmatize Black girls as societal "problems." The work exposes the complexities of performing citizenship in marginalized communities by illuminating acts of resilience, agency, and embodiment within institutionalized settings. This dissertation explores Black girlhood through the lens of race, gender, age, and place in the greater Kansas City region. By considering high school yearbooks as a platform to imagine citizenship, this work contributes to a greater understanding of the socio-educational experiences of Black girls in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.