bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Customized Employment: Changing what it means to be qualified in	the workforce for transition-aged youth and young adults
Authors: Rogers Christopher , Lavin Don , Tran Tri , Gantenbein Tony , Sharpe Michael
Published: November 2024

Current school-to-career transition practices are not leading to sufficient levels of competitive employment and post-secondary education outcomes for youth and young adults with significant disabilities despite progressive mandates and policy improvements in federal and state secondary and post-secondary education, vocational rehabilitation, and workforce development services. To address this concern, a coalition in a Twin Cities suburban area established an "interagency community of practice" to explore systems change opportunities and to improve school-to-career outcomes. The Anoka County Transition & Customized Employment (TCE) Project was designed to inject an "employment-first" philosophy into transition practices by introducing a range of customized employment strategies. After a five-year project demonstration period, TCE had enrolled 475 young people with various disabilities from seven autonomous school districts. An independent evaluation of TCE's performance revealed that 62% of all enrolled students had individualized job placements in the workforce at competitive wages. In addition, competitive employment wage outcomes were attained by 72% of all enrolled "out-of-school" participants including high school graduates, youth completing their Individualized Education Program (IEP) academic objectives, and secondary education dropouts.
Social Capital and community membership
Authors: Zimmerman Rex A.
Published: November 2024

Social Capital is examined from the perspective of a large human services agency transitioning the last of its site-based facilities to community-based services. The article begins with an overview of the culture of the agency's remaining segregated workshops, outlines barriers to transition to community services and suggests the role social capital can play in overcoming these challenges. Social capital is discussed as a means to and a goal of future service delivery and emphasizes supported employment as a strategy to change community perception of disability.
Social Capital: Working towards a community that is open to	all
Authors: Curran Jamie
Published: November 2024

This article focuses on Community Living Mississauga (CLM) and the support provided to people in the Mississauga, Ontario community. The article provides an introduction to the organization, followed by an exploration of the agency's experience with the theory of Social Role Valorization and the accreditation process of the Council on Quality and Leadership Canada. The article looks at results of past quality reviews, highlighting strengths and discussing strategies to improve the quality of supports provided. At the center of quality improvement is a focus on building social capital for both the organization and the people it supports. This article examines strategies to do that, highlighting ways in which CLM educates its employees and works with people who have disabilities in the community. The article will conclude by describing CLM's social capital pilot project and ideas for future supports.
Vibration in buildings, requirements for permissible levels and evaluation criteria
Authors:   SI ", Semashko P.V. ,   O.M. Marzieiev Institute for Public Health of the NAMS of Ukraine", Dumansky V.Yu. ,   SI "O.M. Marzieiev Institute for Public Health of the NAMS of Ukraine", Bezverkha A.P. ,   SI "O.M. Marzieiev Institute for Public Health of the NAMS of Ukraine", Bitkin S.V. ,   SI "O.M. Marzieiev Institute for Public Health of the NAMS of Ukraine", Gotz A.V. ,   SI "O.M. Marzieiev Institute for Public Health of the NAMS of Ukraine"
Published: November 2024

Objective. The purpose of the study is to determine the current requirements for vibration regulation in buildings. Object and methods of the study. Standards: ISO 2631-1:1997; ISO 2631-2: 2003; DSTU ISO 2631-1:2004; DSTU ISO 2631-2: 2004; BS 6472-1:2008; ONORM S 9012:2010 (Austria); DIN 4150-2:1999 (Germany); UNI 9614:1990 (Italy); Japan: Vibration Control Law; SBR Richtli - Deel B 2002 (Netherlands); NS 8176:2005 (Norway); Real Decreto 1307/2007 (Spain); SS 4604861:1992 (Sweden); FRA (2005), FTA, 2006 (USA). Research results and discussion. The main parameters of vibration, thresholds of sensitivity and comfort, vibration evaluation criteria (VDV, eVDV), directions of action of general vibration, frequency weighting curves (Wb, Wd, Wm), the probability of complaints at different values of vibration acceleration, desirable and maximum weighted average values of vibration acceleration for continuous and impulsive vibration in buildings were analyzed. The current DSTUs on vibration in buildings in Ukraine are analyzed. It was found that these standards are outdated (old coordinate systems and old values of the coefficients of frequency weighting curves are used). It was found that there are no standards for permissible levels or values of vibration in buildings for humans in Ukraine. Conclusions. As a result of the analysis of the considered standards, it was found that the main parameters of vibration are: vibration displacement, vibration velocity; vibration acceleration. Vibration acceleration is most often used. Vibration perception thresholds are not consistent with existing standards, which use frequency weighting factors that do not sufficiently take into account human sensitivity. In different countries, limit value criteria are set above the perception thresholds. Some of them are derived from the threshold irritation level. Vibration criteria are based on maximum and average values. The former are more related to sleep disturbance, the latter are more related to irritation. Keywords. Vibration, standards, vibration criteria, vibration perception thresholds.
Risk-oriented monitoring of heavy metals in the environment of the industrial region
Authors:   European Medical University,, Antonova Olena , Glavatskaya Vladlena ,   State Medical University
Published: November 2024

Objective. The purpose of our research was to analyze the volumes of industrial atmospheric emissions and discharges from heavy metals (HM) water sources and determine their relationship with the actual concentrations of these compounds in air and drinking water in the industrial city of Dnipro. Materials and methods. It has been conducted an analysis of air pollution and water sources in the city of Dnipro according to the data of the regional state department of statistics, the regional department of water management, the laboratory of the regional center of hydrometeorology. Results. In recent years, in the volume of industrial emissions of HM into the atmospheric air of the city of Dnipro, priority is given to manganese and copper (47.76 and 39.84%, respectively). In addition, lead (68%), cadmium (100%), chromium (62%), copper (88%), nickel (15%) occupy a significant place in the total amount of emissions. Water effluents make a significant contribution to environmental pollution. The most significant contribution is made by iron and zinc (88.2 and 7.5%, respectively). This situation is due to the concentration in the city of a significant number of powerful enterprises, unaccounted for sources and vehicles. In life-sustaining environments, these HM are constantly determined. Their average concentrations mostly do not exceed the corresponding maximum permissible concentrations, but are 2.3-3.5 times higher than the background values. Continuous monitoring of the content of HM indicates a gradual increase of these substances in water by 1.5-32 times and a decrease in atmospheric air by 1.5-24 times due to the dispersion and sedimentation properties of these metals. The obtained data are the basis of the need to strengthen the control of state supervision bodies over the content of HM in the environment of such a powerful industrial city as Dnipro. Conclusions. It has been shown that industrial atmospheric emissions and wastewater from enterprises are powerful sources of HM pollution of the atmospheric air and water basin of the city of Dnipro and the Dnipro river. Their concentrations significantly exceed the background values, which is a significant risk factor for negative impact on the ecosystem and public health. Research results confirm the complex nature of metal migration and point to the need for further monitoring of HM in the environment for the development of scientifically based methods of reducing the content of HM in the external environment to regulatory levels, reviewing their effects on the human body taking into account the combined effect with other factors, establishing new regional regulations. Keywords. Heavy metals, emissions, environment, health risk.
Graduate education as an element of continuous professional development
Authors:   SI «O.M. Marzіeiev Institute for Public Health of the NAMS of Ukraine», Polka N.S. , Turos O.I. ,   SI «O.M. Marzіeiev Institute for Public Health of the NAMS of Ukraine», Koblianska A.V. ,   SI «O.M. Marzіeiev Institute for Public Health of the NAMS of Ukraine»
Published: November 2024

The purpose of the work is to analyze the results of the implementation of the training of doctors at the third educational level in the SI «O.M. Marzіeiev Institute for Public Health of the NAMS of Ukraine» as an element of continuous professional development. Material and methods. Bibliosemantic method, system analysis, analysis of own experience. The results. The issue of continuous professional development exists throughout the world. It requires, above all, finding ways to recognize better high-quality and innovative teaching, which is one of the areas of promoting high-quality education. Professional training and competence of health care personnel, effective assessment of productivity, and quality of continuous medical education are especially important in the health care system of Ukraine to achieve the goals of sustainable development defined by the World Health Organization in order to better respond to people's needs in the field health care, taking into account the special needs of the country. Conclusion. An analysis of the possibility of third-level higher education students at the SI «O.M. Marzіeiev Institute for Public Health of the NAMS of Ukraine» to be involved in the process of continuous professional development was carried out, and the effectiveness and prospects of such activities were evaluated. Features and possibilities of attracting graduate students to participate in scientific forums at both the state and international level, the possibility of publications, internships, etc. are determined. The conducted analysis shows the quality and wide range of opportunities for third-level graduates, which allows us to consider postgraduate studies as an important element of continuous professional development, and this, in turn, enables postgraduate students to be competitive and necessary in the labor market of Ukraine. Keywords. Continuous professional development, postgraduate studies, knowledge base, medicine, hygiene and occupational pathology.
From conflict to cooperation : settlements, alliances, and lasting peace
Authors:   , Acosta William
Published: November 2024

This dissertation examines how conflict settlements influence alliance formation and the duration of post-conflict peace. The research addresses gaps in existing literature by focusing on how the nature of conflict resolution--whether imposed or negotiated--affects the formation and stability of alliances. Existing theories often overlook the importance of settlement types in alliance behavior. This study uses data from the Militarized Interstate Dispute (MID) dataset, the Correlates of War (COW) dataset, and the Alliance Treaty Obligations and Provisions (ATOP) dataset, employing Cox proportional hazard models and multinomial logit models to test hypotheses about settlement types and alliances. My findings reveal that imposed settlements tend to lead to more stable alliances. Negotiated settlements carry risks of dissatisfaction and future conflict, but when former enemies form an alliance, negotiated settlements do a better job of preventing recurrent conflict. By integrating deterrence theory and conflict settlement literature, this research provides new insights into post-conflict alliances and offers policy recommendations for designing effective post-conflict strategies. I highlight the importance of carefully crafted post-conflict alliances in maintaining international security and preventing the recurrence of conflict.
Fusing partitions of diverse hand-crafted features derived from unsupervised intermediaries for robust and interpretable object co-associations
Authors:   , Bajkowski Trevor
Published: November 2024

Data association in digital imagery is a complex task in any setting, but remote sensing provides a uniquely challenging context. Indeed, rapidly changing viewpoints, varying sensor modalities, and atmospheric distortions introduce many obstacles to creating reliable methods for processing remotely sensed imagery (RSI). While ultimately concerned with object tracking in RSI, this work first explores general methods for extracting and ensembling features in multi-modal contexts. A central contribution here involves an explainable, confidence-based algorithm for leveraging ensembles of weak feature associators to perform multi-feature data association. This approach gives humans the ability to understand the decisions of and further fine-tune the association algorithm that underpins downstream tasks (e.g., object tracking, image retrieval, or cohort discovery). Highly parallelizable and modular by design, new features can be introduced, removed, suppressed, or prioritized without drastic impacts on association computation time. Additionally, the proposed recursive lifetime search provides a new approach to extracting a final partition from the dendrogram created through agglomerative clustering.
Peacemaking referendums in the Global South : assessing analytic narratives on the strategic inclusion of citizens to end intrastate conflicts in South Africa and Colombia
Authors:   , Bonilla Jhon Kelly
Published: November 2024

The use of peacemaking referendums in the Global South presents a conflicted dynamic. While these direct democracy mechanisms offer a path to legitimizing peace negotiations, they can also be a double-edged sword. They may exacerbate historical grievances and fuel political polarization, thereby affecting the consolidation of peace processes in intrastate conflicts. To comprehensively grasp the advantages and pitfalls of calling upon the popular will as a tactical tool to alter the institutional trajectory of conflicted democracies, this inquiry explores the strategic narrative of using peacemaking referendums as indicators of critical junctures, focusing on their potential to achieve several outcomes in peace negotiations. Through a mixed-methods approach, this study analyzes how the strategic inclusion of citizens as decisive veto players was designed in the 1992 South African Referendum and the 2016 Colombian peace plebiscite. By shedding light on the complexities and intricacies of these cases in the Global South, I argue that executive leaders strategically used peacemaking referendums to disrupt the path dependence shaped by civil wars on their terms. However, the success of this inclusion varies with institutional and contextual factors that affect the consolidation of the new status quo in war-torn nations.
Revealing the neural circuitry underlying the permissive role of orexin on peripheral chemoreflex function
Authors:   , Ben Musa Ruwaida Ibrahim
Published: November 2024

Previous studies have shown that orexin neurons in the hypothalamus facilitate the hypercapnic ventilatory response, particularly during wakefulness when orexin neurons are most active. However, the acute effects of orexin on breathing and its role in cardiorespiratory responses to acute hypoxia have been inadequately explored. This study aimed to clarify orexin's involvement in peripheral chemoreflex (PCR)-mediated cardiorespiratory responses to hypoxia across active (i.e., wakefulness) and inactive (i.e., sleep) phases of the circadian cycle. We explored how orexin neurons regulate baseline cardiorespiratory function and modulate reflexive respiratory adjustment during acute hypoxia. Additionally, we investigated whether orexin neurons have the same influence on the peripheral chemoreflex in females across stages of the estrous cycle and identified the central neural pathways through which orexin neurons act to facilitate the peripheral chemoreflex. My findings revealed that orexin facilitates the peripheral chemoreflex, especially during the active phase. In females, orexin neurons have a greater influence on the peripheral chemoreflex during diestrus, when estrogens are low. Hypoxia increases the proportion of activated PVN-projecting orexin neurons, and orexin facilitates the hypoxiainduced activation of nTS-projecting CRH neurons, likely via Ox1R. I also provided evidence that the CRH-nTS pathway is necessary for the full expression of the peripheral chemoreflex, but that orexin also contributes to the peripheral chemoreflex through additional pathway(s). In conclusion, orexin neurons contribute to the peripheral chemoreflex, likely via nTS-projecting CRH neurons but also at other, yet-to-be-identified sites. Orexin neurons are important for the adaptive cardiorespiratory responses to hypoxia and could be involved in the development of cardiovascular dysfunction associated with an augmented peripheral chemoreflex, including hypertension and downstream comorbidities.
Parental choice : how ecological systems theory can help explain the educational setting of K-12 students in Missouri
Authors:   , Bennett Kendall Brooke
Published: November 2024

In a time of proliferated school choice, how do families choose a K-12 setting for their child(ren) in the state of Missouri? For many families the decision may be easy, but for others, they had to experience one educational setting before choosing another to know what they value and prioritize in their child(ren)'s education. This qualitative study sought to understand what factors influence a family when choosing a K-12 educational setting. Study participants included eight individuals, who were predominately mothers in middle to high income families that came from both rural and urban Missouri settings. These findings indicate that families are influenced by the needs of their child(ren), the cost of education, and the alignment of the educational setting to the values and beliefs prioritized by the family. The significance of these findings demonstrate that the choice of a K-12 educational setting is most closely influenced by the needs of the child(ren) and coupled with values and beliefs held by the family. More research and efforts are needed to create solutions regarding communication and information deserts about school choice and how to participate in choice. Future research is needed to investigate how families meet the needs of their child(ren) when there is a lack of financial resources to participate in choice, where there is a lack of choice geographically available or choice is nonexistent, and when families cannot participate in a K-12 educational setting that aligns with their values and beliefs.
Teacher actions that promote mathematical discourse
Authors:   , Castillo Catherine Elizabeth
Published: November 2024

This study considered teachers' actions that promoted a discourse rich environment when implementing the problem-based curriculum, Illustrative Mathematics. A case study was used to capture the experiences of seven instructional coaches who work with teachers in supporting mathematics instruction. The study found that teachers' actions during planning, implementation, and after the lesson contributed to creating a climate that fostered mathematical discourse. Findings of this study focused on the key actions that teachers take in building a community of safety and belonging to shift mathematical power from teacher to student. Possible implications, limitations, and future research directions are also included. Implications for practice include guidance for teachers to help establish a community of safety and belonging, concrete actions that teachers can take to build a discourse rich classroom, examples of teacher actions that might create early wins, and connecting achievement data to a change in instructional practices. Implications for research include determining how to best support teachers in developing the attributes presented in the findings, studying teacher readiness to implement problem-based instruction based on preservice teaching experiences, and the impact of these teacher actions on student math identity.
Protein structure quality assessment by deep learning
Authors:   , Chen Xiao
Published: November 2024

Proteins, considered fundamental building blocks of life, play an important role across various scientific domains, including novel protein design, protein structure prediction, and new drug discovery. Each of these fields necessitates the detailed analysis of a large number of protein structures. Traditionally, the determination of protein structures through biological and physical methods has been prohibitively expensive. Consequently, computational methods for predicting protein structures have gained significant traction. Such methods often generate multiple structural approximations, or decoys, which are then evaluated using protein quality assessment (QA) techniques to identify the most promising candidates for further research. This evaluation process, also known as estimation of model accuracy (EMA), is crucial for advancing our understanding of protein. The task of protein structure QA can be viewed as mapping a protein's structure to its evaluative score, a process increasingly addressed through deep learning technologies. These technologies, recognized for their powerful pattern learning capabilities, are at the forefront of tackling significant research challenges within this domain. This dissertation describes five major contributions to the field. Firstly, DeepRank2, a multimodel method, utilizes a 1D multi-layer perceptron to predict the GDT-TS score of tertiary protein structures. Secondly, the performance of DeepRank2 and its variants was assessed in the CASP14 category for model accuracy estimation. Thirdly, DISTEMA employs an attentive 2D convolutional neural network (CNN) that relies solely on distance-based features to predict the GDT-TS score of tertiary structures. Fourthly, DProQA introduces an innovative gated-graph transformer approach for evaluating protein quaternary structures. Lastly, this work includes a comprehensive survey on deep learning-based methods for quaternary protein structure QA, covering relevant datasets, evaluation metrics, protein representations, and advancements in deep learning techniques over the past five years. Both DISTEMA and DProQA have been released as open-source software and are available to the scientific community.
Special education teachers' perspectives on teacher evaluation systems and instruction impact
Authors:   , Clark Bethany Rae
Published: November 2024

This dissertation utilized a qualitative approach to investigate teacher evaluation systems and instructional practices from the perspectives of special education teachers. The study utilized special education teacher surveys and interviews to analyze perspectives on teacher evaluation systems and how they affect instruction practices to answer the research questions, "What are special education teachers' perspectives on teacher evaluations" and "How do special education teacher evaluations impact instructional practices to benefit students with disabilities?" The analysis of data from surveys and interviews uncovered several themes, including "Teachers Perceive Evaluations in a Multitude of Ways," "Evaluators Lack a Comprehensive Understanding of Instructional Practice in Special Education," and "The Evaluation Process Does Not Meet the Instructional Needs of Special Education Teachers." These finding shed light on the complexities of the teacher evaluation process and offer valuable implications for policy-makers and educators aiming to enhance instructional practices and ultimately benefit students with disabilities.
Causation and common liability in the progression of the United States opioid crisis
Authors:   , Dash Genevieve Fullerton
Published: November 2024

Nonmedical use of prescription opioids (NUPO) is widely believed to be a causal influence on heroin initiation. This dissertation aimed to explore the NUPO-heroin relationship by examining heroin use outcomes among subtypes of NUPO initiates; estimating the degree of common genetic liability across NUPO and heroin use; and examining specificity in etiologic influences on NUPO, heroin use, and other drug use. Longitudinal panel data were used to identify NUPO typologies via mixture modeling and predict subsequent heroin initiation. Genomic data were used to estimate genetic correlations between NUPO, heroin use, and other illicit drug use. Twin data were used to test a multivariate model that incorporated NUPO, heroin use, and other nonmedical prescription drug and illicit drug use. NUPO only increased odds of later heroin initiation in the context of nonoral administration and motives other than pain relief. Common liability for drug use was unidimensional and accounted for most of the variance in heroin use. Genetic variance in heroin use was fully attributable to liability shared across drug types. NUPO displayed some drug-specific genetic influence. Common liability for drug use (e.g., genetic predisposition, availability, opportunity for use) may explain most of the NUPO-heroin association. Understanding of the common and unique behavioral and genetic mechanisms underlying risk for NUPO versus heroin use can help to better identify factors contributing to the opioid crisis and inform multipronged public health approaches to mitigating the impact of opioids at the population level.
Parent involvement in medical play
Authors:   , Dier Shannon Elizabeth
Published: November 2024

Medical play with healthcare toys or medical equipment is a strategy to reduce children's stress and anxiety related to healthcare encounters. Though typically implemented in the context of hospitalization or professional interventions, parents and caregivers may be able to facilitate opportunities for medical play at home, which could potentially improve children's experiences with primary medical care. However, little is known about how parents may engage in medical play with their children. The present mixed-methods study aimed to describe parent involvement in medical play and explore potential differences by children's medical stress. Video-recordings of parent-child play sessions (N=42) were coded for the occurrence of medical play, type of medical play, parent approach, and parent verbalizations during play. Results found that parents and children frequently engaged in medical play when provided the opportunity, most commonly role reversal and familiarization. Qualitative analysis identified five parent approaches (play follower, play collaborator, play guide, play director, playful instructor) that differed in the extent to which parents provided direction, participated in co-play alongside the child, and focused on a learning goal. Principal components analysis of parent verbalizations suggested nondirective, guided, and directive patterns of verbalization. No differences in medical play or parent involvement were observed based on parent-report of children's significant past medical experiences or medical fears. Implications for future research and interventions related to parent involvement in medical play are discussed.
We all worked in food service once : a phenomenological study of the student perceptions of food service employment and its influence on critical thinking development
Authors:   , Dunn Kyla Ann
Published: November 2024

This qualitative research study explores how recent graduates perceive the influence their on-campus food service job had on their critical thinking development. This study sought to answer two research questions. The first research question - what factors were associated with students choosing to work in food service for multiple years? - focused on finding out why the graduates continued to work in their food service position for multiple years during college. All the participants were not planning to have a career in the food service industry, so this question investigated why they stayed rather than finding employment more related to their future career field. The second question asked - how do recent (1-5 years) graduates perceive their past on-campus employment contributed to their development of critical thinking? Six recently graduated students were each interviewed two times. The students interviewed were able to articulate examples of where their food service positions helped them develop and demonstrate critical thinking skills. While the levels of development varied among participants, there was a perceived benefit to working in food service while in college.
The capacity of tuples of point clouds and generalized radial isotropy
Authors:   , Duran Edward O
Published: November 2024

In this thesis, we provide both a qualitative and quantitative study of the capacity of tuples of point clouds through the notion of generalized radial isotropy. This is in part motivated by the celebrated Brascamp-Lieb ("BL") constants, and more generally, the Anantharam-Jog-Nair ("AJN") constants that are associated with a tuple of point clouds. Let m, n, and d1, . . . , dn be positive integers and let X = (X^1, . . . X^n) be an n-tuple of point clouds, with each X^i [subset] Rdi being a point cloud of m vectors in R^di. This tuple of point clouds can be encoded in a representation Vx of the complete bipartite quiver with n source vertices and m sink vertices. Let c = (c1, . . . , cm) [element] Qm [greater than] 0 be a vector of positive rational exponents that sum to the total of the dimensions di. The main object of study in this thesis is the capacity, denoted by Cap(X, c), of the quiver datum (Vx, c). When n = 1, the constants of the form Cap(X, c)^-12 are precisely the best constants that occur in the classical BL inequalities associated with single point cloud of m vectors. For arbitrary n, taking the natural logarithm of Cap(X, c)^-12 yields the best constants in the AJN inequalities in Information Theory (in the rank one case). Our first result gives necessary and sufficient conditions for a tuple of point clouds X to be put in generalized c-radial isotropic position. This result, combined with a general character formula for the capacity, allows us to obtain closed formulas for the capacity in several examples. We also describe the capacity Cap(X, c) in a way that enables us to use gradient descent to compute approximations of the capacity. The results in this thesis generalize the work of Barthe and Hardt-Moitra on radial isotropy from a single point cloud (the case of classical BL constants) to tuples of point clouds (the case of AJN constants).
The oviduct, sperm, and eggs : a multiomics AI integrated in vivo characterization during pregnancy
Authors:   , Finnerty Ryan
Published: November 2024

The oviduct comprises 4 main regions: infundibulum (oocyte pick-up), ampulla (fertilization), isthmus (sperm capacitation and reservoir, preimplantation embryonic development), and uterotubal junction (sperm and embryo transport). Reciprocal embryo-oviduct interactions stem largely from investigating oviductal transport of fertilized/unfertilized embryos/oocytes in livestock and rodents. It has been suggested in mares that fertilized embryos produce prostaglandin E2 that facilitates transport of embryos to the uterus, whereas non-fertilized embryos remain in the oviduct. In pigs and cattle, pro-inflammatory responses in the oviduct are down regulated by the presence of embryos, suggesting that the embryo may facilitate maternal-embryo tolerance. In humans, embryo-derived platelet-activating factor has been implicated in the control of embryo transport to the uterus. After filtering by the uterus, sperm entering the oviduct are bound by epithelial cells until they undergo capacitation and hyperactivation. These studies indicate that gametes have the capacity to directly impact the behavior of oviductal maternal tissues. Based on this premise, the purpose of this dissertation includes brief summaries of topics including: 1) a comprehensive review of all cell types in the oviduct, 2) hormonal governance of the oviduct by estrogen and progesterone and their respective exerted effects on oviductal cells and gametes, 3) mechanistic breakdowns of macro-scale observable phenomenon, 4) clinical relevance. With respect to our study, we performed the largest multi-omics in vivo characterization of oviductal tissues in the mouse model to date and are exploring the transcriptomic/proteomic landscape of the oviduct at 4 different timepoints for natural pregnancy, pseudopregnancy, and superovulation. In addition, we functionally evaluated the role of serine proteases, kallikreins, in female reproductive function. Our findings reveal unique transcriptomic/proteomic profiles of different oviductal regions that may be specialized to influence sperm migration, fertilization, embryo transport and development.
Topics in combinatorial phase retrieval
Authors:   , Gonzalez Ivan Eduardo
Published: November 2024

In this dissertation, we study and prove results concerning the finite alphabet phase retrieval problem, and the problem of sampling real frames that preserves the phase retrieval property. The finite alphabet phase retrieval problem considers the following: under what conditions can one recover a signal whose entries lie in a small alphabet of possible values from its Fourier magnitudes. We extend the definition of homometric sets to homometric partitions of sets and prove that for generic values of the alphabet, two signals have the same Fourier magnitude if and only if their support partitions are homometric. The real frame sampling phase retrieval problem studies when a subset of a phaseretrievable real frame is phase retrievable. We call a frame for which no subset is phase-retrievable a vital frame. We construct a family of real vital frames of size 2M in dimension M and show that in dimension 3, there are no real vital frames of size 7.
The construction of teacher expertise : how discourses and practices constitute what it means to be an expert teacher
Authors:   , Good Madeline
Published: November 2024

Most educational research frames teacher expertise as a list of value-neutral qualities and characteristics that differentiate "expert" teachers from their "non-expert" counterparts. Yet, critical and poststructural scholars argue that expertise is, in fact, a politically and socially constructed concept, bounded by time and place (Gerrard & Holloway, 2023). To better understand the value-laden ways in which conceptualizations of expertise are constructed, this poststructural study explored how one team of rural public school kindergarten teachers (1) developed conceptualizations of teacher expertise and (2) engaged with the localized processes of expertization within their school. Through the application of Sondergaard's (2002) inclusive/exclusive discursive practices and Englund & Gerdin's (2019) performative technologies, findings of this study suggest that national, state, and local political and sociological dynamics engage with teachers' understandings of expertise. These include discussions around classroom practices, teacher personality traits, and teacher identities. To add, the technologies of teacher evaluation and employee favoritism emerged as the most prominent processes that influenced local understandings of expertise. These findings not only illuminate how teacher expertise was constructed in one situated context, but also open pathways for future practice and inquiry regarding how educators and scholars can better understand what it means to be an expert teacher today.
Exploring the common factors that contribute to an effective coaching engagement : a thematic analysis
Authors:   , Graham Zachary W.
Published: November 2024

The world of professional executive coaching is growing and being utilized by organizations around the world. Industries of all types, sizes, and functions are turning to executive coaching to enhance their employee's performance, retention, and well-being. The field of coaching relies heavily on psychology and human behavior research and approaches yet is largely unregulated with a variety of approaches and styles being implemented from coaches with varying levels of education and training. The practice of coaching and psychotherapy are remarkedly similar in their use of foundational skills and are often conducted by highly trained and licensed psychologists. In the same way that psychotherapy research has identified and presented a common factor model, this study seeks to identify and better understand the common factors that contribute to effective coaching, particularly when facilitated by those trained formally in psychology. The research presented is the result of 15 semi-structured qualitative interviews with experienced clinicians who all hold professional licenses in psychology. Findings identified five salient themes that contribute to effective coaching: 1) The Relationship, 2) Trust, 3) Goals, 4) Context/Environment, and 5) Theory/Model. These findings illustrate the importance of psychological research and training when conducting effective executive coaching.
The relationship between tuition dependence and student retention for private colleges and universities
Authors:   , Gross Amanda Roehn
Published: November 2024

This study explored the relationship between tuition dependence and an institution's ability to retain students by examining the correlation between percentage reliance on tuition dollars for operational expenses and student retention. This study investigated the research question: For small private low-endowed institutions, is student retention correlated with tuition dependence? The literature reveals that tuition dependence is pervasive throughout private higher education institutions, and a need to diversify to adjust to the external stressors being placed on higher education. This study hypothesized that a higher reliance on tuition dollars for operating expenses would have a negative impact on student retention. The quantitative study used correlation regression analyses to test the hypothesis. This study found no significant relationship between tuition dependence and student retention. Recommendations for future research include exploring the two statistically significant correlations with student retention -- white student enrollment and low-income percentage -- as they relate to retention efforts in the evolving landscape of college enrollment.
Central office practices and organizational learning : a case study
Authors:   , Hile Allyson Marie
Published: November 2024

Urban school districts are often tasked with turning around poor school performance. Research, however, tends to focus on the school's role in reform and sustaining change, rather than the role of the school district, particularly the central office. This study of a mid-sized Midwestern urban K-12 school district attempts to address the gap in the literature regarding the role of the central office in district reform through a lens of organizational learning. Organizational learning theory addresses the social and technical components of learning that are required for an organization to effectively adapt and sustain change. Using interviews and focus groups with central office administrators and principals as well as observations of three system-wide meetings, this study attempted to understand the systems and central office practices that contributed to organizational learning and therefore the district's capacity to sustain change and reform. Findings indicated that organizational learning was hampered by a lack of accountability, disconnect between schools and central office, lack of learning practices and organizational culture. These findings indicate the need for and support previous research on the importance of social networks as well as internal systems and procedures to support organizational learning, while also identifying promising practices.
Nonmedical prescription opioids use : a comparative study of Black and White Midwestern college students
Authors:   , Kehinde Omoshola Benardinah
Published: November 2024

Although national-level racial disparities in nonmedical prescription opioid (NMPO) use are well-established, local-level comparisons between Black and White college students remain scarce. This study investigates racial disparities in intentions to use NMPO and explores theory-based individual and socio-contextual factors associated with these intentions. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among full-time students at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Demographics, theory-based factors, and NMPO use intentions were assessed from 498 students (86 percent White, 14 percent Black). Statistical analyses included chi-square tests, Welch's t-tests, and hierarchical multiple linear regressions using the R program. Black students demonstrated significantly higher NMPO intentions compared to Whites (p [less than] 0.05), with greater perceived susceptibility to opioid use. Hierarchical regression revealed individual factors (attitudes towards NMPO use, depressive symptoms, opioid and substance use history) as stronger predictors of NMPO intentions than socio-contextual factors. Race moderated the effect of attitudes on NMPO intentions, with a stronger association observed among Blacks. Addressing racial disparities in NMPO intentions among college students is crucial. Culturally tailored interventions targeting individual and socio-contextual factors, especially attitudes towards NMPO use, are essential for reducing intentions to use NMPO, particularly among Black students.
The impact of physical activity on palatability-driven feeding : exploring sex differences and opioid mechanisms in the nucleus accumbens
Authors:   , Kocum Courtney Gann
Published: November 2024

Obesity and sedentary lifestyles pose significant public health challenges, particularly in developed countries like the United States. This dissertation investigates the sex-dependent effects of physical activity on palatability-driven feeding behaviors and the underlying neurobiological mechanisms, specifically focusing on the role of the nucleus accumbens (Acb). Using a preclinical model with male and female rats, the research explores the impact of voluntary wheel running (RUN) versus sedentary locked wheel (SED) conditions on the consumption of a high-fat diet and standard chow. This dissertation employed a within-subject reversal design (RUN [greater than] SED [greater than] RUN) to assess the temporal sensitivity of these interactions. Key findings demonstrate that RUN and SED conditions influence high fat diet consumption in opposite directions for males and females, with males decreasing and females increasing their high fat intake during RUN condition when compared to the in SED condition. Also, sex-dependent changes in opioid- and dopamine-related gene expression in the Acb were observed to parallel behavioral effects, suggesting a neurobiological basis for the interaction. This dissertation also examines the influence of RUN versus SED conditions on intra-accumbens DAMGO-mediated feeding, revealing that physical activity heightens sensitivity to opioid-driven consumption of high fat in males. The research highlights the complex interplay between physical activity, feeding behavior, and reward-related neurobiological processes, underscoring the need for further investigation into sex differences and the potential for physical activity as an intervention for maladaptive feeding behaviors. By advancing our understanding of these interactions, this work contributes to the development of targeted strategies to address obesity and its associated health risks.
Foreign policy issue ownership, interstate conflict, and U.S. vote intention
Authors:   , Kopp Heather Michelle
Published: November 2024

The literature on issue ownership shows that voters use ownership opinions when evaluating parties on salient issues. The audience costs literature shows that interstate conflict can significantly affect voter behavior. Due to these topics being studied in isolation from one another, it is unclear how foreign policy issue ownership interacts with interstate conflict to affect voter behavior. Using a formal model explaining voters' utility for the incumbent party, I theorize that the effect of foreign policy issue ownership will be larger in the presence of certain voter-level, party-level, and system-level traits. To examine the relationship between foreign policy and conflict on voting behavior, I first explore 1939-2020 U.S. public opinion data using numerous U.S. surveys and data from the Most Important Problem Dataset (MIPD). I find that more voters think foreign policy is salient around periods of time when the U.S. is involved in conflict. Examining trends in ownership, I find that foreign policy issue ownership changes hands between the Democratic and Republican Party over time. To test the formal model, I then use individual-level data from numerous U.S. surveys ranging from 1948 to 2016. To varying degrees of support, logistic regression results show that voters' utility for the incumbent party is higher when the incumbent party owns foreign policy and when respondents are conservative and Republican, when respondents think foreign policy is the MIP, when incumbent parties are Republican and hawkish, and when interstate conflict is severe, fatal, and fought over regime change. These findings support hypotheses regarding when foreign policy and foreign policy issue ownership is salient to voters. Thus, this dissertation contributes to our understanding of when voters use foreign policy ownership perceptions to evaluate incumbent parties and how the effect of these perceptions vary across types of voters, parties, and interstate conflicts.