bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reaching digital native music majors : pedagogy for undergraduate group piano in the 21st century
Authors:   , Hahn Rachel Danielle
Published: April 2021

This dissertation comprises three projects that were designed to contribute to our understanding of today's digital native music majors and their needs within the group piano curriculum. The first investigation is a review of literature pertaining to collegiate group piano, describing existing research and recommending aspects still needing to be studied. The second investigation used phenomenological qualitative methods to investigate the adaptation processes of group piano students as they adjust to the new demands of collegiate music study. Data from participants (N = 6) indicated that despite individual differences, common themes of Preparedness, Motivation, Priorities and Expectations, Support Systems, and Accomplishment/Empowerment were characteristic of the group piano experience for these first-semester students. The third investigation is an experimental study. I sought to determine how the use of technological tools with varied capabilities of providing aural modeling and tempo control features affected collegiate group piano students' achievement. Group piano music majors (N = 43) were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups (control, metronome, YouTube, or Tempo SlowMo). No significant achievement differences were found among the technology groups. Results from these three projects indicated that (a) there is a need for further research in group piano contexts, (b) group piano is a valuable part of the music core curriculum because courses are conducive to 21st-century skill development and (c) individual differences are importantv considerations when assisting students with adaptation processes and technology selection in group piano. These findings may transfer to other core music classes, student experiences, and practice routines.
Interventions to support retention and resiliency of homeless students in higher education
Authors:   , Karlin Angela Lynn
Published: April 2021

Homelessness and housing insecurity is prevalent on college campuses and influences the ability for a student to persist in their degree program (Hallett 2010; Hallett and Crutchfield, 2017). Students struggling with basic needs have lower integration into the academic and social fabric of the institution (Gupton, 2017; Hallett, 2010). Persistence to degree not only helps break the cycles of homelessness and poverty, but also promotes social justice and resiliency. The data collection and analysis sought to answer four research questions. Using both qualitative and quantitative data, framed by the theoretical frameworks of resiliency and social justice theories was this inquiry. The research was conducted at the campus of a regional, public institution within 40 minutes of a major metropolitan area. Interviews of three key administrators and a focus group of academic advisors and survey data of 50 aid administrators at large, public institutions provided the method of data collection to assess the barriers and interventions, if any, for students encountering homelessness while in college. The data analysis found three recurring themes: Education regarding homelessness, resource development and the elimination of barriers. Research from this study underscored the need for interventions to be developed to assist the student to support retention. Additionally, the development of interventions allows faculty and staff to advocate for students while assisting the university in meeting enrollment and graduation goals.
Perspectives on inclusion in the general education classroom
Authors:   , Kesler Kimberly
Published: April 2021

The focus of this case study involves inclusion of students with disabilities in the general education classroom. The emphasis is on 7th-12th grade general education teachers and administrators' perspectives regarding inclusion. Laws, such as Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Every Student Succeeds Act, ensure all students receive an appropriate education. Inclusion would provide instruction for students with disabilities in the general education environment to the maximum extent possible. This appropriate education must be received in the least restrictive environment. Students with disabilities should receive appropriate accommodations and modifications in the general education classroom in order to be successful. The IEP team, which consists of general education teachers, special education teachers, administrators and parents, determine the appropriate placement for individual students.This case study is centered around Social Justice Theory. Under Social Justice Theory all students have equal access to instruction and resources in the learning environment. Students are supported and held to high expectations. Leaders should create a learning environment in which all students can be successful.This case study focuses on teachers and administrators of grades 7th to 12th. The researcher chose these grade levels because there seems to be difficulty implementing accommodations and modifications for students with disabilities in these grades in the school district under study. This difficulty could be due to the short amount of time teachers have students. Each class period is 50 minutes long. Students begin receiving credits for graduation in the 9th grade. How assignments are modified may affect the content learn by students. The amount of time students with disabilities take to learn content and the actual content they are learning may be why general education teachers struggle with inclusion of students with disabilities in the classroom.The elementary principal was included in this case study because this position is part of the district administration team. The district administration team is the decision-making body for the school district. The researcher included the elementary principal for this reason.
What is the meaning of livestock production for long-standing 4-H members? : a hermeneutic phenomenological study
Authors:   , Mott Rebecca Louise
Published: April 2021

Raising livestock for food production is a unique cultural phenomenon. It has been well documented that showing livestock as part of 4-H (a positive youth development program operating in 50 nations around the world) contributes to practical skills, knowledge, and life skills. While it is common to view livestock production through skills-based or economic lenses, there are subtle nuances of the phenomenon, the social, cultural, and emotional aspects that are harder to capture. The purpose of this study was to generate an interpretation of the meaning of livestock production for long-standing 4-H livestock project members, as well as to uncover how these project experiences manifest in other aspects of members' lives. This project answers the question, "What does it mean to be a livestock producer?" Based on the assumption that understanding is rooted in lived experience, a Heideggerian Hermeneutic approach was used to examine transcripts of in-depth audio recorded interviews with 4-H members who are high school juniors or seniors and have been enrolled in livestock projects throughout their entire 4-H careers. In an additional photo elicitation activity, participants' reflections on livestock photographs from their childhood were examined. Two overarching patterns, paradoxical in nature, were uncovered: a) Livestock Production as a Culture of Care and Connection; and b) Livestock Production as a Culture of Loss and Misunderstanding. Patterns illuminated in this research will help inform and enhance both formal and non-formal educational experiences surrounding youth livestock production. This study will also add to agriculture industry's understanding of how youth experience growing up in livestock production. Finally, this study provides insight into the importance of continuing to explore the ways livestock producers engage with consumers about agriculture.
The vanishing of the chow cohomology ring for affine toric varieties and additional results
Authors:   , Richey Ryan Matthew
Published: April 2021

From the recent work of Edidin and Satriano, given a good moduli space morphism between a smooth Artin stack and its good moduli space X, they prove that the Chow cohomology ring of X embeds into the Chow ring of the stack. In the context of toric varieties, this implies that the Chow cohomology ring of any toric variety embeds into the Chow ring of its canonical toric stack. Furthermore, the authors give a conjectural description of the image of this embedding in terms of strong cycles. One consequence of their conjectural description, and an additional conjecture, is that the Chow cohomology ring of any affine toric variety ought to vanish. We prove this result without any assumption on smoothness. Afterwards, we present a series of results related to their conjectural description, and finally, we provide a conjectural toric description of the image of this embedding for complete toric varieties by utilizing Minkowski weights.
Perceptions of campus climate : rural LGBTQ+ student experiences at a rural midwest university
Authors:   , Strickland Ashley Rebecca
Published: April 2021

Rural lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ+) high school students face harassment, lack connection to their schools, and have low college aspirations (Palmer, Kosciw, and Bartkiewicz, 2012). Studies focused on LGBTQ+ students in college do not address the needs of rural students, often painting a wide brush of campus experiences for all LGBTQ+ students. This study focused on LGBTQ+ college students from rural areas studying at a rural Midwestern university. The study included nine interviews, a document analysis, and a literature review exploring the experiences of rural LGBTQ+ students and campus climate at Midwest University. This qualitative study addressed the gap in literature concerning perceptions of campus climate for rural LGBTQ+ students in college and the impact of sexual identity development in college (Zubernis, Snyder, Mccoy, 2011). It is imperative institutions work to provide opportunities for LGBTQ+ students to connect with one another and offer a variety of inclusive events promoting the value of all students.
Global DNA methylation analysis in relapsed Pre-B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors:   , Stuckel Alexei Jay
Published: April 2021

Reliable biomarkers for relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia are scarce. Currently, minimal residual disease (MRD) is the best method in predicting a relapse event, but is invasive to the patient. In addition, high quantity amount of cells are needed for flow-MRD and PCR-MRD requires stable IG-TCR rearrangements. An alternative MRD strategy may involve DNA based technologies involving mass spectrometry that have the potential to monitor the progression of ALL. There are also many recurrent karyotypes that stratify patients into either low-standard risk or high-risk of relapsing. However, many patients with favorable karyotypes (e.g. highhyperdiploidy, ETV6/RUNX1) still experience one or more relapse events. DNA methylation has the potential to serve as a biomarker throughout the course of the disease in several aspects. DNA methylation associated microarrays have demonstrated the ability to stratify patients into their recurrent cytogenetic subtype. Further, others have identified CpG loci that have the potential to stratify patients at diagnosis that are at risk of relapsing. This dissertation identified differential DNA methylation between matched diagnosis and relapsed patients by creating a methylome profile (MIRA-seq) for each patient. We are the first to report global hypomethylation that occurs at relapse, predominately within retrotransposable elements. In addition, genes that exhibited 5' regulatory aberrant methylation from diagnosis to relapse were identified. Some of the genes harboring epigenetic lesions may be considered an "epidriver" of ALL. A "driver" mutation can be defined as a mutation that can directly or indirectly offer a Darwinian advantage in terms of growth for leukemic blasts. The "epi" component refers to the nature of the mutation as epigenetic in origin and in the context of this study is synonymous with deviant or aberrant methylation. Further, our MIRA-seq study in canine acute leukemia observed epigenetic lesions of epidriver genes that were also present at diagnosis and relapse in human ALL. Lastly, MIRA-seq profiles from ALL patients at diagnosis who either did or did not go on to relapse were compared against each other in order to identify individual CpGs using pyrosequencing that were associated with relapse (prognostic). These combined efforts were done with the foresight of identifying potential novel targets that exist as epidrivers of ALL or loci that hold prognostic power at diagnosis. This dissertation builds upon others who have previously identified relapse-associated biomarkers with implications of improved patient care and risk stratification.
Essays in applied economics
Authors:   , Whitworth Rebecca L.
Published: April 2021

This dissertation examines several themes in applied economics. Specifically, Essay 1 examines the dynamics in an overlapping generations model with three-period lived agents, fiat money, and credit, Essay 2 reviews literature on value-added modeling and discusses a paper previously published, Essay 3 concludes by examining efficiency in the US bond market. While Essay 1 examines dynamics and 2 reviews tools used in estimating panel data, Essay 3 combines elements of both-empirically evaluating the efficiency of the bond market by looking at the movement of prices through time. That is, deriving the integral over t of the bond spread. While opportunities for more work exists, this paper suggests that the US Bond Market (the market for corporate debt) is informationally efficient, though it takes longer to converge than previously reported in the literature.
Synthethic pathways to multiple surface functionalization of polyhedral boranes
Authors:   , Wang Teng-Wei
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] The chemistry of dodecahydro--closo--dodecaborate(2-), closo-[B12H12]2-, and decahydro-closo-decaborate(2-), [B10H10]2-, with different organic substituents was investigated in this research. The previously reported sequential synthesis of closo-[B12H12]2- hydroxyl derivatives were irreproducible. Through close monitoring of time and temperature mono-, di-, and tri- substituted hydroxyl, [B12H12-y(OH)y]2-, was synthesized in a controlled manner at 0.5 g, 5 g, and 10 g scales with significantly improved yields, >86%, 68%, >95%, respectively. Each of the hydroxylated species were exhaustively chlorinated in yields exceeding 95%. Oxidizing the perchlorinated hydroxylated products to the neutral species allows for their solubility in organic solvents, thus, open to easier manipulation in various organic settings and more accessible to perform organic chemistry. The more organic behavior of the cage allows us to synthesize hydroxyl derivatives. closo-[B12H10(SH)2]2- was synthesized from reduction of the inner-sulfonium salt of closo-[B12H10(SMe2)2] to make a suitable candidate for single molecular electronic conductors. An alternative synthetic route was proposed using ethylenediamine and n-propylamine as a great substitute for methylamine in the reaction for the formation of dithiol derivative from 1. A yield of 70% - 75% of the bis-(1,12-thiol)-closo-dodecaborate(2-) and 75% - 83% of bis-(1,7-thiol)-closo-dodecaborate(2-) was reported using this method. Recently, we reported a new class of organic-inorganic hybrid nanomolecular ions designated as polyarylboranes. These polyarylboranes are synthesized from the direct reaction between closo-[B12H12]2-or closo-[B10H10]2- and various aromatic hydrocarbons. The highly fluorescent characteristics of the product ions in solution results in high fluorescent quantum yields (0.3 to 0.6), high molar absorptivity, and large Stokes shifts (>200 nm). All of the newly synthesized compounds have been characterized by FT-IR, multi-nuclei NMR, and high-resolution mass spectrometry. In addition, the absorption, fluorescence excitation and emission properties for many of these materials have been measured.
Semi-analytical terminal and automatic approach and landing trajectory planners for unpowered reusable launch vehicle
Authors:   , Al Bakri Fawaz
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] A new guidance scheme for the terminal area energy management (TAEM) phase of an unpowered reusable launch vehicle (RLV) has been developed. The main advantage of the new guidance is the use of the quasi-equilibrium glide (QEG) condition to create a set of analytical functions for different glide-efficiency factors. Then, a coupling between the analytical solution and the ground-track prediction (GTP) is employed to create set of reference trajectories that guide the RLV from the current state to the desired state at approach and landing interface (ALI). The best feasible trajectory is selected by adjusting a geometrical parameters (heading alignment circle (HAC) position and HAC turn radius) based on the minimum residual range between the analytical and geometric ground-track predication methods. Unlike most trajectory planning algorithms, the proposed guidance scheme trajectory does not rely on numerical integration of the governing equations of motion, hence the geometrical parameters are obtained in a very short computational time. The QEG solution is used to create the longitudinal flight reference, while the lateral reference is defined by the GTP method. Standard linearization methods are used to design a closed-loop command in order to track the QEG profile. Furthermore, proportion (P) and proportion-derivative (PD) controls are used to modulate the bank angle during the vehicle flight. The glide efficiency factor is updated in order to make the predicted range satisfactory match the actual range-to-go. Off-nominal conditions, in terms of change in initial downtrack position, crosstrange, heading angle, altitude, flight-path angle, vehicle mass, vehicle drag and atmospheric density are tested using a Monte-Carlo simulation. The simulated results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm to guide the vehicle successfully under large dispersions of initial conditions.
La representaciï¿½_n de la literatura indigenista e indï¿½_gena en dos obras Colombianas: JosÌ© TombÌ© de Diego Castrillï¿½_n Arboleda y En Defensa de mi Raza de Manuel Quintï¿½_n Lame
Authors:   , Perez Arroyo Elkin Javier
Published: April 2021

This dissertation is a study of the Indian's problem that is depicted in the Andean narrative of Indigenist, Indianist and Indigenous literature and how the literary movement of Indiginism created a wave of reivindicative narrative through Latin-America, especially in countries like: Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador. Through a theory approach, my study analyzes the most important indigenist narrative in Latin-America and how this theory could be applied to two Colombian writers that can be considered as indigenist and indigenous. To do so, I examine the work of a variety of indigenists and indigenous writes and theorists -- Diego Castrillï¿½_n Arboleda Jose TombÌ© (1942) y El Indio Quintin Lame (1973), Manuel Quintin Lame En Defensa de mi Raza (1987). Furthermore, this dissertation has taken into account the important contribution made by theorists in the field of indigenists studies such as: Antonio Cornejo Polar, JosÌ© Carlos Mariï¿½ï¿½tegui, Tomï¿½ï¿½s Escajadillo, among others. My research pays close attention to two important writings that will aid in understanding Indiginism as a literary movement in Colombia, Jose Tombe and En Defensa de mi Raza. By the beginning of the 20th century indigenist writers, through their novels, were advocating for the Indigenous communities throughout the Andean region. In Colombia, this advocation was not taking place in a similar way to the rest on the Andean countries with a strong indigenous influence. I have concluded these two writings are strongly connected to this literary movement. That conclusion is largely based upon an analysis of the characteristics in these works which led me to categorize Jose TombÌ© as an indigenist novel and En Defensa de mi Raza as an indigenous written work. All the narratives that are part of this research project will provide valuable information about Indiginism as a literary movement in Colombia. Most importantly, it will add these two works to the existence of what is considered the indigenist and indigenous canon.
The influence of coaches' personal factors on the impact of coach education
Authors:   , Brown Jack Lloyd Jr.
Published: April 2021

Many coach education programs have been developed to address the increasing demand for qualified coaches. The majority of these programs are sport-specific, and research has focused on the validation of individual programs. Research has failed to consider the role of the coaches' characteristics and their impact on coach education outcomes. This mixed methods study examined changes in coaching efficacy and behavior change after coaches' attendance of a non-formal positive coaching education program. The current study considered the relationship between changes in coaching efficacy and coaches' age, gender, experience, enrollment status (i.e. voluntary v. required), attitudes towards continuing education, and resistance to change. There were 65 coaches who completed this study. Prior to the workshop, participants completed a demographic survey, the Revised Adult Attitudes towards Continuing Education Scale, the Dispositional Resistance to Change Scale, and the Coaching Efficacy Scale. Following the completion of the workshop, coaches answered a follow-up survey containing the same surveys and a qualitative item regarding behavioral change. Results suggest that the coaches who completed the online program experienced significant increases in coaching efficacy and behavioral change. There was a significant relationship between enrollment status and changes in coaching efficacy and coaches' behavioral change. The findings indicate that coaches who are required to attend education do not experience the same changes in coaching efficacy or behavior compared to those who attend voluntarily. It is necessary to convince coaches of the benefit of continuing education for their careers and the athletes with whom they work.
Course placement : its impact in a Midwestern region school district on achievement, curriculum, instructional strategies, expectations, and perceptions of the program
Authors:   , Glidewell Jodi Ann
Published: April 2021

A school district in the Midwestern region uses a tracking system for sorting students into a grade-level or college preparatory track at the junior high and high school levels. This system has been in place for over sixty years. This is an ineffective method of educating students, particularly for those students in lower track classes. Critical pedagogy, the study of helping people to become free of oppression, and interest-convergence, which advocates that change is implemented when it benefits both groups, were used to study this practice. Focus groups, interviews, and observations of teachers occurred to help answer the following research questions: What impact do various instructional strategies and approaches have on achievement? How does course placement affect instructional behavior and course approaches? What types of instructional practices are being utilized in classroom instruction for both grade-level and college preparatory classes; do they differ and are they equitable? The findings supported the literature review. Students in grade-level classes are not challenged as much as their college preparatory peers, nor do they receive an equitable education in terms of the instructional practices utilized in the classes. Furthermore, all teachers expressed a desire to blend the classes to help improve discipline, provide role models for students, and to increase academic achievement. It is the recommendation of the researcher that the school district consider doing away with the tracking system as it is an ineffective means of educating the district's students.
Resource extraction, resistance, and religion in Nicaragua
Authors:   , Hendricks Michael Stephen
Published: April 2021

My dissertation examines the causes of protest over resource extraction in Nicaragua, and underlines the role of religion as a catalyst for sustained and successful challenges against resource extraction. With few exceptions, existing research has rarely explored individual-level attitudes related to resource extraction. Opposition and support towards mining are not mutually exclusive from protest success in overturning a mining concession. They build off each other. If a community strongly opposes mining, especially related to economic threats and grievances tied to environmental and agricultural concerns, it will likely continue its resistance movement until it sees policy changes that halt or overturn mining concessions in the community. However, if there is support for mining in the community over economic opportunities and benefits, mining activities will likely prevail because individuals in the community believe they will economically benefit from mining. I examine the causes of opposition and support over resource extraction in two Nicaraguan mining communities through qualitative interviews and public opinion surveys. I am particularly interested in why individuals either support or oppose resource extraction, and how these attitudes are shaped by social engagement (i.e., formed or reinforced) through participation in various types of local organizations. In doing so, scholars can begin to understand different individual responses to mining that underline the aggregate stories of homogenous community resistance and better understand the individual mechanisms that lead citizens in extractive areas to either partake in mining resistance or abstain. Additionally, existing literature has largely ignored the role of religion as a catalyst in fomenting successful resistance against resource extraction. In fact, there are thousands of protests against resource extraction in Latin America and hundreds throughout Nicaragua, but only a small fraction of them are effective in stopping mining concessions. Because there are clear power imbalances between communities and extractive companies, preventing a new mining project from being implemented or ending an existing project is a very difficult endeavor. Large-scale extractive companies often utilize "divide and rule" strategies that successfully break up local opposition to extraction. My dissertation examines how religion acts as a catalyzing agent in providing communities with the organizational tools and resources that assist individuals in effectively and sustainably to unite and organize against mining until the community achieves a successful national-level policy change reversing mining concessions.
Essays on labor market policies in Korea
Authors:   , Lee Tai
Published: April 2021

This dissertation examines the impact of employment protection regulations using job duration data in Korea. In 2007, the Korean government introduced a labor market reform that required employers to convert a worker's contract from a temporary to permanent one in order to continue to employ a worker for more than two years. I analyzes the effects of the reform from the perspectives of employers and employees. ... In the third chapter, I verify if the upsurge of alternative employment arrangements is found after the 2007 Korean labor market reform in the Economically Active Population Survey (EAPS) as well as Korean Labor and Income Panel Study (KLIPS). For this, I compare the two labor market surveys, the EAPS and KLIPS, from the perspective of reported employment arrangements using the same survey questions on the employment types of wage and salary workers. However, we are confronted with a puzzle because the results using the two data sets show different patterns for the shares of temporary worker groups. The continued growth in the proportion of alternative employment arrangements after 2007 was not found in the results using EAPS data. To answer as to what factors cause the different results in the two data sets, I investigate if there are differences in demographic characteristics between the EAPS and KLIPS data sets. However, I cannot find any significant difference that is large enough to explain the different pattern of the share of alternative employment arrangements between the EAPS and KLIPS. Therefore, we conclude the difference in demographic characteristics is not a main factor causing different results in the EAPS and KLIPS.
"Marijuana Moms" : the collective work of negotiating individual and group identity in the age of cannabis legalization
Authors:   , McKinney-Wilson Jennifer
Published: April 2021

This research is the result of a qualitative study that explored the ways in which marijuana using mothers come to identify as such and how they structure their relationships and parenting as a result. The experiences of 57 self-identified marijuana using mothers (aged 20-48 years-old) from across the United States participated in semi-structured interviews and shared their everyday experiences with both marijuana use and motherhood. Participants were all mothers with children between 3 months and 19 years at the time of the interviews. A thematic narrative analysis uncovered common experiences among these women in constructing both individual and group identity: Participants varied in how each of these themes identified were reflected in their lives, depending upon each participant's interpretation of her local social context. Both motherhood and self-identifying as a marijuana user were valuable and meaningful parts of their identity
The lived experiences of first responders during emergency events involving children
Authors:   , Murphy Lindsey
Published: April 2021

Given the fact that first responders are often the first point of contact with children in emergency events that could potentially be appraised as traumatic and have long lasting detrimental effects, the purpose of this study was to examine the lived experience of first responders within a Midwest Metropolitan Fire Department during emergency events involving children. Using descriptive phenomenology methods, 16 interviews were conducted with eight first responders. Results indicated four phenomena related to experienced child reactions during emergency events 1) lack of reactions, 2) emotion-based reactions, 3) information seeking reactions, and 4) observant reactions. First responders identified their role in supporting children on the scene in using distraction, providing calming and reassurance, and providing education. Current systems of emotional support identified by first responders included family members, neighbors, police officers, and hospital staff. Gaps in services identified by first responders included specialized and dedicated support for children and effective first responder training.
Rare sequence variation and DNA methylation : effects on alcohol and tobacco use phenotypes
Authors:   , Otto Jacqueline Marisa
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Alcohol and tobacco use and dependence are known to be influenced by the effects of common variants enriched in non-coding gene regulatory regions, as well as rare protein-coding variation. In contrast, the role of rare non-coding regulatory variation is unknown. Epigenetic factors such as DNA methylation also influence gene expression, and some of these effects are under genomic control. The current study investigated the effects of rare coding and non-coding variation in regions susceptible to DNA methylation, and whether differential levels of methylation mediated their effects in association with alcohol and tobacco use and dependence. Data from whole-genome sequencing and DNA methylation microarrays for participants in the UCSF Family Alcoholism Study (N = 1,852) were used for set-based tests of rare variation, region-based differential methylation, and epigenetic mediation in relation to quantitative measures of alcohol and tobacco use and DSM-IV dependence diagnoses. Rare variants in exonic and intronic regions, as well as CpG islands, were weighted by a measure of deleteriousness and were significantly associated with alcohol and tobacco use phenotypes. Similarly, differential levels of DNA methylation exhibited significant association with lifetime and current measures of use and dependence. However, there was a relative lack of evidence for epigenetic mediation of rare variation, likely due to a lack of power. Findings from the current study suggest that rare regulatory DNA sequence variation and differential levels of DNA methylation influence risk for alcohol and tobacco use, but whether there exists epigenetic mediation of rare variation requires larger sample sizes in future studies.
Aptamers against viral proteins as a tool to answer biological questions
Authors:   , Camargo Carolina
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] There are two experimental chapters in this dissertation in which the fundamental questions center around aptamers and viruses and how these two concepts interlace. The first experimental chapter (chapter two) seeks to utilize previously characterized aptamers against HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase (RT) that will be delivered by a lentiviral vector and which intracellular expression from different human promoters was evaluated. The goal of this study was to identify important elements of vector design that will impact transgene expression in target cells. This study was based on the hypothesis that intracellular expression of RNA aptamers delivered by a lentiviral vector could offer a platform to enable adequate aptamer expression that would translate into viral suppression. And the second experimental chapter (chapter four) describes an in vitro 2'FY-RNA selection against Filoviral glycoproteins and outlines three different strategies that were followed to achieve selection of specific aptamers. Aptamers described in this chapter were able to recognize Ebolavirus glycoprotein ectodomain as well as in its native conformation displayed on the viral surface. Taking the observations obtained in this dissertation, aptamer technology could be expanded into further development for practical applications.
The single black mother as an asset : a qualitative study based on black motherwork narratives
Authors:   , Jones Glasgow Tae'Lor Renee'
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] African American families comprise an estimated 9,808,000 households across the nation, 37% of which are led by single mothers raising their own children (U.S. Census Bureau, 2016). This means that almost 4 million single African America mothers are the heads of families. The purpose of this study is to showcase strength-based narratives of single Black mothers and their views on interactions with the school system and how they help their children through schooling. The overarching research question this study explores is: How do single Black mothers work to support their children's educational journeys through PK-5 school? It is an important question to study for answers because those answers can affect how these mothers and children can thrive in our 21st century academic culture. Data collection included interviews with 10 single Black mothers. The findings of this study described the barriers, resources, and the motherwork of single Black mothers educating their children. Through these narratives, participant Black single mothers revealed what they considered most important in their motherwork: 1) to have high expectations for their children 2) to communicate effectively with their children, and 3) to communicate effectively with their children's schools. Thus, one main purpose of this study was to share how Black mothers support their children's education. Fulfilling that purpose will go far in informing educators and school leaders what is necessary to fully include this segment of our population when deciding educational matters.
Three essays on mergers and acquisitions
Authors:   , Morillon Thibaut Guillaume
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] In this dissertation, I investigate two segments of the mergers and acquisitions (MandA) literature: serial acquirers and cross-border MandAs. In the first essay presented in Chapter 1, I examine the phenomenon of declining announcement returns of serial acquirers. Using a classification of acquirers based on their patterns of acquisition, I find that decreasing returns occur mostly within "blocks" of acquisitions. This trend is driven by sprinters, bidders who acquire targets quickly in chunks. In contrast, I find no evidence of any such decline in returns for the most active acquirers in the market of corporate control: the marathoners. I test several theories proposed by prior literature to explain declining returns and find evidence consistent with temporary overvaluation, agency costs, and bidder learning as likely drivers. In the third essay presented in chapter 3, I investigate the impact of the cultural gap between the CEO of the acquiring firm and the CEO of the target firm in MandA deals. I find evidence that bidding CEOs are more likely to acquire targets led by CEOs with whom they have more cultural affinity, and that MandA deals are more likely to fail when the decision makers of both parties are culturally diverse. I find that higher levels of cultural heterogeneity are associated with more all-cash deals, a greater proportion of cash payments and a lower proportion of stock payment, consistent with cultural distance inducing mistrust between the partners. Moreover, I find evidence that partners are more likely to protect themselves against the risk of overvaluation of the other party when one or both are hard to value and CEO cultural heterogeneity is high.
Development of an experiment for investigating the magnetohydrodynamic richtmyer-meshkov instability
Authors:   , Allen Roy C. IV
Published: April 2021

Collaboration by some of the world's brightest minds of the 21st Century pinpointed fourteen Grand Engineering Challenges that face humankind today. At the top of this list is "Provide Energy from Fusion"; a requirement deemed crucial for humankind to thrive flourish. Scientists from all over the globe have risen to this challenge in many ways; most recognizably by attempting to succeed at performing inertial confinement fusion (ICF). However, ICF currently remains unsuccessful at providing net-positive energy production, largely due to hydrodynamic instabilities, such as the shock-driven Richtmyer-Meshkov instability (RMI), which occur within the fusion reaction process, creating detrimental mixing. Applying magnetohydrodynamic approaches however, can mitigate these instabilities and reduce fluid mixing. It is precisely this problem that necessitates the research on magnetohydrodynamic instabilities presented in this dissertation to aid in solving the challenge to "Provide Energy from Fusion"; specifically the development of an experiment for investigating the magnetohydrodynamic Richtmyer-Meshkov instability (MHD-RMI). ... By developing and performing the computational and experimental efforts at the Missouri Fluid Mixing and Shock Tube Laboratory (FMSTL), the author has laid the groundwork to observe the suppression of the MHD-RMI in future shock tube experiments.
PCK development of beginning secondary mathematics teachers
Authors:   , Bruton Rebecca
Published: April 2021

In this study I examined the development of pedagogical content knowledge of three beginning secondary mathematics teachers. My analysis included the development of the teachers' knowledge of curriculum and their knowledge of student understanding during their first two years of teaching. The participants began the study with little or no experience or education regarding the teaching of mathematics. During the first year of the study, all three participants were enrolled in graduate level mathematics methods courses and were under the guidance of a mentor teacher. Using existing research, I analyzed pre and post interviews as well as 12 interviews conducted during 4 observation cycles. Beyond participant interviews, I analyzed interviews with the mentor teachers and researcher notes regarding their observation of the participants' PCK. Analysis revealed that participants demonstrated little knowledge of curriculum at the beginning of the study. Throughout the study, their knowledge of the curriculum developed differently as they approached teaching in different ways (seen through their goals for instruction) and engaged with their curriculum materials differently. Two of the participants developed detailed knowledge of their students' understanding, which they gained through use of their standards-based curriculum materials and their use of assessment, while the third participant was only able to speak to student understanding at the whole-class level.
Increasing self-efficacy in risk assessment and management of suicidal clients : training perspectives from mental health providers
Authors:   , Freese Rebekah Ann
Published: April 2021

Suicide is one of the top ten leading deaths among adults and children in the U.S. Suicidal clients are assessed using various risk assessment tools and by professionals who are trained in various theoretical and procedural frameworks. Self-Efficacy Theory (Bandura, 1996) and logic modeling (Kaplan and Garrett, 2005; Lafferty and Mahoney, 2003; McLaughlin and Jordan, 1998; Millar, Simeone and Carnevale, 2001) provided the theoretical framework for this study. This study aimed to (1) describe the characteristics of service providers working in the field, and (2) explore how service providers view their efficacy in suicide risk assessment and management of suicidal behaviors. A sample of 340 service providers (85.5% female) was recruited from nine different training sites across the state of Missouri. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis and, logistic regression analysis were employed to address three research questions and related hypotheses. Of the participants, 85.5% were female. Most of the participants (80%) had completed education with a master's degree, and 71% were licensed professional counselors. Slightly less than half used Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (40%) as their primary approach to practice, and over half of the participants had experience working with a suicidal client (88%). Most of the participants had prior training in assessment and management of suicidal behavior (82%). On average, participants reported they had a training 1.3 years prior this training. The posttest scores of general assessment, high-risk assessment, suicide history assessment, and management of suicidal behaviors were significantly higher than the pretest scores. Results of the regression analyses showed that ten or more years of practice experience, along with high sources of mastery and general-self efficacy, significantly predicted efficacy in suicide assessment and management after controlling for demographics. The findings provide a foundation to understanding sources of self-efficacy for providers, which can assist in developing supports, policies, and procedures to ensure quality and effective assessment and intervention for those clients who experience suicide.
Ruling or being ruled? : the development of citizenship in the Cherokee Nation
Authors:   , Kushner Aaron
Published: April 2021

What does it mean to be a member of a tribal government in the United States? This dissertation answers that question with an analysis of Cherokee citizenship, both as a concept and as a legal condition. Previous work on the Cherokee has been historical, anthropological, or sociological in nature. Political scientists have not yet produced a study of Cherokee citizenship. I fill in this gap in the literature by approaching Cherokee citizenship from three different angles-from the perspective of the Cherokee, of United States officials, and from the descendants of freedmen who live in the Cherokee Nation. I argue that the prevailing explanations for the state of Cherokee citizenship, racial prejudice and acquisitiveness, do not paint a complete picture. Instead, these explanations need to be supplemented with an understanding of the ideological incongruence between Cherokee and American political thought. My ideological incongruence thesis posits that inherent differences between the Cherokee and the United States over how to understand and practice politics has led to struggles over Cherokee citizenship and has subsequently driven the development of Cherokee law. A holistic view of Cherokee citizenship admits three major factors at play" racial prejudice, material acquisitiveness, and ideological tension. This holistic view can help scholars parse through difficult dimensions of indigenous-US relations and lend clarity to debates over the status of tribal governments and their people.
Capillary-gravity water waves with vorticity : steady wind-driven waves and waves with a submerged dipole
Authors:   , Le Hung Duc
Published: April 2021

In this thesis, we study two mathematical problems on water waves in the setting of the incompressible Euler equations with vorticity, gravity, and surface tension. We investigate the existence of small-amplitude steady wind-driven water waves in finite depth, using the Crandall Rabinowitz theorem. As part of the result, elliptic equations with transmission and Wentzell boundary conditons are also examined, and Schauder type estimates on classical solutions are established. The second chapter considers the existence and instability of solitary water waves with a nite dipole in in nite depth. We construct waves of this type using an Implicit Function Theorem argument. Then we establish orbital instability. This is proved using a modi cation of the classical Grillaks Shatash Strauss method.
Atomic-scale studies of chemical and transport processes relevant to propellant combustion
Authors:   , Chitsazi Rezvan
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] Density functional theory (DFT) and correlated molecular orbital electronic structure calculations were used to study the Al + CO2 [subscript arrow] AlO + CO reaction on the electronic ground-state potential-energy surface (PES). Geometries were optimized using DFT (M11/jun-cc-pV(Q+d)Z) and more accurate energies were obtained using the composite Weizmann-1 theory with Brueckner doubles (W1BD). The results comprise the most complete, most systematic characterization of the Al + CO2 reaction surface to date and are based on consistent application of high-level methods for all stationary points identified. The pathways from Al + CO[subscript 2] to AlO + CO on the electronic ground-state PES all involve formation of one or more stable AlCO2 complexes denoted ?-AlCO2, trans-AlCO[subscript 2], and C[subscript 2v]-AlCO[subscript 2], among which [subscript n]-AlCO[subscript 2] and C[subscript 2v]-AlCO[subscript 2] are the least and most stable, respectively. We report a new minimum-energy pathway for the overall reaction, namely formation of [subscript n]-AlCO[subscript 2] from reactants and dissociation of that same complex to products via a bond-insertion reaction that passes through a fourth (weakly metastable) AlCO[subscript 2] complex denoted cis-OAlCO. Natural Bond Orbital analysis was applied to study trends in charge distribution and the degree of charge transfer in key structures along the minimum-energy pathway. The process of aluminum insertion into CO[subscript 2] is discussed in the context of analogous processes for boron and first-row transition metals. ...