bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social insecurity and the role of possessions : buying friends or replacing them?
Authors:   , Gunz Alexander
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] This dissertation extends the literatures on coping and social anxiety by suggesting that people cope with social threats not just by directly trying to create (and restore) social relationships, but also by indirectly coping with the psychological fallout. It suggests that they do this by seeking hedonic product benefits that can salve emotional hurt, and by seeking product benefits that affirm unrelated aspects of the self concept. Two studies with different manipulations and outcome measures show that both manipulated and chronic forms of social anxiety can give rise to any of the above coping behaviors, and shows that the pursuit of these benefits is often moderated by relevant personality variables (e.g., entity theory and values-based transformations, emotional-awareness and hedonic transformations, and materialism and extrinsic transformations). These studies largely fail to replicate past findings that self-monitoring can moderate seeking social benefits. Finally, a new study by Lee and Shrum (2012) is discovered. A reanalysis of that paper's data suggests that there may be a critical role for implicit/explicit processing in consumers' deciding whether a given coping strategy is suitable. Applying this distinction to study 2's data generates a far more close-fitting description of its data.
The relationship of emic model derived resiliency attributes to ninth grade student total core subject courses passed in an urban high school as viewed through the RDYM
Authors:   , Bates Tyrone M. Jr.
Published: April 2021

The variables positively supporting urban student matriculation through high school remain unclear as one moves from one context to another. Furthermore, attributes that positively influence urban ninth grade student matriculation through high school are equally unclear. The purpose of this non- experimental archival data based study was to determine the extent to which emic derived resiliency score correlates to the number of core subjects passed of ninth grade students in one urban Kansas high school. The study found that urban ninth grade students resilience and the number of core subjects passed were weakly correlated, urban however ninth grade student ethnicity did have a significant level of variance in the construct of intelligent planning. These findings suggested that resilience is not a factor when looking at factors that contribute to the number of core subjects passed by urban ninth grade students.
Identification and characterization of Boone Cardiovirus, a novel virus of laboratory rats
Authors:   , Gohndrone Judith Diane
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] Cardioviruses are members of the Picornaviridae family capable of causing several forms of disease including myocarditis, encephalitis, diabetes, fetal death, and neuron degeneration. A wide range of hosts are susceptible to cardioviruses with rodents frequently being suspected as the viral reservoir following outbreaks of infection. In this study we discovered a novel Cardiovirus, provisionally designated Boone Cardiovirus (BCV). BCV was identified in the feces of laboratory rats using a pan picornavirus-PCR assay. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that BCV is a new species within the Cardiovirus genus distinct from both Encephalomyelitis Virus (EMCV) and Theilovirus. With these two species, BCV shares [less-than]45% amino acid identity in the polyprotein region and [less-than]50% amino acid identity in the capsid proteins. To assess the prevalence of BCV in laboratory rodents a sensitive hemi-nested RT-PCR assay was developed to screen fecal samples. Screening revealed that 20% of rat samples and 30% of research institutions tested positive for BCV. During the screening process a second isolate of BCV was also identified. Phylogenetic analysis of the second isolate determined it shared 91% amino acid identity with the original strain in the polyprotein region. Identification of additional BCV strains aids in the understanding of BCV variability and provides additional information for the development of comprehensive PCR and serologic screening assays. As no definitive clinical disease has been observed with BCV, a quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) assay was developed to screen rat tissues for sites of replication. BCV was found predominately localized to the gastrointestinal tract with the highest titers in the duodenum. Screening animals of various ages also revealed that BCV causes persistent infections in laboratory rats. In addition, to the RT-PCR and qRT-PCR assays the VP2 protein was expressed and purified for use in Western blot analysis of rat serum for preliminary serologic data on BCV. Collectively, the RT-PCR and Western blot assays provide a foundation for BCV detection and will enable researchers to screen animals prior to experiments. These assays will also make it possible to establish BCV-free rat colonies as virally infected research animals can confound and invalidate research findings. Preliminary data from infections of nude rats suggest that BCV is capable of replication and the immune system of immunocompetent animals plays a role in modulating infections as once T-cell are eliminated viral titers are approximately 4 logs higher. Furthermore, the discovery of BCV may lead to the establishment of research models that can provide valuable information including host-viral interactions during persistent infections.
Conjoint analysis for effective use of online video advertising on video sharing websites
Authors:   , Lee Joonghwa
Published: April 2021

This study employs conjoint analysis to ask which online video advertising formats consumers prefer. Research has shown that online consumers prefer to watch entertainment programming without the information of ads, yet ads are generally the heart of most online content programming business models. Thus, it is important to test whether giving people a choice of ads they have to watch helps how much they are willing to pay for entertainment content to avoid video ads, and what the influence of ad length is on those preferences. The study also looks at how other consumer responses, like advertising skepticism and attitude toward advertising in general, influence their preference structures. Choice-based conjoint experiment was employed with four attributes: ad choice (ad choice vs. no ad choice), length of online video ads (15 seconds vs. 30 seconds), number of online video ads (1 ad vs. 2 ads vs. 3 ads), and membership price ($0 vs. $1.99 vs. $4.99 vs. $9.99). Overall, 223 college students participated in the experiment. Data analysis consisted of two phases: counting analysis and multinomial logit analysis. The results indicated the impact of giving participants ad alternatives (i.e., ad choice) when using online video ads. Also, it was found that participants want to watch fewer ads and pay less money to buy membership on video sharing websites to avoid ads. However, considering the interaction effects, it is recommended using online video ads with ad choice and 15 seconds. Moreover, although participants preferred to watch fewer online video ads, when including ad choice in online video ads it is possible to increase the number of ads. Regarding the trade-offs between watching ads for free content and paying for ad-free content, negative ad perception did not generate the trade-offs, while positive ad perception supported the trade-offs. Therefore, it is possible that consumers who have positive ad perceptions may accept the option of purchasing membership on video sharing websites, which in turn gives platform providers opportunities for a business strategy for their websites. The implications of these findings for researchers and advertisers are further discussed.
Identity through style : the transatlantic dissemination of Anglican and Episcopalian neo-Gothic church architecture
Authors:   , Kocyba Kate M.
Published: April 2021

In the nineteenth century the Episcopalians used Gothic Revival architecture for dogmatic purposes to define their status among Protestant denominations and secure their place in the United States of America. The discussion of neo-Gothic churches in America usually begins after the arrival of the English theological Oxford Movement in the 1830s. I claim the political changes that occurred with the American Revolution along with early nineteenth century American tensions between low and high church Episcopalians fostered a distinct American Episcopalian neo-Gothic church development. Through exchanges of ideas between English and American clergy and architects, American Episcopal High Church architecture developed and spread throughout the United States. By examining specific churches, including those by Frank Wills and Richard Upjohn, in context of Anglican and Episcopalian doctrine, its liturgical practices, and publications by architects and English and American ecclesiological societies, I show how and why neo-Gothic churches became solidified as a signifier of and reinforced the Episcopal faith.
Structural diversity of proline catabolic enzymes revealed by small angle x-ray scattering, x-ray crystallography and light scattering
Authors:   , Singh Ranjan Kumar
Published: April 2021

The proline catabolic enzymes catalyze the 4-electron oxidation of proline to glutamate. The reaction involves two enzymes, proline dehydrogenase (PRODH) and Î"1-pyrroline -5-carboxylate dehydrogenase (P5CDH). Some bacterial organisms have both of these enzymes fused together, and the fused bifunctional enzymes are called Proline utilization A (PutA). In addition to these bifunctional enzymes, some PutAs are trifunctional, because they moonlight as transcription repressors of their own gene. Our lab recently reported that the quaternary structure of the bifunctional PutA from B. japonicam (BjPutA) is a ring-shaped tetramer. However, the structural organization of PutAs from other organisms is still unknown. In particular, there are no structures available for moonlighting trifunctional PutAs. We therefore utilized small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to obtain the overall shape of a trifunctional PutA from Escherichia coli (EcPutA). In addition, rigid body modeling of full-length PutA has been done with the help of SAXS data and crystal structures of DNA-binding and PRODH domains of EcPutA, and BjPutA crystal structure. Unique structural features of PutA have also been explored through multiple sequence alignments and homology modeling using the webservers like ClustalW, Espript, Phyre, and Swiss Model. The results obtained from sequence alignment study led us to work on finding the diversity in oligomeric states of PutAs. Finally, the structural basis of HPII disease that is related to disorder in human P5CDH was determined through X-ray crystallographic studies.
Neuromodulation-dependent regulation of coordinated patterns of gene expression in motor neurons of the stomatogastric ganglion
Authors:   , Temporal Simone
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] The pyloric network of the crustacean stomatogastric ganglion (STG) is a central pattern generator that requires descending modulation for normal ongoing rhythmic activity. However, the pyloric rhythm is capable of functional recovery after removal of descending inputs. We used the STG to determine whether or not correlated mRNA ion channels are dependent on neuromodulation. Our hypothesis is that relationships between ion channels are dependent on neuromodulation, not activity. To investigate this, we first measured mRNA expression levels of three calcium channels (Ca1A, Ca1D and T-type-related channel) and two potassium channels (shal and shab), of PD cells to investigate how channel transcription may be modified to influence recovery of burst activity. We collected single PD neurons from both recovered and time-matched control preparations and quantified channel transcript levels with quantitative real-time RT-PCR. There was widespread correlation between all three calcium channels and the two potassium channels in PD cells from intact networks. Specifically, the strongest relationships were between all three calcium channels and the shal channel, which carries an A-type transient potassium current (p[less-than]0.005; R2[greater-than]0.5). Furthermore, our results show that following recovery, there are no significant changes in overall mRNA abundance across all channel types. However, there was a striking lack of any correlation between measured channel types in PD cells following recovery. These results indicate that recovered, decentralized networks do not regain rhythmicity simply by increasing or decreasing mRNA expression for a given channel or channels. In order to determine whether ion channel correlations are dependent on neuromodulation or activity, we decoupled neuromodulatory and activity inputs. We found that preparations with neuromodulatory inputs maintained relationships between mRNA channels while activity input alone did not. Further, addition of pilocarpine, the muscarinic agonist and modulator, to decentralized preparations maintained the same correlations as those found in preparations that only had neuromodulatory input. To determine whether loss of correlations affected network function, we compared the pyloric burst frequency of the different conditions. We found that the pyloric burst frequency decreased under conditions that lost correlations between ion channels due to the removal of neuromodulation. Together, these results indicate that neuromodulation maintains ion channel correlations, which are important to proper network function. They also suggest a possible novel role of neuromodulation in the regulation of gene expression.
It doesn't make any sense : self and strategies among college students with learning disabilities
Authors:   , Arceneaux AndreÌ Duncan
Published: April 2021

Even though there has been increasing awareness of and accommodations for college students with learning disabilities, many of them still face various forms of stigmatization from instructors and peers. In this research project, I exam the ways in students with learning disabilities are stigmatized in academic and nonacademic settings, how they responded, or accounted, for their disability when questioned by others, and the strategies which they used to cope with problematic situations. This research is based on qualitative interviews of twenty-three college students with learning disabilities. Although the respondents viewed their learning disability as a minor issue, they did report problematic and embarrassing situations during their college career. Individuals with LD were concerned about the negative perceptions that others had of their LD label. To cope with stigmatization, college students with learning disabilities strategically performed tasks in order to minimize the negative reactions from peers and teachers. They also developed a series of accounts to neutralize the questions of their actions or their disability status. For this dissertation, I use Goffman's concept of impression management and information control to examine how college students with learning disabilities strategically use the performance of reading, writing, and other tasks associated with learning to present a positive self-concept. This dissertation looks at college students who are successful in managing the stigma associated with LD. While other learning disability narratives emphasize the all-encompassing, this study focuses on how individuals with learning disabilities attempt to control the effects and the significance of LD in everyday life.
Patterns of Black Racial Identity Development of Black Men Affiliated with Historically Black Fraternities at a Large Predominately White University in the Midwest
Authors:   , Brown Andre
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] This study examined the meaning behind the experiences that influence racial identity development of Black fraternity members at a large public land grant research university in the Midwest. Existing literature specific to racial identity development in Black college men is outdated and largely underdeveloped. Previous studies have rarely made the distinction between student experiences in predominantly White fraternities and sororities and historically Black Greek letter organizations. No comprehensive qualitative research has been published on how participation in a historically Black fraternity influences Black racial identity development. In order to gain a greater understanding of how the participants make meaning of their experience at a predominately White campus and whether their affiliation in a historically Black fraternity influences their racial identity development, a phenomenological study using an exploratory design was utilized. Implications of this study provide perspectives to student affairs practitioners and lead to interventions to mitigate the high rate of attrition among Black men at predominately White campuses. Utilizing Cross's model of psychological nigrescence, five themes emerged through the course of this study about their decision to join a historically Black fraternity and how affiliation in those organizations influenced the participants' Black racial identity. Findings revealed that Black fraternity members' Black racial identity is influenced by participation in these student organizations. Moreover, historically Black fraternities provide members a social support network to cope with the stressors of attending a predominately White institution while simultaneously promoting positive outcomes. Lastly, Black Greek letter organizations members use their respective organizations as an outlet for Black racial expression and provide members a cultural connection with their African Ancestry. Keywords: historically Black Greek lettered organization, Greek letter societies, Black college students, student involvement, African American leadership, student activities
Rats selectively-bred for low and high voluntary running: co-selected traits and the effects of voluntary running on the dentate gyrus transcriptome
Authors:   , Brown Jacob Daniel
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] The Booth lab at the University of Missouri has selectively-bred Wistar rats for low (LVR) and high (HVR) voluntary running behavior as a model for examining the genetic and physiological origins of physical activity motivation. The major advantage of selective breeding over non-natural methods of genetic engineering is the perpetuation of naturally-existing, polygenic milieus that dictate complex behaviors or phenotypes (e.g. motivation to be physically active, etiology of obesity). Since most genes and physiological systems are pleiotropic and function as modular networks, a "by-product" of selective breeding is the co-selection of traits sharing some common genetic origins with the selected trait. Overall, the major emphasis of my dissertation was two-fold: (1) the elucidation of behavioral traits co-selected with low and high physical activity motivational behavior and (2) the effect of voluntary running in a mildly stressful environment on the dentate gyrus transcriptome of rats selectively bred for low voluntary running. Emphasis 1 (Chapters 2 and 3) was approached by measuring the performance of LVR and HVR rats in behavioral tests classically designed to measure non-wheel running locomotor activity behavior (i.e. open field test), sensitivity to drugs of abuse (i.e. cocaine-induced locomotor activity), anxiety-like behavior (i.e. elevated plus maze), depressive-like behavior (i.e. forced swim test), and nociception (i.e. thermal and mechanical stimulus). Emphasis 2 was approached by using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to map the transcriptome of the dentate gyrus after exposing sedentary and wheel running LVR and WT rats to 5 weeks of chronic mild stress (CMS). The results from Chapters 2 and 3 demonstrate that LVR and HVR rats have co-selected other behaviors, which suggest that they may be a valuable model for an array of research disciplines including: (1) the investigation of the genetic basis for physical activity motivation, (2) hyperactivity, (3) sensitivity to drugs of abuse (e.g. addiction), (4) emotional/stress disorders (e.g. anxiety and depression), and (5) nociception as well as the interactions between these complex phenotypes. The results from Chapter 4 provide transcriptomic evidence that low amounts of voluntary running performed by female LVR rats in a CMS environment are sufficient for eliciting robust changes in dentate gyrus transcriptome that included gene expression signatures associated with elevated synaptic plasticity, improved memory function, and increased blood vessel development.
The Heart Can Thirst Because Obsession is a More Country: Poems and Lacemakers: Poems
Authors:   , McQuerry Claire
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] In the critical introduction, I consider Claudia Rankine's innovative Don't Let Me Be Lonely from a New Media studies framework. While subtitled an American Lyric, this book includes all manner of "non-lyric" material, such as visual image, the language of advertising, and political commentary. In collaging these various texts and modes of representation, Rankine draws attention to the representational media themselves and highlights the (often invisible) discourses that frame embodied experience. I argue that, through her nontraditional "lyric," Rankine situates the poem as a site of resistance to those discourses that would reduce selves to abstractions. She points to the fact that, while mediation is inescapable, authentic connection with the other is possible through recognizing the other as a particular, embodied self. Part two, The Heart Can Thirst Because Obsession is a More Country, is a collection of poems that deal with themes related to economy and consumerism. These poems are particularly aimed at exploring the current economic crisis (which is often reported through numbers and jargon) in terms of its human impact. The poems are stylistically diverse, and some of them engage in experimentation with form and voice. There are also, however, a number of poems in the collection, many of them elegies, that might be considered more traditionally "lyric." Lacemakers is a full-length poetry collection. It was published by Southern Illinois University Press in 2012.
Exploring the Relative Impacts of Altruistic, Biospheric, and Egoistic Motivations to Adopt Green Housing Features
Authors:   , Murarolli Marina Scatolin
Published: April 2021

The study's goal was to determine how much each of three types of motivation contribute to the adoption of green housing features. The motivations studied were altruistic, biospheric, and egoistic, according to Schultz' (2000) theory of environmental concern orientations. Because housing features are consumer goods and therefore susceptible to high levels of involvement from the part of residents, the study takes into account the effect of involvement with housing features on the adoption of green features. An electronic survey was distributed to subjects around the country, and requirements for participation included owning a residence and having added at least one green feature to it. Results indicate that a combination of altruistic and biospheric motivations are positively associated with adoption of green housing features. Affective involvement with home features also positively impacts adoption. The study presents implications for the green building market and for policy efforts toward sustainable housing.
Ambiguity, uncertainty, and othering : a queer phenomenology of the organizational socialization of sexuality
Authors:   , Dixon Jenny D.
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Despite the many frames, metaphors, and lenses in the organizational communication discipline, we have yet to examine the lived experience of sexuality in the workplace. The experience of socializing to the sexual norms of professional workspaces has yet to be considered within the Communication Discipline. Through queer hermeneutic phenomenology, the present study explores the socialization of sexuality in the workplace across an array of sexual orientations and gender identities. How we are introduced to and make sense of sexuality at work was the primary thrust of this project. Interactive interviews resulted in a co-authoring of knowledge regarding discursive constructions of sexuality and sexual identity in the workplace. Results are reported in three parts: First, age, gender and location emerged as ironic and ambiguous stereotypes used to describe sexuality at work. These stereotypes function as discursive dividing lines among social groups within the workplace. Then, nondiscrimination policy surfaced as a tool for reducing and managing uncertainty about sexuality. Sexual and gender minorities were far more aware of the nature and parameters of workplace policies, compared to their hetertypical counterparts. Finally, discourses of family served as a point of meaning divergence resulting in an othering of LGBT, single, and otherwise queer organization members. Specifically, despite calls for diversity, discursive constructions of "family" remain largely heteronormative. Implications including the need to further interrogate nondiscrimination policy and develop more inclusive family discourses are provided.
Color outside the line : Liminality and Creole identity in Louisiana, colonial era to reconstruction
Authors:   , Castenell Wendy Marie
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] This work examines the construction of racial and caste identity in Louisiana, from the French and Spanish colonial period through Reconstruction. Using painted portraits of Louisiana's mixed race caste of free people of color, this dissertation argues that Creoles of color utilized art as a means of actively constructing their identity as elite, educated, and politically savvy members of Louisiana's social hierarchy. In so doing, this caste used art to resist the dominant Anglo-American racial binary in favor of the more nuanced Latin conception of race. Therefore art, and more specifically portraiture, was a tool to circulate Creoles of color's self-conception as equal citizens, and cultural affiliations with white Creoles within the state. Consequently, portraits of this caste managed to subvert the dominant American racial ideology.
The association between adults' experiences with violence, perceived social support, and health
Authors:   , Snyder-Rivas Linley A.
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] This study examined the associations between adults' experiences with violence, spousal and non-marital perceived emotional support, and physical and mental health using hierarchical multiple regression. A sample of 3,612 adults from the Americans' Changing Lives study, 641 of whom had been attacked or assaulted at least once in their lives, was studied. Main effects, mediation, and moderation (i.e., stress-buffering) models with perceived emotional support as the potential mediator and moderator for the association between violence and health were evaluated. Findings demonstrated that the main effects model explained a significant amount of variance in infrequent depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, and self-rated health outcomes in the full sample, and in infrequent depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, and the absence of chronic conditions outcomes for violence survivors. However, none of the full mediation models explained a significant amount of variance in the health outcomes. For the moderation model, non-marital perceived emotional support moderated the association between the recency of an attack/assault using the self-rated health and functional health indicators for violence survivors, dependent on the time since the attack/assault. These findings suggest that the recency of an attack and source of support are critical to understanding the effect of violence on health, with implications for practitioners working with violence survivors.
Counterexamples to Strichartz Type Inequalities
Authors:   , Alhazaa Khalifa
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] The study of Strichartz s inequality is very important in the theory of nonlinear Shrodinger equations. The inequalities do not hold for all choice of constants. Many cases were settled. for instance, some cases were settled by Montegomery-Smith. In this paper we give a generalization to the usual Strichartz inequality using the Riesz potential. We then prove the inequality to hold in some cases and give counterexamples on other cases.
The relationship between high school sport participation and subsequent health behaviors of college young adults
Authors:   , Asigbee Fiona M.
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] Researchers have gathered irrefutable evidence substantiating that the increase in childhood obesity rates is primarily due to environmental and lifestyle factors such as (a) poor nutrition and (b) excessive sedentary behavior (Bentivegna; Powell, Han, and Chaloupka, 2010; Wilfley et al., 2007). Therefore, adequate physical activity (PA) and a diet rich in nutrient dense foods can help decrease a person's risk for becoming obese. Instead of focusing public health efforts on new interventions trying to elicit health behavior changes, this study attempted to highlight an overlooked organization that can be used to instill positive health behaviors in young children -- high school sport. More specifically, the primary purpose of this study was to determine whether there was a relationship between high school (HS) sport involvement and subsequent college health behaviors. Much of the literature discusses athletes' involvement in risk taking behaviors such as drug and alcohol use; however, there is a significant gap in the literature when it comes to discussions of athletes involvement in health behaviors, and understanding the relationship between these health behaviors and an individuals' involvement in sport. For the purposes of this study, health behaviors included dietary intake practices (vegetable, fruit, and dairy consumption) and physical activity habits (aerobic activity, strength activity, and flexibility activity). The study sample included traditional, full-time degree seeking undergraduate students who were randomly selected from a Midwestern university campus. Study participants were asked to complete an online 80 question survey; comprising a study sample of 1,339 participants. The study findings showed that high school (HS) sport involvement and sum of all sports for all four years of HS were significant predictors of the likelihood of meeting the recommendations for number of dairy servings per day and for number of days involved in aerobic, strength and flexibility physical activities. Results also demonstrated that sport involvement was a significant predictor of number of days involved in aerobic, strength, and flexibility physical activities. Lastly, the number of dairy servings and days involved in aerobic, strength, and flexibility activities were all significant with regards to specific HS sports of the study participants. Significant findings suggest a strong connection between high school sport involvement and its lasting effects on young adult health behaviors.
Experimental and simulation analysis of the jitter response of a single-shot oil switch with a high-K particle suspension
Authors:   , Yeckel Christopher
Published: April 2021

This dissertation investigates an oil switching system to address and reduce the jitter observed in the breakdown electric field strength of a pressurized, oil dielectric. The experimental work is conducted in two phases, the first of which examines the effects of oil chemistry on breakdown statistics, and the second of which considers the effects of high-K particle additions to the best-performing fluids. A single-shot high voltage advanced dielectric test stand (HVADTS) was designed and built to test these oils. The HVADTS is capable of applying a 250 kV pulse with a 1-cos rise-time of 1.6 us to a pressurized oil dielectric. Numerous oil chemistries were evaluated, including straight-chain hydrocarbons and branched olefins, silicone and ester fluids, alkylbenzene and transformer oil. Following the oil chemistry evaluation, a high-K particle dielectric was added in concentrations up to 5 % (by weight) to the best-performing fluids. Parameters such as particle concentration, gap spacing, electrode surface conditions and ambient fluid pressure are investigated experimentally. The experimental analysis is supported by PIC electrostatic simulations and a suite of diagnostics such as SEM imagery, optical profilometry, water titration, mass-spectrometry, and particle measurements. This dissertation discusses several methods to successfully reduce the switch jitter of a self-break oil switch.
Insidious role of complacency in business-to-business relationships
Authors:   , Kozlenkova Irina V.
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] This research draws on resource-based theory and heuristic versus systematic processing model and examines the effects of intentional and unintentional negative behaviors on performance of exchange relationships. Intentional negative behaviors investigated in this study include opportunism and conflict, while complacency represents an unintentional negative behavior. The research, conducted in two studies with experimental and survey-based data, investigates the role of complacency in the exchange process relative to intentional negative behaviors and across different types of performance outcomes. Furthermore, the research empirically tests factors, which suppress or enhance negative effects of complacency. The results of the research show that complacency adversely impacts exchange performance through a different mechanism than intentional negative behaviors of opportunism and conflict, namely through decreasing the deployment of exchange capabilities. Cognitive load worsens this negative relationship, while new relationship stage decreases the negative effects of complacency on the deployment of exchange capabilities. The research provides numerous important contributions that will benefit both theory and practice.
Asymptotically efficient estimators for geometric shape fitting and source localization
Authors:   , Ma Zhenhua
Published: April 2021

Solving the nonlinear estimation problem is known to be a challenging task because of the implicit relationship between the measurement data and the unknown parameters to be estimated. Iterative methods such as the Taylor-series expansion based ML estimator are presented in this thesis to solve the nonlinear estimation problem. However, they might suffer from the initialization and convergence problems. Other than the iterative methods, this thesis aims to provide a computational effective, asymptotically efficient and closed-form solution to the nonlinear estimation problem. Two kinds of classic nonlinear estimation problems are considered: the geometric shape fitting problem and the source localization problem. For the geometric shape fitting, the research in this thesis focuses on the circle and the ellipse fittings. Three iterative methods for the fitting of a single circle: the ML method, the FLS method and the SDP method, are provided and their performances are analyzed. To overcome the limitations of the iterative methods, asymptotically efficient and closed-form solutions for both the circle and ellipse fittings are derived. The good performances of the proposed solutions are supported by simulations using synthetic data as well as experiments on real images. The localization of a source via a group of sensors is another important nonlinear estimation problem studied in this thesis. Based on the TOA measurements, the CRLB and MSE results of a source location when sensor position errors are present are derived and compared to show the estimation performance loss due to the sensor position errors. A closed-formed estimator that takes into account the sensor position errors is then proposed. To further improve the sensor position and the source location estimates, an algebraic solution that jointly estimates the source and sensor positions is provided, which provides better performance in sensor position estimates at higher noise level comparing to the sequential estimation-refinement technique. The TOA based CRLB and MSE studies are further extended to the TDOA and AOA cases. Through the analysis one interesting result has been found: there are situations exist where taking into account the sensor position errors when estimating the source location will not improve the estimation accuracy. In such cases a calibration emitter with known position is needed to limit the estimation damage caused by the sensor position uncertainties. Investigation has been implemented to find out where would be the optimum position to place the calibration emitter. When the optimum calibration source position may be of theoretical interest only, a practical suboptimum criterion is developed which yields a better calibration emitter position than the closest to the unknown source criterion.
The Women's Cultural and Social Society (WCSS) : Its role in shaping women's political participation in Kuwait (1963-2010)
Authors:   , Alazmi Marzouqah Q.
Published: April 2021

Feminism and women's rights movements are often seen as concepts and activities that originated within the West. As it is important to examine sociological concepts where they occur, this study reviews these concepts within a particular culture and social context: that of the Kuwaiti society. Specific sociological and cultural features, which are important in shaping the petition for political participation of women in Kuwait are identified and examined. The focus of this dissertation is to understand the role and impact of one organization, the Women's Cultural and Social Society (WCSS), in the struggle to bring about women's political participation in Kuwait. The main strategies and methods used by the WCSS between 1960 and 2010 are emphasized. Data sources include interviews with members and leaders of the WCSS, members of the general population primary documents along with secondary (historical) documents and observations of activities organized by the WCSS. The findings of the study are: the WCSS is perceived as a liberal feminist organization in Kuwait and has an orientation that is quite different from that of the more conservative Islamist or Tribalist associations. The study also identified the various strategies and methods used by the WCSS in its drive to obtain political participation for women. Its strategies and methods changed over time due to specific social and political events occurring in the country. Finally, WCSS members and leaders felt the organization did have a significant impact over the period under discussion, but members of the general population felt that the organization had minimum impact.
Image and video analysis techniques for cellular microscopy
Authors:   , Ersoy Ilker
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] Advances in automated digital microscopy imaging made it possible to produce multi-dimensional image data that can capture dynamic characteristics of sub-cellular and cellular structures. Biologists routinely produce large volumes of bioimage time lapse data that necessitates automated algorithms for unbiased and repeatable quantitative analysis. These algorithms are the stepping stones in bioimage informatics to turn the image data into biological knowledge. Unique challenges posed by different imaging modalities and cell dynamics require a combination of accurate detection, segmentation, classification and tracking approaches tailored to address and exploit particular image characteristics. In this dissertation, we present algorithms for the analysis of microscopy image sequences to address these challenges. We propose a level set active contour approach to address accurate segmentation in phase-contrast as well as brightfield microscopy imaging that utilizes edge profiles. Our approach significantly outperforms traditional level set approaches. We show the applications of our approach to cell spreading analysis and red blood cell analysis with robust solutions for cell detection to delineate clustered cells. We also present two studies for automated classification of cells in fluorescence microscopy emphasizing the importance of choosing image features for the specific problem. Lastly, we present a fully automated cell detection and tracking approach tailored for muscle satellite cells that enables efficient and unbiased analysis of factors that promote cell motility.
The influence of organizational culture and power on status : how it is manifested in the open office
Authors:   , Anthony Lori A.
Published: April 2021

Organizational hierarchies are morphing from vertical to horizontal and as such, transforming cultures are shifting the focus from individualistic centrality to team performance and recognition. Status demarkation is blurred as employees struggle to define self-efficacy and establish identity within the organization. This multi-site case study assumed a constructivist stance, building rich theory from employees' perceptions of where and how they work. Guided by a grounded theory methodology, data collection was triangulated across 96 interviews, observations captured through photographs and memos, and document review of floor plans and websites of two well-established corporations. Data was transcribed and coded resulting in emergent themes of representativeness, cultural underpinnings, collaboration, hierarchy, and power. Using Duffy's organizational structure as the conceptual framework, these themes informed the classification of work environments as hives, dens, cells, and clubs which were assessed against the constructs of autonomy, interaction, power, and status. The theoretical supposition purports that collaborative work cultures must instill high autonomy and interaction among employees and in so doing, must mitigate the notion of 'power over' as manifested by hierarchy and surveillance. Evidence suggests that true collaboration is seemingly cloaked by the latent desire to watch others, the need for status, and the underlying manifestation of power is evidenced by the allocation and assignment of workspaces. While the organizational directive is to perpetuate a collaborative culture as evidenced by project and team work, the physical work environment overtly perpetuates the 'us versus them' or 'power over' culture nullifying innovative transformation and progress.
Fluorine-18 capture by substituted BODIPY derivatives
Authors:   , Cavins Patrick L.
Published: April 2021

For the medical community to effectively decrease the number of deaths caused by cancer each year, we must develop tools that allow for the early detection of biological abnormalities. Earlier detection is key to increasing the survival rate among cancer patients. A major tool currently used by the medical community is molecular imaging. However, the scope of molecular imaging is limited, so new molecular imaging agents must be developed. One the most ubiquitous biological molecules are peptides, and changes in peptide expression has been associated with cancer. However, molecular imaging does not presently have the tools required to monitor the entire class of peptides. In order to increase the scope of molecular imaging in regard to peptides, we have endeavored to create a new class of peptide imaging agents based on the BODIPY fluorophore. To date, we have demonstrated the ability of this scaffold to work effectively as an imaging agent in mouse models. These dyes are lipophilic in vivo so newer generations of this scaffold will have to address these concerns.
The nature and effects of political party culture on political careers
Authors:   , Davis John C.
Published: April 2021

Previous scholarship on the political cultures of the political parties provides anecdotal evidence regarding the distinct differences between the two major U.S. political parties. This conventional wisdom is based on one important essay authored by Jo Freeman nearly 30 years ago. To date, our understanding regarding the nature and effects of the political cultures of the Democratic and Republican parties suffers from lack of rigorous empirical examination. This study explores the political cultures of the political parties by examining the behaviors of congressional members seeking their party's nomination for another office. In this dissertation, I measure the extent which the Democratic and Republican parties' political cultures effect progressively ambitious members of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives. In addition, I provide firsthand accounts of how these cultures impact state legislative careers. The empirical tests I present in this project largely support Freeman's earlier accounts as to the nature of the two major parties' political cultures at the national level. Based on firsthand accounts, however, I also provide evidence to suggest the political cultures of the parties are subject to short-term, localized forces at the state-level.
Judicial impact on bureaucratic decision-making : the case of public procurement and contracting
Authors:   , Gao Yuan
Published: April 2021

This study examines whether and how much the bureaucracy responds to the judiciary. Specifically, I utilize cross-sectional, time-series data to analyze the extent to which variation in bureaucratic decision-making regarding affirmative action programs in public contracting across time and U.S. states is explained by the shifting legal environment. Federal agencies are found more likely to adjust minority contract amounts in response to the executive branch. State agencies appear to be somewhat responsive to courts during affirmative action goal-setting, but not in goal attainment. Overall, I did not find enough evidence that indicates significant bureaucratic responsiveness to judicial review. The lack of judicial impact may be further understood from utilitarian, communications and organizational theoretical perspectives.
Computational algorithms for predictive health assessments
Authors:   , Hajihashemi Zahra
Published: April 2021

Rapid aging of the population in the US requires increased attention from health care providers and from the entire society as a whole. While the elderly population (aged over 65) will increase by 8% until 2050 in the developed countries, the working-age population (age between 15 and 64 years) will decrease and its ratio to the elderly population will decline from 4.3 to 2.3. A possible solution to prevent unreported health problems in independently living older adults is through automatic health monitoring systems. The aim of this dissertation is to use sensor network technology to detect changes in health status of elderly living alone, alert health care providers, and augment traditional health care. In this dissertation, we address three topics. First, we discuss the problem of measuring the temporal similarity of two multidimensional time series. The second topic of this work is predicting health patterns using time series similarities. Third, we also propose three methods for identification of deviations in patterns of activities of daily livings (ADL) of older adults and use them to generate alerts for the healthcare providers. ADLs such as bathroom visits can be monitored by automated in-home sensor systems. Our proposed methods find periodicity in sensor time series data using clustering, item set mining, and statistical approaches.