bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of influencing factors of intellectual property protection based on fuzzy analytic hierarchy process
Authors: Liu Xiaowei
Published: April 2021

How to measure the level of intellectual property protection has been the focus of academic and practical circles, however, rigorous empirical evidence remains scant. The influencing factors of intellectual property protection are summarized and analyzed, and the evaluation index system of intellectual property protection at the provincial level is constructed with judicial, administrative, pluralistic, and environmental protections as the first-class indicators. The feasibility and reliability of the index system are tested empirically by using the 2019 data of intellectual property protection in certain provinces and cities in China. The index system can objectively reflect the level of intellectual property protection in provincial regions. The research has certain enlightenment to strengthen the performance appraisal of intellectual property protection and improve the level of intellectual property protection in the region and even in the country.
A sentiment analysis of the influence of service attributes on consumer satisfaction
Authors: Wang Man , Zhou Jia , Lin Huazhi
Published: April 2021

User generated content on web serves as a valuable source of information for both companies and consumers. Scholars have analyzed emotional polarity of the reviews to study customer satisfaction, but the dominant factors are not explained accurately by numerical ratings solo and the simplistic-categories of emotional polarity. This paper investigates the service attributes and detailed emotions effecting consumer satisfaction using deep learning, to explore how consumption satisfaction is influenced by emotions and what factors arouse the certain emotion. First, more than 120,000 online hotel reviews related were retrieved. Second, a novel and dataset-based seven-dimensional evaluation system, applying the BERT model was proposed. This solves the problem of polysemous words, and can more accurately reflect the service attributes consumers really care about. In particular, the analysis reveals that the overall consumer satisfaction is affected by key service attributes including service, cleanliness, equipment, price, location, internet and catering, among which the cleanliness attributes has the greatest impact. Lastly, the latest Kismet emotional recognition method was adopted to effectively identify the emotional polarity and 11 detailed emotions. The regression relationship between emotion and overall satisfaction was also verified, which enabled a more accurate analysis for consumption emotions and satisfaction.
A new EDAS method for probabilistic linguistic information based on evidence theory and its application in evaluating nursing homes
Authors: Li Peng , Wei Cuiping
Published: April 2021

With the sharp increase in the elderly population and the gradual invalidation of traditional long-term care style, the supply-demand contradiction for nursing homes services appears. A suitable evaluation mechanism is very useful to resolve the contradiction. The evaluation process can be seen as a multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) problem. Because some criteria are subjective and the evaluation process usually needs more than one decision maker (DM), probabilistic linguistic information is suitable to express DMs’ opinions. Therefore, we propose a novel EDAS method with probabilistic linguistic information based on D-S evidence theory for evaluating nursing homes. First, a new score function for probabilistic linguistic term set (PLTS) is put forward in order to compare PLTSs and use EDAS method conveniently. Then, a novel uncertainty measure based on D-S evidence theory is proposed to obtain the criteria weights. Furthermore, a novel EDAS method for PLTSs based on cobweb area model is put forward to reduce the effect of some extreme values influencing the decision result. Finally, our method is applied to a real case of evaluating nursing homes in Nanjing city, and the effectiveness of our method is illustrated by comparing the traditional decision methods.
Non-equidistant non-homogenous grey prediction model with fractional accumulation and its application
Authors: Zhu Jia-Nian , Liu Xu-Chong , Liu Chong
Published: April 2021

Non-equidistant non-homogenous grey model (abbreviated as NENGM (1,1, k) model) is a grey prediction model suitable for predicting time series with non-equal intervals. It is widely used in various fields of society due to its high prediction accuracy and strong adaptability. In order to further improve the prediction accuracy of the NENGM (1,1, k) model, the NENGM (1,1, k) model is optimized in terms of the cumulative order and background value of the NENGM (1,1, k) model, and a NENGM (1,1, k) model based on double optimization is established (abbreviated as FBNENGM (1,1, k) model), and the whale optimization algorithm is used to solve the best parameters of the model. In order to verify the feasibility and validity of the FBNENGM (1,1, k) model, the FBNENGM (1,1, k) model and other four prediction models are applied to three cases respectively, and three indexes commonly used to evaluate the performance of prediction models are used to distinguish. The results show that the prediction accuracy of the FBNENGM (1,1, k) model based on double optimization is better than other prediction models.
Depression or anxiety symptoms associated with occupational role transitions in Brazilian adults with a traumatic spinal cord injury: A multivariate analysis
Authors: Placeres Aline Ferreira , Fiorati Regina Célia , Alonso Jonas Bodini , Carrijo Débora Couto de Mello , Jesus Tiago Silva
Published: April 2021

BACKGROUND: Psychological morbidity is commonly experienced by people with a spinal cord injury (SCI), but whether it is associated with occupational role transitions in is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To analyze whether anxiety or depression symptoms are independently associated to increased likelihoods of role transitions in adults with SCI. METHODS: Cross-sectional study; multivariate analysis using a heteroscedastic Dirichlet regression. Participants: Thirty persons with traumatic SCI. Measures: Role Checklist (e.g. role transitions: dependent variables) and Beck’s Depression Inventory and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (independent variables), adjusted for socio-demographic, functional, and injury-level confounders. RESULTS: Greater depression symptoms independently increased the likelihood of occupational role transitions, either for roles loss [adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 1.04; 95% confidence interval (CI):1.009–1.080] or roles gain [AOR: 1.07; 95% CI:1.02–1.13], as opposed to continued occupational roles. Higher anxiety as a trait, in turn, independently reduced the likelihood of occupational roles gain [AOR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.869–0.992]. The “worker” role was the one lost more frequently (83%). CONCLUSION: Psychological morbidity is associated to occupational role transitions, as opposed to continued roles. Further research (e.g. with larger samples, longitudinal design, using structural equation modelling) should elucidate on the intricate relationships between mental health status and occupational role transitions in people experiencing SCI.
Job demands, work engagement and job turnover intentions among registered nurses: Explained by work-family private life inference
Authors: Pennbrant Sandra , Dåderman Anna
Published: April 2021

BACKGROUND: The job demands on nurses have increased. Conflict between work life and family life may lead to stress and lower work engagement. Consequently, nurses may choose a different career path or leave the profession. OBJECTIVE: Examine the extent to which perceived job demands (interpersonal conflicts at work and workload), work engagement, work-family conflict and family-work conflict are associated with turnover intentions, and examine a possible moderating effect of work-family conflict on the relationship between the intention to leave the nursing profession, job demands and work engagement. METHODS: Cross-sectional study using Hobfoll’s Conservation of Resources theory. Data were collected from a sample of 807 registered nurses (RNs) from western Sweden. Tests of moderation were conducted using the PROCESS software macro developed by Andrew F. Hayes. RESULTS: Work-family conflict was a significant moderator in the relationship between the intentions to leave the nursing profession and work engagement as well as interpersonal conflicts at work. Low work engagement, high work-family conflict and high job demands intensify turnover intentions in well-educated and well-experienced nurses. CONCLUSIONS: The results imply that work-family conflict has a greater impact when RNs experience lower work engagement. In other words, higher motivation implies a lower moderation effect of work-family conflict. Managers should promote a positive working climate by listening to and providing nurses with opportunities to develop their skills. By so doing, managers can gain better understanding of nurses’ resources, knowledge and work situation, thus strengthening nurses’ confidence and ability to practice their profession.
Perception of just culture and its association with work–related psychosocial factors in an Iranian industrial setting: Implications for prevention of errors
Authors: Mahmoudi Davoud , Nazari Saeed , Castellucci Héctor Ignacio , Dianat Iman
Published: April 2021

BACKGROUND: A just culture is one in which the reporting of errors and near misses is supported without fear of retribution. The relationship of just culture and psychosocial factors at work has not been explored sufficiently in the literature. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the perception of just culture and its association with socio-demographic and work-related psychosocial factors among 302 employees in an industrial setting in Iran. METHODS: Just culture was assessed using the Just Culture Assessment Tool, and the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire was used for evaluation of psychosocial work factors (including influence at work, meaning of work, commitment to the workplace, predictability, rewards, quality of leadership, social support from supervisors, trust, and justice and respect). Data were analysed using t test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and general linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The results indicated that the employees had a fairly positive view on their organisation’s just culture, though there were some areas such as trust and balance that needed further attention. The psychosocial issues (particularly commitment to the workplace, meaning of work, social support from supervisors, and rewards) were not adequate from the employees’ perspective. Predictability, rewards, and quality of leadership, were the significant psychosocial predictors of just culture in a multivariate regression model. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the areas that need to be considered to improve the experience of organisational just culture, which is important from the point of view of prevention of safety errors and incidents.
Risk factors for stress among police officers: A systematic literature review
Authors: Galanis Petros , Fragkou Despoina , Katsoulas Theodoros A.
Published: April 2021

BACKGROUND: Stress is common among police personnel leading to several negative consequences. OBJECTIVE: We performed a systematic literature review to identify risk factors for stress among police officers. METHODS: We searched PubMed and Scopus electronic databases through to July 2018 and we conducted this review according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used for studies quality assessment. RESULTS: After selection, 29 cross-sectional studies met the inclusion criteria and included in the review. The average quality of studies was low since no study was rated as having low risk of bias, three studies (10.3%) as moderate risk and 26 studies (89.7%) were rated as having high risk of bias. Stress risk factors were summarized in the following categories: demographic characteristics; job characteristics; lifestyle factors; negative coping strategies and negative personality traits. CONCLUSIONS: Identification of stress risk factors is the first step to create and adopt the appropriate interventions to decrease stress among police personnel. The early identification of police officers at higher risk and the appropriate screening for mental health disorders is crucial to prevent disease and promote quality of life.
Managing "Amazonia": a cultural case study of female leadership at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Authors:   , Everbach Tracy
Published: April 2021

This ethnographic study, the first comprehensive examination of a newspaper managed by women at its highest levels, found that female leaders made some differences in newsroom management and culture, and, to a lesser degree, newspaper content. Based on feminist and organizational theories, the study entailed an examination of the Sarasota (Fla.) Herald-Tribune during a time when an all-female management team led the newspaper. Through the methods of interviews, observation and content analysis, the study found that the managers brought their feminine standpoints to the workplace. They created a work environment that emphasized teamwork, consensus and a balance of work and family. The study also found that the female leadership changed some of the processes and philosophies that had been established by previous male managers at the newspaper. However, the outcome revealed that established masculine news values and practices of reporting, editing, and selecting images and news remained entrenched despite the all-female management team. The female gatekeepers selected and published news topics that conformed to male-dominated news values and influenced content only in small, selected areas.
The formation of a community of practice in preservice teacher education : the interaction of the classroom environment and new communication technologies
Authors:   , Poole Melissa J.
Published: April 2021

The goal of this study was to examine the development of a group of preservice teachers over three semesters during the second phase of their coursework and fieldwork in the teacher development program at a major Midwestern university. The questions at the heart of the study were whether this cohort of preservice teachers developed community. What markers of community were evidenced? What contextual factors served to support or impede the development of community? Data were collected through observation of their courses, a series of interviews with a sample of preservice teachers, and archiving artifacts of their coursework such as the course syllabi, reading materials, and their discussions online. Data analysis was grounded in theory about the nature of community, communities of practice, teacher communities, online communities and in a sociocultural theory of technological change. The findings suggest that these preservice teachers began to form community during their years in the teacher development program. This community began to evolve from a community of practice into a professional learning community as they developed from college students into practicing teachers. However, the culture of the classroom, the physical arrangement of the room and the importance given to students' voices in class and online, played a large role in fostering and supporting the development of community.
An assessment of the cognitive behavior exhibited by secondary agriculture teachers
Authors:   , Ulmer Jonathan D.
Published: April 2021

Federal initiatives, state legislation, and educational leaders have encouraged educators to teach higher-order thinking skills. Teacher behaviors have been identified as variables of influence for higher-order thinking. The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of cognitive behavior exhibited by secondary agriculture teachers, how they compare to science teachers, and what characteristics are indicators of specific cognitive behaviors. The sample consisted of agriculture teachers in Central Missouri. Biology teachers from each school were utilized as a comparison group. For this descriptive-correlational study, the Florida Taxonomy of Cognitive Behaviors was used. Additionally, an attitudinal questionnaire was used to collect the teachers' attitude toward teaching at higher cognitive levels. Agriculture teachers had a slightly favorable attitude toward teaching at higher cognitive levels. Eighty-two percent of agriculture teachers' observed class time was spent on lower-order behavior. Science teachers were found to have similar results. No differences were found between agriculture and science teachers' cognitive behaviors. Measures should be taken at both the in-service and pre-service level to inform teachers of the importance of cognitive behavior and techniques for exhibiting cognitive behavior. Teacher, school, and class characteristics did not predict cognitive behavior with the current data.
Small newspapers, big changes: awareness of market-driven journalism and consequences for community newspapers
Authors:   , Gross Richard Robert
Published: April 2021

This study examines the attitudes of journalists at small newspapers toward market-driven journalism. The researcher queried 29 journalists at nine small Missouri newspapers. The author employed qualitative method using several data sets to examine the possible relationship among certain phenomena related to the question of market-driven journalism at small newspapers. How is marketdriven journalism perceived by editorial employees at small newspapers; to what extent do financial considerations guide their newspapers' coverage of their communities; and, how well does the newspaper content reflect the composition and concerns of the respective communities? The study concludes that journalists at small newspapers do have an understanding of the impact of market-driven journalism, that financial considerations do have an impact on news coverage by these newspapers to varying degrees depending on the resources of the newspaper, and that community newspapers do not adequately represent the composition of their communities, particularly new and growing population segments.
The absolute functional calculus for sectorial operators
Authors:   , Kucherenko Tamara
Published: April 2021

We introduce the absolute functional calculus for sectorial operators. This notion is stronger than the common holomorphic functional calculus. We are able to improve a key theorem related to the maximal regularity problem and hence demonstrate the power and usefulness of our new concept. In trying to characterize spaces where sectorial operators have absolute calculus, we find that certain real interpolation spaces play a central role. We are then extending various known results in this setting. The idea of unifying theorems about sectorial operators on real interpolation spaces permeates our work and opens paths for future research on this subject.
Counselor's multicultural competencies: from gender and ethnicity perspectives
Authors:   , Chao Ruth Chu-lien
Published: April 2021

Multicultural counseling competencies are stressed so as to maximize counseling efficacy. Previous research discovered how social desirability tends to confound counselors' self-perceived multicultural competence, which multicultural training helped to enhance. Still, counselors' perception of their own gender roles, ethnic backgrounds, and racial attitudes were absent in the training conducted at present. This dissertation examines how respondents' social desirability, race, gender, multicultural training, ethnic identity awareness, and color blind racial attitudes, influence counselors' self-perceived multicultural counseling competencies. The present dissertation collected with web-survey respondents of 338 counselors and counselor trainees, aged between 20 and 68. They are made of 279 females and 59 males. Analyzed with hierarchical multiple regression, the results obtained were as follows. Social desirability influenced respondents' reported multicultural competence, as measured by the Multicultural Counseling Inventory. The respondents' multicultural training, gender role perception, ethnic identity, and color blind racial attitudes did significantly contribute to their self-perceived multicultural counseling competence. These results indicated the critical importance of multicultural training that might do well to focus on enhancing counselors' awareness of their ethnic identities, flexible perceptions of gender roles, and reducing color-blind racial attitudes.
What's the big deal?: the effect of corporate reforms on manufacturing productivity in Korea
Authors:   , Kang Hojong
Published: April 2021

Although Korea has achieved striking economic success during last four decades, following the 1997-98 foreign exchange crisis, Korea's economy was in urgent need of restructuring amid a series of corporate bankruptcies and a paralyzing credit crunch. In this paper using an unpublished plant-level panel data set, I explore changes in total factor productivity and its growth before and after the crisis. In order to do so, I sort out eight industries that were most likely affected by the "Big Deal Program". The results suggest the Big Deal had a positive and significant effect on TFP levels. Bigger plants in Big Deal industries had differentially higher TFP levels However, these results are not robust to the bigger plants classified as being in the top 5% in terms of K/L ratio. Unlike the results for TFP levels, coefficient for the three variable interaction term ( DiTt[arrow][tau] Spt ) are all positive and significant with the plant-size specification. It means the bigger plants in eight Big Deal industries have more productivity growth even though they have lower TFP levels than the smaller plants after the reform. Depending on the plant-size specifications, the Big Deal program had a positive effect on the bigger plants in the Big Deal industries of 0.1 to 1.39 percents.
On the use of multiple emitters to improve the TDOA source localization accuracy in the presence of random sensor position errors
Authors:   , Yang Le
Published: April 2021

It is known that random sensor position errors can significantly degrade the TDOA source localization accuracy. In this thesis, we conduct a systematic study on using the calibration emitters to mitigate the effect of random sensor position errors. Four localization scenarios are considered. They are (i) locating a single source with a calibration emitter at accurate location; (ii) locating a single source with calibration emitters at inaccurate locations; (iii) locating multiple disjoint sources in the presence of random sensor position errors; and (iv) tracking a single moving source while simultaneously calibrating sensor positions. Note that scenario (iii) includes the problem of locating a source with calibration emitters at completely unknown locations as a special case. Moreover, scenario (iv) can be viewed as the extension of scenario (iii) in the sense that the unknown source positions are now generated by a moving source. For each localization scenario, we investigate the amount of performance improvement in terms of TDOA source localization accuracy brought by the use of the calibration emitters via deriving the corresponding CRLB of the source positions. More importantly, we propose novel source localization algorithms that can explore the TDOA measurements from the calibration emitters to reduce the effect of random sensor position errors. Theoretical performance analysis is conducted to show that the proposed localization algorithms are all able to reach the CRLB accuracy under mild conditions. Extensive simulation results are provided to corroborate the theoretical developments.
Regulation of L-type calcium channel sparklet activity by PKC and C-src
Authors:   , Gulia Jyote
Published: April 2021

Ca2+ sparklets are elementary fluorescence events associated with Ca2+ entry through L-type Ca2+ channels (Cav1.2) channels and are classified as persistent
and low activity Ca2+ sparklets. Persistent Ca2+ sparklets are characterized by longer and more
frequent channel open events and account for approximately 50 percent of the steady state Ca2+
entry through Cav1.2 channels. Previous studies suggest that the alpha isoform of protein kinase C (PKCalpha]) underlies persistent Ca2+ sparklet activity, but the mechanism of PKC[alpha] action on Cav1.2 channels is unclear. c-Src, another highly expressed kinase in vascular smooth muscle, phosphorylates Cav1.2 to increase whole-cell Ba2+ current (IBa) but it remains unknown if c-Src induces persistent Ca2+ sparklet activity through Cav1.2 channels. Here, I addressed two questions: 1) Does c-Src produce persistent Ca2+ sparklets through Cav1.2c (the neuronal isoform of Cav1.2)? 2) Does PKC[alpha] activate c-Src to produce persistent Ca2+ sparklets? TIRF microscopy was used to record Ca2+ sparklets from voltage-clamped HEK 293T cells co-expressing wild type (WT) or mutant Cav1.2c + active or inactive PKC[alpha]/c-Src. The results indicate that c-Src produces persistent Ca2+ sparklet activity, which is significantly reduced in the presence of the c-Src inhibitor, PP2, or with overexpression of kinase-dead c-Src. I tested two potential c-Src phosphorylation sites (Y2122F and Y2139F) on Cav1.2c for their role in production of persistent Ca2+sparklets. The Y2122F mutation significantly reduced persistent Ca2+sparklet activity while the Y2139F mutation was without any effect, indicating that c-Src phosphorylates Cav1.2c at Y2122 to induce persistent Ca2+ sparklets. Y2122F and Y2139F mutations did not have any significant effect on persistent Ca2+ sparklets in cells expressing Cav1.2c + PKC[alpha], indicating that PKC[alpha] does not act upstream of c-Src to produce persistent Ca2+sparklets. Whether PKC[alpha] phosphorylates S1901, the classical PKA phosphorylation site, to produce persistent Ca2+sparklet activity remains to be resolved.
Identification of perceptions of reincarcerated men concerning community reintegration life experiences in Missouri as measured by the Community Reentry Survey and prediction of group membership
Authors:   , Berry Meridith J. Hembree
Published: April 2021

Recidivism is a serious problem in the United States as well as Missouri. According to the 2008 Missouri Probation and Parole Annual Report, 108,787 people were under supervision of Missouri Probation and Parole at some point in FY 2008. That same year in Missouri, 15,256 people violated the conditions of probation or parole and were incarcerated. The good news is, the rate is decreasing. However, the current recidivist trend data indicates approximately 24,500 will return to prison by 2011. The cost of incarceration is measured not only in dollars, but is also measured in absent parents, loss of productivity, and in loss of potential. Various programs are in place to rehabilitate offenders to give them the tools to successfully integrate into the community. This quantitative study examines the perceptions about life situations of reincarcerated men in a Missouri correctional institution. The literature review includes a brief history of the penal system. The methods used in this study included a survey tool, Community Reentry Survey, which was administered to incarcerated volunteers. Findings indicated the source of problems for ex-offenders as they tried to reintegrate in the community included substance abuse, ability to find employment, and old friends and acquaintances.
The Economic consequences of water utility disruptions - WITHDRAWN
Authors:   , Alva Lizarraga Sara
Published: April 2021

This research produces an economic impact analysis of short duration water utility disruptions to evaluate the consequences of alternative restoration decisions. The study constructs a continuous dynamic disequilibrium demand driven social accounting matrix with supply constraints that incorporates short-run resilience and other strategies employed by businesses, government institutions and households. It is constructed using the IMPLAN database and survey responses of recent water disruption events. The utility of the model is demonstrated by simulating three alternative water service restoration schemes of hypothetical water outages. The results demonstrate that different restoration strategies produce different total output and value added losses. It also shows that, in addition to total valued added losses, time costs, and the additional losses of households and government institutions are important components of total losses and should be considered when comparing restoration strategies. Finally, it highlights the importance of resilience in reducing the overall economic consequences of disruptions. It is expected that this model will help policy makers assess post-alternative recovery and restoration strategies when this type of event occurs. The model can also be used to identify the most critical industries when evaluating precautionary measures and mitigation strategies in order to minimize economic losses.
Quantitative trait loci analysis of four components of Fusarium head blight resistance in the soft red winter wheat cultivar Truman
Authors:   , Islam Md Sariful
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] Fusarium head blight (FHB) mainly caused by Fusarium graminearum Schwabe [telomorph: Gibberella zeae Schw. (Petch)] causes devastating losses in wheat globally. Host-plant resistance provides the best hope for reducing economic losses but sources of resistance are limited. "Truman" soft red winter wheat, developed and released by the University of Missouri has excellent broad-based FHB resistance. This research was conducted to identify QTL associated with five components of resistance in Truman. Two years (2 replications per year) of phenotypic data were collected on these components of resistance on a set of 167 F9 recombinant inbred lines developed from the cross Truman/MO 94-317. Genetic linkage maps were constructed using 160 single sequence repeat and 530 diversity array technology polymorphic markers. Across years, QTL for type II resistance were identified on chromosomes 1BSc, 2BL, 2DS and 3BSc; for disease incidence on 2ASc, 2DS, and 3DS; for disease severity on 2DS, and 3BSc; for Fusarium damage kernels (FDK) on 2ASc, 2DS, and 3BLc; and for low DON on 2ASc, 2DS, and 3BLc. Additional QTL for FDK were identified on 1BLc, 2ASc, and 3BLc; and for DON on 2ASc, 2DS, and 6ALc were identified from phenotypic data collected in Kentucky. The effects of identified QTL ranged from 5.0 to 30.7 % of the total phenotypic variation. Several of these QTL appear to be potentially novel and therefore should enhance FHB resistance in programs attempting to pyramid unique FHB resistance genes through marker-assisted-selection.
The filth and the fury : a rhetoric of punk
Authors:   , Kristiansen Lars J.
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] On December 1st, 1976, punk exploded onto the British cultural scene when the Sex Pistols appeared on Thames Television's Today show. Sporting a historically unprecedented rhetorical style, deliberately utilizing what some critics have described as the filthiest language ever spoken on British television, the band immediately caused a stir. Over the course of the following four decades subsequent generations of punks have continued trodding down the path laid out by the Sex Pistols, ceaselessly endeavoring to fan the oppositional flame of punk. While scholars from a variety of academic disciplines have examined punk in numerous ways, utilizing a wide array of theories and analytical frameworks, historical analyses are lacking in some important respects. Because most orthodox punk scholarship has approached punk as either: (1) a subculture, (2) an avenue for identity construction, or (3) a musical genre, the messages inherent in punk have not been properly attended to and thus been left under-theorized. This study remedies some of these theoretical concerns by systematically analyzing punk texts through utilization of the rhetorical inventional method provided by Prelli (1989). In short, this study examines the rhetorical and argumentative foundations and operations of punk through inspection of the ends, means, goals, and commonplaces associated with punk discourse.
An evaluation of the relationship between self-esteem and pet bonding in children
Authors:   , Evans-Smith Pamela L.
Published: April 2021

Obesity has been linked to many physical as well as psychological problems. Many children who are obese suffer from low self-esteem. No studies have been published documenting the effect of owning a dog on the self-esteem of children who are obese. This study used a non-experimental, descriptive, four-group comparison design. One-hundred-twenty participants comprised the four groups: obese children with a dog, obese children without a dog, children of a healthy weight with a dog, and children of a healthy weight without a dog. Participants who were in the 85th percentile or higher for their height and weight were placed in the obese group. All participants completed the Self-Perception Profile for Children (SPPC) and participants who owned a dog that lived in the house at least 50% of the time also completed the Pet Bonding Scale (PBS). The four groups were similar on most demographic characteristics. Obese children had lower scores in the domains of Physical Appearance, Social Competence, and Self-Worth. Participants in the study who owned a dog, both obese and of a healthy weight, were more likely to have lower Physical Appearance and Behavioral Conduct scores. All 60 participants in this study who owned a dog considered the dog to be a member of their family. The findings of this study can be used as the basis for future studies evaluating the relationships between dog ownership of obese children and effects on self-esteem.
Mobile aging: A randomized trial of mobility transition counseling for high-risk older adults
Authors:   , Stowe James
Published: April 2021

Older adults with medical conditions that impair function are at the highest risk for driving retirement. This Randomized Controlled Trial investigated the efficacy of an intervention that facilitated planning for a likely driving transition among medically-impaired elders - those with vision, cognitive, or psychomotor impairment. A 2-to-1 allocation ratio resulted in comparisons between 26 intervention and 13 attention control (n = 39) group members who were recruited from health care sites. The intervention consisted of two sessions of facilitated planning in which the participant's health, transportation alternatives, attitudes/emotions regarding a change in mobility, and actions to ensure continued safe mobility were discussed. Moreover, all participants received supportive phone calls during the 6 month intervention period. Results showed that when compared to the control group, the intervention group had significantly better subjective health, fewer high-risk driving behaviors, and drove less distance on excursions from home at follow up. Simple repeated measures analyses were not significant. Results suggest that facilitated planning may help ease the transition to driving retirement among some high-risk older adults.
Immunize the vaccine rumors: Effects of inoculation messages and tone of voice on HPV vaccine compliance
Authors:   , Park Eunhae
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] The primary purpose of this study was to develop an effective health communication strategy to guide the decision-making process of parents regarding the HPV vaccine. People are currently surrounded by conflicting information (e.g., hearsay, misinformation, and conspiracy theories) through media, particularly online media. This misinformation can interrupt the decision-making process, making it no longer sufficient for health care practitioners to just issue facts and recommendations. Now, they also need to develop compliance. To do this, based on inoculation theory, this study posited that inoculation messages, as opposed to supportive messages, will work to enhance resistance to future attack messages about HPV vaccine issues. The resistance is assumed to increase positive outcomes of health communication, such as positive attitude and higher intention to vaccinate, and higher intention to share the content with other people. This study also attempts to explore how the tone of voice (human voice vs. organizational voice) interplays with the inoculation message in health communication online. The current study used a 2 (message content: inoculation vs. supportive) ï¿½ 2 (tone of voice: human voice vs. organizational voice) mixed experimental design. The message content served as a between-subjects factor while the tone of voice served as a within-subjects factor. A total of 231 parents who have teenage children were recruited through Amazon Turk to participate in the study. According to the results, people who were exposed to inoculation messages were more likely to have a positive attitude toward HPV vaccination, a higher intention to vaccinate their children, and a higher intention to share the content with others. Unlike the main effects of the inoculation messages, the hypotheses about the tone of voice were not supported except intention to word of mouth. Overall, this study shed a light on vaccine communication, showing that providing people with warnings about possible counter-arguments they may encounter as well as refutations (i.e., inoculation message) can enhance resistance to misinformation about vaccines.
A study of consumer responses to sustainability strategies in the hotel industry : examining the efficacy of corporate social responsibility
Authors:   , Kim Sung-Bum
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] The empirical findings in the current dissertation reveal that corporate associations (i.e., CA and CSR) are a significant antecedent to customer relationship quality (i.e., satisfaction and trust) for the context of this dissertation. As expected, corporate associations exert positive effects on satisfaction and trust within the hotel context. Hence, relationship-based marketing tactics are essential for building mutually beneficial, long-term relationships. While some studies propose that CSR associations directly generate more customer loyalty without requiring the intervention of mediating variables, this study makes a contribution to the field by examining the variables that mediate the link between corporate associations and customer loyalty via satisfaction and trust, as well as the moderating variable of transparency links between CSR associations, satisfaction, trust on customer loyalty.
Maximizing information for evaluation of incident management systems with an emphasis on secondary accidents
Authors:   , Chilukuri Venkata
Published: April 2021

Incident management is the process of mitigating the effects of traffic incidents via quick and effective response, thus reducing the congestion and the potential for secondary accidents. The evaluation of incident management system (IMS) is challenging and data intensive since incident occurrence and location cannot be predicted. But secondary accidents which occur due to the primary incident offer a window into how effective the incident management system is working. Lower the number of secondary incidents indicates an effective IMS. This research shows by maximizing the incident information i.e. traffic volumes, travel times, roadway capacity, incident progression curves; one can accurately understand the impact of incidents and the number of secondary incidents. This research will help government agencies in fine tuning their IMS policies and components by their returned value.
Dosimetric properties and radiation hardness of the storage phosphor europium doped potassium chloride for radiation therapy dosimetry
Authors:   , Driewer Joseph P.
Published: April 2021

Multidimensional reusable dosimeters are extremely important for characterizing the complex dose distributions associated with modern radiation therapy techniques, such as intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). In particular, reusability provides medical physicists a degree of confidence in dosimetric measurements through the acquisition of benchmarking datasets and through long-term, repeated use and performance monitoring. Yet a dosimeter that has all of the properties desired for radiation therapy use, such as reusability, high spatial resolution, and water-equivalence, is not currently available. The results of this dissertation demonstrate that the reusable storage phosphor europium doped potassium chloride, KCl:Eu2+, has the potential to significantly advance the state-of-the-art in radiation therapy dosimetry. Prototype chip and panel dosimeters were fabricated according to well-developed materials science processes. Dosimetric properties were studied by reading photostimulated luminescence (PSL) after irradiation with a laboratory optical system. Sensitivity was independent of dose rate and beam energy for commonly used therapy beams. Over-response to low-energy scattered photons was comparable to conventional radiographic film and reduced with lead foils. No significant changes in the PSL process were detected up to 5000 Gy dose history, indicating that the material could be reused up to 2500 times at 2 Gy per use, as in, for example, patient-specific IMRT quality assurance. Investigations of KCl:Eu2+ panel dosimeters show that sub-millimeter spatial resolution is achievable and that micron-scale dosimeters have a water-equivalent dose response with sufficient sensitivity over clinically relevant dose ranges. In conclusion, KCl:Eu2+ is demonstrated to have many desirable properties for radiation therapy dosimetry. This study provides a practical and theoretical knowledge base that advances and supports future KCl:Eu2+ dosimetry research.
Vascular smooth muscle calcium waves in isolated arterioles : interactions between intraluminal pressure and intracellular calcium handling
Authors:   , Ella Srikanth Reddy
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Arterioles, an important control element in the circulatory system regulate blood flow in part though a phenomenon known as the 'Myogenic Response'. Myogenic response of small vessels is their ability to constrict in response to increase in intraluminal pressure or conversely dilate in response to a reduction in pressure. Calcium (Ca[superscript 2+]) is an important and essential signaling element for myogenic constriction. Apart from steady elevations in smooth muscle intracellular Ca[superscript 2+] in response to agonists or intraluminal pressure, several local and temporal Ca[superscript 2+] events such as sparks, waves, flashes also exist. These temporal Ca[superscript 2+] events are differentially regulated in several vascular beds and are poorly understood. Therefore, the current project aimed to understand the effects of intraluminal pressure on arteriolar vascular smooth muscle Ca+ waves in rat cremaster muscle arterioles. The project aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the generation of Ca[superscript 2+] waves and postulate a possible physiological role for the Ca[superscript 2+] waves. Increases in intraluminal pressure increased the Ca[superscript 2+] wave activity, described by the number of cells exhibiting Ca[superscript 2+] waves and their frequency. Ca[superscript 2+] waves occurred due to the activation of the IP3 receptors present on the sarcoplasmic reticulum in the cells. The presence of Ca[superscript 2+] waves in the smooth muscle cells provided a general level of vascular activation, wherein the wave activity is modulated to change the temporal responses of the myogenic behaviour. Elimination of Ca[superscript 2+] waves delayed the myogenic constriction, while increased Ca[superscript 2+] wave activity fastened the myogenic constriction.--From public.pdf
Eat for life : a quasi-experimental trial of a novel mindfulness-based intuitive eating intervention
Authors:   , Bush Hannah E.
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] Adult women in the community experience a range of problematic relationships with food and their bodies. This is demonstrated in the high prevalence of obesity and overweight, disordered eating, and body image dissatisfaction. Existing interventions targeting these issues are limited in scope and targeted population. More holistic interventions that meet the range of needs of adult women in the community are needed. This study examines the efficacy of one such intervention, called Eat for Life. The Eat for Life program combines two innovative paradigms, intuitive eating and mindful eating, to help women develop a positive relationship with food and their bodies. The study hypothesized that participants in the Eat for Life program would demonstrate significantly better outcomes on a range of eating and weight-related measures than those in a wait-list control group. Results demonstrated that at post-10 weeks, Eat for Life participants demonstrated significantly greater scores on intuitive eating, mindfulness, and body appreciation and significantly lower scores on disordered eating than those in the wait-list group. Results also found mindfulness to serve as a partial mechanism of the significant differences between groups on the other measures. These findings have implications for the positive effects of intuitive and mindful eating in the treatment of a range of eating and weight-related issues.
Agriculture during the Reagan years
Authors:   , Ward Jay Woodward
Published: April 2021

The Farm Crisis of the 1980s occurred during the Reagan Presidency. To date virtually nothing has been written concerning the approach taken by the Reagan administration to combat the crisis. To fill that gap, this study makes extensive use of the Ronald Reagan Presidedential Library to provide insight into the conflict between the administration and Congress over the method to ameliorate the economic crisis in agriculture. The study concludes that while the administration tried to extract the government from the agricultural ecomny, that goal was impossible to reach.