bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring the symbiotic relationship of plants and microbes by mass spectrometry imaging
Authors:   , Agtuca Beveley Jose
Published: April 2021

Current practices in agriculture make use of chemical inputs including nitrogen fertilizers to provide high crop yields since nitrogen is often the limiting nutrient in field soil. However, nitrogen fertilizer use has negative impacts; such as due to extensive chemical runoff into waterways, increases in use of fossil fuel-derived energy with concomitant increases in greenhouse gas emissions, and accumulating costs correlated with fertilizer distribution. In contrast, biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), offers an alternative way to provide crops with required nitrogen. BNF is a process by which specific microbes convert nitrogen gas into ammonia, a form readily utilized by the plant. This dissertation focuses on two, symbiotic BNF systems: one, the intimate association between Bradyrhizobium japonicum and soybean and, two, the less intimate, associative BNF interaction between the model grass species Setaria viridis and the endophytic, plant growth promoting bacterium (PGPB) Herbaspirillum seropedicae. While these systems have both been studied at the level of the transcriptome and, to some degree, the proteome, much less is known as to how the metabolome (metabolites) change in response to bacterial colonization and nitrogen fixation. In both of these symbiotic associations, bacterial colonization is limited to specific sites and, therefore, relatively few plant cells are directly exposed to the bacteria. Therefore, in order to limit any dilution of signal due to non-responding tissues, we employed a mass spectroscopy imaging method, which allowed us to specifically target plant cells nearby or in direct contact with the bacteria. We applied an advanced and highthroughput technique called laser ablation electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LAESI-MS) for in situ metabolic profiling. This reliable approach requires minimal sample preparation, while preserving the spatial information of biomolecules in their native state. The results provide information regarding those metabolic pathways that play a significant role in the symbiosis. Overall, the data demonstrate that LAESI-MS holds tremendous potential for use in further studies of plant-microbe interactions, as well as other plant processes.
Utilizing hydrologic soil grouping to estimate corn nitrogen rate recommendations
Authors:   , Bean G. Mac
Published: April 2021

Nitrogen fertilizer recommendations in corn (Zea mays L.) that match crop N need are imperative to increasing profitability and preventing environmental contamination. However, processes influencing corn production (i.e. leaching and denitrification) are affected by soil and weather characteristics making it difficult to know when and how much N fertilizer to apply to match crop N need. In an effort to improve N fertilizer management, this dissertation explored the ability of soil, weather, and microbial respiration measurements to inform N rate recommendations based on hydrologic soil grouping (HG) and drainage classifications. Using 49 sites over three growing seasons (2014-2016), five HG-based groups were delineated. Following linear regression, soil and weather measurements were found related to the economical optimum N fertilizer rate (EONR) unique to each of the respective groups resulting in five separate N recommendation models. Furthermore, a total of 182 site-years of corn N response trial data were gathered across six U.S. Midwest Corn Belt states to validate these models. Two analyses were performed, one for comparing the HG-based model recommendations to EONR and another comparing HG-based model recommendations to state-specific corn N rate tools. Across all site-years and N timings the HG-based N recommendations were within 34 kg N ha-1 of EONR 38% of the time. State-specific N recommendation tools were within 34 kg N ha-1 of EONR 32% of the time. Over all site-years the HG-based models were more sensitive to site-specific crop N demand. In addition, when analyzed within each individual state, significant differences between approaches were observed. While showing some promise, these results suggest more research is required to determine the applicability of the HG-based model approach for corn N fertilizer management.
Participatory effects of political satire revisited in the age of digital media : the role of hard news, political expression and social media
Authors:   , Choi Heesook
Published: April 2021

This study examines the participatory effects of political satire, specifically late-night talk shows, in the age of digital media. Based on the O-S-R-O-R (background Orientation-Stimulus-Reasoning-outcome Orientation-Response) model of communication effects, this study theorizes and tests structural relationships in which audience factors (e.g., partisanship, hard news use) guide political satire viewing, and information processing activities (e.g., political talk, social media expression) and cognitive outcomes (e.g., political knowledge, political efficacy) channel the impact of the audience factor-driven political satire viewing on participation. More importantly, this study examines, for the first time, the role of social media in both political satire viewing and political expression, and its influence on participation. Data from a nationally representative survey (N=573) suggest that hard news use is an essential prerequisite for the participatory effects of political satire viewing. In addition, partisanship is a key predictor of political satire viewing, and media channel matters, such that those who watch late-night talk shows on television are less likely to participate in politics, while those who watch late-night talk shows in the social media environment are more likely to participate in politics through political expression on social media. These findings highlight the importance of understanding who receives what messages from where and how in the contemporary media environment to better explain the effects of media.
Simulation of multiple-component charged aerosol evolution
Authors:   , De La Torre Aguilar Fernando
Published: April 2021

The study of the nuclear source term requires the computation of aerosol dynamics. Solutions to the aerosol general dynamic equation (GDE) are difficult to obtain by analytical or numerical methods when more realistic problems are considered. The direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) technique is capable of simulating aerosol evolution reducing simplifications in the implementation of the aerosol GDE. In this work we present a DSMC program for the simulation of multi-component polydisperse aerosol evolution, with the successful integration of the following processes: deposition, electrostatic dispersion, coagulation (considering charge effects) and condensation, assuming a spatially homogeneous medium and spherical particles. Two problems with different particle compositions were simulated to obtain information about the interactions through the different processes and the interacting particles as well as particle number and mass distributions with discrimination of charge levels. This information allowed us to explore the synergistic nature of these processes. It was found that the problem with denser particles had an overall stronger activity in coagulation and initially a stronger activity in deposition compared to the problem with less dense particles. Experiments to generate two-component aerosols by spark discharge in the study of aerosol coagulation with characterization of particle composition are proposed. Moreover, the use of particle weights in the DSMC method is explored.
The value of crowdsourcing in apparel and fashion retail buying
Authors:   , Kamran-Disfani Omid
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Apparel and fashion retail buyers are responsible for selecting and ordering products, on behalf of the retailer, to be sold to retailers' end-consumers. Compared to their counterparts in other retailing sectors, fashion buyers face unique challenges such as high demand uncertainty and volatility, seasonality, frequent changes in fashion trends, and short product life cycles. As previous trends rarely provide useful information for predicting future sales of trendy products, fashion buyers make a subjective assessment of products' future demand by relying on their intuition and perceived expertise. Industry reports show that fashion buyers' predictions are often far from the demand that is later realized causing loss of profits for retailers. In this dissertation. I argue that retailers can benefit from the Wisdom of the Crowd (WOC) in predicting future sales of fashion products. It is suggested that lay customers as a group can provide more accurate prediction of future demand of fashion products than individual fashion buyers. An empirical study is conducted to test this proposition involving two groups: professional fashion buyers (N=60) and lay customers (N=397). Customers predicted future sales of products in all six product categories that were used in the study. The prediction error, measured by MAPE, was reduced between 12 and 73 percent. The implication of these findings for retailers are discussed, and directions for implementing crowdsourcing in fashion buying to improve prediction accuracy are provided.
Zinc ion fluxes on the pathway to mammalian sperm fertilization competency
Authors:   , Kerns Karl
Published: April 2021

For decades, the role of the divalent ion calcium was the focus of understanding mechanisms leading to sperm fertilization competency and management of semen storage. Little focus has been placed on other divalent ions, including zinc ion (Zn2+). Further, the ultimate maturation event preparing mammalian spermatozoa for fertilization, sperm capacitation, was first described in 1951, yet its regulatory mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we document a novel biological phenomenon of a unique Zn2+ distribution (further zinc signature) associated with mammalian spermatozoa from the round spermatid stage of spermiogenesis, to epididymal maturation, ejaculation, and up to 72 hours of liquid semen storage. Using image-based flow cytometry (IBFC), we identified four distinct sperm zinc signatures present in boar, bull, and human spermatozoa. The zinc signature was altered after sperm capacitation, reduced by proteasomal inhibitors, removed by zinc chelation, and maintained with addition of external ZnCl2. The zinc signature differed between the three major boar ejaculate fractions. These differences set in sperm ejaculatory sequence likely establish two major sperm cohorts; one destined for populating the sperm oviductal reservoir and the other that is capable of fertilizing mature, ovulated oocytes at the time of mating/insemination. Management of the sperm zinc signature prevented spontaneous, pathological capacitation, by day 3 of extended liquid boar semen storage and could allow for use of fewer sperm per artificial insemination (AI) dose to increase the usage of high genetic value sires. A newly formulated semen extender was able to mimic qualities of the pre-sperm rich fraction. On a subcellular level, the capacitation induced Zn2+ efflux allows for release from oviductal glycans studied with the oviductal epithelium mimicking glycan binding assay. Sperm Zn2+ efflux also activates zinc-containing enzymes involved in sperm penetration of the zona pellucida, such as the inner acrosomal membrane metalloproteinase MMP2 that had a severely reduced activity in the presence of Zn2+ by gel zymography. In context of the fertilization-induced oocyte zinc spark and the ensuing, oocyteissued polyspermy-blocking zinc shield, the inhibitory effect of Zn2+ on spermborne enzymes may contribute to the fast block of polyspermy. Altogether, our findings establish a new paradigm on the role of Zn2+ in sperm function, paving the way for improved semen analysis, in vitro fertilization (IVF) and the optimization of AI and semen distribution.
Colonial inclusivity : historical education and state capacity in post-colonial states
Authors:   , Williams Tiffanesha
Published: April 2021

The contribution of this dissertation is to show that colonial state building efforts were more successful in the long term when the state invested in education for the colonized population. This argument builds upon recent literature showing that state cooptation of indigenous populations can facilitate state building, but I go further in arguing that colonial policy was not only cooptation, but in some contexts inclusive, leading the population to be vested in and participants in the state. I develop an argument for the influence of the causal mechanism, colonial inclusivity, on contemporary state capacity in post-colonial states. Through a qualitative and quantitative investigation of this mechanism, I find that the investment in and the colonized population's access to quality education during the colonial period reaps positive gains for contemporary state capacity.
Reliable service chain orchestration for scalable data-intensive computing at infrastructure edges
Authors:   , Chemodanov Dmitrii Yurievich
Published: April 2021

In the event of natural or man-made disasters, geospatial video analytics is valuable to provide situational awareness that can be extremely helpful for first responders. However, geospatial video analytics demands massive imagery/video data 'collection' from Internet-of-Things (IoT) and their seamless 'computation/consumption' within a geo-distributed (edge/core) cloud infrastructure in order to cater to user Quality of Experience (QoE) expectations. Thus, the edge computing needs to be designed with a reliable performance while interfacing with the core cloud to run computer vision algorithms. This is because infrastructure edges near locations generating imagery/video content are rarely equipped with high-performance computation capabilities. This thesis addresses challenges of interfacing edge and core cloud computing within the geo-distributed infrastructure as a novel 'function-centric computing' paradigm that brings new insights to computer vision, edge routing and network virtualization areas. Specifically, we detail the state-of-the-art techniques and illustrate our new/improved solution approaches based on function-centric computing for the two problems of: (i) high-throughput data collection from IoT devices at the wireless edge, and (ii) seamless data computation/consumption within the geo-distributed (edge/core) cloud infrastructure. To address (i), we present a novel deep learning-augmented geographic edge routing that relies on physical area knowledge obtained from satellite imagery. To address (ii), we describe a novel reliable service chain orchestration framework that builds upon microservices and utilizes a novel 'metapath composite variable' approach supported by a constrained-shortest path finder. Finally, we show both analytically and empirically, how our geographic routing, constrained shortest path finder and reliable service chain orchestration approaches that compose our function-centric computing framework are superior than many traditional and state-of-the-art techniques. As a result, we can significantly speedup (up to 4 times) data-intensive computing at infrastructure edges fostering effective disaster relief coordination to save lives.
Major life-changing events and preferred retirement time among older adults : evidence from the 1992 to 2014 health and retirement study
Authors:   , Cheng Guopeng
Published: April 2021

This study evaluated the way life-changing events affect older adults' preferred and actual retirement age using the 1992/1993, 1994/1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2014 surveys of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). In this dissertation, retirement timing was measured by the gap between a person's actual retirement year and planned retirement year. The study focused on three categories of major life-changing events--marital, health, and financial status changes--and how they were associated with individuals' retirement timing. The study compared characteristics of individuals who retired earlier than their preferred retirement time to those who delayed retirement and retired on time. The findings provide insights into the way life-changing events and other factors influence the time people exit the workforce. The discussion section offers recommendations for researchers as well as financial educators and practitioners working with older adults to increase awareness of life-changing events' effects on retirement time. After controlling for other factors, the findings lend empirical support to the belief that some major life-changing events are significantly associated with individuals' retirement time. The results showed consistent positive correlations between retirement timing and whether a person was widowed, experienced a positive income shock, or had diabetes, cancer, or heart disease. Other life-changing events were found to have statistically significant negative correlations. Negative associations existed with mental health status changes; people who reported they were depressed or received a diagnosis of a psychiatric problem retired earlier than planned.
Morphological and biomechanical predictions of cranial kinesis in reptile evolution
Authors:   , Cost Ian N.
Published: April 2021

Feeding is a complex behavior that all tetrapods engage in on a regular basis to procure energy and survive. The reptilian feeding apparatus includes many types of feeding behaviors including multiple methods of engaging cranial kinesis, the ability to move one portion of the skull in relation to another portion of the skull. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of cranial kinesis enabled feeding mechanism is integral to understanding avian feeding behaviors, strategies, and ecology. Chapter 1 introduces how the feeding apparatus of reptiles is modified during the evolution of birds from dinosaur and reptile relatives. During this introductory chapter I lay the foundation for our knowledge of avian feeding and its evolution and describe the musculoskeletal environment of the avian feeding apparatus, which becomes the main focus of the rest of this project. Chapter 2 explores the diversity of jaw muscle resultants across a sample of birds, dinosaurs and other reptiles using ternary plots. Jaw musculature orientations are altered across ontogeny, behavior, and evolution. I use ternary plots to investigate the diversity of jaw muscle orientations across the ontogeny and feeding behaviors of alligators and through evolution in the dinosaur to bird lineage. Additionally, I use ternary plots to show how diverse organisms use different muscles to produce high bite forces. Chapter 3 introduces and demonstrates the use of postural modeling to investigate the feeding apparatus at a specific instant of a feeding behavior. I investigate the kinetic capability of 3 taxa using this method. I use my postural modeling method to validate postural models of known behaviors in extant taxa first. I then evaluate the kinetic capabilities of an extinct animal, Tyrannosaurus rex. Finally, Chapter 4 investigates the diversity of the feeding apparatus across parrots, a lineage of morphologically comparable birds with distinctive ecological roles. The biomechanical requirements of similar functional morphology used for diverse feeding behaviors are analyzed here. I use statistical and finite element analyses to describe the biomechanical environment of the feeding apparatus in parrots. I analyze stress and strain dissipation as well as geometric properties of bone mechanics that enable parrots to engage in cranial kinesis. I use a phylogenetic tree informed by molecular phylogenies to plot and compare ancestral reconstructions of characters of the feeding apparatus in parrots. My findings using these methods describe the diversity of the musculoskeletal systems of diverse parrots. The data gathered from the studies described here form the foundation of a better understanding of the biomechanics of the avian feeding apparatus. The findings described here will be used in future studies to describe the underlying mechanisms that govern diverse feeding behaviors.
Toxicogenomics of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera leconte in response to eCry3.1Ab-expressing transgenic maize
Authors:   , Zhao Zixiao
Published: April 2021

In modern agricultural systems, insect pests are constantly facing stresses from natural factors and pest management. Strong selection pressure results in evolution of insect resistance to control substances such as chemical insecticides and biological toxins, e.g. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins. As one of the most severe insect pests for maize in the U.S. Corn Belt, the western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, is in a constant arms race with control strategies. Since 2003, transgenic maize expressing Cry3 toxins have been broadly adopted for rootworm control. WCR has reported resistance to Bt maize in lab-selected colonies and in the field. But the genetics of resistance, and the mode of action of Cry3 toxins to WCR are still not clear. We used eCry3.1Ab-expressing maize and its resistant WCR colony as a model to study Bt resistance. Comprehensive toxicogenomics approaches, including RNA-seq and PacBio Iso-seq, were employed to detect regulation of gene expression regulation, alternative splicing, and genomic variation in eCry3.1Ab-resistance WCR. We also compared the gene expressional response of resistant and susceptible WCR when they were intoxicated with eCry3.1Ab. From these studies we were able to identify genes with functions associated with Bt resistance due to their specific expressional profile, splicing pattern or genomic variation in resistant colonies. We also evaluated differences in responses of resistant and susceptible colonies when being intoxicated by eCry3.1Ab. The preliminary results of genomic variation also reflect the bottleneck of selection process and reveal that a variant allele on a potential Bt receptor increased in the resistant colony. This knowledge will assist our understanding of the unique mode of action of eCry3.1Ab, and develop molecular markers for resistance monitoring in the field.
Looking broadly and deeply into perspectives of local climate change impacts among visitors to Missouri state parks
Authors:   , Groshong Lisa
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Missouri's outdoor recreation resources provide numerous mental, physical, and social values to millions of people each year and serve as a major contributor to the statewide economy. However, climate change threatens these benefits. This project sought to explore climate change perceptions and place attachment of outdoor enthusiasts in Missouri as a step toward managing natural and cultural resources for ongoing climate resilience. This study used interviews and a statewide visitor survey to measure climate change impacts on visitors to Missouri's state parks and historic sites. The dissertation is formatted in three manuscripts. The first manuscript assessed how engaged state park users perceive climate change impacts and what they view as the agency role in climate change mitigation, education, and communication. The second manuscript identified health concerns related to climate change and examined how these concerns affect park use. The final manuscript examined the role of place attachment in determining visitors' willingness to engage in climate friendly behavior and support for management action to minimize climate-change impacts. Overall findings suggested climate-change related management challenges and provided evidence for visitor support for education and action. Opportunities were identified for state park managers to take action toward locally-oriented climate change mitigation, education and communication. Place attachment dimensions were affirmed as tools for engaging visitors in climate-related actions, both in and beyond park settings.
Evaluation of process-structure-property relationships of carbon nanotube forests using simulation and deep learning
Authors:   , Hajilounezhad Taheg
Published: April 2021

This work is aimed to explore process-structure-property relationships of carbon nanotube (CNT) forests. CNTs have superior mechanical, electrical and thermal properties that make them suitable for many applications. Yet, due to lack of manufacturing control, there is a huge performance gap between promising properties of individual CNTs and CNT forest properties that hinders their adoption into potential industrial applications. In this research, computational modelling, in-situ electron microscopy for CNT synthesis, and data-driven and high-throughput deep convolutional neural networks are employed to not only accelerate implementing CNTs in various applications but also to establish a framework to make validated predictive models that can be easily extended to achieve application-tailored synthesis of any materials. A time-resolved and physics-based finite-element simulation tool is modelled in MATLAB to investigate synthesis of CNT forests, specially to study the CNT-CNT interactions and generated mechanical forces and their role in ensemble structure and properties. A companion numerical model with similar construct is then employed to examine forest mechanical properties in compression. In addition, in-situ experiments are carried out inside Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM) to nucleate and synthesize CNTs. Findings may primarily be used to expand the forest growth and self-assembly knowledge and to validate the assumptions of simulation package. Also, SEM images can be used as feed database to construct a deep learning model to grow CNTs by design. The chemical vapor deposition parameter space of CNT synthesis is so vast that it is not possible to investigate all conceivable combinations in terms of time and costs. Hence, simulated CNT forest morphology images are used to train machine learning and learning algorithms that are able to predict CNT synthesis conditions based on desired properties. Exceptionally high prediction accuracies of R2 > 0.94 is achieved for buckling load and stiffness, as well as accuracies of > 0.91 for the classification task. This high classification accuracy promotes discovering the CNT forest synthesis-structure relationships so that their promising performance can be adopted in real world applications. We foresee this work as a meaningful step towards creating an unsupervised simulation using machine learning techniques that can seek out the desired CNT forest synthesis parameters to achieve desired property sets for diverse applications.
Big ideas in little boxes : nation building in three nineteenth-century American parlor games by Milton Bradley and Company
Authors:   , Milanick Margaret Fairgrieve
Published: April 2021

"MiltonBradleyand Company manufactured its first game, The Checkered Game of Life, in 1860, only months before the American Civil War broke out. Soon after, it produced the Myriopticon A Historical Panorama of the Rebellion, and the Historiscope A Panorama and History of America. Producing ""moral, instructive and entertaining home amusements"" proved to be good business for the company. This dissertation investigates the behaviors, beliefs, assumptions and worldview of midnineteenth-century American society just before and after the American Civil War through the examination of three parlor amusements. Grounding my analysis in the religious, social, visual and material culture of the time, I ask the question: Why would buying and playing these games appeal to families right after the conclusion of the Civil War, at a time when the nation and families struggled to reconstruct themselves? My findings suggest playing these three parlor amusements accomplished at least three ends: reaffirmed the woman's role in the moral education of children and families, confirmed the desire for a united nation, and side stepped any engagement with change in the social and political ideology of that newly united nation. My analysis reveals that the three parlor games I studied acted as guardians of the ideals already established and enshrined in the American origin story told since the late 1700s and retold in the Historiscope."
Contribution of TRPV4 to enhanced calcium cycling and cardiac arrhythmia following ischemia-reperfusion in aged mouse hearts
Authors:   , Peana Deborah
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI--COLUMBIA AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Cardiomyocyte Ca2+ homeostasis is altered with aging and predisposes the Aged heart to Ca2+ intolerance and arrhythmia. Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) is an osmotically-activated cation channel and channel expression is increased in cardiomyocytes of Aged mice. The central goal of this work was to determine the role of TRPV4 in calcium handling and arrhythmogenesis in response to hypoosmotic stress and following ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). Hypoosmotic stress induced an increase in calcium transient amplitude in cardiomyocytes isolated from Aged mice which was followed by an increased incidence of arrhythmic Ca2+ events and Ca2+ waves. This effect was prevented by TRPV4 inhibition and was absent in cardiomyocytes from Young mice. Cardiac contractile function, membrane potential, and cardiac ECG was monitored in Langendorff-perfused hearts during I/R. Aged hearts responded to I/R with an initial increase in contractile function, membrane depolarization, and incidence of ventricular arrhythmia during reperfusion. This effect was attenuated by TRPV4 inhibition and was absent in hearts of Young mice. Also, in hearts of Aged, TRPV4 inhibition decreased the percent of damaged tissue following I/R compared to untreated conditions. Finally, Langendorff-perfused hearts from Aged mice expressing a genetically encoded Ca2+ sensor (GCaMP6f) were subjected to I/R and demonstrated an increased Ca2+ transient amplitude and incidence of arrhythmic Ca2+ waves compared to Aged mice treated with TRPV4 inhibition. These findings suggest that TRPV4 may contribute to initial inotropy followed by pro-arrhythmic cardiomyocyte Ca2+ signaling, arrhythmogenesis, and cell death following I/R in the Aged heart.
Frobenius closure and prime characteristic singularities
Authors:   , Maddox Kyle Logan
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] This dissertation outlines several results about prime characteristic singularities for which the nilpotent part under the induced Frobenius action on local cohomology is either finite colength or the entire module, collectively referred to here as nilpotent singularities. First, we establish a sufficient condition for the finiteness of the Frobenius test exponent for a local ring and apply it to conclude that nilpotent singularities have finite Frobenius test exponent. In joint work with Jennifer Kenkel, Thomas Polstra, and Austyn Simpson, we show that under mild conditions nilpotent singularities descend and ascend along faithfully flat maps. Consequently, we then prove that the loci of primes which are weakly F-nilpotent and F-nilpotent are open in the Zariski topology for rings which are either F-finite or essentially of fiiite type over an excellent local ring.
Impact level of entry on completion rates and GPA of technical education students at a Midwest community college
Authors:   , Morgan Jason A.
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Technical education is a method for training a skilled workforce. Dual enrollment allows high school students to start a college program early. The intersection of these two types of instruction, dual enrollment technical education, offers high school students an opportunity to begin training for a skilled career before high school graduation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate students who began a technical education program before and after high school completion. There is a lack of research that considers completion rate and grade points average by the level of entry into a technical education program that offers dual enrollment. This study found that students who entered as dual enrollment juniors were much more likely to complete a certificate of achievement than other levels of entry. Students entering as juniors or seniors were found to complete significantly fewer associate degrees than the two post-secondary levels of entry. This study contributes to the current body of knowledge within these areas.
Navigation and social learning among first semester retained university students : exploration of programs and experiences at a comprehensive, public, open-enrollment institution
Authors:   , Ballard Alizabeth B.
Published: April 2021

Retention is an important measure of success (Tinto, 1999); therefore, student success is an area of interest among professionals in the field of higher education (Hunter, 2006; Rendon, 1995). This qualitative study sought to understand how first-year students navigate the university and aimed to increase student success and support students to commencement exercises and beyond. Specifically, the study examined student experiences through social learning and considered the various programs, interventions, and resources that work together to support student success. Focus groups, one-on-one interviews, document analysis, and observations were conducted to collect ample data. Three themes emerged from the collected data: connection, intervention, and identity. Each of these themes revealed insights about the associations between college navigation and student success. Prior literature supported the idea that connection, intervention, and identity are tools of college navigation (Bruffee, 1999; Caldwell and Siwatu, 2003; Garrison and Kanuka, 2004; Harper, 2012; Smith, 2007; Umbach and Wawrzynski, 2005). Moreover, the literature acknowledged that students who use intervention support services to increase social learning reported higher levels of academic achievement (Caldwell and Siwatu, 2003; Grant-Vallone, Reif, Umali, and Pohlert, 2003; Wibrowski, Matthews, and Kitsantas, 2017). The findings of this study reaffirmed that higher education professionals, faculty, programs, and interventions occur simultaneously to increase student potential for successful college navigation; these resources are deeply connected and cannot support student success alone.
Before the singing : the journey of an artistic director
Authors:   , Williams Phelps Cynthia A.
Published: April 2021

Reflective practices and teacher leadership development can be meaningful and integral components of music teacher education. The purpose of this study was to examine the professional journey and reflective practices of an artistic director of a large, nonprofit community children's choir organization in the Midwestern United States. The conceptual framework for this case study with narrative techniques included two main areas of practice: reflective teaching (critically reflective teaching and reflective practitioner) and teacher leadership. The overarching research question asked: How does a successful children's choir director enact effective teacher leadership through reflective practices? The related sub-questions were as follows: 1) How does the participant's life history inform her vision for the organization? 2) What characterizes the participant's views of teacher leadership and creative work as artistic director? 3) What characterizes the participant's views of learning and teaching in the children's choir context? Data collection included transcripts from three semi-structured interviews, a follow up interview, two rehearsal observation sequences with one video-stimulated recall iteration, field memos, and artifacts. I used a constant comparative method to examine the coded transcripts, memos, field notes, video observation logs, and artifacts. Trustworthiness was established through data triangulation, a follow-up interview, participant checking, and peer checking. Three main themes emerged from the analysis: building a scaffold for reflective teacher leadership, artistic director as leader, and the intersection of reflective practitioner and teacher leader. Findings suggested that the participant's well-defined philosophies of leadership and teaching, reflective rehearsal pedagogy, and pedagogical thoughtfulness had a significant, positive impact on the high quality, experiential opportunities provided to the choristers and the choir organization as a whole.
Antigone in Ferguson : the experience of seven members of the democratic chorus in a social justice musical production
Authors:   , Woodmore Philip A.
Published: April 2021

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to investigate the experiences of seven of the auditioned chorus members in the five-week run of Antigone in Ferguson at the Off-Broadway theater, Harlem Stage in Harlem, New York in the Fall of 2018, through the lens of the theory of transformation (Cohen, 2007a). Antigone in Ferguson, an original musical production based on the ancient Greek drama Antigone (Sophocles, ca. 441 B.C.E./2016), was created in response to the young Black man in Ferguson, Missouri, who was killed by a police officer and whose body was left on the street for over four hours. The performance includes four actors, a democratic choir comprising singers representing various professions including police officers, and choirs from the community. After each performance, facilitators mediate a discussion with the audience members to address the social justice issues raised during the performance. Seven chorus members served as participants in this study, completing all requirements including a focus group session, pre-interview questionnaire, semi structured individual interview, blog about their experience throughout the production, and final reflection. Cohen's (2007a) theory of transformation, based on research about prison choirs, served as a framework for this research and the data analysis. The theory states that the complex relationships through the sung texts, the choir's social and cultural contexts, interactions with audience members, and enhanced self-perception of the performers afford the potential for positive transformational change in the performer (Cohen, 2007a, 2008). Findings suggest that the transformative power of music was displayed in the seven participants' responses to their experiences as chorus members in this production. Based on their spoken and written statements, all seven participants indicated that positive change occurred related to the music and the processes involved with putting on this show, including awareness and attitudes toward social justice issues and enhanced self-perceptions.
Initial evaluation of a mental health literacy intervention : mental health care in schools
Authors:   , Allen Amanda N.
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Teacher mental health literacy (MHL) includes their attitudes, knowledge, and help-seeking abilities to support youth mental health. Students' access to support in schools depends on their teacher, but concerningly pre- and in-service training lacks MHL. Therefore, this study used a randomized control trial to evaluate a novel MHL training with elementary teachers. Mental Health CARE in Schools is an in-service training for classroom teachers. Training targets how to create mentally healthy classrooms, actively observe and report risk, and embed supports for students experiencing problems. Primary participants included (n = 82) classroom teachers and their students (n = 1, 497). The training resulted in large-sized effects on teachers' selfreported MHL for the trained participants when compared to those in the waitlist condition and from their pre-test scores. Additionally, the current study explored the correspondence between teacher self-reported MHL and their Social, Academic, and Emotional Behavior Risk Screening (SAEBRS) results for their classroom of students. Multilevel modeling identified that in addition to teacher rater differences, additional variance in student scores could be accounted for by teachers' MHL. Teachers' level of self-reported MHL had a positive relationship with their students' SAEBRS scores and an inverse relationship with SAEBRS base rates of risk. Initial evidence from this empirical investigation extends the theory of teacher MHL, yielding implications for both educators and researchers. Limitations and future directions are discussed.
Investigating variables which predict the presence and severity of aggression and self-injurious behavior in children with autism spectrum disorder
Authors:   , McLean Deija
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Literature indicates that individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at-risk for developing challenging behaviors (Holden and Gitlesen, 2006; McClintock et al., 2003). Challenging behaviors such as aggression and self-injurious behavior (SIB) warrant additional attention due to the negative impacts associated with the presence of these behaviors. The purpose of the current study was to investigate variables which predict the presence and severity of aggression and self-injurious behavior (SIB) in a large sample (n = 2100) of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). According to results of regression analyses, the presence of lethargy/social withdrawal behavior, irritability, and hyperactivity/noncompliance were predictive of aggressive behavior in this sample. Irritability and hyperactivity/noncompliance also predicted severity of exhibited aggressive behavior. Older age and the presence of inappropriate speech, irritability and aggression were predictive of SIB in this population. Irritability also predicted severity of exhibited SIB. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
A narrative of K-12 rural tenured music teachers : stories of those who stay the course
Authors:   , Haddock Amy
Published: April 2021

This qualitative study examined the stories of tenured rural K-12 music teachers in northwest Missouri. The study sought to determine the reasons tenured teachers remain in rural public settings. Guided by the conceptual underpinnings of retention, rural education, and rural music education, the researcher conducted interviews with teachers and administrators, analyzed documents, and analyzed field notes collected from the six school district building sites employing the participants. Completed research helped to identify three emerging themes: (a) scheduling, (b) administration, and (c) culture. The six participating music teachers agreed the frustrations associated with scheduling could be overcome when transparent communication with administration was coupled with continual student rapport building over time. Recommendations for rural administrators, professors of pre-service music teachers at institutions of higher education, and implications for future research relevant in rural music education settings were included.
Stakeholders perceptions of organizational goal attainment at the secondary school level through the lens of authentic learning theory
Authors:   , Hart Jonthan M.
Published: April 2021

School systems in PK-12 are being challenged to incorporate real-world learning into their curriculum to better prepare students for success after graduation (Karakas-Ozur and Duman, 2019). As high school organizations are beginning to apply authentic learning strategies, there is a gap in knowledge for implementation as much of the research has be conducted at the collegiate or adult learning levels. The research question: What are head administrators' and teacher participants, in three midwestern secondary authentic learning programs, perceptions of Authentic Learning Theory (ALT) best practices being implemented to achieve their program goals? This multi-case study used document analysis, interviews, and focus groups to find most promising authentic learning strategies of three high school authentic learning organizations. The study used the ALT, and more specifically Herrington, Reeves, and Oliver's (2009) Nine Characteristics to Achieve Authentic Learning Environments, as the theoretical framework. The research found an overarching theme to be a shift in mindset in head administrators and teachers. It also revealed new authentic learning practices beyond the nine characteristics of Herrington et al. (2009). This research provides a better understanding of ALT, its most impactful practices for practitioners at the secondary level, and data for future researchers.
Investigating dyadic interactions within the family as an interdependent system : associations between mothers and adolescent siblings
Authors:   , Odudu Christopher
Published: April 2021

Adolescence is a developmental time period of self-exploration and self-discovery for that brings about change to family processes and interactions. Conflict during this time can be interpreted as a mechanism that reconceptionalizes how the family as a system operates. In light of research supporting the increase in parent-adolescent conflict and the importance of sibling relationship qualities during adolescence, the literature is unclear about how these two aspects of family interactions are associated with each other and their implications within the family system. Therefore, the present study examined the interconnectedness of family subsystems and changes in family processes and dynamics in adolescence over time. The present study found that sibling relationship quality influenced the trajectory of parent-adolescent conflict over time. Specifically, spillover effects and compensation effects were found in both adolescent-reported and mother-reported adolescent conflict. Importantly, the context of sibling gender composition revealed that spillover and compensation effects were stronger for same-sex siblings than for mixed-sex siblings. The results showcase the importance of examining multiple familial relationships during adolescent development and illustrate how family interactions and processes are interconnected.
Modeling of gallium nitride transistors for high power and high temperature applications
Authors:   , Shamsir Samira
Published: April 2021

Wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductors such as GaN and SiC are emerging as promising alternatives to Si for new generation of high efficiency power devices. GaN has attracted a lot of attention recently because of its superior material properties leading to potential realization of power transistors for high power, high frequency, and high temperature applications. In order to utilize the full potential of GaN-based power transistors, proper device modeling is essential to verify its operation and improve the design efficiency. In this view, this research work presents modeling and characterization of GaN transistors for high power and high temperature applications. The objective of this research work includes three key areas of GaN device modeling such as physics-based analytical modeling, device simulation with numerical simulator and electrothermal SPICE model for circuit simulation. The analytical model presented in this dissertation enables understanding of the fundamental physics of this newly emerged GaN device technology to improve the operation of existing device structures and to optimize the device configuration in the future. The numerical device simulation allows to verify the analytical model and study the impact of different device parameters. An empirical SPICE model for standard circuit simulator has been developed and presented in the dissertation which allows simulation of power electronic circuits employing GaN power devices. The empirical model provides a good approximation of the device behavior and creates a link between the physics-based analytical model and the actual device testing data. Furthermore, it includes an electrothermal model which can predict the device behavior at elevated temperatures as required for high temperature applications.