bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lifetime analysis of irradiated beryllium in research reactors
Authors:   , Hoyer Annemarie
Published: April 2021

The objective of this study is to develop a technique to predict onset of cracking and ultimately failure of materials exposed to neutronic bombardment. Beryllium is commonly used in research reactors as a reflector material and is capable of reducing the neutron energy and multiplies the neutrons so the compact reactor core keeps running at an appropriate level. Thus, the importance of knowing when a beryllium structural material will fail in the nuclear community is of utmost importance. There is a need to predict cracks for beryllium material scaled on energy partitioning and not just an empirical fluence scaling. Since there is limited literature on beryllium failures, the research here will use beryllium as a surrogate material upon which to apply the new technique. Its unique molecular structure moderates high energy neutrons while allowing thermal neutrons to pass through more easily. However, high energy neutron interactions cause atomic lattice changes and transmutations. Those atomic changes give rise to macroscopic material property changes. A result of changing properties is that field parameters like temperature and stress can increase and lead to potential material failure. Being able to predict the time when a likely failure will occur can help ensure that the reflector be replaced in a timely manner. An observed failure determined the lifetime of a previous reflector design with beam port holes that is no longer utilized. To demonstrate the validity of the technique, one case studies was used to match a known failure location and time. Additionally, two additional case studies with unobserved failure times are included and the goal is to analyze the detailed thermal/structural behavior of the beryllium reflectors at MURR in order to determine lifespan of irradiated beryllium, and possibly other materials. The study will use Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) models of each reactor to capture localized gamma heating and the tritium and helium gas distribution within the beryllium due to its transmutation. Using the historical failure as a reference point, other failure modes were ruled outed, leading the hypothesis that cracks forming caused by manufacturing flaws and material transmutation are the likely failure mechanism. The research relies on material degradation and fracture mechanics to explain why and how a material exposed to radiation in a pool breaks down and ultimately fails. The research helps support reactors by finding a scientific manner in which to estimate failure in irradiated materials. Many methods used currently rely on empirical correlations, different modes of fractures, or observed failures. The new technique allows projections of lifetime based on the irradiation energy distribution and partitioning. New lifetime projections for MURR are suggested.
Managing fescue toxicosis through forage canopy, limestone application, and novel endophytes
Authors:   , Kenyon Sarah
Published: April 2021

Tall fescue [Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh.] infected with the endophytic fungus Epichlo coenophiala [(Morgan-Jones and W. Gams) C.W. Bacon and Schardl, comb. nov.] produces ergovaline and other alkaloids responsible for fescue toxicosis, a livestock disorder. Cultivars re-infected with endophytes that do not produce toxic ergot alkaloids, referred to as "novel endophytes," have been used to alleviate the symptoms of fescue toxicosis. This research includes a series of experiments with the overall objective of identifying management practices that reduce fescue toxicosis in order to provide recommendations to Missouri farmers. The fist experiment examined the distribution of ergovaline and total ergot alkaloids throughout the vegetative canopy of tall fescue, and concluded that toxin concentrations are highest in the bottom 5 cm of the plant. The second experiment documented that applying limestone decreased ergovaline concentrations by at least 20 [mu]g kg[superscript -1] dry matter. The third experiment evaluated cattle preference among novel endophyte-infected tall fescue cultivars. This experiment concluded that one cultivar, 'BarOptima,' was grazed first and most frequently.
Comprehensive wealth measurement and spatial hedonic analysis : social capital and social amenities
Authors:   , Kim Jinhyoung
Published: April 2021

The last decade has seen a growing interest in the concept of comprehensive wealth, which is defined as including intangible and non-market as well as tangible and market assets. This dissertation responds to this rising interest by developing explicit concepts, indicators, and sources of data necessary to measure comprehensive wealth at various spatial scales. It achieves this by generalizing the general spatial equilibrium model proposed by Roback (1982). The key contributions of this research are the extension and application of the comprehensive wealth concept to measure the value of social amenities generated as a result of public and private investments in social and other types of capital. This dissertation extends the Roback model by identifying appropriate data on local income, land values, and place-based amenities at the county level in the contiguous 48 states of the United States. This dissertation reports substantial findings based on the empirical analysis. While the results are largely consistent with those of Roback and other, more recent papers and with theoretical expectations, this study found significantly different effects of amenities on wages and land values between metro and non-metro counties due to different marginal effects on wages and land values. The analysis also found significant spatial interaction effects, which influence the magnitude of the full implicit price for social amenity variables, again with significant differences between metro and non-metro counties. Finally, the extended model is able to determine whether the social amenities are at optimal levels. There are important implications of this research. Policies to enhance social amenities from immobile social capital and local public services can reduce both real costs of production and the societal opportunity costs of development in the long term. Well-designed policy and investment in immobile and non-marketed amenities of a location will make a place more attractive and sustainable, conferring benefits to residents and local businesses. The proposed typology can be useful for designing policy and investment plans for sustainable regional economic development. The model can also be used to conduct simulations to predict the effects of policy on comprehensive wealth given locally unique and dynamic combinations of regional assets. Keywords: Comprehensive Wealth; Spatial Equilibrium Model; Non-market Valuation; Social Amenities; Social Capital
Shared affinities : the effect of shared neoliberal orientation on foreign policy behaviors
Authors:   , King Jeffrey
Published: April 2021

In the literature, scholars have linked various aspects of the economic philosophy of neoliberalism to a variety of foreign policy behaviors. However, these studies typically only utilize one aspect of neoliberalism in their analyses. In this dissertation, I examine three types of foreign policy behaviors, foreign aid efforts, economic sanctioning behavior, and interstate conflict onset, using a multi-faceted definition of neoliberalism. By using this definition to create proxies, I provide a more comprehensive analysis of the effect of neoliberalism on behaviors. Further, this definition allows me to include individual level factors capture the effect of leadership on foreign policy behaviors. In three empirical chapters, I examine the effect of neoliberalism on behavior and generally find results matching my expectations.
School-community partnerships in community children's choir organizations
Authors:   , McFarland Elizabeth Hogan
Published: April 2021

This descriptive study examined community children's choirs' participation in K-12 school-community partnerships to describe characteristics of these organizations and their partnerships, and to examine what the directors believed to be the benefits and challenges of such partnerships. Directors of community-based children's choirs in the United States (N = 89) completed a survey that included questions about their organization's participation in various forms of school-community partnerships. Thirtythree percent of respondent's organizations participated in at least one partnership. Most of those were long-term, simple-transaction partnerships with K-12 public schools, initiated by the children's choir organizations. Goals of partnerships included choral music education, support for schools/community, talent identification, outreach/engagement, and lifelong skill development. These goals were achieved through activities such as performances, educational activities, rehearsals, and recruitment. Some factors more strongly affected the decision to develop a partnership than others, including needs of the school, potential for recruitment, and location. Benefits of partnerships for singers included exposure to enhanced musical experiences, and connecting with other singers. Partnerships also provided benefits to children's choir organizations such as increased effectiveness of the organization's choral program, recruitment, exposure to diverse populations and public relations benefits. Directors perceived the challenges of school-community partnership participation to be communication, lack of money, and finding time to plan/implement programs. Educators and community music directors need more information about partnerships to be able to contribute to building shared experiences. Conversation and education is needed to facilitate cooperation between organizations to find common ground for the good of music education in our communities.
Hybrid thermoelectric ejector - refrigeration system
Authors:   , Obeng Baffoe
Published: April 2021

A mathematical model is developed to predict the refrigeration performance of an ejector powered by waste energy from a thermoelectric cooler. The model is based on constant pressure mixing process and considers the effect of frictional loss, viscous effect and shock wave phenomenon. Using this model, effects of nozzle exit position, temperatures of low and high temperature evaporators, area ratios, and working fluid on the system performance can be predicted. The components of the ejector were fabricated and an experiment was set up using water as working fluid. At steady state, effects such as operational conditions, nozzle exit position and critical condensing pressure on performance of the system were studied. The experimental results were compared with investigations conducted by other researchers and also with theoretical prediction. Based on the experimental results and theoretical prediction, the performance of a miniature thermoelectric ejector cooler can be determined. While a pump is needed for a conventional ejector cooling system, the investigated system is to utilize the capillary force generated by thermal energy to produce the pumping capability to pump the working fluid from the condenser to both low-temperature evaporator and high-temperature evaporator. A mathematical model is developed to predict the capillary flow and ensure the circulation through the entire system from the condenser, through the lowtemperature evaporator to the high-temperature evaporator. The model can consider the effects of wick structure, vapor pressure, liquid pressure, temperature and flow rate. Using this model, the hybrid ejector system is designed and fabricated. The experimental system to test the prototype is developed and an experiment is conducted subsequently. Using the waste energy generated from the hot side of the thermoelectric cooler, the coefficient of performance (COP) of the hybrid system, i.e., thermoelectric cooler integrated with ejector refrigeration system, can be highly increased. The investigation will result in highly efficient cooling system for electronic cooling.
The consequences of bank reporting failure for liquidity creation : evidence from accounting restatements
Authors:   , Wang Wei
Published: April 2021

This paper examines the effect of bank accounting restatements on bank liquidity creation. Banks play a central role in creating liquidity in the economy by financing relatively illiquid assets, such as business loans, with relatively liquid liabilities, such as demand deposits. Theory predicts that bank restatements can impede liquidity creation by impairing banks access to external funding sources, weakening bank-customer relationships, and triggering the unravelling of risk overhangs that banks accumulate when misreporting. I find that bank liquidity creation declines significantly following restatements for small banks, but not for large banks. Moreover, the decline in bank liquidity creation occurs predominantly through changes in banks holdings of illiquid assets, liquid liabilities and liquid assets. I also find the liquidity creation effects to be more pronounced when a bank restatement identifies severe reporting issues and when confidence in the banking system as a whole is relatively low. Further analyses show that restating banks increase deposit interest rates to retain their deposit base. Overall, the results inform the ongoing discourse on the implications of financial reporting transparency for bank stability and, more broadly, for the allocation of economic resources.
Human trafficking survivors, after care services, and institutional betrayal : a qualitative perspective on the effectiveness of a victim advocacy program
Authors:   , Williams Jodi L.
Published: April 2021

This qualitative study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Missouri Sheriff's Association Victim Advocacy Program in rehabilitating human trafficking survivors. The conceptual framework for this study includes betrayal trauma theory and, more specifically, institutional betrayal. Betrayal trauma theory expounds on the posttraumatic effects of trauma on persons when betrayal occurs in an attachment relationship; the concept of institutional betrayal builds on this theory and outlines the significance of an institution betraying an individual who trusts or depends upon that institution just as they would another person (Parnitzke, Smith, and Freyd, 2014). Data collected from the one-on-one interviews will provide a more thorough understanding of human trafficking survivors and will be coded for consistencies and emerging themes in terms of trauma, betrayal, and after care. The aftermath survivors experience will be examined through the lens of institutional betrayal, specifically focusing on the services provided by the Victim Advocacy Program. This data will increase understanding of human trafficking, the impact of secondary trauma of betrayal, and why effective after care services are crucial.
The value of financial intermediaries : an assessment of hedge fund activists and financial analysts
Authors:   , Flugum Ryan D.
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] This dissertation consists of three essays regarding the value of various financial intermediaries in capital markets. In the first essay, we examine the value of hedge fund activists, conditional on a firm's existing monitoring presence. Traditional corporate governance theory designates analysts and institutional investors as the primary external monitors of the firm, and therefore, hedge fund activists are more likely to add value when these forces are inadequate. Consistent with this hypothesis, in the two years following the arrival of a hedge fund activist, we find the greatest abnormal returns and changes in fundamentals to be taking place in low-monitored firms. In the second essay, we determine the impact that hedge fund activism has on the quality of analyst content and analyst ability. We find a preponderance of recommendations that move to or are reinstated at the Hold level following the arrival of a hedge fund activist. Furthermore, the predictive content of analyst recommendations and their ability to accurately forecast earnings is diminished in the presence of a hedge fund activist. Overall, the quality of the important functions of an analyst is reduced by the arrival of a hedge fund activist, questioning the degree of social good that Jensen and Meckling (1976) argue security analysts provide. In the third essay, I examine the profitability of analysts' consensus recommendation level, conditional on a firm's synchronicity. Roll (1988), and many others, conclude that low r-squared from standard factor models, sometimes called low synchronicity, coincides with a more efficient incorporation of firm-specific information into stock prices. Under this view, analyst recommendations issued to firms with low synchronicity should be more profitable, primarily because analysts disseminate firm-specific information. I find the consensus recommendation level of analysts to be more profitable for low synchronicity firms. Moreover, this enhanced profitability is present primarily in good economic times and only in the post Regulation Fair Disclosure time period.
Learning from change : how teachers adapt to demographic student population changes
Authors:   , Gabel Gary
Published: April 2021

This research explores how veteran teachers respond to demographic changes in their school's student populations, specifically: When demographic change occurs in a student population, how do veteran teachers respond? What are the veteran teachers' beliefs and practices as they interact with students who differ from the ones they have always taught? Specifically, do veteran teachers continue with similar (1) beliefs about students, (2) pedagogical approaches, and (3) ways of interacting with family members? Or do teachers develop new ideas and approaches, perhaps viewing the changes as an opportunity for growth or a transformational learning experience? Framed by transformational learning theory, this research has implications for designing professional development for other veteran teachers. Seventeen veteran teachers took part in this qualitative study at an elementary school in the Midwestern United States, which was representative of many schools across the country experiencing rapid changes in the proportion of students from immigrant and lower socioeconomic families. Participants completed online questionnaires and semistructured face-to-face interviews. Over 74 percent of the veteran teacher participants believed success with a new student population only occurred after forming relationships with individual students. Thus, relationships, rather than standardized instructional practices, determined academic agendas and sometimes led to a transformational change in teachers' beliefs. Findings suggest that in conjunction with other professional development, school leaders should add instruction for teachers on how to build and understand the importance of relationships with students. Keywords- Demographic Change, English Language Learners, Professional Development, Transformational Learning, Veteran Teacher
An initial examination of sustainable leadership and employee engagement within extension nutrition programs
Authors:   , Gordon-Poff Rachel L.
Published: April 2021

Nutrition programs operated by Cooperative Extension organizations seek to provide nutrition education to a low-income audience nationally. There is research on the effectiveness of these programs, but gaps exist on the role of the leader and how their practices impact the educators and the programs as a whole. A transformative mixed-methods approach was used to capture both quantitative and qualitative data through a theoretical lens. Sustainable leadership and employee engagement were used as conceptual frameworks. Open-ended interviews with twelve leaders of Extension nutrition programs were conducted. An online survey was distributed to 100 nutrition educators to determine their perceptions of their leaders' sustainable leadership practices and also a personal employee engagement inventory, with a 63 percent return rate. The analysis of these interviews and surveys found that both the leaders and the educators reported the use of sustainable leadership practices by program leaders. The qualitative portion of the study revealed six of the seven leadership traits were described by the leaders during their interviews. Also, there was no significant relationship between the reported levels of sustainable leadership practices by the leaders and the educators. From the employee engagement inventory, the educators of averaged an average level of employee engagement. Lastly, there was a significant positive relationship between the use of sustainable leadership and educator employee engagement. The use of sustainable leadership and the relationship between employee engagement can have implications for these programs nationally. This and future research on leadership and its impact on employee engagement can help inform policy and practice within national nutrition programs.
Spatial pyramid context-aware moving object detection and tracking for full motion video and wide aerial motion imagery
Authors:   , Poostchi Mahdieh
Published: April 2021

A robust and fast automatic moving object detection and tracking system is essential to characterize target object and extract spatial and temporal information for different functionalities including video surveillance systems, urban traffic monitoring and navigation, robotic, medical imaging, etc. A reliable detecting and tracking system is required to generalize across huge variations in object appearance changes due to camera viewpoint, pose, scale, lighting conditions, imaging quality or occlusions and achieve real-time performance. In this dissertation, I present a collaborative Spatial Pyramid Context-aware moving object detection and Tracking system (SPCT). The proposed visual tracker is composed of one master tracker that usually relies on visual object features and two auxiliary trackers based on object temporal motion information that will be called dynamically to assist master tracker. SPCT utilizes image spatial context at different level to make the video tracking system resistant to occlusion, background noise and improve target localization accuracy and robustness. We chose a pre-selected seven-channel complementary features including RGB color, intensity and spatial pyramid of HoG to encode object color, shape and spatial layout information. We exploit integral histogram as building block to meet the demands of real-time performance. A novel fast algorithm is presented to accurately evaluate spatially weighted local histograms in constant time complexity using an extension of the integral histogram method. Different techniques are explored to efficiently compute integral histogram on GPU architecture and applied for fast spatio-temporal median computations and 3D face reconstruction texturing. We proposed a multi-component framework based on semantic fusion of motion information with projected building footprint map to significantly reduce the false alarm rate in urban scenes with many tall structures. The experiments on extensive VOTC2016 benchmark dataset and aerial video confirm that combining complementary tracking cues in an intelligent fusion framework enables persistent tracking for Full Motion Video (FMV) and Wide Aerial Motion Imagery (WAMI).
Queer leadership : an exploration of LGBTQ leadership in higher education
Authors:   , Pryor Jonathan Thomas
Published: April 2021

This study explored the experiences of staff members at two distinct college campuses who advocated for the advancement of LGBTQ equity through change in campus policy and practice. In this project I conceptualized a queer leadership framework based on grassroots leadership in higher education (Kezar and Lester, 2011). Findings from the multi-site case study identified two unique approaches higher education professionals engaged queer leadership through: a) Queer Activist Leadership and b) LGBTQ Advocacy Leadership. Participants were responsible for creating meaningful change on each campus, relying on campus partnerships with students, faculty, and staff members. These successes establish important considerations for student affairs practitioners, particularly those who work for institutions who do not have designated support programs for LGBTQ equity and inclusion. Findings from this study identified gaps and successes in staff leadership advocacy, demonstrating multiple ways LGBTQ advocates and queer activists may engage in in queer leadership work in higher education student affairs.
Exploratory study into the relationship between factors related to teacher qualification, school context, and the reported professional development outcomes
Authors:   , Smith Susan Rena
Published: April 2021

This study addressed the question: Is there a relationship between teacher qualifications and school context on reported professional development (PD) outcomes? Data was collected from archived PD for state funded grants awarded in 2006 in the state of Missouri. Seven of the 14 PD programs were selected for this study. A sample of teacher participants that attended the PD program during the 07 and academic year 2006-2007 to identify possible relationships between the teachers' qualifications and school context had on the self-reported PD outcomes. The teacher participant data questionnaire (TDP) was the first data source (n equals 126). The second data source consisted of a questionnaire taken at two points in the PD program, the first was at the end-of 07 (n equals 126) and the second at the end-of-program (n equals 74). Quantitative data was obtained from each of the data sources in order to determine 1) teacher qualifications, repeat participant, and school context, 2) if the selfreported PD outcomes differ at end-of 07 across teacher factors and school context, and 3) if PD outcomes from the end-of 07 were different than outcomes reported at the end-of program. Quantitative analysis was conducted using MANOVA to analyze data comparing the teacher qualifications, repeat participant, and school context on the self-reported change in PD outcomes. Findings showed no significant quantitative differences in PD outcomes for RQ2. However, they do show significant main effects and interaction for RQ3 as related to a teacher's experience and type of major possessed by the participant.
A grounded theory of being 'gatekept' in multigenerational stepfamilies
Authors:   , Chapman Ashton
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] Gatekeeping is a process by which individuals control access to kin. Gatekeeping is facilitative to the extent that others' involvement with kin is encouraged through information-sharing and cooperation; gatekeeping is restrictive to the extent that others' involvement with kin is restricted by withholding information or refusing contact or interaction. Despite recognition that gatekeeping is a dyadic phenomenon that occurs in many types of family relationships, researchers have largely explored gatekeeping from the perspective of gatekeepers. The experiences of individuals who are gatekept remain unaccounted for. Using a grounded theory approach, this study explored how individuals in multigenerational stepfamilies experience and respond to being gatekept. Data from 15 stepgrandmothers and 9 stepgrandfathers reporting on relationships with 153 stepkin reveal that the type of gatekeeping experienced (restrictive vs. facilitative) varies by gender, personal evaluations and perceptions of being gatekept, remarriage timing, and time spent in the remarried household. As families become increasingly complex in structure and functions, exploring gatekeeping processes that inform how families establish, carry out, and flex their rules, roles, and boundaries can strengthen our understanding of how families come to forge identities that promote relational positivity and stability. Keywords: stepfamily, stepgrandparent, stepgrandchild, intergenerational, grounded theory
Age at first use and later substance involvement : characterizing genetic and environmental pathways for tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis
Authors:   , Richmond-Rakerd Leah S.
Published: April 2021

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] Behavioral genetic studies have provided insights into why early substance use initiation is associated with increased risk for disorder. Few genetically-informative studies, however, have operationalized initiation as the timing of first use and simultaneously modeled the timing of initiation and problematic use of multiple substances. Such research can help capture the risk associated with early initiation and determine the extent to which genetic and environmental risk generalizes across substances. This study utilized a behavior genetic approach to examine the relation between the age of substance use initiation and symptoms of substance use disorder. Participants were 7,285 monozygotic and dizygotic twins (40 percent male, mean age at interview equals 30.6) from the Australian Twin Registry who reported on their ages of tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis initiation and symptoms of DSM-IV nicotine dependence, alcohol use disorder, and cannabis use disorder. Biometric modeling was conducted to (a) determine the structure of genetic and environmental influences on initiation and disorder and (b) examine their genetic and environmental overlap. The latent structure of initiation differed across men and women. The familial covariance between initiation and disorder was genetic among men and genetic and environmental among women, suggesting that the relation between first substance use and disorder is partly explained by a shared liability. After accounting for familial overlap, significant unique environmental correlations were observed, indicating that the age of initiation of multiple drugs may directly increase risk for substance-related problems. Results support the utility of conceptualizing initiation in terms of age and of adopting a multivariate approach.
An exploration of the relationship between leadership styles and school culture in a small rural southeast Missouri school district
Authors:   , Blissett Kimberley
Published: April 2021

Principals who understand and nurture positive school culture often experience academic and career success. This dissertation focuses on leadership styles and their relationship to school culture in a small rural school district in Southeast Missouri. The study answers the following questions: 1. What are the critical functions of effective leaders as perceived by both teachers and leaders? 2. As perceived by leaders and teachers, what impact does the leader have on the culture of the school? This study focused on a small rural school district in Southeast Missouri. The district has a K-12 enrollment of 330 students. There are 18 teachers and one building principal in the elementary school. The junior high and high school share 19 teachers. Data for this qualitative case study was collected using semi-structured interviews. Four teachers from each building were interviewed. The building principals from both buildings were also interviewed. The results of this study show that there is a significant relationship between the leadership style of the principals and the culture of each building. The findings indicate that the elementary principal is primarily an authentic leader. According to the data, her authenticity has led to a positive school culture. The staff also stated that the personal relationships sometimes interfere with student discipline. The junior high/high school principal is primarily a transactional leader. His focus was managing the school as a business. His staff attributed his business mentality to positive changes within the school and culture and success in achieving goals. While they appreciated his attention to professionalism, they would like to get to know their administrator on a personal level.
Conceptualizing the process of supporting youths' psychological needs and intrinsic motivation within school based agricultural education programs : a mixed methods study
Authors:   , Bowling Amanda Michelle
Published: April 2021

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to identify the strategies, actions, and processes School Based Agricultural Education (SBAE) teachers utilize to support the psychological needs and intrinsic motivation of students. Through an exploratory sequential design, quantitative instruments were first utilized to gauge the motivational climate of the programs and the teachers' tendencies to either be autonomy supporting or controlling. Qualitative grounded theory interviews and observations were utilized to determine the actions and processes of needs support within the program. Through the convergent analysis a substantive theory was formed which identified the process for supporting SBAE student psychological needs. Within the theory, teacher motivational beliefs emerged as the context to which the needs support process was fostered and developing and supported the need for relatedness emerged as the central phenomenon. Within the process, teachers also utilized extrinsic and intrinsic motivational strategies, along with the intracurricular nature of SBAE programs to foster and strengthen student motivation. Students experienced a range of outcomes including support for the need of competence, support and thwart for the need of autonomy, and a range of extrinsic and intrinsic motivational outcomes.
In the eyes of the beholder : exploring work perceptions of state government employees
Authors:   , Butitova Darima
Published: April 2021

What is it like to be a government employee when government is being constantly critiqued by almost everyone: citizens, industry, and media? This dissertation aims to answer the question by bringing attention to government as a human organization and examining employees' perceptions of government as their workplace. More specifically, the study focuses on how government employees' perceptions of workplace fairness and external prestige change depending on the length of their public service, and how these perceptions influence their organizational identification and turnover intentions. Overall, the dissertation argues that public distrust and cynicism toward the government negatively affect government employees -- citizens whose job is to represent the government. Based on the regression analysis of the survey of 522 state government employees, the study found that as years go by, more employees perceive their workplace as unfair in terms of compensation, procedures and interactions at work. Moreover, the majority of state employees do not believe that their work is valued by citizens whom they serve. These perceptions negatively influence state government employees' organizational identification and lead to turnover intentions. Thus, the dissertation's findings highlight the role of government employees' workplace perceptions in ensuring high-performing public organizations and have significant practical implications for public personnel management and government-citizens relations in general.
Age-generations in the workplace : an organization system type and space use preference systems analysis
Authors:   , Coberly Beverly A.
Published: April 2021

The 21st Century workforce includes four generations for the first time in US history yielding unparalleled workplace diversity. A systems approach was used to assess University of Missouri Extension employees' world view and space use characteristic preference perceptions between Baby Boomers and Millennials. Study results suggest a preference for an OPEN organization system type with COMFORTABLE SPACES emerging as the dominant space use characteristic preference for Millennials and QUALITY SPACES and COMFORTABLE SPACES emerging as the dominant space use characteristic preferences for Baby Boomers. The OPEN system type prefers informal, consensus-based decision-making to the more formal hierarchical model of the University of Missouri System. These system pattern similarities are strongly shaped by Extension's clan culture wherein employees are assimilated into the 'Extension way', thereby decreasing generational preference differences. Assimilation, for now, may be a function of the small number of Millennials compared with Baby Boomers in the organization. As the proportion of Millennials to Baby Boomers increases over time, age generational differences are projected to become more pronounced. The dominant preference for COMFORTABLE SPACES (i.e., access to light and fresh air, with acceptable temperatures and control of unwanted noise) reported by Millennials is also echoed by Baby Boomers who report COMFORTABLE SPACES as second to QUALITY SPACES Workspace quality throughout University Extension should be investigated in detail to determine the underlying nature of this finding.
A case study of teachers' perceptions of student engagement in one Midwest rural high school
Authors:   , Davis Dasha D.
Published: April 2021

This qualitative study examines teachers' perceptions of student engagement in one Midwest rural high school. The researcher examined teacher, administrator, and members of the regional professional development center responses through interviews regarding engagement definitions, factors, obstacles, importance to achievement, training, strategies, and teacher knowing-doing gap. Definitions of engagement included what students were doing, and what they were thinking in relation to the academic focus. Factors, such as teacher relationships, student interest, and relevance sometimes turned into obstacles if there were poor outcomes of the factors. Themes of strategies included using a variety of teaching practices for all learning styles, and structure or choice of learning activities.
Evaluation of heat-processed sorghum, high-oleic and low-trypsin inhibitor soybean cultivars as alternatives for corn and conventional soybeans for broilers
Authors:   , Hosotani Guilherme
Published: April 2021

Four 21-d experiments were conducted to compare soybean meal (SBM) from high oleic to parent soybean cultivars on growth performance, energy and ileal AA (IAA). Soybean meal was prepared by laboratory-scale mechanical extraction. Two replicate chick assays (Exp. 1 and 2) with similar treatments were conducted to evaluate the growth efficiency. In Exp. 1 and 2, 50 d-old male broilers (Ross 308) were randomly placed in battery cages and allocated to 2 dietary treatments with 5 replicates and 5 birds per replicate. The SBM sources consisted of cold-pressed conventional SBM (CON) and cold-pressed high oleic SBM (HO). All SBM sources were heated in a forced-air oven at 120 degrees C for 20 min. Diets were formulated to meet or exceed NRC (1994) and Aviagen nutrient requirements for Ross 308 in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively. Broilers were weighed and feed disappearance measured on d 7, 14, and 21 in Exp. 1, and on d 10 and 21 on Exp. 2. Two assays (Exp. 3 and 4) were conducted to determine IAA digestibility and apparent metabolizable energy (AME) in Exp. 3 or ileal digestible 24 energy (IDE) in Exp. 4. In Exp. 3 and 4, 100 d-old broilers randomly allotted to 2 dietary treatments with 10 replicates and 5 birds per replicate. Chicks were fed a corn-SBM based diet for 17 d, and a diet was developed by substituting the soybean cultivars in a corn starch-dextrose basal diet and fed from d 18 to 21. A nitrogen-free diet was fed to determine ileal endogenous AA losses. Titanium dioxide (0.5 percent) was included in all diets as a digesta flow marker. Excreta and ileal samples were collected on d 21. Statistical analyses were performed as a completely randomized design using PROC GLM of SAS with significance level set at P less than or equal to 0.05. In Exp. 1, chicks fed diets containing HO had decreased ADG (P less than 0.05; 25.3 vs. 29.4 g) and increased feed:gain ratio (P less than 0.05) from d 0 to 14 (1.71 vs. 1.56) and d 0 to 21 (1.54 vs. 1.47), compared with chicks fed CON diet. In Exp. 2, chicks fed HO had lower BW at d 10 (P = 0.028; 143 vs. 153 g), lower ADG from d 0 to 10 (P = 0.030; 10.90 vs. 11.90 g), and greater feed:gain ratio from d 0 to 10 (P = 0.043; 1.55 vs. 1.45) compared with chicks fed CON diet. In Exp. 3, AA digestibility did not differ among all essential AA. There were no differences in AME (kcal per kg) from SBM between CON and HO, with values of 2,921 and 2,901 (P = 0.73), respectively. In Exp. 4, the digestibility of glutamic acid (P = 0.026; 94.4 vs. 95.2 percent) and arginine (P = 0.008; 94.4 vs 95.4 percent) from HO were lower than CON; however, the IDE of CON and HO were similar (3,419 and 3,343 kcal/kg; P = 0.08), respectively. In conclusion, although there were no differences in nutrient digestibility, in conditions of this study, broilers fed HO had impaired growth performance, mainly from 1 to 14 d of age.
The experience of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy among childhood cancer survivors
Authors:   , Mohrmann Caroline E.
Published: April 2021

As the number of childhood cancer survivors (CCS) is increasing, it is imperative to understand the late-effects of childhood cancer therapy to optimize their health and quality of life. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is an unpleasant side effect of chemotherapy which impacts the peripheral nervous system and results in a variety of sensory and motor abnormalities such as numbness, pain, muscle weakness, or impaired coordination. While CIPN is poorly understood in general, there is a particularly poor understanding of the experience of CIPN among CCS, which leads to lack of appropriate support for maximizing physical function and quality of life. This qualitative study used narrative analysis with a phenomenological influence to understand the lived experience of CIPN among five CCS between the ages of 18 and 30. Semi-structured interviews and photo-elicitation were used. Photo-elicitation involves utilizing photographs to enhance the participant's expression of their experience. The lived experience of CIPN is characterized by "a condition of disconnection" with three subthemes: (1) disconnection between mind and body, (2) disconnection between anticipated potential and reality, and (3) disconnection between survivors and support. The condition of disconnection leads to a variety of negative physical and emotional performance outcomes that impact vocation, schooling, and other social roles important in the lives of adolescent and young adult CCS. These findings support the need for the development of interventions to 're-build the connections' CCS are lacking, as well as focused clinical assessments to identify this under-appreciated condition.
Perceptions of success factors in rural K-12 public alternative education programs
Authors:   , Oligschlaeger Erin R.
Published: April 2021

Alternative education programs for students in the rural K-12 public school setting are designed to fit the needs of the District due to the learning needs being accommodated through the program. This qualitative case study provided suggestions to rural K-12 public alternative education programs regarding success factors identified by teachers and administrators working in or who have worked in a rural K-12 public alternative education program in Northwest Missouri. The researcher used archival data, interviews with teachers and administrators, and a focus group of administrators to find common themes which were then viewed through the conceptual framework of Continuous Quality Improvement. Results suggest input, teamwork, accountability, good management, and continuous improvement are success factors of rural K-12 public alternative education programs. Key words: Continuous Quality Improvement, K-12 public alternative education
Women midlevel student affairs practitioners : exploring through narrative inquiry the skills, abilities, and expertise needed for career success
Authors:   , Page Laura Alexander
Published: April 2021

This study attempts to fill a gap in the literature by taking a new direction in the research of professional competency in student affairs through the exploration of professional stories of women midlevel student affairs practitioners. Through narrative inquiry, participants shared their professional life stories, including details regarding what skills, experiences, abilities, and expertise they believe have contributed to their individual career development, as well as the role gender has played. Using the Kaleidoscope Career Model (KCM) (Mainiero and Sullivan, 2005, 2006) as a guiding framework for the study, themes were identified from the findings and then interpreted through the KCM's components of authenticity, balance, and challenge. Findings from this study provide insight into how competence is viewed and achieved from the perspective of women midlevel professionals, as well as further our understanding of gender through the career development process in student affairs. Practical implications from this study reveal key aspects of professional development applicable to all aspects of the student affairs profession, including individual practitioners, departments and divisions at higher education institutions, and the professional associations that provide professional development and guidance to the field.
Kinetic study of histidine kinase CheA in bacterial chemotaxis
Authors:   , Pan Wenlin
Published: April 2021

Histidine kinase CheA is central to signaling in bacterial chemotaxis. This kinase is responsible for the phosphorylation of two response regulators, CheY and CheB. CheY controls flagellar rotation and thus motility. CheB is crucial for sensory adaptation. CheA is dramatically activated, up to 1000-fold, and put under the control of chemoreceptors by formation of the signaling complex. As measured by phosphorylation of CheY, this control modulates the activity of CheA in a range as wide as two orders of magnitude. This change in the activity of CheA is the essence of chemotactic signaling. However, the enzymatic properties altered by kinase incorporation into signaling complexes, chemoreceptor ligand binding or receptor adaptational modification are largely undefined. This dissertation describes the kinetic analysis of kinase CheA. Data are fit to the Michaelis-Menten equation, from which important parameters KM and kcat are obtained. Based on these parameters for CheA at different signaling conditions, important observations and conclusions are made to contribute to better understanding of the control of the activity of kinase CheA, thus the bacterial chemotaxis signaling system.