bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An in depth evaluation of internal criteria for determining the number of clusters in a data set
Authors:   , Stevens Jordan
Published: September 2024

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] Clustering procedures partition data sets into groups, minimizing the distance within clusters while maximizing the distance between clusters. Clustering can be a powerful tool for data reduction or hypothesis generation, however, there is a strong assumption that the number of clusters is known before clustering can occur. In order to combat this issue, many clustering indices have been developed to aid researches in identifying the number of clusters in a data set. Milligan and Cooper (1985) evaluated 30 clustering indices in 1985 and identified the Calinski and Harabasz (1974) index as the best index for determining the number of clusters and it has been the most popular clustering index ever since. With the increase in computing power, many researchers have developed new indices that have demonstrated superiority over the CH index. Over 30 clustering indices have been developed since the Milligan and Cooper study with no clear indication of when these clustering indices should be used. This paper sought to replicate and expand upon the findings of Milligan and Cooper by examining the performance of 66 clustering indices. Clusters we regenerated with hierarchical and non-hierarchical clustering procedures with varying degrees of cluster overlap. The Friedman and Rubin (1967) index was found to have the greatest degree of accuracy when cluster overlap was present. Boot strapping procedures were performed in order to examine the performance of the Friedman index when conditions are less than ideal. Finally, an application of the clustering index was demonstrated with a nationally representative data set assessing symptoms of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD).
A remote sensing analysis of the grand river grasslands using sentinel-2 satellite imagery : a comparison of land-use / land-cover classifications using per-pixel and object-oriented procedures
Authors:   , Venigalla Lasya
Published: September 2024

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] The important prerequisites for the proper use of land is to know how the land is covered and how it is being used currently. In this study, land-use and land-cover classifications were implemented over an area of the Grand River Grasslands (GRG), an area where restoration of a tallgrass prairie landscape is underway. The GRG is located in Harrison County, Missouri. The analysis was performed using Sentinel-2 10m spatial resolution satellite imagery. Imagery for two contrasting seasons was acquired to aid in the discrimination of cover types that exhibited a high degree of phenological variability. The analysis took a two-pronged approach. First, image objects were created by segmenting the sentinel-2 image data using the MeanShiftSegmentation algorithm in ArcPy. Multiple attributes corresponding to each segment were extracted from the Sentiniel-2 imagery. The resultant segmented attributed were then classified using the Classification and Regression Tree technique, See5, available within the R statistical computing package. The segments used to define the regression tree were labeled using field data collected through on the use of ground surveys as well as aerial imagery. Second, using the same field data and the See5 algorithm, an additional classification was run on a per-pixel basis. The two classifications were then compared to determine if one approach provided an improvement in classification accuracy over the other. There was an increase in the overall classification accuracy close to 11 percent when the CART technique was applied on the image at object-level than at pixel-level.
Driving simulator use and calibration for work zone merge sign evaluation
Authors:   , Zhang Linlin
Published: September 2024

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] Work zones on highways have the potential to increase crash risk; therefore, efficient and noticeable signs play a critical role in enhancing highway safety. Some engineers have suggested that the traditional Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) merge sign cannot be easily recognized by the driving public due to its graphical nature. In addition, the advance warning areas in work zones exhibit a higher crash rate than the transition, activity, and termination areas, therefore it is beneficial to focus on signage that will impact the advanced warning area of the work zone. A driving simulator is a virtual reality tool that can simulate different driving scenarios and can complement traditional field work due to its feasibility, safety, and cost-effectiveness. In this thesis, a driving simulator was applied to model six scenarios, including three different types of merge signs: MUTCD (baseline), MoDOT, and Quebec. Each merge sign was tested twice in both right lane closed and left lane closed work zone situations. The lane closure scenarios were alternated out of concern that participants might become accustomed to staying in one specific lane. Participants were randomly assigned to a different scenario sequence, thus avoiding sequence bias. A post-experiment survey and a motion sickness screening questionnaire were used to assess driver impressions of the signage and comfort level with the simulator. The results of both the experiment and survey showed that for three different merge signs, participants sustained comparable speeds when passing work zones. For the MoDOT sign, participants merged earlier into the open lane than they did with the other two signs. The MoDOT sign also resulted in the smallest standard deviation of merge location among the three signs. This means that participants reacted to the MoDOT sign consistently. The work zone with the MUTCD sign resulted in the highest speed differential between the merge location and the work zone lane drop taper. Even though 29.4 percent participants incorrectly perceived the meaning of MUTCD signs compared with only 3.7 percent for the other two signs, the participants who did correctly understand the MUTCD sign rated the sign positively.
Estrogen signaling and UCP1 : exploring mechanisms to improve metabolic health
Authors:   , Clookey Stephanie
Published: September 2024

Metabolic disease risk rapidly escalates following menopause. The mechanism is not fully known, but likely involves reduced signaling through Estrogen Receptor a (ERa) which is highly expressed in brown (BAT) and white AT (WAT). Objective: Test the hypothesis that uncoupling protein (UCP1) activation via CL316, 243 effectively mitigates metabolic dysfunction due to loss of signaling through ERa. Methods: At 8 weeks of age, female ERa knock-out (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice were co-housed at 28 degree C and fed a Western high-fat diet for 10 weeks. They were given daily intraperitoneal injections of CL 316,243 (CL), a selective b3 adrenergicagonist, or vehicle control (CTRL) during the final two weeks, creating 4 groups: WT-CTRL, WT-CL, KO-CTRL, KO-CL; n=10/group. Comparisons were made for body weight (BW), adiposity (EchoMRI), food intake, energy expenditure (EE) and spontaneous physical activity (SPA) (metabolic chambers), insulin resistance (IR) (HOMA-IR, glucose area under the curve during insulin tolerance test (AUC)), and AT phenotype (histology, gene (rtPCR) and protein (Western blot) expression). Statistics: Two-way ANOVA for main effects of genotype (G), CL(T), and GxT interactions; significance set at P<0.05. Results: Fourteen days CL treatment increased AT UCP1 gene and protein expression in both WT and KO, and normalized ERaKO induced increases in BW and adiposity (both GxT, P<0.05) by increasing resting EE (REE/gBW) (T P<0.05) since neither energy intake (kcal/week/g BW) or SPA were affected. Higher HOMA-IR in ERaKO was normalized by CL, but unchanged in WT (GxT, P<0.05). Similarly, greater glucose AUC in KO (G P=0.01) was normalized, and also reduced in WT (T, P=0.018) with CL administration. CL did not reduce perigonadal (PGAT) inflammatory gene expression, which was greater in KO (Tnfa, Cd11c, F480; all G P<0.05), but did increase adiponectin and markers of mitochondrial biogenesis (Pgc1a, Tfam) in WT and KO (T, P<0.05). Conclusions: CL completely normalized metabolic dysfunction in ERaKO mice. UCP1 may be a therapeutic target for treating metabolic dysfunction following hormone loss. The mechanism appears independent of ERa availability and/or reduced AT inflammation.
Preventing inaccurate media : a gatekeeping analysis of how news managers are overseeing the process of citizen journalism
Authors:   , Cummings Katherine
Published: September 2024

This research examines the process that news managers at local broadcast television stations use when vetting user-generated content or citizen journalism, focusing on techniques used for verification and implications for the future. The research was completed using a qualitative gatekeeping analysis of interviews and discussions with ten people in news management positions such as News Director, Assistant News Director, Executive Producer, Managing Editor and General Manager from stations located with media markets 19 - 29. As of 2018, market 19, Cleveland, has 1.4 million households and market 29, San Diego, has a little over 1 million. This includes Charlotte, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Raleigh, North Carolina, Cleveland, Ohio, San Diego, California and Portland, Oregon. Each interview was coded using the constant comparative method to find a better understanding of the use of citizen journalism and user-generated content in news rooms. By examining the process used in various newsrooms, this research attempts to define how to prevent fake media from getting on-air. By examining this topic through an array of interviews and other research, the findings will ultimately lead to a better understanding of how to utilize citizen journalism or user-generated content in the best way possible.
World reclamation in Shelley's Prometheus Unbound
Authors:   , Dittmer Maggie
Published: September 2024

Myth has a fluid function within culture, literature, and time. How myth is interpreted depends upon which element of it inspires or interests a person. The mythical figure of Prometheus has become embedded in the cultural consciousness since Ancient Greece in part because of how his changing role in myth speaks to both the individual and the world. Prometheus plays many parts-trickster, creator, benefactor of mankind, symbol of the suffering artist -- and perhaps the most famous of all-fire-bringer. Each interpretation builds upon one of these roles as well as thematic elements, the relationship between the Titan and the gods, as well as the relationship between Prometheus and mankind. This work seeks to first explore the various iterations of Prometheus and his myth to determine the major characteristics he is associated with in order to trace his arc from Classical literature to Percy Bysshe Shelley's groundbreaking work, Prometheus Unbound. Shelley's work is Promethean in its vision of how the Titan's act of rebellion and subsequent punishment actually incite an act of world reclamation. Earlier interpretations of the myth tend to individualize the Titan's acts or embed them within a single culture. By promoting an idealized vision of world change, Shelley shapes Prometheus into a figure of change -- a benefactor of mankind who replaces the tyranny of the gods with a new order of love and freedom. However, there is a dark underpinning to this vision -- one that will be explored in film.
Post-construction verification of hydraulic conductivity of soil in an earthen dam
Authors:   , Friedman Kyle
Published: September 2024

Earthen dams are used throughout the country to hold back flood waters from cities, towns, and farmlands, make reservoirs to supply drinking water, and create lakes for recreational purposes. The hydraulic conductivity of the soil in the dam is the critical parameter in assessing whether the dam will retain water. It is a function of the type of soil and placement conditions including unit weight and water content. Hydraulic conductivity is difficult and expensive to measure in situ and is typically measured in a laboratory. Correlations between the compacted soil's hydraulic conductivity, unit weight, and water content are used to confirm the soil in the earth dam meets the specifications. Traditional engineering practice, specifies a minimum dry unit weight and a range of water content that are acceptable. However, it is possible to develop a 'zone-of-acceptance' (ZOA) (dry unit weights and water contents) for which a compacted soil meets the hydraulic conductivity specification for the dam. After constructing an earth dam in southern Boone County Missouri, samples of the soil were compacted in the laboratory and their hydraulic conductivity was measured. A ZOA was developed. More than 400 in situ unit weight and moisture content tests using a nuclear density gauge were measured on the soil during construction of the dam. The data were superimposed on the laboratory generated ZOA to determine the expected hydraulic conductivity of the soil in the dam. All of the points indicate the in-situ hydraulic conductivity to be less than 1 x10-7 cm/sec. Ninety-nine percent of the data points indicated hydraulic conductivity less than 1 x10-8 cm/sec. A seepage analysis using the hydraulic conductivities indicate that less than five gallons of water per day will seep through the 1,530 feet long dam. This seepage rate is well within the acceptable performance criteria for an earth dam of 300 gallons per day. The dam is expected to perform adequately with the given hydraulic conductivity and seepage rate. The ZOA should be established prior to construction in order to properly evaluate the condition of the dam while under construction along with quality control and assurance measures.
Analysis of severe elevated thunderstorms using DCIN and DCAPE
Authors:   , Grempler Kevin R.
Published: September 2024

A 10-year study of elevated severe thunderstorms was performed using The National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) Storm Report database. This research further corroborates previous studies of occurrence, frequency, and severe characteristic distributions of elevated convection with severe weather. From the aforementioned database, 55 Significant ([greater than or equal to] 5 severe storm reports) and 25 Marginally (<5 severe storm reports) severe cases occurred at least 50 statute miles away from a surface boundary within a cold sector. Previous studies have established the importance in predicting whether a downdraft has enough energy to penetrate through the subinversion layer to cause severe surface winds. This study will advance an effort in predicting severe winds from an elevated thunderstorm by implementing a tool to help measure the potential for a downdraft to penetrate through the depth of the stable surface layer by using downdraft convective available potential energy (DCAPE) and downdraft convective inhibition (DCIN). Using outputs from the RUC/RAP analyses, 2-D plan view maps of DCIN and DCAPE were created to assess elevated thunderstorms as they propagated into different environments. Additionally, point sounding analyses were used to analyze the vertical thermodynamic profile for the hour prior to, and at the location of, the first storm report. The findings of this study provide insight of a environment favoring weather with severe winds. The hypothesis is posed that if the DCIN/DCAPE ratio gets progressively smaller in the path of a thunderstorm, then one may expect a greater possibility of observing severe winds at the surface. A statistical analysis was performed to determine correlations between thermodynamic variables of cases that were Significant versus Marginal using a Mann-Whitney test due to the gamma-like distributions associated with each of the variables. The Significant case set had values of DCIN closer to zero, which is consistent with the expectation that downdrafts will be able to penetrate to the surface more easily. Also, the DCIN/DCAPE ratio of Significant cases tends to be near zero with all Significant-Wind cases having a DCIN/DCAPE ratio equal to zero. Secondly, a comparison was made between thermodynamic variables of the dominant severe-type events (hail severe-type or wind severe-type). Again, these variables exhibited a skewing of the medians closer to zero than the mean indicating a gamma-like distribution. A Mann-Whitney test was carried out again to show a comparison of the thermodynamic variables. The DCIN-Hail to DCIN-Wind comparison Mann-Whitney results show DCIN-Wind values are closer to zero indicating the downdraft is able to penetrate to the surface causing severe observed winds. Thus, comparing DCIN and DCAPE is a viable tool in determining if downdrafts will reach the surface within an elevated thunderstorm.
Mother adolescent relationships and mental health five years later : the moderating effect of chronic medical conditions
Authors:   , Jewell Rebecca Denise
Published: September 2024

"The transition to adulthood is a time of development and growth, but can also involve some degree of stress. Young adulthood is associated with greater risk of mental health problems, as evidenced by a higher rate of serious mental illness among young adults compared to any other age group (Child Trends Databank, 2015). Further, the onset for 75 percent of mental health disorders occurs by age 24; 50 percent of mental health disorders occurs by age 14 (National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH], 2014). Over 20 percent of young adults experience at least 1 depressive episode, and suicide is the second leading cause of death among young adults, ages 15-34 (NIMH, 2015a, 2015b). Important predictors of suicide include previous suicide attempts and suicidal ideation. A suicide attempt is a nonfatal, self-directed, potentially injurious behavior, with intent to die as a result of the behavior, whereas suicidal ideation refers to thinking about, considering, or planning suicide (Klonsky, May, & Saffer, 2016). This elevated degree of mental health issues has high emotional and financial costs for young adults, their families, and society."--Introduction
Carbon dioxide adsorption on carbonized cigarette filters
Authors:   , Li Chun
Published: September 2024

Nowadays, the world is facing tremendous challenges due to increase in greenhouse gas emissions (mainly carbon dioxide), which causes a major global warming problem. CO2 release into the atmosphere is mainly due to burning of fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum and natural gas. Various methods are developed to reduce CO2 emissions. Of all the ways, porous carbon is attractive because of its low energy consumption and higher adsorption capacity. Discarded cigarette filters, in the form of cigarette butts, are currently a major waste disposal and environmental pollution hazard because cellulose acetate is not biodegradable. Given that they are mainly composed of cellulose acetate, which contain a high degree of carbon atoms and can potentially be the precursor for porous carbon. The incorporation of nitrogen-containing groups into carbon has been proposed as an effective way to enhance the interaction between CO2 molecules and surfaces of sorbents, which may further improve CO2 adsorption capacity and CO2/N2 selectivity. In this work, to understand the relationship between nitrogen content in porous carbon/carbonization temperature for samples and their CO2 capacities, a series of nitrogen doped porous carbons were synthesized, from cigarette filters as carbon precursor and urea as nitrogen source, by varying the urea concentration and carbonization temperature investigating their CO2 adsorption capacities. Through TGA test, the sorbent 12M700C was found to have the largest CO2 capacity.
How NBA teams use twitter as a brand management tool
Authors:   , Prather David
Published: September 2024

Social media has changed the way that organizations communicate with consumers and potential consumers. In the professional sports industry, teams use social media as a way to engage with their fans, posting a range of different types of content. The ways that professional sports teams use social media for branding purposes has been studied in a limited fashion. This study addresses that gap, analyzing the use of Twitter by the Los Angeles Lakers -- focusing on the brand attributes the team uses in their tweets (both product-related and non-product-related) and their relation to Twitter's key engagement features (retweets, favorites, replies). The results build on current knowledge of social media-based brand management in professional sports, while also offering significant insights for practitioners on how the utilization of particular brand attributes can lead to better engagement with fans of the team.
"Racism lives here" : racial ideologies in local news media coverage of student university protests
Authors:   , Riviera Elena
Published: September 2024

During fall of 2015, a group of students at the University of Missouri called Concerned Student 1950 protested racial inequity on campus. Their collective action led to structural shakeups in the university's leadership. News about the protests were broadcast to a national and even international audience, but started with coverage by local media organizations in Columbia, Missouri. This qualitative research examines local media coverage of the Concerned Student 1950 protests using a textual analysis to uncover ideologies of race. Local coverage from a three-month period in 2015 was examined from the following outlets: KBIA, a Mid-Missouri NPR affiliate; KOMU, an NBC affiliate; and the Columbia Missourian, a print and digital newspaper. This research argues that while local news outlets have moved away from simplistic constructions of whiteness as good and blackness as bad, their coverage still reinforces these characterizations. This study illuminates the discursive elements that constructed protesters as deviant and resistant, while university leaders were constructed as normal and compliant. Ultimately, this research provides a possible template for local journalists to improve the equity and balance of their coverage of social movements.
Nitrogen management strategies to improve corn growth and reduce soil greenhouse gas emissions from claypan soils
Authors:   , Steusloff Tyler W.
Published: September 2024

Adoption of nitrogen (N) management strategies to minimize gaseous N loss from agriculture while maintaining high yield production is increasingly important for an exponentially growing population. Agricultural management on poorly-drained claypan soils in the Midwestern U.S. make corn (Zea mays L.) production even more challenging due to the subsoil's low permeability, which may result in wetter soil conditions and relatively larger amounts of soil N[2]O emissions during the growing season. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of urea fertilizer placement with and without the addition of a nitrification inhibitor (NI) on corn yield, N use efficiency (NUE), and cumulative soil N[2]O emissions on a Northeastern Missouri claypan soil. The fertilizer strategies utilized in this study consisted of deep-banded urea (DB) or urea plus nitrapyrin [2-chloro-6-(trichloromethyl) pyridine] (DB+NI) at a depth of 20 cm compared to urea broadcast surface applied (SA) or incorporated to a depth of 8 cm (IA). The addition of a NI with deep-banded urea resulted in 27 percent greater apparent N recovery efficiency than all other N treatments. Additionally, DB+NI had 54 and 55 percent lower cumulative soil N2O emissions than IA and SA treatments in the two combined growing seasons. These results suggest that deep placement of urea with or without nitrapyrin is an effective management strategy for increasing corn yield and reducing N loss on a claypan soil.
Development and analysis of a FOXA2 conditional overexpression mouse model
Authors:   , Wang Peng
Published: September 2024

The uterus is essential for mammalian reproduction as it provides environment for conceptus implantation and subsequent development. Endometrial glands synthesize and secrete or transport substances critical for conceptus survival and implantation, demonstrated by the fact that female sheep and mice containing no uterine glands are infertile mainly due to impaired implantation and early pregnancy loss. FOXA2, a transcription factor, has been showed indispensable for not only the development of uterine glands in the neonate but also its differentiated function in the adult. The goal of the current study is to (1) generate a mouse model for the conditional overexpression of FOXA2, and to (2) determine the effects of FOXA2 overexpression on uterine morphogenesis and female fertility. In this thesis, Chapter 1 will review the early pregnancy of mice and discuss in detail how the early pregnancy events including blastocyst activation, uterine receptivity, apposition, attachment, penetration, stromal cell decidualization are regulated by different factors and signaling pathways. Chapter 1 will also introduce FOXA2 including its finding, structure, functions in organ development and differentiated function, functions in carcinogenesis and the regulation of its expression. Chapter 2, the research chapter, shows that we developed a mouse model which could express FOXA2 continuously only in the cells with expression of Cre recombinase. By applying two different mouse strains with special Cre expression, we found that misexpression of FOXA2 in the neonatal mouse uterus alters or inhibits normal differentiation and genesis of endometrial glands and function of the adult uterus, leading to female infertility. It also suggests that regulatory elements may localize inside the FOXA2 coding sequence and can be targeted by some unknown epigenetic mechanism. This chapter has been recently published in a journal: Endocrinology.
Visibility of health news outlet attributions on facebook : outcomes for credibility perceptions and recall
Authors:   , Wilner Tamar
Published: September 2024

The internet has become a major source of health information, and the user-generated content found online, especially on social media, makes health misinformation a serious concern (Yang & Beatty, 2016). Two-thirds of U.S. adults now get news from social media (Pew Research Center, 2017c). Social media removes the traditional "gatekeepers" that control the flow of health information. As a result, fringe views can reach many more people (Kata, 2012). At the same time, public trust in and credibility of the U.S. media is at a near-record low (Gallup News Service, 2017; Pew Research Center, 2011). This study therefore investigated how social media users form credibility perceptions of posts from mainstream news organizations, using heuristics formed from both platform features and source cues, based on Sundar's (2008) MAIN model. A 2x2 factorial, between-subjects design was used, with the independent variables of news outlet visibility (as it normally appears on Facebook, or in an enlarged format) and news outlet reputation (high, as represented by the BBC, or low, as represented by the Huffington Post). Results suggest that increasing the size of news outlet attribution on Facebook does indeed increase recall of the outlet name, but the effects of this size increase on credibility perceptions within my small sample of 205 participants were not significant. Alternative explanations are offered through the use of exploratory analysis.
Are universities "selling" online programs through agenda setting?
Authors:   , Witzig Lisa
Published: September 2024

"Higher education in America is at a tipping point-the traditional, common college student is no longer that traditional or common. While much of America maintains a preconceived notion of the "traditional" college student-18 -22 years old, attending full-time, and living on campus-the numbers show a different picture: Traditional students compose only 14 percent of undergraduates (Betts, 2017). Meanwhile, online programs are becoming mainstream for universities, as more are offering them and many are expanding majors and levels of degrees (Poulin & Strout, 2016). Something has shifted in the academic marketplace, and universities must react to remain relevant. With this new academic landscape comes a number of challenges. Overall enrollment rates at universities have slowed considerably in recent years. For example, between 1997 and 2011, undergraduate enrollments increased by 45 percent and post baccalaureate degree enrollment rates increased by 45 percent (Hussar & Bailey, 2014). But between 2011 and 2022, undergraduate enrollment rates are projected to increase by only 13 percent, while post-baccalaureate degree enrollments are projected to see just a 9 percent increase (Hussar & Bailey, 2014). More telling is the rate of enrollments for traditional students-those between the ages of 18 and 24 -- that is projected to decline by 4 percent through 2022 (Lederman, 2014). Fewer students are taking courses on ground campuses-the decline is approximately 1.2 million over the last four years (House, 2018b) while online course enrollments continue to grow (House, 0218a). With enrollments of traditional students declining, universities are wrestling with new ways to increase enrollments." -- Introduction
The use of magnetic resonance imaging and proton spectroscopy to identify critical tissues in dogs with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy for future assessment of therapeutic intervention : a pilot study
Authors:   , Zalcman Amy
Published: September 2024

Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy is a debilitating disease that affects skeletal and cardiac muscle of 1 in 5000 male births. In the last thirty years, the gene responsible for the encoding of Dystrophin has been identified, sequenced and the variations of mutations described. There remains a void in the successful treatment of the disease although corticosteroid use has proven useful in delaying progression. Novel therapies are produced in the categories of virus-mediated gene delivery and stem cells, but evaluating their efficacy is hindered by an inability to contemporaneously assess the changes in muscle. The purpose of this pilot study was to characterize the changes in skeletal and cardiac muscle in a clinically advanced population of dogs affected with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Using traditional sequences, delayed gadolinium enhancement, novel sequences and spectroscopy, changes in the investigated muscle were characterized. By establishing the differences between affected and unaffected dogs, the long-term goal of this body of work is to characterize these changes longitudinally and design a non-invasive method for tissue assessment as novel treatments are trialed.
Extending and applying properties of the uc generalized matrix inverse
Authors:   , Zhang Bo
Published: September 2024

The recent development of a generalized matrix inverse which preserves the units of state variables is very important for many areas of science and technology. In this thesis we derive new mathematical results for this inverse and prove that it offers a unified solution to replace ad hoc approaches that were needed before the new inverse became available. We begin by introducing the existing problem when a generalized inverse must be used in a system with parameters defined in incommensurate units. We test the hypothesis that the new inverse can replace special-purpose methods in robotics and control systems and we show through simulations that the new approach is not only mathematically more elegant but also significantly more efficient to compute. Additionally, we prove new properties of the new inverse involving the Kronecker matrix product and show how the new inverse can be mixed with other generalized inverses to solve more complex systems.
In situ polymerizing collagen for the development of 3D printed tissue engineering scaffolds
Authors:   , Glover Christopher John
Published: September 2024

Natural materials have been processed and utilized as scaffold materials in the field of tissue engineering for many years. One natural material often utilized is collagen since it is the main structural protein in mammalian tissues and exhibits microstructures suitable for the survival and proliferation of many different cell lineages. However, a common challenge with fibrillized collagen is the difficulty associated with trying to process it into specific three-dimensional designs for the development of scaffolds aimed at regenerating particular tissue types. This project consists of utilizing a custom platform capable of 3D printing in situ polymerizing collagen into user-defined morphologies for the development of 3D collagen-based scaffolds. Various anti-inflammatory compounds such as gold nanoparticles and curcumin were also incorporated into the scaffolds post printing in order to further tailor the cellular responses to the scaffolds. Scanning electron microscopy and neutron activation analysis were performed to verify and quantify the attachment of the gold nanoparticles, respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry was utilized to examine and optimize the stability of the scaffolds after crosslinking. Lastly, water soluble tetrazolium salt and reactive oxygen species assays were performed to assess the biocompatibility of the scaffolds using L929 murine fibroblasts. The results exhibited the viability of the platform to become an effective technique to manufacture and process custom scaffolds for tissue engineering applications.
The Saudi-American aid relationship, 1961-1968
Authors:   , Larsen Brian
Published: September 2024

This thesis is about the intersection of domestic and foreign politics, and how they can shape the aid relationship between two countries. The United States and Saudi Arabia have shared a connection since the early 20th century, and it was not until the 1960s and the Kennedy and Johnson administrations would that relationship begin to change dramatically. Saudi Arabia's strategic importance was beginning to become realized as oil production began to increase. This increase in natural resources led to Saudi Arabia becoming a critical part of American Cold War politics. Kennedy and Johnson, along with their State Departments, believed that foreign aid was a tool by which they could influence the nations of the world. That is not to say that these policies went unopposed or were free from changing political forces around the world. Congress began to push back on the policies of the President and questioned the role of foreign aid going to governments that do not share the same values as the American people. Congress would not be the only force acting on the Presidents. Changing Saudi domestic politics also forced the State Department to change the way in which they handled the American aid relationship with Saudi Arabia. These forces together, would shape the aid relationship between the two countries for the 1960s and for decades after the scope of this thesis.
Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) discriminations by nanopore sensing
Authors:   , Shi Ruicheng
Published: September 2024

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) are a common type of nucleotide alterations across the genome. A rapid but accurate detection of individual or SNP panels can lead to the right and in-time treatments which possibly save lives. In one of our studies, nanopore is introduced to rapidly detect BRAF 1799 T-A mutation (V600E), with the help of an Ap-dA cross-link right at the mutation site. These sequence-specific crosslinks are formed upon strong covalent interactions between probe based abasic sites (Ap) and target based deoxy-adenosine (dA) residues. Duplexes stabilized by the crosslink complexes create indefinite blocking signatures when captured in the nanopore, creating a high contrast compared to the "spike-like" translocations events produced by the un-crosslinked and wildtype duplexes. Those consistent blocking events couldn't be resolved unless an inverted voltage is applied. In a 1:1 BRAF mutant-wildtype mixture, the nanopore can successfully discriminate between the two sequences in a quantitative manner. In summary, nanopore paired with sequence-specific crosslink can detect a specific type of SNP with a high contrast manner. In another study, nanopore sensing is modified to be capable of detections with multiple SNPs in a single detection mix. To achieve this, an RNA homopolymer barcode is integrated into the probe sequence so nanopore can read out a distinctive level signature when the target-probe duplex is de-hybridizing through the pore. Since different RNA homopolymers (e.g. Poly rA and Poly rC) can generate signature levels distinctive from each other and other DNA sequences, they can be applied to generate characteristic patterns that simultaneously highlight multiple SNPs in the mixture. In this study, we assigned two different RNA barcodes (Poly rA and Poly rC) to label KRAS G12D and Tp53 R172H SNPs (both T[right arrow]A mutations) in the solution. During nanopore readout, the KRAS G12D containing duplex generates a "downward" step pattern but Tp53 R172H always has an "upward" step pattern, the high contrast between those two patterns makes recognition easy enough with naked eyes, and further statistical analysis is unnecessary. Theoretically, at least four different barcodes can be implemented at the same time, furthermore, the length of the barcode can also affect the barcode pattern. Thus, in theory, a panel of more than 10 SNPs can be identified simultaneously.
A therapist survey of evidence-based practices in publicly funded youth mental health
Authors:   , Tugendrajch Siena K.
Published: September 2024

Publicly funded services, such as Medicaid, account for close to half of all youth mental health (MH) services in the U.S. (Buck, 2003; Mark et al., 2007; Pires, 2013). Outcome studies of treatment as usual (TAU), particularly within publicly funded youth MH service systems, have demonstrated variable effects, with average effect sizes close to zero (Bickman et al., 2000; Garland, Bickman & Chorpita, 2010; Zima et al., 2005; Weisz et al., 2017). This contrasts with the medium to large average effect sizes in controlled clinical trials for evidence-based treatments (EBTs) for youth MH problems (Weisz, Jensen-Doss & Hawley, 2006). One potential reason for this discrepancy may be that therapists within TAU contexts are not implementing EBTs. To date, few studies have examined use of specific treatment strategies, whether evidence-based or not, in these settings. In a statewide survey of therapists providing youth MH care funded by Medicaid and the State Child Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP), 780 therapists reported on their use of treatment strategies with a recent, representative youth case presenting with primary anxiety, depression, or conduct problems. Therapists reported using a wide range of treatment strategies, but showed a preference for implementing transdiagnostic EBT strategies over both (a) EBT strategies specific to a particular patient presentation (e.g., exposure for anxiety) and (b) strategies without a strong evidence base (e.g., pleasant activity scheduling for conduct problems). We examined multiple therapist (e.g., theoretical orientation, treatment manual use, discipline), organizational setting, and client level (e.g., age) predictors of EBT use. Provider treatment manual use, perceived efficacy in treatment, learning theory orientation, private practice setting, younger client age, and longer time since degree completion predicted more frequent implementation of EBT strategies. We discuss how such features may be targeted in future training and implementation efforts in order to increase EBT use within publicly funded youth MH service contexts.
Identifying bioactive compounds from switchgrass (panicum virgatum L.) by global metabolomic analysis
Authors:   , Efrat Novianus
Published: September 2024

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] Untargeted metabolite profiling of switchgrass using cloud metabolomics platform. Integrated biorefining incorporates biomass conversion processes and equipment to produce multiple products including fuels, power, heat, and value-added chemicals from biomass. By identifying multiple high-value products, a biorefinery supply chain can maximize the value derived from the biomass feedstock. The objectives of this study are to 1) to compare the chemical profiles between varieties of switchgrass and 2) to identify and characterize the valued bioactive compounds in switchgrass using global metabolomics approach (XCMS Online). The compounds extracted from switchgrass were analyzed by ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS). The ion chromatograms were submitted to XCMS platform operated by Center for Metabolomics at the Scripps Research Institute. The spectra were annotated and the compounds were identified and categorized by the integration of the METLIN, the world's largest metabolite database. Using this platform, we have found 137 putative compounds with various health-promoting bioactivities that have not been reported in switchgrass from the previous studies. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed for general chemical profiles among varieties, showing that Showme cultivar is similar with Kanlow cultivar. When the analysis is limited to bioactive compounds, the PCA shows that bioactive compounds profiles are significantly different among all four cultivars. The findings from this study suggested that switchgrass could be an excellent source of the raw materials for cosmetic and personal care products industry.
"Hollywood and beyond" : an intersectional analysis of how Teen Vogue covered the #MeToo movement
Authors:   , Alamdari Natalia
Published: September 2024

Using Crenshaw's theory of intersectionality as a lens of analysis, this study asks how the teen magazine Teen Vogue reported on the rise of the #MeToo movement and how intersections of race, class and gender were represented in regards to sexual violence. Drawing inspiration from recent critiques of Teen Vogue's newfound embrace of politics and social justice reporting, this study used textual analysis to understand who is represented and potentially erased within the magazine's activism-minded brand. This study found that Teen Vogue primarily situates its stories about sexual violence within the context of Hollywood and the entertainment industry -- powerful executives are seen as perpetrators, and successful actresses are portrayed as both victims and advocates. While Teen Vogue attempts to confront the systemic inequalities that enable sexual violence, the magazine approaches the issue as exclusively a gender-based problem, ignoring the overlapping elements of race and class that shape how and why sexual violence occurs.
Characterization of agroforestry feedstocks and their biochars and their effects on soil greenhouse gas emissions in a floodplain soil
Authors:   , Bett Boaz K.
Published: September 2024

The temperature at which biochar (biocharcoal) is produced is a major factor that determines its chemical and structural characteristics. The objectives of this research were to assess the effects of feedstock source among potential agroforestry materials and pyrolysis temperature on changes in biologically-labile and stable carbon and nitrogen forms in the original and pyrolyzed materials, and to compare several methods of chemical characterization and their utility in assessing changes in carbon and nitrogen forms. Three main analytical techniques (advanced solid-state [13]C NMR techniques, FTIR-DRIFTS analysis and total carbon and nitrogen analysis) were used to characterize biochar produced at 300 or 500[degrees]C from agroforestry feedstock (i.e., walnut (Juglans regia) hulls, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) and cottonwood (Populus deltoids) feedstock). Results indicated that at 300[degrees]C, biochar was primarily composed of residues of biopolymers, such as lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose, while carbohydrates and most of the ligno-cellulosic features were lost when the temperature was increased to 500[degrees]C. These results confirmed other researchers' observations that sp[3] -- hybridized carbon was lost at 500[degrees]C and the biochars became enriched with non-protonated aromatic bridgehead carbons. Decreased protonated aromatic carbons and aromatic C-O functional groups and increased nonprotonated aromatic functional groups were observed with increased pyrolysis temperature. Higher pyrolysis temperatures resulted in biochars that predominantly consisted of aromatic functional groups, and promoted loss of lignin, cellulose and labile biopolymers and carbohydrates from the original feedstock.
Parametric study of the shock driven multiphase flow
Authors:   , Dashora Gargi
Published: September 2024

This thesis presents a study of the shock driven multiphase instability and explores the competing effects of particle and gas effects in mixing. Eight different simulations were carried out to study properties of the particle-gas system based on various particle concentrations, particle sizes, and gas densities. Each case uses the surrounding gas as air in the shock tube and the incident Mach number is 1.66 with four different sets of gas and particle Atwood number (density ratios) combinations. These combinations are linked with two particle sizes. Two different domains are considered on the basis of the maximizing resolution for the available computational resources provided by Lewis, the University of Missouri supercomputer. For deciding the resolution, zones across the diameter of the interface are calculated and then highest resolution achievable was chosen for the analysis It is shown that both gas and particle properties influence mixing. Comparison of the density contours of all eight cases shows the sudden increase in the density due to evaporative cooling from the particles. Plots of tagged gas and particle position highlight the momentum lag behavior of the particles and show the interface evolution. The particle evaporation effect and the effect of strong gas Atwood number is shown to drag particles to the tail of the interface at a later time, increasing mixing. The difference in the particle enstrophy due to variation in the particle size shows the opposite behavior at an initial time to the late time. The effects of evaporation of particles in the vapor contours are more evident in the small-sized particles showing increased vapor mass fraction at the late times inside the cores of the vortices. At last, the particle mixing width and the vapor mixing width were plotted to qualitatively define the particle lag behavior. These show a complex correlation between the particle and tagged gas fields across different parametric combinations.