bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oxygen/Ozone Therapy: a promising approach for the treatment of biphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw
Authors: Donati Girolamo , Donati Valentina Laura , Rossi Carlo Alberto
Published: April 2021

Biphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ), a side effect following   biphosphonate treatment, consists of a progressive bone destruction in the maxillofacial region and it is traditionally treated with antibiotic therapy and surgical removal of the necrotic bone.  Among the studied alternative therapies, oxygen/ozone therapy has shown positive results. 

In the present study, we evaluated how the ozone/oxygen therapy (O2/O3 mixture from medical oxygen) and the debridement with piezoelectric surgery may improve the treatment of BRONJ reaching a complete healing of the lesion. The experimental protocol consisted of the application of an O2/O3 mixture twice a week for 10 weeks before the debridement surgery and afterwards. Clinical and radiological parameters were used to evaluate the lesions.

Following up on the preliminary data recently published by Goker et al. (2020)[1], here we present the updated case reports. Until now, sixteen patients with BRONJ at stage 1 and 2 (classified according to the SICMF-SIPMO – Sistema di stadiazione clinica e radiologica) have been included in the treatment. After the O2/O3 therapy, 12 patients recovered from osteonecrosis and, in seven among these, the spontaneous expulsion of the bone fragment was observed. Relapses were recorded in two patients with extended lesions and in one with reduced oral hygiene and reduced adherence to the protocol schedule. 

To conclude, the O2/O3 therapy with and without the debridement with piezoelectric surgery represents a promising approach to improve the treatment of BRONJ and therefore the life quality of the patients. Further studies should be conducted with the inclusion of a larger number of patients.
MRONJ ASSOCIATED WITH DENTAL INFECTION AND SECONDARY INVOLVEMENT OF THE NEARBY IMPLANT: A CASE REPORT
Authors: Nespoli Stefania , Audino Elisabetta , Negrini Stefano , Daleffe Francesco , Mensi Magda , Visconti Luca , Castellani Andrea , Salgarello Stefano
Published: April 2021

BACKGROUND: Medication related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) represents a potential adverse effect related to the treatment with antiresorptive (Bisphosphonates, Denosumab) and antiangiogenic (Tyrosine kinase inhibitors, Vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors) drugs. This condition could occur in patients that take these agents for the treatment of skeletal and oncological diseases but have no history of radiation therapy to the jaws. MRONJ is characterized by exposed bone or bone that can be probed through an intraoral or extraoral fistula in maxillofacial region that has persisted for longer than 8 weeks [1]. The risk to develop osteonecrosis increases with local factors, especially dental infection and dentoalveolar surgery such as tooth extraction.

CASE PRESENTATION: This report describes a case of bisphosphonate related to osteonecrosis of the jaw associated with tooth infection and subsequent involvement of the nearby implant. 

CONCLUSION: The aim of this case is to describe the decision-making and clinical management of MRONJ carried out in ambulatory way and underline the importance of anamnesis and early diagnosis.
OSTEONECROSIS OF THE JAW (ONJ) IN CANCER AND MYELOMA PATIENTS. A 16-YEAR EXPERIENCE OF “RETE ONCOLOGICA PIEMONTE–VALLE D’AOSTA” CANCER NETWORK
Authors: Cabras Marco , Gambino Alessio , Erovigni Francesco Maria , Della Ferrera Francesco , Freilone Roberto , Pentenero Monica , Fasciolo Antonella , Di Maio Massimo , Ramieri Guglielmo , Migliario Mario , Appendino Paolo , Fusco Vittorio
Published: April 2021

Abstract

Incidence of Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (MRONJ) related to cancer and myeloma treatments is yet to be assessed, with scarce epidemiologic data available from surveys of limited investigated populations. A 16-year (Jan 1 st , 2003 - Dec 31

st , 2018) regional-wide, multicenter retrospective survey was carried out through the regional database of the cancer network in North-Western Italy (Rete Oncologica di Piemonte e Valle d’Aosta), aiming to assess overall frequency, raw incidence and main characteristics of MRONJ cases among myeloma/cancer patients, over a population of 4.4 million inhabitants. Main characteristics: 691 patients (261 M, 430 F); mean age: 68 (38-90) years. Underlying diseases: metastatic breast cancer (43.8%), myeloma (24.1%), metastatic prostate cancer (19.1%), other cancer (13%). Main treatment: zoledronate (71.9%), denosumab (5.3%), other drugs/sequences (22.8%). Sites of MRONJ: mandible (63.3%), maxilla (27.7%), maxilla and mandible (9%). Median number of MRONJ cases: 44 (range: 3-66) cases/year. MRONJ occurrence was registered mostly after 12-36 months of treatment (range: 1-227 months).  As a result of cases observed in the regional cancer network centers, we estimated a raw unadjusted incidence ranging between 4.8 and 13 cases/million/year, with a mean of 9.5 cases/million/year and a median of 10.1 cases/million/year. The present, decades-long multicenter retrospective study represents un almost unprecedented collaboration between Oncology, Hematology, Oral Medicine / Surgery and Oral Maxillo-Facial Surgery units, to investigate the issue of MRONJ, in Italy. According to these data, MRONJ does not seem to be a rare event in metastatic cancer and myeloma populations, and should require the pursuit of such a multidisciplinary effort both in prevention and treatment.
Evaluation of post punching capacity of flat plates under progressive collapse
Authors:   , Alnaqqash Farah
Published: April 2021

This research investigates the post-punching resistance of flat-plate buildings without continuous bottom reinforcement. An overview on both the historical development of the analytical theories of punching mechanisms and post punching mechanisms as well as the evaluation of post punching capacity of slab-column connections will be included. The main aim of this work is to develop an analytical method to reasonably and practically evaluate the post punching response of flat-plates buildings designed without integrity reinforcement. ACI code provisions have required continuous integrity reinforcement since 1989. However, it is often considered for older flat-plate buildings designed prior to 1989, that contribution of the top flexural reinforcement is limited or even negligible in post-punching. Based on the experimental observations, along with the findings of the literature experimental tests, the model is evolved to estimate the postpunching resistance due to the top reinforcement. In addition, the effect of two parameters, anchorage and lateral restraint conditions, will be incorporated. The proposed model was found to accurately estimate the post punching capacity of the experimentally tested specimens provided by Peng et. al. 2016. The average ratio of the experimental peak deflection to the estimated peak deflection is 1.176. The average ratio of the experimental peak post-punching strength to the estimated peak post punching strength is 0.998.
Seeing constructed realities: images and law in the contemporary American novel
Authors:   , Amidei Drew
Published: April 2021

In the new digital era, novelists have developed new tools to aid them levy political criticism against targets that have traditionally 12en outside the reach of the novel. By examining four contemporary American novels, I seek to examine how novelists use embedded photography to levy political criticism against systems and entities that rely on verbal language. My chief argument is that the ambiguity of language, when compounded with the ambiguity of photographs, forces readers into a mode of active interpretation which allows them to question concepts they usually take for granted. The hope is that by better understanding how these authors convey their messages we can better understand not just the systems they criticize, but build a model for future activist writing and criticism.
Craft Christianity : Christianity and craft beer America
Authors:   , Bedsaul Daniel
Published: April 2021

The recent advent of American Christian communities incorporating craft beer into their lives stands in curious defiance to the ways in which religion and drinking have often interacted in American culture. In this thesis, I attempt to explain why craft beer, why now, and how this phenomenon has come about. By looking at issues of class, gender, and how these two categories work within America's cultural religion, I locate Craft Christianity within a larger story of alcohol in the United States.
Understanding the subject: Woolfss use of the Bildungsroman in the "Voyage Out" and "Jacob's Room"
Authors:   , Berger Alexandra
Published: April 2021

This project explores the way in which Virginia Woolf uses and subverts the classic nineteenthcentury genre, the Bildungsroman in her first novel (The Voyage Out) and her third novel (Jacob's Room) in order to posit questions about understanding subjectivity. Virginia Woolf's later novels are written in a prose style commonly called "stream-of-consciousness" or "mindstyle" that her first novel is not, and her third novel, although attempts this style of prose, is quite novice in its execution. Essentially, this project argues that it was through Woolf's use and complication of the Bildungsroman genre that she was able to pose philosophical questions about subjectivity and human understanding-- never answered in a concrete manner--that develop into her later, most famous style of prose in novels such as Mrs. Dalloway. This paper builds on Gregory Castle's scholarly book, The Modernist Bildungsroman, which was written in response to Franco Moretti's seminal book, The Way of the World.
Safety evaluation of roundabouts at freeway ramp terminals and HSM calibration
Authors:   , Berry Jacob A.
Published: April 2021

Although the conventional understanding is that roundabouts have the potential to improve safety at intersections, particularly by reducing more severe crash types, there is limited knowledge on their safety impacts when utilized as part of an interchange system. This research utilizes multiple years of crash, traffic, and geometric data across a variety of roundabout interchange sites in Missouri to develop a two-level Empirical Bayes (EB) safety analysis at the project (entire interchange) and site-specific (ramp terminal only) levels. The results were then aggregated for both single-lane and dual-lane roundabout terminals. The project-level results for single-lane sites showed a decrease in fatal/injury crashes (FI) by 20.3 percent, property damage only (PDO) crashes by 26.0 percent and total crashes by 24.5 percent. The site-specific results for single-lane roundabout terminals indicated a reduction of FI crashes by 32.8 percent, PDO crashes by 23.1 percent, and total crashes by 24.4 percent. At the project-level, dual-lane roundabouts were shown to reduce FI crashes by 2.3 percent while increasing PDO and total crashes by 16.9 percent and 12.2 percent, respectively. The dual-lane site-specific results indicated an increase in FI crashes by 34.7 percent, PDO crashes by 53.9 percent, and total crashes by 50.0 percent at the ramp terminal specifically. This analysis directly compares observed crash data after roundabout implementation to the expected number of crashes over that time period if the roundabout were never constructed. Therefore, this indicates that single-lane roundabouts performed significantly better than their original configurations, while the dual-lane roundabout terminals were shown to be less-suitable for certain applications. Additionally, it was found that a high proportion of the roundabout crashes occurred at the exit ramp approach legs; this was illustrated in the collision diagrams and crash type distributions that were produced for the common observed crashes at both single and dual-lane roundabout terminals. As a separate part of this thesis research, an improved calibration of the Highway Safety Manual safety performance functions of four facility types was performed using data from 2012-2014 to calibrate for local Missouri conditions. Crash severity and crash type distributions were also developed for each facility type.
Exploring news framing in military-oriented newspapers
Authors:   , Carlson Brittany
Published: April 2021

This research paper explores news framing within two military-oriented newspapers, the Stars and Stripes and Military Times, on the topics of sexual assault and the effects of deployment on military families, as well as the organizational and extramedia factors that influence how military news reporters frame news on these topics. Major frames for sexual assault include failures in the military justice system; a "troubling command culture" (Tritten, 2016); the difficulty that sexual assault victims in the military face in speaking out; and a worsening of sexual assault problems in the military system. Major frames for deployment effects include: not enough institutional/cultural support for military families with deployment-related issues; the need for military families to reconcile these issues; military spouses' tendency to shelve their own emotional needs during/after deployments; and the cultural stigma military mothers face when they deploy. The Military Times frames articles to include a broader audience and focuses on advocating for service members' health and career needs, while the Stars and Stripes focuses on a narrower military audience with emphasis on military family relationships. Both newspapers focused on pinpointing problems and causes in sexual assault articles, and solutions or moral implications in deployment effects articles (Entman, 1993). Perceptions of mission and audience appear to influence news reporting at military-oriented newspapers more than ownership.
Relational intersection of youth sport participation and identity development
Authors:   , Casey Taylor Breann Moore
Published: April 2021

Youth sport has continued to grow in attraction, particularly in the United States. Many youth, at younger and younger ages, are entering the confines of sport yet expansive research is still lacking in fully exploring the many facets that are a part of youth sport participation. It is of the upmost importance that research in this area is conducted, as youth are participating in sport at a significant time in their growth and development. Youth development is not only impacted by internal processes but also through experiences, such as sport. This analysis explores the positive, neutral, or negative relationship of identity development with sport participation in the hopes of bringing awareness and understanding to the relationship of youth sport participation on the development of youth.
A study on audience perception of fact and fiction in documentary
Authors:   , Crouse Tiffany
Published: April 2021

This study addresses the disconnect between how a documentary consumer goes into a film thinking they are skeptical of the information; when they tend to have a crewed understanding of filmmaking and media literacy. An explanatory, experimental qualitative design was used. This involved collecting qualitative data through the use of focus groups and then expanding upon those data with in-depth interviews. In the first qualitative phase of the study, data was collected from volunteer participants from three different cities in Missouri. Three focus groups where conducted to recognize the volunteers' understanding of the distinctions between fact and fiction in documentary and to assess whether that relates to further word-of-mouth misinformation. The second qualitative phase was conducted as follow up to the focus groups. In this study, the researcher looked at how members of the first data study consume documentaries. She did this through one-on-one in-depth semi-structured interviews with two participants from each of the focus groups. The researcher then conducted a textual analysis of the transcribed material that came from the qualitative data collected in both the focus groups and the interviews. Ultimately addressing the question: how do audience members understand the difference between fact and fiction in documentary?
Characterization of dysphagia onset in a mouse model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Authors:   , Flynn Kaitlin Alexandra
Published: April 2021

The primary goal of this study was to characterize dysphagia onset and progression in the low copy number SOD1-G93A (LCN-SOD1) mouse model of ALS. A secondary goal was to determine the effect of serial radiation exposure throughout the lifespan on dysphagia severity. To accomplish this goal, we used our lab's established Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study (VFSS) assay to objectively assess swallow function in 54 mice, divided into serial versus single radiation exposure groups. The serial X-ray exposure group (n=24; 13 LCN-SOD1, 11 nontransgenic control) underwent VFSS testing once a month, starting at 2 months of age until disease end-stage. The single X-ray exposure group (n=30; 15 LCNSOD1, 15 non-transgenic control) underwent VFSS testing only once at disease end-stage. VFSS videos from both groups were analyzed to quantify 8 swallow metrics. Results showed that all swallow metrics were similar within and between genotypes from 2 to 6 months of age, which coincided with the pre-clinical disease stage in LCN-SOD1 mice. At disease end-stage, LCN-SOD1 mice had significantly altered swallow function for 5 of the 8 VFSS metrics under investigation, compared to age-matched controls. Between disease onset and end-stage, LCN-SOD1 mice demonstrated highly variable disease phenotypes and survival durations, which rendered it impossible to characterize the onset and rate of dysphagia progression with the small sample size. However, two main findings emerged from this study. First, dysphagia onset in LCN-SOD1 mice did not occur until after 6 months of age. This finding suggests that treatments for dysphagia in this mouse model of ALS should begin after 6 months of age (i.e., after clinical disease onset) for optimal translational potential to humans with ALS. Our second novel finding was that dysphagia severity at disease end-stage was similar for single versus serial radiation exposure in LCN-SOD1 mice, which provides evidence that our lab can continue to perform longitudinal VFSS studies in this small animal without confounding outcomes relative to dysphagia. However, the majority of mice developed evidence of surface-level radiation toxicity (fur depigmentation and dry eyes) as the number of x-ray exposures increased, even though it did not affect swallow function. Therefore, we are taking proactive measures to reduce radiation exposure during VFSS and thereby prevent skin and eye morbidities for future longitudinal dysphagia investigations.
Management of nitrogen and nitrification inhibitors for corn and wheat production on claypan soils
Authors:   , Habibullah
Published: April 2021

Use of nitrification inhibitors (NI) in agricultural production systems is considered a risk management strategy for both agricultural and environmental considerations. It can be utilized when risk of reduced nitrogen (N) fertilizer use efficiency or yield, and risk of pollution from mineral N is high. Field research was conducted on corn (Zea mays L.) from 2012 to 2015 in Northeast Missouri. Treatments consisted of two application timings of urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) fertilizer solution [pre-emergence (PRE) and V3 growth stage], two application rates (143 and 168 kg N ha-1 ), with and without a NI (nitrapyrin), and a non-treated control which were arranged in randomized complete block design. UAN applied at a rate of 143 kg ha-1 with nitrapyrin at the V3 growth resulted in the highest yield (8.6 Mg ha-1 ). Similarly, pre-emergence application of UAN 168 kg ha-1 with nitrapyrin resulted in greater yields (7.7 Mg ha-1 ). UAN application rates and timings affected soil NO3-N and NH4-N concentration more than nitrapyrin presence or absence during the growing season. A side-dress application of a lower rate of UAN with nitrapyrin at V3 corn growth stage may be useful when risk of N losses during the growing season due to unfavorable precipitation events and other environmental variables is high. A pre-emergence application of UAN with nitrapyrin was useful and it may eliminate the need for split-application of N fertilizer later in the season. Workload on growers soon before planting or during growing season, excessive wet field conditions in early spring, reduced N fertilizer use efficiencies due to uncertain climatic conditions during growing season, and environmental concerns of pollution from - 30 - N escaping from agriculture production systems may give an incentive to growers and policy makers to increase the use of nitrapyrin in the future.
Effects of parental home-based and school-based involvement on child's grades: comparing Asian and Hispanic parents
Authors:   , Han Kahee
Published: April 2021

Parental involvement takes an important role in child's education and parental involvement in a child's education generally benefits child's learning and school success. Parents' motivation and knowledge affect parent's decision to become involved in their child's education. In addition, cultural background is one of important factor that influences parental involvement. The number of immigrant students in the United States is increasing however, only a few studies have examined the immigrant parents' involvement in their child's education. The present study examined the effects of parental home-based and school-based involvement on child's grades, especially for Asian parents and Hispanic parents by examining whether parents' behaviors of checking for child's homework completion, helping with child's homework, and participating in school activities affect students' academic achievement. The results showed that checking for homework completion had a positive association with parental school-based involvement for Asian parents, and helping with homework had a positive association with parental school-based involvement for Hispanic parents. Parental school-based involvement had a positive effect on child's grade for Hispanic parents. However, there was no mediation effect of school-based involvement between parental home-based involvement and child's grade.
Portrait of the Calvinist as a young killer: confessions, fanaticism, and satanic horror in Hogg's Justified Sinner
Authors:   , Johnson Zachary
Published: April 2021

James Hogg's Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner innovated several important novel genres in the Romantic literary era. The novel centers around a young man, Robert Wringhim, who, along with his devilish double, Gil-Martin, goes on a religious-based killing spree in late 17th century and early 18th century Scotland. The chronicle of Wringhim's 12 from righteousness, told by both an editor and in Robert's own words, is disturbing, ambiguous, and diabolically deceptive. I will first examine varying Scottish dialects as recorded in the book and how the interplay between them allows Hogg to represent the "many voices" of Scotland, and to challenge the notion that higher education equals virtue and goodness -- a study highly influenced by the aforementioned Bakhtinian theories. I will also examine several genres Justified Sinner both utilizes and satirizes: including gothic and horror fiction and confessions. Whereas many Romantic novels embraced the genres they found themselves in, Hogg's novel seems resistant to being confined a particular one. He plays with traits of genres to darkly humorous ends, and crafts a tale of suspense and terror that refuses to give readers closure of any tangible kinds. By manipulating what the novel should do with what it can do, Hogg asks uneasy questions about faith, spirituality, fanaticism, sin, guilt, confessing, the supernatural, and Scottish literary culture.
Dynamic increase factor in reinforced concrete frames under disproportionate collapse
Authors:   , Kirby Joseph Ernest
Published: April 2021

Under a disproportionate collapse, the sudden loss of a support causes a dynamic response that can amplify the internal forces in the surrounding members and lead to significant global damage. This study considered a two-dimensional, quarter scale, two bay, two story reinforced concrete frame with discontinuous reinforcement. In order to simulate an interior bay condition, the frame was axially restrained at the adjacent-bay beam locations. Dead weights were applied to simulate the dead and live loads expected to be present during a collapse event. To initiate the test, and to simulate the sudden loss of a load-bearing column, a kickstand was implemented. The results presented herein are from four dynamic tests under various levels of applied load. The fourth drop, with a load corresponding to 42 percent of the 1.2*DL + 0.5*LL typically specified in disproportionate collapse guidelines, resulted in a catenary action. The results show that there is a very fine tipping point at which the structure is pushed past the compressive arch and flexural range of resistance into the catenary action range (hereafter referred to as the snap-through effect). Furthermore, the results show that due to this snap-through effect, the dynamic increase factor can be as great as 2.4, significantly higher than the value specified by the aforementioned guidelines.
Voracious villains or hungry heroes? Depictions of food critics in popular media
Authors:   , Koch Andrew
Published: April 2021

There are copious types of visual media that viewers presently consume as entertainment. These various mediums showcase depictions that influence people's perceptions of both individuals and entire careers. In journalism studies, scholars look at these visual depictions in film, television, graphic novels, and others to categorize how journalism works and how journalists interact with the world. Depictions too often focus on hard news and mainline journalism at the expense of subfields such as food criticism. This study responds to a call to action to look into media beyond film, while carving out its own path and establishing that food critics are understudied. From non-journalistic beginnings, food criticism entered the fold of lifestyle journalism. In popular fictional visual media across time, close textual analysis of the depiction of food critics shows unique and shared themes, tropes, and story arcs specific to food critics, including: violence and anonymity. Depictions of food critics were homogenous regardless of the medium and were shown primarily as older white men with similar dress, attitude, and ethics. These depictions were overwhelmingly negative with few showing food critics doing their job well in a positive light. This thesis combats the neglect of depictions of food critics in journalistic study, as well as showcases the characterizations of food critics that separates them from other journalists and critics.
Physiological data analysis -- alcohol drinking prediction using statistical and deep learning methods
Authors:   , Li Can
Published: April 2021

Alcohol craving can cause many problems for people's life. However, there are very few related works doing alcohol prediction based on physiological data, except some from our lab. The goal of this research is to predict whether people have alcohol drinking or not from real physiological data in order to help them with drinking problems. The raw physiological data in this work include skin temperature, heart rate, galvanic skin response (GSR), steps, and calories. The data was collected from 29 users with basic watch and the reading frequency is one record per minute. In this thesis, three data analysis pipelines, drinking record prediction pipeline, drinking episode statistical pipeline, and drinking episode deep learning pipeline, are implemented. The drinking record prediction pipeline is doing prediction based on oneminute record. The drinking episode pipeline is doing prediction based on thirty-minute episode. Statistical features are extracted from the thirty-minute data blocks. The drinking episode deep learning pipeline is doing prediction based on thirty-minute episode as well. In this deep learning pipeline, one dimensional signal is converted to spectrum graph. Then use Cifar 10 model to extract deep learning features from the spectrum graph. After that apply machine learning methods on the deep learning features to do the classification. Within-user and cross user experiments are conducted in this thesis because different users may have different reaction to alcohol. Different models are found for different users and general model is discovered for cross-users. Balanced data is used for training and testing, so the baseline accuracy is 50 percent. The accuracy for within-user is up to 88.89 Percent and the accuracy for cross-user is 75.68 Percent, which indicates that the withinuser result is much better than cross-user result. In order to find the most significant feature in alcohol drinking prediction, experiments are also conducted on skin temperature only features, heart rate only features, and GSR only features. The results show that heart rate contributes most in the alcohol drinking prediction.
The development and synthesis of foundational ideas in four Debussy Prludes
Authors:   , Loyd Melanie
Published: April 2021

This study examines specific themes, called foundational ideas, in four of Claude Debussy's Prludes. These foundational ideas are presented as discrete pieces, then developed, and finally form a previously unforeseen synthesized whole. The two general conditions for the synthesis of foundational ideas are (a) the presence of common tones and (b) the occurrence of foundational ideas either simultaneously or consecutively.
Tank contaminant and residual effects of dicamba
Authors:   , Luke Andy J.
Published: April 2021

Introduction of dicamba-tolerant soybeans (Glycine max L. Merr.) will improve management of increasing populations of herbicide-resistant weeds. However, increased use will lead to risks for damage to susceptible crops such as adjacent soybeans. Research on cleaning commercial spray equipment used to apply dicamba on tolerant soybeans followed by application of other herbicides on sensitive soybeans is needed. Soybean injury and yield following application of spray tank rinsates containing dicamba was studied in 2015 and 2016. Dicamba was applied through two commercial sprayers and spray equipment was subsequently treated with water or one of four cleaning agents (water alone, ammonia, Cleanse or Erase). This initial treatment was considered a first rinsate, and was followed by two rinses of water (second and third rinsate). Rinsate solutions were applied on V3 or R1 soybeans. Visible damage was observed at 7 days after treatment (DAT), especially for first rinsates (6 to 16 percent for V3 treated plants and up to 22 percent for R1 plants). At 14 DAT, plant height was reduced up to 48 and 33 percent on V3 and R1 treated soybeans, respectively. Stunting on R1 treated soybeans persisted until the end of the season. First risnates reduced yields up to 11 and 46 percent for V3 and R1 soybeans respectively, compared to the untreated control. For third rinsates, yields for R1 plants were reduced up to 6 percent, with no effect on V3 plants. Cleaning agents can reduce residues of dicamba in contaminated equipment, but dilution of residues by a triple rinse procedure is most important.
Abundance of Black-backed Woodpeckers and other birds in relation to disturbance and forest structure in the Black Hills and Bear Lodge Mountains of South Dakota and Wyoming
Authors:   , Matseur Elizabeth A.
Published: April 2021

Black-backed Woodpeckers (Picoides arcticus) are rare residents of northern conifer forests and are almost always associated with disturbances, such as fire and beetle infestation. The Black Hills population of Black-backed Woodpeckers has been petitioned to be considered a Distinct Population Segment under the Endangered Species Act and more information on their population size in the region is needed. Our objective was to map abundance of Black-backed Woodpeckers in the Black Hills and Bear Lodge Mountains of South Dakota and Wyoming and provide a population estimate for Black-backed Woodpeckers in the region. We located 124 and 115 transects, containing 1,232 and 1,138 sampling points, in 2015 and 2016, respectively. We conducted 5-minute point count surveys from late-March to late-June and visited each point three times to estimate detection probability. We characterized vegetation around each point using GIS derived landscape variables that included: percent cover of green trees, beetle killed trees, dead trees, and year since wildfire. We detected 362 Black-backed Woodpeckers across both years. We fit three-level hierarchical time-removal models that simultaneously estimated abundance, availability, and detection probability in R package "unmarked" using gmultmix and ranked models using Akaike Information Criterion. The global abundance model received the most support. Abundance was negatively related to percent cover of dead trees and green trees and a positively related to percent cover of beetle killed trees, and percent area of 1- to 2-, 3-, and 4- to 5-year-old wildfires. Abundance of Black-backed Woodpeckers varied the greatest across present cover of beetle killed trees and wildfires that had burned within the last five years. Mean density was 0.00528 birds/ha in 2015 and 0.00626 birds /ha in 2016. An estimated 2,920 (LCL: 1,449; UCL: 5,917) and 3,439 (LCL: 1,739; UCL: 6,908) individual Black-backed Woodpeckers, which is equivalent to 1,460 and 1,720 pairs of Black-backed Woodpeckers, in the Black Hills in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Our study is the most extensive survey of Blackbacked Woodpecker abundance in the region and sets the stage for future analyses of the species population viability in the region.
Not the normal commute: bicycling for transport in Columbia, Missouri
Authors:   , Matteson Tracy
Published: April 2021

The objective of this research study is to assess the bicycle transportation system in Columbia, Missouri using structuration theory. Each component of this system is part of the structure or an agent inside the structure. The structure consists of infrastructure and culture, which includes roads and trails, local government, and bicycling advocacy groups. The local cyclists are the agents, although advocacy groups and members of local government can act as agents as well. Two questions are addressed to reach the study objective: 1) How have structural conditions impacted the behavior of bike commuters? And 2) How have bike commuters and other agents impacted the local structure for cycling? In order to gain a detailed understanding of the impact of these forces, the study includes an online survey of local cyclists, in-depth interviews with bike commuters, and interviews with key figureheads such as members of local government. Study results provide an enhanced understanding of how the local bicycling system works and changes, including the relationship between structure and agency.
GBIR SLC and interferometric simulation of Blue 05s Dam, Missouri
Authors:   , Mohammed Ahmed Ibrahim
Published: April 2021

The limitations in current commercial satellite-based Synthetic Aperture RADAR (SAR) datasets are being partially emphasized by a specialized (dual-frequency, polarimetric, and interferometric) ground-based real-aperture RADAR (GBIR) instrument developed by a team from University of Missouri (MU) in conjunction with GAMMA Remote Sensing. This MU GBIR possesses high temporal and spatial resolution, which make it well suited for measuring small and relatively fast-acting surface deformation. Simulation of single look complex (SLC) imagery and interferograms of a study site allows one to test and evaluate new methods or techniques under known conditions. A simulation of MU GBIR SLCs and interferograms is investigated in this document. The simulation accounts for the fluctuating, non-fluctuating, electromagnetic shadowing, system phase noise, and other noise components. Given a digital elevation model (DEM) and a MU GBIR position, the simulated imagery can be generated. For this study, we investigated several conditions of our Blue 05s, Missouri study site. Qualitatively the measurement SLC imagery compares well with the large-scale trends of the simulated SLCs imagery. Simulated interferograms for various refractivity change cases and noise scenarios (i.e. noisy and low noise) were explored. The noisy-scenario large-scale phase trends are similar to the low-noise scenarios. There are some small-scale differences in the phase scenarios, which are mainly associated with vegetative land cover. The phase fringes are preserved well on the dam structure and other persistent like structures.
Vehicle detection using morphological shared-weight neural network in the multiple instance learning framework
Authors:   , Ouadou Anes
Published: April 2021

In this thesis, we design and implement an algorithm for object detection in aerial images based on the morphological shared-weight neural network (MSNN). The multiple instance learning (MIL) framework is used to avoid the labeling problem required in a supervised learning framework. Using the MIL, each image was given a single label. We rely on the MSNN's ability to detect objects, and on the methodology used to generate bags to find our target. Two multiple-instance MSNN structures are developed. The performance of this framework is compared with the performance of a convolutional neural network (CNN) in the same condition.
The predictability of northern hemispheric blocking using an ensemble mean forecast system
Authors:   , Reynolds Devondria D.
Published: April 2021

Some weather extremes can be the result of atmospheric blocking. Like atmospheric patterns that tend to repeat themselves, atmospheric blocking leads to the stagnation of weather patterns. This repetition can last for several days to weeks. These large-scale quasi-stationary mid-latitude flow regimes can result in significant temperature and precipitation anomalies in the regions that the blocking event impacts. Being able to predict periods of anomalous weather conditions due to atmospheric blocking is a major problem for medium-range forecasting. Analyzing the NCEP Ensemble 500-mb pressure heights (240 hrs.) ten-day forecasts and using the University of Missouri blocking archive to identify blocking event, the duration of blocks, intensity prediction in comparison to observed blocks. Comparing these differences over a oneyear period across the Northern Hemisphere has shown the possibility for improved predictability of these blocks and their intensity. Having a better understanding of knowing how long each block will last and their associated anomalies can help society prepare for the damage they can cause. Knowing how to correctly identify blocks is important in improving forecast issues. Lastly, it is demonstrated that the Integrated Regional Enstrophy (IRE) for these events correlates with a block intensity index (BI).
Opening the black box of outer space: the case of Jason-3
Authors:   , Saperstein Julie D.
Published: April 2021

If you look at a rendering of planet Earth from a bird's eye view, you will see satellites orbiting the planet like electrons, each one a testament to humanity's expansion beyond Earth's atmosphere. It begs the question: what is this new humanized landscape? The dominant voice that has attempted to answer this question is the realist one, which has led the charge of academic inquiry into outer space since the fateful launch of the Sputnik in 1957. Though enlightening in some respects, the realist perspective oftentimes obscures the heterogeneous complexity of the actors, actions, limits and possibilities that have constructed this very humanized outer space. This paper looks at the humanization of outer space through the lens of JASON-3, an internationally collaborative satellite designed primarily to measure the topography of the Earth's oceans. A vast number of actors collaborated to enact the network that created JASON-3, including bureaucratic agencies, academics, private contractors, political bodies, other satellites, the sun and even gravity. This paper will focus on these actors and the work that they did to form the network, showing a glimpse of the entangled connections that eventually produced JASON-3. Through telling this story, I argue: (1) outer space is more complex than state-level relations and (2) critical geography -- with its insight into relational spaces and deconstructing power structures -- has a unique place to fill in outer space literature.
I ain't no size two' : feminist conversations and controversial messages in Meghan Trainor's empowerment songs
Authors:   , Schlabach Erin
Published: April 2021

Meghan Trainor's brand -- while thoroughly debated among critics and consumers -- provides a gateway to conversations on body acceptance, gender equality, and female empowerment through the use of provocative lyrics, catchy tunes, and memorable music videos. This study considers Meghan Trainor's most popular songs from her first two albums, Title (2015) and Thank You (2016). The work aims to decide, not whether Trainor and is feminist per se, but how her work contributes to feminist conversations. Popular music scholar James Lull argues that the consumption of music "implies that music has some kind of impact, since listeners pick up information, feelings, even values from their contact with music." In effect, that is what this thesis attempts to uncover, using Trainor by way of example. Trainor may not be as popular as Lady Gaga, Beyonc, and Taylor Swift, but her music has the power to signify across generations -- deepening the conversations needed across genders, social classes, races and political perspectives.
The effect of front desk employees' characteriestics on the first impression of customers and customers' satisfaction
Authors:   , Shao Yuchao
Published: April 2021

Front desk employees are the face as well as one of the most important departments of a hotel, and their performance is central to customers' first impressions of the hotel. Moreover, customers' first impressions will influence their satisfaction with the check-in experience and, furthermore, with the entire stay at the hotel. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the service providers' characteristics that affect customers' first impressions. Further, this study examines how front desk employees' first impressions influence customer satisfaction with the check-in experience. This study used a survey that included general demographic characteristics, after which factor analysis and linear regression were conducted for the analysis. The results of this study show that competence has a significant effect on negative first impression, that friendliness and service attitude has a significant effect on positive first impression, and that both positive and negative first impression have a significant effect on customer satisfaction with the check-in experience. The findings from this study are expected to contribute to the development of management training for new hotel employees in the future.
The use of sodium iodide for the management of bovine respiratory disease
Authors:   , Shoemake Brian McMillan
Published: April 2021

Objective: The purpose of these studies was to (1) determine the effect of a single dose of oral sodium iodide on weaned beef calves and (2) determine the outcome of clinical application of a single dose of oral sodium iodide as an on arrival procedure. Animals: (1) 16 healthy, weaned beef calves and (2) 629, 300 pound high risk beef calves. Procedures: (1) A single dose of oral sodium iodide was administered at 70 mg/kg once. Serum and nasal iodine concentrations were collected. (2) A single dose of oral sodium iodide and/or meloxicam was administered on arrival to a backgrounding operation. Morbidity and mortality results were recorded and analyzed. Results: (1) Serum and nasal fluid iodine concentrations were significantly different from control animals. (2) The control animals had the lowest mortality of the experimental groups. Conclusions: (1) Healthy, weaned beef calves can secrete iodine into their airway surface liquid/secretions to effective antimicrobial concentrations. (2) The administration of oral sodium iodide as an on arrival procedure did not significantly reduce mortality due to BRD. At this time, the use of sodium iodide as a preventative to BRD cannot be advocated.
Show-me ambiguity: an ethnographic study of Missouri Civil War reenactment
Authors:   , Travis Tracy Anne
Published: April 2021

This thesis examines Civil War reenactment as it is practiced and performed by residents of Missouri. Using fieldwork (interviews and participant observation) conducted by the researcher at reenactment events, the thesis describes reenactment's rhetorical tendency to suggest that individual Civil War soldiers are ethically ambiguous characters. These Missouri Civil War reenactors respond to outside interpretations of the war, and make use of the unique and trying circumstances of Missouri's frontier-style warfare and environment to position individual motivations of Civil War characters as removed from larger socio-political ideologies. The author points to the link between the narrative tendency to emphasize the difficult circumstances of frontier warfare and the embodied practice of reenactment, which often involves negative or strong bodily experiences. Two regional reenactments are discussed in order to demonstrate how reenactor interpretations of the Civil War are communicated to audiences.
Deep eutectic solvent pretreatment for enhancing biochemical conversion of switchgrass
Authors:   , Al Ameri Maryam
Published: April 2021

In this study, green solvent-based pretreatment was developed for improving the conversion of switchgrass to acetoin. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs), comprising choline chloride (ChCl) as a hydrogen-bond acceptor (HBA) and various chemical as a hydrogen-bond donor (HBD), were used to pretreat switchgrass. Different HBD groups, including polyalcohol, amid, diazole, and carboxylic acid, were used to synthesize DESs. The DESs using ChCl-formic acid and ChCl-lactic acid-acetic acid showed excellent performance in enhancing switchgrass digestibility. The obtained hydrolysate was successfully detoxified by using overliming detoxification, which was further used for acetoin fermentation by Bacillus licheniformis (NRRL B-642). The yield and titer of the produced acetoin were 0.377 g/g and 19.6 g/L, respectively. Our research demonstrates that DES pretreatment is an effective method for reducing biomass recalcitrance and improving the conversion of biomass into chemicals.
Empowerment in academia: non-academic professional staff's perspectives on employee empowerment
Authors:   , Chitorelidze Salome
Published: April 2021

The concept of employee empowerment has long been heralded as advantageous to employees and organizations both in the public and private sectors. However, the concept still remains ambiguous because there is no settled idea about how it should be defined. Furthermore, employees' perspectives about employee empowerment are mostly overlooked in the existing body of research. It is particularly true about non-academic professional employees at higher education institutions and their views, concerns, or expectations with regard to empowerment. This qualitative study aimed to address the existing gaps in the literature on employee empowerment.It intended to explore non-academic professional staff's views about the definition and value of empowerment. The findings of this research study have useful implications for the definition of the concept and for academic institutions and their leaders about the role of empowerment.