bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
International Review of Leave Policies and Research 2024
Authors: Dobrotic Ivana , Blum Sonja , Kaufman Gayle , Koslowski Alison , Moss Peter , Valentova Marie
Published: September 2024

The International Network on Leave Policies and Research has been producing an annual review of leave policies and related research since 2005 (for earlier reviews, go to the network’s website www.leavenetwork.org). The review covers Maternity, Paternity and Parental leaves; leave to care for sick children and other employment-related measures to support working parents; and early childhood education and care policy. The International Review is based on country notes from each participating country, prepared by members of the network and edited by a team of network members. Each country note follows a standard format: details of different types of leave; the relationship between leave policy and early childhood education and care policy; recent policy developments; information on take-up of leave.The International Review also includes definitions of the main types of leave policies; and cross-country comparisons. These comparative overviews cover: each main type of leave; the relationship between leave and ECEC entitlements; and policy changes and developments since the previous review. We also include a technical appendix.The 2024 International Review covers 51 countries. These are: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay and Vietnam. Vietnam is a new country note joining the review this year for the first time.The content of the International Review is to the best of our knowledge correct at the time of going to press, but mistakes may occur. If you should have a query or find an error, we would be grateful if you would contact the country note authors as relevant and the editors. We recommend that readers consult the most recent version of the International Review where possible, as we are unable to retrospectively rectify errors.The International Review is available online either as one complete document; or, for ease of downloading, divided into its constituent parts.
Individual Differences In Perception Do Not Reflect Temporal Integration in A Perceptual Moment
Authors: Fawcett Aaron , Mehrvarz Mahbod , Rouder Jeffrey N.
Published: September 2024

Stimulus duration has the opposite effect in masking and fusion tasks: longer durationsenhance performance in masking tasks but impair it in fusion tasks.Several visual theoriesexplain these and related phenomena with recourse to small temporal window wherestimuli are integrated or superimposed. Accordingly, individuals with a long temporalwindow should exibit good performance in the fusion task and poor performance in themasking task. Therefore, performance in these two tasks should result in a negativecorrelation. We tested this negative correlation and found decisive evidence to the contrary,a positive correlation (N = 21, BF = 256). People who perform well on the fusion taskalso perform well on the masking task. Hence, individual variation in a temporal windowdoes not drive individual differences in vision. Instead, we suspect the positive correlationreflects a common ability to read out from and to refresh iconic storage.
Measuring Partisan Segregation in Political Media Consumption
Authors: Long Jacob Andrew
Published: September 2024

Despite the amount of research on the topic, there are few direct measurements of partisan segregation in media use. Instead, indirect evidence, like coefficients in multiple regression models, is typically used to indicate the presence or (more typically) absence of partisan segregation. The few methods that do approximate a direct measure require dichotomizing partisanship of people and sources, which is problematic in the United States and unworkable in many other democracies. I suggest using a method originally designed to measure residential segregation to quantify the amount of balkanization in media use at the country, party, and individual levels. To show the potential of the measure, I use data from a nationally representative survey to describe the amount of partisan segregation in media consumption in the United States.
Investigation of erythrocyte membrane lipid profile, oxidative stress and dna damage parameters in patients with chronic lymphoid leukemia
Authors: Karakula Bahadır , Akgun Cagliyan Gulsum , Ünver Koluman Başak , Baser Mehmet Nuri , Tunç Ata Melek , Altıntaş Fatih , Kılıç Toprak Emine , Çört Ayşegül
Published: September 2024

Purpose: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most seen type of leukemia in adults. There are few biomarkes that are used for better understanding how oxidative stress is involved in the pathophysiology of hematologic malignency.We aimed to oxidative stress, DNA damage and erythrocyte membrane lipid profile in CLL patients in this study. The study is included 38 CLL patients and 38 age-sex matched controls.
Materials and method:
Total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), oxidative stress index (OSI), DNA damage examination with Comet assay, serum 8-OHdG measurement and gas chromatographic analysis were performed between the case and control groups.

Results: It was observed that TOS and OSI values were higher in the case group than in the control group (p=0.014 and p=0.022, respectively). DNA damage measured by Comet method was found to be increased in the case group (p0.05).

Conclusion: It has been shown that CLL patients had higher oxidant capasity as consequence. Oxidative stress and DNA damage are increased in CLL patients in this study. It is early to evaulate on erythrocyte membrane lipid profile in CLL patients. However, the study can be ligthed the way future studies on the subject.
Automated Laser Cleaning/Ablation as a Novel Tool in Aerospace Manufacturing
Authors: Novikov Dmitri , Strite Toby
Published: September 2024

We explore progress in laser cleaning/ablation that has made laser technology the tool of choice for mass manufacturing. Lasers have revolutionized manufacturing, maintaining, repairing, and overhauling aerospace components. The requirement for thorough cleaning is a recurring theme, whether the cleaning precedes coating, provides surface polishing or roughening, or removes scale and other contaminants before joining operations like welding or brazing. Three technologies historically used for stripping coatings and surface preparation before coating are (1) abrasive grit blasting, (2) abrasive water jet, and (3) aqueous chemical baths. However, each technology negatively impacts the environment and presents health risks while being slow and expensive. Laser cleaning solutions are displacing legacy technologies based on their many merits, including speed, precision, elimination of consumables, energy efficiency, and safety. Here, we showcase successful laser applications for several cleaning/ablation tasks, resulting in game-changing productivity, repeatability, direct cost savings, and part performance improvements. We will thoroughly examine the remarkable outcomes achievable through laser cleaning, rooted in the intricate physics of ablation and the unparalleled precision and repeatability of fiber laser systems. Additionally, we will delve into the enhanced efficiency and economic advantages associated with laser-based methods, elucidating the factors contributing to the superior performance.
Improvement of Mechanical Properties by Austenitic Nitriding and Quenching
Authors: Okumiya Masahiro , Nambu Koichiro , Mizutani Sou , Ito Kaname , Fujita Makoto , Yoshida Masashi , Miyamoto Junji
Published: September 2024

Gas carburizing with quenching is one of the most useful heat treatment processes for steel parts. However, after quenching distortion is still occurs. The nitriding and nitrocarburizing are the surface hardening heat treatment methods with low distortion, but these methods require the long treating time to obtain a thick hardened layer. Austenitic nitriding and quenching (ANQ) solves these problems. In ANQ process, nitrogen is infiltrated into the steel parts in austenite phase, and they are quenched to harden. The ANQ process can also be applied to cheap low carbon steel such as the Cold Rolled Carbon Steel Sheet. In this study, the effect of ANQ on mechanical properties was examined. For infiltrating the nitrogen into the steel parts, the steel parts were heating to 750°C or higher in an ammonia atmosphere and heating to 750°C or higher in a nitrogen glow discharge. After the ANQ process, hardness profiles, structure, nitrogen and carbon concentration profiles were observed. Also, distortion, tribological properties, impact value and fatigue strength were examined. The effective case depth, which is treated by ANQ, is larger than the effective case depth of gas nitrocarburizing for same period of time. Distortion of ANQ is much smaller than that of gas carbonitriding, and it is almost equal with that of gas nitrocarburizing. The seizure load is same as with other surface hardening heat treatment processes. The wear loss of ANQ is a lower, in the amount of about 1/2 that of the carbonitrided specimen and 1/3 that of the gas nitrocarburized specimen. The ANQ is an effective heat treatment process for parts which require wear resistance. The tempering softening resistance is improved by nitrogen infiltration. ANQ also improves the impact value and fatigue strength.
Active-Screen Plasma Nitriding of an Austenitic Stainless Steel Small Thin Rolled Plate
Authors: Sumiya Kenzo , Tokuyama Shinkichi , Aoki Tatsuyuki , Fukui Junichi , Nishiyama Atsushi , Nishimoto Akio
Published: September 2024

The purpose of this study is to clarify the mechanical properties of the expanded austenite (S phase) formed in austenitic stainless steel (ASS). A small thin rolled plate of SUS304 with 0.5 mm thickness was used as test sample. The test sample was nitrided by active screen plasma nitriding (ASPN) at low processing temperature of 400 °C and 450 °C during 4 h processing time. S phase was formed on the surface of the test sample. The surface hardness of ASPN sample was higher than that of untreated sample. Furthermore, tensile tests and fracture surface observations revealed that the tensile strength was also improved compared to untreated samples.
Residual Stress Measurement across the Scales
Authors: Niessen Frank , Villa Matteo , Somers Marcel A.J.
Published: September 2024

Residual stresses are unavoidable in heat treatment and surface engineering and their presence can be advantageous or disastrous for the performance of components. Residual stresses cannot be measured directly, but are determined from strain measurements, either non-destructively from diffraction-based methods, or destructively from relaxation-based methods. In this presentation, three examples of stress determination from strain measurements showcase some of the possibilities. In the first example lattice strains are determined with energy dispersive analysis with synchrotron radiation in relation to the phase fraction during martensite formation in a soft martensitic stainless steel. The second example shows synchrotron lattice determination with energy dispersive analysis during in-situ tensile loading of super martensitic stainless steel containing reverted austenite. The third example concerns determination of residual stresses in internally oxidized bulk metallic glass with laboratory X-ray diffraction analysis of lattice strains and displacements by stress relaxation during incremental ring-core excavation of micron-scale columns with focused ion beam milling in an SEM.
MAPPING THE TRENDS OF THE FAMILY INSTITUTION
Authors: Zaleha Kamaruddin  , Nadhilah A.Kadir  , Azizah Mohd.
Published: September 2024

The article reviews relevant literature to track changes in the family institution by utilizing a comparative approach between Western and Muslim families. The purpose of this method is to map trends in the last five decades and to identify gaps, if any, between the two modern-day family institutions. The article in its introduction, reviews literature that emphasizes on the significance of the family institution as the nucleus of civilization. The second part of the article continues with a review of important works that focus on the challenges in postmodern family life. The main question is whether the family institutions in the Western and Muslim worlds respond differently when faced with the same challenges. The third part of the paper concludes with solution-based familism literature from both jurisdictions that concentrates on empowerment of family institutions. Drawing on these relevant literatures, we find that despite all these changes, values remain an important constant in stabilizing the family institution.
Restoring Public Trust in Financial Reporting Through Accounting Ethical Practice and Governance Integrity: A Mixed Method Approach
Authors: Azeez Dr. Olaoye Ayoola
Published: September 2024

This research examined the influence of accounting ethical practices and governance
integrity on restoring public trust in financial reporting. The study utilized a mixed-methods
approach integrating desktop literature reviews and a questionnaire survey. The study
reviewed forty-seven (47) scholarly articles and books between 2015 and 2024. The research
purposively administered 450 copies of the questionnaire to ten different groups of
stakeholders based on their availability. The study employed descriptive analysis and
regression models for data analysis using Statistics Packages for Social Sciences. Findings
from the study discovered a significant influence of both accounting ethical practices (β=0.69,
P=0.00<0.05) and governance integrity strategies (β=1.643, P=0.00<0.05) on restoring
public trust in financial reporting.
Furthermore, the results disclosed that most respondents supported accounting ethical
practices and governance integrity in reinstating trust in the financial reporting landscape.
Through a desktop review, the research identified some significant challenges underscoring
accounting ethical practices and governance mechanisms that could counteract these
challenges. In conclusion, the study advocated adopting accounting ethical practices and
governance integrity as indispensable tools for rebuilding public trust in financial reporting.
The study recommended prioritizing the protection of whistleblowers, among other
measures, which can be implemented to enhance the integrity of financial reporting.
Ultimately, this research underscored the importance of nurturing a culture of integrity,
transparency, and accountability to promote world economic prosperity, good governance,
and investor confidence, empowering the audience with actionable insights.
Effect of Organizational Justice on Employees Commitment in Telecom Sector of Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan
Authors: Nizami Hamdullah , Salihi Muhammad
Published: September 2024

As today's market is complex, it is difficult for an organization to survive in such a
competitive marketplace where the only way to achieve better employee commitment
is by prioritizing organizational justice. Therefore, the current study is being
conducted to investigate the effect of organizational justice on employees' commitment
in Nangarhar's telecommunication sector. To achieve the mentioned research
objectives, the author followed a positivist research philosophy with a deductive
descriptive research design and survey research strategy, where the data was collected
from 163 respondents by questionnaire for correlation and regression analysis. The
research found a strong positive relationship between organizational justice and
employee commitment. The results indicate that a small increase in focus on
organizational justice leads to a significant increase in employee commitment. The
study suggests that organizational justice substantially impacts employee
commitment, and even a slight improvement in justice can lead to a notable
enhancement in commitment. As a result, organizational justice is one of the key
factors of better employee commitment in the telecommunication sector of Nangarhar
province, Afghanistan.
Modification of the hopfield neural network model for solving the task of optimal task allocation in a group of mobile robots
Authors: Darintsev O. V. , Migranov A. B.
Published: September 2024

In the context of group interaction among mobile robots, there arises the challenge of task distribution within the group, considering the robots' characteristics and the working environment. This study aims to modify the Hopfield neural network and develop methodologies for its application in solving the task allocation problem for an arbitrary number of tasks within a group of mobile robots. To achieve this, the Hopfield neural network is represented as a graph. An algorithm is presented, demonstrating the transition from the initial problem to the Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP). The application of the Hopfield model to the task distribution problem in a group of robots is described, along with the development of an optimization function calculation algorithm. An assessment is conducted to evaluate the impact of neural network parameters on the quality and speed of solving the optimization problem. By comparing it with other heuristic methods (genetic and ant colony algorithms), the domains of application for the modified algorithm are determined.
State power and society of Late Imperial Russia in the assessments of V. A. Maklakov
Authors: Minakov Andrey S.
Published: September 2024

The article describes the publication of part of the memoirs of a prominent political and public figure in Russia at the beginning of the twentieth century, one of the leaders of the Kadet Party, the famous lawyer Vasily Alekseevich Maklakov. The excellent style and content of the memoirs are noted, reflecting the development of the social movement in Russia, the relationship between government and society, the fate of the Kadet Party, and vivid portraits of contemporaries through a biographical context. This publication is very important for the study of the social movement and Russian liberalism of the early twentieth century.
Offices and subdistricts of magistrates in pre-revolutionary Siberia
Authors: Krestiannikov Evgenii Adol’fovich
Published: September 2024

In the late Russian Empire, the world court stood out from the institutions of justice by the simplicity of procedures and territorial proximity to the submitted. The article is devoted to its introduction, organization, and activities in the Siberian situation. Which forced to pay special attention to the spatial factors of justice, to find ways to optimally localize the offices of justices of the peace and delimit their subdistricts. In the conditions of the region, the implementation of this caused extreme difficulties, since it required simultaneously considering numerous circumstances of a geographical, social and economic nature that distinguished Siberia from other regions of the country.
EFEKTIFITAS PENGGUNAAN MBTI SEBAGAI TOLAK UKUR PENERIMAAN KARYAWAN
Authors: Haryanti Mathelda Weni , Margaretha Yolla
Published: September 2024

Dengan bertambahnya jumlah angkatan kerja, persaingan kerja menjadi semakin ketat sehingga menyebabkan perusahaan harus lebih selektif dalam proses rekrutmen dan mencari tenaga kerja yang berkualitas melalui metode seleksi yang berbeda-beda. Salah satu kriteria seleksi yang paling umum digunakan oleh banyak perusahaan terkemuka adalah Myers-Briggs Personality Index (MBTI). Namun ada pertanyaan apakah penggunaan MBTI sebagai kriteria perekrutan masih berguna. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk melihat apakah tes MBTI masih efektif dalam merekrut pegawai. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah studi pustaka terhadap 7 jurnal, 4 jurnal nasional dan 3 jurnal internasional. Data diperoleh dengan menggunakan database jurnal seperti Google Scholar, Scopus dan Web of Science. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa MBTI dikaitkan dengan variabel lain yang diteliti, dengan ukuran sampel berkisar dari lemah hingga kuat. Beberapa menunjukkan hanya signifikan pada dikotomis MBTI tertentu. Hasilnya menunjukkan bahwa 5 literatur menyatakan Test MBTI efektif digunakan sebagai tolak ukur penerimaan karyawan, namun 2 artikel menyebutkan bahwa Tes MBTI minim terbukti reabilitas juga validitasnya, akan tetapi memiliki manfaat untuk proses rekrutmen.
Disruptive soldiers : literary responses to the standing army controversy (1688-1846)
Authors:   , Cunningham Justin
Published: September 2024

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] "The aim of this thesis is to provide a sustained consideration of literary engagements with the Standing Army Controversy in Britain and America from the Glorious Revolution until the start of the Mexican-American War (1688 -1846). More specifically, I examine a selection of prominent literary examples from the period and situate them within the context of historical and political circumstances in order to chart a trend in how writers of the period portrayed common soldiers. In the scope of this project, I focus only on literary resistance to the emergence of a standing army in Britain and America, and more specifically, how literary portrayals of common soldiers as disruptive forces to the domestic sphere represents a broader cultural anxiety towards a permanent military apparatus. What follows, is a demonstration, through a small sampling of texts, of the ways in which poets, novelists and playwrights made literary contributions to the issue by employing what I refer to as the trope of the Disruptive Soldier. This trope, though relatively fluid throughout the considered period, functioned as a response to socio-political fears stemming from constant warfare, professional soldiers, and permanent armies."--Introduction
The family of sequential possibilistic one-mean clustering algorithms
Authors:   , Wu Wenlong
Published: September 2024

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] The possibilistic c-means (PCM) was developed as an extension of the fuzzy c-means (FCM) clustering algorithm by abandoning the membership sum-to-one constraint. In the PCM, each cluster is independent of the other clusters and can be processed separately. Because of this separability, the sequential possibilistic one-mean (SP1M) was proposed to find clusters sequentially by running the possibilistic one-mean (P1M) c times. One critical problem in both PCM and SP1M is how to determine the parameter [subscript]. The sequential possibilistic one-mean with adaptive eta (SP1M-AE) was developed to allow [subscript] to change during iterations. In this thesis, a new dynamic adaptation mechanism for the parameter [subscript] in each cluster is inserted into SP1M. The resultant algorithm, called the sequential possibilistic one-mean with dynamic eta (SP1M-DE) is shown to provide superior performance over PCM, SP1M, and SP1M-AE in determining correct clustering results. In this thesis, the family of the SP1M clustering algorithm is also extended to combine local spatial information in an image. The resultant algorithm, called sequential possibilistic local information one-mean (SPLI1M) is shown to have a better performance on image segmentation over the fuzzy local information c-means (FLICM), the possibilistic local information c-means (PLICM), and the family of SP1M without combing local spatial information in image.
Estimating the water budget of extratropical cyclones with the precipitation efficiency
Authors:   , Cooley Amanda
Published: September 2024

Estimating the water budget of three mid-latitude extratropical cyclones is attempted from the perspective of the precipitation efficiency (PE), using a method proposed for the study of convective columns. Using a lagrangian, system-relative volume centered on the surface low pressure, each cyclone was followed for most of its lifetime within a pre-defined volume (7 degrees latitude x 9 degrees longitude, or approximately 700 x 700 km). A comparison is then made of total atmospheric water vapor ingested to total moisture eliminated (as precipitation). We hypothesize that the PE increases with the intensity of the cyclone. This small sample confirms that idea, and thus encourages further study with this approach.
Off grid solar system for profitable energy source in Missouri
Authors:   , Ghrimatzion Nahom
Published: September 2024

The main purpose of this project is to prove how much a solar system as source of energy could save us a huge amount of money and how it can completely replace the electric utility system in Missouri. Over 80 percent of today's energy source is from non-renewable energy sources such as coal, diesel, and natural gas. One of the main choice to reduce the consumptions of these non-renewable sources and to provide a cheaper and healthier energy usage to the public is using a solar energy system. As the technology is growing faster, the number of solar panel industries is growing, and this brings a decline in the price of the panels to give a better opportunity for the public to use a solar energy system for their home. There are two main choices of solar installation, on-grid and off-grid system of solar panel installation. At this time the state of Missouri has a strict rule about solar installation that all solar panel installations must be tightly connected to the public utility. And because of these reasons, this research will be a proposal for the state to consider an off grid system of solar installation as a possible choice for home owners, because it has a greater benefit on saving money comparing to the electric utility and the on grid system of solar installation. Both on grid and off grid systems have their own advantages and disadvantages, and even though the research will cover some information on how the on-grid system of solar installation could save you some amount of money over the course twenty five years, the main research is directed at off-grid systems that could save a huge amount of money by being almost free from any non-renewable energy sources. A small amount of non-renewable energy such as natural gas for the generator can be used for this system at the time where there is no sun shine. So, this research will start with some choices on the on-grid system, and it will later discuss in detail on how the design and cost of the off grid system could provide an efficient and affordable renewable energy source in Missouri.
How to use social networking sites as a tool to support Spanish language teaching for Spanish elementary levels courses at the university level
Authors:   , Alvarez Leonardo Montes
Published: September 2024

Social networking sites (SNSs) are one of the most important platforms in the development of information and communication technology (ICT). This technology motivated me to set the following main objective in this study: to provide guidelines for the use of SNSs to support language teaching activities. To reach that objective, this research starts with a literature review that discusses SNSs and their impact on language use, education, and language teaching. In the research methodology, quantitative and qualitative data from college students and instructors is analyzed through digital instruments. The data gathered looked for information to answer the main research question: how to use social networking sites as a tool to support Spanish language teaching activities for elementary courses at the university level? The results showed the students and instructors' perspectives about the use of SNSs to support language teaching. In general students and instructors are in favor of the use of SNSs in the language class. The guidelines give valuable tips and suggestions about how language instructors can use SNSs in their teaching activities in terms of what to consider when selecting SNSs, how to apply SNSs to activities and how to evaluate activities in SNSs.
Numerical study of shock driven multiphase systems with reactions
Authors:   , Paudel Manoj
Published: September 2024

This work details the analysis of the shock-driven multiphase instability (SDMI) of a gas-particle system and implementation of reaction model for multiphase detonation simulation. 3D numerical simulations were carried out for the study of SDMI. Two cases, one with an evaporating particle (water) cloud and another with a gas only approximation were run in the hydrodynamics code FLASH. Both cases had an incident Mach number of 1.65 and an effective Atwood number of 0.046. It is shown that both the gas hydrodynamics and particle properties influence one another and are coupled. This coupling causes lag, clustering, and evaporation in particles. The gas only approximation, a classical Richtmyer-Meshkov instability, cannot replicate those effects from particles and thus, qualitative and quantitative differences in its evolution and that of shock-driven multiphase instability are seen. The dusty gas shows much faster evolution and larger vorticity deposition compared to the particles case. Coupling between the interface hydrodynamic evolution and particle evaporation is further explored by examination of the multiphase case. Hydrodynamic driven particle clustering is measured through particle spatial distribution statistics and particle-vorticity correlations. It is found that the small particles quickly form vorticity driven small scale clusters while hydrodynamics act to reorganize the particles into larger scale features at later times. Particle evaporation rates are found to vary greatly, even among similar sizes, and show poor agreement with 1D evaporation model. The role of hydrodynamic organization in evaporation is shown by examining the spatial distribution of variations in evaporation rate. Small to medium sized particles initially located at the outside of the sphere, in the equatorial region (taking the sphere to have poles aligned with the shock transit direction) are most affected by the hydrodynamic development and show higher evaporation rates, similar to those found with a 1D, one-way coupled, single particle evaporation model. The induction time parameter model was implemented in FLASH and gaseous and multiphase detonations are simulated. The results of 1D gaseous simulation are in good agreement with previous results. The results of 1D multiphase simulation of JP10-O2 shows that the large sized particles take more time to achieve self-sustaining detonation and have larger induction zone. However, no significant drop in peak pressure and velocity is seen for the particle sizes (diameter [less than or equal to] 15 [mu]m) simulated.
"The food is so good" : why consumers positively cope with product-harm crisis
Authors:   , Tang Yue
Published: September 2024

Using Chipotle E. coli outbreak as context for product-harm crisis, this study examines the nuanced nature of consumer thinking and why consumers adopt coping behaviors or perceptions toward the crisis. The lack of analysis of product-harm crisis communication from the consumer's perspective in existing research is the motivation of this study. Study results highlight the effectiveness of using social media to gain insights into consumer thinking and suggests that public relations practitioners need to consider not just the organization's perspective, but also the consumer's perspective, in developing crisis response strategies. Theoretically, the study contributes to motivations of consumers' coping behaviors or perceptions in product-harm crisis communication. The purpose of referring to a specific case is not a detailed application to "test" or "apply" any theory; rather, the goal is the conceptual identification of unexamined opportunities and challenges involved in existing research and potentially refining the related theory.
Three dimensional reconstruction of plant roots via low energy x-ray computed tomography
Authors:   , Avusali Shashank Chary
Published: September 2024

Plant roots are vital organs for water and nutrient uptake. The structure and spatial distribution of plant roots in the soil affects a plant's physiological functions such as soil-based resource acquisition, yield and its ability to live under abiotic stress. Visualizing and quantifying roots' configuration below the ground can help in identifying the phenotypic traits responsible for a plant's physiological functions. Existing efforts have successfully employed X-ray computed tomography to visualize plant roots in three-dimensions and to quantify their complexity in a non-invasive and non-destructive manner. However, they used expensive and less accessible industrial or medical tomographic systems. This research uses an inexpensive, lab-built X-ray computed tomography (CT) system, operating at lower energy levels (30kV-40kV), to obtain two-dimensional projections of a plant root from different viewpoints. I propose image processing pipelines to segment roots and generate a three-dimensional model of the root system architecture from the two-dimensional projections. Observing that a Gaussian-shaped curve can approximate the cross-sectional intensity profle of a root segment, I propose a novel multi-scale matched filtering with a two-dimensional Gaussian kernel to enhance the root system. The filter assumes different orientations to highlight the root segments grown in different directions. The roots are isolated from the background by manual thresholding, followed by a mathematical morphological process to reduce spurious noise. The segmented images are filtered back projected to generate a three-dimensional model of the plant root system. The results from the research conducted show that the proposed method yields a structurally consistent three-dimensional model of the plant root image set obtained in the air, whereas alternate methods could not process the image set. For plant root images collected in the air, the three-dimensional model generated from the proposed matched-guided filtering and filtered back projection has a better contrast measure (0.0036) compared to the contrast measure (0.099) of the three-dimensional model created from raw images. For plant root images captured in the soil, proposed multiscale matched filtering resulted in better receiver operating characteristic curves than the raw images. Compared to Otsu's thresholding, multi-scale root enhancement and thresholding have reduced the average false positive rate from 0.344 to 0.042, and improved the average F1 score from 0.4 to 0.775. Experimental results show that the proposed root enhancement methods are robust to the number of orientational filters chosen, and are sensitive to the filter length selected. Small size filters are preferred, since increasing the filter length increases the number of false positives around root segments.
Detection of gust fronts using the doppler velocity derived divergence product
Authors:   , Clemins Russel J.
Published: September 2024

Identifying gust fronts can be essential for situational awareness when developing nowcasts during convective events. In addition to bearing potentially damaging winds, gust fronts also act as forcing mechanisms; influencing storm initiation, development, and propagation. Using doppler radar, gust fronts are usually observed by the presence of a reflectivity thin line ahead of the parent storm. In the situation where a thin line is not visible on radar, there is a loss of situational awareness. This study aimed to determine if gust fronts can be observed through the doppler velocity derived divergence product by isolating contiguous areas of divergence (convergence) that form couplets or line features, relative to the leading edge or ahead of a storm. Radar data for the study was collected using the University of Missouri-Columbia's MZZU X-Band radar, as well as the WSR-88D from the NWS Saint Louis CFO. Data processing was performed through the Warning Decision Support System-Integrated Information (WDSS-II), and the data was analyzed using the MatLab software. Thresholds for minimum pixel area, as well as minimum and maximum divergence (convergence) were used to establish a range of interest. Data was then filtered through a process of dilation and erosion, to prune out noise and highlight larger features. Through multiple cases using MZZU and KLSX, suitable criteria were developed that allowed the identification of Div-Conv couplets and linear regions of convergence that suggest the presence of gust fronts. Eddy covariance towers near Columbia, MO were used for surface observations of vertical velocity (w) and Turbulence Kinetic Energy (TKE). Good agreement was found between increases in w and TKE when gust fronts were detected and propagating through the region.
Factors affecting neonatal and peripartum maternal metabolism and behavior in beef cattle and horses
Authors:   , Duncan Natalie Brooke
Published: September 2024

Three studies were conducted to investigate perinatal changes in metabolism and behavior of beef cattle and horses. In the first study, effects of parity on perinatal nutrient availability assessed through calf size and vigor, placental characteristics, maternal and neonatal metabolic status, and colostrum quality were examined in beef cattle. Calves born to multiparous dams had greater birth weight and tended to have larger placentas. Protein was greater and lactose tended to be less in colostrum from primiparous dams. There was an interaction of parity x hour for all neonatal calf serum energy metabolites as well as BUN, creatinine, albumin, and insulin. In the second study, changes in neonatal foal and peripartum mare metabolites were examined during the 72 h after foaling. The majority of neonatal foal serum energy and protein metabolites, electrolytes, metabolic enzymes, and complete blood chemistry profiles changed over time, indicating the importance of age at sampling time during the first 72 h postnatally. Peripartum maternal plasma glucose, serum BUN, and serum non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) also changed within 24 h postpartum. The objectives of the third study were to determine changes in locomotion behavior prior to parturition in beef cattle, and the effect of parity on those behavioral changes. Changes in activity were detected during the 3 d prior to calving, with some parameters affected by parity. Lying bouts increased on the day prior to calving, with these increases primarily occurring during the 3 h prior to calving. This indicates that lying bouts may be useful for calving prediction technologies.
Improved genetic algorithm for distribution system performance analysis by taking advantage of essential spanning trees
Authors:   , Ji Yanzhu
Published: September 2024

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] The smart grid initiative, increasing use of distributed generation, and classical distribution system reconfiguration (DSR) and restoration problems, have led to the search for efficient distribution automation tools. One such instrument, the Fast Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (FNSGA), has been shown to be very effective at finding Pareto optimal radial distribution systems that are optimized with respect to voltages, currents, and power losses. However, the original FNSGA is restricted by its use of the Newton-Raphson method and the need for large numbers of generations, which lead to burdensome memory requirements and long computation times. In the improved FNSGA, the Newton-Raphson load flow program was replaced with a revised version of the direct load flow method. Also, a parametric study was conducted to determine minimum values of N and Gen that lead to reasonably repeatable configurations of a distribution system that are optimized for the multiple objectives of voltages, currents, and power losses. To demonstrate the computation time efficiency of the proposed method, the central processor unit (CPU) times required for the program are considered; if we can further reduce the optimum values of N and Gen, then we can maintain reasonable CPU times in larger and larger test systems. By observing essential radial system topologies, we found that if the essential branches describe a radial system, branches chosen from each essential branch will also describe a radial system, which means we only need to consider the branches in essential branch sets. In this thesis, the method called essential spanning tree is expanded to improve the computational efficiency of the algorithm. This is accomplished by replacing the so-called M matrix and its associated process with the random selection of b essential branches, where b is the number of fundamental loops in the system. Essential branches are branches between essential nodes, where essential nodes are buses that connect at least three regular branches. The usual check for radiality is then made based on the b chosen essential branches. If the system is radial, then one regular branch within each essential branch is then chosen randomly. This switch set is then checked for repetition. Finally, this process is repeated N times to determine the initial population for application of the genetic algorithm. Results of the study show that for relatively small test systems, optimum system configurations are obtained using values of N and Gen that require very small CPU times. In larger systems, optimum values of N and Gen requiring reasonable CPU times can also be found, provided that certain carefully chosen branches are removed from the pool of possibilities when producing the initial population in the algorithm. By using essential trees, the efficiency of the calculation is further improved.
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Authors:   , Smucker Jake
Published: September 2024

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] A choral piece.
TMA (track mounted attenuators) involved work zones safety analysis and modeling, using machine learning to predict crash severity and crash frequency in the state of Missouri
Authors:   , Feng Huang
Published: September 2024

When talking about road maintenance safety, it is an unavoidable talking about the TMA usage, as it located in the work zone intended to reduce the damage while crash happened and at the same time protect the related construction. Many scholars focused on derived use of safety performance functions for SWZs safety level judgement and for MWZs all existing researches are still stays at focusing working TMAs related factors. This research use TMA-related crash data in Missouri from 2011 to 2016, and through those recorded crash reports, combine using MWZs working schedules, figure out which factors and under which situations are common exist through all recorded crash both in MWZs and SWZs. Differential analysis model was explored and built in this research for a detailed knowing and referring the real reasons behind existing data. (Abstract in topic1) Machine learning is been widely used in all walks of life. Unlikely the traditional mathematic models and regression models by using both math and statistical knowledge, Machine learning performs high accurate results based on a mimic of human's brain and large data experience analysis thinking by computer. Using machine learning model for crash severity prediction and crash frequency prediction is a new thought for majority existing machine learning models using for crash prediction are supervised model or with low accuracy. This paper will use unsupervised model -- LSTM to achieve "global usage" through input whole Missouri data generated by rules and shows how sever the crash will occur under specific conditions, as well as predict crash frequency in coming years under different environment conditions. (Abstract in topic2)
Testing the Twin Cities : a textual analysis of frames surrounding daily Minnesota-St. Paul newspaper coverage of the 2017 Minnesota Lynx
Authors:   , Owens Ryan
Published: September 2024

Perception often is reality, and that is of particular importance to those in journalism. Previous research illustrates that the language journalists use to describe the subjects they cover has the ability to impact public perception of those subjects, as well as the perception about the groups to which the subjects belong. The purpose of this research project is to determine how the frames used by beat reporters differ from, or are similar to, the frames used by those covering national-scale women's athletics for national outlets. This will be accomplished by studying coverage of the 2017 Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) champion Minnesota Lynx from two outlets in the same local market "the Minneapolis Star-Tribune and St. Paul Pioneer Press" through textual analysis and analyzing the coverage against the backdrop of previous research into the subject, which overwhelmingly focuses on national coverage of women's athletics. This textual analysis found that many of the same frames found in coverage of male and female athletes exist in a beat reporting setting. However, the reporting analyzed here utilized the frames more stereotypically associated with coverage of men's athletics in their work covering a women's professional team. The majority of the coverage in both the Star-Tribune and Pioneer Press centered on the performance of this team and its players, choosing to center their accomplishments, the results of their games, their statistics, their awards and their win-loss record more than any other aspect. Simply put, the bulk of the work done by the four reporters focused on frames that were traditionally associated more stereotypically with male athletes, presenting a more equitable level of coverage than previous research indicated.
Sleep stage classification using hydraulic bed sensor
Authors:   , Yi Ruhan
Published: September 2024

Sleep monitoring can help physicians diagnose and treat sleep disorders. Polysomnography(PSG) system is the most accurate and comprehensive method widely used in sleep labs to monitor sleep. However, it is expensive and not comfortable, patients have to wear numerous devices on their body surface. So a non-invasive hydraulic bed sensor has been developed to monitor sleep at home. In this thesis, the sleep stage classification problem using hydraulic bed sensor was proposed. The sleep process divided into three classes, awake, rapid eye movement (REM) and non-rapid eye movement (NREM). The ground truth sleep stage came from regularly scheduled PSG studies conducted by a sleep-credentialed physician at the Sleep Center at the Boone Hospital Center (BHC) in Columbia, Missouri. And we were allowed to install our hydraulic bed sensors to their study protocol for consenting patients. The heart rate variability (HRV) features, respiratory rate (RV) features, and linear frequency cepstral coefficient(LFCC) were extracted from the bed sensors' signals. In this study, two scenarios were applied, put all subjects together and leave one subject out. In each scenario, two types of classification structures were implemented, a single classifier and a multi-layered hierarchical method. The results show both potential benefits and limitations for using the hydraulic bed sensors to classify sleep stages.