bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SISTEM INFORMASI PENGELOLAAN PASAR CEMARA BANJARMASIN BERBASIS WEB
Authors: Agustini Dian , Farida Muthia
Published: April 2021

Sistem informasi di Pasar Cemara yang digunakan masih bersifat manual sehingga kesulitan dalam menyebarkan informasi terkait dengan pasar, pencarian data toko yang belum membayar uang retribusi, lokasi toko yang masih kosong, serta letak lokasi toko pedagang yang tidak tertata dengan rapi yang menyebabkan calon pembeli kesulitan ketika ingin berkunjung ke toko yang dituju. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk membantu pengelolaan pasar yang terkomputerisasi. Metode yang digunakan pada penelitian ini adalah Waterfall yang mempunyai enam tahapan yaitu : Rekayasa dan Pemodelan Sistem (System Engineering), Analisa Kebutuhan Perangkat Lunak (Analysis), Perancangan Perangkat Lunak (Design), Pengkodean (Coding), Pengujian Perangkat Lunak (Testing), Pemeliharaan Perangkat Lunak (Maintenance). Teknik testing sistem menggunakan teknik Blackbox. Dan hasil akhir berupa Sistem Informasi Pengelolaan Pasar Cemara Banjarmasin Berbasis Web, diharapkan dengan adanya sistem tersebut dapat membantu dalam pengelolaan Pasar Cemara Banjarmasin.Kata Kunci : Sistem,Retribusi Pasar,Unified Modelling Language (UML), PHP, MySQL
ANALISIS PENERIMAAN DAN PENGGUNAAN MEDIA PEMBELAJARAN AUGMENTED REALITY DENGAN MENGGUNAKAN MODEL UTAUT-2 (Studi Kasus : SMP dan SMA MUTIARA BUNDA BANDUNG)
Authors: Niqotaini Zatin
Published: April 2021

Penerimaan penggunaan media pembelajaran Augmented Reality perlu diperhatikan untuk mengetahui berhasil tidaknya dalam penerapannya di SMP dan SMA Mutiara Bunda Model UTAUT-2 (Venkantesh, dkk, 2012) menunjukkan bahwa behavioral intention dan use behavior dipengaruhi performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, hedonic motivation, dan price value, serta self management of learning yang dimoderasi gender, age, dan experience. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan penerimaan penggunaan Augmented Reality SMP dan SMA Mutiara Bunda dipengaruhi variabel Performance Expectancy, Hedonic Motivation, dan Habit.Kata Kunci : Penerimaan Teknologi, Media Pembelajaran, Augmented Reality, UTAUT-2, Structural Equation Model.
SISTEM PENGELOLAAN KEUANGAN KEGIATAN PKK DI DESA PENGKOL
Authors: Wicaksono Arfinandi Arif , Putri Devi Afriyantari Puspa
Published: April 2021

Latar belakang yang melandasi penelitian ini adalah program Desa Pengkol yang membangun sebuah usaha guna meningkatkan finansial desa dan melatih warga desa dalam berwirausaha. Seluruh proses pengelolaan data masih dilakukan secara manual, permasalahan yang ada yaitu: data rentan hilang atau rusak dan kurang tertata karena penulisannya masih manual menggunakan media kertas, waktu pelaksanaan kurang efektif atau efisien, perwakilan RT cenderung kurang aktif dalam menulis laporan karena terlalu menyulitkan. Tujuan penelitian ini dibuat adalah untuk mempermudah warga desa dan menyelesaikan permasalahan dalam mengelola data keuangan tersebut. Sistem dapat diakses secara online dan akses utama akan diatur oleh PKK yang saling terintegrasi dengan masing-masing RT sehingga mempermudah dalam pelaporan keuangan, pemantauan, dan berbagi informasi. Metode pengembangan System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) model waterfall dengan bahasa pemrograman Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP), framework codeigniter dan basisdata MySQL. Hasil yang diharapkan dalam penelitian ini adalah data dapat tersusun rapi dan aman, waktu dalam pelaporan kegiatan menjadi lebih efisien, pelaporan masing-masing RT menjadi lebih mudah dan terpantau. Dari hasil penelitian, menghasilkan sebuah sistem yang dapat mengelola keuangan kegiatan PKK di Desa Pengkol dengan tahap pengujian black box testing dan program berjalan sesuai yang diharapkan.Kata Kunci: codeigniter, keuangan, pengkol, sistem, website.
Digital on-board clutch tester
Authors: Gerashchenko V. V , Lobakh V. P , Kovalenko N. A , Rogozhin V. D
Published: April 2021

The work is devoted to the creation of a digital type on-board device for diagnosing the clutch of traction vehicles (TTM) and allows to determine with high accuracy the slipping of the clutch when faults appear in it. The principle of operation of the device is based on the use of digital technology for measuring the rotational speed (number of pulses) in the digital code of the flywheel and the input shaft of the gearbox (GB). With the help of light-emitting diodes, the received digital codes are displayed, displaying the number of voltage pulses per second from the flywheel speed sensors and the gearbox primary shaft gear. The received digital codes are converted by the driver (operator) into the decimal number system. Given that the number of flywheel teeth is greater than the number of gear teeth, the number of pulses from the sensors is adjusted by dividing the number of pulses from the flywheel per revolution by the ratio of the number of flywheel teeth to the number of gear teeth. Next, the difference between the corrected number of pulses from the gear and the flywheel is determined, which is compared with the permissible number of pulses and, based on the comparison, a conclusion is made about the technical condition of the clutch. If the difference is equal to zero or less, the clutch will be considered good. The device for diagnosing the clutch includes two digital speed sensors, each of which contains an inductance coil with a magnetic core, rigidly fixed near the flywheel teeth and gears of the input shaft of the gearbox. The first differentiating circuit, with a cut-off diode at the output, the input is connected to the inductor and is made on the first and second resistors and capacitor. The second differentiating circuit with a cut-off diode at the output is made on a resistor and a capacitor, and the input is connected to the output of the self-oscillating multivibrator. The self-oscillating multivibrator is made on two logical elements NAND, two capacitors, two diodes and two resistors. The output of the second differentiating circuit is connected to the zero-setting inputs of sixteen-bit summing electronic counters. The outputs of the logical elements AND are connected by means of resistors with the counting inputs of two electronic counters, at the output of which digital codes are formed, which reflect the rotational speed of the flywheel and gears of the input shaft of the gearbox. An example of calculating the parameters of the elements of the differentiating circuit of an auto-oscillating multivibrator is given.
Synthesis of a system of inertial dynamic stabilization with control according to a set of parameters measured on board a self-propelled vehicle
Authors: Sirotin P. V
Published: April 2021

The work is devoted to the development of the direction of inertial dynamic damping and stabilization of self-propelled transport and technological machines with a mounted working body. The necessity and possibility of improving the previously developed control equations for the stabilization system has been substantiated. The description of the approach for the synthesis of the control system is given and the application of integral criteria for the formation of requirements for the transient processes of the control system is substantiated. A model of optimal control is proposed, for providing the information field of which a set of parameters measured on board the self-propelled vehicle is determined. The algorithm of the control system is adaptive, automatically reconfiguring the gain in the system depending on the change in its inertial parameters. On the example of the kinematic diagram of the drive by the mobility of the adapter of a modern forage harvester, a design diagram is presented for recalculating the values of the required stabilizing moments into the force developed by a hydraulic cylinder or other executive drive. The requirements for the information field of the stabilization system are given in the form of a set of measured parameters, the range of their measurements, the locations of the sensors and the permissible measurement errors. A set of criteria for the effectiveness and efficiency of the stabilization system is proposed. On the basis of numerical experiments, the values of the tuning coefficients of the stabilization system were selected and the transient processes of changes in the angles of the longitudinal inclination and the longitudinal angular velocity of the body were constructed under a single shock loading of the machine. It is shown that the proposed approach provides asymptotic stability of the considered oscillatory system. In order to assess the performance on the basis of simulation modeling, oscillograms of changes in the angles of rotation of the adapter and the forces on the rod of the hydraulic cylinder when the combine moves with the stabilization system turned on on a dirt road and asphalt concrete at different speeds are constructed. The evaluation of the development efficiency is given. The conditions for the modernization of the existing generation of combines for their equipping with the proposed stabilization system are formulated. Conclusions are formulated and directions for further research are determined.
Human amniotic membrane in the treatment of MRONJ
Authors: Val Matteo , Trojan Diletta , Guarda Nardini Luca , Favaretto Francesca , Ragazzo Mirko
Published: April 2021

PURPOSE

Human amniotic membrane (HAM) has biological properties which are important for the experimental and clinical applications in managing patients of various medical specialties such as oral and maxilla-facial surgery.

The aim was to evaluate the use of HAM as improvement in surgical wound healing and reduction of relapse in patient affected by medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). 

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A prospective cohort of patients with the diagnosis of MRONJ at the unit of Maxillofacial Surgery of the Ca Foncello Hospital in Treviso, Italy was selected for the study from October 2016 and May 2019. The patients underwent surgical treatment with the placement of amniotic membrane patches. Staging of the lesions was performed according to classification of MRONJ set by the Italian Society of oral medicine with Italian Society of maxillofacial surgery.

 A multivariate logistic regression was conducted to evaluate the effects of surgical therapy on disease resolution.

RESULTS

27 patients were included in this study (a total of 34 surgical sites) with a mean age of 68.48 years. The sample involved 6 male and 21 female. 16 patients were assuming Zoledronic acid. Antiresorptive/Antiangiogenic agents were being taken by 16 oncological patients (57%). The median follow-up period was 14,39 months.

Only 2 patients after 30 days since they were surgically treated showed persistent bone exposure. Both patients were retreated with success. 

CONCLUSIONS

The use of the amniotic membrane has a learning curve that is fast enough to justify its routine use, in order to improve the predictability of the interventions for the management of MRONJ. In particular, implement the patient's quality of life and reduce the risk of relapse. The work stands as a pilot study in order to further enhance the results obtained, also introducing a control group.
Expected survival of cancer and myeloma patients undergoing bisphosphonates or denosumab. Potential impact on diagnosis and management of Osteonecrosis of Jaws (ONJ)
Authors: Fusco Vittorio , Cabras Marco , Gambino Alessio , Di Maio Massimo , Freilone Roberto , Tampellini Marco , Romaniello Incoronata , Alvaro Maria Rosa , Numico Gianmauro , Rossi Maura , Ortega Cinzia , Tucci Marcello , Ottaviani Davide , Buffoni Lucio , Scagliotti Giorgio , Vellani Giorgio , Varese Paola , Franchini Mario , Galassi Claudia
Published: April 2021

Survival of cancer and myeloma patients after diagnosis of bone lesions is largely variable. Appropriate medical therapy together with antiresorptive treatment (bisphosphonates or denosumab) can obtain prolonged survival with adequate quality of life. Osteonecrosis of Jaws (ONJ) is not rare in patients with bone metastatic cancer and myeloma patients, occurring mostly after prolonged antiresorptive treatment. Expected survival can influence the choice of antiresorptive treatment, the perception of ONJ risk, and even the ONJ management. We reviewed survival data after start of antiresorptive treatment of 509 ONJ patients registered in a cancer network database (Rete Oncologica Piemonte-Valle d’Aosta, North-Western Italy).  

Main characteristics: 196 males, 313 females; median age: 68 (39-89) years. Underlying disease: breast cancer: 42.9%; myeloma: 25.3%; prostate cancer: 17.2%; lung cancer: 6.7%; renal cancer: 2.5%; other cancer types: 4.3%. Main antiresorptive treatment: zoledronic acid: 79.4%; denosumab: 5.3%; other drugs/sequences: 15.3%. 

Actuarial median survival (range) after the start of antiresorptive treatment was 66.0 (95% CI 57-77) months for breast cancer patients, 77.3 (95% CI 61.9-86.8) months for myeloma patients, 47.3. (95% CI 37.8-51.9) months for prostate cancer patients, 29.4 (95% CI 20.4-40.1) months for lung cancer patients, 39.4 (95% CI 20-107.3) months for renal cancer patients, 82.4 (95% CI 51.9-150.9) months for other cancer patients. 

Two-, three- and four-year actuarial survival rates were respectively 91.7%%, 80.2%, 67.4% for breast cancer patients, 91.4%, 83.7%, 68.9% for myeloma patients, 78.4%, 61.2%, 41.9% for prostate cancer patients; 55.8%, 32.3%, 23.5% for lung cancer patients; 61.5%, 53.8%, 46.1% for renal cancer patients; 81.8%, 77.3%, 68.1% for others cancer types. 

Our data support careful evaluation of short and long-term actuarial ONJ risk (versus short-term absolute risk) in the choice of antiresorptive treatment duration for bone metastatic cancer and myeloma patients. Furthermore, exclusion of jawbone surgery due to expected short survival in most of ONJ patients seems not warranted.
How journalists shift toward engaging historically marginalized communities in the digital age
Authors:   , Bauman Caroline
Published: April 2021

The purpose of this study is to discover how and why journalists within nonprofit or startup newsrooms are changing routines to engage people who would not be typical or traditional readers. This qualitative research study shows how journalists are changing routines toward engaging historically marginalized communities through technology and creativity, such as utilizing text messages and community theatre as means of engagement. This study also reveals why those changes in routines matter as journalists link new routines in engagement to the long-term vitality of journalism. Mainstream journalisms history with marginalized communities -- defined in this study as low-income residents and minorities -- is not favorable, and current readership statistics reveal how damaging those trends have been for the industry. If journalists believe that news-consumption leads to more-informed people and to a better functioning democracy, then it is up to journalists to make the first move toward inviting untypical readers into the news-making process. Engaging historically marginalized communities can lead to a more stable financial future for journalism, and journalists interviewed in this study believe that engagement routines are a huge part of their role in democracy. Thanks to new technology and journalism models, there has never before been such vast opportunity to reimagine journalism in the United States and how news fits into the fabrics of individual lives.
Nitrogen and harvest impact
on warm-season grass biomass yield and feedstock quality
Authors:   , Imbulana Acharige Chamara Sandaruwan Weerasekara
Published: April 2021

Perennial warm-season
grasses including switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), big bluestem
(Andropogon geradii Vitman), and Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans L.) have
drawn interest as bioenergy feedstocks due to their high yielding capacity
with minimal amounts of inputs under a wide range of environments, and their
capability to produce multiple environmental benefits. Nitrogen (N)
fertility and harvest timing are considered as critical management practices
when optimizing biomass yield and the feedstock quality of these grasses.
The objective of this investigation was to quantify the impact of N fertilizer rate, N timing and harvest date on warm season biomass dry matter yield. Research was conducted in 2014 and 2015 on a total of four field-plot locations situated in central and west-central Missouri. Nitrogen fertilizer was applied using dry ammonium nitrate at the rates of 0, 34, 67, and 101 kg ha-1 at two application times, all N early spring and split N (early spring and following 1st harvest). Harvest treatments were as follows: 1) one cut in September; 2) one cut in November; 3) one cut in June and a second in September; and 4) one cut in June and a second in November. Treatments were arranged in a split-plot design with N rate as the main plot and harvest as the sub-plot in arandomized complete block design. Both N and harvest date and their interactions impacted biomass yield at all four locations. Delaying harvesting until late fall or killing frost increased yield. November harvest in combination with N rates grater than or equal to 67 kg ha-1 year-1 produced higher yields compared to the control and 34 kg ha-1N treatments and other harvest timing strategies. Although N was needed to optimize yield, partial factor 24 productivity (PFP) of applied N was flat when N applied was greater than 34 kg ha-1. Nitrogen fertilization at 67 kg ha-1 per growing season provided an opportunity to maintain a balance between both yield and efficiency of N inputs. Results of this research highlight the interactions of N fertilization and harvest management have when optimizing yield of warm-season grasses grown as bioenergy feedstocks. List of acronyms: N, Nitrogen; PFP, partial factor productivity.
RNA-sequencing analysis in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia reveals aberrant gene expression and splicing alterations
Authors:   , Kholod Olha
Published: April 2021

Background: B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) is a neoplasm of immature lymphoid progenitors and is the leading cause of cancer-related death in children. The majority of B-ALL cases are characterized by recurring structural chromosomal rearrangements that are crucial for triggering leukemogenesis, but do not explain all incidences of disease. Therefore, other molecular mechanisms, such as alternative splicing and epigenetic regulation may alter expression of transcripts that are associated with the development of B-ALL. To determine differentially expressed and spliced RNA transcripts in precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients a high throughput RNA-seq analysis was performed. Methods: Eight B-ALL patients and eight healthy donors were analyzed by RNA-seq analysis. Statistical testing was performed in edgeR. Each annotated gene was mapped to its corresponding gene object in the Ingenuity KB. Analysis of RNA-seq data for splicing alterations in B-ALL patients and healthy donors was performed with custom Perl script. Results: Using edgeR analysis, 3877 DE genes between B-ALL patients and healthy donors based on TMM (trimmed mean of M-values) normalization method and false discovery rate, FDR less than 0.01, logarithmically transformed fold changes, logFC greater than 2) were identified. IPA revealed abnormal activation of ERBB2, TGFB1 and IL2 transcriptional factors that are crucial for maintaining proliferation and survival potential of leukemic 26 cells. B-ALL specific isoforms were observed for genes with roles in important canonical signaling pathways, such as oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial dysfunction. A mechanistic study with the Nalm 6 cell line revealed that some of these gene isoforms significantly change their expression upon 5-Aza treatment, suggesting that they may be epigenetically regulated in B-ALL. Conclusion: Our data provide new insights and perspectives on the regulation of the transcriptome in B-ALL. In addition, we identified transcript isoforms and pathways that may play key roles in the pathogenesis of B-ALL. These results further our understanding of the transcriptional regulation associated with B-ALL development and will contribute to the development of novel strategies aimed towards improving diagnosis and managing patients with B-ALL. Keywords: B-ALL, RNA-sequencing, differential gene expression, alternative splicing.
Analysis of Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy as a technique to evaluate material property changes
Authors:   , Manoharan Gautham
Published: April 2021

The objective of this thesis is to validate Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy (RUS) as a non-destructive evaluation tool that can be used to study effects of radiation on the mechanical properties of a material, mainly its elastic constants. RUS involves experimentally measuring the resonant frequencies of a sample and calculating the elastic constants based on these measurements. Finite Element Method (FEM) is used to get the frequencies of the modes of free vibration for the sample model. This result depends on the elastic constant values used in the FEM simulation. Studies were conducted to confirm the accuracy of the FEM model, and determine the right configuration and parameters to use for the simulation. Assuming uniform and isotropic elastic property changes, the effects of radiation damage can be quantified by obtaining a set of matching resonant frequencies between the experimental and FEM simulation results, before and after irradiating the sample. This is done by adjusting the elastic constant values used in the simulation so that the results match with the experimentally obtained resonant frequencies. With powerful enough equipment, even real time monitoring is possible in harsh environments, thus pointing out imminent failure.
A quantitative analysis of image repair strategies in political sex scandals
Authors:   , McGee Jordan
Published: April 2021

High-profile sex scandals involving American politicians during the latter half of the 20th Century through to modern day have captured a significant amount of public and media attention. While such scandals have ended many political careers, there have been surprising instances of the rehabilitation and recovery of an offending politician's image and career, the success of which has proven difficult to predict. Research performed to date on the success of sex scandal image repair strategies have largely involved case studies, and particularly with respect to Benoit's Image Repair Theory, have been almost exclusively qualitative in nature; research into this topic has failed to comprehensively include an analysis of strategy effectiveness using public opinion polling, which is commonly employed in similar political science research. Consequently, conducting a polling-based quantitative assessment of image repair strategy effectiveness in the context of political sex scandals is appropriate. Specifically, using Benoit's Image Repair Theory framework as a foundation, a statistical analysis of emotional and cognitive responses to a politician and his sex scandal crisis response messaging with respect to each of the five image repair strategies as well as scenario context (e.g., moral versus criminal) is performed. Suggestions for the overall effectiveness of particular sex scandal response strategies is produced and discussed.
Looks are situation-dependent properties
Authors:   , Moore Douglas R.
Published: April 2021

This thesis concerns the distinction between appearance and reality. Particularly, the metaphysical nature of a class of visual appearances that I call "looks." I answer the question of what looks are. My positions constitutes a break with philosophical tradition: looks are not minddependent properties, but objective--mind-independent--properties of objects. They are not, however, intrinsic properties, but relational properties objects have of projecting light of a certain informational character to a viewpoint. Looks-properties are instantiated relative to certain of the intrinsic properties of objects, spatial relations between objects and viewpoints, and environmental conditions on which the character of the light at the viewpoint depend.
The American newsroom in the new era: factors that influence the adoption or rejection of new technologies by non-management newspaper news producers
Authors:   , Radu Sintia
Published: April 2021

Today, journalists need to engage in the most advanced technological methods of reaching their audience more efficiently as media professionals now battle a fast spread of unverified news. Journalists need to be quicker, but also retain the high level of accuracy that distinguishes the media from other sources of information. A very good example of the importance of the media needing to be faster and more accurate than ever, especially in the online environment, is the bombardment with false news on Facebook and Google during the 2016 U.S. elections. The purpose of my thesis is to explore what influences the adoption or resistance to new technology in newsrooms and how new technologies change the journalistic processes. I looked at how nonmanagement news producers dealt with technology throughout time, referring to the previous adoption of now embraced technologies. I also inquired about technologies that they are currently experimenting with, and attempted to predict the probability of them using other new technologies that they might not be familiar with. The research method that I used is qualitative semi-structured interviews with 11 news producers from newspapers across the United States, who talked about their perception on how their newsrooms deal with technology-related decisions. My results showed that non-management news producers believe newspaper newsrooms adopt technology based on preferences and industry practices. The media seems keen on experimenting with new types of technologies, but there are several aspects that they fail to consider. This makes the implementation of these technologies either hard to understand by users or very hard to carry out per se. News producers complained they are overburdened with tasks because of new technology that newsrooms are forcing onto them just because their peers in the industry are using it, while they admitted they would be interested in trying anything that might get them closer to their readers. If the technology serves them or not, they thought this is mostly related to leadership in the company. These results are to be considered by those who build technology for the media and those in charge of incorporating it in the work of news producers. Future research could take into consideration both including more diverse subject categories, as well as the academic environment in which journalism is still taught.
An evaluation of historical fire occurrence, drought, and the El Nio Southern Oscillation in the greater Cross Timbers region, U.S.A.
Authors:   , Rooney Molly
Published: April 2021

A concern over wildfire occurrence, and its relationship to drought and a changing climate has brought increased focus to the interface between the public and fire. Multiple factors, including an increase in fuel loading from decades of continuous fire suppression, changes in land use and ownership, and management strategies, are dampening the success of wildfire suppression rates in some ecosystems. Wildfire occurrence is influenced by many factors ranging from drought and climate oscillations at the regional level to fuel availability and land-use at the site level. This study evaluates and explores the extent, frequency, seasonality, and severity of fires across the Cross Timbers, and through time. Historical fire events were reconstructed at three new study sites in unrepresented geographic locations. Fire event chronologies were developed from fire scars spanning three centuries. These chronologies were compared with data from ten existing sites to evaluate fire regime characteristics and changes at a regional scale. Findings suggest that, while fire frequency has increased following EuropeanAmerican Settlement, fire severity has trended downward. Site differences in fire occurrence exist across the greater Cross Timbers region. The results of this study indicate a prevalence of dormant season fire across the greater Cross Timbers region. Fire events were 2-7 times more frequent when considered at a regional scale. Some of the strongest ENSO signals yet detected in any tree-ring data worldwide are in post oak chronologies of Texas and Oklahoma. Little is known about how the role of climate differs in driving fire occurrence at the site to regional scale. In this region, many studies have attempted to explore how climate drives fire at the site level, but inconsistencies in the results of these studies leave questions about the comparability of these conclusions, and the role of climate in altering climate activity at the regional scale. This study assessed the relationship between climate patterns on fire occurrence in the southcentral U.S. and evaluated the independent and interactive influences of drought and the ENSO on fire occurrences at both site and regional levels. The relationship between fire occurrence and drought was largely unclear at the site scale, but drought was found to be a significant driver of fire synchrony at the regional scale. Drier than expected conditions were observed in the year of fire events at the regional level. This relationship was less apparent in the post-European-American Settlement period.
The long-term effects of a short-term study abroad experience on baccalaureate-prepared nursing students
Authors:   , Streeter Laura
Published: April 2021

Cultural competency is a crucial component of baccalaureate nursing education to support patient-centered practice (Calvillo, Clark, Ballantyne, Pacquiao, Purnell, and Villarruel 2009). Studying abroad is associated with short-term gains in students' cultural competency; however, little research has addressed whether cultural competence is affected long-term, particularly when the study abroad experience is relatively short (Phillips, Bloom, Gainey, and Chiocca, in press). Therefore, the question that drove this study was: what are the long-term effects of a short-term study abroad experience on baccalaureate nursing students? The participants in this study were practicing nurses (N=21) who had traveled to Ghana for two-week study abroad experiences as senior nursing students between 2011 and 2015. Qualitative data (collected immediately post-travel) with these participants revealed four key themes of transformation consistent with cultural transformation: adaptability, cultural competency, understanding of social determinants of health, and mutual partnerships with patients. Social media was used to enroll participants in a study conducted over a one-month period in fall 2016. Of the 45 contacted, 28 responded and consented to participate and 21 completed data collection. A series of Likert-style questions (5=Strongly Agree, 1=Strongly Disagree) were used to measure these nurses' perceived immediate post-travel change, versus their perceptions of the sustained changes over time. Results supported that the four key themes of cultural transformation persisted over time. Creating mutual partnerships and understanding social determinants of health had the highest mean score and lowest standard deviation (mean= 4.76, standard deviation= 0.44)
Thermodynamic, kinematic, and radar parameters of isolated tornadoes with and without NWS warning
Authors:   , Van Buren Patricia
Published: April 2021

Tornadoes are a rapidly forming weather phenomenon that forecasters may have difficulty anticipating. A tornado warning is issued when atmospheric conditions are imminent for formation or a tornado has already formed and been confirmed. The purpose of this research was to find what, if any, atmospheric parameters and radar variables that may differ between isolated tornadoes that were anticipated by an official NWS Tornado Warning (WARN) versus isolated tornadoes that occur without NWS warning (NOWARN). The hypothesis was that there is a distinct difference in wind shear and azimuthal shear between WARN and NOWARN events. A dataset of tornado events from 2004 - 2015 was obtained from previous work completed by Thompson et al. (2012) and Smith et al. (2012). The dataset was condensed to only isolated events by analyzing dates and times with NOAA's Interactive Radar Map Tool. Specifically, outbreaks and tornadoes embedded in a synoptic system were removed from the dataset. The data were further reduced to include years 2013 - 2015, months April - September, and geographic region between the Rocky and Appalachian mountain regions. Each event was then analyzed using the Iowa Environmental Mesonet Search for NWS Watch/Warning/Advisories Products by County/Zone or by Point (latitude and longitude). This left 57 isolated tornadoes that were not warned for and 39 that were. These events were analyzed using a paired Student's t-test among the thermodynamic and kinematic parameters given in the dataset. Radar analysis was done using MatLab and a code that picked out individual cells using a dBZ threshold of 35. The tornadic cell was analyzed among multiple radar parameters using paired Student t-tests to find any significant difference between WARN and NOWARN at time of tornado formation and 30 minutes before formation, as well as between nearby nontornadic cells. The results revealed shear, divergence and convergence as significantly different between the events. Although azimuthal shear resulted as statistically significant, it does not perform well when deciphering between tornadic and nontornadic cells. However, convergence and divergence appear to be an indicator of tornadic cells.
Optimization of soybean carbohydrate profiles and profit potential using variable planting dates and genetic backgrounds
Authors:   , Young Jacob T.
Published: April 2021

Information on management practices that can improve crop value can be useful for producers aiming to maximize farm profits. Differing planting dates alter the environment in which a crop is grown, and have previously been shown to significantly affect seed yield, composition, and quality. Providing soybean meal high in sucrose and low in the raffinose family of oligosaccharides (RFOs) is necessary for improving digestibility and feed efficiency in monogastric animals, and for increasing profitability for farmers by providing soybean varieties with value-added traits. In this study, the effects of planting date on soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seed composition and several agronomic traits were investigated using ten specialty genotypes with modified carbohydrate profiles due to known gene mutations, and with ten check varieties. The experiment was arranged in a split-plot design, with planting date as the main plot, and genotype as the subplot, performed in 2015 and 2016 at three locations each year in Missouri, each with three planting dates. Planting dates were chosen to simulate early, full season, and double-crop conditions. The environment had a significant effect on all traits measured, except protein. Planting date had a significant effect on all agronomic traits except lodging and seed weight, and all seed composition traits measured except RFOs. RFO concentrations were shown to be more stable when compared to sucrose concentrations. Early plantings showed increased yield and oil and late plantings showed increased sucrose and higher seed quality. Higher temperatures were shown to be associated with higher oil and RFO concentrations, while cooler temperatures were associated with higher sucrose concentrations. This research shows that a late planting or 31 double-cropping production system will provide the most optimum concentrations of high sucrose, low RFO soybeans compared to earlier planting dates.
In defense of biblical literacy in English and American literary studies
Authors:   , Love Timothy
Published: April 2021

This study seeks to address a nationwide lack of concern for biblical education in English literary studies. More specifically, it evaluates and offers potential remedies for the current state of biblical illiteracy within the academy. By showing the academic consequences of textual misinterpretation that derive from biblical illiteracy, this essay hopes to educationally and pedagogically promote the adherence of biblical scholarship in English literature. Through biblical explications of select representational texts, this also study intends to effectively contribute to efforts that value foundational biblical education in secular literary academia.
The occurrence of extreme monthly temperatures and precipitation in two global regions
Authors:   , Nunes Max James
Published: April 2021

There has been a lot of focus on the occurrence of extreme weather events and their connection to climate change and variability. Much of this previous work has been related to individual events rather than for mean monthly conditions. This study examined the occurrence of extreme conditions in the monthly temperature and precipitation, and some correlations, for two geographically disparate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. These regions are the central USA (cUSA), and the southwest region of Russia (swRUS). For this research, an extreme temperature event was defined as a month that was three seasonal standard deviations from the period mean. Since precipitation is not normally distributed, the three (two) wettest and driest events of every month were chosen for the cUSA (swRUS) region in order to provide for a data set that was of similar size to the temperature data set for each region. The results demonstrate that in cUSA, there was preference for the occurrence of warm anomalies during periods of mean regional temperature increase and vice versa. For swRUS, there was a preference for the occurrence of cold anomalies early in the data set, and warm anomalies in the later part, although this period is one of steadily increasing mean temperatures for the region. There was a strong association at both locations between extreme months and the phase of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). In both regions, cold monthly anomalies were associated with persistent and strong upstream blocking events. Finally, two case studies are examined for the cUSA region.
A textual analysis of media framing of mass shootings: how characteristics surrounding mass shootings are framed in men's and women's magazines
Authors:   , Pitto Haley M.
Published: April 2021

The present research attempted to build upon mass shooting studies by analyzing how feature-length magazine articles focusing on these events frame the characteristics surrounding mass shootings in men's and women's health and lifestyle magazines. The researcher conducted a qualitative textual analysis of 24 randomly selected feature-length mass shootings articles in print and online issues of Esquire, Cosmopolitan, GQ and Glamour between January 2012-April 2017. The core findings of this research included how mass shootings almost always 12 under one of four frames: individual (internal) blame frames, societal (external) blame frames, profiling the shooter, and recovery and mourning. These articles also presented more complex sub-frames. The sub-frames included: symptoms suffered by the shooter, drugs, medication and counseling, identity, and stereotypes, political and institutional failures, access to firearms, military issues, "never saw it coming," slipping through the cracks, and the victims and survivors of mass shootings as well as community togetherness.
2014 Ebola newspaper coverage: through the lens of orientalism
Authors:   , Sibingo Guimel
Published: April 2021

This study is a critical discourse analysis of United States (U.S.) newspaper coverage of the 2014 Ebola outbreak and its representation of West Africa in relation to the West. The study sought to determine whether the coverage reflected the theory of Orientalism, as defined by Palestinian-American philosopher Edward Said. Orientalism refers to the West's patronizing of Middle Eastern and Asian societies. Orientalism occurs when the West objectifies non-Western cultures turning them into an "other." In this study, the theory is applied to the West's patronizing of Africa. The study analyzed 240 articles from The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and The Los Angeles Times and determined that Orientalism is indeed reflected in the coverage, contributing to negative media portrayals of the continent of Africa. It also shows that as an institution of power, U.S. newspaper media contributes to the creation of a subject-object view of Africa in regards to the continent's relationship with the West.
Rust and leaf spot diseases on
American elderberry plants
Authors:   , Hensel Kaley
Published: April 2021

Elderberry rust (Puccinia sambuci Schewin.) Arthur
(=P. bolleyana) and leaf spot diseases are frequently found in
commercial American elderberry (Sambucus nigra L. subsp. canadensis L.)
plantings throughout the growing season in Missouri. Thus, studies were
conducted to ascertain if rust infections affect plant growth, fruiting,
or berry puree quality. Rust symptoms were observed in early April at 9
to 18[degrees] C, [greater than or equal to] 3 h leaf wetness, and
[greater than or equal to] 85% relative humidity. When young, potted
elderberry plants averaged 3 to 6 rust pustules/plant, vegetative growth was not adversely affected. However, field-grown elderberry plants heavily infected with rust (137 pustules/cane) lost nearly twice as many leaves as controls during the growing season, indicating rust-induced defoliation. Shoot dry weight of these heavily infected canes was also 32% less than that of controls. First and last harvest dates were advanced by the high level of rust infection on 'Wyldewood' elderberry canes, but not by low pustules numbers ([less than] 6 pustules/plant) on 'Bob Gordon' or 'Ozark' plants. Similarly, berry yields were not significantly different at low infection levels, even though rust-infected 'Bob Gordon' plants had a 31% reduction in yield with an estimated $440/ha loss of income. Heavily-infected 'Wyldewood' canes had a significant loss in berry yield (47%) and potential income ($2,295/ha), assuming a conservative estimate of five canes/plan. In another study, Colletotrichum was isolated from elderberry leaf spot lesions and identified before subsequent re-inoculation of elderberry plants with this pathogen. Three species of Colletotrichum (C. salicis Funkel, C. kahawae subsp. ciggaro Wollenw., and C. aenigma C.M. Tian and Z. Li) were putatively identified as being casual agents of leaf spot indicating the diversity of species within this genus on elderberry plants.
If you are feeling confident enough, do not hesitate to reveal who you really are : extension of Baker, Honea, and Russell (2004)
Authors:   , Lee Kyungku
Published: April 2021

Due to the competitive advertising environment, marketers have been employing different executional factors including humor and narrative feature within the advertising. Based on the Network of Model of Memory, Baker, Honea, and Russell (2004) examined whether the brand name placement influences on the way people perceive the advertising and brand information retention. As an extension of Baker et al.'s study, this study examines the role of narrative features within the advertising, prior attitude, and brand name placement. But the present findings are not consistent with Baker et al.'s study that early presentation of the brand name does not elicit better attitude toward the advertising, brand. Findings also show that there is no significant effect on memory retention. Keywords: Brand name placement, prior attitude, narrative advertising, network model of memory
The effect of laryngeal nerve transection on swallowing function in a mouse model
Authors:   , Mok Alexis Ann
Published: April 2021

Dysphagia is a common postoperative complication of cervical and thoracic surgical procedures, presumably caused by iatrogenic laryngeal nerve injury. It is unknown which laryngeal nerve contributes most to dysphagia and poor medical outcomes after injury. To address this clinically relevant question, we used our established Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study (VFSS) assay to objectively assess swallow function and our established laryngoscopy assay to assess vocal fold (VF) mobility after surgically-induced (iatrogenic) laryngeal nerve injury in a mouse model. C57BL/6J mice (n=31) underwent unilateral transection of the superior or recurrent laryngeal nerves (SLN or RLN) or a sham surgery. Swallowing was assessed through VFSS and VF mobility was assessed through laryngoscopy pre-surgery and several timepoints post-surgery. We validated our surgical procedure by confirming that our surgical technique itself was not negatively impacting swallow function or VF mobility. Unilateral SLN transection did not result in acute or chronic dysphagia or VF immobility, whereas unilateral RLN transection resulted in acute dysphagia and ipsilateral VF paralysis; dysphagia did not persist long-term, whereas VF paralysis did. SLN versus RLN transection produced different dysphagia profiles in our mouse model. In the future, we plan to use this model as a platform to investigate the pathophysiology of post-surgical dysphagia and to explore potential treatments.
Research and development of Q-Baller -- a spherical wheeled robot
Authors:   , Wang Jiamin
Published: April 2021

The Spherical Wheeled Robot (Ball-Bot) is a family of robots that can maintain balance standing on a ball and use it as its wheel to move around. In recent years, there have been several successful Ball-Bot designs. We attempt to develop a new spherical wheeled robot product named "Q-Baller" to study its dynamics and control system. The Q-Baller has been designed to ahieve the economic and effective prototyping. A detailed dynamic model of the mechatronic system has been established and analyzed. Control studies have been conducted based on the dynamic models, and new control methods has been proposed to realize continuous gain scheduling. Exclusive simulations have been performed to test the performance of the controllers and reference planning. The Q-Baller hardware has been prototyped and functional. Robotic circuit board, human machine interface and embedded control system have also been developed to make up the full robotic system. The Q-Baller prototype will be tested after the system is fully adjusted, and further researches in control and robotics will be conducted in the future.
A study of the portrayal of female on-air talent on Spanish language television news
Authors:   , Denton Elizabeth Sanchez
Published: April 2021

Research on Hispanics in the media reveal they are shown in stereotypical roles, wearing tight, sexy clothing and excessive accessories. This research was conducted from a cultural position and used feminism as a theoretical frame. The purpose of this study is to examine how Hispanic females on Spanish language television news are portrayed based on the clothes they wear and if they play into the stereotypes by the media or if they are trying to serve the growing Hispanic population in the United States that is not foreign born. In this study, thirty-four female presenters were evaluated during three weeks of May, a television ratings period where advertising dollars are set for television stations. The study looked at the Spanish language news shows Despierta America (Univision) and Un Nuevo Dia (Telemundo). The data determined many of the on-air talent dressed as if they were going to a party rather than to a professional place of employment. Analysis and future research are discussed in the study.