2020 MU theses - Access restricted to MU
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Item Exporting Hollywood excellence : public relations excellence theory and the MPPDA's European public affairs program of the 1920s(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2020) Shortal, Taylor; Johnson, Brett G.[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] To test the theory that the period between the mid-1920s and the 1950s was marked by the "two-way asymmetrical model" of public relations, this thesis searches for the modern elements of "excellence" in public relations management, as well as modern relationship cultivation strategies, within the European public affairs activities of the Motion Pictures Producers and Distributers of America, Inc., in the 1920s. Although many principles of modern excellence are lacking in this historical case study, substantial support can be found showing that the MPPDA did practice the modern two-way mixed-motive model of public relations, rather than the asymmetrical model. This finding contravenes previous historical understandings of this period in public relations. It also invites further research into other organizations' past public affairs programs to gain greater insight into the dynamics of modern PR techniques and to understand the industry's impact on wider historical processes.Item The relationship between ideology and climate change opinion in Latin America(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2020) Siefkas, Adrian; Williams, Laron K.[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] This master's thesis examines whether there is a relationship between ideology and climate attitudes in Latin America. There are very few studies about climate change opinion in the region, but those that exist show that the region homogenously believes in climate change at very high rates. For the first time, the Latinobarometro (2017) asked about climate change skepticism across the region, allowing for investigation of political determinants. I begin the project in the first section with an exploratory analysis that looks at the relationship between ideology and climate attitudes across the region. In the second section, I develop a theory that should explain variation across countries. Finally, in the third section, I test the theory in each country individually.Item Examining bidirectional associations between momentary impulsivity, alcohol consumption, and daily life contexts(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2020) Freeman, Lindsey; Trull, Timothy J.[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Longitudinal, cross sectional, and laboratory studies have examined the relationships between impulsivity and alcohol use. However, most studies so far have not examined temporal relationships between impulsivity and alcohol consumption, and few studies have been conducted examining these relationships in daily life. The current study examined the relationships between momentary ratings of impulsivity, alcohol consumption, and social contexts using ecological momentary assessment, where participants carried an electronic diary for 28 days and responded to prompts multiple times per day. Participants were 52 regular drinkers (26 with borderline personality disorder and 26 community drinkers). Multilevel models were used to examine the temporal relationships between self-reported momentary impulsivity and alcohol use, as well as social context and diagnostic group as potential moderators of these relationships. In all models, impulsivity and alcohol use were related at the same prompt. However, lagged impulsivity (rated at the prior prompt as well as the cumulative average of impulsivity so far on drinking days) was not associated with alcohol consumption. On the other hand, higher blood alcohol concentration estimates predicted increased subsequent momentary impulsivity ratings on drinking days, as did consuming any quantity of alcohol since the previous prompt for participants with BPD. These results suggest that impulsivity and alcohol use are related when measured in participants' daily lives, but when considered together, these findings do not provide sufficient support for the bidirectional influences of self-reported impulsivity and alcohol consumption. Rather, results demonstrate alcohol's influence on self-reported impulsivity during drinking days, consistent with previous laboratory findings. These findings highlight the importance of considering short-term, within-person relationships in impulsivity and alcohol consumption, and suggest a potential for intervention to prevent risky alcohol use.Item Reliquaries, tapestry, and still life painting : the mutability of bodies and bodily ideologies from Medieval to early-modern Europe(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2020) Watters, Marta A.; Stanton, Anne Rudloff[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] This thesis considers how human, animal, spatial, and material bodies function within diverse systems of knowledge. In the context of this project I have framed a body to be something that is mutable. The main body of this project consists of three case studies set within the time periods traditionally labeled as the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Dutch Golden Age. Each study is framed around an object from which I consider a specific theory of the body or bodies, including fragmentation, possession, and narrative. Through the Reliquary Casket with Scenes from the Martyrdom of Saint Thomas Becket, Chapter 1 considers what fragmentation means within the context of the hagiography of Saint Thomas Becket. By extension, the traditions of relics, reliquaries, and pilgrimage are explored and understood through the lens of the individual parts that contribute to a greater spiritual whole. Chapter 2 uses The Lady and the Unicorn tapestry series to highlight the types of possession that animal, human, and material bodies may have. The third chapter considers the diverse bodies featured within Pieter Claesz's Vanitas Still Life with a Nautilus Cup and Musk Apple on Golden Chain. The bodies in this painting present a narrative of the Dutch Republic's vulnerability and bring bodily presence back into considerations of the still life genre. Through these three chapters, I hope to offer a unique lens that challenges how we understand the individuals of the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Dutch Golden Age.Item Low-level laser therapy for the treatment of osteoarthritis in the dog(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2020) Barger, Brenna; Torres, Bryan[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] In veterinary medicine there is increasing interest in the use of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for the treatment of pain in dogs with OA. Recently, a study found that 28% of US veterinarians referred patients to rehabilitation facilities for laser therapy. However, despite the common and established use of LLLT in veterinary medicine, there is a paucity of evidence supporting its efficacy in dogs with OA pain.2 Therefore, the goal of these studies was: 1) to investigate the use and economic impact of LLLT in veterinary practices within the State of Missouri for the treatment of OA; 2) to evaluate the efficacy of LLLT for the treatment of OA in clinical patients and provide the initial data for future clinical trials. The first study utilized a qualitative survey that was electronically distributed to practicing veterinarians in the state of Missouri. Its purpose was to evaluate the frequency of use and economic impact of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) in dogs in Missouri. The survey response rate was 10% (89/867). Approximately half (43%) of respondents had LLLT units, of which all used LLLT for OA treatment in dogs. In respondents without LLLT units, 20% referred patients for LLLT OA treatment. Training was most often obtained in-house by a representative of the LLLT unit manufacturer (76%). Treatment dose was largely unknown and chosen by predetermined settings on the LLLT unit (65%). In the majority of patients (84%), no treatment site preparation was performed. An average of four patients with OA were treated per week with an average cost per treated joint of $28 (range: $15-45). This study provides insight into the current clinical use and estimated annual economic impact ($6.2 million per year) of treating a single OA joint in dogs with LLLT by Missouri veterinarians. The frequency with which LLLT is used in the treatment of OA combined with the variation in training and treatment protocols supports the need for further research regarding the application and efficacy of LLLT in dogs with OA. The second study evaluated the use of LLLT for the treatment of naturally occurring osteoarthritis in dogs'--utilizing both objective and subjective outcome measures. Patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: 1) LLLT and 2) sham. Objective outcome measures were obtained from force plate analysis [(peak vertical force (PVF), vertical impulse (VI), craniocaudal braking force (Fy-braking), craniocaudal propulsion force (Fypropulsion), craniocaudal braking impulse (Iy-braking), and craniocaudal propulsion impulse (Iy-propulsion)] and kinematic evaluation (joint range-of-motion) and subjective outcome measures were obtained with the use of the Canine Brief Pain Index (CBPI). All outcome measures were obtained at a baseline evaluation and prior to treatments. Normality testing was performed with the D'Agostino-Pearson omnibus test and all data comparisons were performed with statistical software (GraphPad Prism version 6.00, GraphPad Software, San Diego California). All hypothesis tests were 2-sided and the significance level set at [alpha] = 0.05. No differences were found between the LLLT and sham treated groups for all variables. This study provided the initial data required for future clinical trial design.