Digital Commons Network^™

Fossil Mobiles: Exploring The Process Of Art As Science Inquiry For Elementary Students Through A Grounded Theory Study, Jolene K. Teske, Courtney Clausen, Harun Parpucu, Phyllis Gray, Audrey C. Rule

Journal of STEM Arts, Crafts, and Constructions

Arts integration into Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subject areas is currently an important area of investigation. This study developed a grounded theory of how artmaking of a mobile related to fossil life of the Devonian period engendered geoscience inquiry. Data were collected from elementary students entering fourth to sixth grade (7 male, 9 female) attending a week-long summer camp at a Midwestern university. Students engaged in a daily hour-long class creating fossil mobiles and learning geoscience content through illustrated slide shows, form and function sets of materials related to Devonian fossils, fossil books, and a fossil hunter- fossil …

Exploring Preservice Teachers’ Still-Life Paintings Of Crystals With Artist-Focused Compared To Science-Focused Introductions, Mahjabeen Hussain, Dessy Stoycheva, Audrey C. Rule, Denise A. Tallakson

Journal of STEM Arts, Crafts, and Constructions

This experimental study was undertaken with preservice teachers to test whether the use of science integration into arts education increases demonstration of science details and creative features in artwork. Two conditions were created: arts-focused and science-focused; gouache still-life paintings were produced and analyzed, and an attitude survey was completed. The results suggested that science integration into visual arts classes increased creativity for the arts-focused condition and increased science concepts in the science-focused condition. Participants in both conditions reported positive attitudes, specifically, high levels of enjoyment, alluded to lack of experience with arts and creative projects, and expressed desire for more …

A Content Analysis Of Thirty Children’S Picture Books About Ecology, Natalia Martín Martín, Jennifer L. Hageman, Sarah E. Montgomery, Audrey C. Rule

Journal of STEM Arts, Crafts, and Constructions

This study presents a content analysis of 30 ecology-themed children’s picture books published in English and Spanish from 1994 to the present. Books were analyzed for the following aspects: 1) Nature appreciation, 2) Interrelatedness of Nature, 3) Realistic ecology problem, 4) Differing perspectives, 5) Hope for a solution, 6) Reflection and responsibility, 7) Steps for a solution, 8) Positive tone, 9) Representation of diversity, 10) Appropriate illustrations, 11) Story appeal, and 12) Developmental appropriateness. Scoring guidelines are provided in an appendix. Content analysis results revealed that most books raise awareness about the impact of human action on the environment, although …

Ocean Underwater Scene Dioramas Of First Graders With Submarine Porthole Views, Ksenia Zhbanova, Audrey C. Rule, Denise A. Tallakson

Journal of STEM Arts, Crafts, and Constructions

Ecology education of the younger generations is vital for worldwide change of people’s attitudes toward nature warranted by the current global ecological crisis. Yet, this goal needs to be addressed through age-appropriate activities that are educational and engaging. This practical article focuses on dioramas of ocean reef life made by first graders. This arts-integrated project served two main purposes: 1) education of primary students about ocean ecology and helping students realize their roles in saving nature 2) increasing student science content knowledge. Additionally, several other benefits of making dioramas emerged during this project, including highly creative student products, genuine interest …

Slime Bash Social: A Tactile Manipulative For Child And Youth Play, Joyce A. Levingston, Marie E. Adebiyi, Brian Hadley, Younis Al-Hassan, Dongyub Back, Michelle Cook, Christopher R. Edginton

Journal of STEM Arts, Crafts, and Constructions

The play product of slime has gained increasing popularity amongst children and youth throughout the United States. Slime can be thought of as a tactile manipulative that can be shaped, stretched, expanded, lumped together, twisted, squeezed, squashed, folded, rolled, shredded, twirled, swirled, pounded, and cut or pulled apart. As a learning tool, slime can and does support STEM initiatives and programs. Slime can be created using simple ingredients that are easily measured, combined, and prepared by children and youth. In addition, slime can incorporate components such as glitter, beads, shaving cream, color dyes and other items. This paper offers an …

Practical Art Projects Related To Children’S Picture Books About Ecology, Jennifer L. Hageman, Natalia Martín Martín, Sarah E. Montgomery, Audrey C. Rule

Journal of STEM Arts, Crafts, and Constructions

This study presents art projects that reinforce scientific content presented in children’s picture books about ecology. Ten K-6 students from varying socioeconomic classes, and different cultural and language backgrounds from the United States and Spain participated. Next Generation Science Standards were identified and addressed in these art projects. Students’ understanding and engagement were evaluated through teacher observations, photographs, and a student attitude survey. Upper- and lower-elementary students evidenced increased understanding of environmental issues, and high level of enjoyment and engagement through these art projects integrated with science content. Researchers encourage educators to incorporate picture books and art in science lessons …

Editorial: Developing Creativity Through Stem Subjects Integrated With The Arts, Ksenia Zhbanova

Journal of STEM Arts, Crafts, and Constructions

This issue of the Journal of STEM Arts, Crafts, and Constructions is focused on creativity - one of the most highly-desirable 21^st Century skills on personal and global levels. Time, pedagogical knowledge, and resource constraints limit the number of opportunities for teachers to develop creativity in students. In this editorial, creativity development steps and strategies are illuminated along with specific roles of STEM subjects and the arts in development of student creativity. The processes of creativity development used in STEM and the arts are compared to each other and to the non-subject-specific creative process model of Root-Bernstein and Root- …

Oral Glutamine Supplement Reduces Subjective Fatigue Ratings During Repeated Bouts Of Firefighting Simulations, Mary Moore, Terence A. Moriarty, Gavin Connolly, Christine Mermier, Fabiano Amorim, Kevin Miller, Micah Zuhl

Faculty Work

Wildland firefighting requires repetitive (e.g., consecutive work shifts) physical work in dangerous conditions (e.g., heat and pollution). Workers commonly enter these environments in a nonacclimated state, leading to fatigue and heightened injury risk. Strategies to improve tolerance to these stressors are lacking. Purpose: To determine if glutamine ingestion prior to and after consecutive days of firefighting simulations in the heat attenuates subjective ratings of fatigue, and evaluate if results were supported by glutamine-induced upregulation of biological stress responses. Methods: Participants (5 male, 3 female) ingested glutamine (0.15 g/kg/day) or a placebo before and after two consecutive days (separated by 24 …

Recommendations For Measurement And Management Of An Elite Athlete, William Sands, Marco Cardinale, Jeni Mcneal, Steven Murray, Christopher Sole, Jacob Reed, Nikos Apostolopoulos, Michael Stone

Faculty Work

Athletes who merit the title elite' are rare and differ both quantitatively and qualitatively from athletes of lower qualifications. Serving and studying elite athletes may demand non-traditional approaches. Research involving elite athletes suffers because of the typical nomothetic requirements for large sample sizes and other statistical assumptions that do not apply to this population. Ideographic research uses single-athlete study designs, trend analyses, and statistical process control. Single-athlete designs seek to measure differences in repeated measurements under prescribed conditions, and trend analyses may permit systematic monitoring and prediction of future outcomes. Statistical process control uses control charting and other methods from …

Proceedings Of The 131st Annual Meeting Of The Iowa Academy Of Science [Abstracts & Program, 2019], Iowa Academy Of Science.

Annual Meeting of the Iowa Academy of Science [Programs & Abstracts]

Contains information about the schedule and presentations for the 2019 annual meeting of the Iowa Academy of Science, including abstracts.

Rodcon: Bringing The Community Together With Comics, Angela Cox, Melinda Beland

Community Engagement Celebration Day

RodCon, Rod Library’s annual free comic-con, aims to provide an engaging, dynamic event that celebrates comic books, pop culture, and their contributions to academia and literacy. RodCon creates a welcoming forum where the community and visitors to our community can discuss and celebrate issues of race, gender, sexuality, and equality as they pertain to popular culture, all while creating a fun and engaging space for children of all ages. Through campus partnerships, RodCon provides a platform for UNI students to apply what they are learning in the classroom and engage with the community in ways that they can’t within the …

Induction Of Lipid Bodies In Leishmania Infantum-Infected C57bl/6 Macrophages Of Male Versus Female Origin, Victor A. Soupene, Ryan D. Lockard, Mary E. Wilson, Nilda E. Rodriguez

Research in the Capitol

Worldwide, 12 million people are infected with Leishmania spp. parasites. Leishmania are transmitted by the bite of sand flies. The parasite is internalized by immune cells where they develop, reproduce, and spread to new immune cells causing disease. Epidemiological studies have shown that males are more likely to develop disease. We recently demonstrated that Leishmania infantum survive better in immune cells of male origin than in cells derived from females. We also showed that L. infantum infection is characterized by fat accumulation. Additional experiments have shown that infected immune cells from males accumulate more fat than cells from females. We …

14th Annual Research In The Capitol [Program], April 1, 2019, University Of Northern Iowa. University Honors Program., Iowa State University. Honors Program., University Of Iowa. Honors Program.

Research in the Capitol Programs

Program of research presentations given at the Capitol by students from the University of Northern Iowa, Iowa State University, and the University of Iowa.

Delynn Plante - Self-Help International, Delynn Plante

Robert and Yvonne Koob Fund for Student Community Engagement Recipients

I helped to increase Self-Help’s branding and create more visually appealing materials that the organization uses. I helped to deliver their mission statement in a visual way, in which supporters and donors respond better to.

Uprising, Issue 7, Spring 2019, University Of Northern Iowa. Northern Iowa Student Government.

Uprising

Contents:

Poem: Untitled --- 6
Through the Looking Glass --- 7
The Way I Talk To Myself --- 12
Honey Swell: A Cross Country Collab --- 14
Speak Up: Under Fire --- 16
Poem: White Picket Fence --- 19
Anomaly 'Chic' --- 20
Designer to Watch --- 27
Artist to Watch --- 28
#AuthenticallyMe --- 29
RegiMEN --- 29
Poem: Untitled --- 31
Swole --- 32
Eating Green --- 34
Dare To Be You --- 37
Seance Clothing --- 42
Poem: Sunshine Girl --- 47
Defaulted --- 48

Determinants Of Box Office Performance: Return Of The Regressions, Griffin Scott

Major Themes in Economics

Brewer, Kelley, and Jozefowicz (2009) used data from the late 1990s to the early 2000’s in order to determine what made a movie a success at the box office. I replicate their study using data from 2014 to 2018. Ex ante, production budget, critical reviews, horror and comedy movies were all significant at the one percent level. Ex post, the same variables plus number of screens, summer and holiday release, star power, and word-of-mouth were significant at the one percent level.

Rod Library: Notes For The Stalled, V11n08, March 2019, University Of Northern Iowa. Rod Library.

Rod Library newsletter: Notes for the Stalled

Contents:

--Open Education Week
--UNI Edits Wikipedia
--Spring Workshops
--Calling All Artists
--Unveiling the Tusk

Rodcon, Program, 2019, University Of Northern Iowa. Rod Library.

RodCon Documents

Inside This Program:

--Rodcon: Free and open to the public
--Welcome to Rodcon
--Locations
--Schedule
--What's That?
--Artist Alley
--Food
--Sponsors
--Autographs

Iowa Statewide Stream Nitrate Loading: 2017-2018 Update, Christopher S. Jones, Keith E. Schilling

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

In response to ongoing hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico, several states in the Mississippi River basin have adopted nutrient reduction plans in recent years designed to arrest the flow of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from both point and non-point sources to the stream network. Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy, implemented in 2012, aims to reduce stream loading of these nutrients by 45% within a yet-to-be-defined time frame. Because the state has chosen to integrate accountability into the strategy through the numerical objective, ongoing water monitoring is necessary to credibly measure progress. The primary objective of this research was to …

Playing For The Masses: The Role Of Music In Venezuelan Protetsts, Irene Grau, Julie Matos

Iowa Journal of Communication

This paper focuses on the performative protest of violinist Wuilly Arteaga, an increasingly notable member of Venezuela's La Resistencia. Using Susanne Langer's (1942) theoretical framework implicating the power in artistic expression, this paper argues that Arteaga's style of protest rhetoric functions as a powerful presentational form, through the use of his musical performances in the midst of protests. In combination - playing iconic Venezolano music, the violin itself, and wearing the colors of the Venezuelan flag - his performance carries a powerful message of remembrance, perseverance, and hope that the discursive cannot convey. In analyzing this form of presentational protest …

Uni Magazine, Issue 01, 2019, University Of Northern Iowa Alumni Association

UNI Alumni Magazine

Contents:

--- Trans-for-ma-tion
--- I Don't Belong Here
--- Roots
--- UNI Impact
--- On Campus
--- Alumni Highlights
--- Campus News
--- Class Notes

Use Of Surgical Tissue Adhesive And Body Mass Change To Assess Ring-Necked Pheasant Brood Foraging Habitat, Todd R. Bogenschutz, Chris S. Jennelle, Mark W. Mcinroy, Steven D. Roberts

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Foraging rates (arthropod consumption [g/min/chick]) of human-imprinted chicks provide a reasonable metric for assessing the quality of brood-rearing habitats for gallinaceous species. Arthropod foraging rates have been estimated using dry mass or allometric equations of crop and gizzard contents, and internal surgical ligature of the crop. Current methods are time- and labor-intensive. We describe a new method to estimate foraging rate using chick mass change (g/min) during a 30-min foraging trial. Our technique requires surgical tissue adhesive be applied to the cloaca to prevent bias in mass change measurements caused by defecation. We compare our mass change technique to a …

Sex-Related Differences In Immune Response And Symptomatic Manifestations To Infection With Leishmania Species, Ryan D. Lockard, Mary E. Wilson, Nilda E. Rodriguez

Faculty Work

Worldwide, an estimated 12 million people are infected with Leishmania spp. and an additional 350 million are at risk of infection. Leishmania are intracellular parasites that cause disease by suppressing macrophage microbicidal responses. Infection can remain asymptomatic or lead to a spectrum of diseases including cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral leishmaniasis. Ultimately, the combination of both pathogen and host factors determines the outcome of infection. Leishmaniasis, as well as numerous other infectious diseases, exhibits sex-related differences that cannot be explained solely in terms of environmental exposure or healthcare access. Furthermore, transcriptomic evidence is revealing that biological sex is a variable impacting …

Evaluating Livelihood Vulnerability Of Farming Communities To Winter Storms In Iowa, Yiyi Zhang

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Driven by unusually warm air in the Arctic, severe winter weather moves southward to mid-latitude areas, indicating the complexity in the ways that climate change may affect local weather extremes. The vulnerability of farming communities to climate risks and differential response capabilities have drawn much research attention. Winter storms are recognized as one of the common catastrophic events leading to agricultural damage and loss. However, research is notably lacking in understanding the consequences extreme winter weather could bring in farmer livelihood.

This study is concerned with the vulnerability patterns of farming communities shaped under varying climate and socio-physical conditions. Focusing …

University Of Northern Iowa Strategic Plan, 2019 Mid Plan Report, University Of Northern Iowa. Office Of Institutional Research & Effectiveness.

Institutional Effectiveness & Planning Documents

A report detailing the progress on the strategic goals within the University of Northern Iowa's strategic plan.

Cultural Practices And The Transmission Of Ebola In Sierra Leone: Lessons Learned From A Medical Anthropology Perspective, Abubakarr Jalloh

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The link between culture and infectious diseases has long been established. This is primarily due to the notion that culture shapes and influences people’s beliefs, actions, and ways of life. Such beliefs and their accompanying actions ultimately contribute to people’s risk of contracting an infectious disease. As such, there is a need for a cultural perspective in understanding infectious diseases because human behavior plays a significant role in the emergent, transmission, and spread of such diseases. This study explores the cultural practices that may have contributed to the transmission of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Sierra Leone during the 2013-2016 …

The Price Of Progress: American Agricultural Innovations In Relation To Economic And Social Change, 1920-1989, Zachary Cass Moye

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Agriculture is an industry that defines a unique society in the American Midwest. When farming technologies changed, agriculture as a system and society also changed. This thesis explores the critical changes that farmers faced during the 20th Century. Those links include a changing educational system, which would guide farmers into the world of mechanical farming technology, and the permeation of that technology in farm society. The economic cost of the changing aspects of agriculture drove social and technological change that took place during the years of the Great Depression through the 1980s Farm Crisis. Finally, this thesis covers the future …

Master's Recital In Jazz Pedagogy: A Performance-Demonstration Of Rhythm Section Instruments, Trumpet, Electric Wind Instrument, Synthesizer, Compositions, And Arrangements By Demetrio Lyle, Demetrio Lyle

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

My education at the University of Northern Iowa in the Master of Music, Jazz Pedagogy track has included two full academic years of continuous study as well as one year of independent study. During my two years in residence, I had the pleasure of experiencing an in-depth curriculum of classes, ensembles, and applied lessons, as well as opportunities to lead large and small ensembles. All of these components were designed to make me into a more effective jazz musician in the disciplines of performance, composition, arranging, and pedagogy.

The latter of these disciplines acts as the synthesis of the recital …

The Effect Of Digital Game-Based Learning On Student Learning: A Literature Review, Katrina Serrano

Graduate Research Papers

Digital game-based learning can be used by educators to support students in developing skills. This review examined the effect of digital game-based learning on student learning at the K-12 level. Sixteen peer-reviewed research studies, two meta-analysis studies, and two literature reviews published between 2011-2019 were selected for analysis. The reviewed research indicated that when digital game-based learning is used that includes key game design elements (collaboration, choice, feedback) as well as instructional design, there typically is a positive impact on student engagement. Research also indicated that digital game-based learning along with collaboration can have a significant effect on student motivation, …

Construction Of Crispr/Cas9 Vectors For Directed Mutagenesis Of Fusarium Graminearum, Rebekah Akers

Honors Program Theses

Fusarium graminearum causes the fungal disease known as scab or head blight in cereals, including barley. There is no known resistance in barley against scab disease. Generating mutations in the fungus is a promising strategy to reduce infection. Research has shown that CRISPR/Cas9 is a very powerful tool for gene mutation. In this study, CRISPR/Cas9 vectors containing guide RNA sequences were constructed to mutate one visual marker gene (AUR1) and two genes essential for infection in F. graminearum (Tri5 and MGV1). Plasmids pFC332 and pFC334 were used to create vectors with the target genes using the …