Digital Commons Network^™

Elements Of Creative Writing, Grant Tracey, Rachel Morgan, Jeremy Schraffenberger

Faculty Book Gallery

This free and open access textbook introduces new writers to some basic elements of the craft of creative writing. The authors—Rachel Morgan, Jeremy Schraffenberger, and Grant Tracey—are editors of the North American Review, the oldest and one of the most well-regarded literary magazines in the United States. We’ve selected nearly all of our readings and examples from writing that has appeared in our pages over the years. Because we had a hand in publishing these pieces originally, our perspective as editors permeates this book. As such, we hope that even seasoned writers might gain insight into the aesthetics of our …

Annual Report Of The Nominating Committee For The Academic Year 2022-2023, University Of Northern Iowa. Faculty Senate.

Documents - Faculty Senate

University Nominating Committee report including committee memberships, produced by the Faculty Senate of the University of Northern Iowa.

Investigating Gene Looping In Yeast, Abbie Bangs, Justin Peters

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

Saccharomyces cerevisiae, also known as brewer’s yeast, is the model organism we chose to interrogate a possible length dependence of gene looping. Gene looping occurs when the promoter and the terminator regions of a gene come together in a physical interaction to form a loop. RNA polymerase transcribes the gene at an amplified rate due to the gene loop (Figure 1), but little research exists as to what factors are important for this process, including the mechanics of the underlying DNA.

Comparison Of Gut And Leg Pollen Composition In Female Halictus Ligatus With Flower Source, Sriya Kalala, Ai Wen

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

It is commonly believed by bee biologists that wild bees visit one single flower species during each trip to make nest provision. However, the exact foraging behavior is not clear and may vary in different species of bees, and therefore the pollination patterns have continued to be studied. When a bee undergoes the process of pollination, the majority of the pollen consumed by the bee passes through the digestive tract and remains undigested. However, when the pollen is digested and used as an energy source, the pollen grain digestion occurs in the midgut intestine within the bee instead of the …

Impacts And Applications Of Vegetable Glycerin On Nanocellulose, Elise Hong-Miller, Dylan Seiffert, T. E. Kidd

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

Nanocellulose is created by breaking down cellulose, the most common organic molecule found in nature. Nanocellulose has attractive properties, such as a very high strength-to-weight ratio, for many different applications. A major challenge is that nanocellulose has a very high shrinkage % (~90%) when it is dried, as well as a strong probability to crack. Different additives can be added in varying amounts to either mitigate or intensify these aspects, as well as affect its drying conditions. This investigation is helping the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the U.S. Army to find a use for this highly renewable …

Flow Through Processing Of Nanocellulose For Space Exploration Applications, Dylan Seiffert, T. E. Kidd

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

Nanocellulose is synthesized from cellulose, which is the most abundant organic molecule found in nature. Nanocellulose solids are biodegradable and have a strength-to-weight ratio eight times that of steel¹. The production of nanocellulose solids is challenging due to the large volume loss that occurs during the curing process as well as the time and cost associated with ultrasonic processing. The loss of volume during curing often results in cracking and deformation of the cured solid. The issues caused by the large volume loss can be mitigated using additives that do not compromise the strength, shape, or machineability of …

Analysis Of The Role Of Gamma-Aminobutyrate (Gaba) In Drought Tolerance In Barley Using Virus-Induced Gene Silencing, Thomas Manternach, Tilahun Abebe

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a messenger in cellular communication. As GABA is also an enhancer in stress tolerance, this often leads to rapid accumulation during drought. . GABA increases photosynthesis and reduces water loss through the stomata (Li et al., 2021; Xu et al., 2021). The metabolization of GABA occurs via the GABA shunt, which is produced primarily from a glutamic acid catalyzed by glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) in the cytosol. GABA is imported into the mitochondria and subsequently degraded by GABA-transaminase (GABA-T) into succinic semialdehyde (SSA) . In barley, both GABA and GAD genes are induced during drought (Abebe et …

Functional Analysis Of Spermidine Synthase (Spds) Using Virus-Induced Gene Silencing In Barley, Ammar A. Shaikh, Tilahun Abebe

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

Polyamines are low molecular weight aliphatic nitrogenous compounds with two or more amino groups (Liu et al., 2015). Polyamines are found in all organisms. They play diverse roles in growth and development as well as environmental stress response. One of the major polyamines in plants is spermidine. Spermidine increases grain filling by increasing hormones and enzymes in sucrose biosynthesis (Luo et al., 2019). Expression of genes in the spermidine biosynthesis pathway increases during drought in barley (Abebe et al., 2010). However, the role of spermidine biosynthesis for drought tolerance has not been systematically investigated in barley. In the past, we …

Analysis Of Biologically Active Secondary Metabolites From Fungi, Elizabeth E. Guevara, Kirk Manfredi

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

Fungi produce secondary metabolites, which are organic compounds that allow the organism to be competitive in their environment. Secondary metabolites are not involved in growth and development, instead they affect ecological interactions to increase survivability. These compounds will often have antimicrobial properties, leading to their use in antibiotics. Isolating a compound with significant antimicrobial activity could lead to its use in therapeutic antibiotics. New antibiotics are needed to address the growing issue of antimicrobial resistant bacteria. This project explores the antimicrobial compounds produced by fungi collected Wind Cave National Park or carried by local insects. Accurate taxonomic identification of the …

Assessment Of Dna Concentration And Degradation From Extracted Bumble Bee Thorax Muscle 2023, Joel Lado, Ai Wen, Kenneth Elgersma

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the foundation of an organism's ability to develop, survive, and reproduce. High genomic DNA is imperative for many scientific studies and applications such as Biotechnology, Genetics, & Pharmaceuticals. The separation of genomic DNA once purified from other cellular components (RNA, protein) can be sequenced to study entire genomes, develop antibodies, and limit genetic mutations.

Although a very stable molecule, DNA is susceptible to degradation under normal cellular conditions to various factors. Hence it is essential to properly extract genetic material from bee specimens, to better understand their population genetics.

DNA often needs to be stored for …

Forming A Comprehensive Pollen Library For The Purpose Of Native Bee Pollen Identification And Analysis, Madeline Roubik, Ai Wen

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

The Iowa prairie is home to many species of bees who collect pollen for nutrition or nesting purposes (Real, 1983). Most bees collect pollen in their scopa, a small pollen collection pouch on their back legs or abdomen. However, the entire bee, including their thorax, can come in contact with pollen. Because of this, it is assumed that a bee’s pollen collection will be more diverse on its thorax where it unintentionally comes into contact with pollen, than its legs where it intentionally collects pollen. In this study, we created a comprehensive pollen library of native Iowa prairie flowers, and …

Molybdenum Disulfide (Mos₂) As A Nanocellulose Substrate, Mariana Torres, Dylan Seiffert, Elise Hong-Miller, T. E. Kidd

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

Cellulose is a substance abundant in nature, found in fruits and vegetables, plant cell walls (National Center for Biotechnology Information, 2023), and wood (Sjostrom, 1993). The abundance of cellulose is attributable to its linear chemical structure, as it is composed of long strands of glucose molecules linked together by hydrogen atoms, which enable the substance to withstand significant pressure without breaking (Rongpipi et al., 2019). This property—known as high tensile strength—is joined by its non-toxicity and sustainability, given cellulose may be degraded and renewed naturally (Kaur, 2021). These various properties indicate versatility, and its resultant current and desired uses—such as …

Iowa’S Agricultural Landscape: Is Tef A Viable Option?, Kyran Hines, Tilahun Abebe

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

Tef (Eragrostis tef Zucc.) Trotter is a significant grain crop in Ethiopia, occupying over 30% of the country's total cultivated land. Tef is known for its long shelf life, drought resistance, natural pest resistance, versatility in food, beverages, and cattle feed. The crop has recently gained popularity in the United States for its nutritional qualities. Tef has a high content of minerals, amino acids, and is also gluten-free. In the context of climate change and the need for sustainable agriculture, exploring alternative crops to ensure food security is crucial. This research focuses on identifying tef accessions that are well-adapted to …

2023 Summer Undergraduate Research Program, University Of Northern Iowa. Sumer Undergraduate Research Program.

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium Programs

The program for the Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium of the College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences.

Taking Flight: North By South, Tallgrass Prairie Center, University Of Northern Iowa

Open Educational Resources

Lesson adapted form the book Keepers of the Earth : Native American stories and environmental activities for children by Michael J. Caduto and Joseph Bruchac focusing on the migration of birds and the flyways in North America for grades 6 through 8.

Tree Peeps, Tallgrass Prairie Center, University Of Northern Iowa

Open Educational Resources

Lesson adapted form the book Keepers of the Earth : Native American stories and environmental activities for children by Michael J. Caduto and Joseph Bruchac focusing on conservation and land stewardship for grades 7 through 12.

Nature Blanks, Tallgrass Prairie Center, University Of Northern Iowa

Open Educational Resources

An outline of an activity for grades Kindergarten through 8 for students to make a picture of a item in nature.

Uni Schedule Of Classes: Policies And Procedures, Summer 2023, University Of Northern Iowa

UNI Schedule of Classes

A listing and schedule of the courses being taught as well as policies and procedures concerning attending classes at the University of Northern Iowa.

Crosssections, Summer 2023, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Physics.

CrossSections

Contents:

A Message from the Department Head, Dr. Paul Shand --- 1
Department Happenings --- 2
Faculty Profile: Andrew Stollenwerk --- 7
Student Profile: Lukas Stuelke --- 8
Student Focus: Jenna Heinen --- 11
Physics Education --- 13
Alumni Profile: Sam Prophet --- 14
Alumni News: Shawn Poellet --- 15
New Physics: Quantum Mechanics Must Be Complex --- 17

Intervening For A Depressed Peer: The Effects Of Resilience Empathy, And History Of Depression, Brendan Weed

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

No abstract provided.

Commencement [Program], May 12-13, 2023, University Of Northern Iowa

UNI Commencement Programs

The program of the commencement ceremonies, including a list of institutional leadership, a list of the departments by college, awards given at the ceremonies, and a list of undergraduate and graduate degree candidates. This commencement program is not an official graduate list.

Iowa Waste Reduction Center Newsletter, May 2023, University Of Northern Iowa. Iowa Waste Reduction Center.

Iowa Waste Reduction Center Newsletter

Contents:

--- Iowa Strategic Goals Program Workshop
--- Two Iowa Green Breweries Walk Away with World Beer Cup Awards
--- Jennifer Trent is Guest on the Eat Your Heartland Out Podcast
--- 2023 Energy Trends Workshop
--- IWRC Welcomes Summer Environmental Intern
--- IWRC Says Farewell to Jordan Burrows and Nikayla Hoffmann
--- Free Energy Assessments
--- Industry News

Peer Educator Recognition & Awards Banquet, April 26, 2023 [Program], University Of Northern Iowa. Undergraduate Studies Program.

Graduation with Distinction Posters

The program for the 2023 Peer Educator Recognition & Awards Banquet held on April 26, 2023.

Honors Research Day [Program] April 22, 2023, University Of Northern Iowa

Honors Research Day Programs

No abstract provided.

Spectrum Project: Space, April 16, 2023 [Program], University Of Northern Iowa. School Of Music.

Music Recital Programs

Program of a music recital given by faculty, students, or guest artists from the School of Music at the University of Northern Iowa.

Uni Schedule Of Classes: Policies And Procedures, Spring 2023, University Of Northern Iowa

UNI Schedule of Classes

A listing and schedule of the courses being taught as well as policies and procedures concerning attending classes at the University of Northern Iowa.

Panther Press, Spring 2023, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Military Science.

Panther Press

In this issue:

--- Semester in Review
--- From LTC Dean Ray
--- Panther Battalion / New Cadre & Farewell
--- Pawprint Campaign
--- Panther Pantry Award
--- Military Ball
--- Congratulations to our new 2nd Lieutenants
--- ROTC Senior Staff Ride
--- Cadet Q&A

Environmental Issues Instruction: Nourishing Our Water And Soil Through Sustainable Agriculture, Barb Ehlers, Cathryn Carney, Jeff Monteith

Science Education Update Conference Documents

We will present a lesson from our Environment Issues Instruction professional development curriculum on properties of soil. This will be an interactive hands-on activity for participants to experience how to teach the properties of soil.

Accessibility Online: All Students Means All Students., Jennifer Bliss, Christopher Like

Science Education Update Conference Documents

Much of the technology around us has been designed for persons with different needs. We can now set an alarm just by asking a device to do so. We can enter stores without touching doors, and read captions for the news on television while listening to music on earbuds. Online curriculum needs to mirror this type of access to give all students the ability to engage with content. Can the visually impaired student in a biology classroom use a microscope? Where are videos with captions for hearing impaired students? Can a student with limited dexterity independently access interactive slides? Deliberate …

Iophonics: Iowa Educational Aquaponics, Michael Bechtel

Science Education Update Conference Documents

Will explain and share experiences, ideas, and expansion of Ioponics: Iowa Educational Aquaponics. An IKEA-like plan for use by PK-12 teachers to show how to get involved, and explain the growth in interest.