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Uni Grad Student News, V17n1, September 2018, University Of Northern Iowa. Graduate College.

UNI Grad Student News

Inside this issue:

-- Graduate College Updates
-- Graduate Student, Faculty, and Alumni Profiles
-- New Graduate Student Orientation
-- Graduate Student Social Mixer
-- Annual MBA Conference
-- Altrusa Scholarship Recipients
-- Suicide Prevention Month
-- Professional Development Opportunities
-- Student Accolades

University Of Northern Iowa Faculty Senate Meeting Agenda, August 27, 2018, University Of Northern Iowa. Faculty Senate.

Documents - Faculty Senate

Meeting agenda from the Faculty Senate of the University of Northern Iowa.

University Of Northern Iowa Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes, August 27, 2018, University Of Northern Iowa. Faculty Senate.

Documents - Faculty Senate

Meeting minutes from the Faculty Senate of the University of Northern Iowa.

Cost-Effective Seed Mix Design And First-Year Management, Justin Meissen

Tallgrass Prairie Publications and Reports

Restoring ecosystem services at scale requires executing conservation programs in a way that is resource and cost efficient as well as ecologically effective. Rather than pursuing programs that maximize single ecosystem services, conservation programs may achieve greater impact with limited resources (i.e. be more cost-effective) by working to balance multiple ecological benefits. A robust literature shows how diverse ecosystems in general can provide a wide variety of benefits simultaneously (e.g. Macfadyen et al. 2012; Wratten et al. 2012), and how ecological restoration can be largely self-sustaining (Miller et al. 2016). In the midwestern United States specifically, species rich tallgrass prairies …

2018 Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium, University Of Northern Iowa. Summer 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.

Mcnair Scholars Summer Research Symposium [Program] 2018, Mcnair Scholars Program (University Of Northern Iowa).

McNair Scholars Summer Symposium Programs

No abstract provided.

Uni Schedule Of Classes, Summer 2018, 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 2018, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Physics.

CrossSections

Contents:

--A Message from the Department Head, Dr. Paul Shand
--Faculty Profile Lawrence Escalada
--Department Happenings
--Student Profile Byron Fritch
--Student Research
--Physics Education
--Alumni Profile Cody Wilson
--Alumni News
--Listing and Solicitation

The Effects Of Varying Nitrogen Amounts On The Growth And Leaf Morphology Of Cattail Species, Anissa Forero, Kenneth J. Elgersma

Undergraduate Student Work

In Iowa, there are three types of cattails (Typha spp.): Typha latifolia (broadleaf), Typha angustifolia (narrow leaf), and Typha x glauca. T. latifolia is native to Iowa, while T. angustifolia and T. x glauca are not native. Cattails are found in wetlands, highly productive ecosystems that provide many services such as water filtration and flood control.

However, Typha are opportunistic and invasive: if left uncontrolled, Typha grows rapidly by clonal reproduction, quickly dominating the ecosystem, lowering overall diversity and hurting the wetland’s conservation value. Being able to easily identify these taxa will improve the pace of future research.

The purpose …

Collecting Carbon: An Analysis Of Soil Carbon In Conservation Reserve Program Fields And Agricultural Fields, Cody Welcher, Destiny Magee, Kenneth Elgersma

Undergraduate Student Work

Intensive agricultural practices are associated with detrimental effects to the environment including, but not limited to, increasing the rate of soil erosion, introducing pollutants to water supply, reduced habitat for various species, and reduced atmospheric carbon sequestration in soils.

The Conservation Reserve Program allows farmers to enroll sensitive lands into the program and out of circulation for agricultural purposes. It has been shown to increase soil carbon sequestration, reduce erosion, increase water and air quality, and provide habitat restoration for displaced species, along with other benefits.

Relationships Between Fluvial Ecosystems And The Iowan Erosion Surface, Lilian Heinzel, Chad E. Heinzel

Undergraduate Student Work

The streams and rivers of the Iowan Surface partially form the foundation of our local ecosystems, everything from providing drinking water to producing floods. The Black Hawk Creek, Cedar River, and Maquoketa River were studied in the months of June and July of 2018. The goal of the research was to understand the ecology of each water way, how life was sustained by these rivers and creek and how the surrounding landscape may have determined the features of the waterways. Datasheets were filled out describing the sites’ ecological and geologic makeup, and GIS Trimble units were used to chart the …

Uni Political Science Newsletter, V13n1, June 2018, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Political Science.

Political Science Newsletter

Contents:

---The Faculty Role at UNI
---Faculty Updates
---Congratulations!
---Students Present Research Across the Midwest
---Interning With Iowa Legal Aid
---Maggie Miller Honored by YWCA
---Political Science Graduates Continue Their Education
---Model UN
---You're Next
---Department Hosts Mary Beth Tinker
---Graduate Profiles
---Bonnie Campbell Headlines Women In Politics Benefit
---Interning at Black Hawk County Elections Office
---In Memory of Francis J. "Doc" Winter
---Congratulations 2017-18 Graduates
---Scholarships and Awards

Stem Stories, May 2018, #2, Ginger L'Heureux

STEM Stories

Student Profile - Emma Shipley

Spring Commencement [Program], May 4-5, 2018, 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.

Uni Grad Student News, V16n4, May 2018, University Of Northern Iowa. Graduate College.

UNI Grad Student News

Inside this issue;

-- 2018 Symposium
-- Suicide Prevention Projects
-- Graduate College Awards
-- 2018 Alumni Recognition Project
-- UNI Job Board
-- Summer Activities
-- Conferences
-- Student Accolades

Magnetic And Magnetocaloric Properties Of Co2-Xfexvga Heusler Alloys, K. Schroeder, J. Waybright, P. Kharel, W. Zhang, S. Valloppilly, J. Herran, P. Lukashev, Y. Huh, R. Skomsk, D. J. Sellmyer

Faculty Work

The magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of iron-substituted Co₂VGa alloys, Co_2-xFe_xVGa (x = 0, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.3), were investigated. The Fe-substituted samples, prepared by arc melting, melt spinning, and annealing, crystallized in the L2(1) Heusler structure, without any secondary phases. The Curie temperature and high-field magnetization at 50 K decreased from 345 K and 44 emu/g (1.90 mu(B)/f.u.) for Co₂VGa to 275 K and 39 emu/g (1.66 mu(B)/f.u.) for Co_1.7Fe_0.3VGa, respectively, but the maximum entropy change remained almost insensitive to Fe concentration for x 1.85Fe_0.15VGa. First-principle …

Factors Influencing Corn Fungicide Treatment Decisions, Alicia Rosburg, Luisa Menapace

Faculty Work

Fungal disease management in U.S. corn production has undergone a major shift in the last 2 decades. The decision to apply fungicide, a management practice that was once rarely considered, is now contemplated annually by many U.S. corn producers. We investigate potential factors underlying the fungicide treatment decision. We use economics, agronomy, and plant pathology literature to develop a conceptual model of the fungicide treatment decision and test the model using a survey of Midwest corn producers. We find the treatment decision is positively related to perceived economic gains, but heuristic factors also have a strong influence.

Transdisciplinary Graduate Training In Predictive Plant Phenomics, Carolyn J. Lawrence-Dill, Theodore J. Heindel, Patrick S. Schnable, Stephanie J. Strong, Jill Wittrock, Mary E. Losch, Julie A. Dickerson

Faculty Work

Novel methods to increase crop productivity are required to meet anticipated demands for food, feed, fiber, and fuel. It is becoming feasible to use modern sensors and data analysis techniques for predicting plant growth and productivity based on genomic, phenotypic, and environmental data. To design and construct crops that deliver desired traits requires trained personnel with scientific and engineering expertise as well as a variety of “soft” skills. To address these needs at Iowa State University, we developed a graduate specialization called “Predictive Plant Phenomics” (P3). Although some of our experiences may be unique, many of the specialization’s principles are …

Annual Graduate Faculty Meeting [Program], April 26, 2018, University Of Northern Iowa. Graduate College.

Annual Graduate Faculty Meeting & Awards Ceremony Programs

No abstract provided.

Proceedings Of The 130th Annual Meeting Of The Iowa Academy Of Science [Abstracts & Program, 2018], Iowa Academy Of Science.

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

Contains information about the schedule and presentations for the 2018 annual meeting of the Iowa Academy of Science, including abstracts.

Panther Initiative For Environmental Equity And Resilience, Pieer, Catherine Zeman, Zahra Al-Khidhr, Fatimah Al-Khidhr, Wynton Karanja, Tyler Dursky, Ali Al Qismah, Jassim Alkhudhar

Community Engagement Celebration Day

PIEER began in the Spring of 2014 as a partnership project in environmental resilience and equity, ERE issues with the Colleges of Humanities, Arts, and Sciences, CHAS RRTTC and the UNI Provost’s Office. It has continued since as a student internship and community engagement effort designed to offer PIEER interns the opportunity to explore the social/cultural, racial ethnic, technological, and equity aspects of environmental sustainability challenges. It’s goals are to expand knowledge and understand about and across ERE issues, to allow students to examine their understanding of differences and build bridges across difference, and to meaningfully engage the campus and …

Halloween House, Madison Flesch, Nick Bonde

Community Engagement Celebration Day

Since 2007, the Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society at the University of Northern Iowa has organized a community outreach program called Halloween House. What started out as a one-room chemistry demonstration show 11 years ago, has now evolved into a huge event in collaboration with other STEM clubs on campus. The event brought in between 800-1000 community members, mainly elementary aged-students, last fall. The collaboration amongst different STEM clubs in physics, biology, earth science, and chemistry allows students to have an interdisciplinary experience, exploring all of the sciences and seeing how they all connect. The Halloween House activities …

Honors Research Day [Program] April 14, 2018, University Of Northern Iowa

Honors Research Day Programs

No abstract provided.

University Of Northern Iowa Graduate Council Minutes, April 12, 2018, University Of Northern Iowa. Graduate Council.

Documents - Graduate Council

Meeting minutes from the Graduate Council of the University of Northern Iowa.

Uni Science Education Update Conference [Program] April 6, 2018, University Of Northern Iowa Science Education Program.

Science Education Update Conference Documents

The program for the Science Education Update Conference held on April 6, 2018 at the University of Northern Iowa.

Extracellular Atp Effects On Intracellular Actin Fibrils' Location And Characteristics [Poster], Dianna Huisman, David Mcclenahan, Ali Tabei, Joseph Tibbs

Research in the Capitol

Epithelial cells lining secretory units and ducts of bovine mammary glands perform an important role in regulating movement of various macromolecules and whole cells during normal lactation and mastitis. During mastitis, host and bacterial produced substances can affect the “barrier” function of epithelial monolayers. One potential component is adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP likely interacts with P2X7, a purinergic receptor, in mediating some effects associated with mastitis. Bovine mammary gland epithelial cell line, Mac-T cells, were examined for cytoskeletal changes as result of P2X7 interactions. Actin cytoskeletons were stained with phalloidin and effects were examined by fluorescent microscopy. Observable increase in …

Rates And Patterns Of Evolution In A Duplicated Genome In The Family Catostomidae [Poster], Megann Michelle Schmidt, Zachary Sperstad, Peter Berendzen

Research in the Capitol

Whole genome duplication (WGD) is a process in which the entire genome of an organism is duplicated, making redundant genes which are subject to unique evolutionary forces. Various modes of selection create different genetic fates such as retention of ancestral function, development of new function, or loss of function. Because of these differing fates, WGD is hypothesized to be a major driving force behind diversification. In this project, DNA sequences from fish species in the family Catostomidae were examined to observe patterns of evolution following a known WGD. Gene trees were generated for 179 loci to determine the amount of …

Biogeography Of Southwestern Pocket Gophers In The Genus Geomys, Courtney Massey, James W. Demastes

Research in the Capitol

Species status between closely related species can be difficult to discern. The southwest United States is home to several species of pocket gophers (Geomys), including the northern species, G.arenarius and G. bursarius major, and southern G. bursarius knoxjonesi. Current biogeographic hypotheses for this assemblage involve a population of G. bursarius using one of several potential colonization routes across the arid region between the Pecos River and the Rio Grande Valley, which led to isolation and the speciation of G. arenarius. My project tested three likely colonization routes using comprehensive geographic samples of the aforementioned pocket …

Anti-Fungal Compounds From Native Prairie Plants, Sarah Mcmichael, Kirk Manfredi

Research in the Capitol

Plant compounds can be found in many consumer products such as nutritional supplements (nutraceuticals), soaps, shampoos, and other personal care products. They are not yet used in these products as preservatives. This area of research focusses on identifying compounds from native prairie plants that can be used as preservatives in personal care products. An objective of this research is to isolate compounds that can be used to replace synthetic parabens. Synthetic parabens have been found to be harmful to humans and the environment. Our isolate would be a natural preservative and eliminate the harmful synthetic. This research presentation will discuss …

Bee And Butterfly Response To Floral Resources In Central Iowa Prairie Restorations, Chandler Dolan, Kathleen Madsen, Mark Myers, Ai Wen

Research in the Capitol

Over 90 percent of Iowa’s land is devoted to cultivated row crops and pasture, which has caused a decline in biodiversity and habitat for many bee and butterfly species. To restore lost ecosystems and conserve pollinator diversity, the USDA recently developed a new Conservation Reserve Program Pollinator Habitat conservation practice (CP-42). Since 2012, Iowa farmers have enrolled over 200,000 acres in this program with little evaluation of its effectiveness. In 2017, a team of students and faculty from the University of Northern Iowa and Tallgrass Prairie Center developed methods to evaluate vegetation and pollinator activity in CP-42 restoration plantings. Using …