Digital Commons Network^™

Estimating Energy Fluxes And Evapotranspiration Of Corn And Soybean With An Unmanned Aircraft System In Ames, Iowa, Áthila Gevaerd Montibeller

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Evapotranspiration (ET) is a key hydrological variable and has been studies to plan irrigation schedule, understand surface-atmospheric interactions, assess crop sensitivity to droughts, etc. On top of that, ET is a proxy for evaluating water availability in trees canopies and assess soil moisture content. The recent advent of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) has presented new opportunities and challenges in mapping ET at a much finer scale and under various atmospheric conditions. In this research, we integrate traditional remote sensing techniques with the novel UAS technology to estimate ET and surface energy fluxes for a corn and soybean field near …

Impact Of Teacher Scientist Partnerships On High School Students' Perceptions Of Science, Kevin John Schneider

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

There exist a multitude of global issues in the 21^st century that can be addressed with the scientific process. In response to these dilemmas, there are a number of education initiatives that aim to raise interest in science careers. This study provides an evaluation for one such effort. Over 200 students from 4 different high schools and 4 teachers were presented with a pre to post survey to measure the impact of Research Experience for Teachers (RET) curricula. High school science teachers participated in a research experience, created curriculum with a scientist, taught the content in their classrooms, and …

Anti-Proliferative Effect Of Hibernating American Bullfrog, Lithobates Catesbeianus, Blood Plasma On The Thp-1 Cells, Sean L. Robbins

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Hibernation is a remarkable process that allows an organism to go dormant for long periods of time during the winter, when food is scarce and living conditions can be lethal. Much is unknown about the physiology behind hibernation, and most research comes from mammalian models. For example, it is known that during hibernation many of the cells in the body are impeded from going though mitosis but the mechanism that caused this was unknown. It was recently discovered that 13-lined ground squirrels (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus) and woodchucks (Marmota monax) have a protein, alpha-2-macroglobulin, in their blood plasma, …

Sick Of Deviants: How The Behavioral Immune System May Impact Responses To Violated Norms, Neal G. Pollock

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In order to protect themselves from harmful pathogens, individuals have evolved a behavioral immune system (BIS) that is sensitive to disease cues (Schaller, 2006). At the cultural-level, there are variations in norms based on the prevalence of pathogens within a region (Schaller & Murray, 2008). Previous findings support the notion that the BIS promotes conformity (Murray & Schaller, 2012; Murray, Trudeau, & Schaller, 2011; Gelfand et al., 2011), as this produces an environment that is more protected against harmful pathogens. The current study attempted to provide experimental evidence for increased punishment for norm violations when the BIS was activated. Seventy-six …

Valproic Acid: A Neural Outgrowth Model For The Autism Spectrum Disorder, Hannah M. Bergan

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Autism spectrum disorder has been dramatically on the rise since the early 1990s, with one in forty-five children being diagnosed in 2014. It is known that contributing factors to autism spectrum disorder may have genetic and epigenetic origins, as well as environmental triggers. What is still unclear, however, is the impact of teratogenic drugs, consumed by the mother, have on a developing fetus in utero. How can they lead to the child developing autistic-like behaviors? The current study documents the effects of one teratogenic drug Valproic acid, a known histone deacetylase inhibitor. It establishes the role it plays on developing …

Association Of Various Concentrations Of Cat's Claw Herb (Uncaria Tomentosa) On Lymphocyte Proliferation And Nitric Oxide Expression: An In-Vitro Study Of Osteoarthritis, Noha Fadlalddin

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Uncaria tomentosa, also known as cat’s claw, is an indigenous herb which originates from the Amazon River basin and has proven to be highly effective via case report and limited epidemiological evaluation in the pallative treatment of a number of inflammatory conditions. The herb is particularly preferred on the American market due to its various uses for healing, which provides the impetus for this research. The herb is being used to treat osteoarthritis and claims have been made for its ability to: enhance the repair of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), support joint health and improve immune function, enable normal division of …

Anthropocentrism, The Other Face Of Patriarchy: An Investigation Into Patriarchal Attitudes And Perceptions Of Non-Human Nature, Alexis St. Claire

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Attitudes about gender and ethnicity are a critical dimension for understanding how human behaviors impact the climate. Plumwood (1997) argued that conceptually humans relate to the environment is ideologically connected to the way dominant and oppressed groups interact. Past research has found that exposure to nature decreased negative body image and other mental health issues that are connected to oppressive ideologies (Gidlow et al., 2016; Goldenberg & Soule, 2015; Holloway et al., 2014). The current study explicitly tested the link between patriarchal attitudes and connectedness to nature among a student group. It was found that higher levels of patriarchal attitudes …

Parent-Child Interaction : How It Impacts Language And Literacy Skills, Angie Thurman

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this review is to examine the importance of parent-child interaction in children ages birth through five-years old. The review focuses on how these interactions impact literacy and language skills in young children. Parent interventions and strategies to help children grow in the areas of literacy and language are also highlighted. The conclusion of this review includes recommendations for parents and teachers as well as suggestions for future research.

The Value Of Inquiry-Based Science Instruction For Elementary Students, Jessica Renae Enger

Graduate Research Papers

This review examined the academic benefits of using inquiry-based science instruction in elementary classrooms. It also examined different ways teachers integrate inquiry-based instruction. Several studies identified increases in science content knowledge, concepts, and process skills as outcomes associated with inquiry-based instruction. Other studies in this review showed mixed or negative results for academic benefits of inquiry-instruction. This review also highlights hands-on investigations, discourse, and literacy as three ways teachers integrate inquiry. Findings of this review suggest inquiry-based instruction allows students to understand difficult science concepts, justify their ideas, and can create positive attitudes toward science.

The Effects Of Metolachlor Exposure On The Thp-1 Alveolar Monocyte And Macrophage Function, Jared S. Parmater

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The use of additive chemicals such as pesticides has become commonplace in agricultural practices in the Midwestern United States. Metolachlor, an herbicide used to regulate broadleaf weeds in corn and soybeans, is a widely utilized pesticide in the United States. This herbicide is effective in killing broadleaf weeds but has detrimental effects and consequences in non-target organisms. It is a frequent contaminant of ground water due to post application run-off and the air.

Inhalation constitutes one route of exposure, in addition to ingestion, adding to the list of unintended targets and consequences. This route of exposure creates an argument for …

Formation Of Titan Aerosol From Co And Ch4, Tate Christensen

Honors Program Theses

In 1952 Stanley Miller and Harold Urey conducted an experiment that would simulate the conditions of early earth (Miller, 1953). The purpose was to observe the chemical origins of life, and the conclusion supported an earlier theory that such conditions favor the synthesis of more complex organic compounds from simpler inorganic molecules. The research conducted in Dr. Sebree’s lab is an extension of these early findings. It is believed that early Earth was composed mostly of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and methane as opposed to our atmosphere of nitrogen and oxygen today.

Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, has qualities relatively …

Homo Humanus: An Installation Investigating The Omnipresence Of Self-Documentation, Ashley Elizabeth Jones

Honors Program Theses

Historically, human beings have always been interested in documenting themselves and the world around them. Early humans left hand prints on cave walls, marking their presence for the future; royalty throughout history have commissioned portraits of themselves to leave their immortal mark on the world; Polaroid pictures and letters kept in parents’ closets record the earlier days of their lives. Today, humans document their daily lives digitally through social media platforms like Snapchat and Facebook. Images posted to these sites pervade our lives: they are constant, everywhere, and range from photographs of meals to quick snapshot self-portraits – “selfies” – …

Developmental Immunity Of The Skeletal Elements Of The Weberian Apparatus To The Effects Of Exogenous Estrogen (17-Β Estradiol), A Known Disruptor Of Cartliage Development, Bailey Jordan Wetherell

Honors Program Theses

Proper vertebrate development is controlled by a tightly regulated sequence of gene activation and repression. Exposure to both endogenous (hormones, gene products) and exogenous (environmental chemicals, toxins, etc.) substances during development can have profound effects on morphology by altering growth, cell fate, cell differentiation, and cell migration. Waterways have long been hot-spots for chemical and toxin accumulation, due to runoff and waste dumping. Growing concern is being paid to endocrine disruptors, like estrogen (17β-estradiol), which are found in increasing levels in rivers and streams. Endocrine disruptors are known to cause a varied number of defects in fish species, but the …

Developmental Analysis Of Leea Guineensis (Leeaceae), Sally Gray

Honors Program Theses

Vitaceae is the grape family of flowering plants that is composed of twelve genera of woody plants (Jones et al., 2013). Vitis has been studied extensively for the commercial value of the fruit in the wine and grape production. However, not a lot of research has been done specifically on its basic biology such as leaf development within the family.

Understanding the basic biology of the plant can help with understanding its growth habit and help with improving the overall health of the plant. For example, analyzing flowers and leaves is a good way to draw inferences about developmental similarities …

The Effects Of Hibernation On The Time Of Coagulation Of The American Bullfrog, Rana Catesbeiana, Joshua Samec

Honors Program Theses

Cold conditions during winter months greatly reduce heart rate in ectothermic animals, such as bullfrogs, resulting in slow, intermittent blood flow. Slow or intermittent flow of blood often results in coagulation, yet the blood of these ectotherms fails to coagulate. In this study, the effects of the stages of hibernation from the onset of temperature decline, through the duration of constant low temperature exposure, was studied by observing the time of blood coagulation of American bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) using activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). It was found that the time of coagulation increased incrementally along with the decreasing …

Three- And Four-Year Olds Learn About Gears Through Arts Incorporation, Dessy Stoycheva, Leann M. Perkins

Journal of STEM Arts, Crafts, and Constructions

This research paper explores art integration into a science lesson unit that follows the Next Generation Science Standards (K-PS2-1) and focuses on the effects on memory retention of key concepts along with levels of enjoyment. An experiment was conducted with children ages 3 and 4 teaching scientific concepts about gears while incorporating student-made art products. The children were assigned to alternating experimental (art-integrated) or control (no art) conditions during the four stages of the lesson. The results did not show statistically significant differences at the alpha = 0.05 level between conditions in the amount of information retained based on the …

Fourth Graders Make Inventions Using Scamper And Animal Adaptation Ideas, Mahjabeen Hussain, Anastasia Carignan

Journal of STEM Arts, Crafts, and Constructions

This study explores to what extent the SCAMPER (Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, and Rearrange) technique combined with animal adaptation ideas learned through form and function analogy activities can help fourth graders generate creative ideas while augmenting their inventiveness. The sample consisted of 24 fourth grade students (14 female, 10 male) ages 9-10 at a suburban Midwestern elementary school. A repeated-measures design involving all participants alternately in the two conditions measured students under each treatment condition. In the experimental condition, students used SCAMPER charts with animal adaptation ideas to generate ideas to improve a product using …

Spatial Thinking Skills And Stem Connections: How Does This Issue Address Them?, Audrey C. Rule

Journal of STEM Arts, Crafts, and Constructions

In this editorial, the Editor considered the importance of spatial thinking skills to STEM careers, provided examples of ways scientists use spatial thinking, noted sex and socioeconomic differences in spatial skill proficiency, and reviewed ways that activities included in articles in this issue involved spatial thinking. Brief summaries and preview images were provided for the articles in the issue. The four-component spatial thinking classification scheme with categories of intrinsic-static, intrinsic-dynamic, extrinsic-static and extrinsic dynamic was applied to the activities from this issue of the Journal of STEM Arts, Crafts, and Constructions. All categories of this classification scheme were addressed, providing …

Effect Of Disorder On The Magnetic And Electronic Structure Of A Prospective Spin-Gapless Semiconductor Mncrval, P. Kharel, J. Herran, Pavel Lukashev, Y. Jin, J. Waybright, S. Gilbert, B, Staten, P. Gray, S. Valloppilly, Y. Huh, D. J. Sellmyer

Faculty Work

Recent discovery of a new class of materials, spin-gapless semiconductors (SGS), has attracted considerable attention in the last few years, primarily due to potential applications in the emerging field of spin-based electronics (spintronics). Here, we investigate structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of one potential SGS compound, MnCrVAl, using various experimental and theoretical techniques. Our calculations show that this material exhibits ≈ 0.5 eV band gap for the majority-spin states, while for the minority-spin it is nearly gapless. The calculated magnetic moment for the completely ordered structure is 2.9 µ_B/f.u., which is different from our experimentally measured value of …

Fall Commencement [Program], December 17, 2016, 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, V15n3, November/December 2016, University Of Northern Iowa. Graduate College.

UNI Grad Student News

Inside this Issue:

--Message From the Dean
--Spotlight Profiles: Faculty: Dr. Roberto Swazo, Student: Liudmyla Grygorchuk, Alumni: Michael Vogt
--Altrusa Scholarship Award Recipients: Aubrey Davis, Hailey Hatch, Bobbi Metcalf
--Clothesline Project
--2016 John R. Milton Writer's Conference
--Important Dates for Spring
--NASPA Conference
--Cedar Valley's Free Little Pantries
--Resume Writing Workshop
--Youth Academy Cafe

Productivity And Resistance To Weed Invasion In Four Prairie Biomass Feedstocks With Different Diversity, Jessica E. Abernathy, Dustin R. J. Graham, Mark E. Sherrard, Daryl D. Smith

Tallgrass Prairie Publications and Reports

High-diversity mixtures of native tallgrass prairie vegetation should be effective biomass feedstocks because of their high productivity and low input requirements. These diverse mixtures should also enhance several of the ecosystem services provided by the traditional monoculture feedstocks used for bioenergy. In this study, we compared biomass production, year-to-year variation in biomass production, and resistance to weed invasion in four prairie biomass feedstocks with different diversity: one species – a switchgrass monoculture; five species – a mix of C4 grasses; 16 species – a mix of grasses, forbs, and legumes; and 32 species – a mix of grasses, forbs, legumes, …

The Update, November-December 2016, University Of Northern Iowa. College Of Humanities, Arts And Sciences.

Update

Inside This Issue:
--CHAS Briefs
--Spotlight--Alumni Derek Miller
--Spotlight--Faculty Sade Barfield
--Women's and Gender Studies Clothesline Project
--Computer Science Sara Diesburg
--Featured Story--Heather Hamilton
--Spotlight--Alumni Amanda Chan
--Spotlight--Alumni Kelly Bahl
--Calendar of Events

Stem Stories, October 2016, #4, Ryan Lockard

STEM Stories

Faculty Profile - Ali Tabei

Shadow Puppet Plays In Elementary Science Methods Class Help Preservice Teachers Learn About Minority Scientists, Phyllis Gray, Audrey C. Rule, Anneliese Gentzsch, Denise Tallakson

Journal of STEM Arts, Crafts, and Constructions

This practical article describes an arts-integrated project with engineering design and science concepts from the Next Generation Science Standards, art principles from the National Arts Standards, as well as ideas under the theme of “Culture” from the National Council for the Social Studies Standards. Preservice teachers in an undergraduate science methods class researched the background, life, and accomplishments of a minority scientist by reading books and articles about the person. They created a script to present the experiences and contributions of the scientist to other preservice teachers and, eventually, elementary students. Shadow puppets were constructed out of cardboard to portray …

Preschoolers Explore Greenhouses By Visiting A Greenhouse, Making A Model, And Growing Plants, Leann M. Perkins, Dessy Stoycheva

Journal of STEM Arts, Crafts, and Constructions

This practical lesson on greenhouses implements standards of the Next Generation Science Standards (K-2 ETS I-2; K-LS1-1) and the preschool objectives from the Teaching Strategies GOLD. Teaching Strategies GOLD is an assessment tool available online and in print that can be used with any developmentally appropriate early childhood curriculum. The lesson structure follows the 5E’s Learning Cycle Constructivist Model for teaching and the project-based, hands-on approach to learning. The preschool-aged children went on a field trip to a working greenhouse and then collaborated in groups to produce a three-dimensional model of a greenhouse as arts integration into this science project. …

Editorial: Welcome To The Journal Of Stem Arts, Crafts, And Constructions, Audrey C. Rule

Journal of STEM Arts, Crafts, and Constructions

The Journal of STEM Arts, Crafts, and Constructions is a scholarly journal that seeks to engage professionals, including preK-12 teachers, in a conversation about the benefits of arts integration; the ways that the STEM subjects can be integrated with the arts to produce effective teaching (STEAM Education); and how the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), can be effectively implemented with integrated arts, crafts, or constructions. Manuscripts, including guest editorials, are blind peer-reviewed by usually two reviewers and an associate editor or by three reviewers. This editorial explains the Journal’s origin in a faculty professional learning community. The Journal has a …

Minutes Of Graduate College Committee On Curricula, October 4, 2016, University Of Northern Iowa. Graduate College Curriculum Committee.

Minutes - Graduate Curriculum Committee

Minutes of the committee that oversees the development of the curriculum of the University of Northern Iowa Graduate College.

Uni Grad Student News, V15n2, October 2016, University Of Northern Iowa. Graduate College.

UNI Grad Student News

Inside this issue:

-- Message from the Dean
-- Current Staff Profile: Jennifer Becker
-- Current Student Profile: Elizabeth Kosmiski
-- Alumni Profile: Ken Smith
-- UNI Museum at the Rod LIbrary
-- Graduate Student Social Mixer Recap
--UNI Grad Chat
-- Thinking about Graduate School (TAGS) Recap
-- Professional Development Workshop: Information Literacy Recap
-- Personal Statement Workshop Recap
-- 10th Annual Graduate Student Symposium: Building Graduate Community
-- Graduate College Staff and Contact Information

Tallgrass Prairie Center News, Autumn 2016, University Of Northern Iowa. Tallgrass Prairie Center.

Tallgrass Prairie Center Newsletter

Inside This Issue:

--Prairie: the Ultimate Sandbag
--Maximizing Monarchs and Dollars: What Kind of Seed Mix is Best?
--The Native 'Plant Materials Gap'
--Prairie on Farms: Prairie strips planted on a farm in Black Hawk County
--What County Engineers and Roadside Vegetation Managers Think About Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management
--UNI Conservation Corps Community Rain Gardens Project
--New Center Staff Profile
--Save the Date!