Digital Commons Network^™

A Literature Review Of Adoptive Cell Therapy (Act) In Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (Nsclc) With Emphasis On Chimeric Antigen Receptor (Car) T Cell And Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocyte (Til) Therapies, Brianna Wickham

Honors Program Theses

Non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for the majority of lung cancer diagnoses and remains a leading cause of cancer‑related mortality despite advances in surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and immune checkpoint inhibitors. While immunotherapy has improved outcomes for some patients, many develop treatment resistance or experience significant toxicity, highlighting the need for alternative therapeutic strategies. Adoptive cell therapy (ACT), which involves the infusion of autologous immune cells expanded or engineered ex vivo, has demonstrated substantial success in hematologic malignancies and is now being investigated for use in solid tumors such as NSCLC. This literature review examines the current state of ACT …

Music Education In My Band Room: A Personal Philosophy Statement, Dorothy Roorda

Honors Program Theses

I want to be the best band director I can be. As a pre-service music educator, I have received countless hours of instruction in content knowledge. At the end of the degree program, music education majors are certified to teach K-12 music of any kind. To receive that certification, we take dozens of classes in our content area. We are taught how to teach every band instrument, how to lead choirs, jazz bands, and marching bands, how to conduct and how to sing, how to play our primary instrument and many others. We spend hours in practice rooms, honing our …

Growth And Sustainability Of Ash Tree Replacements In Twin Lakes, Iowa, Emma Larsen

Honors Program Theses

The significant loss of mature ash trees at Twin Lakes Bible Camp (TLBC) has motivated efforts to restore green spaces by planting replacement trees. In summer 2024, 32 trees representing eight unique species were planted, and their overall health and site suitability were evaluated to inform future replanting efforts in summer 2025. The five soil series present at TLBC (Canisteo, Clarion, Webster, Okoboki, and Nicollet) were evaluated by soil chemistry testing through x-ray fluorescence spectrometry. This study presents site-specific data of tree growth measurements, visual health assessments, and soil compatibility analyses to identify practical recommendations for improving restoration success. The …

Using Simulations And Machine Learning To Improve Routing Algorithms In Wireless Sensor Networks, Luke Abels

Honors Program Theses

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are widely used in fields such as environmental monitoring, smart agriculture, disaster response, and other applications where low-power devices must communicate reliably over time. Because these networks operate under limited energy and communication constraints, routing and broadcast strategies strongly influence performance, scalability, and network lifetime. This thesis examines how simulation and machine learning can be used to study interference-aware broadcasting in WSNs. The project first evaluates the usefulness of existing network simulation tools, including ns-3, and then describes the development of a custom Python simulator designed for rapid experimentation with broadcast behavior, mobility, and signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio …

Characterizing Glacial Sediments From The Cincinnati, Ohio Area By Analyzing Grain Size Distribution And Elemental Composition, Laura Comstock

Honors Program Theses

Reconstructing the history of ice sheet dynamics is essential for understanding how past climate change has shaped modern landscapes. The Laurentide Ice Sheet advanced and retreated multiple times over North America during the Pleistocene Epoch. Although there is widespread sedimentary evidence for the most recent glacial episode, much of the evidence of older glaciations has been overwritten by more recent glacial advances. This study focuses on Paddison Run, an exposed Pleistocene sequence near Cincinnati, Ohio, that has previously been interpreted as Illinoian in age. Five distinct units were identified within the exposure, based on centimeter logging of this section, high-resolution …

The Times They Are A-Changin’: How Bob Dylan’S Music Helped To Change An Era, Emily Newby

Honors Program Theses

No abstract provided.

Aging Across Cultures: How Cultural Attitudes Shape Senior Care In Japan And The United States, Ella Jane Gunn

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of this study is to examine how cultural perceptions of aging influence the structure and delivery of care for older adults in Japan and the United States. By comparing cultural attitudes, this study identifies implications for senior care in each country. While cross-cultural studies comparing senior care systems already exist, many lack the cultural context that shapes expectations about aging and care. This work focuses on this distinction. Ten individuals ranging in age from 21 to 83 participated in interviews about their perceptions of aging: five with an American background and five with a Japanese background. The interviews …

The Role Of Parent Involvement In Enhancing Pediatric Speech And Language Therapy, Katie Lynch

Honors Program Theses

As speech-language pathologists, we provide speech and language therapy for children in a variety of settings. It is crucial that we include a client’s family in therapy because family involvement has been shown to promote generalization of skills learned in therapy to a child’s typical environment. Despite this, various barriers exist for families as they aim to support their child’s speech and language goals. This literature review examines how speech-language pathologists can gain an understanding of these barriers and how they can promote family involvement in pediatric speech and language therapy.

Front Matter - Table Of Contents - Preface

Iowa Journal of Communication

No abstract provided.

Mass Media Refugee Discourse In Bangladesh: A Case Of Rohingya In Post-Us Funding Reduction, Priyanka Kundu, Hasib Shah Aman

Iowa Journal of Communication

The Rohingya are a Muslim minority community from Myanmar’s Rakhine State and are recognized as one of the most persecuted communities in the world. In the recent past, in August 2017, the Myanmar military launched an attack on the Rohingya, which led over 700,000 people to flee to Bangladesh. Since then, over one million Rohingya refugees have been living in Bangladesh. To help this population, international aid, especially from the US, plays an important role. According to the UN, of the total $852.4 million requirement for 2024, the US provided $301 million. However, the US administration’s decision to suspend or …

"Donald Trump Is Definitely Fucking Satan": South Park, Media Satire, And Shifting Frames Of Acceptance And Rejection For Two Trump Presidencies, Matt Foy

Iowa Journal of Communication

In light of evolving questions of the role and efficacy of political humor in addressing the exigency of a second Donald Trump presidency, this study analyzes two extended satirical story arcs critical of Trump and MAGA from award-winning adult animated comedy South Park. The study utilizes three of Kenneth Burke’s rhetorical frames of acceptance and rejection (comedy, tragedy, and burlesque) to contrast South Park’s two most substantive satirical statements on Trump and MAGA: Season 19 and 20’s comparatively humane and introspective satire on Trump’s 2015-16 candidacy and Season 27-28’s dehumanizing mockery of Trump’s ongoing second presidency (2025-). The analysis suggests …

"That's Just Not Who I Am": Rejection Of The Good Mother Ideology And Other Tools Used By Homeschool Moms To Navigate Motherhood, Gina S. Reynolds

Iowa Journal of Communication

Studying mothers often focuses on the mother-child dynamic rather than the mother as a person. Mother types, such as working mothers, often are singled out for study. One mother that is rarely considered is the homeschool mother. In homeschooling, the mother typically takes the active role in educating the children, and she receives little attention as a person (Lois, 2016). This study examines how these mother/teachers navigate their motherhood. Nine online discussions with 26 homeschooling mothers revealed strong connections to self-efficacy and agency. Agency and self-efficacy contributed to the mother’s ability to navigate and manage the tension between her needs …

State Communication Associations As Local Advocacy Hubs: Reimagining Digital Presence In Service To Educators, Students, And Professionals, Russell D. Jones

Iowa Journal of Communication

This essay examines how the public-facing presence of state communication associations, particularly their websites and social media accounts, shapes whether communication instructors and professionals perceive these organizations as relevant to their work. Drawing on a focused review of several state association websites and social media profiles, along with scholarship on professional associations, contingent faculty, K–12 professional learning, and nonprofit digital strategy, the essay identifies recurring patterns: visually dated sites, sparse or inward-facing information, and limited attention to K–12 teachers, contingent faculty, students, and practitioners. Rather than treating these features as evidence of apathy, the analysis situates them within the structural …

Reproducing Audiovisual And Representational Dissonance: Translating Foreign Telenovela Into Twinovela, Nancy A. Frimpong

Iowa Journal of Communication

This article examines the production processes and cultural implications of adapting foreign telenovelas into "Twinovela"— serialized foreign dramas dubbed into Akan—on Ghanaian television. Focusing on Adom TV and United Television (UTV), the study explores how dubbing practices challenge traditional notions of indigenous media by merging global and local cultural narratives. Using ethnographic research methods, including interviews, participant observation, and institutional discourses, the analysis delves into recruitment strategies, translational practices, and the creative process of dubbing. The study highlights the sociocultural dynamics of Akan language use, the role of linguistic norms, and the integration of Ghanaian cultural motifs to ensure audience …

Amplifying African Immigrant Women's Voices: Self-Advocacy And Competency In Maternal Healthcare Communication In The United States, Sahar Khamis, Faith Otchere, Delight Agboada

Iowa Journal of Communication

This qualitative study examines African immigrant women’s access to maternal health information (MHI), resources, and services in the United States (U.S.), the barriers and challenges they encounter when accessing and utilizing these resources, and strategies for overcoming these challenges. The study explored how African immigrant women access and share MHI, the degree of agency they exhibit in accessing maternal care, and how their participation in the study’s focus group discussions (FGDs) shaped their perceived competence and advocacy regarding maternal healthcare in the United States. Fourteen African women currently living in the United States participated in FGDs. Through these FGDs, the …

Understanding Dementia Challenges In Rural Ghana: A Systematic Review, Diana Maame Agyeiwaa Agyei, Sesi Sedegah, Abena Abokoma Asemanyi, Theresa Ayertey, Wendy Yeboah

Iowa Journal of Communication

Dementia poses an escalating public health challenge in Ghana due to an expanding aging population, yet rural awareness remains critically low. Guided by Mohan Dutta’s Culture-Centered Approach (CCA), this PRISMA-compliant qualitative systematic review synthesized ten peer-reviewed articles to examine cultural perceptions and lived experiences surrounding dementia in rural Ghana. The findings highlight that cognitive decline is widely misattributed to witchcraft or normalized as standard aging. Witchcraft misconceptions subject individuals—especially older women—to severe stigmatization, social exclusion, physical abuse, and banishment to "witch camps". Meanwhile, normalizing symptoms as ordinary aging delays critical medical care and shifts family decision-making away from patients. Furthermore, …

Close Enough To Know, Organized Enough To Respond: State Associations As First-Response Advocacy Networks, Jordan Atkinson

Iowa Journal of Communication

This essay argues that state communication associations are uniquely positioned to serve as first-response advocacy networks for the communication discipline. In a higher education climate shaped by declining public trust, program cuts, academic freedom concerns, enrollment pressures, and contingent labor, state associations can provide local forms of connection, support, and advocacy that complement the work of regional and national associations. Drawing attention to their proximity, relationships, and responsiveness, this essay considers how these associations can help members recognize emerging threats, share resources, coordinate responses, and communicate the public value of communication education. It also argues that effective advocacy requires more …

Dynamic Social Impact Theory And The Consolidation And Dispersal Of Clusters In Squid Game: The Challenge, Adrienne Darrah, Robert J. Darrah

Iowa Journal of Communication

This study utilizes a dynamic social impact theory (DSIT) framework to analyze human influence on the popular Netflix television series Squid Game: The Challenge. A British reality competition, Squid Game: The Challenge is comprised of ten-episodes and features 456 contestants vying for $4.56 million. As contestants self-organize into social alliances, their shared attitudes, beliefs, and values transform the physical space into a dynamic social space. The creation of clusters through these alliances, the correlation between contestant attitudes and behaviors, and the consolidation of contestant attitudes and behaviors reflective of alliance needs is reinforced by the physical proximity of contestants, the …

Are Iowa Pk-12 Schools Prepared For A School Shooting? A Needs Assessment Of Iowa Superintendents, Kurt Mj Devore

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

As school shootings remain a persistent threat to PK-12 education, this quantitative survey study examines the preparedness levels and beliefs of 75 out of 277 Iowa superintendents regarding active shooter events. In the wake of the 2024 tragedy in Perry, Iowa, results indicate a near-universal recognition of risk (97.3%), prompting a shift toward "muscle memory" training and the adoption of the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) to ensure a common language during a crisis. The data reveals a significant move away from high-intensity simulations in favor of trauma-informed tabletop exercises, alongside a definitive rejection of arming educators (0%) due to insurance …

Clinical And Community-Based Recovery Models: The Focus On How They Can Be Better Together, Alicia Wilder

Graduate Research Papers

Two of the main pathways for individuals to access recovery services are clinical and community-based. The clinical model focuses on medical stabilization and treatment, followed by community-based care that provides peer-driven support and sustainability through connection. The purpose is to examine how recovery models aim to support those in recovery and pinpoint the ways they can integrate medical and social systems to meet client needs. Comparing the two will allow us to understand how each model supports sustained recovery and overall well-being. The question that will be researched in this study is: How do acute clinical treatment and community- based …

Sight Or Sound?: A Review Of The Literature, Benjamin Chavers

Graduate Research Papers

This literature review examines the longstanding pedagogical debate between rote (aural) and note (notation-based) approaches to music learning, exploring their respective impacts on student performance, retention, and overall musicianship across diverse educational contexts. Drawing on historical, cultural, and empirical research, the study synthesizes findings from non-traditional settings (including culturally transmitted music practices and music education for visually impaired learners), instrumental and vocal classrooms, and general music environments. The literature reveals that rote learning, deeply rooted in global musical traditions and early American pedagogy, supports rapid skill acquisition, audiation, and expressive performance, particularly among beginning and younger learners. Conversely, note-based instruction …

“En La Clase, Sí. En Estados Unidos, No.”: La Motivación, La Pertenencia Y El Intercambio De Recursos En Clases Para Adultos Aprendices De Inglés, Katie Hunter

Graduate Research Papers

En los Estados Unidos, los programas de educación para adultos pueden abrir la puerta a varias oportunidades para estudiantes con trasfondos académicos no tradicionales. Los programas como la educación básica para adultos, la equivalencia de escuela secundaria, la preparación profesional y técnica y, lo más importante para los propósitos de este estudio, la educación para adultos aprendices de inglés, promueven el progreso profesional y apoyan a los estudiantes a identificar y trabajar para alcanzar sus metas personales. Sin embargo, en este contexto educativo es de suma importancia reconocer el conocimiento arraigado en la experiencia vivida que los estudiantes traen al …

Welcome From The Editor, Joshua E. Young

Iowa Journal of Communication

No abstract provided.

Editors Forum: A Call For Collaboration Among Professionals: Opening Dialogues About Our Professional Organizations, Joshua E. Young

Iowa Journal of Communication

No abstract provided.

Sexual And Bystander Harassment Among Part-Time Employees: Effects On Work Attitudes, Stress, And Withdrawal, Robert T. Hitlan

Faculty Publications

This study investigated the impact of sexual and bystander harassment experiences on work attitudes, stress, withdrawal, and psychological well-being of part-time employees. Participants included 314 female employees who worked part-time in their organizations. All participants completed a computer-administered workplace experience survey assessing various aspects of their work environment, including personal and bystander harassment experiences, work-related attitudes (supervisor satisfaction, coworker satisfaction, and general job stress), work behaviors (work and job withdrawal), and psychological well-being. Experiences of sexual harassment and bystander harassment were predicted to be negatively related to satisfaction and psychological health and positively related to stress and withdrawal. Both forms …

Commencement [Program], December 20, 2025, University Of Northern Iowa

UNI Commencement Programs

Contents:

University Organization --- 2
Ceremony Symbols & Traditions --- 3
University Honors Program --- 4
Graduation with Honors --- 4
Legacy Graduates --- 4
Order of Events --- 5
College of Education --- 6
College of Humanities, Arts & Sciences --- 12
College of Social & Behavioral Sciences --- 19
David W. Wilson College of Business --- 26
Division of Online Education & Individual Studies --- 31
UNI Alma Mater --- 34

Ica Newsletter, Fall 2025, Iowa Communication Association

ICA Newsletter

Contents:

--- A Word from the President
--- Much thanks to all who attended in Cedar Falls
--- Westphal Paper Winner: Gift Olalusi
--- Outstanding Adjunct Winner: Ruth Ann Gaines
--- Citation Award Winner: Dr. Joy Daggs
--- Lunch Keynote: Cassi Price
--- Additional conference photos
--- ICA at NCA
--- Congrats to our ICA members who presented at NCA
--- Iowa Journal of Communication Call for Submissions: Volume 58
--- Follow ICA online

Correction: Changes In Aggressive Behaviors Over Time In Children With Adverse Childhood Experiences: Focusing On The Role Of School Connectedness, Sei Young Lee, Mijin Choi

Faculty Publications

In the original publication (Lee and Choi 2025), Zhang and Mersky (2022) was not cited. The citation has now been inserted in 5.2. Measures, 5.2.1. Adverse Childhood Experiences, Paragraph Three and should read: Parental substance use questions concerned whether mothers or fathers reported having four or more drinks and any of five types of drugs (e.g., cocaine and heroin) or misuse of prescription drugs (e.g., sedatives and tranquilizers) in the past 12 months. Parental incarceration was measured by whether the mother, father, or mother’s current partner had spent any time in prison or jail. Sample questions of parental domestic violence …

Introduction To The Special Issue, “Forgiveness Education Around The World: Considerations, Benefits, And Approaches”, Suzanne Freedman

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Uni Scholarworks Readership Snapshot, October 2025, Bepress

Library Documents & Reports (entire collection)

No abstract provided.