Digital Commons Network^™

Building Countably Many Disjoint Stat Sets In Ω1, Jordan Mills

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

The first uncountable ordinal is ω₁. Here, we will describe the process for partitioning ω1 into countably many disjoint stationary (stat) sets. We first partition ω₁ into 2 disjoint stat sets, and then describe the process for continuing to partition ω₁ into infinitely many disjoint stat sets.

Measurement And Analysis Of Nitrogen Dioxide And Particulate Matter In Iowa, Kevin Du, Regan Mays, Ben Lynch

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

This study investigates air quality in Iowa by combining 20 years of satellite-based nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) data with real-world measurements of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5). Using NASA’s Giovanni system, we compared annual average NO₂ maps from 2005 and 2024 and analyzed trends over two decades. Results show a clear decline in NO₂, especially in urban areas, likely due to cleaner technologies and regulations. In parallel, PM_2.5 was measured using a MiniVol TAS Sampler and a portable Temtop air monitor. The highest PM_2.5 level (151μg/m³) was recorded while driving on a gravel road near a crop field, …

Magnetic Coercivity And Exchange Bias Of Mn2ptin Heusler Alloy, Salar A. Ghumman, Paul M. Shand, Pavel V. Lukashev, Mason Pulse, Alec Venner, Parashu Kharel

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

We investigated the resistance properties of thin film gold deposited on a 3D-printed cantilever using a sputter coater. We used current-voltage (IV) curves to measure the resistance of the film as a function of thickness. The results exhibited classic behavior in thicker films and quantum behavior in thinner films. Additionally, we analyzed the change in resistance as the cantilever was flexed. A linear relationship was found between the resistance of the gold film and the displacement of the cantilever. Only the 8 nm film deviated from the trend, showing erratic behavior when bent downward.

Computational And Experimental Study Of Nearly Half-Metallic V2coga, Caden Sadler, Parashu Kharel, Cole Brown, Mohd Anas, Paul M. Shand, Pavel V. Lukashev

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

• Spin degree of freedom in electronic devices.
• Ideal candidate – room temperature half-metal.
• Heusler compounds attractive because of high Curie temperature.
• Various mechanisms altering spin polarization – mechanical strain, structural disorder, temperature, termination surface/interface, etc.
• V₂CoGa – nearly half-metallic material.

Tooth Brushing Pressure Detection Using Only A Smartwatch, William Spielbauer, Dheryta Jaisinghani

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

• Roughly half (46%) of American adults aged 30 or older show signs of gum disease.^₁
• Improper tooth-brushing technique – in particular, excessive pressure when brushing – can cause inflammation and recession of the gums due to abrasion (gingivitis).^₂
• While there are ways to track and prevent excessive pressure (smart brushes have this feature built in), these are expensive solutions that require specialized equipment.

Eclipse, Nebraska: An Astronomical Event In Middle America, Maxwell Crees

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

I used documents and interviews to determine how the name, belonging to the once-populated town of Eclipse, Nebraska, originated. I concluded that it was the result of a real, astronomical event.

Tooth Brushing Technique Detection With Deep Learning On The Edge, Anthony Teal, Dheryta Jaisinghani

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

Non-communicable gum disease affects about 42%_[4] of adults aged 30 years and older. Developing a robust model to detect brushing techniques on a smartwatch can help reinforce good brushing habits and prevent gum disease.

The likelihood of someone owning a smart watch compared to a smart toothbrush is staggering. There were around 66,051_^[3] smart toothbrushes sold in 2022, with smartwatches shipping about 150,000,000_[2] units. It is important to have an alternative on a smartwatch, because it will reach far more users.

Data privacy has become a large issue worldwide. With a pre-trained model that is systematically fine-tuned …

Developing A Dna Extraction Method For Mineral Abundant Limestone Cave Samples, Treytun Garcia, Marek Sliwinski

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

Caves offer a unique environment to study microbial life that survives under extreme nutrient limitation. To this extent, 16s metabarcoding serves as a sort of “DNA fingerprint” that allows us to identify and study the microbial composition of these environments, but there are hurdles that must be overcome to obtain enough DNA for effective and reliable 16s sequencing. It is important to maximize the amount of DNA that can be extracted from the Wind Cave samples because it is an extremely low biomass environment and sufficient DNA for sequencing can be hard to get. Wind Cave National Park serves as …

Effects Of Resistivity Based On Thin Film Gold Depositions, Emrah Ahmetasevic, Bryan Crow, Ty Porter, Audrey Hager, Andrew Stollenwerk

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

We investigated the resistance properties of thin film gold deposited on a 3D-printed cantilever using a sputter coater. We used current-voltage (IV) curves to measure the resistance of the film as a function of thickness. The results exhibited classic behavior in thicker films and quantum behavior in thinner films. Additionally, we analyzed the change in resistance as the cantilever was flexed. A linear relationship was found between the resistance of the gold film and the displacement of the cantilever. Only the 8 nm film deviated from the trend, showing erratic behavior when bent downward.

Tracking The Ice Age: Applying Facies Changes And Grain Size Variability To Trace Environmental Shifts Linked To The Laurentide Ice Sheet, Abigail Mandick, Laura Comstock, Alexa Clements, Dylan Ward

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

Reconstructing past ice sheet margins is critical for modeling future environmental change under a warming climate. The Laurentide Ice Sheet (LIS) was a large glacier that covered much of North America during the Pleistocene Epoch (2,580-11.7 thousand years ago) (Head, 2019). Process associated with advances and retreat of the ice are responsible for many modern landforms. Here, we present a detailed stratigraphic column and measured section of the Paddison Run outcrop near Cincinnati, based on field observations and measurements. By reviewing sedimentary characteristics, we provide a detailed record of environmental changes linked to the ice sheet margin. High resolution records, …

2025 Summer Undergraduate Research Program, 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.

Notes For The Stalled, V18n01, August/September 2025, University Of Northern Iowa. Rod Library.

Rod Library newsletter: Notes for the Stalled

Contents:

--- Welcome to the Rod
--- You Belong @ Rod
--- TEACH Studio in Schindler
--- Career Readiness

Uni Scholarworks Readership Snapshot, July 2025, Bepress

Library Documents & Reports (entire collection)

No abstract provided.

Uni Impact: Faculty/Staff Scholarly Publications And Featured Awards Newsletter, V3i2, 2024, Rod Library. Research & Sponsored Programs. Uni Foundation. University Of Northern Iowa.

UNI Impact: Faculty/Staff Scholarly Publications and Featured Awards Newsletter

Highlights the scholarship, research, and other scholarly work produced by University of Northern Iowa faculty, students, and staff.

This issue covers the period of July - December 2024.

International Engagement Newsletter, August 2025, University Of Northern Iowa. Office Of International Engagement.

Office of International Engagement newsletter

Contents:

--- Goodbye August, Hello UNI
--- Fall 2025 International Student Orientation
--- September Activities
--- Additional Opportunities

2025 Annual Report Of The Nominating Committee, 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.

Iowa Waste Reduction Center Newsletter, August 2025, University Of Northern Iowa. Iowa Waste Reduction Center.

Iowa Waste Reduction Center Newsletter

Contents:

--- Announcing the IWRC’s Painter Training Team
--- Are On-Site Visits the Answer to Easing the Stress Environmental Compliance?
--- Wrap Up: The Rural Compost Operations and Compost Use Training Project
--- ICAW 2026 Poster Contest
--- Partner Events
--- Industrial News

Elements Of Creative Writing, Second Edition, 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 (NAR), 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. This 2nd edition includes several new topics and some new pieces from the NAR. Because we had a hand in publishing these pieces originally, our perspective as editors permeates this book. As …

Insights From The Front Line: Uplifting Stories Of The Covid-19 Pandemic Through The Eyes Of The Public Health Workforce In Iowa, Heidi Haines, Amanda Sursely, Hanh Pham, Rylee Beltran, Daniel K. Sewell, Lina Tucker Reinders, Natoshia Askelson, Sarah Dixon, Kaitlin Emrich, Christine Estle, Michelle Lewis, Jimmy Reyes

Faculty Publications

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 was declared a pandemic in March 2020. Studies have characterized some of the negative impact of the pandemic on public health workers (PHW), but few have explored the strength and coping strategies used. Our study documents the experiences of PHW in Iowa during the pandemic. Methods: We used an innovative mixed methods data collection tool, SenseMaker^® to gather stories from PHW in Iowa between March and July 2022. Participants provided additional data about their story via structured follow-up questions. We conducted descriptive analyses of the quantitative questions. A qualitative thematic and sentiment analysis was applied to all …

Creatine Monohydrate Supplementation For Older Adults And Clinical Populations, Darren G. Candow, Sergej M. Ostojic, Philip D. Chilibeck, Igor Longobardi, Bruno Gualano, Mark A. Tarnopolsky, Theo Wallimann, Terence Moriarty, Richard B. Kreider, Scott C. Forbes, Uwe Schlattner, Jose Antonio

Faculty Publications

Background: The biological process of aging is typically associated with a decrease in muscle quantity, muscle performance (primarily strength), bone mass and architecture, functionality and neurological/cognitive function. From a healthy aging perspective, interventions that have the potential to overcome or attenuate these decrements are clinically relevant.

Methods: We conducted a narrative review on the efficacy of creatine monohydrate supplementation (CrM) in older adults. Results: Accumulating research shows that CrM, primarily when combined with exercise training, is safe and has beneficial effects on measures of whole-body lean body mass, regional muscle size, muscle strength, bone area and thickness, functional ability, glucose …

‘They Say There’S More Equality…’: Women’S Perspectives On Progress And Setbacks In Gender Equality In Northern Iceland During Times Of Crisis, Marya Rozanova-Smith, Embla Eir Oddsdóttir, Andrey N. Petrov

Faculty Publications

Enabling gender equality through the empowerment of women to fully participate in modern society is one of the most critical steps toward sustainable development. However, recent UN reports indicate that the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have jeopardized the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 5 by 2030 in many countries worldwide, including Iceland, which has consistently been ranked as a global leader in gender equality. The main objective of this qualitative study is to examine the gendered impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic by exploring women’s lived experiences during the crisis and its aftermath across the primary domains of gender equality—personal …

The Economic Effects Of Deportation On The U.S. Labor Market, Abigayle Lantz

Proceedings of the Jepson Undergraduate Conference on International Economics

The potential economic consequences of mass deportation policies on the U.S. economy, specifically those reliant on immigrant labor, are examined. Evidence from economic models and various studies reveals that mass deportation would result in significant disruptions, including labor shortages, decreased productivity, and higher costs for firms and people. Contrary to claims that native-born workers would benefit from increased job opportunities and higher wages, the evidence shows that mass deportation would harm native workers. Historical precedents, such as the Secure Communities initiative indicate that deportation efforts in the past have led to detrimental economic outcomes and disproportionately affected native workers. Additionally, …

Health Insurance Benefits As A Tool For Employee Attraction And Retention: Evidence From The Nursing Industry, J. T. Garcia

Proceedings of the Jepson Undergraduate Conference on International Economics

This paper explores the critical role of employer-provided health insurance in employee recruitment and retention, focusing on the nursing industry in Iowa. As labor markets grow increasingly competitive, especially in industries such as healthcare, non-wage benefits like health insurance can be an important factor influencing job choice and employee loyalty. This paper connects labor economic theory with employment data from Iowa nursing homes, to demonstrate that health insurance can significantly enhance employee satisfaction and reduce turnover and can do so more effectively than wage increases alone. The paper argues that in professions especially with high demand, such as nursing, investment …

Uni Scholarworks Readership Snapshot, June 2025, Bepress

Library Documents & Reports (entire collection)

No abstract provided.

Iowa Waste Reduction Center Newsletter, July 2025, University Of Northern Iowa. Iowa Waste Reduction Center.

Iowa Waste Reduction Center Newsletter

Contents:

--- 150th Anniversary & Homecoming Kickoff
--- SQG re-notification requirement
--- Introducing the Food, Beverage & Organics Team
--- A Historic First in Corrosion Control
--- Important Reminders
--- Industry News

Uni Impact: Faculty/Staff Scholarly Publications And Featured Awards Newsletter, V3i1, 2024, Rod Library. Research & Sponsored Programs. Uni Foundation. University Of Northern Iowa.

UNI Impact: Faculty/Staff Scholarly Publications and Featured Awards Newsletter

Highlights the scholarship, research, and other scholarly work produced by University of Northern Iowa faculty, students, and staff.

This issue covers the period of January - June 2024.

Uni Schedule Of Classes: Policies And Procedures, Summer 2025, 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.

2025-2026 Global Feedback Report: Uni Scholarworks, University Of Northern Iowa, Rod Library

Library Documents & Reports (entire collection)

This library report was prepared by the Digital Scholarship Librarian at the University of Northern Iowa as part of assessment efforts demonstrating the reach and impact of departments and programs at the University of Northern Iowa. The global input is related to specific works found in UNI's institutional repository, UNI ScholarWorks (http://www.scholarworks.uni.edu.)

Native Seed Scoop, 2025 Summer Edition, University Of Northern Iowa. Tallgrass Prairie Center.

Native Seed Scoop

Contents:

--- Upcoming Events
--- TPC at 2025 National Native Seed Conference
--- Regional and National Partnerships
--- 2025 Iowa Native Seed Meeting
--- New Species in Production
--- A Scoop of Science

Crosssections, Summer 2025, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Physics.

CrossSections

Contents:

A Message from the Department Head, Dr. Paul Shand --- 1
Department Happenings --- 3
Faculty Profile - Takeshi Yasuda --- 7
Student Profile - Brandon Schmidt --- 8
Student Research --- 9
Student Focus --- 10
Physics Education --- 13
Alumni Profile - Roger Burkhart --- 14
Alumni News - Sterling Hartman --- 16
New Physics --- 17