Digital Commons Network^™

Emotionally Responsive Caregiving, Juliet Christine Ratajczak

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This inquiry-based research explores how emotionally responsive caregiving supports co-regulation and the development of self-regulation in toddlers aged 18 to 36 months. Conducted in a federally funded Early Head Start classroom, the study employed qualitative methods including observational field notes, reflecting journaling, and collaborative discussions between educators. Three central themes emerged: 1) Emotional consistency and attunement, 2) secure attachment as a foundation for self-regulation, and 3) collaborative caregiver growth. Findings indicate that predictable, sensitive, and warm caregiver responses during emotionally charged moments such as transitions, separations, and peer conflict foster emotional safety, trust, and resilience in toddlers. Secure attachment relationships …

Monarch: Old Dominion University Magazine, Victoria Bourne (Editor)

Monarch Magazine

Summer 2025 issue of Monarch, the Old Dominion University Magazine.

Subtitled: GLOBAL IMPACT: Monarchs Make a Difference by Land and by Sea

Purification Of Uranium Tetrafluoride Using Ammonium Bifluoride, Kyle R. Foster, Juliano Schorne-Pinto, Ronald E. Booth, Annabelle Husek, Mina Aziziha, Hunter B. Tisdale, Bernie W.N. Fitzpatrick, Hans Conrad Zur Loye, Markus H.A. Piro, Theodore M. Besmann

Faculty Publications

A method of purification for UF₄ utilizing NH₄HF₂ was investigated to remove oxygen and hydrate impurities from the salt. The original salt exhibited a melting point at 915–920 °C, which corresponds to the eutectic temperature of the UF4-UO2 system, showing clear signs of oxygen contamination. To purify the salt, an air-tight reaction vessel inside an argon glovebox was used to react UF4/NH4HF2 mixtures at elevated temperatures under a continuous flow of inert gas. The process yielded a significantly purer UF4 salt as confirmed via inert gas fusion, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and inductively coupled plasma-optical …

Full Issue, Volume 13, Number 1, Donna J. Peterson, Scott Cummings, Elizabeth Gregory North

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

No abstract provided.

Lawrence, Spring/Summer 2025, Lawrence University

Alumni Magazines

No abstract provided.

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.

The Development Of Advanced Statistical Methods For Complex Big Data, Kaiwen Wang

Statistical Science Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation consists of three chapters: 1) Comparative Analysis of Dimension Reduction Methods for Cytometry by Time-of-Flight Data, 2) Integrative Single-Cell Analysis Using Regularized Multitasking Graphical Attention Model with CySCI, and 3) BiGER for Bayesian Rank Aggregation in Genomics with Extended Ranking Schemes.

While experimental and informatic techniques around single cell sequencing (scRNA-seq) are advanced, research around mass cytometry (CyTOF) data analysis has severely lagged behind. This calls for the evaluation and development of computational methods specific for CyTOF data. We first benchmarked dimension reduction methods for CyTOF in Chapter 1. Then, we developed an integrative method for multimodal single-cell …

Ai Tools In Natural Resources And Environmental Systems For The Classroom, Research, Extension And Industry, Derek M. Heeren, C. T. Agouridis, Debabrata Sahoo, Isaya Kisekka, Trisha L. Moore

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Presentations and White Papers

This white paper synthesizes a series of panel insights on AI adoption across education, Extension, research and industry contexts within natural resources and environmental systems. It emphasizes that while advanced machine learning and generative AI introduce structural shifts in autonomy, scale, and cognitive augmentation, their value lies in augmenting, not replacing, human expertise. Applied tool examples include decision‑support systems for rural water operators, HAB‑diagnosis apps integrating image classification and natural‑language guidance, an irrigation educational chatbot tailored to user background, and sensor‑driven orchard AI for light interception estimation and data gap filling. A recurring design imperative involves co‑development with end users, …

Writing Climate Change: Science Knowledge In Creative Forms; Part Two: From Reading To Writing, Lytton Smith

Climate Change and the Individual, 2025-26

This lesson explores how a short creative piece by Ada Limón, U.S. Poet Laureate, draws on climate science knowledge to engage readers informationally, imaginatively, and emotionally. Students will reflect through discussion and/or writing on both the scientific methodology and the questions of equity and justice her poem raises. Finally, students will engage in a guided writing prompt where they research science knowledge around climate change and use what they find to shape their own short creative pieces (100-300 words), based in that science.

Writing Climate Change: Science Knowledge In Creative Forms; Part One: Understanding Science Stories, Lytton Smith

Climate Change and the Individual, 2025-26

This lesson explores how a short creative piece by Ada Limón, U.S. Poet Laureate, draws on climate science knowledge to engage readers informationally, imaginatively, and emotionally. Students will reflect through discussion and/or writing on both the scientific methodology and the questions of equity and justice her poem raises. Finally, students will engage in a guided writing prompt where they research science knowledge around climate change and use what they find to shape their own short creative pieces (100-300 words), based in that science.

Redundant Functions Of Mir156-Targeted Squamosa Promoter Binding Protein-Like Transcription Factors In Promoting Cauline Leaf Identity, Darren Manuela, Liren Du, Qi Zhang, Yifei Liao, Tieqiang Hu, Jim P. Fouracre, Mingli Xu

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

A Comparative Study Of Epibionts And Age Structure Of Two East Coast Populations Of American Horseshoe Crabs, Mark L. Botton Phd, Christina P. Colon, Shiva Jeanbaptist, Kelvin Zaw, Robert E. Loveland

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Oxytocin's Role In Feelings Of Social Connection And Loneliness, Cecile Sunahara

Psychology Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the role of oxytocin (OT) in feelings of social connectedness. Healthy male and female participants (N=138) were exposed to a task designed to elicit feelings of social connectedness to close others (i.e., the Social Connection Task); participants’ salivary OT levels were measured in response to this task. Using ecological momentary assessment (EMA), data were collected on participants’ feelings of social connectedness in daily life. Results from the current study showed that, among male participants, OT levels decreased in response to the Social Connection Task, while no change in OT was observed among female participants. OT reactivity to …

Crystal Growth, Thermal, Optical, Magnetic And Electrochemical Properties Of Mo2Ta2O11, Md Abdullah Al Muhit, Alevtina A. Maksimova, Sean C. Wechsler, Habiba Binte Kashem, Gopabandhu Panigrahi, Gregory Morrison, Morgan Stefik, Hans Conrad Zur Loye

Faculty Publications

Single crystals of the transition metal oxide Mo2Ta2O11 were grown for the first time using molten flux synthesis. The compound crystalizes in the trigonal space group R 3‾m (no. 166) with lattice parameters a = b = 5.6267(1) Å and c = 25.1424(6) Å and a unit cell volume of 689.36(3) ų. The structure of Mo2Ta2O11 is composed of alternating layers of TaO6 octahedra and MoO4 tetrahedra connected via corner-sharing. CaH2 was used to achieve a partial low temperature reduction of Mo2Ta2O11. The electrochemical lithiation of polycrystalline Mo2Ta2O11 was also investigated for the first time. Mo2Ta2O11 underwent a …

Water Current, Volume 57, No. 2, Summer 2025

Water Current Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Biocomputing Approach To Modeling And Modulating Calcium Signaling, Sehee Sun

School of Computing: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Biocomputing is an emerging field that seeks to perform computational tasks using biological substrates and processes. Unlike conventional computing systems based on silicon hardware, biocomputing leverages the parallelism, energy efficiency, and complex dynamics of living systems. Among various cellular mechanisms, calcium (Ca2+) signaling stands out as a central regulator of diverse biological functions, offering a promising basis for programmable logic and control in living cells.

This thesis introduces a novel framework for modeling and modulating Ca2+ dynamics using biologically inspired Boolean logic circuits. Specifically, we propose the Ca2+ Boolean Logic (CaBL) model, in which Ca2+ fluxes and interactions are abstracted …

The Loss Of Opa1 Accelerates Intervertebral Disc Degeneration And Osteoarthritis In Aged Mice, Vedavathi Madhu, Miriam Hernandaz-Meadows, Ashley Coleman, Kimheak Sao, Kameron Inguito, Owen Haslam, Paige Boneski, Hiromi Sesaki, Ruteja Barve, John Collins, Makarand Risbud

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

Recent studies have highlighted the importance of mitochondria in NP cells and articular chondrocyte health. Since the understanding of mechanisms governing mitochondrial dynamics in these tissues is lacking, we investigated the role of OPA1, a mitochondrial fusion protein, in their homeostasis. OPA1 knockdown in NP cells altered mitochondrial size and cristae shape and increased the oxygen consumption rate. OPA1 governed the morphology of multiple organelles, including peroxisomes, early endosomes and cis-Golgi and loss resulted in the dysregulation of autophagy. Metabolic profiling and

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

The Greenbook, Faculty Handbook, 2025-2026, Marshall University Academic Affairs

The Greenbook

This book has been published for the faculty of Marshall University for the specified period of time. This book was created by Academic Affairs and is for the period of 2025-2026.

Soil Health In Nebraska: Exploring Practitioners' Needs And Insights From A Long-Term Organic Farm, Ingrids Isabel Mata Vigil

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Soil health is foundational to sustainable agriculture, environmental resilience, and long-term food security. Yet, the adoption of soil health assessments remains limited, often perceived as too technical, costly, or difficult to implement in real-world contexts. To better understand these challenges, the first chapter presents findings from a statewide survey of 41 soil health practitioners in Nebraska, including farmers, extension educators, NRCS staff, and conservation professionals. Respondents highlighted the need for simpler, more accessible, and context-specific tools for soil health assessment that help practitioners make informed decisions aligned with their management goals. Complementing these insights, the second chapter includes an independent, …

She Speaks With Stars: Teacher Support For American Indian Students Who Are Gifted And Have Experienced Trauma, Tracy L. Olson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Olson, T.L. She Speaks with Stars: Teacher Support for American Indian Students Who Are Gifted and Have Experienced Trauma. (2025)

This qualitative study utilized grounded theory analysis through the use of survey and interview to research how teachers support American Indian students who are gifted and have experienced trauma. The study focused on survey results as well as interviews of a selection of teachers from various grade levels, years of experience working with American Indian students, and roles in the educational system. The themes that emerged from the data illustrate the imperative need for more research into Native American students …

Lessons From A Life In Transition: An Autoethnography Of Regional Attitudes Toward Transgender Educators, Birdie Miller

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the lived experiences of a transgender educator navigating public school systems in Mississippi and Minnesota. The purpose of this research is to illuminate how systemic discrimination, lack of institutional support, and cultural attitudes toward gender identity affect both the personal and professional lives of transgender teachers. Using an autoethnographic approach, I analyzed weekly journal entries written over multiple school years across three distinct school settings. These reflections were thematically examined to identify patterns related to identity negotiation, resilience, workplace discrimination, and moments of resistance.

The findings reveal the emotional toll of teaching in environments where safety and …

Being And Becoming In The Algorithmic Age, Bernard E. Harcourt

Faculty Scholarship

To change the world: the prerequisite, most often, is to change our experience of the world, to experience the world differently, to be shaken to our foundations, to have one’s sense of self shattered. That is a process of both being and becoming. In order to turn that process in our favour, in this age of artificial intelligence, it will be crucial to transform data and algorithms into bits of justice.

Distinguishing Pex2 And Pex16 Gene Variant Severity For Mild, Severe And Atypical Peroxisome Biogenesis Disorders, Vanessa A Gomez, Oguz Kanca, Sharayu V Jangam, Saurabh Srivastav, Jonathan C Andrews, Michael F Wangler

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Peroxisomal biogenesis disorders (PBD) are autosomal recessive diseases caused by mutations in specific PEX genes that impair peroxisome formation, leading to multi-systemic failure. Symptoms vary, even in patients with variants in the same PEX gene. Our goal is to select PEX mutations and use Drosophila to model a severity spectrum based on genotype-phenotype correlations. Utilizing KozakGAL4 (KZ) cassettes, we replaced the coding sequence of Pex with a GAL4 driver, ideal for making 'humanized' flies in which human PEX can replace the fly loss. We generated Pex2KZ and Pex16KZ lines and assessed them in various behavior assays, confirming their severe phenotypes. …

Torus Probabilistic Principal Component Analysis, Anahita Nodehi, Mousa Golalizadeh, Mehdi Maadooliat, Claudio Agostinelli

Mathematical and Statistical Science Faculty Research and Publications

Analyzing data in non-Euclidean spaces, such as bioinformatics, biology, and geology, where variables represent directions or angles, poses unique challenges. This type of data is known as circular data in univariate cases and can be termed spherical or toroidal in multivariate contexts. In this paper, we introduce a novel extension of probabilistic principal component analysis (PPCA) designed for toroidal (or torus) data, termed torus probabilistic PCA (TPPCA). We provide detailed algorithms for implementing TPPCA and demonstrate its applicability to torus data. To assess the efficacy of TPPCA, we perform comparative analyses using a simulation study and three real datasets. Our …

Graph Convolutional Networks Enable Fast Hemorrhagic Stroke Monitoring With Electrical Impedance Tomography, J. Toivanen, V. Kolehmainen, A. Paldanius, A. Hänninen, A. Hauptmann, Sarah J. Hamilton

Mathematical and Statistical Science Faculty Research and Publications

Objective: To develop a fast image reconstruction method for stroke monitoring with electrical impedance tomography with image quality comparable to computationally expensive nonlinear model-based methods. Methods: A post-processing approach with graph convolutional networks is employed. Utilizing the flexibility of the graph setting, a graph U-net is trained on linear difference reconstructions from 2D simulated stroke data and applied to fully 3D images from realistic simulated and experimental data. An additional network, trained on 3D vs. 2D images, is also considered for comparison. Results: Post-processing the linear difference reconstructions through the graph U-net significantly improved the image quality, resulting in images …

Novel Respirometry Measurement And Comparison Of Monod Kinetic Constants And Methanogen Concentrations For 27 Full-Scale Anaerobic Bioreactors, Nicholas Benn, Antonio Martins, Daniel H. Zitomer

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Monod kinetic coefficient values (km and Ks) as well as methanogen concentrations (Xac and Xh2) for various anaerobic bioreactors are required to gain a deeper understanding of anaerobic biotechnology. However, there are no existing, practical methods to measure or estimate these parameters or variables in typical anaerobic digester biomass that contains mixed cultures with inert organic solids. Current measurement methods rely on pure cultures developed in the laboratory. In this work, a novel respirometric method was developed and used to determine methanogen Monod parameters and active biomass concentration for samples from 27 full-scale anaerobic reactors. Differences (one to three orders …

Negotiating Racial Subjection: Analysing Black And Indigenous Resistance From Within Colonial Orders, Owen R. Brown, Arturo Chang

Political Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

This article addresses recent work on empire and colonisation which calls for a reappraisal of how agency and resistance manifests among groups responding to structural marginalisation. We argue that approaching these questions from within the colonial order reveals important idiosyncrasies regarding how groups understood resistance, agency, and popular organising as possible responses that emerged from within imperial landscapes. Using the example of race as a central regulatory category and practice of colonial power, we analyse two cases which we suggest benefit from an account of agency and resistance within colonial order: the Black Loyalists in English America and the Indigenous …

Three-Dimensional Printed Swabs For Diagnostic Testing, Summer J. Decker, Jonathan Ford, Todd Hazelton, Todd Goldstein, Kami Kim, Michael Teng, John Sinnott

USF Patents

A three-dimensional printed swab may include a shaft defining a longitudinal axis of the swab, and a tip portion integrally formed with the shaft. The tip portion may include a plurality of protrusions each extending outward from the shaft and transverse to the longitudinal axis. A method for fabricating a three-dimensional printed swab may include receiving a digital three-dimensional model corresponding to the swab, and integrally forming, via three-dimensional printing and based at least in part on the digital three-dimensional model, a shaft and a tip portion of the swab. The shaft may define a longitudinal axis of the swab. …

Exploring Subfield Interest Development In Undergraduate Physics Students Through Social Cognitive Career Theory, Dina Zohrabi Alaee, Benjamin M. Zwickl

Physics and Engineering Science

This study investigates how undergraduate physics majors develop an interest in specific subfields. We examine interest formation through the lens of social cognitive career theory (SCCT) using four SCCT constructs: learning experiences, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and proximal environmental influences. We conducted 27 interviews with physics majors across multiple years of study between 2020 and 2022. Our first research question used SCCT constructs to provide detailed insights into factors affecting interest formation in various subfields of physics. We identified many factors that positively impacted students’ interests, such as positive learning experiences (e.g., coursework, experimental projects, extracurricular clubs, and self-directed learning), high …