Digital Commons Network^™

Engraving Goddesses: Hendrick Goltzius’S Mannerist Prints, Emily Seils

Theses

This project analyzes the reception of Hendrick Goltzius’s (1558-1617) prints within the court of Emperor Rudolf II (1552-1612), specifically how his technical expertise in his mythological compositions presented bodily transformation as an alchemical act. He produced images that were intellectually coded for a sophisticated audience while simultaneously capturing the viewer’s gaze and emotions. In doing so he created, alongside his contemporaries, a niche market of high demand art and enabled the "viral" circulation of collectable prints among Northern European elites. Three main topics structured my approach. First, the distinctive development of Rudolf II of Prague’s prestigious art collection, the Kunstkammer, …

#Taxback? Prohibiting State Real Property Taxes On Land In Indian Country, Pippa Browde

Faculty Law Review Articles

Land is a critical asset of Indian tribes. As tribes wrestle with how to create sustainable economies to support their sovereignty, the use and management of tribal land is integral. Taxation is a key component of economic development. This Article is about taxation of land within Indian country. It considers existing law that allows for state taxation of some land within Indian country. It makes a normative claim as to who the proper taxing sovereign should be based on tax policy principles and principles that support tribal self-governance and tribal sovereignty.

In Part II, this Article provides the background for …

Racial Capitalism, Neocolonial Wealth Transfer, And Canadian International Student Policy, Vincent Wong, Arman Sohi

Dalhousie Law Journal

This paper examines historical and contemporary trends in Canadian international student policy through the lens of racial capitalism, arguing that current policy facilitates a significant neocolonial wealth transfer from Global South families to Canada through processes of expropriation, exploitation, and expulsion. It argues that discriminatory tuition fees effectively function as “education head taxes”, which extract billions of dollars annually from international students. Meanwhile, “gauntlets” to permanent residency have emerged in an immigration landscape where working class migrants have narrower options to regularize, creating a system of labour exploitation where student-labourers face precarious conditions and structural indebtedness. Finally, the constant threat …

Lo Vegetal Y Lo Monstruoso A Través De Los Trífidos De John Wyndham, Carlos Fernández-Rodríguez, Luis M. Romero-Rodríguez

Artículos científicos

La unión de los monstruos y lo vegetal en el género fantástico ha sido una forma de trasladar la presencia de lo primitivo, lo antiguo y lo siniestro. Desde la mandrágora hasta los trífidos, la representación de las plantas como figuras monstruosas ha resultado un reflejo de los sentimientos más negativos del ser humano y de la falacia que supone la sensación de control o poder sobre la naturaleza. En esta línea, el objetivo de este artículo ha sido examinar cómo John Wyndham representó la monstruosidad vegetal en El día de los trífidos. Para tal fin se ha empleado un …

Heat Camps: Juvenile Curfews, Extreme Heat & The Eighth Amendment, Norrinda Brown

Washington and Lee Law Review

For decades, in the summertime, America has confined certain of its youth in what are essentially open-air heat camps. In city after city, camp-form is established through the enactment of warm-weather juvenile curfews which keep the youth at home or in state-sponsored centers during summer nights and, increasingly, during days as well. Local governments justify these curfews with general notions of “public safety,” including to protect the youth they confine. But the laws are not benevolent. Reducing youth mobility by curfew results in exclusion, oversurveillance, and potentially lethal heat punishment of the youth, possibly in violation of the Eighth Amendment. …

Chat With The ’For You’ Algorithm: An Llm-Enhanced Chatbot For Controlling Video Recommendation Flow, Shuo Niu, Dikshith Vishnuvardhan, Venkata Sai Reddy Punnam

Computer Science

The rise of short-form video platforms like TikTok, driven by algorithmic recommendations, fosters immersive flow experiences. While users value personalization and engagement, they also seek greater agency over their For You recommendations. This paper designs, prototypes, and evaluates TKGPT, an LLM-enhanced conversational interface that helps users articulate their interests and understand recommendations. Through qualitative interviews and a user study, we examine how the TKGPT influences algorithmic folk theories and the sense of agency. Findings show that users primarily use TKGPT to seek relevant videos, explain preferences, and exert control over the algorithm. The resulting For You videos better reflect user …

Aircraft Bird Strike Risk Prediction Using Machine Learning And Analytic Hierarchy Process, Jason Anthony Powell

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

To address the limitations of Next Generation Radar-based bird strike forecasting, this study modeled 12 spatiotemporal weather features from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration alongside bird strike risk using Long Short-Term Memory Recurrent Neural Network (LSTM-RNN), XGBoost regression tree, and Bayesian network algorithms. Five years of bird strike data from four geographically diverse airfields served as the target risk variable, categorized as low, moderate, or severe based on Department of the Air Force risk models. The ensemble model, which combines the LSTM-RNN and XGBoost regression algorithms, yielded the most accurate forecasts, achieving 80% to 93% accuracy across all airfields, …

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

The Effects Of Midwifery Students’ Simulation Training In Perineal Repair: A Quasi-Experimental Study, Zahra Sadat Pajohideh, Solmaz Mohammadi, Fatemeh Keshmiri, Azam Honarmandpour, Azam Jahangirimehr

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Background: The decrease in normal deliveries and episiotomies in midwifery practice has reduced the experience of midwifery students in perineum repair. This study examined the effect of perineal repair simulation training on the clinical skills of midwifery students by designing, implementing and evaluating simulation models in procedural education.
Methods and materials: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 60 midwifery students in intervention and control groups at Shoushtar, Iran, from September 2018 to August 2021. The intervention group received simulation training before entering the formal clinical education courses, while the control group took part in workplace-based training. The clinical repair skills …

The Evolution Of Agriculture Marketing: Harnessing Data Analytics To Understand Generational Shifts And Influencer Trends, Lexi Schweigert

Theses

The findings reveal that data analytics plays a crucial role in shaping marketing strategies in agriculture. Generational shifts, particularly among Gen Z and Alpha, are driving changes in consumer preferences and expectations. Influencers are also playing an increasingly important role in shaping the perception of agriculture and food among these generations.

The New Professional: Reimagining Rapport: Innovative Ways Dental Teams Connect With Patients, Amrita Patel Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This article explores innovative communication strategies for dental practices to enhance patient interaction. It highlights the importance of digital onboarding for streamlined intake, two-way text messaging for efficient appointments, and personalized video messages to foster connection. Practices are adopting multilingual communication and AI tools like chatbots for 24/7 inquiry handling, integrating them with patient records for tailored responses. Interactive platforms with 3D visuals and video tutorials are used for patient education, empowering them in oral health decisions. The article also emphasizes leveraging social media for engagement, capturing real-time patient feedback, and maintaining empathy-driven human interaction despite technological advancements

Using Fables To Enhance Social Emotional Learning, Eric Albers

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question guiding this project is: How can we use fables to strengthen SEL connections with our students and families while enhancing the relationship between character development and life skills? The project addresses growing concerns about student anxiety, depression, and social disconnection while recognizing schools' expanding role in mental health. This work builds upon literature on home-school partnerships, bibliotherapy, and culturally responsive pedagogy, including research on fable comprehension, CASEL's SEL framework, and "funds of knowledge" that honor diverse cultural perspectives.The methodology involved developing a curriculum unit that integrates fables into the existing CharacterStrong SEL program through a Universal Design …

Solid Waste Education For Fourth Grade Students In Washington County, Minnesota, Jessica Hall

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The topic of environmental education has grown in recent years, but this study discovered that there is a lack of education focused on solid waste. Four key themes were explored in the current literature: climate anxiety, place-based education, social-emotional learning, and behavior change. This paper is not a research study, but rather a summary of previous research with a discussion of the current situation supporting the need for, and process of, this project’s development. The guiding questions for developing this project are: How can 4th-grade students and teachers in Washington County, Minnesota, perceive the impact of solid waste education lessons …

Promoting Environmental Literacy And Stewardship Through Interdisciplinary Teaching, Eric Wadnal

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Some of the most pressing issues the current generation is experiencing are related to the environment. Teachers, regardless of discipline, must be prepared to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to solve these issues. Environmental education (EE) is critical for promoting environmental literacy and stewardship. Therefore, this paper explores the research question: How can environmental education be applied to interdisciplinary learning that emphasizes community and builds meaningful connections to the local environment? The impact of connecting students to local environments and communities demonstrates the need for EE approaches that are contextually relevant, participatory, and interdisciplinary. To support …

Curriculum Promotion Of Students’ Stem Self-Efficacy, Rae Eisenreich

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

As the field of STEM grows and expands, it does the same within classrooms. Self-efficacy in students' STEM experiences and skill building can be promoted by educators. When students do have high STEM self-efficacy, they may be more likely to persevere through difficult tasks and remain optimistic during the learning process. This research is centered around the question: What are the five most critical components of STEM curriculum design that promote students' self-efficacy? After reading and researching, the five areas of criteria to help promote this became apparent: active and hands-on learning, inquiry-based with authentic problem-solving, self-identity and career awareness, …

Middle School Science Inquiry-Based Learning On A Budget, Rosalie Olander

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This curriculum project was based on the question, “How can science educators teach middle school students while promoting quality inquiry-based learning with a minimum budget?” It was inspired by budget constraints forcing teachers to spend personal funds ($500-$750 annually) on classroom supplies. Science teachers are particularly impacted due to specialized equipment needs, and quality inquiry-based learning is often sacrificed due to cost limitations. The curriculum created as part of this project was written with the framework of Pedaste et al.'s (2015) inquiry phases, the National Research Council's (2012) A Framework for K-12 Science Education, and Wiggins and McTighe's (2011) Understanding …

Incorporating Cooperative Learning And Active Listening Skills In Secondary-Level Science Classrooms, Kaveri Kamatgi

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Middle school students are in a key stage of developing their social and emotional skills. Research emphasizes the importance of focusing on effective instructional strategies to support and enhance that development. In science classrooms, this means providing opportunities for cooperative learning and active listening skills, enabling students to interact and consider diverse perspectives while working in lab investigations, problem-based activities, or research projects. According to the NGSS framework for K-12 science education, students are expected to engage in scientific practices that foster scientific thinking skills. To support the development of these skills, this capstone project explored the question: How can …

Using Technology To Support And Engage Writing Of Immersion Students, Yiyu Guo

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Writing is an important communication skill and has an essential role in second language learning. Due to its active and productive nature, writing in a foreign language is very challenging for students especially for Chinese immersion students. Research indicates that integrating technology into writing workshops can significantly impact student learning, fostering skills like planning, writing, and creating digital stories. The capstone incorporates both research findings and writer's workshop lesson plans to answer the research focus: How to bring technology into writing to support and engage elementary Chinese Immersion students. Research concludes that technology presents a powerful set of tools …

Infusing Dakota Values And Indigenous Pedagogies Into Secondary Social Studies Curriculum, Lily Fox

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This project was very meaningful for me both professionally and personally. There was a lot of growth as a researcher, teacher, and person; this growth is reflected in the project as well. I chose Dakota values to be regionally conscious of students that may be in the classroom and their cultures. The project itself shows how Indigenous pedagogies can be applied to content that may not appear to be Indigenous-related. The unit covers the emergence of trade on a global scale (700-1500CE) in a ninth grade world history classroom. Using Understanding by Design’s backward planning model as well as a …

How Does The Use Of Restorative Circles During Instruction Impact Student Engagement And Agency?, Sydney Smith

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The purpose of my capstone project was to explore and help answer the research question of How does the use of Restorative Circles during instruction impact student engagement and agency? Through a Literature Review, professional experiences, and personal beliefs around teaching, this capstone project is inspired by Restorative Practices, specifically Restorative Circles, and how they build community in the classroom. The project helps educators in creating a classroom community that limits disruptive behaviors which is supported by personal educator experience, along with scholarly studies that found student engagement is impacted by personal relationships with their teacher and peers. When students …

The Literary Games We Play: Science Fiction In The Teaching Of Secondary Science, Luiza Roos

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This project responds to a need for interdisciplinary approaches that merge literacy development with scientific inquiry, recognizing the challenges of engaging diverse learners in complex ecological and evolutionary content. Drawing from research in fiction-based learning (Wong et al., 2024), science fiction and science pedagogy (Bixler, 2007), role-playing games in education (Cheville, 2016), and culturally responsive teaching (Rodriguez & Morrison, 2019), the project aims to make science more accessible, inclusive, and relevant to students’ lived experiences. This capstone explores how science fiction novels, specifically The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi, can be effectively integrated into a secondary science curriculum to …

Quantum Simulation Of Molecular Dynamics Processes─A Benchmark Study Using A Classical Simulator And Present-Day Quantum Hardware, Tamila Kuanysheva, Brian K. Kendrick, Lukasz Cincio, Dmitri Babikov

Chemistry Faculty Research and Publications

We explore how the fundamental problems in quantum molecular dynamics can be modeled using classical simulators (emulators) of quantum computers and the actual quantum hardware available to us today. The list of problems we tackle includes propagation of a free wave packet, vibration of a harmonic oscillator, and tunneling through a barrier. Each of these problems starts with the initial wave packet setup. Although Qiskit provides a general method for initializing wave functions, in most cases it generates deep quantum circuits. While these circuits perform well on noiseless simulators, they suffer from excessive noise on quantum hardware. To overcome this …

Covid-19-Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis In Mechanically Ventilated Patients At 7 Us Hospitals: Epidemiology And Estimated Likelihood Of Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis-Results Of The Prospective Msg-017 Study, M Hong Nguyen, Sixto M Leal, Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner, Andrej Spec, George R Thompson, Thomas F Patterson, John Baddley, Rachel Mcmullen, Drashti Shah, Cornelius J Clancy, Gerald Mcgwin, Peter G Pappas

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: There is no prospective, US multicenter study of COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA). CAPA definitions do not differentiate invasive aspergillosis (IPA) from colonization. Validity of single mycologic test results is unclear.

METHODS: We performed a prospective 7-center US study of mechanically ventilated adults with COVID-19 (April 2021-May 2022). Mycoses Study Group (MSGERC) CAPA criteria include host and clinical factors, imaging and test results (histopathology; bronchoalveolar lavage [BAL] culture and/or BAL or serum galactomannan-immunoassay). Proven, putative, and unlikely IPA were defined by clinical criteria. CAPA-unlikely IPA criteria included survival or negative autopsy following no/limited antifungal treatment. IPA likelihood was estimated using …

Genetic Structuring And Estimation Of Reproductive Adults In Onchocerca Volvulus: A Genome-Wide Analysis Across Hosts And Regions, Pawan Kumar, Young-Jun Choi, Kerstin Fischer, Shannon M. Hedtke, Anusha Kode, Nicholas Opoku, Lincoln Gankpala, Tony O. Ukety, Jöel Lonema Mande, Timothy J. C. Anderson, Warwick N. Grant, Peter U. Fischer, Makedonka Mitreva

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Genomic analysis of parasites can deepen our understanding of their transmission, population structure, and important biological characteristics. Onchocerciasis (river blindness), caused by the parasitic nematode Onchocerca volvulus, involves adult worms residing in subcutaneous nodules that produce larval-stage microfilariae (mf), which are routinely detected in the skin for diagnosis. Whole-genome studies of mf are limited; most analyses have focused on the mitochondrial genome. We conducted a genome-wide analysis with 94% median nuclear genome coverage, analyzing 171, 37, and 98 mf from 16, 3, and 5 individuals from Ghana, Liberia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, respectively. These data were used to …

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 K Boneski, Hiromi Sesaki, Ruteja A Barve, John A Collins, Makarand V Risbud

2020-Current year OA Pubs

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

Sexually Dimorphic Impact Of Prenatal Hyperandrogenism On Offspring Growth Trajectory In Sheep, Eylem Topaktas, Joseph Ciarelli, Stephanie Domke, Brooke Pallas, Adel Ghnenis, Mansi Agarwal, Charles Goss, Kevin Cho, Leah P Shriver, Gary J Patti, Vasantha Padmanabhan, Arpita Kalla Vyas

2020-Current year OA Pubs

In a translationally relevant ovine model of gestational hyperandrogenism we have previously reported cardiometabolic disruption in female offspring (males were not extensively studied). We hypothesized that gestational hyperandrogenism would lead to sex-specific disruption in offspring's growth, cytokine and metabolic milieu, potential mediators of cardiometabolic disease (CMD). 100 mg Testosterone propionate (T) or vehicle (C) was administered intramuscularly twice weekly between gestational days (GD) 30-90. Two cohorts of offspring were generated, including both males and females. Fetal weight and systemic metabolomics were analyzed in the fetal cohort (GD120). Growth trajectory, systemic cytokines, and metabolomics were analyzed in the postnatal cohort. Data …

Quality Of Life Outcomes Following Total Temporomandibular Joint Replacement: A Systematic Review Of Long-Term Efficacy, Functional Improvements, And Complication Rates Across Prosthesis Types, Luis Eduardo Almeida, Samuel Zammuto, Louis G. Mercuri

School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction:

Total temporomandibular joint replacement (TMJR) is a well-established surgical solution for patients with severe TMJ disorders. It aims to relieve chronic pain, restore jaw mobility, and significantly enhance quality of life. This systematic review evaluates QoL outcomes following TMJR, analyzes complication profiles, compares custom versus stock prostheses, explores pediatric applications, and highlights technological innovations shaping the future of TMJ reconstruction.

Methods:

A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library was conducted throughout April 2025 in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Sixty-four studies were included, comprising 2387 patients. Results: Primary outcomes assessed were QoL improvement, pain reduction, and …

Childhood Obesity Body Mass Index And Gut Microbiome: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Pilot Feasibility Study, Marilyn Frenn, Nita Salzman, Vy Lam, Mary Holtz, Andrea Moosreiner, Mauricio Garnier-Villarreal, Maharaj Singh

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Background:

Prebiotic fiber has been examined as a way to foster gut bacteria less associated with obesity. Tests of prebiotic fiber in reducing obesity have occurred mainly in animals, adults, and Caucasians when the highest obesity rates are in African American and Latinx youth. Response to prebiotic fiber is determined by the pre-existing intestinal microbiota. The type of microbiota varies based on diet and physical activity (PA), so it is important to examine acceptability and response to prebiotic fiber in those most at risk for obesity.

Methods:

This cluster randomized controlled feasibility trial included an online program designed to improve …

Redefining Rural Representation In Short Story Anthologies: Using Short Stories To Highlight Rural Counterstories, Brittany Gargano-Smith, Jenna Spiering

The Rural Educator

This article explores the importance of incorporating diverse rural short stories into English language arts (ELA) curricula to foster empathy, understanding, and connection among students. It addresses underrepresentation and lack of variety in rural stories within publishing and traditional curricula, which affects rural students’ sense of identity and belonging. Through exploration of rural short story anthologies, the authors highlight the significance of counterstories that depict the intersectional dimensions of rural life, including geography, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and abilities. By amplifying contemporary rural voices and complicating stereotypes, educators can create more inclusive learning environments that validate diverse experiences.

Projection-Tags Enable Multiplex Projection Tracing And Multi-Modal Profiling Of Projection Neurons, Lite Yang, Fang Liu, Hannah Hahm, Takao Okuda, Xiaoyue Li, Yufen Zhang, Vani Kalyanaraman, Monique R Heitmeier, Vijay K Samineni

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Single-cell multiomic techniques have sparked immense interest in developing a comprehensive multi-modal map of diverse neuronal cell types and their brain-wide projections. However, investigating the complex wiring diagram, spatial organization, transcriptional, and epigenetic landscapes of brain-wide projection neurons is hampered by the lack of efficient and easily adoptable tools. Here we introduce Projection-TAGs, a retrograde AAV platform that allows multiplex tagging of projection neurons using RNA barcodes. By using Projection-TAGs, we performed multiplex projection tracing of the cortex and high-throughput single-cell profiling of the transcriptional and epigenetic landscapes of the cortical projection neurons in female mice. Projection-TAGs can be leveraged …