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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.

Information Production By Institutions And Information Extraction By Underwriters In Hybrid Ipo Auctions, Thomas J. Chemmanur, Pengfei Ma, Qianqian Yu

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

We analyze the informational properties of hybrid IPO auctions using a large and unique database of institutional bids from Chinese IPO auctions. We find strong evidence of information production by institutions about the intrinsic values of IPO firms and of underwriters extracting and using this information in IPO pricing. The IPO offer price is more sensitive to bids from institutions able to produce more precise information. In particular, the offer price is more sensitive to bids from domestic institutions, compared to bids from foreign institutions who likely have less knowledge or experience about the Chinese firms and financial market due …

Defending The Golden Fleece: A Study Of Disruption And Resilience In The Movement To Defund Public Libraries In Louisiana, Ciel Lane Quebedeaux

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

In this moment of societal change and institutional capture, public educational institutions have become sites of contention where national ideological and political debates are carried out in local school and library board meetings across the country. In Louisiana, the creation and expansion of a statewide conservative organization has led to the defunding of public libraries sparked by accusations of grooming and inappropriate programming. In response, local library defenders have created another statewide organization to share information and organizing strategies to combat disinformation campaigns propagated by conservative organizers at local and state levels. This qualitative study includes in-depth interviews with library …

Performance Comparison Of Quantum And Classical Machine Learning Models For Chronic Kidney Disease Prediction, Parama Sridevi, Paramita Basak Upama, Masud Rabbani, Sheikh Iqbal Ahamed

Computer Science Faculty Research and Publications

In this study, we develop and compare quantum and classical machine learning-based chronic kidney disease prediction models. We used the "Chronic_Kidney_Disease Data Set" of the UCI Machine Learning Repository. We performed data preprocessing and applied feature engineering techniques to select the best features. We developed two quantum machine learning-based models and two classical machine learning-based models. We used a hybrid classical-quantum environment for building quantum machine learning models. Finally, we compared the performances of all four models. We found that the Quantum Support Vector Machine performs best among the quantum models. The model’s accuracy was 95% with a k-fold cross-validation …

Eeg Based Real Time Classification Of Consecutive Two Eye Blinks For Brain Computer Interface Applications, Masud Rabbani, Nafi Us Sabbir Sabith, Anubhav Parida, Iysa Iqbal, Sayed Mashroor Mamun, Rumi Ahmed Khan, Farhad Ahmed, Sheikh Iqbal Ahamed

Computer Science Faculty Research and Publications

Human eye blinks are considered a significant contaminant or artifact in electroencephalogram (EEG), which impacts EEG-based medical or scientific applications. However, eye blink detection can instead be transformed into a potential application of brain–computer interfaces (BCI). This study introduces a novel real-time EEG-based framework for classifying three blink states: no blink, single blink, and two consecutive blinks in one model. EEG data were collected from ten healthy participants using an 8-channel wearable headset under controlled blinking conditions. The data were preprocessed and analyzed using four feature extraction techniques: basic statistical, time-domain, amplitude-driven, and frequency-domain methods. The most significant features were …

The Ethics Of Consent: Reflecting On The Case Of R/Changemyview, Casey Fiesler, Jessica Vitak, Michael Zimmer

Computer Science Faculty Research and Publications

The SIGCHI Research Ethics Committee was established in 2016 in recognition of how the shifting technological landscape has complicated research ethics in HCI. Our research community has also taken up the call to help understand and guide this complex space, examining topics such as research taking place on online platforms without explicit consent, the use of bots as confederates in field experiments, debriefing for large-scale experiments, HCI research that involves or implicates marginalized populations, and ethical considerations for studying social media platforms such as Reddit.

Fall Prevention In Long-Term Care, Steven Zissler

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Falls among older adults residing in long-term care facilities continue to rise, resulting in injuries that contribute to adverse outcomes, a reduced quality of life, and increased healthcare costs. Despite existing safety interventions, falls persist, indicating a gap in effective, sustainable fall prevention strategies. Repeated failures to reduce falls among adults aged 65 years and older highlight the need for a structured, evidence-based approach aimed at addressing this critical patient safety issue.

Aim of the Project: The aim of this project was to reduce falls and fall-related injuries by 25% for older adults residing in a long-term care facility …

Implementing The Patient Health Questionnaire-2 To Improve Referral Rates To Mental Healthcare Through Routine Depression Screening, Kelly Murakata

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Primary care settings often encounter patients with depression symptoms, characterized by feelings of sadness, lack of interest in activities, and functional impairment, impacting quality of life. At the project site, the PHQ-9 was only used during annual or new patient visits, resulting in low screening rates of 12% and a 33% referral rate. The lack of routine screening led to missed opportunities for mental health referrals and detection of depression.

Aim of the Project: The aim of the project was to increase mental health referral rates through early identification of depression symptoms by implementing routine PHQ-2 screens.

Review of …

Peer Mentorship Of Midwifery Faculty In Bangladesh: A Process Evaluation, Pronita Raha, Joy Kemp, Farida Begum, Rowsan Ara, Vibhavendra S. Raghuvanshi, Nabila Purno, Daniel Novak, Hoque Emdadul Hoque

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Development of midwifery faculty is key to strengthening quality midwifery education. This article presents a process evaluation of a peer mentorship programme, implemented between 2021 and 2023, for around 370 midwifery faculty in Bangladesh, including 40 newly deployed faculty. 20 peer mentors, prepared by international midwifery faculty, conducted quarterly visits to public midwifery education institutions (MEIs) to provide mentorship support to midwifery faculty and to monitor the quality of midwifery education. A digital community of practice was also created. Data were collected with a checklist based on the World Health Organization (WHO) midwifery educator competencies and entered into a digital …

A Study On The Multifunctional Properties And Application Perspectives Of Zno/Sic Composite Materials, Mohammad Nur-E-Alam

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

ZnO/SiC nanocomposite materials possess significant potential for various technological fields due to their extraordinary optical, electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. The synthesis methods, material properties, and diverse applications of ZnO/SiC composites have been systematically explored in this study. The potential application areas of this nanocomposite include their roles in photocatalysis, optoelectronic devices, gas sensors, and photovoltaic systems. The synergetic effects of ZnO and SiC are analyzed to highlight their advantages over their individual components. Future research directions must focus on the remaining challenges to optimize these nanoscale composite materials for industrial and emerging applications.

Human Rights Perspectives In Social Work Practice With African Immigrants In Australia: 'It Starts With Respecting Them And Making Them Feel Like Humans', Obed Adonteng-Kissi, Frank Darkwa Baffour, Matthew Mabefam, Nnaemeka Meribe, Elizabeth Archibong

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Increasing restrictionism and xenophobic policies in Western host countries curtail and endanger immigrants' civil and political rights as well as socio-economic well-being. This study is guided by the critical race theory (CRT), which provides a very important structure to critique social work practice with immigrants from a human rights lens and unpack the intersections of race, racism, and power. The objective of this study is to explore immigrants' perspectives on social work practices that prioritize human rights in Australia. To achieve this, a total of twenty-seven participants were interviewed, including eight social workers and nineteen immigrants of African background service …

Cross-Continental Analysis Shows That Disturbance Effects On Reptile Body Condition Do Not Predict Abundance Responses, Kristina J. Macdonald, Don A. Driscoll, Michael D. Craig, Robert A. Davis, Steven J. Hromada, C. M. Gienger, Lee A. Fitzgerald, Daniel J. Leavitt, Danielle K. Walkup, Rickard Abom, Adrian F. Wayne, Gordon R. Friend, Brent Johnson, Danielle Stokeld, Chris R. Dickman, Scott A. Thompson, Graham G. Thompson, Daniel F. Bohórquez Fandiño, Christopher K. Woolley, Annabel L. Smith, Calum Irvine, Tim S. Jessop, Jade E. Keehn, Chris R. Feldman, Xavier Santos, Josabel Belliure

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Ecological disturbances are discrete events that alter or transform the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of ecosystems. Disturbance can cause animal populations to decline and, according to the risk-disturbance hypothesis and population collapse framework, these declines can be predicted by declines in animal body condition. However, no research has empirically examined the general relationship between body condition and abundance, nor their relationship in response to disturbance. We used a combined dataset representing 33 studies and > 42,000 observations of 75 species from Australia, New Zealand, Spain and the United States of America to test predictions relating to the relationship between reptile …

Evaluating The Influence Of Carbon Quantum Dots On Starch-Based Bioplastics: Toward Potential Food Packaging Applications, Shima Jafarzadeh, Mitra Golgoli, Zeinab Qazanfarzadeh, Mehrdad Forough, Peng Wu, Wendy Timms, Colin J. Barrow, Minoo Naebe, Masoumeh Zargar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Developing biodegradable food packaging films is crucial for reducing dependence on petroleum-based plastics. In this study, nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (CDs) were synthesized from citric acid and ethylenediamine via hydrothermal treatment and incorporated into sago starch films at concentrations of 0.5 %, 1 %, 3 %, and 4 % w/w of total solids using a solution casting method. The effects of CDs on structural, thermal, antioxidant, optical, and physicochemical properties were systematically investigated. CD addition enhanced the UV-shielding ability of the films. At 4 % CD content, UV transmittance decreased by 56.4 % (UVA), 66.7 % (UVB), and 73.9 % …

Exercise Effects On Symptoms Of Depression And Anxiety Vary By Patient, Clinical, And Intervention Characteristics In Cancer Survivors: Results From Pooled Analyses Of Individual Participant Data Of 26 Rcts, Marlou Floor Kenkhuis, Meike Doorenbos, Isa H. Mast, Neil K. Aaronson, Marc Van Beurden, Martin Bohus, Kerry S. Courneya, Amanda J. Daley, Daniel A. Galvão, Martine M. Goedendorp, Wim H. Van Harten, Sandi C. Hayes, Anouk E. Hiensch, Melinda L. Irwin, Marie José Kersten, Hans Knoop, Anne M. May, Alex Mcconnachie, Willem Van Mechelen, Nanette Mutrie, Robert U. Newton, Frans Nollet, Hester S. Oldenburg, Martina E. Schmidt, Kathryn H. Schmitz, Karl Heinz Schulz, Dennis R. Taaffe

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate whether socio-demographic, clinical, and intervention-related variables moderate the effects of exercise on depression and anxiety symptoms in cancer survivors. Methods: Data from 26 RCTs in the POLARIS database were analyzed using a one-step individual participant data (IPD) meta-analytic approach with linear mixed models to assess exercise effects on depression and anxiety symptoms (z-scores). Interaction terms were added to these models to explore moderators. Results are presented as betas (corresponding to Cohen’s d effect size). Results: Albeit statistically significant, exercise demonstrated negligible effects on symptoms of depression (β = − 0.11; 95% CI = − …

Real-World Continuous Smartwatch-Based User Authentication, N. Al-Naffakh, N. Clarke, F. Li, P. Haskell-Dowland

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

User authentication is often regarded as the "gatekeeper"of cyber security. It has, however, long suffered from significant usability issues that have resulted in research focussing upon frictionless and transparent biometric approaches. Activity-based user authentication - a technique that authenticates a user by what they are physically doing at a specific point in time has attracted significant attention, particularly due to the increasing popularity of smartwatches. This research aims to overcome limitations in prior work by exploring the viability of the approach in real-world conditions. The study presents two principal experiments, one focused upon a constrained environment to provide a control …

Rural Cancer Survivors' Perceived Delays In Seeking Medical Attention, Diagnosis And Treatment: Findings From A Large Qualitative Study, Alyssa Taglieri-Sclocchi, Ingrid Bindicsova, Susannah K. Ayre, Michael Ireland, Sonja March, Fiona Crawford-Williams, Suzanne Chambers, Jeff Dunn, Belinda C. Goodwin, Elizabeth A. Johnston

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aims: To investigate rural cancer survivors' self-reported reasons for perceived delays in initial cancer detection and treatment. Methods: Within a cohort study, adult cancer survivors who had travelled > 50 km for cancer care, staying at subsidised accommodation lodges in city centres in Queensland, Australia, were invited to complete a structured interview on perceived delays in: (i) seeking medical attention, (ii) receiving their diagnosis and (iii) commencing treatment. Content analysis was used to map self-reported reasons for perceived delays at each step, which were then categorised based on the perceived source: (i) personal, (ii) healthcare professional, (iii) healthcare system or (iv) …

Winds Of Change: Charting A Pathway To Ecosystem Monitoring Using Airborne Environmental Dna, Rachel L. Tulloch, Clare I.M. Adams, Matthew A. Barnes, Elizabeth L. Clare, Henrik C. Van De Ven, Andrew Cridge, Francisco Encinas-Viso, Kristen Fernandes, Dianne M. Gleeson, Erin Hill, Anna J.M. Hopkins, Anna M. Kearns, Gracie C. Kroos, Anna J. Macdonald, Francesco Martoni, Angela Mcgaughran, Todd G.B. Mclay, Linda E. Neaves, Paul Nevill, Andrew Pugh, Kye J. Robinson, Fabian Roger, Tracey V. Steinrucken, Mieke Van Der Heyde, Cecilia Villacorta-Rath, Jenny Vivian

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Airborne environmental DNA (airborne eDNA) analysis leverages the globally ubiquitous medium of air to deliver broad species distribution data and support ecosystem monitoring across diverse environments. As this emerging technology matures, addressing critical challenges and seizing key opportunities will be essential to fully realize its potentially transformative impact. In June 2024, the Southern eDNA Society convened over 100 researchers, industry leaders, and biodiversity management stakeholders in a landmark workshop to evaluate the current state of airborne eDNA research and chart a course for future development. Participants explored opportunities for integrating airborne eDNA into existing monitoring systems, but they unanimously agreed …

The Impact Of Configuration Management Decisions On Firm Resilience: Integrating Resource Configuration, Operational Flexibility, And Collaborative Supply Chain Strategies, Zeplin Jiwa Husada Tarigan, Sahnaz Ubud, Zefanya Valentino Bastanta Tarigan, Ferry Jie

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Global competition requires the company's appropriate rules and policies. The company is trying to build strong, firm resilience to maintain sustainability. The research aims to analyze the influence of management configuration decisions on company resilience through the integration of resource configuration, operational flexibility, and collaboration in the supply chain. This study was conducted on 462 manufacturing companies in Indonesia that were experiencing changes in operational systems and global competitive pressures. Data was collected through questionnaires and analyzed using the Partial Least Square (PLS) method. The research results show that management configuration decisions influence resource configuration and supply chain collaboration integration …

A Comparative Study Of The Pullout Strength Of Geostraps And Geogrids In Reinforced Soil, Kshitij Gaur, Ashutosh Trivedi, Sanjay Kumar Shukla

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The sustainable development of geotechnical infrastructure necessitates using durable, efficient, and environmentally resilient reinforcement materials. This study investigates the pullout performance of geostraps to assess their potential as a sustainable alternative to conventional geosynthetics. This study focuses on the pullout performance of geostraps, flexible, polymeric reinforcement materials. There has not been a thorough study of their pullout resistance, which directly affects the stability and durability of reinforced soil structures. Pullout tests were conducted on sandy soil in a controlled environment. The experimental findings from the pullout test were then validated in a numerical model. The model was used to determine …

Aiding Depth Perception In Initial Drone Training: Evidence From Camera-Assisted Distance Estimation, John Murray, Steven Richardson, Keith Joiner, Graham Wild

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) pilots frequently experience difficulties with depth perception, particularly when estimating distances between the drone and environmental obstacles. This study evaluates whether the use of onboard camera imagery can improve exocentric distance estimation accuracy among ab initio drone pilots operating under visual line-of-sight (VLOS) conditions. Two groups of undergraduate students performed distance estimation tasks at 20 and 50 m. One group used direct observation only to estimate the exocentric distance between the drone and an obstacle. The second group, as well as direct observation, had access to a live video feed from the drone’s onboard camera via …

Experimentally Driven Numerical Model Of Carbon/Polyaniline-Based Glucose Monitoring Sensors: An Evaluation Using A New Figure Of Merit, Ziad Khalifa, Kyrillos Selim, Amira Ali, Sameh Abdellatif

Chemical Engineering

This study presents an experimentally driven numerical model for evaluating carbon/polyaniline (PANI)- based glucose monitoring sensors (GMSs), focusing on innovative configurations using graphene-PANI and carbon nanotube (CNT)-PANI composites. We performed a thorough analysis of the morphological, electrophysical, and electrical properties of these materials, ultimately leading to the extraction of key electrical parameters for integration into a finite element model (FEM). This model simulates the entire sensor, enabling the estimation of critical performance metrics such as sensitivity, limit of detection (LOD), linearity, and power consumption. Our findings demonstrate that the CNT-PANI configuration significantly outperforms the laser-induced graphene (LIG)-PANI electrode, achieving a …

Experimentally Driven Numerical Model Of Carbon/Polyaniline-Based Glucose Monitoring Sensors: An Evaluation Using A New Figure Of Merit, Ziad Khalifa

Chemical Engineering

This study presents an experimentally driven numerical model for evaluating carbon/polyaniline (PANI)- based glucose monitoring sensors (GMSs), focusing on innovative configurations using graphene-PANI and carbon nanotube (CNT)-PANI composites. We performed a thorough analysis of the morphological, electrophysical, and electrical properties of these materials, ultimately leading to the extraction of key electrical parameters for integration into a finite element model (FEM). This model simulates the entire sensor, enabling the estimation of critical performance metrics such as sensitivity, limit of detection (LOD), linearity, and power consumption. Our findings demonstrate that the CNT-PANI configuration significantly outperforms the laser-induced graphene (LIG)-PANI electrode, achieving a …

Vertical Hydrokinetic Turbine, Miki Harding, Ben E. Mertz

Rose-Hulman Undergraduate Research Publications

No abstract provided.

Swosu Fact Book Summer 2025, Joel Harrel Kendall, Diane Fitzsimmons, Kelsi Burghardt

Fact Books

The 2nd annual Southwestern Oklahoma State University Summer Fact Book provides a ready source of information to answer frequently asked questions about the University and its operations. The Summer Fact Book is compiled annually by the Office of lnstitutional Research to assist the university with strategic planning, academic program reviews, grant writing, accreditation, and institutional information to help guide decision-making. The report uses data collected from 2016 to 2025 and is designed to help faculty, staff, administrators, and external stakeholders better understand the student body and university trends.

A Wearable-Based Approach To Spinal Posture Tracking And Assessment, Sydney Marie Sherman, Noah Jeffery

Biomedical Engineering: Graduate Reports and Projects

This paper describes the design, manufacturing, and testing of a novel spinal posture tracking wearable device with embedded sensors. Currently on the market, most of the spinal posture tracking devices only focus on one segment of the spine and therefore do not track the entirety of human posture. The objective for this project was to create a wearable device in the form of a “smart shirt” that offers insights into posture trends throughout the day by tracking the entire spine. To begin the project, multiple designs were developed for the sensor array and wearable materials. These concepts were compared against …

Conferences, Lightbulbs, And Gender, June Carbone

Minnesota Journal of Law & Inequality

No abstract provided.

An Economic, Psychological, And Linguistic Explanation Of (Some Reasons) Why Women Don’T Get A Fair Shake, Claire A. Hill

Minnesota Journal of Law & Inequality

No abstract provided.

Design, Modeling, And Testing Of A Novel Inductor For Electric Vehicles: Iron Nitride Soft Magnetic Composites, Macen Wahoske, Jesse Alan Winkel

Materials Engineering

This multi-year project focuses on the design, modeling, and testing of novel inductors for electric vehicles (EVs) using iron nitride (IN) soft magnetic composites (SMCs). This work is a continuation of previous research, with the overarching goal of enhancing EV efficiency by developing inductor cores with improved magnetic properties, leveraging IN's competitive magnetic characteristics.

This year, the project concentrated on refining fabrication processes to optimize relative permeability (μ_r) and effective IN concentration. Investigations included various mixing vessels, the application of vibration during powder settling, and different pressing methods and pressures across initial IN concentrations of 75, 80, and …

Search For Extremely-High-Energy Neutrinos And First Constraints On The Ultrahigh-Energy Cosmic-Ray Proton Fraction With Icecube, Karen Andeen

Physics Faculty Research and Publications

We present a search for the diffuse extremely-high-energy neutrino flux using 12.6 years of IceCube data. The nonobservation of neutrinos with energies well above 10 PeV constrains the all-flavor neutrino flux at 1018  eV to a level of 𝐸2⁢Φ𝜈𝑒+𝜈𝜇+𝜈𝜏≃10−8  GeV cm−2 s−1 sr−1, the most stringent limit to date. Using these data, we constrain the proton fraction of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) above ≃30  EeV to be  ≲70% (at 90% CL) if the cosmological evolution of the sources is comparable to or stronger than the star formation rate. This is the first result to disfavor the “proton-only” hypothesis for UHECR …

Rattler Python, Samer Jabor

Systems Manuals - 2026

The Rattler Python project is an interactive game-based learning system that intends to teach the basic concepts of Python programming through guided instruction, gameplay challenges, and review-based assessments. The document contains a proposal for this system consisting of problem definition, background research, existing solutions, and the proposed product, together with the system scope, assumptions, and the organization of the remainder of this document.