Digital Commons Network^™

Megan Bennett, Trumpet, April 10, 2025 [Program], University Of Northern Iowa. School Of Music.

Music Recital Programs

Program of a music recitals given by faculty, students, or guest artists from the School of Music at the University of Northern Iowa.

Addressing Frailty In Heart Failure: Essential Tools & Strategies For Occupational Therapists, Malachy Clancy, Phd, Otr/L, Bcpr

Department of Occupational Therapy Posters and Presentations

Learning Objectives

• Understand and describe the concept of frailty and its impact on occupational performance for patients with heart failure (HF).
• Identify comprehensive assessments that encompass physical, cognitive, and psychosocial domains to provide a holistic assessment of frailty.

Policy And Practice: Analyzing Abortion Laws And Their Relationship To Competent Women’S Health Services In Ohio, Daija Smith

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the relationship between abortion policy changes and women’s health services, focusing specifically on the state of Ohio’s evolving abortion laws and their implications. Using a qualitative approach, the research explores competency's role in addressing mental health disparities among diverse populations and marginalized communities. Through analyzing state policies and interviews with healthcare advance practice providers, this study completed a thematic analysis that identified opportunities such as shaping access and quality of care. The findings aim to inform strategies that reduce health disparities and improve competent care in women’s health services.

Investigation Of Surface Quality And Productivity In Precision Hard Turning Of Aisi 4340 Steel Using Integrated Approach Of Ml-Moora-Pso, Adel T. Abbas, Neeraj Sharma, Khalid Alqusaibi, Mohamed Abbas, Rakesh Sharma, Ahmed Elkaseer

Mechanical Engineering

AISI 4340 steel has applications in gun barrels, where the surface quality of the barrel is the prime factor. This study explores the application of a machine learning (ML) approach to optimize the precision turning of an AISI 4340 steel alloy using both conventional and wiper tool nose inserts under varying cutting parameters, such as cutting speed, depth of cut, and feed rate. The analytical framework integrates experimental machining data with computational algorithms to predict key output parameters: surface roughness (Ra) and material removal rate (MRR). A Multi-Objective Optimization based on Ratio Analysis (MOORA) method is used for data normalization. …

The Impact Of Diet-Induced Obesity On Cerebrovasculature Structure And Function, Riley M. Feagle

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Adequate cerebral perfusion is necessary to help the brain maintain a constant and steady state of nutrient delivery. Since the brain is highly metabolic, changes in the vasculature structure can impact perfusion levels and, therefore, reduce the ability of the brain to receive the support necessary for full functionality. Vascular dysfunction is a common comorbidity among obese individuals. Given the strong association between obesity and cognitive dysfunction, understanding the correlation between reduced cerebral perfusion and altered cerebrovascular structure is crucial. The overall hypothesis of this thesis originated after ample preliminary data, and states that diet-induced obesity reduces cerebral perfusion and …

Social Gaps & Urban Divides: How Social Factors Shape Economic Disadvantage In American Cities, Parker J. Peterson, Ruth Kerry

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

This research examines the relationship between nonmarriage, education, and socioeconomic disadvantage across census tracts in Boston, Los Angeles, and Salt Lake City. Statistical analyses reveal significant differences in never-married proportions between cities, with strong correlations between nonmarriage and community disadvantage. Even when controlling for other factors, nonmarriage remains a significant predictor of disadvantage, though spatial regression shows education is the strongest predictor in Boston.

Young Children's Responses To Socioeconomic Status In Peer Reward And Punishment, Joshua R. Namingha, Peter Reschke Dr.

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

This research aimed to determine whether children's understanding of socioeconomic status influences their tendency to reward or punish their peers. The experimenters used the "dictator task" to evaluate children's (ages 7-8) assessments of hypothetical scenarios with participants punishing/rewarding poor and rich children. The results indicate no significant difference in punishment based on socioeconomic status, suggesting limited social class bias at this age.

Fertilizer For Independent Terrorism: Social Media's Facilitation Of Radicalization, Mary Moody, Rachel Stark

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Does social media play a role in the radicalization of independent terrorists? We theorize that, while neither necessary nor sufficient, social media facilitates the radicalization of independent terrorists due to its low barrier of entry, allowing individuals around the world to have access to and create echo chambers around radical ideologies, reinforcing their political identities. To test this theory, we conducted a mixed-methods analysis, running statistical tests on the PIRUS database and executing a most-different qualitative comparative design. We find that social media is more involved in independent rather than traditional terrorist radicalization, establishing the causal pathway in case studies.

Under Threat, Overwhelmed: How National Security Crises Impact Support For Right-Wing Populism, Mary Moody

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

How do national security crises affect support for extremist parties? Using Poland’s far-right Law and Justice (PiS) party as a case study, we argue that security threats requiring multilateral responses—such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine—erode populist support. Analyzing Polish survey data and election results, we highlight the limits of populist appeal and demonstrate how reliance on multilateral security responses limits populist appeal.

Mental Wellness Of The Saintly, Spiritual, And Secular: Who Has The Edge?, Addison Clevenger, Justin Dyer, Sam Hardy

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

This study examines the relationship between religious/spiritual identity and depression and anxiety levels at comparative baseline levels, and then longitudinally. Gathered from The Family Foundations of Youth Development Project, this study samples parent-child dyads from highly religious parts of the Western United States to determine how the mental health of these individuals is affected by the conjunction of spirituality and religiosity, the lack of either, or one divorced from the other. Results revealed that at baseline levels, participants across all groups who identified as “Spiritual but not Religious” had the highest levels of anxiety and depression, and children who identified …

Poverty In Conflict: How Poverty Has Been Affected By The Russia-Ukraine War, Madeline A. Matthews

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

In researching the effects of the Russia-Ukraine war on poverty, I sought to understand the effects on the war on the already impoverished and if the war itself increased the rate of poverty particularly in Ukraine. Conflict not only exacerbates already existing poverty (because the poor have less accessibility to shelters, aid, hospitals, religious sites, etc.), but it also increases the number of people who become impoverished. This is true of the current Ukraine-Russia conflict. This war in particular has had more drastic effects on inflicting poverty as Urban warfare has been used by Russian forces. This creates situations where …

The Disrupted Symphony Of Speech: A Lesion Network Mapping Analysis Of Apraxia Of Speech, Payton Harris, Harrison Moore, Milija Grotenhuis, Jared Nielsen, Michael A. Ferguson

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Apraxia of Speech (AOS) is a motor speech disorder that causes difficulty planning and coordinating the movements necessary for speech. This study uses lesion network mapping to identify the neural connections of AOS by tracing lesion data and analyzing their functional connectivity patterns. Our data indicates strong connectivity between the left primary motor cortex and right premotor cortex. The findings of the left primary motor cortex differ from most AOS research but still correlate with regional functions found in healthy populations. However, results related to the right motor cortex were much less expected, and suggested a larger, understudied role in …

Scaring Away Sleep: A Psychometric Investigation Of Sleep Attention And Sleep Heath, Brandon Pattillo

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Sleep research has illuminated paradoxical relationships between valuing sleep and sleep health. The current study introduced the Sleep Attention Scale (SAS), a novel scale of sleep attention measuring individuals' cognitive and behavioral focus on sleep, in a population of college-aged individuals (n=372). The SAS was also examined in relation to a measure of sleep-related daytime impairment, a form of cognitive dysfunction attributed to insufficient sleep. The SAS exhibited acceptable internal consistency (α = .72), and factor analysis supported a unidimensional structure. No significant relationship between the SAS and impairment was observed, suggesting that sleep attention may not directly influence cognitive …

Asking The Right Questions: How Parent Question Type Shapes Children's Emotion Label Use Across Early Childhood, Ashton Allen, Peter J. Reschke

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Parent questions facilitate children's emotion label learning during parent–child conversations (Ruba et al., 2022), yet limited research has examined how different question types influence this process. Parent–child dyads (N = 296, 136 girls) were observed discussing a picture book depicting self-conscious emotions (shame, guilt, embarrassment, awe, pride) annually for five years starting at age 2. Parent-child conversations were transcribed and the frequencies of parent yes/no questions, parent open-ended questions, child emotion labels, and total word count were coded from transcriptions (mean interrater reliability ICC = .90). Five separate regression models (one per wave) predicting children’s emotion labels revealed significant effects …

Talking Shame With Boys & Girls: How Gender Shapes Parent–Child Conversations About Self-Conscious Emotions, Ashton Allen, Peter J. Reschke, Jocelyn Wikle

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

This study examines how child gender predicts parents’ use of emotion labels during a storybook task. Prior research suggests that parents may socialize emotions differently based on child gender, potentially shaping children’s emotional development. However, limited work has specifically examined gender differences in parent emotion labeling, particularly within the context of self-conscious emotions. The study utilized a sample of parent–child dyads (N = 95) from the 2023 wave of Project M.E.D.I.A., a longitudinal dataset analyzing parent emotion labeling during a shared storybook task. OLS regression models were employed to examine the association between child gender and parents’ use of emotion …

Order Granting Relief From Stay 2 Trial Cases

Catholic Dioceses in Bankruptcy

No abstract provided.

Crop Advisor Approaches To Soil Health Advising And Opportunities For Improvement, Peggy Petrzelka, Jessica D. Ulrich-Schad, Matt Yost, Jenae Dean, Earl Creech, Linda Schott, Tony Richards, Kristy Davis

All Current Publications

In this report, we use data from a 2023 online survey of crop advisors in Utah and Idaho to examine how they are working with their clients on soil health and where opportunities for improvement exist.

Perceptions Of Ai Skills In Resumes, Brandy Whitford, Patrick J. Cooper

Faculty and Staff Publications & Presentations

No abstract provided.

Home Exercise Program Adherence In Stroke Rehabilitation: Analyzing Barriers And Evaluating The Efficacy Of Problem-Solving Consultations, Caroline R. Paulk

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

In post-stroke rehabilitation, the high number of task practice repetitions needed for neural plastic recovery cannot be achieved within standard therapy sessions alone. Home exercise programs (HEP) are prescribed to augment the needed repetitions. However, adherence is often poor, leading to suboptimal functional recovery. Our long-term goal is to develop tools to assist with HEP adherence. Toward this goal, the objective of our study is to investigate: (1) common barriers to HEP adherence, (2) problem-solving solutions, and (3) the impact of these solutions on adherence levels. Participants received standardized upper extremity rehabilitation therapy along with HEP for 6 weeks. Barriers …

University Of Northern Iowa Graduate Council Minutes, April 10, 2025, University Of Northern Iowa. Graduate Council.

Documents - Graduate Council

Meeting minutes from the Graduate Council of the University of Northern Iowa.

Research That Drives Economic & Social Mobility For Veterans And Military Families, Rosalinda V. Maury

Voices of Service Symposium

This poster highlights IVMF's data-driven research and programs that advance economic and social mobility for veterans and military families. It showcases findings on employment, entrepreneurship, transition readiness, and community reintegration, with insights drawn from national surveys and ongoing data monitoring. These findings inform policy, improve program design, and support stakeholders working to enhance veteran outcomes across sectors.

Pain Interference And Hazardous Drinking Among U.S. Veterans: The Role Of Combat Deployment, Joon Kyung Nam, Kyle Mackenzie White, Victoria E. Carlin, Joseph W. Ditre

Voices of Service Symposium

Chronic pain and hazardous drinking (i.e., patterns of alcohol consumption that elevate risk for negative health outcomes) are both common and often co-occur among U.S. veterans. Research examining associations between pain interference (i.e., extent to which pain disrupts daily functioning) and alcohol use among non-military samples has yielded mixed findings, with some linking greater pain interference to lower levels of alcohol consumption, and others linking it with increased odds of alcohol dependence. However, there has been a paucity of research examining these relations among veterans, and the role of combat exposure remains unexplored. The goal of these analyses was to …

Exploring Middle School Teachers’ Perceptions, Understanding, And Implementation Of Performance-Based Summative Assessments, Gregory A. Walkup

Dissertations

Performance-based summative assessments are increasingly emphasized as an alternative to traditional standardized testing, offering students opportunities to demonstrate learning through authentic, application-based tasks. However, there is limited research on how middle school teachers perceive and implement these assessments in their classrooms. This qualitative case study explored the perceptions and experiences of middle school teachers regarding performance-based summative assessments, investigating both their understanding and the reality of classroom implementation. Data collection methods included semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, and document analysis to provide a comprehensive view of teacher perspectives and practices. Through thematic analysis, four major themes emerged: Teacher Confidence and Readiness, …

The Formation Of Glacier Dirt Cones, Ryan M. Strickland, Matthew D. Covington

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Glacier dirt cones are meter-scale cones of ice covered with sediment and rock. The cones develop through a process known as differential melt, whereby ice underlying thick debris melts more slowly than bare ice. We report observations of dirt cones on the Kuskulana Glacier, Alaska and develop a model that simulates the growth of dirt cones from debris-filled pits in the ice. With this model, we vary ice melt rates, hillslope debris diffusion rates and pit geometry. Cone heights scale with the square root of debris volume and growth occurs in three distinct stages: emergence, flux-controlled growth and melt-controlled growth. …

Review Of Intelligent Construction Development Of Highway Infrastructures And Its Prospects, Zheng Jianlong, Chen Mengjie, Liu Chaochao

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

With the rapid advancement of intelligent construction,intelligent development of highway infrastructures has emerged as a key research focus.This paper focused on the whole life cycle of intelligent construction of highway infrastructures and provided a comprehensive analysis of its current status,challenges,and future directions.The discussion was organized into five key areas:intelligent material design,intelligent structural design,intelligent construction management,intelligent inspection and monitoring,and intelligent maintenance management.In intelligent materials,the paper explored the application and recent advancements of the pavement material genome program.Regarding intelligent structures,the role of computer-aided design (CAD ) in pavement structural design was emphasized.For intelligent construction management,the importance and impact of intelligent monitoring systems …

Study On Permanent Deformation Of Subgrade High Liquid Limit Clay Under Wetting Effects, Wang Xihui, Zhang Laijun, Zheng Jiajia

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

To investigate the mechanical properties of high liquid limit clay under different humidity and stress levels in hot and humid regions,high liquid limit clay in hot and humid regions was studied.Dynamic and static triaxial tests were carried out under different humidity and stress levels to reveal the stress-strain relationship and permanent deformation properties across different water contents and confining pressures.The results show that under low confining pressures of the subgrade,the stress-strain curves of the specimens exhibit either strain hardening or strain stabilization,and the failure strength of the specimens decreases with increasing water content and decreasing confining pressure.Based on the Konder …

Influence Of Deep Foundation Pit Excavation On Retaining Structure And Adjacent Tunnels, Gao Hongyun, Xu Tianhan, Wang Zhihua, Lu Yao

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

With the continuous advancement of urban construction,underground engineering has entered a period of rapid development.Foundation pit engineering will inevitably have an impact on the surrounding environment,especially on the existing structures.Based on the foundation pit engineering of Hongqiao Station of Nanjing Metro Line 5,this paper explored the influence of deep foundation pit excavation on its own retaining structure,surrounding ground surface,and adjacent existing municipal tunnels through on-site construction monitoring and numerical simulation.The results show that the excavation of the foundation pit results in a large settlement of the surrounding ground surface,and the maximum settlement position is about 0.35 the excavation depth from …

Experimental Study Of Effect O F Organic Fertilizer Application On Swelling Soil F Or Vetiver Planting, Chen Dongjiong, Wang Guiya O, Ouyang Miao, Yang Yanqi

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

To promote the techni cal progress and popularization of ecological protection of swelling soil slopes,the characteristic that poor swelling soil is unfavorable to vegetation growth was considered,and a method of improving soil quality by using organic fertilizer was proposed,so as to better play the role of vetiver in protection of swelling soil slopes.The swelling soil from Guangxi Province was used as the research object,and compaction and swelling rate tests on swelling soil with different fertilizer contents were conducted to study the effect of organic fertilizer addition on the characteristics of swelling soil.Meanwhile,the partial factorial experimental design was used to study …

Research On Identification Of Subsurface Defects Of Urban Roads And Collapse Risk Assessment, Tian Gang, Zhang Haijun, Wang Chengliang, Du Yanqing, Shi Hai

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

Based on ground-penetrating radar (GPR ) technology,this paper examined the formation characteristics,electrical properties,and morphological variations of common subsurface defects of urban roads.The paper summarized the radar spectrum characteristics of various subsurface defects,aiding in precise identification and providing a basis for subsequent assessment of road collapse risks.In addition,the paper integrated various factors,including subsurface defects,into the assessment of road collapse risk and established a “five-level ” assessment model.This led to an integrated research approach for detecting subsurface defects and assessing collapse risks.A road project in Beijing was used as a case study,and a trapezoidal membership function was applied to assign values to …

Coordinated Deformation Of High-Modulus Asphalt Mixtures With Strain Gauges, Liu Zhaohui, Guo Zhihao, Huang You, Li Wenbo

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

In order to improve the deformation coordination between the built-in strain sensors and asphalt mixtures,high-modulus fine aggregate asphalt mixture AC- 5 and conventional asphalt surface mixture AC- 13 were used as the base materials,and specimens were molded with built-in resistive strain sensors.Uniaxial compression,uniaxial tension,and four-point bending step-by-step loading tests were carried out in conjunction with digital image correlation (DIC).A finite element model verified by hypothesis testing was established to analyze the influence of high-modulus transition materials on deformation coordination under different working conditions such as burial depth of strain gauge,load size,and load type.The results show that under various types of …