Traces: A farm in eastern Iowa

Through my project, Traces: a farm in eastern Iowa, I photograph interior and exterior spaces of Kenny and June Friederick’s retired dairy farm. The images provide record of the home and acreage throughout 2017 and early 2018, a time when farming practices are rapidly evolving. Grouped with aerial photographs and farm day books (1980 - current), the project shares a representation of the farm as it exists today and a reference to the history of the space. Through the combination of photographs and text, I present a tribute to the immeasurable contribution of a farmer to his or her land and family, a dedication that amounts to far more than the sum of daily tasks. The exhibition is meant to share a narrative, inviting viewers to share a quiet but deep experience of place

Extension of electrical engineering to bioengineering topics: magnetic fermentation and microfluidic nematode assays

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECpE) at Iowa State University added bioengineering to the department\u27s list of strategic research areas in 2006. In an effort to foster a bioengineering center of excellence within the department and to promote multidisciplinary research, two bioengineering research projects were performed: magnetic fermentation and microfluidic nematode assay development. The background of these research topics, the work completed for each, and their future prospects are discussed in this thesis. Fuel ethanol produced through fermentation has recently received attention during the search for eco-friendly, renewable energy sources. Previous research has been completed to observe the effects of magnetic fermentation but conflicting results have been reported. Research was performed to characterize the fermentation kinetics of S. Cerevisiae ATCCy 24859 at cell concentration loading rates from 102 to 107 CFU/mL and to determine the effects of magnetic field enhanced fermentation on cell growth and ethanol production. It was found that magnetic fields have no statistically significant affect on cell growth. Non-homogeneous static magnetic fields of 220 mT caused a 9% ethanol concentration peak enhancement over the control group for 2% dextrose loading experiments and a peak ethanol concentration six hours before the control group for 6% dextrose loading experiments. Non-parasitic nematodes are common research subjects, but the characterization of parasitic nematodes has been limited by the versatility and resolution of available technology. A high resolution microfluidic assay for the measurement of parasitic nematodes\u27 undulatory locomotive parameters was developed and tested. A characterization and comparison of these parameters for H. glycines and two isolates of O. dentatum revealed that a correlation between nematodes\u27 undulatory parameters and their physiological state exists, suggesting prospects for new nematode migration and drug chemotaxis assays

Divergent Narratives on Chinese Internet Censorship: Western-centric versus Local Perspectives

University of Minnesota M.A. thesis. May 2021. Major: Asian Literature, Culture & Media. Advisor: Ning Ma. 1 computer file (PDF); ii, 59 pages.Chinese Internet censorship refers to the Chinese government’s policies that attempt to control the circulation of online information. Internet censorship as a focus of study produces multiple, incongruent perspectives, especially among Western academics and authors. This thesis discusses “black-and-white” and “shades-of-grey” perspectives of Chinese Internet censorship. “Black and white” perspectives present Internet censorship as necessarily being oppressive, and are informed by Western-centric biases rooted in an ideologized, essentialized view of democratic principles and Orientalism. “Shades of grey” perspectives emphasize understanding censorship from a local perspective, including how it prompts the development of certain online behaviors. Under the umbrella of Chinese censorship lies various aspects, including the goal of the government to prevent collective action, as well as the underlying motivation of producing a shared understanding of reality. It also includes how netizens experience Internet censorship, how they react to it, and the influences it has on online culture. Importantly, this discussion of Chinese Internet censorship also considers how the West interprets it, which is usually in a very critical manner, as censorship is viewed as antithetical to Western-centric essentialized values of democracy and freedom.Deutmeyer, Dana. (2021). Divergent Narratives on Chinese Internet Censorship: Western-centric versus Local Perspectives. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/223096

Performing Editions of the Handel Cantatas HWV 81, 105, and 113 for Soprano, Obbligato Instruments, and Continuo, or Piano Reduction, with Accompanying Notes, Phonetic Pronunciations, and Translations

This document consists mainly of performing editions of the Handel cantatas Alpestre monte (HWV 81), Dietro l’orme fugaci (Armida abbandonata) (HWV 105), and Figlio d’alte speranze (HWV 113). For each of the three cantatas on which the document is focused, provided in this document are a full score with realized continuo and extracted parts; a piano reduction; an overview containing information on key, tempo, range, tessitura, timing, and musical characteristics and vocal skills required; IPA, idiomatic translations, and word-for-word translations for each; options for da capo ornamentation; indications for cadential delays in recitatives and traditionally expected appoggiature and trills. Additionally, the author has provided pertinent biographical information on Handel, background on the cantatas, and notes on performance practice. Advisor: Kathleen S. Butle

Traces: A farm in eastern Iowa

Through my project, Traces: a farm in eastern Iowa, I photograph interior and exterior spaces of Kenny and June Friederick’s retired dairy farm. The images provide record of the home and acreage throughout 2017 and early 2018, a time when farming practices are rapidly evolving. Grouped with aerial photographs and farm day books (1980 - current), the project shares a representation of the farm as it exists today and a reference to the history of the space. Through the combination of photographs and text, I present a tribute to the immeasurable contribution of a farmer to his or her land and family, a dedication that amounts to far more than the sum of daily tasks. The exhibition is meant to share a narrative, inviting viewers to share a quiet but deep experience of place.</p

Burden and coping strategies of adult daughters in home care of parents with physical and mental diseases

Viele Studien belegen die überproportionale Zunahme alter Menschen an der Gesamtgesellschaft. Daher wird zu Recht eine "Kultur des Alters" gefordert, die die Entwicklung zu einer altersgerechten Gesellschaft unterstützt (BMFSFJ, 2002). Die Herausforderungen bestehen darin, die alten und betagten Menschen am gesellschaftlichen Leben teilhaben zu lassen, und die physisch und psychisch erkrankten, alten Menschen adäquat zu versorgen. Das erfordert, die Bedeutung der veränderten Alterspyramide dialogfähig zu machen und die Phänomene der Hochaltrigkeit nicht nur auf der Ebene der Forschung zu verstehen, sondern auch ein Bewusstsein für die Normalität des Alters zu schaffen. Es darf bei den Betrachtungen der Hochaltrigkeit aber nicht vergessen werden, dass die Politik die pflegerische Versorgung dieser betagten Menschen als private Aufgabe annimmt, die zumeist, ganz entsprechend tradierter, aber gültiger Vorstellungen im Verantwortungsbereich der Frauen liegt. Damit ist eine weitere Dimension der altersgewandelten Gesellschaft angesprochen: Die weitgehend weiblichen privaten und großenteils unentgeltlichen Leistungen der privaten Altenpflege. Auf gesellschaftlicher Ebene ist sie von großem monetären und auch psychischen Nutzen, weil mit ihr ein offener Dialog des Themas verhindert wird. Auf individueller Ebene, aus Sicht der Pflegenden, sind damit aber nicht selten hohe physische und psychische Kosten verbunden, die in der Wissenschaft als "Syndrom der häuslichen Angehörigenpflege" diskutiert werden (z.B. Zeman, 2005). Entsprechend liegen viele Untersuchungen, insbesondere zu den gesundheitlichen Belastungen vor (z.B. Gräßel, 1998a). Weniger bekannt ist, welche Strategien die pflegenden Angehörigen (außer den bekannten instrumentellen Unterstützungsleistungen) nutzen, um die nicht selten über Jahre hinweg dauernden Belastungen zu bewältigen. Genau an diesem Punkt setzt diese Arbeit an. Diese Arbeit untersucht die extremen Belastungen und Bewältigungsstrategien von erwachsenen Töchtern, die ihre geistig und körperlich beeinträchtigten Eltern pflegten. Anhand von qualitativen Interviews und psychometrischen Tests konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Elternpflege ein kritisches Ereignis mit traumatisierendem Potenzial ist. Ein Ergebnis ist, dass die häusliche Pflege umso besser bewältigt wird, je besser eine kognitive Umdeutung gelingt.This works examines the extreme burden and coping strategies of adult daughters who took care for their parents with mental and physical diseases. It showed that home care is a very critical event coming along with a trauma potential. The study was based on psychometric tests and qualitative interviews

Extension of electrical engineering to bioengineering topics: magnetic fermentation and microfluidic nematode assays

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECpE) at Iowa State University added bioengineering to the department's list of strategic research areas in 2006. In an effort to foster a bioengineering center of excellence within the department and to promote multidisciplinary research, two bioengineering research projects were performed: magnetic fermentation and microfluidic nematode assay development. The background of these research topics, the work completed for each, and their future prospects are discussed in this thesis. Fuel ethanol produced through fermentation has recently received attention during the search for eco-friendly, renewable energy sources. Previous research has been completed to observe the effects of magnetic fermentation but conflicting results have been reported. Research was performed to characterize the fermentation kinetics of S. Cerevisiae ATCCy 24859 at cell concentration loading rates from 102 to 107 CFU/mL and to determine the effects of magnetic field enhanced fermentation on cell growth and ethanol production. It was found that magnetic fields have no statistically significant affect on cell growth. Non-homogeneous static magnetic fields of 220 mT caused a 9% ethanol concentration peak enhancement over the control group for 2% dextrose loading experiments and a peak ethanol concentration six hours before the control group for 6% dextrose loading experiments. Non-parasitic nematodes are common research subjects, but the characterization of parasitic nematodes has been limited by the versatility and resolution of available technology. A high resolution microfluidic assay for the measurement of parasitic nematodes' undulatory locomotive parameters was developed and tested. A characterization and comparison of these parameters for H. glycines and two isolates of O. dentatum revealed that a correlation between nematodes' undulatory parameters and their physiological state exists, suggesting prospects for new nematode migration and drug chemotaxis assays.</p