Digital Commons Network^™

Nebraska’S Labor Movement: Exploring Union Membership, Perceptions, And Efficacy, Morgan Vogel, Tara Grell, Michael Lee, Meagan E. Paez

Publications

No abstract provided.

Do Space Tech Pack Program Evaluation: Improving Digital Access And Equity, Josie Gatti Schafer, Morgan Vogel, Tara Grell, Dan Hayes, Felipe Blanco

Publications

The Do Space Library received funding from the Emergency Connectivity Fund from the Federal Communications Commission to conduct the Teck Pack Program in Omaha, Nebraska, between June 30, 2022 to June 29, 2023. As part of the Tech Pack Program, 945 Omaha residents received a computing device and free internet access for one year. Along with this infrastructure, they received computer basics training and technology tutoring. This innovative program directly addresses the challenges experienced by those without access. In the city of Omaha, Nebraska, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey for 2021, over 9,000 households …

Cost-Benefit Analysis Of Nebraska Casa Association Programs, Josie Gatti Schafer, Morgan Vogel, Laurel Sariscsany, Tara Grell

Publications

The Nebraska CASA Association works to recruit, screen, train, and support Court Appointed Special Advocates to speak for the well-being of abused and neglected children. Nebraska CASA includes a network of 22 local programs serving 54 counties. Nebraska CASA partnered with the University of Nebraska at Omaha Center for Public Affairs Research and Grace Abbott School of Social Work to execute a simplified cost-benefit analysis of the CASA program in Nebraska. The intent is to demonstrate some of the benefits of the Nebraska CASA program to both children and the public for which a monetary value could be estimated. Monetizing …

State Of Nebraska Digital Equity Plan: Understanding The Digital Equity Needs Of Covered Populations In Nebraska, Josie Gatti Schafer, Julie L. Masters, Morgan Vogel, Chris Kelly, Laurel Sariscsany, Ignacio Ruelas Avila, Tara Grell

Publications

According to 2021 estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 7% of Nebraska households do not have access to a computer and 6% of Nebraska households have access to a computer but no internet. Although recent efforts suggest there is momentum and government action at both the federal and state levels to address lack of broadband (Hammel, 2023; Newman, 2023), this still leaves a considerable number of Nebraskans without access to reliable broadband in the meantime. Furthermore, broadband access is moot if Nebraskans do not have access or cannot afford technology and the cost of internet in the …

Nebraska Community Foundation Greater Nebraska Youth Survey Report, Josie Gatti Schafer

Publications

No abstract provided.

An Empirical Study Of The Evolution Of Homeland Security Definitions And The Public Perception Of Homeland Security, Alexander Siedschlag, Andrea Jerković

Publications

Objectives

• To introduce results from a currently conducted empirical study (quantitative systematic review) of the evolution of official homeland security definitions from related federal strategies, frameworks, guidelines, the QHSRs, enterprise agencies’ FY strategic plans, and related documents.

• To identify continuing and changing ingredients of the sprouting public policy and strategy definition of homeland security.

• To compare those findings to the development of the public perception of homeland security and how people would define the term, using the example of Pennsylvania, with our multi-year poll study of residents’ perception of homeland security.

Utility

• While valuable analyses of …

Predicting The Impact Of Covid-19 On Air Transportation Volumes, Dothang Truong

Publications

COVID-19 has significant impacts on air transportation. This paper aims to predict domestic and international transportation volumes during the pandemic. Daily trips by distance are novel variables in the prediction. Additionally, COVID-19 severity, vaccination, and economic index are other predictors. Artificial Neural Networks and Monte Carlo simulations were used to develop and validate the predictive models using data from various sources in 2021. The findings confirm the importance of daily trips by distance and vaccination as significant predictors. Airlines can use the models to predict air transportation volumes and formulate appropriate strategies to meet the air travel demand and improve …

Civic Homeland Security Culture: A Poll Study Approach And The Example Of Pennsylvania, Alexander Siedschlag

Publications

COVID-19 response experience around the world has demonstrated that it is indispensable to understand the public understanding of, and needs during, risk, hazards, and crisis in public policy, in particular related to the security of society as a whole. The ultimate goal of homeland security and broader civil (or sometimes referred to as societal) security alike, as well as of related security science research, is to accomplish resilient societies through a culture of preparedness. Civic security culture is a necessary ingredient to such a culture of preparedness. The security culture perspective also helps understand how a resilient society and nation …

Motivation For Physical Training In Army Rotc Cadets, Christina Frederick, Stephen Rice, Grace Richards, Keith Ruskin, Kyle Gatrost

Publications

The present study used Self-Determination Theory to study motivation for physical training (PT) in ARMY ROTC cadets (n=139). Results found that length of participation in ROTC lowered cadets’ intrinsic motivation, which then resulted in lower levels of enjoyment for PT. Application of results for future training is discussed.

Whole-Community Response Planning For Pennsylvania’S Ongoing Opioid Emergency, Alexander Siedschlag

Publications

The Penn State Center for Security Research and Education (CSRE), in collaboration with Penn State Homeland Security Programs and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), held a tabletop exercise that addressed first-responder and whole-community response and resilience to the ongoing opioid crisis. The exercise, which took place Sept. 24, 2019, at PEMA headquarters in Harrisburg, Pa., also was supported by the Governor’s Office for Homeland Security and the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Bureau of Public Health Preparedness. The Dickinson School of Law and Immaculata University were academic contributors. This article summarizes the main outcome in the current COVID-19 context.

Cyber Supply Chain Risk Management: Implications For The Sof Future Operating Environment, J. Philip Craiger, Laurie Lindamood-Craiger, Diane M. Zorri

Publications

The emerging Cyber Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM) concept assists at all levels of the supply chain in managing and mitigating risks, and the authors define C-SCRM as the process of identifying, assessing, and mitigating the risks associated with the distributed and interconnected nature of information and operational technology products and service supply chains. As Special Operations Forces increasingly rely on sophisticated hardware and software products, this quick, well-researched monograph provides a detailed accounting of C-SCRM associated laws, regulations, instructions, tools, and strategies meant to mitigate vulnerabilities and risks—and how we might best manage the evolving and ever-changing array of …

Viability And Application Of Mounting Personal Pid Voc Sensors To Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Cheryl Lynn Marcham, Scott Burgess, Joseph Cerreta, Patti J. Clark, James P. Solti, Brandon Breault, Joshua G. Marcham

Publications

Using a UAS-mounted sensor to allow for a rapid response to areas that may be difficult to reach or potentially dangerous to human health can increase the situational awareness of first responders of an aircraft crash site through the remote detection, identification, and quantification of airborne hazardous materials. The primary purpose of this research was to evaluate the remote sensing viability and application of integrating existing commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) sensors with small unmanned aircraft system (UAS) technology to detect potentially hazardous airborne contaminants in emergency leak or spill response situations. By mounting the personal photoionization detector (PID) with volatile organic compound …

The Role Of The Internet In Intelligence Gathering And Spreading Propaganda, Leila Halawi

Publications

The analysis of American intelligence as an academic discipline exhibits an excellent level of integration regarding subject matter and methods from military history and strategic studies. The knowledge and information revolution steered a different online culture of sharing and oversharing. While the study of intelligence has primarily been associated with historical methods thus far, opportunities for innovation are also afforded by advances in theoretical and conceptual thinking about intelligence. Such revolutions can help intelligence history while concurrently enlightening the disputes on intelligence in the twentyfirst century. The takings from the information age consist of low cost for access to data …

Digital Disruption Solution For Airlines In Brazil, Camila Bisinoto Borges, Cristiane Lunardi Das Neves Rodrigues, Daniel Dias Landroni, Tatiane Mendonça, Leila Halawi

Publications

Since March 2017, the cost of denied boarding began to draw all Brazilian airlines' attention because of the Resolution 400 of the Brazilian National Civil Aviation Agency. This Resolution covers several items, but we will focus on the penalty that the airlines need to pay for each passenger who had his boarding denied involuntarily in domestic flights. Our goal is to create a plugin that any airline could use in their self-service check-in channels and direct communication with the passenger. It could also become a way to offer proactive accommodation options and monetary compensations due to itinerary or ticket schedule …

Pennsylvania’S Covid-19 Response Vs. Homeland Security Frameworks And Research: Masking The Whole Community, Alexander Siedschlag

Publications

This essay offers an intermediate discussion of select policy, strategic, operational, and tactical issues that demonstrate where and how the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s novel coronavirus response on the one hand, and homeland security frameworks and research on the other, converge or—more often so—diverge, and how to narrow this gap. Although typically framed as a pandemic owned by the public health sector, the COVID-19 response falls directly within the homeland security mission space, whose core missions include “Ensuring Resilience to Disasters.” In some respects, Pennsylvania’s response exemplifies best practices suggested by research. In other dimensions, it is neither in line with …

Pennsylvania’S Covid-19 Response Through The Homeland Security Frameworks And Research Lens – Lessons Learned, Alexander Siedschlag

Publications

• Although typically framed as a pandemic owned by the public health sector, the COVID-19 response falls directly within the homeland security mission space, whose core missions include “Ensuring Resilience to Disasters” (QHSR 2014).
• In some aspects PA’s COVID-19 response is in line with security research.
• In other dimensions, it is neither in line with what research would recommend nor with what the National Preparedness System would foresee.
• The Keystone State has yet to fully make the step from disaster to catastrophe as the characteristic challenge to U.S. emergency management in our century.

Facts About Mold: An Aiha Perspective For Ieq Investigators, Physicians, And Engineers, Cheri Marcham

Publications

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Institute of Medicine of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), Health Canada, and the World Health Organization all agree that living or working in a building with mold-damaged building materials results in increased risk of respiratory diseases such as asthma.

The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) has worked to translate the advice from these public health and medical authorities into state-of-the-art inspection and sampling protocols. These protocols are captured in AIHA’s Recognition, Evaluation and Control of Indoor Mold publication, also known …

Project Management: A Natural Career Destination For Military Veterans, Tracey Richardson, James W. Marion Jr, Matthew Earnhardt, Vittal S. Anantatmula

Publications

This quantitative study surveys 595 United States military veterans from all four branches of the military in order to ascertain the degree to which the branches of the military prepare individuals for possible future careers in civilian project management roles. Further, the study compares the relative knowledge of project management technical skill areas, processes and personal competencies. Although all branches provided responses indicating a high degree of familiarity with and preparation for project management roles, some significant differences were observed in responses between military branches.

The Value Of Iaq: A Review Of The Scientific Evidence Supporting The Benefits Of Investing In Better Indoor Air Quality, Vickie R. Hawkins,, Cheryl L. Marcham, John P. Springston, J. David Miller, Geoffrey Braybrooke, Craig Maunder, Lydia Feng, Ben Kollmeyer

Publications

Other studies have examined how ventilation rates, combined with the presence of pollutant sources, can affect productivity. These studies provide evidence that increased ventilation, including increases above common guidance levels such as ASHRAE’s ventilation standards, improve occupant productivity. Increased occupant control over ventilation has also been shown to improve productivity. Higher indoor carbon dioxide (CO2) levels have been directly associated with impaired work performance and increased health symptoms. Historically, it was believed that these associations exist only because higher indoor CO2 concentrations, resulting from lower outdoor air ventilation rates, are also correlated with higher levels of other indoor-generated pollutants that …

Penn State’S School Of Public Affairs Security-Related Academic Programs Amid The Novel Coronavirus Catastrophe, Alexander Siedschlag

Publications

Due to its large OL student population, Penn State’s School of Public Affairs had (unintended) applicable crisis contingency protocols in place prior to the COVID-19 outbreak. With the support of our college’s Center for Teaching Excellence, many traditional F2F residential courses had already been set up on our learning management system (LMS), Canvas. As a result, many of our school’s traditional students and faculty had a handle on using Canvas and remote learning technology. The center enhanced and focused its services to faculty as COVID-19 evolved (Center for Teaching Excellence, 2020). As the COVID-19 crisis hit Penn State during the …

Can Simulated Nature Support Mental Health? Comparing Short, Single-Doses Of 360-Degree Nature Videos In Virtual Reality With The Outdoors, Michael H.E.M. Browning, Katherine J. Mimnaugh, Carena J. Van Riper, Heidemarie K. Laurent, Steven M. Lavalle

Publications

Nature exposure in virtual reality (VR) can provide emotional well-being benefits for people who cannot access the outdoors. Little is known about how these simulated experiences compare with real outdoor experiences. We conduct an experiment with healthy undergraduate students that tests the effects of 6 min of outdoor nature exposure with 6 min of exposure to a 360-degree VR nature video, which is recorded at the outdoor nature exposure location. Skin conductivity, restorativeness, and mood before and after exposure are measured. We find that both types of nature exposure increase physiological arousal, benefit positive mood levels, and are restorative compared …

Nebraska Youth Survey, Josie Gatti Schafer

Publications

In January 2020, Nebraska Community Foundation began working with Center for Public Affairs Research at the University of Nebraska at Omaha to co-create a survey designed to explore young people’s perceptions and perspectives of their Nebraska hometowns. Over 1,000 high school students responded to the online survey which was administered in rural communities of varying sizes and geography between January and May 2020. The results of the Youth Survey begin to reveal the priorities, values, and desires of these individuals as well as factors that may influence their decision to return to or remain in Greater Nebraska in the future. …

Pennsylvania’S Covid-19 Response Vs. Homeland Security Frameworks And Research: Masking The Whole Community, Alexander Siedschlag

Publications

This essay offers an intermediate discussion of select policy, strategic, operational, and tactical issues that demonstrate where and how the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s novel coronavirus response on the one hand, and homeland security frameworks and research on the other, converge or—more often so—diverge, and how to narrow this gap. Although typically framed as a pandemic owned by the public health sector, the COVID-19 response falls directly within the homeland security mission space, whose core missions include “Ensuring Resilience to Disasters.” In some respects, Pennsylvania’s response exemplifies best practices suggested by research. In other dimensions, it is neither in line with …

Current Trends In Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Implications For U.S. Special Operations Forces, J. Philip Craiger, Diane Maye Zorri

Publications

This paper assesses current trends in small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) technology and its applications to the Special Operations Forces (SOF) community. Of critical concern to SOF is that commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) sUAS technologies are relatively inexpensive, improving at a dramatic rate, and widely available throughout the world. Insurgents, terrorists, violent extremist organizations (VEOs) and other nefarious actors have used COTS sUAS to conduct offensive attacks as well as to develop battlefield situation awareness; these technological improvements combined with their widespread availability will require enhanced and rapidly adaptive counter-sUAS measures in the future. To understand the most current trends in the …

H-Diplo Article Review 831- Field Jr. On D’Haeseleer. “American Civic Action: The National Campaign Plan And The Failure To Win ‘Hearts And Minds’ In El Salvador.”, Thomas Field

Publications

The author - Dr. Thomas Field - reviews Brian D’Haeseleer's article “American Civic Action: The National Campaign Plan and the Failure to Win ‘Hearts and Minds’ in El Salvador.” This article appeared in Diplomacy and Statecraft, issue 26:3 (2015), on pages 494-513. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09592296.2015.1067527.

Use Of Physical Activity Monitoring Devices By Families In Rural Communities: Qualitative Approach, Iryna Sharaievska, Rebecca A. Battista, Jennifer Zwetsloot

Publications

Background: Several studies support the impact of information communication technology–based interventions to promote physical activity among youth. However, little is known on how technology can be used by the entire family to encourage healthy behavior. Previous studies showed that children and youth rely and are dependent upon the decisions and values of their caregivers when it comes to having a healthy lifestyle. Thus, the exploration of behavior and attitudes of the entire family is needed.

Objective: The study aimed to explore (1) perceptions of how the use of physical activity tracking devices (Fitbit Zip) by families in rural communities influence …

Rethinking Consumer Protection: Escaping Death By Regulation, Thomas L. Tacker

Publications

This book is designed to appeal to anyone who is at all interested in topics related to making life better and safer—for all us consumers. Our current approach to consumer protection is extremely flawed; sometimes costing lives rather than saving them. There are better ways to protect ourselves and the people we love.

Recruiting, Retaining, And Promoting For Careers At Transportation Agencies, Christofer Harper, Susan Bogus, Raghava Kommalapati, Doeun Choe

Publications

State transportation agencies currently face complex challenges in recruiting and retaining the workforce necessary to function effectively. The situation exacerbates due to the number of employees from different generations that have to coexist with varying values, expectations, and principles. These agencies are primarily comprised of two generational groups: the baby-boomers, who are approaching retirement and occupy many managerial positions; and the millennials, who are demonstrating their interest in technology and demanding dynamism in their careers. This multiplicity of interest represents a challenge for human resources (HR) in addressing workforce issues and providing the necessary means to recruit and retain qualified …

A Field Study: An Examination Of Managers’ Situational Leadership Styles, Thomas G. Henkel, Debra T. Bourdeau

Publications

The present study explored the applicable situational leadership styles of experienced military managers attending an advanced leadership educational program. While attending this program, these managers were requested to reveal the results of their situational leadership self-assessment in which they participated. A total of 620 managers agreed to reveal their results, and descriptive statistics were conducted to determine the findings of their situational leadership self-assessments. The study research results revealed two situational leadership styles were predominating: (Telling and Participating). The findings of research study have significant implications for managers when leading individuals and teams for organizational success. These findings also may …

Does Length Of Ride, Gender Or Nationality Affect Willingness To Ride In A Driverless Ambulance?, Stephen Rice, Scott R. Winter, Rian Mehta, Joseph R. Keebler, Bradley S. Baugh, Emily C. Anania, Mattie N. Milner

Publications

Due to the frequent lack of ambulances and personnel, the purpose of this study was to examine consumers’ willingness-to-ride in an ambulance that was either driven by a human driver or completely automated (with no human driver) based on the gender of the participant and their nationality, either Indian or American. A two-study experimental design was utilized using over 1,000 participants. In Study 1, the length of the ride and the type of driver were manipulated while in Study 2, the length of the ride was manipulated across genders and nationality. Study 2 also collected affect measures to complete a …