Digital Commons Network^™

An Evaluation Of The Nebraska Ffa Launch! Program, Miranda M. Hornung

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The purpose of this program evaluation was to discover the experiences of entrepreneurial education received in the Nebraska FFA Launch! Program in relation to future decisions for high school students about entrepreneurship. The Launch! Program aims to provide an educational experience for youth to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and view entrepreneurship as a possible career pathway. This focus addresses the opportunity to potentially help solve the issue of brain drain in rural Nebraska communities. A program evaluation was conducted by story harvesting from past participants through Zoom interviews to understand personal experiences and takeaways from their time in the Launch! …

Inclusive Special Education: Changing Mindsets And Practices To Improve Student Achievement, Nicole S. Pechous

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Decades after federal mandates for special education services, students with disabilities (SWD) continue to lag significantly behind their peers in academic achievement and post–school outcomes. This quantitative study explores how the inclusive mindsets and collaborative practices of general and special education teachers from a medium–sized, suburban Midwestern district improved after participating in a year-long training series on inclusive practices. The study also explores the impact of increased inclusive mindsets and practices on student reading achievement, particularly for students with disabilities. Using a quantitative design, changes in inclusive mindsets and practices for participating teachers were analyzed. Findings indicated that participation in …

David Berkowitz, Enzyme-Assisted Organic Synthesis & Nsf Officer, Mark A. Griep, David B. Berkowitz

Department of Chemistry: Faculty Interviews

Dr. Dave Berkowitz was born in Urbana, Illinois. He earned his bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Chicago, where he did undergraduate research. Next, he earned his doctorate from Harvard University. However, his advisor, Steve Benner, moved from Harvard to ETH Zurich, also called the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. Dave accompanied him to Zurich, where he completed his dissertation work. When Dave returned to the U.S., he did a postdoc with the legendary Samuel Danishefsky at Yale University. In 1991, he joined UNL as an assistant professor of chemistry and quickly rose through the ranks. Dave is …

Beyond Green: Re-Reading "Wicked" As Anthropological Text, Tan Gia Bao Huynh

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

This paper examines "Wicked" through the lens of cultural borderlands, revealing how the musical dramatizes the creation and navigation of social boundaries. By analyzing Elphaba's journey, the research demonstrates how her green skin serves as a powerful metaphor for cultural otherness, while her experiences at Shiz University and beyond illustrate strategies of resistance, accommodation, and identity formation familiar to those navigating between dominant and marginalized spaces. Particularly significant is the paper's examination of Oz's propaganda system, which demonstrates how cultures manufacture monsters and heroes through selective storytelling and public ritual. This analysis offers fresh insights into "Wicked's" enduring appeal, suggesting …

Physical Space And Democratic Citizenship: Third Place Usage And Civic Engagement Among Undergraduates, Justin L. Fintel

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

This thesis examines the relationship between third place usage and civic engagement levels among undergraduate students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Drawing on urban planning and political science literature, I hypothesize that students who more frequently use and interact with campus third places—which are informal communal spaces that foster community, such as coffee shops, libraries, and student unions—demonstrate higher levels of civic engagement. Using survey data from thirty-eight undergraduates and ordinary least squares regression analysis, I find strong support for my hypothesis. Third place usage significantly predicts civic engagement (β = 0.609, p < 0.001) statistically, and this relationship remains robust even after controlling for family socialization and socioeconomic status. The findings suggest that physical spaces on college campuses play an independent role in promoting democratic citizenship beyond students' pre-existing characteristics. These results have important implications for university and urban planning, while highlighting the value of investing in communal campus spaces as mechanisms for promoting civic participation.

The Effect Of Cerebral Somatosensory Network Priming On Language Function In Chronic L-Mca Ischemic Stroke: A Companion Case Study, Mandelin E. Wollesen

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Chronic aphasia following a left middle cerebral artery (L-MCA) stroke is often associated with limited recovery beyond the acute phase, necessitating interventions that target neuroplastic mechanisms. This study examined the effects of somatosensory pneumotactile stimulation paired with cognitive-linguistic tasks on functional language performance in an individual with chronic aphasia. Using a single-subject pre-post design, the participant completed a 10-week intervention protocol involving repeated pneumotactile stimulation via the GALILEO system combined with language and motor tasks. Outcomes were assessed using standardized measures, discourse-based language samples, oral reading, repetition, and phonemic verbal fluency. Discourse was analyzed using Correct Information Units (CIUs), words …

Addressing Legal Uncertainties In Article Versions And Institutional Copyright Policies To Support Immediate Public Access To Federal Grant-Funded Publications, Yuanxiao Xu

Copyright, Fair Use, Scholarly Communication, etc.

New federal public access policies—mandated by the 2022 OSTP Memo and already adopted by several key federal grant-making agencies—require authors funded by federal grants to deposit peer-reviewed publications for immediate public access. This paper explains how grant- receiving institutions and their affiliated authors can dispel legal uncertainties and comply with the new public access policies. Section I delineates how valid prior licenses enable public deposit of manuscripts notwithstanding later publishing agreements transferring copyright to the journals. Section II discusses the different versions of a manuscript created during the publication process. Section III describes the different types of third-party contributions incorporated …

Unl Emeriti And Retirees Association Newsletter, Spring 2019

UNL Emeriti and Retirees Association: Newsletters and Other Materials

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Emeriti and Retirees Association Newsletter, Spring 2019

Water Current, Volume 58, No. 1, Spring 2026

Water Current Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Detection And Quantification Of Allergen Cross-Contact In Shared Frying Oil Using Targeted Mass Spectrometry, Francisca Asigri

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Cow’s milk and egg allergies are prevalent IgE-mediated food allergies that pose significant public health concerns worldwide. Although strict avoidance remains the primary management strategy, unintended exposure can still occur through allergen cross-contact, particularly in commercial and industrial food operations that utilize shared frying oils. The objective of this study was to identify and quantify allergen transfer in shared frying oil and assess the robustness of existing targeted mass spectrometry methods (LC-MS/MS) for detecting milk and egg proteins in heated oil matrices.

Heated oil spikes were developed by incorporating non-fat dry milk (NFDM) and whole egg powder (WEP) into oil …

Effects Of Ndbi With Just-In-Time Programming Of Vsds On Communication Of Children With Asd, Jenna M. Rogers

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a prominent neurological and developmental disability that often requires communication support, such as Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Visual Scene Displays (VSDs) are an AAC support that directly immerses in the user’s life, using images from real environments the user has or may experience. Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Intervention (NDBI) is an evidence-based approach to early intervention that targets social communication during naturalistic routines, including those who rely on AAC support to communicate. Despite recent research indicating that combining NDBI and AAC is a promising approach (Pope et al., 2024), no studies to date have examined …

A Software-Defined Radio Testbed For Mimo-Ofdm Communications, Chaz G. Maschman

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In this thesis, we implement a testbed for multiple-input multiple-output orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MIMO-OFDM) systems via GNU Radio. Specifically, we implement a configurable framework for the construction of MIMO-OFDM software-defined radio (SDR) systems as a GNU Radio module. The GNU Radio MIMO-OFDM module consists of multiple algorithmic blocks necessary for implementation of a MIMO-OFDM system. This includes a library for the generation of orthogonal or pseudo-random pilot sequences, amendments to the Schmidl-Cox protocol for MIMO synchronization, and the creation of click-and-drag GNU Radio blocks implementing the conversion of arbitrary data sent via external programs to MIMO-OFDM frames, the initial …

Exploratory Evaluation Of Handler Performance And Processing-Related Outcomes During Cattle Handling, Morgan Marquardt

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Animals have several critical roles in society, including the production of food and fiber, and companionship. Contact with animals has been shown to benefit human physical and mental health, yet little research has investigated the impact that humans have on animals. Handler skill may considerably affect the extent to which humans influence animal health and wellbeing, and this may be a critical consideration for animal agriculture. Objective assessment of cattle handler skill has received limited attention in the scientific literature, despite its importance to human safety and animal welfare. When compared to less skilled handlers, highly skilled cattle handlers may …

Developing 'A Guide To Agricultural Education Advisory Committees: Development, Uses, And Transitions', Christine Schuler

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This project developed a practical guide to support agricultural education advisory committees in their development, use, and long-term sustainability. Strong school-community partnerships are essential to effective agricultural education programs, particularly in small, rural communities where programs serve as connections between the school and local industry. Advisory committees play a critical role in maintaining these relationships, yet many agricultural educators lack clear, accessible resources to guide this work. This project addressed that need by creating a comprehensive, practice-based guide established from research and professional experience.

This guide started from a review of literature on school-community partnerships, advisory committees, and agricultural education …

Rhetorical Violence: The Rhetorics Of Women's Counter Political Violence, Kylie Rowland

Department of English: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Protest is omnipresent, and yet not much is known about the efficacy and impacts of its different rhetorical strategies—particularly so for marginalized populations, whose available means of protest are already limited by both material realities and assumptions that govern who and what can make waves. This bind is further exacerbated by gendered and racialized civility politics that determine which bodies can be disruptive and which already are considered “violent.” To address this gap, I turn toward the under-researched rhetorical potentials of marginalized people’s—specifically women and queer folks’—use of symbolic protest “violence,” which works to strategically make evident the larger ongoing …

Perceived Barriers To Integrated Crop–Livestock Systems: Evidence From A Nebraska Producer Survey, Omid Tarashtwal

Department of Agricultural Economics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Integrated crop-livestock systems offer agronomic, economic, and environmental benefits, yet reintegration has been slow across the Northern Great Plains despite sustained interest. Existing research has documented barriers to transition conceptually, but quantitative evidence on which barriers producers perceive as most important and which producer and operation characteristics are associated with stronger barrier perceptions remains limited. This thesis addresses that gap using data from the 2023 Nebraska Agriculture Operator Survey.

The analysis focuses on 241 Nebraska producers, including 179 crop-only and 62 livestock-only operations. Seven models are estimated, combining ordered logit estimation for single-item barriers with linear regression for averaged barrier …

Impact Of In Situ Observations From Three Torus Cases On Model Analyses And Forecasts Of Severe Convection, Robert M. Szot

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The quality of forecasts of severe deep convection in high-resolution numerical weather prediction is dependent on the representativeness of the model initial conditions. This representativeness may be negatively impacted by limited observation availability and by the presence of mesoscale heterogeneities that were not detected by conventional observations assimilated into convection-allowing models. By assimilating storm-scale observations from the Targeted Observation by Radars and Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) of Supercells (TORUS) campaign into an ensemble styled after the Warn-on-Forecast System, this study aims to investigate if data from field work platforms can improve the quality of initial conditions in the ensemble, potentially …

Antecedents And Consequences Of Consumer Behavior In Circular Fashion: Cognitive, Normative, And Behavioral Pathways Shaping Purchase And Participation Intentions, Mahmudul Hasan Sabuj

Department of Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The increasing environmental impact of the fashion industry has intensified the need for a systemic transition from linear to circular production and consumption models. Despite growing interest in circular fashion, there remains a limited understanding of the underlying behavioral dimensions that drive consumer engagement in sustainable practices. Grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Norm Activation Theory (NAT), this study examines consumer behavior through an integrated framework capturing cognitive, social, and normative influences.

Using data collected from a structured online survey (N = 575), the study employs Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), reliability analysis, and multiple regression techniques to …

Gamma Sigma Delta, Nebraska Chapter Newsletter, Issue #69 Spring 2026

Gamma Sigma Delta, Nebraska Chapter: Newsletters

President's message, Dustin Loy

Undergraduate Scholarship Awards

2026 Chapter Officers and Committees

Faculty Awards

Membership info and dues form

Grad Student Scholarship

Award of Merit

NU Foundation Fund

New Initiates

Save the Date

In Memoriam:
Kara Daye Heideman (March 31, 1980-December 11, 2025)
L. Dale Van Vleck (June 11, 1933-December 23, 2025)
James (Jim) Eugene Specht (September 12, 1945-February 13, 2026)
Irvin Thomas Omtvedt (June 12, 1935-April 6, 2026)
Fayrene L. Hamouz (June 6, 1946-April 8, 2026)
Robert L. Raun (April 22, 1928-April 22, 2026)

Eating For Healthy Eyes: The Role Of Nutrition In Ocular Health, Brianna Stroh

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The central research question of this thesis asks: How does nutrition influence ocular health overall and the impact of nutrition on the development or progression of common eye diseases? Building upon existing research in optometry/ophthalmology, nutrition science, and public health, this project examines the physiological mechanisms linking diet to eye health and evaluates how specific nutrients and dietary patterns contribute to disease prevention and visual function. This thesis employs a comprehensive review of peer-reviewed literature to evaluate the relationship between nutrition and ocular disease. Key areas of focus include the role of oxidative stress in eye disease development, the protective …

Arrival Is Not Access, Emmanuel Asamoah

School of Art, Art History, and Design: Theses and Student Creative Work

This thesis presents a group of sculptures and installations that explore how material, labor, and communication shape unequal access in diasporic life. It questions the common belief that movement, visibility, or relocation automatically leads to stability, care, or belonging. In my experience, arrival does not guarantee access. Using clay, steel and found materials, I create tension between softness and control. Many of these materials are worn and discarded. I cut and rebuild them, leaving marks of strain and repair visible rather than hiding them.

Repetition appears through rows of cast faces and a collection of telephones. These forms suggest shared …

Beauty Temples, Courtney Obrien

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

This photo story explores the profound intersection of physical touch, professional craft, and emotional sanctuary within the independent beauty spaces of Lincoln, Nebraska. By documenting the work of practicing hairstylists, a tattoo artist, and a nail technician, the project positions the modern studio not merely as a place of aesthetic enhancement, but as a "Beauty Temple".

At the heart of this narrative is the intimacy of the artist-client relationship. In an increasingly digital world, these practitioners remain among the few professionals whose work requires sustained, purposeful physical contact. Through close-up photography and environmental portraiture, this project captures the steady hands …

Validating Hybrid Simulation Of Restaurant Noise With Real-World Data, Samuel Underwood

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Restaurants exhibit noise levels that vary with occupancy over a typical operating day. When noise levels become excessive, customer comfort is diminished. While many previous works have surveyed noise levels in restaurants over short time intervals, there has been little work to comprehensively examine noise levels over a full operating day, while also tracking occupancy levels and thoroughly measuring unoccupied acoustical parameters. This dissertation work contributes to the existing body of restaurant acoustics work by measuring unoccupied and occupied acoustical conditions in 21 restaurants in the Midwest, correlating user reviews, scores, and crowdsourced noise levels measured in 943 venues in …

A Place To Perform: Designing Spaces For Student Artists Through Event Planning, Ava R. Jacobsen

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

This thesis examines the creation of accessible performance spaces for student artists not enrolled in formal music programs. To address this gap, two First Friday events were hosted at The Gathering Grove in Lincoln, Nebraska, providing platforms for local student performers and engaging the community in live art experiences. The first event, an open mic night, highlighted the challenges of spontaneous performances, while the second, featuring designated performers, tested more structured event planning strategies.

Both events emphasized the importance of marketing, venue layout, audience engagement, and operational organization. Key lessons included the need for contingency planning, multi-channel promotion, and clearly …

Interview With Orca Award Winner David Forsythe, Unl Political Science; International Human Rights, Mark A. Griep, David Forsythe

UNL ORCA Interview Series

Prof. David Forsythe was awarded the ORCA in 1982. He was born in North Carolina and earned a bachelor’s in political science from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem. Next, he earned a master’s and doctorate in Politics from Princeton University in New Jersey. In 1973, he joined UNL as an associate professor of political science and was soon promoted to full professor. In 1993, he became chair of his department and received the Charles J. Mach Distinguished Professorship of Political Science. He has authored, co-authored, or edited about 30 books on was International Human Rights, Law, and Politics, and has …

Unl Authorship And Open Access Citation Impacts After A Decade (2015-2024): A Preliminary Report On Articles Indexed By Elsevier’S Scopus, David C. Tyler, Pei-Ying Chen, Erica Defrain

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries: White Papers

The authors addressed the following research questions:

• Did the articles with UNL Lead Authors produce more citations than articles with UNL Contributing Authors?
• Did OA, as identified by Scopus at the journal and article levels, generate more citations?
• Were citation totals associated with the number of extra-publisher OA avenues?
• Were some publishers associated with higher citation counts than others?
• Did some subjects, by Library of Congress classification, generate more citations than others?

Pearl's Perfect Last Will - Crushed By Infantilism Bias, Edward F. Fogarty Mr

Nebraska Journal on Advancing Justice

No abstract provided.

Dangerous Or Neglected, Amanda Landaverde

Nebraska Journal on Advancing Justice

No abstract provided.

Volume 2, Issue 2 Masthead, Njaj Editorial Board

Nebraska Journal on Advancing Justice

No abstract provided.

Interview With Orca Award Winner David Hage, Unl Chemistry; Drug-Protein Interactions, Mark Griep, David Hage

UNL ORCA Interview Series

Prof. David Hage was awarded the ORCA in 2018. He was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and earned a bachelor’s in chemistry at the University of Wisconsin in La Crosse. Next, he earned a doctorate from Iowa State University and did postdoctoral work at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. In 1989, he joined UNL as an assistant professor of chemistry and quickly rose through the ranks. He has won many awards and, for the past 13 years, has been the James Hewet University Professor of Chemistry. Allow me to share some remarkable facts about Dave before we get into …