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The Relationship Between General And Content-Specific Classroom Practices And K-6 Student Math Achievement: A Multi-Method Analysis, Karen Alexander Glueckdert

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

Research has suggested that measures of both general classroom observational tools (Classroom Organization and Teacher Emotional/Instructional Support) and content-specific observational tools (Ambitious Math Instruction and Errors and Imprecision) are related to K-6 student math achievement and therefore there is encouragement to use both types of observational measures as part of teacher evaluation. This study aims to provide policy makers, practitioners, and researchers with an overall picture of the expected relationships between the observational measures and K-6 student math achievement to inform decisions, policies, and future research. A multi-method analysis was conducted in which a meta-analytic structural equation model, a quantitative …

Stealth Morph Intervention: A Single Case Mixed Methods Design, Kristen Elise Job

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

Students who are considered “Stealth Dyslexics” may use their gifts and talents to mask their disability until the time comes when the rigor of academics peels away the mask and students are identified in middle or high school with dyslexia or reading difficulties. The primary aim of this mixed methods study was to investigate a reading fluency intervention, Stealth Morph, on identified twice exceptional (2E) students with stealth dyslexia. The intervention uses Greek and Latin roots as a morphemic approach to help students access the building blocks of academic words. The intervention consisting of 10 units to be used daily …

Beyond The Looking Glass: Dreams And Somnial States And Spaces In Nineteenth-Century British Literature, Anne N. Nagel

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

Poised between a waning magico-theological tradition of symbolic dream interpretation and the rising influence of scientific dream theories, which equated dreaming with disorder, the dream occupied a unique space in nineteenth-century Great Britain. Dreams were coming untethered from signification, as natural philosophers deemed their content indecipherable and chaotic. Yet vestiges of early modern beliefs could still lend supernatural power and polyphony to dreams.

This was not simply a matter of making a binary choice between two ways of thinking about dreams but instead a site of collisions and coalescences. I contend that the ways in which dreams were conceptualized in …

Booktok's Potentials And Possibilities In Composition Studies: An Interactive Digital Collection, Hanna Varilek

Department of English: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The following thesis, “BookTok’s Potentials and Possibilities in Composition Studies: An Interactive Digital Collection,” explores the phenomenon of BookTok, a vibrant out-of-school literacy program on the social media platform TikTok centered around books, reading, and literary discussions. As digital platforms continue to shape contemporary cultural landscapes, BookTok emerges as a unique space where users engage with literature and participate in discussions that influence their reading habits and preferences. This thesis explores the possibilities of BookTok in reimagining the current landscape of first-year writing and composition classrooms by introducing an interactive digital collection of BookTok content and educational resources titled, The …

Tuning Out: Intersections Of Music And Literature In The Contemporary French-Language Novel, Alexander Claussen

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

The past thirty years have seen a shift in French-language novels as authors move from the self-reflexive formal experimentation of the nouveau roman and its successors toward a literature that is again concerned with plot, character, and above all, the problems of the contemporary world. This “retour au récit” is accompanied by a resurgence of interest in writing the self (through experiments in autofiction), the past (through explorations of collective memory and collective guilt), and the present (through novels that challenge existing social structures and seek to define and develop new collective or national identities). This dissertation examines the (re)turn …

Playful Progress: A Parent's Guide To Growth And Development, Gabriella N. Lawrey

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

This thesis presents a creative project aimed at empowering parents to recognize developmental achievements, as well as address potential developmental delays in their children. Grounded in the principles of child development, this project focuses on creating age-appropriate activities that facilitate the identification of developmental milestones. By utilizing foundational resources in the field of child development, this toolkit of engaging activities has been curated to support parental understanding and observation. The primary objective of this applied knowledge project is to better equip parents with the vocabulary and tools to facilitate their child’s development. Throughout these activities, parents are encouraged to engage …

Adolescent Algorithm Addiction, Canyon Skare

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

There’s no question that online Social Networking Sites have contributed to the sharp decline in mental health among adolescents. This thesis explores a number of Addictive Online Behaviors that have contributed to negative mental health outcomes, namely examining at total screentime, level of engagement, and total number of accounts one has in relation to phone addiction and social media addiction. It was found that total screentime and total number of accounts were more strongly correlated with social media addiction than phone addiction. Additionally, differences in app usage among gender was explored, finding that boys favored YouTube and Discord while Girls …

Perspectives Regarding Cannabis Use: Results From A Qualitative Study Of Individuals Engaged In Substance Use Treatment In Georgia And Connecticut, Charles A. Warnock, Ashlin R. Ondrusek, E. Jennifer Edelman, Trace Kershaw, Jessica L. Muilenburg

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Objective: Cannabis use is increasingly pervasive throughout the U.S. People in treatment for substance use disorders (SUD) may be especially at-risk of harm due to this changing context of cannabis in the U.S. This study’s objective was to qualitatively describe experiences and beliefs around cannabis among people who had entered treatment for any SUD in the past 12-months.

Methods: From May to November of 2022, we conducted 27 semi-structured interviews (n=16 in Georgia, n=11 in Connecticut) with individuals in treatment for SUD in Georgia and Connecticut. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed using an emergent approach.

Results …

Synthesis Of Current Evidence On Factors Influencing The Suitability Of Synthetic Biodegradable Mulches For Agricultural Applications: A Systematic Review, Michael Madin, Katherine Nelson, Kanji Fatema, Karina Schoengold, Abhilekha Dalal, Ikenna Onyekwelu, Rushrukh Rayan, Sanaz Saki Norouzi

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

Mulching practice offers farmers an opportunity to minimize the effects of drought, water loss, and soil erosion on crop production. Plastic film is widely used as a mulching material; however, contamination of arable lands by residual plastic has become a serious concern. Synthetic biodegradable mulch films and sprays may offer a more sustainable alternative to plastic films, however current evidence on the factors that influence the suitability of these products for agricultural applications is fragmented, making it unclear under what conditions these products meet agronomic, environmental, and societal needs. We address this gap by conducting a systematic review of studies …

Microclimate, An Important Part Of Ecology And Biogeography, Julia Kemppinen, Jonas J. Lembrechts

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Brief introduction: What are microclimates and why are they important? Microclimate science has developed into a global discipline. Microclimate science is increasingly used to understand and mitigate climate and biodiversity shifts. Here, we provide an overview of the current status of microclimate ecology and biogeography in terrestrial ecosystems, and where this field is heading next.

Microclimate investigations in ecology and biogeography: We highlight the latest research on interactions between microclimates and organisms, including how microclimates influence individuals, and through them populations, communities and entire ecosystems and their processes. We also briefly discuss recent research on how organisms shape microclimates from …

Publications And Other Works By R. F. Diffendal, Jr., Robert F. Diffendal Jr.

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Articles
Chapters in Books
Books
Field Guides
Geologic Maps
Other Maps
Cover Photographs
Other Photographs
Newspaper and Other Articles
Test-Hole Logs
Television Programs
Geonotes
Abstracts
Reviews
Manuscripts Accepted (A), Submitted (S), or in Preparation (P)
Geologic Maps in Press
Geologic Maps-Nebraska
Public Documents
Miscellaneous Publications
Editing

Updated March 2024

The Nebraska Bird Review (March 2024) 92(1), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Winter Field Report, December 2023–February 2024, by W. Ross Silcock

Birds and the People They Were Named For

Annual Color Photo Section

2023–2024 Christmas Bird Counts, by Don Paseka

Annual Treasurer’s Report for 2023, by Jan Johnson

Subscription and Organization Information

Birds And The People They Were Named For

Nebraska Bird Review

This year the theme for our color photo section was birds named for people. For the purposes of our selections, we looked only at the common names of birds, although some species also reflect the names of people in their scientific names. Many species are named for people, but photos of the ones listed here are on the first six pages of this year’s color section.

Baird’s Sandpiper, Baird’s Sparrow Spencer Fullerton Baird (1823-1887) was the first curator and later secretary of the Smithsonian Institution and was instrumental in expanding the Institution’s natural history collections. John James Audubon named the …

The Adverse Childhood Experiences Identification Gap In Speech Language Pathology, Mallory Prior

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

Children exposed to adverse childhood experiences, a variety of potentially traumatic events occurring within the first 18 years of life, are at increased risk for speech and language disorders. Due to the high prevalence of trauma and its lasting effects, it is almost guaranteed that children who are experiencing the ongoing effects from adversity will be found on practicing Speech Language Pathologists’ caseloads. This scoping review was designed to identify current screening practices of Speech Language Pathologists (SLP) in comparison to other professionals (e.g., allied health and education), as well as additional information related to screening procedures for SLPs. The …

The Great Resignation: Narratives Of Mid-Career Teacher Burnout And Attrition, Nicole Burton

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

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the issues of teacher attrition. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, from January to November 2021, there was a 40% increase in the quit levels of teachers within the state and local education agencies (John, 2022). While prior research has examined early-career teachers leaving the profession, mid-career teachers have largely been left out of the conversation. This narrative inquiry investigates the reasons that mid-career teachers are leaving the profession. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four mid-career teachers hailing from the Midwest region. Interviews focused on understanding how teachers have experienced stress and …

Narratives Of Reproductive Control In The American Eugenics Movement, Cassandra M. Provost

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

In this paper, I will explore the eugenics movement as a pseudo-scientific political, social, and legal phenomenon which had a devastating historical impact on America’s most vulnerable women, as well as briefly discuss its residual effects on contemporary reproductive rights conversations, through the lens of literature. Using an interdisciplinary discourse and narrative analysis approach, I identify two distinct themes within the explored narratives: (1) the importance of a government’s attempt to override a person’s autonomy by destroying the person’s ability to reproduce, and (2) the impropriety of actions based on a negative attitude toward disabled or undesirable persons. In my …

Familismo And Familial Support On The Psychological Effects Of Traumatic Event Exposure In Latinx Populations In The Midwest, Elizabeth Miller

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Embedded within Latinx culture is Familismo, which serves as a source of strength and support for family members, while also shedding light on how familial support influences mental health. This study explores how Familismo and familial support impact the psychological effects of traumatic event exposure among Latinx populations in the Midwest. Analyzing data from 80 Latinx residents, I examined the relationship between familial support, traumatic event exposure, and mental health outcomes, focusing on depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Results indicated a negative association between familial support and PTSD symptoms, indicating that higher support levels correlated with reduced PTSD …

Human-Driven Fire And Vegetation Dynamics On The Caribbean Island Of Barbuda From Early Indigenous To Modern Times, Allison R. Leblanc, Lisa M. Kennedy, Michael J. Burn, Université Laval, Sophia Perdikaris

Department of Anthropology: Faculty Publications

We present a multiproxy analysis of a sediment core from Freshwater Pond, Barbuda, one of just a few inland paleoenvironmental records from the Lesser Antilles. Our results shed light on the relative contributions of climate variability and Pre- and Post-Columbian human activities to vegetation and fire dynamics on Barbuda. The presence of macroscopic charcoal and pollen of ethnobotanically-useful and disturbance-indicator plant taxa in the sediment record suggests that Pre-Columbian subsistence activities occurred within a few kilometers of the pond between ~150 BCE and ~1250 CE. Our record extends anthropogenic fires back into the early Ceramic (500 BCE–1500 CE) and possibly …

Relation Of Life Sciences Students’ Metacognitive Monitoring To Neural Activity During Biology Error Detection, Mei Grace Behrendt, Caron Clark, Mckenna Elliott, Joseph Dauer

Department of Educational Psychology: Faculty Publications

Metacognitive calibration—the capacity to accurately self-assess one’s performance—forms the basis for error detection and self-monitoring and is a potential catalyst for conceptual change. Limited brain imaging research on authentic learning tasks implicates the lateral prefrontal and anterior cingulate brain regions in expert scientific reasoning. This study aimed to determine how variation in undergraduate life sciences students’ metacognitive calibration relates to their brain activity when evaluating the accuracy of biological models. Fifty undergraduate students enrolled in an introductory life sciences course completed a biology model error detection task during fMRI. Students with higher metacognitive calibration recruited lateral prefrontal regions linked in …

Psychological Distress And Behavioral Vigilance In Response To Minority Stress And Threat Among Members Of The Asian American And Pacific Islander Community During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Andrew S. Franks, Rin Nguyen, Y. Jenny Xiao, Dena Abbott

Department of Educational Psychology: Faculty Publications

Stigmatization, hostility, and violence towards the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community have increased sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important to conduct research to promote understanding of the effects of such stigmatization on the AAPI community. Accordingly, the present study used a combined minority stress and integrated threat framework to examine whether factors related to AAPI identity would moderate the relationship between stigmatization/threat associated with AAPI identity and increased psychological distress and behavioral vigilance. AAPI individuals were recruited online from both Turk Prime and Reddit and completed measures of perceived stigmatization; integrated threat; depression, anxiety, and stress; …

Impact Of Covid‑19 On Food Security And Diet Quality In Chilanga District, Zambia, Shela Sridhar, Janella Kang, Joyce Makasa, Sally Bell‑Cross, Isabel Madzorera, Ethan Zulu, Davidson H. Hamer

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

Introduction Food security and nutrition have been severely impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We aimed to quantify the impacts of the pandemic on food security and diet diversity within Chilanga District in Zambia and identify target areas for high-impact social protection and safety net programs.

Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study in Chilanga district immediately after the Omicron variant surge in February 2022. Diet quality and food security were assessed based on a household diet questionnaire and a Minimum Dietary Diversity-Women (MDD-W) score was calculated. A paired t-test was used to determine whether …

Disruption Of The Sorghum Circadian Clock Impacts Sorghum-Sugarcane Aphid Interaction Dynamics And Aphid Feeding Behavior, Kumar Shrestha, Prince Zogli, Lise Pingault, Sajjan Grover, Juan Betancurt Cardona, Joe Louis

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Circadian clocks play a pivotal role in orchestrating metabolic rhythms in response to environmental stress. Sorghum bicolor (sorghum), a multipurpose cereal crop, suffers severe growth and yield reduction due to feeding by sugarcane aphids (SCA; Melanaphis sacchari), which are phloem-feeding pests. Previously, it has been shown that sorghum utilizes a multitude of defense mechanisms to curb SCA colonization. However, our understanding of the impact of circadian clock on sorghum-aphid interaction dynamics is limited. To explore this, a time-series transcriptomics was conducted on sorghum plants in disrupted circadian rhythm with and without SCA infestation. Transcriptomic analysis revealed a total of …

3d Learning Spaces For Second Language Learning, Emma Olson

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Many language teaching techniques and approaches have been used and adapted to culminate in the development of Communicative Language Teaching, which focuses on developing functional proficiency and communicative competence. 3D learning spaces are becoming increasingly more popular for language learning as well, and more specifically, socially-based virtual worlds (or “metaverses”) make good educational tools for developing communicative competence, as they engage learners in situational and experiential learning through increasing authenticity, lowering anxiety levels (i.e., affective filters), and allowing for the development of tools that can support both structured and spontaneous speaking opportunities. After a brief literature review, this thesis therefore …

A Systematic Review Of Fourth Industrial Revolution Technologies In Smart Irrigation: Constraints, Opportunities, And Future Prospects For Sub-Saharan Africa, Joshua Wanyama, Erion Bwambale, Shafik Kiraga, Abia Katimbo, Prossie Nakawuka, Isa Kabenge, Isaac Oluk

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

The adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies has revolutionized agricultural practices worldwide. However, their application in the context of sub-Saharan Africa remains a critical challenge. This study presents a systematic review that investigates the potential of 4IR technologies in smart irrigation. Sub- Saharan Africa faces multiple agricultural challenges, exacerbated by climate change, water scarcity, and inefficient irrigation practices. The need for sustainable, water-efficient, and data-driven irrigation systems is urgent to ensure food security and economic development in the region. This study addresses a crucial knowledge gap by assessing the constraints, opportunities, and prospects of implementing 4IR technologies for smart …

The 10,000-Year Biocultural History Of Fallow Deer And Its Implications For Conservation Policy, Karis H. Baker, Holly Miller, Sean Doherty, Howard W. I. Gray, Julie Daujat, Çakırlard Çakırlar, Nikolai Spassov, Katerina Trantalidou, Richard Madgwick, Angela L. Lamb, Carly Ameen, Levent Atici, Polydora Baker, Fiona Beglane, Helene Benkert, Robin Bendrey, Annelise Binois-Roman, Ruth F. Carden, Antonio Curci, Bea De Cupere, Cleia Detry, Erika Gál, Chloé Genies, Günther K. Kunst, Robert Liddiard, Rebecca Nicholson, Rossana Villa-Rojas, Joris Peters, Fabienne Pigière, Aleksander G. Pluskowski, Peta Sadler, Sandra Sicard, Lena Strid, Jack Sudds, Robert Symmons, Katie Tardio, Alejandro Valenzuela, Monique Van Veen, Sonja Vuković, Jaco Weinstock, Barbara Wilkens, Roger J. A. Wilson, Jane A. Evans, A. Rus Hoelzel, Naomi Sykes

School of Global Integrative Studies: Faculty Publications

Over the last 10,000 y, humans have manipulated fallow deer populations with varying outcomes. Persian fallow deer (Dama mesopotamica) are now endangered. European fallow deer (Dama dama) are globally widespread and are simultaneously considered wild, domestic, endangered, invasive and are even the national animal of Barbuda and Antigua. Despite their close association with people, there is no consensus regarding their natural ranges or the timing and circumstances of their human-mediated translocations and extirpations. Our mitochondrial analyses of modern and archaeological specimens revealed two distinct clades of European fallow deer present in Anatolia and the Balkans. Zooarchaeological evidence …

Charting Early Trajectories Of Executive Control With The Shape School, Caron A. C. Clark, Tiffany D. Sheffield, Nicolas Chevalier, Jennifer Mize Nelson, Sandra A. Wiebe, Kimberly Andrews Espy

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Despite acknowledgement of the importance of executive control for learning and behavior, there is a dearth of research charting its developmental trajectory as it unfolds against the background of children’s sociofamilial milieus. Using a prospective, cohort-sequential design, this study describes growth trajectories for inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility across the preschool period in relation to child sex and sociofamilial resources. At ages 3, 3.75, 4.5, and 5.25 years, children (N = 388) from a broad range of social backgrounds were assessed using the Shape School, a graduated measure of executive control incorporating baseline, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility conditions. …

Indicators Of Community Physical Activity Resources And Opportunities And Variation By Community Sociodemographic Characteristics: A Scoping Review, Ann E. Rogers, Michaela A. Schenkelberg, Peter Stoepker, Danielle Westmark, Deepa Srivastava, David A. Dzewaltowski

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

Objective: This scoping review synthesizes studies examining community-level variability in physical activity resource (assets) and opportunity (organized group physical activity services) availability by community sociodemographic characteristics to describe methodologies for measuring resources/opportunities, indicators characterizing availability, and associations between community-level sociodemographic characteristics and availability.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Scopus for literature through 2022. Eligible studies quantitatively examined measures of physical activity resource/opportunity availability by community-level racial, ethnic, and/or socioeconomic characteristics within geospatially defined communities. Extracted data included: community geospatial definitions, sociodemographic characteristics assessed, methodologies for measuring and indicators of community physical activity …

Factors Associated With Gaps In Naloxone Knowledge: Evidence From A 2022 Great Plains Survey, Spencer Cooper‑Ohm, Patrick Habecker, Ryan Humeniuk, Rick A. Bevins

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Background The rising prevalence of fast-acting opioids in the USA suggests the increased need for non-professional first responder administration of naloxone. Effective administration of naloxone during an overdose requires that bystanders are familiar with, have access to, and know how to use naloxone.

Methods Drawing on a statewide, address-based sample of Nebraskan adults, we used logistic regression to predict the likelihood of respondents’ familiarity with, access to, and competency to administer naloxone. Our independent variables included measures indicating proximity to drug use, perceived community stigma toward people who use drugs, and demographic data.

Results There were significant gaps in naloxone …

Unearthing Green Potential: Assessing The State Of Managed Urban Landscape Curricula In Minnesota’S Higher Education Institutions, Michael R. Barnes, Heana A. Campagna, Becky Haddad, Eric Watkins

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Faculty Publications

As urbanization increases, managed urban landscapes are frequently the mode through which people experience nature and where careers in natural resources are increasing. There is a lack of knowledge related to curricula and programs where students are exposed to managed urban landscapes and careers related to them. We aimed to evaluate the current status of managed urban landscape curricula (MULC) in undergraduate programs in Minnesota through a systematic investigation of programs and courses at higher education institutions. All undergraduate courses offered by included higher education institutions were reviewed to determine the presence, absence, or possibility of MULC based on the …

Reducing Loneliness And Improving Social Support Among Older Adults Through Different Modalities Of Personal Voice Assistants, Valerie Jones, Changmin Yan, Marcia Shade, Julie Blaskewicz Boron, Zhengxu Yan, Hyeon Jung Heselton, Kate Johnson, Victoria Dube

College of Journalism and Mass Communications: Faculty Publications

This study examines the potential of AI-powered personal voice assistants (PVAs) in reducing loneliness and increasing social support among older adults. With the aging population rapidly expanding, innovative solutions are essential. Prior research has indicated the effectiveness of various interactive communication technologies (ICTs) in mitigating loneliness, but studies focusing on PVAs, particularly considering their modality (audio vs. video), are limited. This research aims to fill this gap by evaluating how voice assistants, in both audio and video formats, influence perceived loneliness and social support. This study examined the impact of voice assistant technology (VAT) interventions, both audio-based (A-VAT) and video-based …