Digital Commons Network^™

Patterning Ecological Restoration After Weeds, Stephen L. Young, Erik P. Hamerlynck

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

The United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration aims to prevent, halt, and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent. Disturbances stemming from anthropogenic or natural causes make plant community restoration challenging. The introduction of fast-growing weeds that generate high biomass and produce copious seed is most threatening to plant communities. A paradigm shift in ecosystem restoration is needed that emphasizes traits and affected ecological processes similar to weeds. The repeated introduction of seed from native plants with weedy characteristics follows the propagule pressure and evolution of invasiveness hypotheses. In targeting areas with heavy weed populations, native plants could establish …

Corn Nitrogen Nutrition Index Prediction Improved By Integrating Genetic, Environmental, And Management Factors With Active Canopy Sensing Using Machine Learning, Dan Li, Yuxin Miao, Curtis J. Ransom, Gregory Mac Bean, Newell R. Kitchen, Fabián G. Fernández, John E. Sawyer, James J. Camberato, Paul R. Carter, Richard B. Ferguson, David W. Franzen, Carrie A.M. Laboski, Emerson D. Nafziger, John F. Shanahan

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Accurate nitrogen (N) diagnosis early in the growing season across diverse soil, weather, and management conditions is challenging. Strategies using multi-source data are hypothesized to perform significantly better than approaches using crop sensing information alone. The objective of this study was to evaluate, across diverse environments, the potential for integrating genetic (e.g., comparative relative maturity and growing degree units to key developmental growth stages), environmental (e.g., soil and weather), and management (e.g., seeding rate, irrigation, previous crop, and preplant N rate) information with active canopy sensor data for improved corn N nutrition index (NNI) prediction using machine learning methods. Thirteen …

Introduction To Nebraska Law Review, Volume 100:4, Richard Moberly

Nebraska Law Review

I am honored to write this brief (or, in the words of the managing editor’s admonition to me: “very brief”) introduction to Volume 100 of the Nebraska Law Review. As I write this, we are recovering from a two-year global pandemic, watching with trepidation the humanitarian crisis resulting from European armed conflict, and debating the appropriate level of government involvement in health mandates and education. In other words, the circumstances seem eerily like one hundred years ago when the first volume of this law review was published, as the country mended from the 1919–20 influenza pandemic, managed the fallout from …

Federal Experimentation Through State Constitutional Initiatives, Robinson Woodward-Burns

Nebraska Law Review

This Article describes how reformers, who were often blocked by Congress, were able to achieve their policy aims through state constitutional initiatives. The Constitution grants the state and federal governments shared, concurrent constitutional powers. On concurrent powers matters, reformers might attempt either state or federal constitutional revision. Reformers might petition Congress for a federal amendment to dictate national policy or to bind or homogenize the states. But federal amendments rarely clear the two-thirds supermajorities needed to pass Congress or the three-quarters supermajorities needed for subsequent ratification by the states. Of the 11,790 proposed federal amendments, only thirty-three have been passed …

Direct Democracy: From Theory To Practice Symposium Direct Democracy: From Theory To Practice Symposium: Introduction, Anthony B. Schutz

Nebraska Law Review

On November 13, 2021, the University of Nebraska College of Law convened four panels of experts to discuss direct democracy in Nebraska. The articles appearing in this issue of the Nebraska Law Review are a result of that symposium. These articles are one part of the larger project. A video recording of the symposium is available on You-Tube < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0CPaTiZ1Ng >, and subsequent work will be connected to the project’s website.

This brief introduction situates the articles appearing here within the larger project in three parts. Part II describes the events that necessitated the symposium, focusing on uncertainty attending the single-subject …

Changing The Rules For Direct Democracy In The Twenty-First Century In Response To Animal Welfare, Marijuana, Minimum Wage, Medicaid, Elections, And Gambling Initiatives, John Dinan

Nebraska Law Review

In many of the twenty-four states that permit voters to initiate statutes, constitutional amendments, or both,1 groups routinely rely on initiatives to enact policies unattainable through the legislature. In recent decades, initiatives have been a vehicle for both limiting and increasing taxes and spending, imposing legislative term limits, raising the minimum wage, limiting affirmative action, legalizing marijuana, expanding gambling operations, protecting animal welfare, and establishing redistricting commissions, among other measures that are often blocked by legislators but embraced by voters.2 This Article focuses on rules governing the initiative process. It explains the numerous wide-ranging efforts to change initiative process rules …

Play Like A Girl: Bostock, Title Ix’S Promise, And The Case For Transgender Inclusion In Sports, Rachel Tomlinson Dick

Nebraska Law Review

State-level legislation focused on the transgender1 community has exploded over the last several years.2 Proposed laws mandating the exclusion of transgender individuals from specific sectors of society have been increasingly focused on trans children and youth.3 In 2021, legislatures in thirty-one states introduced bills that would prohibit transgender student-athletes from taking part in school sports in a manner consistent with their gender identities.4 Eight of those states ultimately passed laws barring young women who are trans from participating in girls’ and women’s sports programs sponsored by federally- funded schools.5 Idaho enacted a bill that blocked transgender women and girls from …

Lincoln Vital Signs, 2022 Report (Version 1.2), Stacey Hoffman, Alyssa Sloane, Taylor Smith

University of Nebraska Public Policy Center: Publications

Executive Summary

Since 2014, Lincoln Vital Signs, authored by the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center, has been a community-wide data resource. The 2022 Lincoln Vital Signs report is sponsored by Lincoln’s and Nebraska’s largest public and private charitable organizations. Lincoln Vital Signs 2022 continues the tradition of providing credible, reliable information about Lincoln, compared to its recent past and to other communities in the United States. Data from the report are used by organizations and individuals to inform decisions, spark connections, and spur collaboration. You can view the report, along with new interactive graphs, at https://www.lincolnvitalsigns.org. Lincoln Vital …

Friendship Within And Across Borders: Perceptions Of Social Networks Among First-Year International Students Of Color, Kaleb L. Briscoe, Christina W. Yao, Evangela Q. Oates, Jennifer N. Rutt, Kathleen J. Buell

UNL Office of Research and Innovation, Social/Behavioral Sciences Research Consortium

Establishing social networks can be extremely challenging when international students, particularly those of color, move to a new academic and social environment. We examine the perceptions of social networks among first-year international students of color and how these networks affect their experiences at a predominantly White institution (PWI). This study illuminates participants’ relationships with U.S. domestic students and the power of language, culture, and shared experiences through a longitudinal narrative inquiry. Implications for practice and recommendations for future research are described in-depth for practitioners.

Nebraska's Stress Relief: Solutions For Land, Soil, Water, People, And Animals, Laura E. Young, Rebel Sjeklocha, Rchael Williss, Mickayla Yard, Cade Adamson, Whitney Steckel, Dani Laible, Bella Chaffin, Sophia Svanda, Grace Mcdonald, Malina Lindstrom

Strategic Discussions for Nebraska

Nebraska's Stress Relief: Solutions for Land, Soil, Water, People, and Animals

Advancing production agriculture in a way that also takes care of our water and our land cannot happen without bringing together leading experts to share their expertise about stress biology. It is an honor to channel these efforts to serve the people and industries of Nebraska.

The Importance And Need For Daily Exercise For Students, Oscar Bernabe Mateo

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Exercising on a daily basis increases grey matter in the hippocampus, which is crucial for memory processing and spatial awareness. These are 2 important traits for learning new things in school and and storing them in our brain. There is a correlation between physical activity and mental health: less physical activity proposes 2x the likelihood of experiencing depression. The amount of physical activity among students has been decreasing for decades as well as depression appearing to 34% more on people worldwide since the year 2000. Exercising helps the brain function better as there is better blood flow through the body …

Mental Health Vs. Social Media, Alexandra Avalos

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Mental health is a persons condition with their emotional well-being and social well-being. A persons mental health is so important because it affects how you feel, think and act. Your mental health can determine how motivated you are or how you handle stress and or stressful situations. Social media has impacted peoples mental health especially in teenagers that depression rates are higher, as well as anxiety and self image issues.

Men’S Mental And Emotional Health, Gustavo Anguiano

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

When it comes to talking about emotional health, struggles with depression and anxiety, men tend to hide their emotions from other men and rarely speak about their struggles. Due to societal pressure on how men should behave and negative views on men who cry, most men are reluctant to discuss their feelings. Many times, men who feel physically and emotionally tired or at their emotional breaking point are told to “man up” or “suck it up”. It’s time for society to recognize that men have emotions and should be encouraged to express their feelings like women are often allowed.

Mental Health In Mexican Culture, Vanessa Coronado

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Theis research analyzed the stigma on mental health in Mexican culture. This research explored and attempts to explain how the behaviors and beliefs in the Mexican culture affect current relationships within families as well as future generations. An analysis on typical conditions Mexican families go through will be connected to the affects.

The Truth Behind Homelessness, Deymi Chavez

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

To be homelessness means not having permanent or stable housing in relation to many other things. Some of the main causes of homelessness can be things such as family breakdown, mental illnesses and/or mental health, or falling into a substance abuse disorder. Other factors such as affordable housing and geographical factors may also lead to homelessness. In the end, people remain trapped in a cycle where the things that previously led to homelessness make them more likely to become homeless again. If we know the reasons for homelessness, we can then help make better decisions towards preventing it.

Dealing With Stress, Yohana Bueno

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

“Stress is a physical, chemical, or emotional development that causes strains that can lead to physical illness. "There are many factors that can cause stress (examples include: work, school, and family or relationship problems). If unmanaged, it can be very dangerous. It is important to be able to cope with your stress in order to live a healthy and happy life. The research demonstrated different ways of coping with stress.

Racial Disparities In Organ Donation, Lilly Brown

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Organ donation and its process is a scientific breakthrough that the medical community uses daily and continues to perfect. Although the donation process is well known all around the world, there is still a dent in the percentage of how many people donate. When taking a deeper look at where the majority of organ donations come from, its apparent that minorities’ numbers are significantly lower compared to their white counterparts. Different cultures and ethnicities vary all around the world just like the ever-changing outlook on organ donation. The focus of racial disparities in organ donation is addressed through research papers …

Effects Of Team Sports On Adolescents, Yael Blanco-Zamudio

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

We live in a world today where sports are all around us. Whether you are just a spectator, or you are playing the sport yourself, it is undeniable that sports has tremendously impacted today’s society. Many of today’s adolescents are involved in some kind of sport or physical activity. It is known that any kind of exercise, in this case sports, is good for one’s health. However, there is more than just physical benefits and effects from playing sports. Specifically, adolescents seem to have the most benefit from being involved in team sports.

Performance Enhancing Drug Use In Professional Sports, Moises Cotom Pacheco

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

The use of Performance Enhancing Drugs(PEDs) should not be legalized in professional sports due to the negative effects it has on the body and influencing the youth to participate in its use. Multiple studies have been conducted to show how PEDs affects the body in negative ways. There is also an ethical reasoning to why PEDs should not be legalized. The youth are heavily influenced by athletes that whenever they promote something they are willing to convince their parents to buy it. They are also influenced when it comes to PED use and how they can become like their idol …

Inhumane Experiments On Humans, Dakota Harris

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

This capstone projects is about inhumane experiments on humans around the world and how it effected the people involved or what it brought to light. Many of these experiments are kept secretive because of how they effected people’s livelihood. Inhumane experiments often lead to death, trauma, illness, shortening of life, disfigurement, or permanent disabilities in the victims, plus more trauma for the family. The reason why these experiments are considered inhumane is because they occur when the ‘patient’ couldn’t sign off on informed consent of the experiment, or they were unaware of the possible outcomes of what they were involved …

“It Can't Get Worse Than This”, Tommy Gilmore-Leshure V

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Challenges faced by high school students throughout the COVID 19 pandemic and quarantine have increased an already troubling problem: struggles with mental health. A large number of students were struggling mentally due to quarantine, and unfortunately South high school students were not an exception. For this project, an independent research survey was created to explore how the mental health of Omaha South students were affected by the COVID- 19 pandemic. A voluntary survey was taken of students at Omaha South High school from three grade levels. This research was done to better understand the mental effects of quarantine within the …

Domestic Violence: Causes, Odalys Garcia

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

When conversing about domestic abuse, it can appear to be a sensitive or sort of dark topic. Although it is likely to be a disheartening case, it is important to proceed with empathy and decency. Domestic abuse is not as uncommon as it seems. So therefore it is best for readers and the general public to fully understand what domestic abuse truly is, what effects it has on a human being - emotionally, physically, and mentally-, and what are the causes of these harmful situations. DA can be defined as a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is being …

How Mental Health Affects Adults Mental Health, Juan Garcia

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

omelessness has been a problem in the USA and around the world for thousands of years. The number of homeless people in the USA is also continuing to increase throughout the year due to the shortage of affordable rental housing as well as the increase in poverty. The state of homelessness has been proven to affect adults' mental health quicker throughout the years, affecting their mood, thoughts, and most importantly, their actions.

Long Term Effect Of Poverty On Child Development, Amairany Molina-Carmona

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Poverty is an important social determinant of health and contributes to child health disparities. Children who experience poverty, particularly during early life or for an extended period, are at risk of a host of adverse health and developmental outcomes throughout their life course (Brooks-Gunn & Duncan, 1997). Poverty has a profound effect on specific circumstances, such as birth weight, infant mortality, chronic illness, and environmental exposure. Children living in poverty are at increased risk of inattention, impulsivity, defiance, and poor peer relationships (Boyle, 2011). Poverty and other adverse social determinants have a detrimental effect on child health and are the …

How Do Health Disparities In Minorities Lead To Incompetent Patient Care?, Gisela Meza-Guzman

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Despite the yearly advances in preventative medicine with the use of advanced technology, new treatment applications, effective therapeutic methods, etc., a significant number of minorities are not receiving the proper care from medical professionals. The determinative groups that are being affected by this incompetent care occur involve race and ethnicity, culture, socioeconomic status, region or geography, and age. These populations have faced many challenges in receiving access to health care in the United States for generations and even when they do receive proper health care, their care may not be as efficient compared to the Caucasian population. There are necessary …

Penal Practices: An American And Norwegian Comparison, Anne Martinez

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

A lot is known about prison systems around the world, especially in bigger countries. However, not much is publicly known about the inner workings of the prisons themselves. These differences range from their incarceration rates, their environments, and their health care. This research will explore those striking differences between the Kriminalsomsorgen, Norway’s correctional facility, and the United States penal system. Both of these systems have very different approaches to justice seeing as how one emphasizes retribution while the other emphasizes rehabilitation. Each section of this research will go on to discuss how the United States is severely lacking in these …

Is Mental Health The Reason For Homelessness?, Evelyn Lopez

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Mentally ill people leave their homes and cluster in cities all over the world. The phenomenon of homelessness and its link to mental illness is growing and worrying genetically, and is impacted by infections, brain defects or injuries, and substance abuse. Now the growth of a different kind of homeless population appears to be related to mentally illness. The different types of homeless population that are being created are chronic homelessness, episodic homelessness, and transitional homeless.

Foster Care Its Effects On Mental Health, Jimena Palomares-Lagunas

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

In the United States 60% of children who have been in the foster care system are seen to have a lifetime prevalence of mental health disorders. As adolescents go into adulthood, they experience many negative effects that lead to life changing disorders. Some of them being PTSD, bipolar disorder, suicidality, and depression. Some factors that affect mental health outcomes are placement variables and the types of abuse that were endured during their childhood. Self-stigma prevents foster youth from receiving adequate help, because they are worried about what others might say. The lack of resources given by the foster care system …

America’S First World Obesity, Dismas Nsabiyumva

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Obesity, defined as having a BMI of 30 or higher has been a progressing health risk throughout the globe. With a spiked increase attributed to the introduction and popularity of fast food. America became a mascot and staple for obesity rates as its increase introduced the epidemic to the world. This affects smaller develops countries which adopt Americas culture and eating habits. In the comparison of First World Countries, many follow similar trends in weight apart from a select few. Each of the countries succumb to the issue due to their similar cultures, ideologies and living conditions. For example, countries …

Exploration Of The Characteristics And Trends Of Electric Vehicle Crashes: A Case Study In Norway, Chenhui Liu, Li Zhao, Chaoru Lu

Mid-America Transportation Center: Final Reports and Technical Briefs

With the rapid growth of electric vehicles (EVs) in the past decade, many new traffic safety challenges are also emerging. With the crash data of Norway from 2011 to 2018, this study gives an overview of the status quo of EV crashes. In the survey period, the proportion of EV crashes in total traffic crashes had risen from zero to 3.11% in Norway. However, in terms of severity, EV crashes do not show statistically significant differences from the Internal Combustion Engine Vehicle (ICEV) crashes. Compared to ICEV crashes, the occurrence of EV crashes features on weekday peak hours, urban areas, …