Digital Commons Network^™

Carbon Markets: A New Opportunity For Farmers, Emma Wrede

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

Farmers have always known that healthy soil is their greatest asset to their success. Carbon markets are simply finding a new way to identify, measure, and compensate that value in a new way. In a time where every dollar counts, carbon credit markets can strengthen farmers’ margins and enhance their land health which they depend on. With continued research, improved regulation, and clearer guidelines, this system will work for both farmers and the environment.

Nebraska's Hidden Goldmine: Wind Power On Farms, Adelaide Witte

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

Nebraska’s been hesitant to go all in on wind energy. People often worry about things like noise, how turbines look, or even potential impacts on human health. Community concerns are valid and should always be acknowledged. However, addressing them doesn’t require putting all development on hold.

“The Good Life” Of Ai, Lauren Smith

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is powered by data centers, sprawling warehouses of servers that require massive amounts of electricity and water to operate. The United Statesalready has more than 1,000 data centers, with nearly 400 more on the way.

Nebraska is next. Google is building a major new data center in North Lincoln, adding to the 18 operating across the state.

Our collective use of tools like ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini and Microsoft’s Copilot has fueled a boom in generative AI, and with it a surge in energy and water consumption.

The need for AI regulation isn’t a future concern. It’s …

The Land Competition Between Crops And Solar: Why Nebraska Farmers May Not Have To Choose, Jada Vogel

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

There are significant benefits that can come from implementing agrivoltaics on farms in Nebraska. The economic gains from the use of agrivoltaics alone may be sufficient to get individuals to pursue their use.

The Myth Of Clean Manufacturing, Andrea Phan

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

We must act now and reform renewable energy credits to reflect real progress. This means tightening Scope 2 rules so that renewable claims are tied to additional, time and location matched, clean power. It means rewarding measurable integration, so that real emissions are avoided, not waived by retroactive certificates. RECs can still play a role, but only in a system that demands we use the tools we already have.

Nebraska’S Best Option: Carbon Capture, Leah Bates

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

Some may argue that carbon capture technologies are not optimal due to their high costs or how they take focus away from implementing renewable energy sources. However, carbon capture and storage technologies are currently the best options in reducing carbon emission and Nebraska is leading the way.

Colony Collapse Disorder And How To Mitigate Losses, Axl Taylor

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

What is Colony Collapse Disorder?

The Role of Varroa destructor in CCD

Viruses and Their Role in CCD

Effects of Nosema in CCD

Habitat Destruction/Nutrition and Its Effect on CCD

Pesticides and their effect on CCD

Mitigating Causes of CCD

Colony Behavior, Social Resilience, and Monitoring

Integrated Management Approaches

Conclusion

Learn To Fly: Enabling Deep Learning Based Perception And Control In Aerial Robotics, Krishna Muvva

School of Computing: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly deployed in dynamic, GPS degraded, and cluttered environments, yet their autonomy remains fundamentally constrained by limitations in onboard perception and real-time control. This dissertation addresses these challenges by proposing a unified framework that co-designs deep learning-based perception and model-based control, organized around three core thrusts: Learn to Track, Learn to Localize, and Learn to Evade.

Learn to Track develops dynamic and adaptive perception control mechanisms that optimize CNN inference for target tracking. A control-aware CNN framework dynamically adjusts inference frequency based on UAV motion, reducing latency while maintaining visual lock. An adaptive CNN with …

Curiosity, Intention, And Reflection On Teaching And Learning Edps 967 Motivation In Education: A Teaching Portfolio, Mary G. Zeleny

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

The intention of this course portfolio is to reflectively explore more deeply the teaching and learning of the Educational Psychology graduate course, EDPS 967- Motivation in Education. This course provides a foundation of theories and concepts related to motivation from a psychological perspective, including the interrelatedness of affect and emotion, with an emphasis on the learning environment. The course focuses on different theories of motivation, motivation in education, and considering theoretical applications in education, as well as professionally and personally. The class explored motivation, including the impact of emotions in motivation, through reading, course activities, assignments, and discussion. Goals included …

Water Current, Volume 57, No. 3, Fall 2025

Water Current Newsletter

No abstract provided.

A Better Great Plains: Bridging The Implementation Gap For A Better Future, David W. Sandahl

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The Northern Great Plains is experiencing extensive native grassland loss and landscape degradation, jeopardizing both ecological integrity and the socio-economic systems that rely upon these ecosystems. In an early effort to lessen degradation, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) introduced the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) which generated ecosystem services benefits such as reduced soil erosion, improved water quality, and increased species diversity through the retirement of cropland and rangeland for 10- or 15-year contracts. However, CRP has not fully modernized alongside today’s agriculturalists and adoption remains shaped by an historically fraught socio-political context characterized by deep-seated mistrust between ranchers, …

Use Of Modified Z-Domain Peptides To Specifically Label The Constant Region Of Immunoglobulin G And Vegf, Madeline Allen

Department of Chemistry: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Antibodies are increasingly being used in medicinal therapies due to their ability to specifically bind to a target antigen. This fundamental behavior of antibodies has been used as a key component in drug development to address common problems with traditional drug molecules such as off-targeting, fast drug clearance, and low efficacy. This thesis provides some background into how antibodies can be used as potential treatments for a few diseases. Chapter 1 begins with an overview of the human immune system, and the role antibodies play within it. Then, the variety of ways in which antibodies can be used as medicinal …

Upland Switchgrass Cultivars Have Similar Bioethanol Production Profile Under Separate Hydrolysis And Fermentation: A Course Based Undergraduate Research Experience (Cure) In Biofuel Production, Kadyn Berg, Derek Follett, Adelyn Jackson, Mark Kalyegira, Jaleigha Kambeitz, Nathaniel Lanthier, Elaina Merfeld, Nathan Nelson, Sara Parliament, Peyton Plagman, Thomas Poegel, Alex Schemek, Sajan Mathew, Brady Steffen, Chloe Van Heuveln, Keerthi Mandyam, Arvid Boe, Ananda K. Nanjundaswamy

RURALS: Review of Undergraduate Research in Agricultural and Life Sciences

The modified Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) in bioenergy research evaluated four upland switchgrass cultivars namely Carthage, NE2010, RC Sundance, and Sunburst for bioethanol production using a separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF) process. The cultivars were not different in their biomass composition, sugar and ethanol yields. Carthage produced the highest ethanol yield (10 g/L), followed by Sunburst (9 g/L). A strong correlation was observed between glucose concentration at 48 hours (maximum glucose release) and ethanol yield at 72 hours. Ethanol production increased after 48 hours, and by 72 hours, residual glucose levels in the fermentation medium were negligible. The fermentation …

Understanding And Assessing Climate Change: Preparing For Nebraska’S Future, 2024 Climate Change Impact Assessment Report, Deborah J. Bathke, Eric Hunt, Heather Akin, Andrea D. Basche, Jesse E. Bell, Daniel R. Dileo, Ross Dixon, Martha Durr, Tonya Haigh, Francis John Hay, Kristina W. Kintziger, Nicholas A. Mcmillan, Hank Miller, Jerome Okojokwu-Idu, Crystal Powers, Tirthankar Roy, Zhenghong Tang, W. Ryan Wishart, Aaron R. Young, Sarah A. Sonsthagen, Jonathan J. Spurgeon

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Contents

Report Team

Acknowledgments

Executive Summary

Introduction

Climate Change Contexts: Global, National, and State

Observed Changes in Nebraska's Climate

Projections of Nebraska's Future Climate

Water Systems

Energy

Ecosystems

Agriculture

Human Health

Communities and the Built Environment

Indigenous Peoples

Climate Justice and Equity

The Response of Faith Communities

Nebraskans' Perceptions of Climate Change

Next Steps and Future Work

Supplemental Report: Adaptation, Risks, and Impacts

About the Authors

Faith-based Communities Survey

Evaluated Plans and Assessments

References

Futurescape Libraries Ai Toolkit, Keith Webster

Copyright, Fair Use, Scholarly Communication, etc.

A toolkit developed to explore scenario-specific strategies and activities that research libraries can undertake to prepare for various possible AI-influenced futures. The toolkit integrates the ARL/CNI AI Scenarios published in spring 2024 along with priorities trialed and refined by strategic thinkers working directly in, or adjacent to, the research library field during a Strategic Implications forum held December 7–8, 2024, in Washington, DC.

An Economic Assessment Of Precision Conservation With On-Farm Precision Experiment Data, Karina A. Schoengold, Badri Khanal, Taro Mieno, David S. Bullock

Cornhusker Economics

Using a novel dataset that includes within field variation in productivity, we find that partial field retirement for a prairie strip can not only provide conservation benefits, but can also be economically beneficial. We note that these results are for a single field with one year of data, and that additional years of production and fields are essential to determine how much these results can be generalized. We also note that precision systems can be costly, and a comparison of outcomes with and without this information is essential to determine if investing in such systems is profitable. However, variable rate …

Mapping Sedimentary And Crustal Thicknesses In The Northern Atlantic Ocean From Public Domain Geophysical Data, Hermione Lofton

College of Arts and Sciences: Undergraduate Theses and Other Student Projects

The Northern Atlantic Ocean is a complex region that contains many inactive and active tectonic features. These features include the Jan Mayen Microcontinent, Jan Mayen Fracture Zone, Aegir Ridge, Kolbeinsey Ridge, the Greenland-Iceland-Faroe Ridge, the Voring Plateau, the Voring Spur, and the Iceland Hotspot. This project is motivated by the region’s complex geology and its highly debated tectonic history and disputed crustal affinity. This study aims to evaluate tectonic elements of the Northern Atlantic Ocean with three major objectives. The first objective is to develop a map of crustal thickness from publicly available seismic refraction data. For the second objective, …

Traffic Prediction For Research And Education Networks: Anomaly-Aware Deep Learning And Benchmarking, Mohammad Arafath Uddin Shariff

School of Computing: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Research and Education Networks (RENs) and High-Performance Computing (HPC) environments are critical infrastructures for modern scientific discovery, demanding sustained high-throughput and low-latency data transfers. Unlike commercial networks, RENs exhibit unique traffic characteristics, including predominant “elephant flows,” inherent burstiness, and complex temporal-spatial dynamics often decoupled from human-driven cycles. Traditional traffic forecasting methods, tailored for commercial Wide Area Networks (WANs), consistently fail to capture these distinct REN dynamics, leading to inefficient resource management and potential impediments to scientific progress.

This thesis addresses this critical gap by developing and validating a robust, scalable, and anomaly-aware traffic forecasting framework specifically tailored for REN/HPC networks. …

A Multi-Isotope Investigation Of Mammoth Diet, Habitat, And Movement Patterns In The Central Great Plains, U.S.A., Jacob Mccloskey

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

During the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), the Great Plains in Nebraska consisted of wooded parklands and grasslands, whereas spruce (Picea) forests, parklands, and steppe grasslands dominated east of the Missouri River. I analyzed bulk carbon (δ¹³C), oxygen (δ¹⁸O), and strontium (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) isotopes from tooth enamel in isolated mammoth (Mammuthus) molars to compare diet and movement patterns in two late Pleistocene assemblages: one in Nebraska (n = 24), and one in western Iowa and Missouri (n = 17). Furthermore, I identified a morphometric subset of molars as …

Low-Level Polarimetric Signatures Of Supercells During Ef3+ Tornado Production, Anthony Noah Began

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

Most EF3+ tornadoes are produced by supercells. Understanding of microscale features surrounding intense tornado production remains limited. This research aims to determine commonalities in low-level microphysical processes during intense tornado production via polarimetric radar signature assessment with a Python-based algorithm. Polarimetric variables hypothesized to reflect low-level wind profiles such as the differential reflectivity (Z_DR) arc and the Z_DR–K_DP (specific differential phase) separation vector will be investigated. Supercells which produced EF3+ tornadoes will be examined since these tornadoes pose the highest threat. From 2010 to 2024, the United States recorded approximately 19,100 tornadoes which resulted in …

Study Of Ai Applications In Biomedical Data Acquisition, Communication, And Analysis: Cest Mri Acceleration And Ecg Transmissions, Adarsha Bhattarai

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

This dissertation investigates the application of artificial intelligence in biomedical data acquisition, communication, and analysis to advance neurological research and to enable the early detection of cardiovascular conditions. Despite significant advances in imaging and physiological modalities, challenges persist. Imaging modalities, such as the chemical exchange saturation transfer magnetic resonance imaging (CEST MRI) technique are challenged by a prolonged data acquisition time and high operational costs. In addition, physiological modalities such as electrocardiogram (ECG) sensors face constraints in providing uninterrupted signal monitoring which is crucial for the timely detection of premature cardiac abnormalities. The primary goal of this work is to …

Evaluation Of Performance Characteristics And Groundwater Contamination Risks Associated With On-Farm Swine Carcass Disposal Via Composting And Shallow Burial With Carbon, Gustavo Castro Garcia

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

This dissertation evaluates the performance of three on-farm swine carcass disposal methods: whole carcass composting (WCC), ground carcass composting (GCC), and shallow burial with carbon (SBC), focusing on biosecurity factors and groundwater contamination risks. Foreign animal diseases (FADs), such as African swine fever and classical swine fever, pose severe economic and animal well-being risks if introduced to the United States. With confirmation of an FAD, swine movement will be halted, creating an urgent need for practical, biosecure, and environmentally responsible on-farm disposal strategies for swine carcasses. Nebraska, as a leading swine-producing state, exemplifies the vulnerability of high-density livestock regions to …

Online Prediction Of Streaming Data, Aleena Chanda

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

We present two new approaches for point prediction with streaming data based on a) the Count-Min sketch and b) Gaussian Process Priors with random bias. The methods are intended for the most general case where no true model can be usefully formulated for the data stream. In statistical contexts, this is often called the M open problem class. For the Count Min Sketch method we show that the predicted distribution function ^F converges to F under the assumption that the data consists of i.i.d samples from a fixed distribution function F. To implement the Gaussian Process Prior methods, we used …

Mass Effects On Energy Transfer Paths In Nonlinear Vibrating Systems, Manal Mustafa

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

This dissertation examines the role of mass in nonlinear systems, uncovering its role in enabling passive energy redistribution and robust vibration control in both idealized and real-world structures. Focusing on a strongly nonlinear two-degree-of-freedom system, it investigates how changes in mass ratio influence the dynamics of energy transfer, nonlinear normal modes (NNMs), and dissipation behavior.

A number of significant contributions are introduced in this work beginning with the introduction of the frequency-energy-peaks (FE-pks) plot, a novel tool that visualizes how energy flows through the system, revealing transient resonance orbits, internal resonance effects, and effectively capturing the different nonlinear phenomena with …

Reductive And Nucleophilic Cleavage Of Peroxides And Synthesis Of Tocotrienols As Radioprotective Targets, Amber Marie Schuster

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

I. SET CLEAVAGE OF PEROXIDES: INFLUENCE OF REDUCTANT AND PEROXIDE ON THE RATE AND MODE OF ALKOXY RADICAL FORMATION

The reductive cleavage of organic peroxides to generate alkoxy radicals is frequently accomplished via single-electron transfer (SET) from a reductant. Previous reports employ either symmetrical peroxides or peroxides with predictable cleavage behavior, such as peresters. We were interested in how the structure of the peroxide and the nature of the reducing system combine to impact the rate of reaction and the selectivity for alkoxy radical formation during cleavage of unsymmetric peroxides. In this dissertation, one will find the reactions of a …

How Developers Use Type-System Related Programming Language Features, Samuel W. Flint

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

Optional type annotations are a popular feature of programming languages that allow developers to omit explicit type information in code while, in some cases, retaining many of the benefits of static typing, such as in-code documentation, improved detection of type errors, or enforcement of code properties. However, how developers use and understand optional type annotations is not clear. The focus of this dissertation is to understand the use and comprehension of optional type annotations.

Optional type annotations are examined through four lenses: first, by examining the evolution of usage in a statically typed programming language (Kotlin, the default language for …

Resilience Of Interdependent Transportation And Healthcare Systems: A Simulation-Driven Framework Incorporating Social Equity And Facility Optimization, S. Yasaman Ahmadi

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

The overarching goal of this dissertation is to develop an integrated, simulation-driven framework to assess and enhance the resilience of interdependent transportation and healthcare systems before, during, and after natural hazards. By examining how spatial disruptions, social vulnerability, operational constraints, and infrastructure interdependencies affect access to and functionality of hospitals, this research offers a multifaceted evaluation of system performance under stress. This dissertation examines the impact of natural hazards, particularly floods, on the interdependent transportation and healthcare systems. The proposed approach combines and advances GIS-based network analysis, graph-theoretical modeling, and discrete-event simulation to evaluate system performance under different scenarios. The …

Analysis Of Graph-Based Decoders For Quantum Low Density Parity Check Codes, Kirsten Morris

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

Quantum computing has the potential for radically increased computational ability. However, the physical realization of quantum states are fragile and susceptible to noise and decoherence. For this reason, robust quantum error correction is imperative to achieve quantum computation at scale.

Of particular interest in realizing effective quantum error correction are quantum low density parity check (QLDPC) codes. Classical LDPC codes were invented by Robert Gallager in the 1960s and came in to prominence in the 1990s. Due to Daniel Gottesman’s stabilizer formalism and the invention of Calderbank-Shor-Steane (CSS) codes, we can apply LDPC codes to the quantum setting.

As in …

Educating The New Generation Of Food Scientists Through Innovative Learning Experiences, Karen Andrea Nieto Flores

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

Food science provides an opportunity to engage high school students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) by connecting classroom concepts to real-world applications. Despite the field’s relevance to public health, food safety, sustainability, and innovation, food science remains largely absent from high school curricula, and few students recognize it as a viable STEM pathway. This research addressed this gap by evaluating immersive summer camp experiences and teacher-focused curriculum review as strategies to increase food science awareness and interest among students and educators. A literature review traced the historical development and current landscape of K–12 food science education, identifying barriers …

Characterization Of Undergraduate Biology Instructors’ Goals And Strategies For Implementing Quantitative Reasoning, Anum Khushal

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Quantitative reasoning (QR) is the application of mathematics and statistics to real-life and scientific contexts. It is essential for understanding complex biological phenomena and analyzing large datasets in both academic and professional settings. In response to the growing demand for QR skills, biology educators and researchers have engaged in curricular reforms and education research. This qualitative study explores how undergraduate biology instructors integrate QR into their teaching using a framework informed by pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) and QR. The study involved 21 biology faculty from various U.S. institutions who intentionally incorporated QR in their instruction. Data was collected through semi-structured …