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Bridging The Gap: Predictors Of Alignment Of Parent And Caseworker Perceptions Of Engagement, Jianchao Lai, Michelle I. Graef

Center on Children, Families, and the Law: Faculty Publications

This study examined predictors of alignment between parents’ and caseworkers’ perceptions of family engagement in child welfare services. Using data from 2,274 Alternative Response (AR)–eligible families randomized to AR or Traditional Response, engagement was assessed across the domains of Receptivity, Buy-in, Worker-family Relationship, and Mistrust using a modified Yatchmenoff (2005) scale. Multinomial logistic regression models identified factors associated with agreement and discrepancy between ratings of family engagement within the parent and worker dyad. While both parents and workers valued engagement, workers were more likely to provide higher overall engagement ratings, although the direction of discrepancy varied across specific subscales. Greater …

Assessing Global Citizenship Pathways In A Communication, Advocacy, And Global Citizenship Classroom In The Midwest, Satveer Kaur-Gill

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

To assess instruction in an undergraduate communication course titled Communication, Advocacy, and Global Citizenship, this qualitative inquiry examined how undergraduate students at a Midwest university engaged with global citizenship as a communicative process by conducting a content analysis of student assignments, guided by three key research questions formulated from four course objectives. The assessment found that place-based learning on global issues enhanced students' understanding of the meaning of global citizenship in a globalized world. Based on a qualitative evaluation of their key assignments, students successfully articulated threads and connections between local community concerns and issues as globally situated communicative phenomena. …

The Second Amendment Rights Of Undocumented Immigrants, Alan Mygatt-Tauber

Nebraska Law Review

In the 2008 case, District of Columbia v. Heller, the Supreme Court, for the first time, held that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to bear arms. Challenges to various federal gun control laws immediately followed, including challenges to 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(5)(a), which prohibits possession by an undocumented immigrant. Between 2008 and 2022, courts faced with challenges to § 922(g)(5)(a) universally upheld it. Then the Court decided New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen, in which it discarded the means-end balancing tests the courts of appeals had adopted, instead preferring a test focused on “history and …

Toward A General Legislative Presumption Of Probation In Nebraska, Velma Lockman

Nebraska Law Review

“It is curious that the Legislature has chosen to give a presumption of probation for more serious felony offenses, but not for lesser misdemeanor offenses.” With those words, Judge Bishop concluded a heart-wrenching opinion in State v. Anderson, which upheld Courtney Anderson’s sentence of 240 days in jail. Despite being sentenced for a first offense Class I misdemeanor and nearly every sentencing factor counseling in favor of probation, the district court decided to separate Ms. Anderson from her two children, one of whom was a newborn. A combination of the Nebraska Supreme Court’s highly deferential standard of review for excessive …

Masthead & Table Of Contents, Vol. 105, No. 1

Nebraska Law Review

No abstract provided.

Posthumous Restorative Justice, Michael L. Moffitt

Nebraska Law Review

Restorative justice (“RJ”) processes typically envision the prospect of voluntary participation by those who suffered harm, by those who caused the harm, and often by the community or communities of people who surround them. When one or more of these potential participants opts not to participate, RJ processes often adapt to provide as many of the restorative benefits as possible to those who do choose to participate. This Article asks what, if any, adaptations of RJ processes may be appropriate in contexts in which some or all of the people listed above cannot participate, because they are now dead.

Protecting Plaintiff Interests From Third-Party Influence: A Policy Framework To Address The Rise Of Third-Party Litigation Financing, Jack Lorkovic

Nebraska Law Review

It took a billionaire and a corporate bankruptcy for the once-overlooked third-party litigation financing (“TPLF”) to grab the public’s attention in 2016, when Hulk Hogan filed suit against Gawker Media for invasion of privacy. Hogan’s salacious affair became the backstory once the public learned PayPal founder and Silicon Valley titan Peter Thiel provided $10 million in litigation funding to back Hogan’s lawsuit as a revenge play against Gawker. Hogan secured a $140 million judgment against Gawker, pushing the company into bankruptcy. TPLF is a type of financial interest whereby a lender provides money or capital to a borrower in exchange …

Court Review: Journal Of The American Judges Association, Vol. 62, No. 1, Eve M. Brank, David J. Dreyer, Reba Ann Page, Ana Cienfuegos-Silvera

Court Review: Journal of the American Judges Association

Contents

Creating “Buy-in” for Juvenile Restorative Justice Programs: Lessons from Nebraska’s Community Mediation Centers, Kristen M. Blankley, Lisa M. PytlikZillig, and Ashley M. Votruba

Consensus and Conflict Over Context: Select Criminal Law and Procedure Cases from the Supreme Court’s 2024-25 Term, Eve Brensike Primus and Elena Schultz

In the Shadow of Trauma: Opportunities and Obstacles of Restorative Justice with Young People Who Offend, William R. Wood

Restorative Transitional Justice: The Judicial Role in Colombia’s Peace Tribunal, Gabriel Rojas-Andrade

Editor’s Note: Restorative Justoce: Repairing Harm, Rebuilding Community, Eve Brank

Thoughts from Canada: Restorative Justice Through Prohibition on Arrest, Wayne K. Gorman …

Guidos And Grenades: Shaming Discourses In Mtv’S Jersey Shore, Mackenzie K. Mickavicz Ms., Aubree A. Herman

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

MTV’s Jersey Shore, launched in 2009, reached nearly 9 million viewers at the peak of its popularity. Inspired by the language used by the show’s male cast members to criticize a woman’s weight and appearance, such as “grenade” and “atomic bomb,” this study applies social congitive theory and reality television framework to analyze instances of shaming on Jersey Shore. Through a mixed-methods analysis, this study identifies the various forms of shaming depicted and explores how gender dynamics and character relationships affect these interactions. Findings reveal the most frequent forms of shaming, shame targets, and shame initiators as well as …

An Updated Annotated Checklist Of The Mammals Of The Crane Trust, Hall County, Nebraska, Bethany L. Ostrom, Amanda H. Medaries, Andrew J. Caven, Jenna M. Malzahn, Alexa Rojas, Matthew R. Schaaf, David M. Baasch, Thomas E. Labedz, Greg D. Wright

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

The Crane Trust is a regional nonprofit conservation organization that has protected land in the biologically important Central Platte River Valley for over four decades. A mammal inventory was conducted on the Crane Trust’s main habitat complex in 1980. Since, a variety of environmental conditions have shifted locally, regionally, and globally. An analysis of the mammal community was conducted using past and recent data to determine how species composition and relative abundance have shifted categorically from 1980 to 2021. We used all available data to categorize relative abundance during two distinct time periods per a modified “DAFOR” scale including 7 …

The Nebraska Bird Review (December 2025) 93(4), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Changes to The Nebraska Bird Review, by Janis Paseka

Fall Field Report, August–November 2025, by W. Ross Silcock

First definitive records of Hermit Thrush and Wilson’s Warbler subspecies for Nebraska, by Stephen J. Brenner and Joel G. Jorgensen

Ogallala Fall Field Days, Sept. 26–28, 2025

Index to Volume 93

Subscription and Organization Information

Fall Field Report, August–November 2025, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

As in previous fall seasons, by far the most modifications to BONO came from late departure dates; around 87 species were included, no fewer than 13 of these setting record late dates, notably Eastern Whip-poor-will, Mountain Plover, Brown Thrasher (north), Henslow’s Sparrow (flight call only), and Orchard Oriole.

Although this is a Fall Seasonal Report, noted or suggested breeding activity is of interest. Exciting were the 2nd and 3rd presumed breeding records of Black-chinned Hummingbird and, in Dodge Co, the 5th record of breeding by Black-bellied Whistling-Duck. Perhaps the strangest west to east occurrence was a Golden Eagle adventure in …

Defining The Causal Contribution Of The Gut Microbiota To Cardiomyopathy Pathogenesis As A Basis For Developing Microbiome-Targeted Therapies, Xu Shi

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

Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, placing substantial clinical and economic burdens on society. Although advances in therapy have improved patient outcomes, the biological mechanisms that drive HF onset and progression remain incompletely understood. Increasing evidence suggests that the gut microbiota, the trillions of microorganisms residing in the gastrointestinal tract, plays a key role in some forms of heart disease, especially cardiovascular disease. Moreover, gut microbial dysbiosis has been associated with systemic inflammation, metabolic imbalance, and immune dysregulation, all of which contribute to the pathophysiology of HF. Cardiomyopathy, a primary disorder of the heart …

A Strategic Audit Of Live Nation Entertainment: Industry Position, Competitive Dynamics, And Long-Term Growth Outlook, William H. Wooden Iv, Owen B. Crone, Reece L. Flores, Grace A. Schaefer, Eric M. Jacob, Sydney A. Beck

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Live Nation Entertainment is the dominant global leader in the concert and live events industry, supported by a vertically integrated model that spans artist management, concert promotion, venue operations, ticketing, and sponsorship. This strategic audit evaluates Live Nation’s internal strengths, external threats, competitive position, corporate governance, and long-term strategic prospects based on comprehensive analysis of company reports, industry dynamics, and market trends. Live Nation benefits from unmatched scale, global venue ownership, exclusive artist relationships, and the substantial network effects generated by Ticketmaster, which collectively create high barriers to entry and sustained competitive advantage. The audit also examines significant challenges such …

Teachers Of Students With Visual Impairments (Tsvis) Assistive Technology (At) Competencies: An Update Study, Benjamin Kendall Lytle

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

Assistive technology (AT) is essential for supporting access, independence, and learning among students with visual impairments. Teachers of students with visual impairments (TSVIs) are expected to integrate AT into instruction and ensure their students are prepared for academic, social, and workforce demands. The original list of 111 AT competencies for preservice TSVIs, developed by Smith et al. (2009), provided an important foundation but has not been revised despite significant technological advances over the past decade. Outdated competencies risk limiting teacher preparation programs and leaving educators underprepared to address the realities of today’s classrooms. A revised and streamlined competency framework is …

Evaluating The Preparedness Of Local Zoning Regulations For Flood Risk Reduction In The Most Affected Local Jurisdictions In Nebraska, Md Asaduzzaman Noor

Community and Regional Planning Program: Theses

Flooding has profound social, economic, and environmental impacts on local communities, and zoning plays a critical role in mitigating these risks. The 2019 Nebraska floods, among the most severe in the state’s history, highlighted the urgent need to strengthen local preparedness and mitigation strategies. This study assesses the extent to which local zoning regulations in Nebraska’s most affected jurisdiction, including rural areas, address flood risk reduction. A systematic review of 117 zoning ordinances from counties, cities, towns, and villages, we applied a structured analytical framework encompassing regulatory and permitting policies, voluntary and incentive-based measures, and nature-based solutions. The results show …

How Presidents Shift Ideological Stances In Legislative Elections: Evidence From South Korean Presidential Speeches, Doyeon Park

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

Presidents have a strong desire to lead their parties to victory in elections. However, relatively little attention has been paid to their ideological stances in legislative elections. This contrasts with extensive research on the ideological strategies of parties and candidates who directly compete for office. How do presidents adjust their ideological positions in legislative elections? This study examines the institutional dynamics surrounding presidents, focusing on their dual responsibilities and the role of legislative elections as a referendum on the presidency. It also considers presidential popularity as a factor that influences these dynamics. I argue that presidents are more likely to …

Synthesis And Study Of Stable Organic Radicals For Mri Contrast Agents And New Materials, Sabina Dhakal

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

The first part of this dissertation focuses on the design, synthesis, and characterization of a thermally robust S =1/2 phototetrazolinyl monoradical and the development of synthetic methodologies for a high-spin (S = 1) phototetrazolinyl diradical. Electrochemical studies of the phototetrazolium cation (precursor to the monoradical) revealed a remarkably narrow electrochemical band gap (Ecell ≈ 0.82 V), suggesting promising electrical conductivity. Thermal analysis of the monoradical demonstrated excellent stability, with the onset of decomposition at 232 °C. Building on the excellent thermal stability and promising properties for electrical conductivity of the monoradical, we developed two condensation-based synthetic routes that provide viable …

African American Women And Blogs: The Allure Of Culture-Specific Beauty Blogs, Kalari Flotree

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

The purpose of this qualitative, multi-case study was to explore the identity-related dress and appearance management implications of culture-specific beauty blog readership. The study was informed by three research questions: (a) Why and how do African American women seek out culture-specific beauty blogs? (b) What roles do African American women assume while engaging with culture-specific beauty blog communities? (c). How do African American women use culture-specific beauty blog content to inform identity-related processes of appearance management and dress?

The sample of this multiple-case study included nine participants, each representing a distinct case. Data were collected through individual, semi-structured, in-depth interviews, …

Public Perceptions Of Leadership Effectiveness In Ethiopia Over The Last Decade, Fikadu Reta Alemayehu

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

Ethiopia is one of the largest countries in Africa, with a fast-growing economy, rich history, diverse agroecology, more than 70 languages, and a population exceeding 130 million. However, the country continues to face serious internal conflict, high malnutrition, and economic hardship, while the study of leadership effectiveness remains limited and lacks consistent longitudinal research. To help fill this gap, this study examined how public perceptions of leadership effectiveness and development outcomes changed in Ethiopia between 2013 and 2023, using Afrobarometer survey data. The analysis explored how citizens’ views about governance, wellbeing, and access to services evolved during a decade of …

Resources For The Beginning And Intermediate Jazz Educator: Reviews Of Modern Resources And Implementation In The Classroom, Bryan Canonigo

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

This document is a compilation and discussion of different modern jazz education resources geared towards beginning and intermediate students. It is intended for the younger high school jazz educator who may have just started their careers and are searching for new(er) resources to aid their teaching and rehearsal techniques. For the seasoned high school jazz educator, this document may suggest additions to their current lesson plans and/or updates to their current resource compilations and rehearsal practices. A primary goal of this document is to suggest ideas to aid these educators in teaching jazz music more wholistically, in small or large …

The Role Of Peroxisomal Acot4 And Acot8 In Modulating Lipid Metabolism And Stress Pathways In Steatotic Hepatocytes, Sylwia Miekus

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is characterized by excessive lipid accumulation in hepatocytes and the development of lipotoxic stress that disrupts cellular homeostasis. Peroxisomal lipid metabolism plays an important role in maintaining acyl-CoA balance during fatty acid overload, yet the contribution of peroxisomal acyl-CoA thioesterases to early lipotoxic responses remains insufficiently understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the functional involvement of the peroxisomal enzymes acyl-CoA thioesterase 4 (ACOT4) and acyl-CoA thioesterase 8 (ACOT8) in hepatocyte lipid handling under acute lipotoxic conditions. An in vitro model of steatosis was established in AML12 cells through exposure to a …

Evaluating Metamitron Efficacy For Glyphosate-Resistant Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus Palmeri) Management In Sugarbeet Across The Central High Plains, Abraham Akuoko

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Herbicide-resistant (HR) Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson) is regarded as one of the most prominent weeds within sugarbeet fields across the Central High Plains, with limited chemical control options. Although a few herbicides are available, their use is restrictive due to crop injury concerns and can only be applied at or after the 2–4 true leaf (TL) growth stage, which will provide no control for already emerged weeds. However, Palmer amaranth often emerges between sugarbeet planting and the 2 TL sugarbeet growth stage. Consequently, as of 2023, there were no herbicide options to control Palmer amaranth in sugarbeet …

Realism, Truth, And Commitment: An Exposition And Critique Of Michael Devitt's Constitutive Account Of Realism, Samuel Elias Hobbs

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

Michael Devitt argues in Realism and Truth that positive semantic issues are not constitutive of realism concerning the mostly impersonal external world. This is motivated by his second maxim which prescribes that the metaphysical (ontological) issue of realism is to be (sharply) distinguished from any (positive) semantic issue. Devitt’s argument is that his view of realism, entitled ‘Realism’, doesn’t entail and isn’t entailed by any doctrine of truth.

This dissertation presents a critique of the argument indicated above and, thereby, Devitt’s second maxim. I present Devitt’s account of Realism and his overview of theories of truth. I next present Devitt’s …

Changepoint Detection As Model Selection: A General Framework, Michael A. Grantham

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

This dissertation presents a general framework for changepoint detection based on ℓ₀ model selection. The core method, Iteratively Reweighted Fused Lasso (IRFL), improves upon the generalized lasso by adaptively reweighting penalties to enhance support recovery and minimize criteria such as the Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC). The approach allows for flexible modeling of seasonal patterns, linear and quadratic trends, and autoregressive dependence in the presence of changepoints.

Simulation studies demonstrate that IRFL achieves accurate changepoint detection across a wide range of challenging scenarios, including those involving nuisance factors such as trends, seasonal patterns, and serially correlated errors. The framework is …

Integrating Innovative Sensing And Ground Measurements For Forage Mass Estimation In Rye Pasture, Pedro Henrique Jota Fernandes

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

The United States beef industry relies on forages to provide up to 80% of total lifetime dry matter intake, making accurate forage mass estimation essential for determining stocking rates, improving grazing efficiency, and supporting economic sustainability. Traditional methods to quantify forage mass, however, are time-consuming and labor-intensive. This thesis presents research efforts to achieve accurate forage mass estimation in cereal rye pasture by integrating novel sensing technologies.

Chapter 1 reviews the importance and evolution of forage mass estimation methods, from destructive clipping to indirect approaches based on canopy measurements. It then introduces remote sensing, from proximal tools to drone- and …

Fragmentation In The U. S. Fed Cattle Market: Implications For Price Transparency And Discovery, Taralee M. Hudson

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

The U.S. fed cattle market is one plagued by recurring stakeholder concern. Market participants frequently raise questions about the transparency of fundamental information under existing reporting frameworks, and the extent to which Private Negotiation, the dominant trading institution, effectively facilitates price discovery. Although extensive research has sought to address these issues, much of it has failed to account for the market’s increasingly fragmented structure. This thesis is comprised of three chapters that collectively examine price transparency and discovery through the lens of market fragmentation. Each chapter presents research related to the fed cattle market and is intended to stand …

Communication And Privacy Management Between Female Veterans, Their Military Voluntary Kin, And Biolegal Family Members, Carol Lee Tschampl-Diesing

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

Military voluntary kin (MVK) refer to relationships between Service members and/or Veterans that they consider to be “like family,” despite lacking blood or legal ties. The purpose of this qualitative/interpretive communication study was to explore how female Veterans, who are the largest growing population of U.S. Veterans, discursively construct MVK relationships, navigate communication, privacy management, and boundary turbulence with their MVK and biolegal families (BLF). The researcher undertook in-depth interviews with nine female U.S. Veterans who reported having at least one MVK. The researcher posed four research questions, engaging in an interpretive analysis.

Participants described three ways they navigated interactions …

Developing A Metabolic Engineering Chassis From A Metabolically Versatile Organism, Rhodopseudomonas Palustris Cga009, Mark William Kathol

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

Metabolic engineering has made it possible to develop biological processes that were once considered economically unfeasible or uncompetitive. This field has enabled both a robust niche market, whereby products, such as pharmaceutical substances like monoclonal antibodies, are produced exclusively through biological means, as well as an emerging commodity production market. Nonetheless, significant challenges remain in harnessing the unique metabolic capabilities of genetically non-tractable organisms. This dissertation focuses on Rhodopseudomonas palustris CGA009 as a potential chassis for metabolic engineering. To address the issue of genetic intractability, a synthetic biology toolkit was developed to facilitate the expression of heterologous proteins in R …

Musical Self-Efficacy Through Active Music Listening: A Phenomenological Approach, Amy Marie Fraser

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

Music is often perceived as a talent reserved for the naturally gifted, rather than a fundamental human ability. This study questioned that perception by examining how active music listening can develop musical self-efficacy and reshape attribution beliefs about musical ability. Using a phenomenological approach, this study explored the experiences of students in a university music appreciation course, investigating how structured listening exercises, peer interactions, and reflections contribute to their perceived musical beliefs and competence. Grounded in Bandura’s self-efficacy theory and Weiner’s attribution theory, the study considered whether musical engagement can be accessible to all and not limited by perceived talent. …