Digital Commons Network^™

Grave Vows: A Cross-Cultural Examination Of The Varying Forms Of Ghost Marriage Among Five Societies, Lucas J. Schwartze

Nebraska Anthropologist

Marriage is one of the most ubiquitous social relationships in human societies. However, the forms this institution takes do not follow the same patterns across all cultures. This paper examines one of the rarer forms of marriage; ghost marriage. After introducing the societies that practice this rare form of marriage, the similarities and differences between the forms this practice takes are examined. Various scholarly explanations for this form of marriage are presented as well.

Of Gods And Gangs: Indigo As A New Educational Model, Jenny Balfour Paul

Textile Society of America: Symposium Proceedings

In late August 2009, a multi-year educational initiative called Silk Road Connect was launched in five pilot schools in underserved neighbourhoods of New York City as part of its Department of Education’s Campaign for Middle School Success. The brainchild of cellist Yo Yo Ma and his Silk Road Project, Silk Road Connect ‘inspires passion-driven learning by empowering students and educators to seek connections across all areas of study and to follow their interests from the familiar to the foreign. In a spirit of playfulness and investigation, collaboration and creativity, this program invites students to experience learning as a continual process …

Collapse Of The Maya: Could Deforestation Have Contributed?, Robert J. Oglesby, Thomas L. Sever, William Saturno, David J. Erickson Iii, Jayanthi Srikishen

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Faculty Publications

The collapse of the Maya civilization during the ninth century A.D. is a major conundrum in the history of mankind. This civilization reached a spectacular peak but then almost completely collapsed in the space of a few decades. While numerous explanations have been put forth to explain this collapse, in recent years, drought has gained favor. This is because water resources were a key for the Maya, especially to ensure their survival during the lengthy dry season that occurs where they lived. Natural drought is a known, recurring feature of this region, as evidenced by observational data, reconstructions of past …

Genetic Improvement In Winter Wheat Yields In The Great Plains Of North America, 1959–2008, Robert A. Graybosch, C. James Peterson

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

Data from USDA-coordinated winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) regional performance nurseries collected over the time period 1959 to 2008 were used to estimate genetic gain (loss) in grain yield, grain volume weight, days to heading, and plant height in winter wheats adapted to the Great Plains of North America. In both the Southern Regional (SRPN) and Northern Regional Performance Nurseries (NRPN), linear regression revealed significant positive relationships between relative grain yields of advanced breeding lines and calendar year of the nursery trial. The estimated genetic gain in grain yield potential since 1959 was approximately 1.1% (of the control cultivar …

Collapse Of The Maya: Could Deforestation Have Contributed?, Robert Oglesby, Thomas L. Sever, William Saturno, David J. Erickson Iii, Jayanthi Srikishen

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Faculty Publications

The collapse of the Maya civilization during the ninth century A.D. is a major conundrum in the history of mankind. This civilization reached a spectacular peak but then almost completely collapsed in the space of a few decades. While numerous explanations have been put forth to explain this collapse, in recent years, drought has gained favor. This is because water resources were a key for the Maya, especially to ensure their survival during the lengthy dry season that occurs where they lived. Natural drought is a known, recurring feature of this region, as evidenced by observational data, reconstructions of past …

Sociology Collection Development Policy, David C. Tyler

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries: Collection Development Policies

The sociology collection supports the teaching, research and service activities of the entire university community. Its primary audience is the faculty, staff, and students of the Department of Sociology in the College of Arts and Sciences. Its primary focus is support for the undergraduate and graduate curricula for sociology. Specific and transient research needs of sociology faculty and graduate students should be supplemented through Interlibrary Loan. Materials are not purchased for the general public, though they may benefit from the collection. While the collection focuses on works classified in Sociology (HM) – Social Pathology. Social and Public Welfare. Criminology (HV), …

Anthropology Collection Development Policy, David C. Tyler

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries: Collection Development Policies

The anthropology collection supports the teaching, research and service activities of the entire university community. Its primary audience is the faculty, staff, and students of the Department of Anthropology in the College of Arts and Sciences (note: prior to 2009, the department was part of the conjoined Department of Anthropology & Geography). Its primary focus is support for the undergraduate and graduate curricula for anthropology. Narrowly specific and transient research needs of anthropology faculty and graduate students are supplemented through Interlibrary Loan. Materials are not purchased for the general public, though the public may benefit from the collection. The collection …

Book Review: Comanche Ethnography: Field Notes Of E. Adamson Hoebel, Waldo R. Wedel, Gustav G. Carlson, And Robert H. Lowie Compiled And Edited By Thomas W. Kavanagh, William C. Meadows

Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences (through 2013)

This work presents a body of edited ethnographic field notes on the Comanches, the majority of it from the field notes of the 1933 Santa Fe Laboratory of Anthropology “Field Training Course in Anthropological Field Methods,” popularly known as the “Field Party.” This party consisted of five male graduate students (Waldo R. Wedel, E. Adamson Hoebel, Gustav G. Carlson, James Nixon Hadley, and Henry C. Lockett) and two female graduate students (F. Gore Hoebel and Martha Chapman), under Dr. Ralph Linton who conducted six weeks of ethnographic fieldwork with eighteen Comanche elders in June and July of 1933. The surviving …

Book Review: Battles Of The Red River War: Archeological Perspectives On The Indian Campaign Of 1874 By J. Brett Cruse, With Contributions By Martha Doty Freeman And Douglas D. Scott, Thomas W. Kavanagh

Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences (through 2013)

The Red River War of 1874-75—also known as the Buffalo War after its principal cause, the invasion of the Southern Plains by non-Indian buffalo hunters—was the final phase in the military subjugation of the Comanches, Kiowas, and Southern Arapahos and Cheyennes. This book examines six of the 20-some battlefields and skirmish sites; as most of those sites are on private property, the selection of which sites to examine was based as much on access as on importance.

The book is divided into 12 chapters of varying lengths. Following a short introduction, chapter 2 gives a superficial historical overview of the …

Book Review: Aboriginal Oral Traditions: Theory, Practice, Ethics Edited By Renée Hulan And Renate Eigenbrod, Maureen Simpkins

Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences (through 2013)

This collection of essays acknowledges and celebrates Aboriginal oral traditions in contemporary Aboriginal communities. Furthermore, many of these articles also tackle issues of appropriation, oral tradition in the courts, the effects of intellectual property rights, and the electronic media while drawing on the experience of Aboriginal community members themselves. In the cases and examples cited, the theory is not separated from practice, which helps ground the articles in current realities and pushes ethical discussions in empowering directions.

These essays are the result of a conference held in 2005 inspired by the archived work of Silas T. Rand, a missionary who …

The Transnational Immigrant-Refugee Experience Of Mexican Yaquis And Canadian Chippewa-Crees In Arizona And Montana, Brenden Rensink

Department of History: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

There are two intriguing examples of indigenous peoples moving in the opposite direction and entering the United States. Running counter to the geographic flows of the exodus narratives, Yaquis from Mexico crossed into Arizona while Chippewas and Crees from Canada entered Montana. Both starting roughly in the 1880s, they sought permanent residence, reservation lands, and federal tribal recognition from the United States. At the end of long struggles for both, their narratives stand as two unique examples of "foreign" Indians granted tribal status and reservations in the United States. Such inbound Native border crossing, the reception or rejection by borderland …

Australian Families, Cultures, And Environments: An Annotated Bibliography, Judi Geggie, John Defrain, Nikki Defrain, Greg Blyton, Leanne Holt

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

This annotated bibliography of books and other cultural resources is offered to readers interested in developing a broad and inclusive understanding of Australian families and the cultural, social, political, economic, historical, and geographic environment in which they live. The contributions of Indigenous Australians, which date back 40,000 to 60,000 years are especially emphasized here.

Most Popular Downloads -- April 2009

Institutional Repository Information

April 2009 — UNL Digital Commons Downloads

Total, 16,935 documents downloaded one or more times 131,785
Total, 5,071 documents not downloaded in April 0

Total for 22,006 OA documents 131,785

Percent of available OA documents downloaded = 77.0%
Average downloads per available document = 6.0

Total page hits, month 190,710
Conversion percentage, hits to downloads 72%

Ten Most-Downloaded Works, April 2009

Arthur Paul Afghanistan Collection Bibliography - Volume II: English and European Languages (2000) 522
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/afghanenglish/13

Electronic Rodent Repellent Devices: A Review of Efficacy Test Protocols and Regulatory Actions 510
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nwrcrepellants/34

Long-Term Consequences of Childhood Physical Abuse 479
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/psychfacpub/99

Christian …

Indo-Portuguese Quilting Tradition: The Cross-Cultural Context, Patrick J. Finn

4th Biennial Symposium of the International Quilt Museum: Proceedings

The arrival of the Portuguese in India at the end of 15th century marks the beginning of a significant period of bilateral cultural exchange of quilting concepts, designs and techniques. As early as the 4th century BCE, India had developed a rich and varied textile tradition recognized internationally. Subsequent to the Portuguese opening the trade route around the Cape of Good Hope in 1498, many Europeans voyaged to India in search of trade opportunities. However, it was the Portuguese who initially explored the potential of Indian embroidered textiles, including quilts. “It was their familiarity with Islamic and Judaic culture which …

Most Popular Downloads -- March 2009

Institutional Repository Information

The month saw a record number of downloads — 125,221 — exceeding by 1,883 the old record set in June 2008. 76% of available files were downloaded at least once; and the average number of downloads (for 21,213 open-access files) was 5.90.

With 32,103 total files as of March 31, 2009 (including 10,890 restricted access dissertations), the UNL Digital Commons ranked as the 3rd largest university repository in the United States (trailing only the University of Michigan’s Deep Blue and Ohio State University’s Knowledge Bank).

Distribution of usage was spread quite broadly across the available files, with more than 50% …

Assessment Of Superstructure Ice Protection As Applied To Offshore Oil Operations Safety, Charles C. Ryerson

United States Army: Publications

Offshore oil exploration and production operators in high latitude regions recognize icing as a seasonal challenge. Icing is often accepted as an inconvenience, but that tolerance can rapidly become a safety hazard that requires solutions. This report evaluates the superstructure and atmospheric icing hazard on offshore platforms and supply boats with location and operation on the structure. It also explains the potential impact of icing on these locations and operations by icing type: sea spray, snow, glaze, rime, frost, and sleet. Fourteen ice protection technology categories are identified for anti-icing, deicing, and ice detection. These technologies include chemicals, icephobic coatings, …

The Sand Creek Phenomenon: The Complexity And Difficulty Of Undertaking A Comparative Study Of Genocide Vis-À-Vis The Northern American West, Brenden Rensink

Department of History: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This article explores various issues germane to the field of the history of the North American West and the struggle to integrate these issues into the broader field of genocide studies. The primary historiographic example of the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre of Cheyennes and Araphahos in southeastern Colorado by the Colorado Militia illustrates the difficulties of producing objective research on such morally charged historical events. Specific attention is dedicated to understanding the potential value of integrating Native American history into the broader field of genocide studies and to explaining why comparative scholarship has yet to be undertaken in any substantial …

Most Popular Downloads -- February 2009

Institutional Repository Information

February saw 120,812 downloads, an 18% increase over the previous month.

There were 158,062 “hits” to article cover pages, and 79% of these resulted in a download.

74% of available open-access articles were downloaded at least once during the month.

The average number of downloads per available OA article was 5.66.

The top 25 most popular downloads were :

Arthur Paul Afghanistan Collection Bibliography - Volume II: English and European Languages (2000) 521
Electronic Rodent Repellent Devices: A Review of Efficacy Test Protocols and Regulatory Actions 493
The Constitutions of the Free-Masons (1734). An Online Electronic Edition. 443
Christian Binek: …

Memorializing A Mountain Man: John G. Neihart, Doane Robinson, And Jedediah Smith, Timothy G. Anderson

College of Journalism and Mass Communications: Faculty Publications

In the middle of September 1908, a "sort [of] trampish looking fellow" called on Doane Robinson, secretary of the South Dakota State Historical Society and head of the state's Department of History. The visitor had just spent more than forty days on the Upper Missouri River, making his way in a small boat from Fort Benton, Montana, to Pierre, South Dakota. He had written Robinson a week earlier to warn him that he might not be looking his best. "You will not expect me to appear in evening dress," he told Robinson. "Yesterday I saw a mirror -- it made …

James Hevia On Summer Palace Relics

China Beat Blog: Archive 2008-2012

With disputes relating to looted Chinese objects in the news, we asked Professor James Hevia of the University of Chicago, author of an important book called English Lessons, which includes analysis of foreign military actions in China from the 1860s through the post-Boxer occupation of 1900-1901 and was cited in our earlier post on the topic, if he had any thoughts on the subject to share with our readers. Already quoted briefly in a useful Christian Science Monitor article on the issue, here’s what he had wrote in response to our query:

The recent announcement by Christie’s of yet another …

Bill Powell (1919-2008)

China Beat Blog: Archive 2008-2012

Stephen MacKinnon is a Professor of History at Arizona State University whose most recent book (reviewed by Nicole Barnes on China Beat last August) is Wuhan 1938. He has an abiding interest, as this post shows, in the history of Western journalists in China–an interest that led to publication of earlier books such asAgnes Smedley. He sent us this piece from India, but our PRC-based readers might like to know that they can catch him live at the Shanghai International Literary Festival on March 22, where he will give a talk at M on the Bund on “Intrigue and Romance …

Evaluating Pseudomonas Aeruginosa As Plant Growth–Promoting Rhizobacteria In West Africa, Anthony O. Adesemoye, Esther O. Ugoji

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

Some parameters of growth were examined in three test crops as indices of plant growth–promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) ability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Crops include Abelmoschus esculentus L. (okra), Lycopersicon esculentum L. (tomato), and Amaranthus sp. (African spinach). This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of PGPR in West Africa and determine whether the inoculation method has an impact on PGPR’s effectiveness. Bacterium was isolated from topsoil in the Botanical Garden, University of Lagos, Nigeria. Inoculation with bacteria was done by soaking seeds in 10⁶ cfu/ml of bacterial suspension, and coating was done using 10% starch (w/v) as seed adhesive …

Most Popular Downloads -- January 2009

Institutional Repository Information

January saw 102,754 downloads, from 20,092 available open-access articles.
74% of available articles were downloaded at least once. The average for all articles was 5.11 downloads.

Articles with 150 or more downloads were:

Electronic Rodent Repellent Devices: A Review of Efficacy Test Protocols and Regulatory Actions http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nwrcrepellants/34 676
Christian Binek: List of Publications http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/physicsbinek/1 526
Arthur Paul Afghanistan Collection Bibliography - Volume II: English and European Languages (2000) http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/afghanenglish/13 463
The Constitutions of the Free-Masons (1734). An Online Electronic Edition. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libraryscience/25 419
Role of Esterase gp70 and Its Influence on Growth and Development of Dictyostelium discoideum http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/bioscimicro/77 382
EFFECTS OF …

The Young Turk Revolution: Its Impact On Religious Politics Of Jerusalem (1908-1912), Bedross Der Matossian

Department of History: Faculty Publications

The Young Turk revolution of 1908 was a milestone in defining the struggles in the intra-ethnic power relations in the Ottoman Empire. The most dominant of these struggles took place in the realm of ecclesiastic politics in Jerusalem. With its Armenian and Greek Patriarchates and the Chief Rabbinate, Jerusalem became a focal point of the power struggle among the Jews, Armenians, and Greeks in the Ottoman Empire. The importance that the ethno-religious and secular leadership in Istanbul gave to the crisis in Jerusalem demonstrates the centrality of Jerusalem in ethnic politics in the Empire. Furthermore, it shows how the Question …

Law And War In The Virtual Era, Jack M. Beard

Nebraska College of Law: Faculty Publications

Since the first attempts by states to use law to regulate armed conflict, legal constraints have often failed to protect civilians from the adverse effects of war. Advances in military technology have usually not improved this situation and have instead made law even more distant and less relevant to the suffering of civilians in wartime.¹ The massive, indiscriminate incendiary bombing campaigns against major urban areas in World War II spoke volumes about the irrelevance of fundamental legal principles and rules designed to protect civilian populations in wartime. Law and lawyers were in fact far removed, physically and operationally, from …

Tactics In Counterinsurgency, United States Army

United States Army: Field Manuals

Tactics in Counterinsurgency, United States Army Field Manual FM 3-24.2

United States Air Force Posture Statement 2009, U.S. Air Force

United States Air Force: Publications

Today, the United States faces a spectrum of challenges to our national security and global interests. As an integral member of the Joint team, America’s Air Force provides the critical capabilities of Global Vigilance, Global Reach, and Global Power. The United States Air Force is 'All In" today’s Joint fight. At the same time, our investments in new capabilities will ensure we are ready for tomorrow’s challenges. The mission of the United States Air Force is to "fly, fight, and win…in air, space and cyberspace"—as an integral member of the Joint …

A Framework For Examining Leadership In Extreme Contexts, Sean T. Hannah, Mary Uhl-Bien, Bruce Avolio, Fabrice L. Cavarretta

Department of Management: Faculty Publications

In this review, we develop a framework to guide future research and to examine the execution of leadership in extreme contexts. We start by defining and distinguishing extreme contexts from crisis and other contexts. A five component typology is developed comprised of magnitude of consequences, form of threat, probability of consequences, location in time and physical or psychological–social proximity. We discuss the unique influences these components have on leadership processes in extreme contexts examining the relevance of organization types such as critical action and high reliability organizations. Further, we present a set of factors that may attenuate or intensify the …

The Holocaust In The Soviet Union, Yitzhak Arad

University of Nebraska Press: Sample Books and Chapters

The Holocaust in the Soviet Union is the most complete account to date of the Soviet Jews during the World War II and the Holocaust (1941–45). Reports, records, documents, and research previously unavailable in English enable Yitzhak Arad to trace the Holocaust in the German-occupied territories of the Soviet Union through three separate periods in which German political and military goals in the occupied territories dictated the treatment of the Jews. Arad’s examination of the differences between the Holocaust in the Soviet Union compared to other European nations reveals how Nazi ideological attacks on the Soviet Union, which included war …

Waterlily, Ella Cara Deloria

University of Nebraska Press: Sample Books and Chapters

When Blue Bird and her grandmother leave their family’s camp to gather beans for the long, threatening winter, they inadvertently avoid the horrible fate that befalls the rest of the family. Luckily, the two women are adopted by a nearby Dakota community and are eventually integrated into their kinship circles. Ella Cara Deloria’s tale follows Blue Bird and her daughter, Waterlily, through the intricate kinship practices that created unity among her people. Waterlily, published after Deloria’s death and generally viewed as the masterpiece of her career, offers a captivating glimpse into the daily life of the nineteenth-century Sioux. This …