Digital Commons Network^™

A Pedagogy Of Connection: Potentials And Practices For The English Classroom, Alexandra Bissell

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

In a moment characterized by rapid technological advancement and sociopolitical volatility, the academy currently faces the need to redefine what a college education can offer students and reimagine how it delivers on that promise. This dissertation proposes a pedagogy centered on the process of connection as one way that English educators at the collegiate level might approach our teaching and respond to this call. Connection is relational, but also textual and conceptual, and I contend that establishing connection as the catalyst for our pedagogical practices is a powerful way to move forward and support our students’ intellectual growth as well …

Hormesis In Plants: Implications For Weed Management And Crop Production, Luka Milosevic

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

Hormesis is a biphasic toxicological phenomenon in which low doses of a stressor stimulate biological performance of an organism, while higher doses inhibit it. In plants, hormesis has been documented following exposure to various environmental stressors, including herbicides, pollutants, and thermal stress. However, the physiological basis of hormesis and its implications for crop production and weed management remain poorly understood. Thus, the objective of this dissertation was to investigate hormetic responses in plants and evaluate their agronomic significance for crops and weeds using representative model species. A combination of field and controlled-environment experiments was conducted to quantify plant responses to …

Investigating Book Challenges: Reasons For Challenges, Changes In Public Opinion, And Removals In U.S. School Districts, Makena Nail

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

The American Library Association documented an increase in book challenges in the U.S. in recent years. These are attempts to censor or limit access to books on library and book store shelves and are mostly brought by organizations and elected officials. There is much more research on which particular books are challenged and the reasons for the challenges than on general public opinion about the need for limiting access to books (PBS, 2022; American Library Association, n.d.). Previous research demonstrates that when books are challenged, the underlying goal is protecting community values by limiting access to ideas that some believe …

Dividing To Survive, Fight, Or Ally: Understanding Terrorist Group Splintering, Makayla Wendland

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

The splintering of terrorist groups is extremely common, with members breaking from the ranks of an existing organization to establish a new, independent organization. At times, the process of splintering has produced some of the deadliest terrorist groups globally, significantly affecting the trajectory and intensity of conflict. Conversely, there are times when splintering can produce groups that quickly dissipate without having an impact. This variation in lethality frames the question at the center of this dissertation: how do splinter groups behave and operate in their conflict landscape?

I develop a new theory-based typology to explain variations in the behavior and …

Starbucks Strategic Audit, Jayla Terlson

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Starbucks is one of the most influential firms in the global food and beverage industry, recognized for its premium coffee offerings and differentiated, experience-driven retail model. Since its founding in 1971, the company has expanded into the world’s largest coffeehouse chain, supported by strong brand equity, global market penetration, and continuous innovation in both product development and customer engagement.

This strategic audit evaluates Starbucks’ current competitive position through an analysis of its historical performance, governance structure, mission, objectives, and strategic direction. A comprehensive assessment of the firm’s external and internal environments identifies the key opportunities, threats, strengths, and weaknesses shaping …

Perception Of 3d Data Visualizations, Tyler Wiederich

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

Data visualizations are powerful tools for communicating complex data structures. They are typically presented in 2-dimensional formats, such as on paper or computer screens. In recent years, technological advancements have enabled traditional data visualizations to be fully rendered in physical environments through 3D printing, offering more natural interactions. However, this style of graphical rendering remains largely unexplored in empirical evaluations with traditional charts. In this research, we conducted two experiments to assess ratio estimations across 2D and 3D charts in digital and physical environments. The first study partially replicated Cleveland and McGill’s (1984) work in perceptual tasks and expanded to …

Developing Best Recommendations For Aerial Application And Chemigation Of Insecticides For Western Bean Cutworm (Striacosta Albicosta Smith) Management In Corn, Andrea Rilakovic

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

Western bean cutworm, Striacosta albicosta (Smith), is a univoltine moth in North America, recognized as an economic threat to both corn (Zea mays L.) and dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). In the Midwest of the United States, S. albicosta can cause severe damage by reducing the quantity and quality of corn ears through larval feeding. Currently, options for Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins that can effectively control S. albicosta are limited, relying on only one Vip3A effective protein, while other growers use insecticide application via airplanes or center pivot irrigation systems, known as chemigation. Given the importance …

A New Subspecies Of Papilio Indra (Papilionidae) From The West Desert Of Utah, Usa, Wayne H. Whaley, Alexander A. Jason, Todd L. Stout

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Papilio indra bonnevillensis is a new described subspecies partly based on taxonomic rearrangement of its larval host plant reproductive phenology relative to Wasatch Range nominate P. indra. It is geographically isolated in Utah’s West Desert from populations of ssp. nevadensis to the west and ssp. calcicola to the south. In addition to phenological differences compared to these two subspecies, it merits description based on host Lomatium depauperatum which recently speciated from L. grayi, neither of which is used as host by other subspecies of P. indra. The evolution of new host L. depauperatum is …

The Intersection Between Adolescent Pregnancy, Mental Health Concerns, Stigma, And Sex Education, Madelon Cox

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

This thesis discusses research from the past two decades focused on factors contributing to an increased risk of adolescent pregnancy and the lasting impact of that pregnancy. The consequences of being a pregnant adolescent can be compounded by race, gender, socioeconomic class, and access to education. Adolescent pregnancy also carries significant physical and mental health risk for the adolescent and the child. Awareness and various interventions can help pregnant adolescents or those who may be at risk for adolescent pregnancy to support them, prevent isolation, and reduce further negative mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety.

Unl Emeriti And Retirees Association Newsletter, May 2026

UNL Emeriti and Retirees Association: Newsletters and Other Materials

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Emeriti and Retirees Association Newsletter, May 2026

Message from the ERA President, Vicki Highstreet

Welcome to new members

Recipe

Volunteer service

Funding opportunity

Wake up your well-being

Programming recaps

Celebration of life: Larry Dlugosh

Memory moments

Substance Use And Childhood Environment In Adolescent Head Injury: Examining The Effects Of Race, Jessica A. Phelps

Department of Sociology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Adolescents participating in sports are at an increased risk of concussion, which is particularly important given the difficulties with cognitive function, emotion regulation, and impulsivity that may occur as a result of this brain injury. These symptoms can predispose adolescents to subsequent concussions, leading to further damage during a critical time in neurodevelopment which can result in mental health disorder development in adulthood. It is crucial to understand what factors may predispose youth to increased rates of concussion for these reasons. As such, this paper explored whether race/ethnicity, gender, grade in school, childhood environment, and risk-taking behaviors were associated with …

Social Bonds And Dynamic Risk In Predicting Juvenile Recidivism Among Florida Probation Youth, Shadrach Sackey

Department of Sociology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Juvenile recidivism remains a persistent challenge within the United States juvenile justice system, particularly among youth supervised in community-based probation programs. This study examines how family context, school engagement, peer associations, antisocial beliefs, and overall dynamic risk are associated with recidivism among juvenile probation youth in Florida. Drawing on social bond theory and social learning theory, the analysis uses administrative data from the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (FDJJ) Juvenile Justice Information System, including 6,215 youth who completed community-based probation supervision between 2015 and 2018. Recidivism was measured using two outcomes within a 365-day follow-up period: rearrest and readjudication. Descriptive …

Optimization Of The Baffle Geometry Of A Circular Culvert Outlet Structure To Maximize Energy Dissipation, Kiarash Shirmahi

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

High-velocity flow at culvert outlets can lead to significant soil erosion and damage to downstream infrastructure, particularly in agricultural regions where land protection is critical. Circular culverts, commonly used in transportation systems, are especially susceptible to this issue due to flow acceleration caused by geometric constraints and installation angles. Despite extensive research on energy dissipation in rectangular culverts, limited attention has been given to circular configurations. This study addresses this gap by evaluating the hydraulic performance of baffle systems designed to reduce outlet energy in circular culverts.

A series of laboratory experiments was conducted using a scaled physical model of …

Evaluating The Impact Of Intercropping Vegetables And Cut Flowers On Yield And Conservation Biological Control, Alliance Igiraneza

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

Specialty crops such as vegetables are some of the most susceptible to yield losses and increased management difficulty over time due to pests. One of the potential solutions to this problem, which aims at ensuring the sustainability of the sector, is using conservation biological control practices such as intercropping to increase diversity, while maintaining the economic feasibility and profitability of the system. This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of this management practice using Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum var. King Arthur) as the main crop, intercropped with flowers including zinnia (Zinnia elegans var. Benary’s Giant), sunflower ( …

Understanding Challenges Faced By Refugee Women And Women With Experiences Of Forced Migration In Entrepreneurship In The Midwest Region Of The United States, Ritu Jadwani

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

The labor market participation of refugee women was only 6%. The United States had the maximum employment rate for the refugee women population, which was 40%, as compared to 6% in Germany, Lebanon, and Jordan (Kabir & Klugman, 2019). Refugee women faced many challenges in labor force participation and especially in entrepreneurship. As demonstrated by Desai, Naude, and Stel (2020), refugees faced challenges like cultural integration, language barriers, level of education, and acceptance of education merits. This eventually led to disparities in income generation. Thus, many either remained in low-paying jobs or started their own business (Desai et al., 2020). …

La Lengua No Miente, Pero Guarda Secretos: Rigoberta Menchú Y Lecciones De La Memoria Colectiva Desde La Perspectiva Del Feminismo Transnacional, Mildred Ciprian

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Este ensayo explora las lecciones del poder de la memoria colectiva, el poder del testimonio, y el poder de la lengua y los secretos en el testimonio de Rigoberta Menchú, Me llamó Rigoberta Menchú, y así me nació la conciencia (1992). Menchú es una mujer indígena maya que vivió en Guatemala durante el genocidio contra la población indígena. Al estudiar Menchú, uno llega a cuestionar cómo se producen el conocimiento y la verdad, especialmente en el occidente frente al resto del mundo. Las experiencias que cuenta Menchú vienen de memorias colectivas que comparte y cría su comunidad. Este concepto de …

The New York Times: A Strategic Audit, Kaylee Campbell, Cassidy June, Keira Cummins, Tanner Maas, Alyssa Fjelstad

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The New York Times is a legacy newspaper that has navigated a great many changes since its founding in 1851. The company rose to success with its traditional print journalism, but has now transformed into a largely digital, subscription-based business model that provides subscribers with access to news, games, recipes, podcasts, product recommendations, and more. This provides an excellent foundation for a strategic audit to understand how one of the giants of a dying industry has not only managed to stay alive, but to thrive.

A PESTEL and Porter’s Five Forces analysis reveals that The New York Times operates in …

A Strategic Audit Of Brown-Forman, Joshua Rossman, Carter Mann, Maris Grabill, Joe Meath, Gavin Pokorny

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Brown-Forman is a global spirits company with products sold in more than 170 countries. Known for brands such as Jack Daniel’s, Woodford Reserve, and Herradura, Brown-Forman’s history spans back over 150 years. Much of its success comes from thoughtful brand stewardship and a long-term approach to growth. The company operates in the highly competitive distilleries industry, where strong brand identity and premium positioning are key to performance.

This strategic audit reviews Brown-Forman’s development, leadership, business model, and guiding mission, as well as its external environment and internal capabilities. It also considers performance, competitive dynamics, business-level and corporate-level strategies, governance, and …

Clinical Case Study: The Effects Of Task Dynamics And Saltatory Pneumotactile Stimulation On Cerebral Oxygenation, Cognitive Performance, And Sensorimotor Function In An Adult Following Left Ischemic Mca Stroke, Bridget Slagle

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

In the chronic stage of stroke recovery, neuroplasticity is thought to require external influence, and is often considered to be experience-dependent, or “Hebbian,” plasticity. Current studies have been investigating multiple ways to induce plasticity to enhance recovery, including investigating the role of sensory stimulation in cortical priming to enhance the effects of rehabilitation interventions.

This case study of an 80-year-old female with aphasia after L-MCA ischemic stroke included 18 neurotherapeutic sessions over 10 weeks. Each session included pneumotactile somatosensory stimulation to the glabrous hand and perioral face, delivered to both the left and right side via the GALILEO, as well …

Beyond The Cycle: How Menstruation Influences Gender Identity And Well-Being In Binary And Non-Binary Adults, Rin Nguyen

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

Approximately 1.8 billion people worldwide menstruate, including transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) people, yet their experiences remain underrepresented in research. Given that menstruation can affect gender alignment and psychological well-being, understanding its impact on TGD people is critical. Gender congruence, or alignment between one’s gender identity and expression, is a key factor influencing well-being, with research linking it to reduced depression and anxiety. Furthermore, emerging research on gender euphoria, the joy experienced when gender congruence is experienced, suggests it may serve as a protective factor for mental health and well-being. Gender euphoria has been associated with reduced psychological distress and increased …

Bridging Reaction Engineering And Polymers Design: Solvent Effects In Continuous Flow Copolymerization, Leila Ba

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) [poly(GMA-co-MMA)] is a promising functional copolymer for photoresist applications due to its reactive epoxy groups and tunable physicochemical properties. This thesis is focused on this polymer and integrates theoretical solubility prediction, thermodynamic modeling, and continuous-flow synthesis to establish quantitative structure–process–property relationships for their use in microelectronic-grade solvents.

Solubility behavior in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), propylene glycol monomethyl ether (PGME), and propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (PGMEA) was investigated using the Hildebrand and Hansen models, Hoy group-contribution method, Polymer Genome machine-learning platform, and Flory–Huggins thermodynamic analysis of Gibbs free energy of mixing. Experimental saturation solubility measurements at 25 °C …

The Impact Of Community On Professional Identity In Computer Science Education, Ian A. Kollipara

School of Computing: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This thesis explores the application of Communities of Practice (CoPs) in Computer Science Education. The work consists of two qualitative studies examining related but distinct populations: (1) K–12 CS teachers and (2) undergraduate CS students. The first study presents a retrospective analysis of conneCTION, an online CoP for K–12 CS educators, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and design considerations that inform future platform development. The second study investigates how participation in a CoP can mitigate negative and exclusionary stereotypes in CS. This study was conducted in an under-explored context: a small, private, religious, Midwestern university, and examines an existing community, the Programming …

Bright Star: A Lighting Design, A Study On The Emotional Impact Of Lights, Dean J. Bressler

Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film: Theses, Student Research, and Creative Work

The purpose of this thesis will be to observe, analyze, and evaluate the design process and production for the musical Bright Star Written and composed by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, Produced by the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film’s in house production company the Nebraska Repertory Theatre Company in collaboration with the University of Nebraska’s Glen Korff School of Music. Performed in the Howell Memorial Theatre from April 16^th, 2026, to April 26^th, 2026. Bright star was directed by Bobby Pieranunzi, the dance captain for the original Broadway performance of Bright Star in 2016, …

Eurydice | Tigers Be Still: Technical Direction Between Two Studio Sets, Rory G. Galada Brownell

Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film: Theses, Student Research, and Creative Work

This thesis examines the technical direction processes for two studio productions, Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl and Tigers Be Still by Kim Rosenstock, produced during the 2025–2026 season at the Nebraska Repertory Theatre. Through comparative analysis, this document explores how differing design styles—metaphorical and installation-based versus grounded realism—impact the planning, communication, and execution responsibilities of a technical director within a constrained academic production environment. Both productions operated within similar parameters, including limited budgets, student-based labor, and a shared performance space, allowing for a focused evaluation of process rather than resources. The Eurydice production emphasized abstract scenic elements, including large-scale string installations …

Improving Genomic Prediction For Feed Efficiency Traits In Beef Cattle Using Microbiome As An Intermediate Omics, Egodage Bhagya Sewwandi Samarakoon

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

Feed efficiency traits, including feed conversion ratio (FCR), average daily gain (ADG), and average daily dry matter intake (ADDMI), are economically important in beef cattle production. Emerging evidence suggests that host genetics influences feed efficiency traits through the microbiome. This study evaluates the integration of microbiome data as an intermediate layer in the Neural Network Mixed Model (NNMM), which hierarchically models genotype–microbiome–phenotype relationships as a unified regulatory network to improve genomic prediction accuracy. To reduce the computational burden of NNMM, microbiome features dimension were reduced using principal component analysis (PCA) and direct feature selection of top-ranked open reading frames (ORFs) …

The Detection Of Morbidity Using A Remote Sensing Ear Tag On Newly Received Steers And Feedlot Performance And The Effects Of Feeding Experior And Optaflexx On Carcass Characteristics And Meat Tenderness In Beef Steers, Lauryn O. Smidt

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

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of remote sensing health technology and growth-promoting feed additives on feedlot cattle performance, health outcomes, and carcass characteristics. In the first study, 638 crossbred steers (initial BW = 270 kg; SD = 18.6 kg) were used in a randomized block design to assess the effectiveness of a remote sensing ear tag (RST; HerdDogg, Seward, Nebraska) versus conventional pen-rider observation (PR) for detecting morbidity during a 35-d receiving period and subsequent 180-d finishing period. No differences were detected between PR and TAG for ending BW, average daily gain (ADG), dry matter intake (DMI), …

Carcass Mass And Cooling Dynamics As Determinants Of Beef Color, Tenderness, And Dark-Cutting Risk, Grace C. Johnson

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

Discoloration in beef has important implications to the beef industry. Dark-cutting (DC) beef remains one of the most economically significant color defects; however, industry prevalence has only marginally declined (≈ 0.1%) despite mitigation efforts. This lack of improvement largely stems from research focused on pre-harvest stress and glycogen depletion leading to dark, firm, and dry (DFD) beef. However, not all darkcutting beef originates from DFD phenotypes. Atypical dark-cutting (ATDC) phenotypes have recently been observed and do not exhibit the classic metabolic indicators of DFD. This trend coincides with steadily increasing carcass weights in the beef industry and raises the possibility …

Measuring Urban Space: A Spatial Framework For Transit Stop Siting, Michael R. Leiting

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

Urban investment projects, particularly those related to transit infrastructure, are often evaluated through quantitative metrics that emphasize economic output, proximity, and development potential. While these measures provide useful benchmarks, they offer limited insight into the spatial conditions that shape how environments are structured, navigated, and occupied at the human scale. As a result, sites that appear comparable through conventional metrics may produce fundamentally different spatial experiences.

This thesis develops a drawing-based framework for evaluating spatial conditions across multiple urban sites. Four primary conditions, Urban Form, Threshold, Mobility, and Public Realm, are analyzed through standardized drawings and translated into corresponding indices. …

After Antiquity: Between Preservation And Disappearance, Elizabeth Pernicek

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

This thesis investigates how architectural remnants evolve from sacred or civic monuments into global spectacles and how these transformations reveal the relationship between architecture, power (be it political or otherwise), and cultural memory and significance. Through studying cycles of sacredness, destruction, and spectacle, this thesis explores architecture’s role as a living record of cultural transformation.

This thesis proposes that architectural remnants do not passively exist after their moment of rupture, but are actively shaped through systems of preservation, authority, and cultural framing. While remnants appear to operate as historical artifacts, they are in fact continuously rewritten through intervention, restoration, and …

From Prairie To Practice: Forensic Taphonomy, Ethics, And Regional Ecology In Southeastern Nebraska, Jessica F. L. Gammage

Department of Anthropology: Theses and Student Research

Forensic taphonomy examines the postmortem processes that affect human remains within specific environmental contexts and plays a critical role in medicolegal death investigation. Despite significant advances in decomposition research, experimental studies remain geographically and environmentally uneven, limiting the transferability of postmortem interval (PMI) estimation methods across regions. The Central Great Plains are underrepresented in forensic taphonomic research despite its distinct ecological and geomorphological characteristics.

This thesis evaluates southeastern Nebraska as a specific regional setting for forensic taphonomic research by integrating ecological, pedological, and geomorphological data with current forensic literature. Tallgrass prairie vegetation, loess-derived soils, seasonal moisture variability, and dynamic fluvial …