Digital Commons Network^™

A Multi-Level Analysis Of The Relationship Between Instructional Practices And Retention In Computer Science, Markeya S. Peteranetz, Leen-Kiat Soh

School of Computing: Faculty Publications

Increasing retention in computer science (CS) courses is a goal of many CS departments. A key step to increasing retention is to understand the factors that impact the likelihood students will continue to enroll in CS courses. Prior research on retention in CS has mostly examined factors such as prior exposure to programming and students’ personality characteristics, which are outside the control of undergraduate instructors. This study focuses on fac- tors within the control of instructors, namely, instructional practices that directly impact students’ classroom experiences. Participants were recruited from 25 sections of 14 different courses over 4 semesters. A multi-level …

Platinum: Reusing Constraint Solutions In Bounded Analysis Of Relational Logic, Guolong Zheng, Hamid Bagheri, Gregg Rothermel, Jianghao Wang

School of Computing: Faculty Publications

Alloy is a light weight specification language based on relational logic, with an analysis engine that relies on SAT solvers to automate bounded verifica- tion of specifications. In spite of its strengths, the reliance of the Alloy Analyzer on computationally heavy solvers means that it can take a significant amount of time to verify software properties, even within limited bounds. This challenge is exacerbated by the ever-evolving nature of complex software systems. This paper presents PLATINUM, a technique for efficient analysis of evolving Alloy specifications, that recognizes opportunities for constraint reduction and reuse of previously identified constraint solutions. The insight …

Evaluation Of An Interview-Based Internship Class In The Construction Management Curriculum: A Case Study Of The University Of Nebraska-Lincoln, Ali Karji, Stuart Bernstein, Mohammadsoroush Tafazzoli, Arash Arash Taghinezhad, Arefeh Mohammadi

Department of Construction Engineering and Management: Faculty Publications

Internships have been shown to be impactful tools to connect students’ learning in academia with real-world industrial needs. To help the students to get more out of their internship experience, some universities provide a summer internship class in which students do class assignments based on their experiences during their internship. There have been numerous studies on the benefits of internships. However, the benefits of a potential internship class for students in construction management (CM) programs at universities have not yet been investigated. This paper demonstrates the structure of an interview-based internship class and investigates its effectiveness. We have focused on …

2019 Nebraska Water Leaders Academy Final Report, M.E. Burbach, R.M. Joeckel, G.S. Matkin

Conservation and Survey Division: Faculty and Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Resolving The Puzzle Of Single-Atom Silver Dispersion On Nanosized Γ-Al2O3 Surface For High Catalytic Performance, Fei Wang, Jinzhu Ma, Shaohui Xin, Qiang Wang, Jun Xu, Changbin Zhang, Hong He, Xiao Cheng Zeng

Xiao Cheng Zeng Publications

Ag/γ-Al₂O₃ is widely used for catalyzing various reactions, and its performance depends on the valence state, morphology and dispersion of Ag species. However, detailed anchoring mechanism of Ag species on γ-Al₂O₃ remains largely unknown. Herein, we reveal that the terminal hydroxyls on γ-Al₂O₃ are responsible for anchoring Ag species. The abundant terminal hydroxyls existed on nanosized γ-Al₂O₃ can lead to single-atom silver dispersion, thereby resulting in markedly enhanced performance than the Ag cluster on microsized γ-Al₂O₃. Density-functional-theory calculations confirm that Ag atom is mainly …

Correlating The Plant Height Of Wheat With Above-Ground Biomass And Crop Yield Using Drone Imagery And Crop Surface Model, A Case Study From Nepal, U. S. Panday, Nawaraj Shrestha, S. Maharjan, A. K. Pratihast, Shahnawaz, K. L. Shrestha, J. Aryal

Conservation and Survey Division: Faculty and Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Comparative Evaluation Of Machine Learning Models For Groundwater Quality Assessment, Shine Bedi, Ashok Samal, Chittaranjan Ray, Daniel D. Snow

School of Computing: Faculty Publications

Contamination from pesticides and nitrate in groundwater is a significant threat to water quality in general and agriculturally intensive regions in particular. Three widely used machine learning models, namely, artificial neural networks (ANN), support vector machines (SVM), and extreme gradient boosting (XGB), were evaluated for their efficacy in predicting contamination levels using sparse data with non-linear relationships. The predictive ability of the models was assessed using a dataset consisting of 303 wells across 12 Midwestern states in the USA. Multiple hydrogeologic, water quality, and land use features were chosen as the independent variables, and classes were based on measured concentration …

Alternate Route - An Examination Of Alternatively Certified Teachers' Job Satisfaction And Self-Efficacy, Adrienne W. Mcelroy

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to examine the job satisfaction and self-efficacy of alternatively certified teachers in a rural, midsize, public school district in Florida. The examination will include the relationship between job satisfaction and self-efficacy. The results of this study aim to provide school officials with a better understanding of the role alternatively certified teachers fill during the teacher shortage facing our nation.

The researcher utilized two existing surveys. The Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS) was developed by Paul Spector. The JSS further delineates job satisfaction into two subscales: intrinsic and extrinsic job satisfaction. The Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale …

Factors That Influence The Perception Of Higher Education Leaders In The Adoption Process Of Instructional Technology And Distance Education, Diego Tibaquirá

Theses and Dissertations

The problem addressed by this study was that many administrators at institutions of higher learning are faced with the task of finding ways to provide the latest technologies while being extremely constricted by budgets and the rising cost of education. The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that influence the perceptions of higher education leaders in the adoption process of Instructional Technology and Distance Education. This included an examination of the decision-making process and what determined if Instructional Technology and Distance Education were either implemented or upgraded at various higher learning institutions.

The researcher implemented a mixed-methods …

Understanding Effective Orientation Practices From Orientation Professionals At Public Hbcus, Ronnie Mack Jr

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation focused on understanding the perceptions of orientation professionals of the impact of orientation programming at public historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). This study illustrates the effective practices of orientation programming and their impact on the retention of first – year African American students.

The theoretical framework that supported this study focused on challenge & support, retention, involvement, transition, belonging, and Black identity theory. The research study looked to understand orientation professionals’ perceptions of the impact of orientation programming at a public HBCU on the successful transition and retention of first-year students.

The qualitative multiple case study …

Self-Service Technology In A Library System: An Examination Of Potential Library Member Adoption Of Self-Service Checkout At A Southeastern County Library System, Grace Keisha Phillips-Daley

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation examined potential library member adoption of self-service technology (SST) in a southeastern county library system. The research framework of this study was based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). More distinctively, this study explored the significance of motivation factors, to include both intrinsic and extrinsic factors, for choosing to use SST in a library environment as the reasonable effect of familiarity in influencing the possibility of its adoption.

The researcher used a non-probability sampling method to identify participants for the study. Edmonds and Kennedy (2013) suggested that surveys were primarily utilized to observe trends, personal attitudes, or …

Establishing Teaching Presence In Higher Education Online Mathematics Courses: A Phenomenological Study, Deltrye Eagle Holt

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe, based on the teaching presence component of the Community of Inquiry (CoI) theoretical framework, the lived experiences of mathematics instructors while establishing teaching presence in online higher education mathematics courses. Teaching presence, which is one of the three core elements of the community of inquiry (CoI) framework, is necessary for achieving learning outcomes and student satisfaction. The three main research questions were: 1. How do mathematics instructors establish teaching presence in online higher education mathematics courses? 2. How do mathematics instructors establish teaching presence in face-to-face higher education mathematics courses? 3. …

Modeling Alternative Collaborative Governance Network Designs: An Agent-Based Model Of Water Governance In The Lake Champlain Basin, Vermont, Patrick Bitterman, Christopher J. Koliba

Geography Program: Faculty Publications

With the widespread use of collaborative governance mechanisms for mitigating water pollution, an opportunity exists to test alternative institutional designs based on collaborative governance theory using computer simulation models, particularly when there is a clear relationship between governance networks, observable resource allocation decisions, and measurable outcomes.This is especially the case for wicked problems like nonpoint source water pollution where there are com- pelling questions regarding how best to design policies, allocate funds, and build administrative capacity to meet water quality standards. We present an agent-based model (ABM) of water gov- ernance for the Lake Champlain Basin to simulate the impacts …

Resilience Management For Conservation Of Inland Recreational Fisheries, Edward V. Camp, Mark A. Kaemingk, Robert N. M. Ahrens, Warren M. Potts, William E. Pine Iii, Olaf L. F. Weyl, Kevin L. Pope

Department of Finance: Faculty Publications

Resilience thinking has generated much interest among scientific communities, yet most resilience concepts have not materialized into management applications. We believe that using resilience concepts to characterize systems and the social and ecological processes affecting them is a way to integrate resilience into better management decisions. This situation is exemplified by inland recreational fisheries, which represent complex socioecological systems that face unpredictable and unavoidable change. Making management decisions in the context of resilience is increasingly important given mounting environmental and anthropogenic perturbations to inland systems. Herein, we propose a framework that allows resilience concepts to be better incorporated into management …

Identification Of Trends In Scientific Communication By Minority Students In An Integrated And Advanced Ninth Grade Science Curriculum, Loren Thalacker

Graduate Research Papers

In the United States, the population of minorities is rapidly increasing. Our nation is facing a shortage in students pursuing STEM careers and it is vital to improve all students’ scientific communication abilities. As our population of minority students is also growing, it is especially important to tap into our potential STEM resources. While the Midwest is less diverse than the rest of the nation, the Waterloo Community School District in Waterloo, Iowa has a large population of minority students. When the district implemented the Next Generation Science Standards it created a problem for students wanting to take advanced science …

Disclosure Of Trans & Gender Variant Identities By Students To Students, C. A. Brimmer

Graduate Research Papers

In this study the ways in which trans and gender variant students come out to their cisgender peers is discussed utilizing a framework of communication privacy management (CPM), which is broken down into privacy ownership, privacy control, and privacy turbulence. Foundationally, this work was intended to magnify the experiences of trans and gender variant students in addition to expanding the application of CPM to the experiences of those who transition across binaries and who eschew them altogether. Previous literature examines CPM in a binarily gendered way, and does not take into account how the appearance of bodies can disclose private …

Beyond Policing, India Thusi

Books & Book Chapters by Maurer Faculty

We all deserve to live in communities where we feel safe

And true community safety means feeling safe from violence by the state, which includes the police. Social inequity has systematically and institutionally permeated our country since its founding, becoming more visible at various times in our history. We are now living in one of those moments of tremendous clarity, and it calls on us to look deeply at the efficacy of the reforms and narratives which preceded it . The deadly consequences of political decisions that create health disparities are now a wound that cannot be unseen as the …

Genetic Diversity Analysis In The Turkish Pepper Germplasm Using Ipbs Retrotransposonbasedmarkers, Mehtap Yildiz, Meti̇n Koçak, Muhammad Azhar Nadeem, Pablo Cavagnaro, Karina Barboza, Faheem Shahzad Baloch, Duygu Argün, Davut Keleş

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Capsicum is one of the most important and diverse plant taxa, widely used as a spice and vegetable worldwide, including Turkey. Germplasm characterization is an essential step for crop breeding. In the present study, we characterized the genetic diversity and population structure of a collection of 94 pepper accessions using inter-primer binding site (iPBS) retrotransposon-based markers. A total of 20 iPBS primers were used that generated 172 bands (mean = 8.6 bands/primer), of which ~92% were polymorphic in the entire germplasm collection, whereas 83%, 69%, and 80% of the bands were polymorphic within the C. annuum, C. chinense, and C. …

Heritability Estimates And The Variation Of Pomological Traits, Total Phenolic Compounds,And Antioxidant Capacity In Two Apricot Progenies, Firat Ege Karaat, Sedat Serçe

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Even though pomological traits are important in fruit breeding for quality, antioxidant capacity and the total content of phenolic compounds have also gained importance, together with a rising awareness of their health benefits. As a result, this study was conducted to evaluate the variation and heritability levels of antioxidant capacity and total phenolic compounds, as well as pomological traits in 'Hacıhaliloğlu' × 'Stark Early Orange' and 'Çataloğlu' × `Stark Early Orange' apricot crosscombinations based on phenotypic assessments of fruit samples. The results indicated significant differences among F1 progenies in the samples involved in the study. Broad-sense heritability coefficients ranged from …

Comparison Of Unmanaged And Managed Trojan Fir-Scots Pine Forests For Structuralcomplexity, Ferhat Kara, John M. Lhotka

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Unmanaged forests may exhibit a higher degree of biodiversity compared to managed forests. We examined and compared the stand structure, density, and volume of deadwood components of managed and unmanaged mixed forests of Trojan fir (Abies nordmanniana subsp. equi-trojani [Asch. & Sint. ex Boiss] Coode & Cullen)-Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in northern Turkey. The single-tree selection method has been employed in the managed forests. Density of large live trees ha-1, density of standing deadwood (SDW) ha-1, and volume of lying deadwood (LDW) (m3 ha-1) were calculated for both treatments (i.e. managed or unmanaged). Results showed that unmanaged forests had …

Interactions Between Topsoil Properties And Ecophysiological Responses Of Mangroves(Avicennia Marina) Along The Tidal Gradient In An Arid Region In Qatar, Hanna Chang, Seung Hyun Han, Seongjun Kim, Jiae An, Juha Alatalo, Yowhan Son

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

This study investigated the interactions between topsoil properties and ecophysiological responses of Avicennia marina along the tidal gradient in an arid region in Qatar. In February 2017, three plots were established, each at a distance of 0 m (D0), 50 m (D50), and 100 m (D100) from the inland boundary of a mangrove forest. Soil samples were collected at 0-10-cm depth in each plot to determine the chemical properties, and the density of seedlings, saplings, and trees was measured. Moreover, above- (AGB) and below-ground biomass (BGB) were calculated using an allometric equation for A. marina with the measured diameter at …

A Study Of Olive Mill Wastewaters Obtained From Different Treatment Processes Effects Onchemical And Microbial Properties Of A Typic Xerofluvent Soil And Wheat Yield, Nur Okur, Hüseyi̇n Hüsnü Kayikçioğlu, İhsan Bülent Okur, Bülent Yağmur, Deli̇a Teresa Sponza, Recep Serdar Kara

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

This study was carried out to investigate the potential for the usability of treated olive mill wastewater (OMW) as an organic amendment in agricultural soils under Mediterranean climate conditions. OMW was treated by two different treatment processes as economical (E-OMW) and advanced (A-OMW). The treated OMWs and raw OMW (R-OMW) were applied to a loamy soil at a rate of 100 m3 ha-1 year-1 for 2 years. Soils were sampled 15 days and about 5 months (at harvest) after OMW application for chemical and microbial analyses in each year. The total concentrations of N, P, Cu, Zn, and phenol of …

Application Of Handheld Laser Scanning Technology For Forest Inventory Purposes In Thene Turkey, Can Vatandaşlar, Mustafa Zeybek

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Forest inventory (FI) is the most challenging stage of forest management and planning process. Therefore, in situ surveys are often reinforced by modern remote sensing (RS) methods for collecting forestry-related data more efficiently. This study tests a stateof- the-art data collection method for practical use in the Turkish FI system for the first time. To this end, forest sampling plots were conventionally measured to collect dendrometric data from 437 trees in Artvin and Saçınka Forest Enterprises. Then, each plot was scanned using a handheld mobile laser scanning (HMLS) instrument. Finally, HMLS data were compared against ground measurements via basic FI …

Effect Of The Height Of The Stem On The Polysaccharide Composition Ofpinus Brutia (Ten) Wood And Kraft-Pulp, Ayben Kiliç Pekgözlü, Muhsi̇n Taş, Esra Ceylan, Jarl Hemming

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The first goal of this study was to determine the polysaccharide composition of Pinus brutia wood and how this composition changes during kraft pulping. The second goal was to determine the effect of the stem height on chemical composition. The content of hemicelluloses was about 280 mg/g at a height of 1.3 m, whereas the content was about 300 mg/g at the top of the stem (4.3 m). The main sugars in the wood of P. brutia were mannose (102 mg/g dw), xylose (69 mg/g dw), and glucose (44 mg/g dw). During kraft pulping, 52% of the total hemicelluloses were …

Comparison Of Spray Nozzles In Terms Of Spray Coverage And Drop Distributionuniformity At Low Volume, Bahadir Sayinci, Bünyami̇n Demi̇r, Nuri̇ Açik

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

This study was conducted to compare the spray coverage rate and spray uniformity of seven different types of hydraulic nozzles (standard flat fan nozzles, ST; multirange nozzles, LU; air induction nozzles, IDK; twinjet air-induction nozzles, IDKT; narrow cone-angle standard nozzles, STD; hollow cone nozzles, DC; and antidrift nozzles, AD) commonly used in pesticide applications at low application volumes. All spray applications were carried out at a constant operating pressure of 300 kPa and a low application volume of 80 L/ha. The experiments were carried out in a closed facility under controlled conditions. Spray applications were carried out with the aid …

The Effects Of Wheatgrass Length On Antioxidant Activity And Total Phenolic Content Inwheatgrass (Triticum Spp.), Yusuf Şavşatli

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

This study was carried out with the aim of determining the effects of wheatgrass lengths on antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of wheatgrass belonging to different cultivars (Triticum spp.) in laboratory conditions in 2017. When the wheat seedlings grown in plastic containers under soilless conditions reached three levels of wheatgrass length (5-6, 8-9, and 11-12 cm), the seedlings were cut from the root collar and dried in an oven. As a result of analysis of the dried material, it was found that the cut lengths of wheatgrass significantly (P < 0.01) affected antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of wheatgrass. Ten wheat cultivars belonging to Triticum monococcum L., T. durum L., and T. aestivum L. were used. Wheatgrass was cut at three lengths (5-6, 8-9, and 11-12 cm). It was found that the wheatgrass lengths had a significant (P < 0.01) effect on antioxidant and total phenolic content of wheatgrass. In addition, in terms of these traits, the most suitable wheatgrass length for cutting changed depending on the wheat species and also cultivars. The highest (P < 0.01) antioxidant activity and total phenolic content (TPC) were also determined at three wheatgrass lengths in cultivar Sarıbaşak. The average values obtained from Sarıbaşak wheatgrass were 31.0% for DPPH-free radical scavenging activity and 51.6 mg GAE-1 dry weight for TPC. The results of the analysis suggested that Sarıbaşak is the most promising cultivar in terms of both antioxidant activity and TPC in wheatgrass.

Screening Of Factors Affecting Somatic Callusing And Embryo Induction In Allium Cepa L.Through Plackett?Burman Methodology, Kourosh Keighobadi, Maryam Golabadi, Mahdi Khozaei, Abdol Majid Rezai

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Induction of embryonic callus through available asexual explant culture is applied in the protection and maintenance of cytoplasmic-male sterility and in the maintenance of other lines of onion (Allium cepa L.). Usage of the Plackett?Burman (PB) experimental design has been suggested as a screening method for many variables that influence the desired induction. In order to overcome limitations of standard experimental designs and prioritization of media culture components, a systematic investigation was carried out using the PB design. In this investigation, the effects of different factors such as 2,4-D, putrescine, carbohydrate sources (maltose, sorbitol, and sucrose), silver nitrate, glutamine, and …

Investigation Of Pesticide Residues In Fresh Sultani Grapes And Antioxidant Properties Of Fresh/Sun-Dried/Oven-Dried Grapes, Nesri̇n İçli̇, Deren Tahmas Kahyaoğlu

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Grape is one of the most common crop plants in the world, and Turkey is seventh in fresh grape production. The seedless Sultani grape (Vitis vinifera L.) produced in Manisa is famous worldwide. The determination of antioxidant properties and phenolic substance levels, as well as investigation of the effects of different drying processes on these levels in grapes, is important in terms of revealing their contribution to health. Additionally, determining the levels of pesticide residues in fruit is another important issue for health. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the levels of pesticide residues and antioxidant substances …

Determination Of Some Physicomechanical And Biochemical Parameters Of Hazelnut (Corylus Avellana L.) Cultivars, Necati̇ Çeti̇n, Mehmet Yaman, Kevser Karaman, Bünyami̇n Demi̇r

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Hazelnut is one of the most popular nuts consumed by people; it has different cultivars in Turkey. The aim of the current study was to characterize some physicomechanical characteristics, shape features, color, and biochemical properties of 6 standard and 3 local hazelnut cultivars grown in Turkey. The shape and size properties of the samples were determined using image processing techniques as an alternative to conventional measurement methods. Additionally, principal component analysis (PCA) was used to classify the hazelnut samples in terms of the biochemical parameters of the hazelnut cultivars. According to the findings, the highest crude oil (63.25%) and lowest …

Identification Of Genetic Diversity Among Mutant Lemon And Mandarin Varieties Usingdifferent Molecular Markers, Görkem Sülü, Yildiz Kaçar, İlknur Polat, Aytül Ki̇tapci, Ertuğrul Turgutoğlu, Özhan Şi̇mşek, Gül Satar

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Mandarin (Citrus reticulate Blanco) and lemon (C.limon L.) are among the most cultivated Citrus species in the world. Among different approaches, gamma radiation is widely used to induce mutations in citrus breeding studies. Gamma radiation causes DNA damage, randomly inducing several mutations in the genome. Molecular techniquesarewidely used to detect such induced mutations and genetic diversity in plants.In this study, simple sequence repeats (SSR), inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) markers were used to detectthe induced mutations andgenetic diversityin someirradiated mandarin and lemon genotypes in comparison with standard citrus varieties. The irradiated genotypes used in this study …