Digital Commons Network^™

School Personnel Perceptions Of Working In A Public School District Under State Authority, Dennis Ray Felton Jr.

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study investigates the perceptions of teachers and principals within a K-12 public school district in the state of Arkansas currently operating under state authority. The Bolman and Deal's Four Frame Model is used in this study as a guiding framework. The insights of this study not only contribute to the academic discourse on state intervention in education but also offer practical implications for policymakers and school stakeholders. The research seeks to answer two primary questions: 1) How do teachers and principals perceive the working conditions in a school district under state authority? 2) What are the teachers and …

Inaugural Caribbean Flyway Review, Daniele Ventura Del Puerto, E. A. Buckmire

North American Bird Bander

No abstract provided.

Cxcr3-Cxcl11 Signaling Restricts Angiogenesis And Promotes Pericyte Recruitment, Jihui Lee, Megan E. Goeckel, Allison Levitas, Sarah Colijn, Jimann Shin, Anna Hindes, Geonyoung Mun, Zarek Burton, Bharadwaj Chintalapati, Ying Yin, Javier Abello, Lilianna Solnica-Krezel, Amber N. Stratman

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Endothelial cell (EC)-pericyte interactions are known to remodel in response to hemodynamic forces; yet there is a lack of mechanistic understanding of the signaling pathways that underlie these events. Here, we have identified a novel signaling network regulated by blood flow in ECs-the chemokine receptor CXCR3 (CXC motif chemokine receptor 3) and one of its ligands, CXCL11 (CXC motif chemokine ligand 11)-that delimits EC angiogenic potential and promotes pericyte recruitment to ECs during development.

METHODS: We investigated the role of CXCR3 on vascular development using both 2- and 3-dimensional in vitro assays, to study EC-pericyte interactions and EC behavioral …

Next Steps In Online Courts: Accelerating Access To Justice Through Court Technology, J.J. Prescott

Articles

For more than a decade, state courts have been expanding access to justice by adopting online dispute resolution (ODR) platforms and other outward-facing communication technologies. At a deep level, these reforms aim at improving society by bolstering the rule of law. At a surface level, these innovations recognize that the justice system works better when courts and law are easier and less costly to understand and use. In important respects, these efforts have been a success. The accessibility of many state courts is considerably more robust today than it was ten years ago, at least for small-stakes cases, like traffic …

Increasing Safety Net Antibiotic Prescriptions For Acute Otitis Media In Urgent Care Clinics., Jennifer Mckinsey, Brian R. Lee, Donna Wyly, Holly Austin, Dinah Dosdos, Emily Murdock, Aimy Patel, Rana El Feghaly, Amanda Nedved

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of multifaceted interventions in improving the use of safety net antibiotic prescriptions (SNAPs) for nonsevere acute otitis media (AOM).

STUDY DESIGN: We used quality improvement methodology to develop iterative Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles to increase the use of SNAP for nonsevere AOM in 3 pediatric urgent care centers from October 2021 to June 2023. Interventions included education, electronic health record changes, audits and feedback, and a time-limited financial incentive. We measured the percentage of eligible patients with AOM offered SNAP as our primary outcome. Our secondary outcome measured the percentage of SNAPs accepted. Our process measure evaluated …

'Buy Me Some Peanuts And Cracker Jacks': How Peanuts, Chewing Gum, Hot Dogs, And Beer Became Icons Of Americana Through Baseball, Miles Houman Cipriano

Graduate Masters Theses

BUY ME SOME PEANUTS AND CRACKER JACKS’: HOW PEANUTS, CHEWING GUM, HOT DOGS, AND BEER BECAME ICONS OF AMERICANA THROUGH BASEBALL December 2024 Miles Houman Cipriano B.A., Westfield State University M.A., University of Massachusetts Boston Directed by Professor Bonnie Miller Peanuts, chewing gum, hot dogs, and beer are often closely associated with the game of baseball. Beginning in the mid to late nineteenth century, baseball was a rising form of entertainment in the United States of America, and part of the spectator experience was the purchase of concessions. The business of concessions in America has grown into a multi-billion-dollar industry …

The Impact Of Restorative Practice Implementation On Culturally Responsive Teaching And Student Behavior, Patrice Mccoy

Dissertations

American public schools uphold the policies, standards, and disciplinary practices that guide the belief systems of how students view fairness and deal with conflict. As teachers invest in student knowledge and seek to guide students in the right direction, the challenge is learning the appropriate methods of dealing with student behavior. Behavior management practices have evolved just as many student challenges and needs have changed. With these changes evolves the need to better understand students and families. Teachers gaining cultural responsiveness to student behavior challenges is a relatively new ideology to ensure students feel understood and more engaged in the …

Protective Play: The Impact Of A Before-School Play Program On Sixth-Grade Students’ Social-Emotional Well-Being, Luleta Dardovski

Dissertations

This mixed-methods study explored the impact of a daily thirty-minute before-school play program on sixth-grade students' social and emotional well-being, using the five CASEL core competencies and S.A.F.E. (Sequenced, Active, Focused, Explicit) framework as guiding principles. The study addressed the central research question: How does unstructured play before school influence students’ social-emotional learning (SEL) skills and well-being? Data was collected through student surveys, interviews with teachers, and observations to explore how play fosters SEL skill development. Play was found to offer an authentic environment for sixth grade students to actively practice SEL skills, fostering benefits in self-esteem, social connectedness, emotional …

Incorporating Meditation, Yoga, And Reiki Interventions To Reduce Stress, Anxiety, And Mood Symptoms Among The College Population, Kelly Wills

Dissertations

The purpose of this clinical research project is to examine the efficacy of mindfulness techniques and alternative therapeutic practices, specifically, meditation, yoga, and Reiki, in decreasing symptoms of anxiety among college students. The increasing prevalence of anxiety disorders among the college population warrants the need for identifying effective interventions for enhancing mental health outcomes. This review integrates findings from published studies that focus on the impact of these practices on anxiety-related symptoms within college settings. Reviewing these studies reveals consistent evidence to support the effectiveness of mindfulness meditation as it relates to anxiety reduction as well as improvements in emotional …

Tehran Is Ours, Hamideh Azimi

Theses

Tehran is Ours is a thesis film, mainly 2D animation, with some experimental and 3D parts. This film dramatizing the movement that is happening in Iran which is about women’s rights. 2D fluid animation represents the movement that never stops.

Utilizing Machine Learning For Categorizing Disaster-Related Tweets, Ahmad Alfalasi

Theses

This study presents the development of a machine-learning model that recognizes tweets about disasters in real-time. The fast-paced development of social media, especially Twitter, has drastically changed the field of news transmission during crises. This change creates new challenges for the management of the volume, velocity, and veracity of data that are generated in such situations. The present tools do not have the capabilities of real-time processing of the huge volume of data; hence, new solutions are required. The model we are proposing addresses this problem by using advanced machine learning methods, such as natural language processing, to filter and …

Shape Between Intimacy, Mackenzie Serwa

Theses

This thesis examines the parallel exploration of raw tactile materials and relationships to develop a personal dialogue of intimacy. It breaks down the materiality of glass, clay, and the impulse of collecting, aiming to communicate the human connections shared between each. By engaging with materials in this way, this study aims to foster a deeper understanding of the existence, influence, and expression of intimate relationships.

Applying Machine Learning For Crime Trend Analysis, Dana Alsoori

Theses

The analysis of crime rates has always been a critical component in shaping law enforcement strategies and public policy. This study focuses on the U.S. crime rates from 1975 to 2015, as reported by the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, to explore patterns and trends over four decades. By analyzing this extensive dataset, the project aims to provide insights into the dynamics of criminal activity across different regions and crime categories. The goal is to uncover both visible and hidden trends that can inform better decision-making in crime prevention and resource allocation. With the rise of data-driven methods, this …

Training In Ecological Thinking: Narrative Practices For Educational Professional, Cristina Trovato

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

Since the 1970s, the issue of environmental education has assumed relevance in the context of a theory of training towards new forms of sustainability education. Literary ecology, a discipline born from the contamination of ecology and literature, proposes itself as a critical response to environmental distress, enhancing the implicit dialogue and interconnections between the text and the circumstances of the environment. The literary heritage constitutes a precious resource for promoting, in educational contexts from early childhood, dimensions that range from the cognitive to the emotional and for activating sustainable processes, through ecological paths that develop a civic conscience, capable of …

Elevating The Online Learners’ Experience By Cultivating Social Presence In The Online Learning Environment, Lori Doyle, Tanya M. Tarbutton

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

The online learning environment does not inherently offer opportunities for learners to experience the benefits of enhanced social presence. The lack of social presence can negatively impact students, the primary group of stakeholders that influence institutional success. On the contrary, research on the Community of Inquiry model, specific to social presence, has been shown to pay positive dividends. There has been an increase in online course offerings; therefore, an intentional push toward elevating the online learning experience is worthy of consideration. Virtual learning environments, if not deliberately cultivated, may be void of authentic relationships and opportunities to connect. In the …

Chinese International Students’ Classroom Behavioral Engagement In Canadian Classes: A Qualitative Study Of Master’S Business Students’ Silence, Bohui (Hollie) Liu, Clayton Smith

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

As numerous Chinese international students (CISs) are pursuing their master’s learning at Canadian universities, there is a growing interest in studying the factors and complexities that influence their academic achievement and classroom learning adaption during their learning at Canadian universities. This research investigated how master’s business CISs adapted to Canadian classes and strategies promoting CISs’ in-class engagement from CISs’ and teachers’ perspectives. Ten participants volunteered to participate in this study. The results reveal that most business CISs did not actively and spontaneously engage in classroom interactions. The influential factors to their engagement are various, including language proficiency, cultures, classroom environment, …

Understanding And Intervening In Children's Tick Risk Perceptions And Protective Behaviors: A Grounded Theory, Ariel Dawdy

Department of Entomology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Children, ages 8 years and younger, are at a particularly high risk of contracting a tick-borne disease. This is partially due to the misconceptions spread about tick protective behavior and a poor understanding of how antibiotic treatment can help. Because most communities and families believe that tick control is the individual’s responsibility, looking at the interaction between ticks and human children is essential to understanding the individual’s motivations to protect themselves. To help alleviate the number of individuals contracting tick-borne diseases, misconceptions must be addressed, intervention programs implemented, and a behavioral change must occur. This study used a qualitative research …

Soybean Cyst Nematode (Heterodera Glycines Ichinohe) Virulence Assay Against Resistance Sources In Nebraska, Pratibha Karki

Department of Plant Pathology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN, Heterodera glycines Ichinohe), one of the major yield-limiting pathogens of soybean, is currently found in 60 counties of Nebraska that produce more than 90% of the state’s soybean. Often, yield loss occurs without any above-ground symptoms, which makes it difficult to manage. The primary management option is the use of SCN-resistant varieties. Several soybean plant introductions serve as resistance sources against SCN. Unfortunately, the single source, PI 88788, is used in approximately 90% of resistant varieties and its prolonged use has increased the virulence status of SCN in the U.S. A study was conducted to assess …

The Use Of Two-Dimensional Detectors For Snapshot And High Accuracy Imaging Ellipsometry, Jeremy A. Vanderslice

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

Ellipsometry is a powerful and sensitive optical technique used to characterize thin film thickness and optical properties by measuring changes in the polarization state of light upon reflection or transmission. This dissertation investigates novel ellipsometry configurations that use two-dimensional detectors to enhance measurement speed, spatial resolution, or accuracy of ellipsometry measurements. The study involves the development of three different ellipsometry configurations, encompassing mechanical prototypes, mathematical models, and test measurements to evaluate each system.

Advisor: Jeffrey Shield

Taking A Closer Look At Tpack: Examining Teacher Perspectives Of The Knowledge, Competencies, And Context Needed For Improved Remote Education In Grades 4-8, Jennifer Christine Buth Bell

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

Though wrought with challenges, the COVID-19 Pandemic, which led to the closure of schools worldwide and forced educators into a rapid transition from traditional to Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT), held some promise for furthering the integration of digital technology in schools. But now, years following the crisis, policymakers, administrators, and teachers continue to grapple with how best to incorporate lessons learned and improve the future of teaching and learning in both traditional and remote settings. This mixed-methods study (n = 21; n = 6) followed an explanatory sequential design to collect and analyze data from a sample of 4th-8th …

Local Rural Knowledge And Early Childhood Informal Science Education In Rural Nebraska, Sarah Michelle Paulos

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

This study aims to discover the existing experiences that lead to local rural knowledge (LRK) of specific rural Northeast Nebraska communities. This information will assist in understanding the impact that LRK has on young children’s science knowledge in rural communities. By engaging in hands-on experiences and interactions, science learning goals for children may be achieved and developed through science outreach programs. During Phase 1 of this study, adults in the selected rural communities participated in an online survey indicating their knowledge of various common rural phrases with the option to share personal stories of experiences and family history. This information …

A Search For Self Through Allyship And Advocacy ‘About, With, And As’ Multilingual Learners: An Autoethnographic Study, Molly Heeren

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

This autoethnographic study uses personal memoirs to explore the author’s allyship and advocacy efforts throughout the past 24 years in the language teaching profession. Through the process of self-reflexivity and introspection, “turning points” are investigated to understand more about what influences the actions and behaviors of allyship or advocacy ‘about, with, and as’ multilingual learners. As a district level instructional coach and teacher of multilingual learners in both elementary and adult settings, the author’s revelations in teaching identity, influences of Empire, misalignment of the ‘sense of language,’ and legitimate peripheral participation in communities of practice become salient issues. The dynamics …

Characterization Of The Final Enzyme In The Coenzyme M Biosynthesis Pathway In Methanosarcina, Connor John Hines

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

Methanogenesis is known to be one of the oldest forms of energy generation on our planet. Methanogens rely on this method of energy conservation and have evolved to metabolize a variety of substrates, including the waste products of other organisms. This feature has made methanogens beneficial to both wastewater treatment and landfill-to-energy projects. Methane itself is a greenhouse gas twenty times more potent than carbon dioxide, viewed as a particularly influential contributor to global greenhouse emissions. Climate change was known to be on the horizon throughout the 20^th century but has made itself known vocally during this 21^{st …}

Vale Strategic Audit, Nikolas Mancio

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The Chinese government is critical in shaping the global mining and metals industry, specifically for companies like Vale S.A., the world’s largest iron ore and nickel producer. China’s dominance as the largest importer of iron ore significantly impacts commodity prices and demand, with its government exerting substantial influence through production quotas, infrastructure spending, and environmental regulations. Vale’s strategic position in the Chinese market is a cornerstone of its operations. It is supported by investments in distribution centers, blending facilities, and high-grade iron ore that align with China’s environmental goals. However, this reliance also makes Vale vulnerable to shifts in Chinese …

A Review Of The Philosophy Of Flood Risk Communication And Education: New Insights Informed By Critical Complexity, Timothy Lutz

Earth & Space Sciences Faculty Publications

The approach to flooding in the U.S. is strongly influenced by research and practices that place the responsibility for managing risk on scientific and technical experts. But there is a recognition that the public generally needs to be more engaged and responsible. There is currently a disconnect between the objective knowledge of experts and the more subjective ways in which people experience floods and flood risk. To bridge this gap, I start with a review of the philosophy that informs government policies and the societal worldview. While societal leaders have maintained a mechanistic vision of a world that is ultimately …

Sustainability Hub Newsletter - December 2024, Margaret Saville, Neyda Gilman, Jennifer Embree, Ashley Maurad

Library Sustainability Resources

Happy December Bearcats! In this issue, read about sustainable initiatives on campus, a guide for avoiding overconsumption during the holidays, and more sustainable tips and tricks! I wish you all the best luck on finals, and hope everyone has a restful break!

Functional Characterization Of Copper Tolerance In The Atypical Microsymbiont Pseudofrankia Inefficax, Megan Paige Garcia

Doctoral Dissertations

Bacterial species in the family Frankiaceae are soil-dwelling microsymbionts that form a mutualistic symbiosis, termed the actinorhizal symbiosis, with over 220 species of woody dicots. In this relationship, frankia fix atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia, a form usable by plants, while the bacteria benefit from the carbon sources exuded by their actinorhizal hosts. Since nitrogen is typically a limiting nutrient for growth in degraded and contaminated soils, actinorhizal plants establish at these sites as pioneer plant species, initiating a path for phytoremediation. Likely due to their association with plant hosts in contaminated soils, most frankia strains have evolved above average tolerances …

Survey Of Capital Cases In Georgia, Jessica L. Heywood

Mercer Law Review

This Article examines five cases decided during the Survey period: two decisions by the Supreme Court of Georgia and three decisions by federal courts involving Georgia defendants. The Georgia Supreme Court cases are a direct appeal and a habeas appeal. All three federal cases are habeas petitions by Georgia state prisoners. We included federal cases because they involve significant points of law and illustrate the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit’s continued lax oversight of habeas claims, decades after the passage of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (AEDPA) by Congress. The small number of cases …

State And Local Taxation: A Three Year Survey, David Greenberg, Alexus Holton

Mercer Law Review

This Article surveys the most critical and comprehensive changes in Georgia law occurring between June 1, 2021, and May 31, 2024. Most notably, this Article discusses state income tax reform, digital products taxation, the Georgia Tax Court constitutional amendment proposal, and other important state and local taxation topics.

From The Personal To The Professional: International Student Experiences Of Seeking Employment In The United States, Hayley Weiner, Peter G. Ghazarian

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.