Digital Commons Network^™

Application Of Remote Sensing In Mapping Callery Pear Distribution And Biomass Estimation In The Southeastern United States, Kavi Raj Awasthi

All Theses

Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana Decne. Rosaceae) is a rapidly spreading invasive species in the southeast United States (US) that hampers the function of native tree species and the forest ecosystem. Native to Southeast Asia, the species has encroached on the natural and secondary vegetation habitats of the Southern US in recent years. This study attempted to 1) map the Callery pear across the southeast US and 2) model the aboveground biomass (AGB) of individual Callery pear trees.

We used Callery pear locations and winter imageries of Sentinel-2, Sentinel-1, L-band radar, and terrain imagery for mapping purposes. In addition, we …

After Midnight: Analyzing Legacy Business Programs' Potential To Capture Patron Perspectives Through A Case Study Of Four Charleston, Sc Nightlife Spaces, Shawnya Peterson

All Theses

Within historic preservation, Legacy Business Programs (LBPs) are increasingly popular initiatives to support and celebrate businesses that have contributed to the history and culture of their communities and reached a certain operational age. LBPs are important to their communities and are part of a growing trend towards vernacular study and democratization within the preservation field. In particular, LBP application processes have the potential to document significant aspects of these important community businesses. Different LBP application questions can capture different types of business information from a range of perspectives. Within the movement towards greater inclusivity in historic preservation, understanding and documenting …

Examining Non-Academic Staff's Perceived Value Of Professional Development On Job Satisfaction And Anticipated Turnover In Higher Education, Elnora Lewis

Dissertations

One of the most important assets in an organization is its employees (Chong & Lee, 2017). Developing staff employees is critical in the university setting (Gornitzka & Larsen, 2004), in addition to satisfying and retaining them (Grohnert et al., 2021). Given today's volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world, staff development is more vital than ever in the workplace (Gibson, 2020). Higher education institutions should be concerned about employee's professional development (Gerken et al., 2016), not only academic staff but also non-academic staff. Additionally, organizations should ensure employees are satisfied by offering learning and development opportunities, which can contribute to …

No Unified Ableukhov: Orientalism And Imperialism In Andrei Bely's Petersburg., Tuesday Shaw

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

This project brings into dialogue the 1913 Russian novel Petersburg by Andrei Bely and postcolonial approaches to literature, primarily those developed by Edward Said in Orientalism (1978) and Culture and Imperialism (1994). Petersburg was the product of an artistic movement, Symbolism, that idealized breaking apart boundaries between artforms. Said’s notion of Orientalism, in contrast, is based on the idea that there is an essential division between “East” and “West.” While there might appear to be a tension in applying a theory premised on division to a work that apparently wants to dissolve all boundaries, attention to Petersburg’s depiction of …

Illinois State University, One Hundred And Sixty-Sixth Annual Commencement, May 2025, Illinois State University

Commencement Programs

Illinois State University

One Hundred and Sixty-Sixth Annual Commencement

May 2025

Exploring 2slgbtqia+ Parenting In Northwest Arkansas, Bailey Mason

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Since the U.S. Census Bureau first published data on “same-sex” households in 2011, research has repeatedly indicated the majority of 2SLGBTQIA+ parents (here on referred to as “queer parents”) reside outside of major cities in heavily populated regions of the country. However, due to widespread metronormative narratives about the queer experience, the experiences of queer parents in less-populated regions are rarely studied. This qualitative study explores the lived experiences of queer parents in Northwest Arkansas, a region of the politically and religiously conservative Southern U.S. with areas both urban and rural. Applying grounded theory and drawing from queer theory to …

Procedural Generated World With History Simulation And 3d Map, Xuanchen Shen

Programming Theses and Dissertations

The procedurally generated world with history simulation tool dynamically generates customizable, seed-driven virtual worlds through algorithmic processes. Using Voronoi diagrams (constructed via Fortune’s algorithm) for spatial partitioning, it creates diverse geographic features such as lands, oceans, and heights. Climate systems, hydrology (rivers, precipitation), and temperature data are procedurally derived from the terrain data. The tool further simulates sociopolitical dynamics, including population distribution, cultural evolution, religious spread, and diplomatic interactions between procedurally generated nations. Cities, towns, roads, and products emerge organically based on province data.

Users can interactively modify generated worlds—adjusting province geographic data, reshaping cultural or religious distribution, or changing …

Leveraging Machine Learning Models For Enhanced Landslide Prediction In Western North Carolina, Andrew Edmonds

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Landslides pose significant hazards to human safety, infrastructure, and the environment, particularly in regions of high elevation that experience extended periods of heavy rainfall. This research focuses on preparing and evaluating landslide susceptibility maps (LSMs) for the Blue Ridge Mountains, a portion of the Appalachian Mountains in western North Carolina, utilizing three machine learning algorithms: Logistic Regression, Random Forest, and Gradient Boosting Regression. Sixteen landslide conditioning factors, reflecting topographic, geological, environmental, and anthropogenic influences, were identified for model input. The landslide inventory database, comprising 7,350 locations, was randomly divided into training (80%) and testing (20%) sets. The performance of each …

Multi-Decadal Land Change Dynamics In Indonesia: Disentangling The Cycle Of Agricultural Land Conversions, Urbanization, And Deforestation, Wei Lun Tay

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Land use and land cover change (LULCC) significantly impacts Earth’s environmental, climatic, and human systems, especially in tropical regions rich in natural resources and undergoing rapid development. This study examined the spatiotemporal dynamics of LULCC in Indonesia between 2003 and 2023 using remote sensing and geographic information systems/science (GISci) and explored knowledge gaps in agricultural land conversions and the impact of food security programs such as the Food Estate Program. This study employed the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) MCD12Q1 land cover data available through Google Earth Engine, and classified land cover changes into four dominant categories: forest land, mixed …

Quantifying The Effects Of Urbanization On Stream Nutrient Loads And Decomposition, Caroline Anscombe

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Urban stream syndrome (USS) refers to the common symptoms of degradation in urban streams globally. Two symptoms of USS are increased nutrient and salt concentrations in streams, affecting ecosystem structure and function. Excess nutrients negatively impact freshwater ecosystems, placing downstream habitats at risk of eutrophication and harmful algal blooms. Excess salt runoff, derived from road salt application, is toxic to freshwater organisms and affects leaf litter decomposition, the base of aquatic food webs. Here, I aimed to quantify the effects of nutrient pollution and salinization on urban water quality and ecosystem function. Despite the widespread consequences of nutrient pollution, most …

Geospatial Modeling Of Winter-Related Property Damage In Arkansas, Braedyn Mcbroom

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Storm Data, a monthly publication by the National Weather Service with records of weather events, reports on property damage caused by natural hazards. Since 1996, the database has included winter-related events. While the property damage data is considered incomplete, no other unique, public datasets report winter-related property damage at the county level. From 1996 to 2024, Arkansas ranked #1 in winter-related property damage. To understand the factors that are driving property damage and potentially reduce Arkansas’ vulnerability to it, three groups separated by temporal periods, i.e., “2000” (01/1996 - 06/2005), “2010” (07/2005 - 06/2015), and “2020” (07/2015 - 06/2024) …

The Archives Magazine, 2025, Siobhan Houghton, Emma Osborne, Katelynn Humbles, Joseph Tyler Nadzady, Jessi Walker, Avery Reel, Kateryna Chmil, Katie Moreno

Kutztown University Archives

No abstract provided.

Making Tabby, Making Place: Examining A Gullah Geechee Wattle And Tabby Daub Dwelling Through Thin Section Analysis, Jacob E. Hamill

Graduate Masters Theses

Tabby is a building material made from lime, sand, oyster shell, and water that is geographically associated with the Sea Islands of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. This material was used from the early 18^th century to end of the American Civil War to construct all-manner of buildings in the Sea Islands region. Enslaved African descendant communities constructed wattle and tabby daub dwellings within plantation landscapes, and these settlements are interpreted as spaces where enslaved people exercised greater spatial autonomy.

This thesis analyzes the remains of a wattle and tabby daub structure located on what was once Old Fort …

Predicting The Probability Of Crime Related Danger In Los Angeles, Joshua Oghenetega Okpako

Theses

This thesis examines the use of advanced machine learning to predict crime danger in Los Angeles, where 2023 violent crime rates (503 per 100,000) surpass the national average (363.8 per 100,000). Rooted in theories like social disorganization and victim vulnerability, it addresses the lack of combined victim-centric modeling by focusing on three questions: (1) Do blended ensemble models outperform individual models in predicting crime danger? (2) Can unsupervised learning techniques enhance supervised models’ accuracy through label generation or augmentation? (3) How can we interpret accurate machine learning models' decision-making processes? Using historical crime data from Los Angeles (2020–2025) and various …

Deliberate Practice Disguised As Play, Clayton Mcintosh Mr

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

The purpose of this project was to create a digital version of a manual exercise I designed to develop the divergent and convergent thinking skills that recognize analogous qualities that lead to creative solutions. The primary focus of the project was to build and test the functionality of the digital version of the exercise. The goal of the digital version is to provide undergraduate graphic design students with creative skill building practice sessions in the format of a video game. This digital version will allow students to conduct practice sessions at their convenience. It is the intent that the video …

Heterotopias Of Confinement: Zoo Architecture And The Loss Of Elephant Agency, Clayton Gill Beasley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Zoos functions as a site where human-animal relationships are structured through built environments that mediate control and representation. This study examines zoos as heterotopias—spaces where power and surveillance are negotiated between human observers and captive nonhuman animals. While zoos are often framed as spaces of conservation and education, their architectural design reinforces hierarchies of observation and confinement, shaping both human perceptions of nature and the lived experiences of nonhuman animals. This research focuses on Asian elephants as a critical species within this framework, exploring how their captivity illuminates tensions between human-imposed structures and nonhuman autonomy. Drawing from theories of heterotopia, …

Heartbeat Of The Heartland: Sonic Engagement With Hip-Hop In The American Midwest, Lauren R. Millhorn

Department of English: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This project analyzes Hip-Hop artists from the American Midwest through the context of the Midwest’s construction as a nostalgic, peaceful area where conflict seems nonexistent. This study applies Adam Ochonicky’s concept of nostalgic spatiality, or “instances in which nostalgia is projected onto a physical environment, thereby altering the perception, understanding, and/or experience of that space and its accompanying cultural sphere” (Ochonicky 29) to close readings on Midwest Hip-Hop texts. In the case of the Midwest, projected nostalgia is rooted in whiteness and propels the narrative that the Midwest is predominantly occupied by white people who maintain its peace and serenity …

Ediacaran Paleocommunity Structure, Body Size Evolution, And The Rise Of Complex Animals, Matthew Philip Craffey

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

The Ediacaran period (635-538ma) is a key interval in the evolution of life as it records the first macroscopic animal communities. Major extinction pulses appear to have altered the composition of the global marine biosphere between each sub-interval of the Ediacaran Period: the Avalon, White Sea, and Nama assemblage Zones. While considerable attention has been paid to the causes of these extinction pulses, less has been afforded to the consequences of Ediacaran biotic turnover for community organization and function. Moreover, it is unclear how body size - the defining trait of macrofauna - affected the transition between animal groups across …

Influence Of Biotic And Abiotic Factors On Decomposition And The Determination Of Time Since Death: Applications Of Forensic Entomology And Taphonomy, John Oladapo Obafunwa

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

The determination of the postmortem interval (PMI) is essential for the investigation and successful prosecution of suspected cases of homicide. While the forensic pathologist might be able to draw fairly accurate conclusions during the initial 24–36 hours, beyond this period, the assistance of other experts like forensic entomologists and taphonomists would be required. The present study was designed to observe the postmortem changes in Sus scrofa placed in a cage in Nebraska, located in the American Central Great Plains. The setting is in an open grassland in late spring to early summer. The observed variables with respect to biotic and …

Chasqui, Nicole Lachat

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

Chasqui is a creative dissertation comprised of a thirteen-page critical introduction and a series of poems which consider varying forms of migration, including that of border crossings. The internalization of displacement through longing and alienation is examined in these poems. The author considers questions of inheritance through an exploration of personal, familial and sociopolitical bonds. Varying forms of violence, including colonial and gendered violence are reflected upon in the work.

Advisor: Kwame Dawes

Assessing Spatial And Temporal Variation In Photoprotective Responses Of Deciduous And Evergreen Tree Canopies With Leaf Spectroscopy, Alexander Piper

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Environmental conditions frequently prevent carbon fixation by plants, leading to the absorption of excess light that can damage photosynthetic machinery if not dissipated. To do so, plants utilize several photoprotective mechanisms, some detectable remotely using Photochemical Reflectance Index (PRI). Two components of PRI correspond to the facultative engagement of the xanthophyll cycle (ΔPRI) and constitutive changes in xanthophyll pigment pool sizes (PRI0), representing distinct mechanisms regulating shorter and longer-term photoprotection, respectively. Our understanding of interspecific and intraspecific variation in these mechanisms is limited, primarily because PRI components are often not clearly distinguished. This study aimed to assess the variation in …

Radar Precursors To Severe Weather Reports In Left-Moving Supercells, Eric A. Carothers

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

While much research has examined dual-polarimetric signatures of right-moving supercells, very little has been done with left-moving supercells. Given that left-moving supercells are thought to be disproportionate producers of large hail, understanding their internal dynamics is vitally important. This study examines differences and trends in the dual-polarimetric signatures of left-moving supercells to identify precursors to severe weather reports. A dataset of left-moving supercells associated with severe weather reports was created. These storms are processed with an automated analysis algorithm that identifies and quantifies the polarimetric signatures in each storm. A method for analysis of differences and trends in their dual-polarization …

A Comparative Analysis Of Women’S Health In Latin America And The United States: Geographical Context And Preventative Actions, Holly J. Robinson

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Cervical cancer, breast cancer, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), pregnancy complications, and gender-based violence are dangers faced by women everywhere. However, the severity of these risks can increase significantly due to a country’s geography, government control, and level of development. This thesis expands upon information gained directly from on-site experiences with medical professionals and locals (including doctors, nurses, nutritionists, and patients) in Peru, Ecuador, and Costa Rica, and further research to look at Latin America as a whole, in relation to the United States. Both the US and Latin America exhibit problems with their healthcare systems. The United States is more …

Invisible Infrastructure: Metal Artifacts At Trinity University’S Walking Trail Site, Adam Kingery

Sociology and Anthropology Honors Theses

This thesis analyzes a series of metal artifacts recovered from the Walking Trail Site located on the modern campus of Trinity University, a small private liberal arts university in San Antonio, Texas. These artifacts are a small sample of objects recovered from a late 19th and early 20th-century dumpsite. They were analyzed using X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) to determine their elemental composition, and subsequent research highlighted their place in the cultural and developmental history of San Antonio— especially in terms of water infrastructure and concrete building practices. Below, I examine the history of the Walking Trail archaeological site, an overview of …

Charting Reciprocity: The Mapping Of Knowledge Production In Collaborative Community Networks, Nicole Cunningham-Frisbey

Doctoral Dissertations

Abstract

This dissertation reconceptualizes community-based literacy and writing practices as dynamic processes of reciprocal textual production grounded in feminist and Indigenous methodologies. It challenges traditional hierarchical structures by foregrounding community-generated epistemologies, emphasizing relational accountability, iterative reflexivity, and sustained ethical engagement. Using qualitative methods—including practitioner-created knowledge and social network maps and an analytical mapping method—the study explores how community practitioners strategically leverage their cultural identities and epistemological frameworks within collaborative writing and advocacy.Empirical case studies illustrate reciprocal knowledge production in action, showcasing intentional approaches such as oral storytelling, collaborative writing, and policy advocacy. Findings demonstrate how textual artifacts from reciprocal frameworks …

Immigration Policy In The Second Trump Administration: Restriction, Removal, And The Limits Of Maga Nativism, Caroline R. Nagel

Faculty Publications

Donald Trump's three presidential campaigns have centred on promises to stop unauthorised immigration, whether by ‘building the wall’ or by enacting the largest mass deportation in American history. To deliver on these promises, Trump has appointed Stephen Miller—an anti-immigration hardliner who was responsible for the first Trump administration's draconian border policies – to a key White House position. Trump is often described as breaking from liberal-democratic norms; but when it comes to immigration policy, he is following a well-worn path by hiring Miller. This brief commentary places the Trump/Miller brand of anti-immigration politics in historical context, showing how anxieties over …

Immigration Policy In The Second Trump Administration: Restriction, Removal, And The Limits Of Maga Nativism, Caroline R. Nagel

Faculty Publications

Donald Trump's three presidential campaigns have centred on promises to stop unauthorised immigration, whether by ‘building the wall’ or by enacting the largest mass deportation in American history. To deliver on these promises, Trump has appointed Stephen Miller—an anti-immigration hardliner who was responsible for the first Trump administration's draconian border policies – to a key White House position. Trump is often described as breaking from liberal-democratic norms; but when it comes to immigration policy, he is following a well-worn path by hiring Miller. This brief commentary places the Trump/Miller brand of anti-immigration politics in historical context, showing how anxieties over …

Do Sports Events Affect Public Education? Evidence From Omaha, Nebraska, Wes Wasserburger

Economics Honors Theses

Omaha, Nebraska, hosted the United States Olympic Swimming Trials for the first time in 2008. This paper investigates the impact of this local stimulus on educational quality, as measured by expenditures per student and the pupil-teacher ratio. A two way fixed effects estimator, an event study regression, and a synthetic control estimator are used to demonstrate that hosting the Olympic Trials reduced educational quality in Omaha. Potential mechanisms and alternative explanations for this educational impact are discussed. This paper proves that a local economic stimulus, particularly a large-scale sporting event, does not enhance educational quality. More broadly, these results illuminate …

Advancing Efficiency Of Unstructured Mesh Processing With Localized Data Structures, Guoxi Liu

All Dissertations

Unstructured meshes are widely used to represent complex shapes and data in visualization tasks, such as medical imaging, engineering design, and geometric modeling. However, their unevenly distributed elements make them memory-intensive and time-consuming to process, especially as mesh sizes grow. This research focuses on improving the efficiency of processing large unstructured meshes by reducing memory usage and speeding up computations. This doctoral dissertation introduces three methods to address these challenges. The first approach divides the mesh into smaller partitions and processes it piece-by-piece, reducing memory requirements by up to 10 times. The second approach uses the processor's parallel computing capabilities …

A Review Of Smart Public Transport Systems: Challenges, Technological Innovations, And Future Directions, Ahmed Masam Alfalasi

Theses

Urbanization has created greater demand for effective and sustainable public transport systems in smart cities. Yet, overcrowding, congestion, and old infrastructure remain the main challenges to the effectiveness of these systems. This literature review discusses the major issues affecting smart public transport, such as reliability issues, environmental sustainability, and improved integration and coordination between modes of transport. Technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and big data analytics are being applied to enhance public transportation efficiency, alleviate congestion, and improve passenger experience. Qualitative research methods were used, relying on secondary data from academic journals, government reports, and …