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Western Massasauga (Sistrurus Tergeminus): A Species Conservation Assessment For The Nebraska Natural Legacy Project, Colleen Rothe-Groleau, Melissa J. Panella

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: Publications

The Nebraska Natural Legacy Project recognizes the western massasauga (Sistrurus tergeminus) as a Tier I at-risk species. Provided are some general management recommendations regarding western massasaugas. Conservation practitioners will need to use professional judgment to make specific management decisions based on objectives, location, and a multitude of variables. This resource was designed to share available knowledge of this at-risk species that will aid in the decision-making process or in identifying research needs to benefit the species.

Criteria for selection as Tier I: State listed, G3

Estimated Population in NE: 1,000–2,500

Estimate based on: Field surveys

Trends since 2005 …

How Do Individual And Environmental Covariates Impact The Immune Response Of Deer Mice In Western Montana?, Rachel A. Throckmorton, Angela Luis

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

Sin Nombre Virus (SNV) is an exceptional model system for studying wildlife disease because of how simple it is to capture, take samples, and obtain disease status from the primary host. Immune response is an important factor to consider when testing for SNV because it can affect susceptibility of the host as well as transmission of the virus. We examined individual and environmental conditions that may predict immune response and therefore possibly SNV transmission in wild populations. We investigated whether SNV infection status, reproductive status, sex, and season correlate with immune response through examining total white blood cell (WBC) counts …

Reclaiming The Constitution: "For There Is Always Light, If Only We're Brave Enough To See It", Palma Joy Strand, Gregory J. O'Meara S.J.

Marquette Law Review

As citizens—and as lawyers—we are schooled to view the U.S. Constitution as what—indeed—“constitutes” us as a nation and as a people. As lawyers— and as citizens—we are also schooled to understand that the Constitution is law and that its meaning is to be ascertained through the process of law and by lawyers and judges. This Article builds on a popular constitutionalism frame to describe the profound limitations of restricting constitutional meaning-making to a legal enterprise performed primarily by judges—especially in regard to positive rights written into the Constitution but under-protected in constitutional law. In addition, litigation’s either–or mindset has come …

Re-Evaluating Deshany In An Era Of Gun Violence And Government Inaction, Bonnie Carlson

Marquette Law Review

In DeShaney v. Winnebago County Department of Social Services, the Supreme Court held that the State has no constitutional duty to protect individuals from violence committed by private third parties. An exception to this rule exists when the State has a special relationship to the plaintiff immediately preceding the harm. The DeShaney Court sharply proscribed the scope of the special relationship exception, holding that it only applies when the State has a plaintiff in custody. This effectively closes the door on relief for the vast majority of 42 U.S.C. § 1983 plaintiffs.

This Article proposes a new special relationship test …

A Tunable Environment For Tissue Engineering – Establishing Gelatin And Nanofibers For 3d Cell Culture, Edward James Sloan Iii

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Traditional 2D cell culture systems provide a controlled environment for studying cellular mechanisms, but they fail to emulate the complex 3D structure and mechanical stimuli present in native tissue. This study aimed to develop a tunable in vitro environment that more closely mimics the extracellular matrix by integrating porcine gelatin hydrogels with electrospun nanofiber scaffolds to support 3D cell growth. Gelatin crosslinked with microbial transglutaminase (mTG) was synthesized and optimized to create a viscous substrate capable of supporting cell movement and growth, while polycaprolactone nanofibers with aligned, mesh, and honeycomb morphologies were fabricated to introduce structural anisotropy similar to connective …

Emergency Department-Initiated Standard Versus High-Dose Buprenorphine Induction (Envision): A Randomised Clinical Trial Protocol, Kathryn Hawk, Andrew Herring, Marek Chawarski, Erik S. Anderson, Michael Baumann, Alyrene Dorey, August F. Holtyn, Christopher Jones, Shara Martel, Patricia Owens, Kaitlin Kmiecik, Tania D. Strout, Peter Taillac, Michelle R. Lofwall, Sharon L. Walsh, Gail D’Onofrio

Center on Drug and Alcohol Research Faculty Publications

Introduction: The initiation of buprenorphine for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) in the emergency department (ED) has been associated with improved outcomes including reduced ED visits and increased treatment engagement. Though both standard-dose (8 mg buprenorphine equivalent) and high-dose (24 mg buprenorphine equivalent) strategies to initiate buprenorphine have been used in the ED, no prospective trials comparing outcomes among patients receiving these treatments have been reported.

Methods and analysis: This multisite randomised clinical trial is a multisite double-blind, double-dummy, randomised clinical trial enrolling 360 emergency department patients with moderate-to-severe OUD. Enrolled patients will be randomised to one of two …

Supporting The Teachings Of Race, Racism, And Racial Equity In Biology, Aziz Milla, Katelyn Dinh, Sayali Kukday, Nicole L. Scheuermann, Candice Idlebird, Vance J. Mccracken, Rachel E. Bradley, Heather E. Bergan-Roller

CURE Proceedings

No abstract provided.

Evolution Of A Client‐Level Dataset: 20 Years Of National Child Traumatic Stress Network Data Collection, C. A. Purbeck, A. N. Cooke, L. J. Liang, C. Smith, J. Staten, J. Epstein, H. B. Hodgdon, Jessica Eslinger, A. Wells, J. Goodrich, T. H. Bethel, K. Willett, Y. C. Fu, J. A. Fairbank, E. C. Briggs

Center on Trauma and Children Faculty Publications

Objectives: For 20 years, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network's (NCTSN) data collection efforts have been a central mechanism for Clinical Quality Improvement (ClQI). The NCTSN is a federally funded initiative in the United States composed of programs dedicated to raising the standard of care and increasing access to services for children and families who have experienced traumatic events.

Methods: These efforts span three initiatives: the Core Data Set (CDS), the Clinical Improvement through Measurement Initiative (CIMI) Measurement Based Care (MBC), and CIMI Data Sharing (CIMI-DS) that collected and analyzed client-level data to improve care for children and families served …

Review Of The Red Market: On The Trail Of The World's Organ Brokers, Bone Thieves, Blood Farmers, And Child Traffickers, Christine Parker

Nebraska Anthropologist

Review of The Red Market: On the Trail of the World's Organ Brokers, Bone Thieves, Blood Farmers, and Child Traffickers (2011) by Scott Carney.

North Korean Archaeology And Archaeological Interpretation In The Twentieth Century, Gabrielle E. Stoddard

Nebraska Anthropologist

This paper examines how political unrest in North Korea during the twentieth century affected Korean Archaeology. During the occupation of the Korean peninsula by the Empire of Japan during 1910–1945, Japanese scholars embarked on the study of archaeology in Korea. Japanese archaeologists used Korean archaeological data and materials to push a colonial viewpoint that Korea was a weak state that could not advance without oversight from a conquering nation. After Korea was liberated by the Soviet Union and the United States in 1945, it was divided into the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North) and the Republic of Korea (South). …

Typology And Spatiotemporal Patterns Of Illegal Fishing Activities In The Philippines: Implications For Fisheries Management, Marlowe O. Acevedo, Tzu-Yun Ching, Chih-Shin Chen

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activity is a global threat and continues to undermine the effectiveness of fisheries regulations and management measures. However, the extent of illegal fishing in Philippine waters remains unclear. This study aims to identify the types of illegal fishing in Philippine waters and analyzed their temporal and spatial patterns. Data were obtained from the records of the Philippine Coast Guards (PCG) and Maritime Law Enforcement Agencies from 2015 to 2020. A total of 602 apprehensions were recorded, resulting in 813 violations, of which 630 cases were fishery violations. Most of the watercrafts involved in the …

What Is The Association Between Iron Deficiency Anemia And The Frequency Or Severity Of Febrile Seizures In Children Under The Age Of 5?, Rehab Fawzy Abdel Mohsen Soliman, Samar Mahmoud Ahmed, Yasmen Ahmed Said, Shaimaa Mohamed Hassan, Dalia Hassanin Hussin, Dina Gaber Soliman, Zeinab Abdalla Ali, Eman Farouk Osman

Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research

Background and Aim Febrile seizures (FS) are a common type of convulsion in young children and are frequently associated with fever in the absence of a central nervous system infection. This study aims to investigate the relationship between iron deficiency and febrile seizures, focusing on their occurrence, severity, and recurrence in children aged 6 months to 5 years. Methodology This study employed a case-control design and was conducted at El Sahel Teaching Hospital in Cairo, Egypt, over 12 months. The study sample consisted of 160 children, 80 of whom had febrile seizures and another 80 who were age- and sex-matched …

Transcortical Approach For Central Neurocytoma: Efficacy, Safety, And Functional Outcome, Eslam Abozied Kandil

Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research

Background Central neurocytoma (CN) is a rare intraventricular neuronal tumor that predominantly affects young adults and is frequently associated with obstructive hydrocephalus. Surgical resection remains the cornerstone of treatment, yet the optimal surgical corridor and predictors of long-term outcome remain debated. Objective To evaluate the efficacy, safety, functional outcomes, and oncological control of transcortical microsurgical resection for central neurocytoma at a single neurosurgical center. Methods A retrospective review was conducted of all patients undergoing transcortical resection of central neurocytoma between 2017 and 2025. Clinical presentation, radiological characteristics, surgical approach, extent of resection, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion, postoperative complications, functional outcomes, …

The Role Of Human Sarcosine Dehydrogenase And Endothelial Growth Factor In Early Diagnosis Of Cancer Prostate, Hala Ibrahim Mohamed, Amr Mohamed Mounier Elsofy

Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research

Background: As the second most common cancer in males, prostate cancer contributes significantly to cancer-related deaths. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and digital rectal examinations are used to identify it, albeit PSA screenings frequently produce unreliable results. Initial symptoms may include sexual dysfunction and urinary problems. The standard diagnostic method is biopsies, which are carried out under the direction of ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, they are risky and can result in infections and erectile dysfunction, which emphasizes the need for better biomarkers. Sarcosine and vascular endothelial growth factor are important metabolites associated with the progression of prostate cancer, …

Role Of New-Onset Qt Prolongation In Ecg In Critically Ill Septic Patients As A Prognostic Tool: An Observational Prospective Cohort Icu Study, Talal Ibrahim Mostafa Hagag, Salwa M.A. Dahesh

Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research

Background QT interval prolongation is a common finding among critically ill patients and could be a marker of autonomic nervous dysregulation, instability of metabolism, and/or septic cardiomyopathy. Nevertheless, its prognostic role among septic ICU populations remains unclarified. The current aim of this study was to explore its potential role regarding short-term mortality. Methods In this cohort study, 119 septic adults were included in the study within 24 hours of ICU admission. Demographics, clinical variables, lab values, and QTc intervals were measured within 2 hours of ICU admission following exclusion for clinically significant electrolyte imbalances and use of QT-prolonging medications. QTc …

Soft-Constrained Variants Of T-Distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding For Global Structure Preservation, Joseph A. Balderas

Mathematics Dissertations

Dimensionality reduction (DR) is a fundamental tool in data science and machine learning that transforms high-dimensional data into a low-dimensional representation while preserving important structural properties of the original data. Among modern DR methods, t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) has become one of the most widely used techniques for visualization due to its strong ability to preserve local neighborhood structure and produce visually separated clusters. However, despite its popularity, t-SNE is well known to struggle with preserving global structure of data, often producing embeddings in which distances between clusters and neighborhoods do not accurately reflect relationships in the high-dimensional space. …

Machine-Learning- And Iot-Based Approach For Predicting Water Quality Using Data Classification And Explainable Ai Technique, M. Samir Abou El-Seoud, Omar H. Karam 2, Hosam El-Sofany 3

Computer Science

Maintaining water quality is crucial for both public health and environmental sustainability. This study proposes a machine-learning- (ML-) and Internet-of-Things- (IoT-) based approach to water quality prediction that utilizes explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) and data classification techniques. The proposed approach integrates IoT devices to enhance real-time data collection, facilitating continuous monitoring and early anomaly detection. Ten different ML classifiers—Decision Trees, K-Nearest Neighbors, XGBoost, Naïve Bayes, Logistic Regression, AdaBoost, Random Forests, Support Vector Machines, Voting, and Multi-Layer Perceptron—were evaluated to find out which one works best for predicting water quality. We used three distinct approaches for feature selection: analysis of variance …

The Influence Of Black African American Fathers’ Parenting Styles On Young Adult Children’S Attachment Styles: The Roles Of Gender And Fathers’ Residence, Robert Baptiste Thompson

Dissertations

Parenting

Black African American (BAA) fathers in the United States are frequently mischaracterized as absent or uninvolved, reinforcing deficit-based narratives rooted in historical and systemic racism. Such portrayals obscure the meaningful and sustained roles many BAA fathers play in their families and fail to account for the cultural, structural, and contextual conditions that shape paternal involvement and parenting practices. Although a growing body of research has documented the importance of father involvement for child development, comparatively limited empirical attention has been given to how BAA fathers’ parenting styles influence their children’s attachment—particularly as a function of fathers’ co-residency histories. This …

A Case Study Of California Postsecondary Faculty Collaboration On Rubric Development To Foster Student Learning, Emmanuel Kwadwo Frimpong

Dissertations

Although perceived as the ‘gold standard’ strategy for conquering complex problems, collaboration can be ignored by intellectuals who prefer to work independently. This oversight may occur even in the face of challenging problems such as assessment of scholarships, institutional effectiveness, strategizing, and even the crafting of effective rubrics for assessing student learning. The scholarly literature clearly reveals that real difficulties often refuse to respond to routine assignments or common bureaucratic patterns. Additionally, 21st century conflicts may require creative solutions involving interdependence, joining of forces and brains, or vision sharing. Effective assessment of student learning within higher education may reflect just …

Development And Validation Of The Liebelt Attitudes, Knowledge, And Engagement Scale (Lakes) Among Rural Adults, Anna Morrison

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Adults living in rural regions experience mental illness at rates comparable to those in urban areas yet utilize mental health services significantly less. Underutilization of psychotherapy in rural populations has been attributed to structural barriers (e.g., geographic inaccessibility, limited provider availability, reduced anonymity) and sociocultural factors such as stigma. However, rural adults may remain reluctant to initiate treatment due to attitudes toward psychotherapy, limited help-seeking engagement, or inaccurate knowledge about psychotherapy. The present study developed and examined the psychometric properties of the Liebelt Attitudes, Knowledge, and Engagement Scale (LAKES), a self-report measure designed to assess psychotherapy-related attitudes, knowledge, and engagement …

Expert Validation Of A Professional Development Model For K–2 Emotional Regulation, Mark Simpson

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Emotional regulation (ER) is foundational to student learning, behavior, and long-term educational success and well-being; however, many elementary educators report limited formal preparation in explicitly teaching ER skills. The purpose of this study was to design a professional development (PD) program for K–2 teachers focused on ER and to evaluate its content validity through expert review. The framework was grounded in Gross’s process model of ER, Desimone’s core features of effective PD, and Sims’s dynamic IMTP framework. A researcher-developed rubric was used to evaluate alignment, clarity, theoretical grounding, and feasibility. Five experts in various roles within the field of education …

Applied Psychophysiology: Evaluating The Feasibility Of A Digital Breathing Tool, Jessica Pavelka

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Mental health in the United States is a growing public health concern, with one in five adults living with a diagnosed mental health disorder. The prevalence of mental health concerns among adults in the U.S. has not changed significantly from 2021 to 2024 (Reinert et al., 2025). This study examined how mental health providers can leverage technology to support symptom reduction for their patients during and beyond treatment. Biofeedback has demonstrated lasting health benefits, is cost-effective, and holds promise for novel interventions for conditions such as generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility, usability, engagement, …

Camouflaging And Autism: An Examination Of Camouflaging’S Potential Association With The Clinical Assessment Of Autism And Subject Demographic Characteristics, James George Modico

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social communication deficits and restrictive/repetitive behavior (American Psychiatric Association, 2022). The clinical assessment of ASD requires behavioral observation of the participant. Within the context of ASD, camouflaging refers to cognitive and behavioral strategies that a person with ASD can utilize to adapt to a non-autistic world (Cook et al., 2021). Camouflaging may influence an autistic person’s behavioral presentation to a more “neurotypical” state. Behaving in a less atypical manner may contribute to not being referred for testing, having a clinician assign lower ratings on diagnostic measures, and preventing issuance of …

Women’S Marital Surname Change: Adjustment & The Novel Concept Of Name Decision Match, Sarah E. Fox

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Marriage is a significant, complex life event that most international and U.S. adults experience. Marriage offers numerous opportunities for decision-making, including the marital surname change choice. A woman may choose to adopt her husband’s surname (i.e., Changers), keep her birth surname (i.e., Keepers), or an alternative (i.e., Creatives). Enduring societal norms and traditions are reflected in most women who are Changers. Conversations surrounding marital surname change choice may offer insight into the couple’s agreement on the ultimate decision, referred to in this study as name decision match (NDM), a novel concept. The purpose of the study was to analyze women’s …

Navigating Motherhood: A Qualitative Study Of The Experiences And Challenges Of Non-Birthing Mothers In Queer Cisgender-Relationships, Anna Caravaggio

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The present study explored the psychological experiences of non-birthing mothers in queer cisgender female relationships, a population that remains underrepresented in the parenting literature. Existing research has focused primarily on birthing mothers or same-sex couples as a unit, leaving the unique perspectives of non-birthing mothers insufficiently examined. Using a qualitative phenomenological design, eight non-birthing mothers participated in semi-structured interviews examining their transition to parenthood, maternal identity development, and experiences within relational, social, and systemic contexts. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis, resulting in five primary themes: pathways to parenthood and conception decision making; constructing maternal identity; bonding and attachment processes; …

The Covid-19 Pandemic: Predictors Of Inpatient Admission For People With Severe Mental Illnesses, Ashley Killoren

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to identify differences in patterns of demographic and psychiatric symptoms among individuals with severe mental illnesses admitted to an inpatient psychiatric hospital 1 year before the quarantine shelter-in-place restriction order issued by a governor in the Northeastern United States, during the restriction order, and 1 year starting when all COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. A second goal of the study was to determine whether psychiatric admission rates changed by comparing admission rates before and during the quarantine order, and 1 year after all COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. This quantitative, retrospective, observational study was achieved by …

Neuropsychological Prediction Of Alzheimer’S Disease And Functional Abilities Using Brief Screeners, Ashley Bennett

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that is primarily characterized by memory impairment and decline in function. Patients often undergo lengthy neuropsychological evaluations that create testing fatigue and, ultimately, affect their validity. There are brief assessment options to assess probable AD that are not commonly explored in research and clinical settings. This study investigated the predictive ability of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) with the addition of a semantic fluency measure compared to the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-13-Item Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog-13) in diagnosing AD. Additionally, this study examined the potential use of the …

Rheumatic Resilience: An Occupational Therapy Approach, Shannon N. O'Donnell

Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects Class of 2026

Rheumatic conditions affect nearly one in four adults in the United States (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d.) and are characterized by chronic, often progressive symptoms, requiring long-term self-management. Despite this need, accessible and non-pharmacological resources remain limited. The capstone project, Rheumatic Resilience: An Occupational Therapy Approach, was developed to address this gap by promoting sustainable symptom management strategies through programming and education, while increasing awareness of occupational therapy (OT)’s role in chronic pain management. This project focused on areas of program development, education, clinical practice, and advocacy. A 10-week, in-person program based on Lifestyle Redesign principles was …

Transformative Paths: Advancing Inclusive Healthcare Education, Morgan Young

Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects Class of 2026

Transgender individuals continue to experience significant healthcare disparities, provider bias, discrimination, and barriers to accessing affirming healthcare services (White Hughto et al., 2015; World Professional Association for Transgender Health [WPATH], 2022). Despite increasing awareness of these disparities, healthcare education often lacks comprehensive training related to gender-affirming care (American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2021; Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion [ODPHP], n.d.; White Hughto et al., 2015). A concurrent scoping review was conducted to answer the research question: Among healthcare providers, how do educational strategies grounded in transgender perspectives and lived experiences affect provider competence in transgender healthcare? The review …

Eeg And Imu Gait Signal Processing: A Comparative Assessment Of The "Reza" Exponential Filter And Classic Filters, Reza Pousti, Daniel M. Russell, Derek C. Monroe, Christopher K. Rhea

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Noise degrades both EEG and gait signals, and classical IIR filters (Butterworth, Chebyshev, elliptic) involve trade-offs between passband flatness, ripple, and roll-off. This study compared a novel exponential "Reza" filter with these designs for neural and locomotor data. We analyzed an open-source mobile brain-body imaging dataset with EEG and gait data from 49 healthy adults (EEG: 256-channel, 512 Hz; IMUs: six APDM Opals, 128 Hz). EEG channels were grand-averaged and band-pass filtered at 0.5-50 Hz, while IMU axes were averaged and band-pass filtered at 0.5-5 Hz. The outcomes were signal-to-noise ratio SNR (dB) and band-integrated Welch PSD (EEG:0.5-50 Hz; IMU:0.5-5 …