Digital Commons Network^™

Aeris - Autonomous Experimental Rendezvous And Inspection System, Delaney Ahr, Ashton Clark, Sandro Gardella, Ava Nieburg, Keoni Power, Lindsey Reilly, Joshua Sundet, Ryan Wehe

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Student Publications

Project AERIS is focused on developing a realistic test environment and an autonomous platform to support and validate advanced satellite inspection technologies, rendezvous, and proximity operations (RPO). The system integrates four main elements: - A drone-based chaser vehicle - A visually-accurate satellite model mounted on a one-degree-of-freedom (1 DOF) test stand - A space-like ground environment

Program And Proceedings, The Nebraska Academy Of Sciences 1880–2026: 146th Anniversary Year, One Hundred-Thirty-Sixth Annual Meeting

Nebraska Academy of Sciences: Programs and Proceedings

Program and abstracts of the proceedings for the Nebraska Academy of Sciences 136th annual meeting, 2025

Sessions

Aeronautics and Space Science

Anthropology

Biological and Medical Sciences

Earth Sciences

Ecology, Sustainability, and Environmental Science

Physics and Engineering

General Poster Session

2026 Maiben Lecture: Shifting Extremes: Understanding Nebraska’s Changing Climate and Preparing for What Lies Ahead, Deborah Bathke

2026 Friends of Science Awards: Julie Shaffer and Irina Filina

2026 C. Bertrand and Marian Othmer Schultz Colleaguate Schoalrship Award: Piper Ryschon and Bryce Reeson

In Memoriam: Paul Royster

Evaluating Drug Use Through Examination Of Local Water Sources: Drug Concentrations Within Biota Systems, Madeleine Freyhof

Honors Projects

Understanding drug usage based on drug concentrations found within biota samples grown in different concentrations of cocaine and benzoylecgonine. Drug policy then can be potentially based on how drug concentrations display drug usage for a specific community.

Structural Consequences Of Economic Crisis And Us Militarization In The Caribbean: Drug Scarcity, Crime Escalation, And Narco-Entrepreneurship In Puerto Rico, Victor M. Vazquez, Howard Campbell

Departmental Papers (S&A)

No abstract provided.

Njit Library Annual Report July 2024 To June 2025, Njit Libraries

Library Annual Reports

No abstract provided.

You Can Be Innocent—Or You Can Be Free: Prosecutorial Power And Dark Pleas In Innocence Litigation, Tori Simkovic, Craig Trocino

University of Miami Race & Social Justice Law Review

This Article examines the phenomenon Justice Michael P. Donnelly has termed the “dark plea.” A dark plea is a post-conviction guilty plea extracted from defendants who maintain their innocence but accept freedom over exoneration. Through the lens of State of Florida v. Lawrence K. Johnson, this Article exposes how dark pleas operate at the precise moment when newly discovered evidence threatens to unravel a conviction and expose actual innocence in a nearly two decades old wrongful conviction. Johnson’s case illustrates the coercive dynamics of this type postconviction “bargaining.” After eighteen years of incarceration, compelling DNA recantation evidence, and an appellate …

Reproductive Season And Fecundity Reassessment Of Gopher Tortoises (Gopherus Polyphemus) In Southeastern Florida, Riley Waters

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) breeding season occurs throughout spring and early summer across its distributional range, but recent research shows that in southeastern Florida, mating also occurs in the fall and winter months. This project evaluates the gopher tortoise’s extended reproductive season in southeastern Florida and female fecundity. The study, conducted at two locations in South Florida: Jupiter, FL and Boca Raton, FL, used field ultrasound equipment and radiographs to identify gravid females and determine clutch size. The data suggest a much earlier start to egg development and nesting, and the possibility of an extended egg development …

Draft Uniform Federal Policyquality Assurance Project Plan Addendum, Hydrogeologic, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Themed Entertainment Design, Katelyn Jones

Whittier Scholars Program

This project is a comprehensive design package for a themed entertainment experience. It is formatted similarly to how a project pitch works in the Themed Entertainment industry. This is my concept work for an immersive, interactive, themed walkthrough that takes the guest through the story of King Arthur and the wider Arthurian legend. I have done extensive tonal research, leading me to develop a narrative structure for the experience. From this narrative, I created iterative sketches, a key illustration, a CAD model of one of the spaces, and a scale physical model. All of these pieces together give the viewer …

Ethnicity, Culture, And The Epidemiology Of Eating Disorders, Rebecca Atwell

Honors Theses

This systematic literature review addresses the research question: How does culture affect eating disorders? It examines the role of ethnicity and culture in shaping the prevalence, symptom presentation, and treatment of eating disorders across diverse populations. Although eating disorders have traditionally been studied in Western, predominantly White populations, growing evidence suggests that cultural norms, ethnic identity, globalization, and exposure to Western ideals significantly influence both the development and expression of disordered eating behaviors. Twenty peer-reviewed studies published between 2000 and 2024 were included. These studies were identified through systematic searches of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO and selected …

From Novice To On-Air: Developing A Student Radio Personality At 89.1 Widr Fm, Travis Melson

Honors Theses

This honors thesis explores the full development of my role as a student radio personality at 89.1 WIDR FM, documenting each stage of the process, from the earliest introductory meetings and technical training to the experience of shadowing established shows and launching my own on-air program. The project serves not only as a record of my personal progression through WIDR's broadcasting environment but also as an analysis of the learning curve required to transform from a complete novice into a confident, consistent radio host.

A significant component of this work is my perspective as someone entering the radio space with …

Attend The Tale: Scenic Design For Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street, Andrea Imsland

Honors Theses

I designed the set for Western Michigan University’s 2026 production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street written by Steven Sondheim and directed by Jay Berkow. My thesis advisor was Prof. Dave Nofsinger and my thesis chair member was Dean of the College of Fine Arts Dan Guyette. I began my design process in September of 2025. The show ran from April 10th through April 25th. This was my final scenic design as a Theatre: Design and Technical Production undergraduate student at WMU.

How Social Media Provides Access For Human Traffickers To Victimize Children: A Literature Review With Combative Measures., Ashton Lamb

Honors Theses

This literature review focuses on how human sex traffickers utilize social media to groom children. Social media is utilized by a great number of people around the world, including many children. While social media is intended to be fun and interactive, it does provide new access for dangerous people to reach victims. There is a very real, growing issue online that is not widely known to the public. This hidden danger is known as human trafficking. Human trafficking is defined as the involvement of any force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some labor or commercial sex act (Department of Homeland …

Teacher Perceptions On Technology Integration And Its Impact On Student Writing Skills In High School English/Language Arts Classrooms, Brittany Tischmak

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The rapid integration of technology in educational settings has transformed the landscape of teaching and learning, raising questions about its impact on foundational skills such as student writing. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the perceptions of high school English/Language Arts teachers with over ten years of experience regarding technology’s influence on student writing. Guided by the Technology, Pedagogy, and Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework, semi-structured interviews were conducted to capture educators’ lived experiences and understand their perceptions of how their pedagogical, content, and technological knowledge intersect in the classroom. Findings revealed that while technology offers tools that can enhance efficiency, educators …

The Implementation Of The Therapeutic Alliance In Aphasia Rehabilitation Research: A Narrative Review, Shelby Swiercz

Honors Theses

Background: The therapeutic alliance (TA), defined as the collaborative relationship between clinician and client, is widely recognized as a key factor influencing rehabilitation outcomes. However, within aphasia rehabilitation, its role remains underexplored and inconsistently measured

Methods: This narrative review examined peer-reviewed studies published between 1990 and 2025 that focused on adult aphasia rehabilitation and addressed the client-clinician relationship. Studies were identified through database searches, including PubMed, CINAHL, ComDisDome, EBSCO, and Google Scholar, and analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results: Most of the studies employed qualitative methodologies, particularly thematic analysis and semi-structured interviews, to explore patient and clinician perspectives. The therapeutic alliance …

Exploring Skill-Based Art Therapy Through Textile Arts For Adolescents, Phoebe Medeiros

Expressive Therapies Theses

This qualitative study explored how building textile art skills and learning techniques can help adolescents explore identity, improve self-esteem, and build resilience through art therapy. Two students engaged in individual sessions to explore an art therapy directive that asked them to upcycle an item of clothing using appliqué, patchwork, embroidery, embellishment, or modification to express an experience, strength, goal, or aspect of identity. Through this process, the students created a vest and an appliqué patch for an existing vest. The goal of this intervention was to explore identity, improve self-esteem, and build resilience. After analyzing the observations of the individual …

Three-Quarters In Massachusetts Disapprove Of Trump, Feel Country Is Headed In Wrong Direction 4/24/2026, Unh Survey Center

All UNH Survey Center Polls

Most Massachusetts residents disapprove of President Donald Trump's handling of foreign affairs, the economy, and his overall job performance. Bay Staters are also downbeat about the direction on the country, with three-quarters believing the country is headed in the wrong direction. Slim majorities in Massachusetts support requiring photo ID to vote, requiring physical evidence of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections, and requiring states to establish programs to remove noncitizens from the voter rolls, while nearly two-thirds oppose prohibiting the use of mail-in ballots unless due to illness, disability, military service, or travel.

Approval Of Trump's Foreign Policy Drops In Connecticut, Majority Support Federal Election Changes 4/24/2026, Unh Survey Center

All UNH Survey Center Polls

More than six in ten Connecticut residents disapprove of President Donald Trump's overall job performance. Approval of Trump's handling of foreign affairs has fallen since February, with support falling fastest among Connecticut Republicans. Three-quarters of Connecticut residents support requiring photo ID to vote in federal elections, and majorities support other changes to federal election laws. Two-thirds of Connecticut residents believe the country is headed in the wrong direction.

The Relationship Between Physical Activity, Stress, Distress, And Academic Coping Skills In College Students, Katie A. Lysne, Kayla Pratte, Eric M. Martin

2026 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Research suggests that participation in regular physical activity as defined by the recommended physical activity guidelines can have a positive impact on numerous aspects of physical health and mental well-being. One of the benefits of physical activity is a reduction in stress levels and an overall improvement in mental health. Due to the nature of the college environment, college students are vulnerable to experiencing stress, which may be compounded by a failure to reach minimum physical activity guidelines and an inability to cope with academic demands. This research study aims to explore the relationship between physical activity levels, stress, distress, …

The Bison, April, 24, 2026

The Bison Newspapers

No abstract provided.

The Burden Of A Hidden Illness, Alexa Abel

2026 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a form of autonomic dysfunction that affects heart rate, circulation, and the body’s ability to regulate blood flow when standing. Despite its significant impact, it remains poorly understood and often overlooked. This project aims to explore how POTS affects individuals’ daily lives, particularly in school and workplace settings. The research question guiding this study is: How does POTS influence a person’s ability to participate in education, maintain employment, and perform everyday responsibilities? To answer this question, research will be conducted through a review of existing medical literature that will provide both scientific and lived-experience …

Cultivating Curiosity Across Academic Audiences: Biology And Evidence-Based Science Communication, Nathan D. Forbes

Whittier Scholars Program

Effective Science Communicators must speak to a variety of audiences, with varying quantities of prior interest and qualities of background knowledge. The purpose of this paper was to engage differing audiences in scientific learning. This was done through a hypothetical newsletter made up for four different segments exploring a variety of topics in biology. Each segment intends to speak to a different audience with a different level of interest and/or educational level. Simplifying or analogizing without sacrificing the statistical basis of this project was of paramount importance. In the two segments targeted towards younger audiences, the primary focus was on …

The Sky Is Not The Limit: Characterizing The Limiting Magnitudes Of The Ortega Observatory Telescopes, Joshua Benveniste

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Student Publications

Florida Tech’s Ortega Observatory has many high quality telescopes whose limits require empirical characterization. This project aims to do exactly that by calculating the point-source limiting magnitudes for three telescopes, including the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Telescope

“…You Lost Your Way On That River As You Would In A Desert…”: Spec Ops: The Line As A Post-Imperialist Adaptation And Response To Heart Of Darkness, Logan Grime

Honors Projects

As an adaptation of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, the military shooter video game Spec Ops: The Line grapples with adapting the themes and the narrative of an imperialist work into a modern post-imperialist context. By swapping England in Africa for America in the Middle East, the game criticizes America’s conduct of war in the Middle East by showing its similarities to the novella’s imperialism. Furthermore, Spec Ops: The Line focuses on America’s imperialism by adapting Heart of Darkness to an interactive format. “The horror” of violent imperialist action is placed upon the player as Spec Ops: The Line …

The Effect Of Burnout On Intention To Resign Among Adult Protective Services Investigators, Derek Frank Wachter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adult Protective Services (APS) workers play a crucial role in providing care, support, and services to older and adult clients with special needs. There was a lack of empirical data on the long-term retention of APS investigators and on how burnout affects their intentions to resign. Departments consistently rely on a cycle of using newer, less experienced investigators who may not know about community and state services or department policies and procedures to connect clients. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between personal, work-related, and client-related burnout and APS investigators’ intention to resign. Data …

K–8 Teachers' Perceptions Of The Barriers To Educating Chronically Absent Homeless Youth, Daniel James Pangrazio

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract The problem that was addressed through this study is that kindergarten through eighth-grade homeless students experience higher rates of chronic absenteeism and lower educational outcomes than their housed peers in California. Grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, the purpose of this study was to explore K–8 teachers’ perceptions of the barriers they face in educating chronically absent homeless youth. For this basic qualitative design, semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 K–8 teachers from one California school district. Creswell and Guetterman’s five-stage coding process was used for data analysis. Four themes emerged: Teachers discussed (a) barriers to addressing student academic …

Investigating The Relationship Amongst Nursing Students’ Academic Self-Efficacy And Mindfulness, Joshua Josey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Undergraduate nursing education presents ongoing challenges related to student stress and persistence, and the COVID-19 pandemic further complicated these existing challenges for many students and programs. In this quantitative, correlational, cross-sectional study, the relationships among state mindfulness, trait mindfulness, and academic self-efficacy in undergraduate nursing students were examined and whether state and trait mindfulness predicted academic self-efficacy was tested. Participants were recruited through nursing student Facebook groups and completed an anonymous SurveyMonkey questionnaire that included the State Mindfulness Scale, the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, the Academic Behavioral Confidence Scale, and demographic items. Data were collected over 6 weeks ending August …

Male Teachers' Experiences On The Gender Imbalance In Early Education, Erika White

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Diversity in the ECE workforce has been shown to have a positive social and academic influence on children and families within the ECE setting. The problem addressed in this study was that in an urban eastern school district (UESD), there was an educator gender imbalance in early childhood education (ECE). Grounded in Smith’s rational choice theory, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the experiences of male preschool and kindergarten (P—K) teachers in UESD. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 13 male P—K teachers working in the UESD. Thematic analysis using inductive coding indicated male educators: …

Women Veterans’ Experiences Applying For Veterans Affairs Compensation For Military Sexual Trauma-Related Ptsd, Bridget Strong

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Military sexual trauma (MST)—sexual harassment or assault during military service—is more common among women and is a leading cause of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Veterans Affairs (VA) disability for MST-related PTSD offers financial support, free healthcare, and validation, but women face barriers and uneven access to supports (veteran service organizations, trained advocates, trauma-informed clinicians), reducing their chances of favorable decisions. In this generic qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 purposively sampled women veterans representing diverse service eras, branches, and adjudication outcomes. Analysis was guided by feminist theory to shift focus from individual blame to structural factors, including how …

Swosu Standing Committees 2025-2026, Southwestern Oklahoma State University

University Standing Committees

2025 – 2026 SWOSU Standing Committees