Digital Commons Network^™

Reverse-Chinoiserie: Qing Imperial Porcelain And The Reappropriation Of European Rococo, Yifan (Mia) Ye

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis introduces “reverse-chinoiserie” to describe the Qing court’s reappropriation of European Rococo aesthetics in imperial porcelain. Through case studies of 18th-century ceramic diplomacy and design, it reveals how cultural imitation was reengineered into visual sovereignty. It examines how China responded to, absorbed, and redirected European fantasies of empire.

Intergenerational Transmission Of Health: Evidence From Indonesia, Fatima Khan

Theses and Dissertations

This study estimates the causal transmission of health from mothers to their children. Intergenerational associations in health and other human capital outcomes are well established, but those associations may not be causal due to common unobserved factors between a mother and her child. This study employs two-stage least squares, using weather variation as an instrument, to causally identify the relationship between maternal health and child health outcomes in five dimensions: height-for-age, self-reported health, blood pressure, lung capacity, and hemoglobin levels. The data are from the Indonesian Family Life Survey (1993--2014), a longitudinal survey that provides a 21-year look into the …

The Effect Of An Invasive Species (Lantana Camara) And A Fast-Growing Herb (Acanthus Pubescens) On The Plant And Animal Communities In Kibale National Park, Uganda, Kathleen Bufka

Theses and Dissertations

Fast-growing plant species, like Lantana camara and Acanthus pubescens, could threaten biodiversity in Kibale National Park, Uganda. I surveyed plants and wildlife in areas where these plants were frequently encountered compared to those areas where they are infrequent. I found mixed results based on plant traits and the animals considered. My findings support management efforts on these two species to prevent forest degradation.

Μ-Distributions And Μ-Distributed Sequences, Noah Graham Giddings

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

The project attempts to generalize the notion of a uniform distribution for a broader class of probability measures and illustrate one construction of a sequence that satisfies these properties. A sequence ⟨a_n⟩ is uniformly distributed if the limiting relative frequency of sequence elements in any interval I ⊆ [0,1] corresponds with length(I). We generalize the notion of “uniform distribution” for an atomless Borel probability measure µ. We say that a sequence ⟨a_n⟩ is µ-distributed if the limiting relative frequency of sequence elements in any interval I ⊆ [0,1] equals µ( …

A Quiet Privilege: Garrity, Internal Investigations, And The Need For A Preference Of Silence Among Public Employees, Jacob Abel

University of Florida Journal of Law & Public Policy

When a public employee is asked to testify against themselves or face termination, they are presented with a trilemma. They may choose to respond to questions falsely, answer truthfully, and suffer criminal sanctions, or remain silent and lose their job. In Garrity v. New Jersey, the Supreme Court resolved this trilemma by ruling that, when a public employee is compelled to answer questions, the Fifth Amendment grants the employee immunity for their testimony. The Supreme Court “solved” the trilemma again, in Gardner v. Broderick, by saying that an employee who is fired for invoking their Fifth Amendment right …

Where "Woke" And The Written Word Go To Die: How Florida's Newest Book Ban Law Violates The Fourteenth And First Amendments, Sarah N. Powell

University of Florida Journal of Law & Public Policy

The fight over banned books is as old as the nation itself. However, the number of book objections and removals in public schools has increased dramatically in the past two school years. According to PEN America, a national free speech group, Florida currently leads with the highest number of book bans in the nation: “[o]ver 40 percent of all book bans [in the U.S.] occurred in school districts in Florida.”

Vague statutory language and procedures in recent legislation have made banning books even easier. This Note challenges the constitutionality of section 1006.28, Florida Statutes (2024), one of Florida’s newest book …

Addressing The Supply Of Frozen Embryos In A Post-Dobbs America, Benjamin W. Akins, Vlad A. Bursuc

University of Florida Journal of Law & Public Policy

Over the past two decades, the supply of frozen embryos has exponentially increased in America. Today, estimates put the total amount of stored embryos at up to 1.5 million. In a post-Dobbs world, much uncertainty and anxiety exists as to what can and should be done with these embryos. In 2024, the panic became especially heightened when the Alabama Supreme Court ruled, in LePage v. The Center for Reproductive Medicine, P.C., that frozen embryos were eligible for the same protections as other minor children in civil wrongful death actions. This ruling, the first of its kind, opened the …

Improving The Screening And Management Process For Mental Health Disorders And Health Risk Behaviors In College-Age Students: A Quality Improvement Project, Brooke L. Styslinger

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Manuscripts

Establishing a standardized electronic screening process for mental health disorders and health risk behaviors is crucial for early identification and intervention before poor outcomes occur. This quality improvement project addresses a gap in care relating to screening practices in a college health services office which primarily relied on a provider-based interview screening processes in students reporting for care. Pre-implementation data showed providers most often screened for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), alcohol use, and drug use, with inconsistent screening for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) or tobacco/vaping use. Follow-up screening form administration was also inconsistent, only given 3.3% of the time for …

Application Of Machine Learning In Early Childhood Development Research: A Scoping Review, Faith Benson, Daisy Chelangat, Willie Brink, Patrick Mwangala, Akbar Waljee, Cheryl Moyer, Amina Abubakar

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Background: Early childhood development (ECD) lays the foundation for lifelong health, academic success and social well-being, yet over 250 million children in low- and middle-income countries are at risk of not reaching their developmental potential. Traditional measures fail to fully capture the risks associated with a child’s development outcomes. Artificial intelligence techniques, particularly machine learning (ML), offer an innovative approach by analysing complex datasets to detect subtle developmental patterns.

Objective: To map the existing literature on the use of ML in ECD research, including its geographical distribution, to identify research gaps and inform future directions. The review focuses on …

Social Cohesion, Trust, And Utilisation Of Maternal Health Services Among Refugee And Host Community Women In Bangladesh And Kenya, Haeun Lee, Ryan Rego, Neyat Fiseha, Ashok Barman, Nimo Sharif, Peninah Wachira, Joe Kolars, Akbar Waljee, Rubhana Raqib, Amina Abubakar

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

The global refugee crisis places significant pressure on host communities, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Social cohesion and trust between refugee and host communities are critical for maternal health service utilisation. This study explores the relationship between host–refugee trust, social cohesion, and maternal health service use in Bangladesh and Kenya, focusing on facility-based delivery, antenatal care visits, and postnatal care attendance. To do so, a cross-sectional survey was administered among 649 refugee/displaced women and 371 host community women in the two locations. The results show high trust levels in both groups, while social cohesion is greater among refugee/displaced women. …

Optimizing Sensor Placement For Drone Detection According To A Grid Pattern, António Martinho Do Rosário Marçal

Masters Theses

In applications such as drone detection, it’s essential to place sensors efficiently, not only considering the cost of placement and operation, but also the maximization of the area covered.

This study presents an algorithmic approach to a placement strategy, which can be applied over any arbitrary area by defining the parameters of the grid according to which the sensors will be placed. The problem is framed as a multi-objective optimization task, considering trade-offs between sensor count and coverage.

One of the principal decision variables chosen is the shape of the cell blocks of the grid, for which two different values …

Unl Emeriti And Retirees Association Newsletter, August 2025

UNL Emeriti and Retirees Association: Newsletters and Other Materials

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Emeriti and Retirees Association Newsletter, August 2025

President's message: Continuing our commitment, Pam Edwards

Welcome to new members

Wake up your well-being

Book review, Atlas of the Heart

A look ahread at programming

Recapping past programming

Memory moments

Owl Solar-Powered Link: Duck Radio Mesh For Autonomous Monitoring, Jaden Tran, Shane Williams

Electrical Engineering

The Solar Duck Sensor Node transforms a standard DuckLink into a fully self-sustaining environmental monitor. A compact solar panel / power bank module plugs into the power ports of both the DuckLink and the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W, keeping them charged through day-night cycles. The Pi Zero 2 W will perform local processing of sensor data. Sensor output will come from the Raspberry Pi AI Camera and its object detection capabilities. This output will be distilled into metadata and advertised over BLE. The DuckLink captures these packets, encapsulates them into LoRa payloads, and forwards them across the ClusterDuck mesh …

August 1, 2025 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Evaluating What Works: A Comparison Of Five Diabetes Prevention Programs For Latino Children, Ruchi Patel

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Background: Children in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) are at increased risk of diabetes due to limited access to effective, culturally appropriate prevention programs. Existing programs are often time-intensive, require transportation, and lack cultural relevance, reducing participation and impacting outcomes. This project aimed to evaluate diabetes prevention programs (DPPs) in the literature and identify five that may benefit children in the RGV by reducing diabetes risk.

Methodology: The Eightfold Path policy analysis approach guided this project. A literature review identified DPPs for children, and the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) was used to assess study quality. Limitations included difficulty finding …

The Lasting Impact Of Childhood Maltreatment On Parenting: A Qualitative Study, Leslie K. Moorman

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This qualitative study explored how Child Protection Service (CPS)-involved parents made meaning of their parenting and what informed their meaning making. Bronfenbrenner’s Person Process Context Time (PPCT) framework was utilized to examine the context of parenting within the CPS system. The PPCT theoretical assumptions were used to discuss the results of the study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 participants, from diverse ethnic backgrounds. All but one returned for a second interview. The CPS-involved parents disclosed childhood experiences that were consistent with childhood maltreatment. The participants were preoccupied with stories of their own childhood and not wanting to parent like …

Analysis Of Popular Songs In The Us Market, Michael Myers

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

In today’s digitally driven music landscape, understanding what drive’s a song’s popularity requires insight not only into its acoustic and lyrical content, but also into patterns of listener engagement across platforms. This thesis explores the predictive and descriptive dimensions of song popularity by applying supervised and unsupervised machine learning models to a multi-source dataset integrating audio features, sentiment analysis, and temporal consumption behavior. Drawing from a novel, multi-platform dataset that includes Billboard Hot 100 rankings, Spotify acoustic features and popularity scores, streaming, airplay, and sales metrics as reported on Luminate’s Music Connect, and lyrics from AZLyrics, the study investigates the …

Assessing The Impact Of Pll And Ple Concentrations And Aging On Protein Condensates Formation Via Llps, Nabil Harche

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Protein droplets, also referred to as condensates, are membrane-less organelles formed through a biophysical process known as liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). These structures play an indispensable role in a wide range of cellular functions, including compartmentalizing biochemical reactions, regulating gene expression, and responding to cellular stress. Unlike traditional membrane-bound organelles, these condensates form dynamically and reversibly within the cytoplasm or nucleus, without the need for lipid membranes. The formation of these protein droplets is affected by several physicochemical factors, including pH, temperature, ionic strength, concentration of biomolecules, and specific molecular interactions such as electrostatics and hydrophobic forces. LLPS results in …

Human-Ai-Collaboration-For-Coding, Siddhardha Ravi

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

AI-generated code, while rapidly producing functional solutions, often falls short in aspects like comprehensive error handling, robust documentation, and optimal architectural design, areas where human expertise excels. Conversely, humans can greatly benefit from AI's rapid code generation capabilities. This project proposes and evaluates "A Framework to Improve Code Quality by Utilizing Generative AI Coding Along With Human-Written Code", designed to create a synergy between AI and human intelligence for enhanced software development. Conducted over four weeks, the research leverages BigCodeBench as its core dataset to rigorously investigate how human intervention can improve AI-generated code quality, identify the most effective human-AI …

Crustose Coralline Algae Accretion In A Kelp Forest Ecosystem In Southern New England, Usa, Ruimeng Liu

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Temperate reef ecosystems are experiencing rapid canopy loss of kelp and the proliferation of algal turf. However, the consequences of these changes for crustose coralline algae (CCA)— a key but often overlooked benthic calcifier—are poorly understood. Here, I study CCA recruitment patterns in southern New England, USA, using standardized settlement tiles at two field sites over 12 months (September 2023 – August 2024). I measure CCA accretion rates and the associated biological and environmental correlates of CCA recruitment. At the two sites, CCA accretion rates ranged from 0.0259 to 1.215 mg CaCO3 cm⁻² yr⁻¹, with an average of 0.441 mg …

Comparative Expression Of Cgmp-Dependent Protein Kinase G (Pkg) From Plasmodium And Toxoplasma, Tsopmo Asaah

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Malaria and Toxoplasmosis are life threatening diseases to humans. The search for a cure and control of these diseases is still one of the major challenges of scientists worldwide. In this research we focused on two Malaria species; Plasmodium bergei² (Pb) and Plasmodium falciparum¹ (Pf) and also on Toxoplasma gondii. Part of the life cycle of these organisms is regulated by the enzyme cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase G (PKG)⁴. This is our drug target in this research. We believe that inhibiting this enzyme will be a great step in fighting these diseases. In this research, we devised a comparative study …

A Multi-Proxy Approach For Understanding The Chicxulub Asteroid Impact (Cretaceous / Paleogene Boundary) And Its Aftermath, Hermann D. BermúDez

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The Chicxulub asteroid impact in what is now the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexican Caribbean, coincides with the Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary (K/Pg boundary ~66Ma) and marked the extinction of three-quarters of the species, including the iconic non-avian dinosaurs. The collision created a massive crater, releasing enormous amounts of energy and expelling millions of tons of molten and vaporized materials into the atmosphere. Chicxulub is an ideal case study for massive impact events since it is the only recognized asteroid impact on Earth's history that preserved a globally traceable ejecta layer representing a precise time-stratigraphic marker. Although numerous studies have examined the consequences of …

Simulation Of Photochemical Effects On Air Quality, Grace Li

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and ozone (O₃) are both EPA criteria air pollutants in the troposphere, largely generated by combustion and therefore present in significant concentrations in urban areas. Sunlight facilitates chemical reactions between pollutants and ambient air. Aerosols modulate the amount of available energy required to drive such photochemical reactions, ultimately impacting air quality. Simulating photolysis rates with FastJX software is a resource-efficient strategy to study how these aerosols can affect air quality.

Parent Perception Of Preschool Programs: Improving Parent Knowledge Of Preschool Programs Through Targeted Recruitment, Meredith Lynn Drake

All Dissertations

Parent knowledge of preschool enrollment processes and the benefit of early education has been an issue at Mountain Elementary. Early childhood learning opportunities are a predictor of later academic success, and it is important that parents know about the available opportunities for early learning in public schools.

The purpose of this intervention is to create a targeted parent outreach program to recruit students to the four-year-old kindergarten programs at Mountain Elementary. This study attempts to answer whether targeted outreach increases enrollment numbers at Mountain Elementary.

After conducting two parent outreach events and creating two video-based social media posts, I analyzed …

A Pilot Study Exploring Vitamin D, Mental Health, And Gastrointestinal Health In Humans, Brianna C. Williams

Master's Theses

Mental disorders are experienced by nearly one billion people worldwide. Depression is one of the most common. Treatments exist, yet a devastating 75% of individuals suffering from depression do not receive adequate treatment. An emerging treatment strategy includes exploring the connection between mental health and nutrition, which includes the areas of gut health and nutrient deficiencies. Vitamin D is obtained through food, supplements, and sunlight. Many individuals are considered deficient (25[OH]D concentrations < 12 ng/mL) or insufficient (25[OH]D concentrations < 20 ng/mL). Purpose: This study aimed to explore mental and gastrointestinal (GI) health using surveys and lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) concentrations, a biomarker of GI health, in individuals considered 25(OH)D deficient (DEF) vs not deficient (N-DEF). Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited physically active participants aged 18-45 years who underwent three evaluations in one visit. Health was assessed using surveys to evaluate mental health, GI symptoms, and vitamin D intake. Serum from fasting blood samples was used with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determine 25(OH)D and LBP concentrations. Unpaired t-tests were used to compare DEF vs N-DEF and significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Thirty-two participants (mean age 25.3 ± 6.3 years) with mean and body fat percentage of 24.0% ± 10.7%, were placed into DEF (n=16) and N-DEF (n=16) categories. Interestingly, five of the 16 participants in DEF (31%) showed some level of depression (scores ranging from mild to severe) and only two of the 16 participants in N-DEF iv (13%) scored positively in the depression category (scores ranging from mild to moderate). Additionally, the participant with the lowest 25(OH)D concentration (5.42 ng/mL) was the only participant to meet the “severe” depression category criteria, with a score of 24 compared to other participants who scored within 0-16. Also, the only participant who scored “severe” in the stress category, was in the bottom 20% of 25(OH)D concentrations. As for GI health, the difference between average GI scores and average serum LBP concentrations between the groups were not statistically significant. Conclusion: There were no significant differences between DEF and N-DEF in perceived depression (p = 0.16), anxiety (p = 1.0), stress (p = 0.96), GI symptoms (P values ranged from 0.27 to 1.00), nor in LBP concentrations (p = 0.77). Funding: Support was received from the Graduate Student Association and College of Natural Health Sciences at the University of Northern Colorado.

Investigating The Influence Of Experimental Parameters On The Formation Of Gold Nanoparticles: A Green Synthesis And Design Of Experiments Approach, Isaac Opeyemi Subuloye

Master's Theses

This thesis examines the green synthesis of gold nanoparticles using catechin, a naturally occurring plant-derived compound, as both a reducing and capping agent. The synthesis process was guided by a structured Design of Experiments (DOE) methodology to ensure systematic investigation and optimization. A two-phase experimental approach was adopted. First, a full factorial screening design was used to evaluate the effects of catechin concentration, NaOH concentration, and pre-reaction time. This was followed by an optimization phase using a face-centered composite design to identify conditions that produce nanoparticles with ideal characteristics. The nanoparticles were analyzed using UV-visible spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering …

White Piedra, Jane Hong, Andrew Tran, Lisa Gelles

Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Nebline, August/September 2025

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Contents

Summertime’s Natural Light Show: Fireflies by Kait Chapman

Insect Science with Kids: Bug Collecting as a Tool to Learn

The Perfect Partnership: EFNEP and SNAP-Ed Join Forces for Lifelong Nutrition and Health by Emily Gratopp

Recipe of the month by Emily Gratopp: Fruit salsa & cinnamon chips

Southeast nebraska Pasture & Acreage Expo

Southeast Nebraska Alfalfa & Wheat Expo

Landlord/Tenant Cash Rent workshop

Vegetable Gardening in the Fall by Mary Jane Frogge

GRO Big Red virtual learning series

2025 perennial plant of the year: Blue mountain mint (Pycnanthemum muticum)

Garden guide: Things to do this month by …

The Latin Exclusion: Examining The Eu And The White House’S Policy Favoritism Toward Migrant Sending Latin American Nations While Punishing Similar Pressures Globally, Nicolas Garon

Notre Dame Journal of International & Comparative Law

Too often, negative perceptions of a country, whether from its government or a few citizens, result in broad restrictions applied to all nationals, either formally through policy or informally through officials’ discretion. A global norm persists in which nationals from poorer countries facing migratory pressures are subjected to heightened scrutiny and restrictive measures that deter movement to wealthier nations. Regardless of how liberal a receiving country may claim to be, states consistently adopt conservative stances on migration. Western nations, as primary destinations, often impose the harshest measures, such as travel bans and additional visa requirements, frequently based on speculative migration …

The Legal Framework Of Smart Contracts In The Arabian Gulf, Ilias Bantekas, Ameneh Yousuf Saif Al-Hosseini

Notre Dame Journal of International & Comparative Law

New tools have aided contractual transactions, particularly so-called smart contracts. Such tools have an impact on the formation of contracts and the implementation of the parties’ mutual obligations. Entities in the Arab world have generally hesitated to apply smart contract technology to high-end transactions out of fear that at some point these will not sit comfortably with existing legislation. The civil law landscape is still blurry. This article focuses on analyzing the legal framework of smart contracts in selected Arab countries and uses English smart contract regulation in order to compare how their regulation was tamed there and whether the …