Digital Commons Network^™

Flood-Level Estimation Using Aerial Imagery, Yisen Zhang

Electrical & Computer Engineering Projects for D. Eng. Degree

Reliable flood-level estimation using aerial UAV (Unmanned aerial vehicle) imagery is essential for effective post-disaster assessment and rapid emergency response. This study utilizes a UAV-based dataset, referred to as the UVA dataset, which integrates multiple public datasets and manually labeled UAV images, together with a multi-stage vehicle-centric framework for flood-depth estimation. The UVA dataset integrates images from multiple public sources, including Unmanned Drone Water Assessment (UDWA), Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Detection and Tracking (UAVDT), Car Parking Lot (CARPK), and additional UAV-view images collected from the internet, followed by manual annotation for water depth, viewing angle, and altitude labels. In the proposed …

An Analysis Of Portuguese Colonial Representations Of Sinhalese Women, Chandra R. De Silva, Ramani Hettiarchchi

History Faculty Publications

The history of Sri Lanka until recently has been written mostly as the history of men in the country. This has been particularly true of the early modern period, for which existing records are mostly those of visiting colonizers who were mostly men, writing about their dealings with those in power or with those from whom they could gain profit. This article is an attempt to collect and analyze the admittedly limited data on how the Portuguese who gained political authority over parts of the coastal areas saw local women. It is limited to the women of the majority community …

How Presidents Shift Ideological Stances In Legislative Elections: Evidence From South Korean Presidential Speeches, Doyeon Park

Department of Political Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Presidents have a strong desire to lead their parties to victory in elections. However, relatively little attention has been paid to their ideological stances in legislative elections. This contrasts with extensive research on the ideological strategies of parties and candidates who directly compete for office. How do presidents adjust their ideological positions in legislative elections? This study examines the institutional dynamics surrounding presidents, focusing on their dual responsibilities and the role of legislative elections as a referendum on the presidency. It also considers presidential popularity as a factor that influences these dynamics. I argue that presidents are more likely to …

The Partsongs Of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Alan Davis

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

This document examines the complete set of thirteen partsongs by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912) a body of choral works underrepresented in both scholarship and performance. Before the twentieth century, English partsongs had already developed a rich lineage through composers such as Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, Charles Villiers Stanford, Edward Elgar, and Charles Wood. Around 1900, the genre flourished further in the works of Gustav Holst, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Gerald Finzi, and Herbert Howells, whose partsongs were published by Novello & Co. and featured in The Musical Times. Within this broader context, Coleridge-Taylor’s contributions stand apart: his partsongs reveal a distinctive harmonic …

Soil Characterization With Proximal Geophysics, Sophia M. Becker

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

High quality soil data is crucial for addressing numerous threats to human well-being such as water scarcity, food insecurity, and intensified natural disasters. True soil property values are determined by analyzing soil samples in a laboratory, but soil sampling is often expensive and time-consuming. Some in-field point sensors and remote sensing products are available to measure soil properties, but they have inherent limitations in measurement extent and resolution. Geophysical methods can fill the measurement scale gap between point measurements and remote sensing products, but various research questions remain open. This dissertation aims to advance understanding of geophysics-derived soil property measurements …

An Integrated Modeling Framework To Evaluate Circularity Of The Corn–Water–Ethanol–Beef Nexus, Heydi Han

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

This dissertation examines the transition from conventional linear agricultural and food bioenergy systems toward more circular, resilient, and resource-efficient configurations. Prior research indicates that spatial and temporal variability in soil, weather, animal biological responses, and management decisions strongly influences productivity, nutrient-use efficiency, and profitability. Studies have also shown that a diversified circular system can buffer these sources of variability, improving stability and adaptive capacity. Building on these insights, the central focus of this work is to develop an integrated modeling framework to evaluate circularity within the Corn-Water-Ethanol-Beef (CWEB) nexus and explore how climate variability and management choices shape system-wide performance. …

Ai-Enabled Robotic Nitrogen Management, Ankita Kalra

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

Nitrogen management in corn agriculture faces economic and environmental challenges, motivating development of precision, site-specific solutions. This dissertation presents AIR-N (AI-Enabled Robotic Nitrogen Management), a novel system that integrates cloud-based artificial intelligence with an autonomous field robot (Flex-Ro) to optimize nitrogen fertilizer application in real time. The research is driven by the need to improve nitrogen use efficiency while reducing leaching and emissions.

Comprehensive architecture (Cloud-E) was designed using Amazon Web Services to ingest multi-modal agronomic data (soil sensors, crop reflectance, weather) and host machine learning models. A Random Forest-based model was trained on historical field data to predict spatially …

From Vision To Practice: Implementing An Instructional Model Through Teacher Experience And Leadership Support, Stefanie Novotny

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

Implementing change in any organization is challenging. It requires careful planning, effective communication, and strong leadership. Principals provide support and empower stakeholders to take ownership of the change process. They create opportunities for others to contribute ideas, take on leadership roles, and drive innovation, fostering a culture of shared responsibility and collective action. Change leaders inspire creativity and encourage teachers to think outside the box, leading to the development of new ideas and processes that drive growth and success. This mixed-methods action research study investigated how teachers can enhance educational practices by implementing an instructional model to improve teaching strategies …

Evaluating Fall And Spring Planted Cover Crops For Integrated Management Of Herbicide Resistant Palmer Amaranth And Effect On Soil Health, Vipin Kumar

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

Herbicide-resistant Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson) pose a severe threat to agronomic crop productivity in the United States, including corn and soybean production in Nebraska. Therefore, there is an urgent need for diversified and sustainable management approaches. Integrating cover crops (CCs) with herbicide programs represents a promising strategy to achieve Palmer amaranth suppression, sustain crop yields, and contribute to long-term soil health in irrigated corn–soybean production systems in Nebraska.

A meta-analysis of 41 studies and 595 paired observations demonstrated that CCs reduced Amaranthus spp. density and biomass by 37–59% depending on the growing season, with grasses and mixtures …

Integrating Chinese Tradition And Western Techniques In Jiang Zuxin’S Piano Works: A Study Of Temple Fair And Mountain Flower Collection, Qi Zhang

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

This document focuses on Jiang Zuxin’s two piano suites, Temple Fair and Mountain Flower Collection, examining how traditional Chinese musical materials interact with Western compositional techniques. Through close analytical readings of selected excerpts, combined with considerations of performance practice and modal context, the research demonstrates that Jiang systematically employs pentatonic collections and their modal configurations (gong, shang, jue/zhi/yu), along with certain altered tones (such as biangong and qingjue), as foundational pitch material. He also draws on folk songs, dances, and theatrical elements from traditional Chinese culture. At the same time, he simulates the timbres and idiomatic playing techniques of …

African American Women And Blogs: The Allure Of Culture-Specific Beauty Blogs, Kalari Flotree

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

The purpose of this qualitative, multi-case study was to explore the identity-related dress and appearance management implications of culture-specific beauty blog readership. The study was informed by three research questions: (a) Why and how do African American women seek out culture-specific beauty blogs? (b) What roles do African American women assume while engaging with culture-specific beauty blog communities? (c). How do African American women use culture-specific beauty blog content to inform identity-related processes of appearance management and dress?

The sample of this multiple-case study included nine participants, each representing a distinct case. Data were collected through individual, semi-structured, in-depth interviews, …

Public Perceptions Of Leadership Effectiveness In Ethiopia Over The Last Decade, Fikadu Reta Alemayehu

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

Ethiopia is one of the largest countries in Africa, with a fast-growing economy, rich history, diverse agroecology, more than 70 languages, and a population exceeding 130 million. However, the country continues to face serious internal conflict, high malnutrition, and economic hardship, while the study of leadership effectiveness remains limited and lacks consistent longitudinal research. To help fill this gap, this study examined how public perceptions of leadership effectiveness and development outcomes changed in Ethiopia between 2013 and 2023, using Afrobarometer survey data. The analysis explored how citizens’ views about governance, wellbeing, and access to services evolved during a decade of …

Residential Hvac Installation Faults: Field Prevalence, Drivers, And Energy Impacts, Seyed Ali Rooholghodos

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

Faults in residential comfort systems can have detrimental effects on the performance of the system, reducing the energy efficiency, affecting indoor comfort, and shortening equipment lifespan. Many of the faults occur at installation. However, there has not previously been a systematic and nationally representative study to indicate the prevalence of the faults, meaning the distribution of faults by fault type and fault intensity. Understanding true fault prevalence is essential to be able to identify derivers, and to assess the incremental electricity consumption of the new installation systems.

This study presents on-site data from 341 new central cooling systems—air conditioners and …

Investigating Preservice Elementary Teachers’ Stem Teaching Self-Efficacy And Goal Orientation, Derek Scott Cox

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

In the context of teacher education, self-efficacy and goal orientation can have an impact on one’s motivation, desire to improve, and maintaining a growth mindset in teachers. This study utilized an explanatory mixed methods design to investigate how and why preservice elementary science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teachers’ confidence and views on competency changes after completing an array of courses built around integrated STEM.

Sixty-five preservice teachers participated in the pre- post-test quantitative data collection to determine changes in integrated STEM self-efficacy and achievement goal orientations (mastery-approach, mastery-avoidance, performance-approach, performance-avoidance). Data collection measures include Self-Efficacy for Teaching Integrated STEM …

Large-Scale Experimental Study On The Impact Of Air Cleaning & Ventilation On Indoor Air Quality And Student Illness-Related Absenteeism, Daud Nosham

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

This large-scale randomized experimental field study investigated the effect of portable air purifiers (PAPs) on classroom’s air quality and student’s illness related absenteeism. PAPs were installed in 317 classrooms from various school districts located in Eastern Nebraska. The classrooms were randomly assigned into four conditions: three treatment conditions (T1, T2 & T3) and one control condition (device without any filter). T1 was equipped with HEPA filters, T2 added Activated Carbon (AC) layer to HEPA, and T3 further integrated Germicidal Ultraviolet (GUV) alongside HEPA and AC filters. The measured variables were carbon dioxide (CO2), fine particles (PN2.5) and coarse particles (PNcoarse), …

Resources For The Beginning And Intermediate Jazz Educator: Reviews Of Modern Resources And Implementation In The Classroom, Bryan Canonigo

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

This document is a compilation and discussion of different modern jazz education resources geared towards beginning and intermediate students. It is intended for the younger high school jazz educator who may have just started their careers and are searching for new(er) resources to aid their teaching and rehearsal techniques. For the seasoned high school jazz educator, this document may suggest additions to their current lesson plans and/or updates to their current resource compilations and rehearsal practices. A primary goal of this document is to suggest ideas to aid these educators in teaching jazz music more wholistically, in small or large …

Detecting Prescribed Fire, Haying And Grazing Events Via Remote Sensing To Create Grassland Disturbance Landcovers For The Ring-Necked Pheasant (Phasianus Colchicus), Megan A. Baldissara

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

This dissertation developed disturbance detection models to fulfill the need for remote sensing landcover products describing grassland structure. The use of landcover products derived from remote sensing is increasing over time in pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) research. Such landcover, however, does not provide relevant pheasant structural habitat information (Chapter 1). Pheasants require tall, high-density grassland for nesting, tall grassland with medium density for brood rearing, and tall grassland for wintering. Time since disturbance can serve as a proxy for structure, as it shapes vegetation by removing biomass and resetting succession. Disturbance is easier to detect than structure with current …

On Bayesian Empirical Likelihood-Based Method For Complex Survey Data With Application To Non-Probability Sampling, Md Hasibur Rahman

Department of Statistics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This thesis develops a Bayesian empirical likelihood (BEL) framework for inference under complex survey designs and extends it to non-probability sampling. Parametric likelihood based methods are difficult to apply to complex survey data because the likelihood is rarely available in closed form. EL provides a flexible alternative by replacing the parametric likelihood with an empirical likelihood constructed from moment conditions. The proposed method first integrates empirical likelihood constraints with survey design features then extends BEL to non-probability sampling through selection models and design consistent restrictions. Posterior inference is carried out using a Metropolis–Hastings MCMC algorithm. A real-data analysis further illustrates …

Brands & Virtual Personas: How Virtual Influencer Types Impact Brand Awareness, Carol Calderon Ambelis

Department of Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

As social media continues to shape how consumers interact with brands, virtual influencers (VIs) have emerged as a new type of digital celebrity. While previous research has explored how VIs contribute to brand image and awareness, there has been limited attention on how different types of VIs, both anime-like and human-like, affect consumer perceptions across different markets. This study examines how these two types of VIs impact relatability, aspiration, and brand awareness, with a focus on the differences between luxury and mass market. Using a within-subjects experimental design, this study recruited 574 participants with social media experience using MTurk. The …

Modeling The Greenland-Iceland-Faroe Ridge Using Integrated Geophysical Analysis, Zachary Clowdus

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

The Greenland-Iceland-Faroe Ridge (GIFR) is an area of significant geologic interest with anomalously thick crust related to enhanced melt generation from the interaction between the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the Iceland hotspot. To the northeast of Iceland lies the Jan Mayen Microcontinent (JMMC), which is a continental fragment separated from Greenland during the opening of the Northern Atlantic. The overall extent of the JMMC, especially its southern boundary, remains poorly constrained. The crust beneath the GIFR is believed to be primarily of oceanic affinity. However, a recent discovery of felsic lavas in Iceland led to an alternative hypothesis that implies the …

Undergraduate Awareness Of Sexual Harassment Law In Tanzania's Higher Learning Institutions: Case Studies Of Two Universities, Salma Ramadhan Fundi Phd Candidate

Tanzania Journal of Sociology

This study examines undergraduate students' awareness of legal provisions and guidelines concerning sexual harassment in Tanzanian higher education, focusing on the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) and the Open University of Tanzania (OUT) as case studies. Sexual harassment significantly impacts students’ well-being, safety, and academic success. Despite the existence of legal frameworks, students' knowledge of these provisions is often limited. The study employed a qualitative approach with a phenomenological research design to explore students’ experiences and perceptions of harassment policies. This design allowed participants to share the meanings they attach to their experiences and how such policies are understood …

The Role Of Peroxisomal Acot4 And Acot8 In Modulating Lipid Metabolism And Stress Pathways In Steatotic Hepatocytes, Sylwia Miekus

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is characterized by excessive lipid accumulation in hepatocytes and the development of lipotoxic stress that disrupts cellular homeostasis. Peroxisomal lipid metabolism plays an important role in maintaining acyl-CoA balance during fatty acid overload, yet the contribution of peroxisomal acyl-CoA thioesterases to early lipotoxic responses remains insufficiently understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the functional involvement of the peroxisomal enzymes acyl-CoA thioesterase 4 (ACOT4) and acyl-CoA thioesterase 8 (ACOT8) in hepatocyte lipid handling under acute lipotoxic conditions. An in vitro model of steatosis was established in AML12 cells through exposure to a …

Exploring The Relationship Between Social Media And Anxiety In Deaf Community Students: A Mixed-Methods Approach., Gigi Zheng

Theses

The mental health of Deaf individuals, particularly in relation to social media engagement, is an understudied area amid growing global concerns about anxiety disorders. Deaf individuals face unique challenges, including communication barriers, social isolation, and stigma, all of which can heighten anxiety levels. Although social media offers valuable opportunities for connection and self-expression, it may also amplify stress and feelings of inadequacy when accessibility barriers persist. This mixed-methods study examined anxiety among Deaf college students and explored the cultural validity of two widely used anxiety measures—the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Quantitative data were collected …

Air Force Institute Of Technology Research Report 2023, Air Force Institute Of Technology

AFIT Documents

This report summarizes the research activities of the Air Force Institute of Technology's Graduate School of Engineering and the Graduate School of Logistics and Acquisition Management. It describes research interests and faculty expertise; list student theses/dissertations; identifies research sponsors and contributions; and outlines the procedure for contacting either school.

Complete Volume 42

Journal of the Association for Communication Administration

This is the complete Volume 42 of the Journal of the Association for Communication Administration.

Evaluating The Role Of Seaweeds In Dairy Production: Impacts On In Vitro Ruminal Fermentation, And In Vivo Mineral Utilization And Metabolic Status, William Mitchell Sims

Doctoral Dissertations

Dietary inclusion of seaweed in ruminant diets has been studied for more than 5 decades. Early research in seaweed focused primarily on potential health benefits, but recent interest has shifted the paradigm for its use as a nutritional tool to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. As new seaweeds are identified for their ability to reduce gas emissions, the pendulum will swing once more to understand the impact seaweeds have on ruminant health and production. The overall objective of this dissertation is to investigate digestibility and fermentation, as well as alterations in metabolic and mineral status in ruminants fed various seaweed species. …

Evolution Of Regulatory Pathways In Vibrio Fischeri Strains Impacts Biofilm Phenotypes And Symbiotic Capacity And Curriculum Interventions Differ In Their Impact On Microbiology Utility Value In Nursing Students, Jennifer Calawa

Doctoral Dissertations

Vibrio fischeri strains vary in their capacity to form mutualisms with animal hosts such as the Hawaiian bobtail squid Euprymna scolopes, yet these differences are often not explained by phylogeny. Successful colonization requires biofilm production, which is tightly controlled by a complex network of two-component system regulators including hybrid histidine kinases BinK and RemK, as characterized in the model symbiont strain ES114. Divergence in biofilm network architecture or regulatory logic may lead to strain-specific differences in biofilm formation, limiting symbiotic potential. Part I of this work investigates genetic divergence underlying reduced colonization capacity in strain H905, a planktonic isolate and …

Focal Engine: Filling A Gap Between Game Engines And Big-Data Scientific Visualization Packages, Kindrat Beregovyi

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation presents Focal Engine, a novel 3D visualization engine designed to bridge the gap between game engines and scientific visualization tools. Game engines offer accessible interfaces and high-performance rendering but struggle with large-scale scientific datasets, while tools like ParaView and VTK handle complex data structures effectively but lack intuitive editing capabilities and modern rendering features. Focal Engine combines the accessibility and rendering performance of game engines with the data handling capabilities and analytical tools of scientific visualization platforms. The engine's capabilities are validated through multiple applications and projects, for example: HabiCAT 3D performs 3D complexity measurements on ocean floor …

Development And Characterization Of Bulk Dsdna-Based Materials Using Biologically Derived Plasmid Dna, Wynter Amythyst Paiva

Doctoral Dissertations

Double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) exhibits many unique sequence-independent properties that remain underutilized in materials science. The exceptional length, solubility, biocompatibility, imageability, molecular recognition capabilities, and topological control of DNA makes it an ideal candidate for the creation of bespoke biomaterials and investigation of fundamental relationships in polymer physics. Unfortunately, translation of DNA-based materials from the microscale to macroscale has been hindered by source constraints and limitations in chemical modification of biologically derived DNA. This work seeks to expand the utility of dsDNA from the benchtop to real world applications. Establishing dsDNA as a commodity polymer will aid in the development of …

December 2025, Pacific Alumni Association

Alumni News & Events

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