Digital Commons Network^™

Coastal Transition Zone Development Effects On Salt Marsh Ecology, Amanda Mei Pysher

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The coastal transition zone (CTZ) is a regional gradient linking terrestrial and marine systems, comprising of the terrestrial upland, the marsh-upland ecotone, and estuarine salt marshes. Along all US coastlines, including the South Carolina (SC) coast from Little River to Georgetown, increases in anthropogenic development of terrestrial uplands have altered the historically established vegetation, and various physical, chemical, biological, and geological gradients. Despite the CTZ's ecological importance, the trickle-down effects of terrestrial upland development on associated high marsh habitats remain understudied. Data were collected from developed (DEV) and undeveloped (UND) shorelines across three SC estuarine inlets. Multilevel modeling (MLM) was …

Site Fidelity, Seasonality, Movement, And Fish Associates Of Sand Tigers Carcharias Taurus In North Carolina, Ara L. Mcclanahan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sand tigers Carcharias taurus are mackerel sharks with a disjunct global distribution in tropical and temperate seas. In the northwest Atlantic, sand tigers migrate along the coast of the eastern United States from the Gulf of Maine to Florida and occupy structurally complex benthic habitats. The long-term, underwater camera installation, SharkCam, at Frying Pan Tower, off Cape Fear, North Carolina, USA, sits atop an expanse of hard bottom reef frequented by sand tigers. The citizen-science platform Spot A Shark USA (SAS USA) uses images of sand tigers to identify and track individuals. This study utilized image encounters from SAS USA …

08-19-25 Hsc Committee Meeting Notice, Patricia Serna

HSC Committee (A subcommittee of the UNM Board of Regents)

08-19-25 HSC Committee Meeting Notice

Adolescent E-Cigarette Expectancies: Measure Development And Preliminary Validity Of The Electronic Nicotine Vaping Outcomes Measure For Youth, Paul T. Harrell, Kelli J. England, Tracey E. Barnett, Vani N. Simmons, Richard W. Handel, Amy C. Paulson

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Electronic nicotine delivery systems (“e-cigarettes”) are the nicotine product most commonly used by adolescents. Research, treatment, and policy could benefit from measures of adolescent e-cigarette beliefs about outcomes of use (ie, expectancies). In the current study, we developed and tested an adolescent electronic nicotine vaping expectancy measure.

METHODS: A focus group with adolescents evaluated potential e-cigarette expectancy items. A panel of national experts assisted in revision of these items. Finally, items were administered to a sample of adolescents 14-17 years old (N = 267, Mean age 15.6, SD = 1.1, 50.9% Female, 50.2% Non-Hispanic White, 22.5% Non-Hispanic Black, 14.2% …

Adolescent Online Leisure, Media Literacy, Online Victimization, And Multifaceted Well-Being During Covid-19: The Role Of Parental Support, Yunqi Wang

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

The rapid advancement of the internet and digital technology has provided opportunities for adolescents to conduct leisure activities online on a daily basis. However, research on adolescent technology use and mental health often highlights negative effects without carefully examining the specific mechanisms, which overlooks the complexity of effects of online behaviors on adolescent well-being and the importance of developing adolescents’ media literacy skills. Moreover, despite the crucial role of family dynamics in adolescent development, research on how parental support and involvement might affect adolescent technology use and well-being is still limited. The current study retrieved data from Programme for International …

Evaluation Of Performance Characteristics And Groundwater Contamination Risks Associated With On-Farm Swine Carcass Disposal Via Composting And Shallow Burial With Carbon, Gustavo Castro Garcia

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

This dissertation evaluates the performance of three on-farm swine carcass disposal methods: whole carcass composting (WCC), ground carcass composting (GCC), and shallow burial with carbon (SBC), focusing on biosecurity factors and groundwater contamination risks. Foreign animal diseases (FADs), such as African swine fever and classical swine fever, pose severe economic and animal well-being risks if introduced to the United States. With confirmation of an FAD, swine movement will be halted, creating an urgent need for practical, biosecure, and environmentally responsible on-farm disposal strategies for swine carcasses. Nebraska, as a leading swine-producing state, exemplifies the vulnerability of high-density livestock regions to …

Hormonal Modulation Of Sexual Approach And Avoidance Among Women With A History Of Sexual Trauma, Anneliis Susan Sartin-Tarm

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

A history of sexual trauma places women at a high risk for sexual dysfunction and other health sequelae, yet the influence of ovarian hormones in this population is poorly understood. This dissertation tested the theory that the effects of ovarian hormones are mediated by cognitive approach-avoidance systems to shape sexual well-being, and that this process is moderated by sexual trauma history. This was investigated across three studies examining the menstrual cycle, hormonal contraceptive use, and menopause. Across each chapter, I present complementary evidence demonstrating that hormones interact with the interpretation of ambiguous internal and external cues with respect to sexual …

A Phenomenological Study Of Rural Immigrants And Their Experiences Of Community Leadership, Jian Ju Yeo

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

The turn of the 21st century has seen a new settlement pattern of immigrants bypassing traditional urban gateways and locating to rural spaces instead. Rural immigration presents a unique opportunity to advance the vitality of small towns as the development of communities is best served by a fully networked and integrated community. The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to examine the experiences of rural immigrants with community leadership. Research questions focused on how rural immigrants perceive, identify with, and access their local community leadership. Through one-on-one interviews, 10 participants provided rich qualitative data that were analyzed to yield …

Chronic Pain After Traumatic Brain Injury: Treatment Experiences And Effects On Cognition And Functioning, Rachael L. Snyder

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

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can contribute to changes in cognitive and emotional functioning, quality of life, and psychosocial reintegration. Chronic pain is a common consequence of TBI which can uniquely impact such outcomes. Still, the exact nature of the contribution of pain on post-TBI outcomes remains unclear, and there are few existing studies exploring the treatment journey for chronic pain and injury rehabilitation through qualitative methods, specifically individual interviews with TBI survivors. This study aimed to document these narratives and to identify precisely how the experiences of TBI survivors seeking treatments, rather than the treatments themselves, impact outcomes. It also …

How Developers Use Type-System Related Programming Language Features, Samuel W. Flint

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

Optional type annotations are a popular feature of programming languages that allow developers to omit explicit type information in code while, in some cases, retaining many of the benefits of static typing, such as in-code documentation, improved detection of type errors, or enforcement of code properties. However, how developers use and understand optional type annotations is not clear. The focus of this dissertation is to understand the use and comprehension of optional type annotations.

Optional type annotations are examined through four lenses: first, by examining the evolution of usage in a statically typed programming language (Kotlin, the default language for …

Dreaming, Building, And Enduring Black Voices: Black Media In Omaha In The Post-Civil Rights Era, Elodie C. Galeazzi-Kelly

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

This dissertation examines the purposes and roles of Black media in Omaha during the post–Civil Rights Era. It asks how African Americans and their allies in Omaha developed innovative media forms, institutions, and communication strategies to amplify Black voices, build community, and advocate for Black interests amid the rapidly shifting political and social landscape of the time. The study focuses first on three traditional forms of media (newspapers, radio, and television) and then broadens the definition of media to include key Black cultural institutions. These include a dramatic arts collective, a historical museum and archive, a memorial foundation, and an …

Where Intangibles Travel: Essays On The Tax-Motivated Geography Of Innovation And Capital, Xuerui Kou

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

This dissertation explores how taxation and institutional environments shape the global strategies of United States multinational enterprises (MNEs), with a particular focus on intangible assets and the cross-border allocation of innovation. Positioned at the intersection of international trade, public economics, and innovation studies, the three chapters collectively examine firm responses to international tax incentives and regulatory asymmetries.

Chapter 1 introduces the motivation and theoretical foundations of the dissertation, reviews related literature, and outlines the core research questions and empirical strategies. It highlights the increasing policy and academic interest in the geographic mobility of intangible capital, particularly in the context of …

Resilience Of Interdependent Transportation And Healthcare Systems: A Simulation-Driven Framework Incorporating Social Equity And Facility Optimization, S. Yasaman Ahmadi

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

The overarching goal of this dissertation is to develop an integrated, simulation-driven framework to assess and enhance the resilience of interdependent transportation and healthcare systems before, during, and after natural hazards. By examining how spatial disruptions, social vulnerability, operational constraints, and infrastructure interdependencies affect access to and functionality of hospitals, this research offers a multifaceted evaluation of system performance under stress. This dissertation examines the impact of natural hazards, particularly floods, on the interdependent transportation and healthcare systems. The proposed approach combines and advances GIS-based network analysis, graph-theoretical modeling, and discrete-event simulation to evaluate system performance under different scenarios. The …

Modifying Italian Consonants In The Voice Studio: An Exploratory Sequential Mixed Methods Study, Elisa Ramon

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

The body of lyric diction literature, particularly on Italian, has grown substantially in the second half of the twentieth century. Lyric diction courses are now a required part of many voice programs across the United States. The widespread use of International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcriptions and transcription rules has significantly contributed to the field. However, relatively few sources focus on the pedagogical strategies needed to teach and modify Italian consonants effectively.

This two-phase exploratory sequential mixed methods study identifies the features of Italian consonants that differentiate the lyric diction of novice singers from that of native speakers. It also proposes …

Educating The New Generation Of Food Scientists Through Innovative Learning Experiences, Karen Andrea Nieto Flores

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

Food science provides an opportunity to engage high school students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) by connecting classroom concepts to real-world applications. Despite the field’s relevance to public health, food safety, sustainability, and innovation, food science remains largely absent from high school curricula, and few students recognize it as a viable STEM pathway. This research addressed this gap by evaluating immersive summer camp experiences and teacher-focused curriculum review as strategies to increase food science awareness and interest among students and educators. A literature review traced the historical development and current landscape of K–12 food science education, identifying barriers …

Functional Genomics Of Phosphatidylcholine Biosynthesis In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Amanda Marie Maliva

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

Phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) is a prominent structural building block of cell and organelle membranes in animal, plant, and fungal cells and some bacteria. Due to its abundant nature in the plasma membrane and intracellular organelle membranes in eukaryotes, the biosynthesis of PtdCho must remain regulated to preserve the correct membrane lipid composition. Dysregulations in PtdCho metabolism can lead to mitochondrial dysfunction, cell death, and the development of diseases including cancer, atherosclerosis, and hepatic diseases. Knowledge of PtdCho has remained limited to the genes involved in its three biosynthetic pathways (Kennedy (K), methylation (M), and acyltransferase (A)), despite the growing realization of …

“Self-Compassion Has To Be The Heartbeat Of How I Move Through Life”: A Mixed Methods Study Of Family Caregiver Emotional Well-Being, Sarah O. Rasby

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

Often referred to as “hidden patients,” family caregivers endure numerous physical, emotional, psychological, and social hardships due to the demands of caregiving, which often results in their own needs going unmet. With the projected 61.3 million of the baby boomer generation entering the long-term care phase by 2029 along with a mass shortage of professional caregivers post-pandemic, more and more family members are expected to fill in for the role of care without sufficient access to support services (Pollard & Scommegna, 2014; Smith & Chang, 2016). An exploratory, mixed-methods study using a three-group intervention design was utilized to investigate the …

Experiences Of Disclosure Among Transgender And Gender Diverse Sexual Assault Survivors, Merle E. Huff Ii

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

Around half of TGD people have experienced sexual assault victimization (Abern et al., 2023; Clements-Nolle et al., 2006; James et al., 2016; Martin et al., 2022; Risser et al., 2005; Stotzer, 2009), which leads to higher rates of depression and PTSD (Grant et al., 2011; Grocott et al., 2023; Fernández-Rouco et al., 2017; Hawkey et al., 2021; Matsuzaka & Koch, 2019; Parr, 2020; Ussher et al., 2020). Disclosure of victimization may be important among TGD survivors. The current study was guided by minority stress theory (Meyer, 2003) and the gender minority stress and resiliency model (Testa et al., 2015) to …

Environmental Controls Of Hail In Quasi-Linear Convective Systems, Cameron A. Barker

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

A study of hail occurrence in quasi-linear convective systems (QLCS), as well as severe weather parameters contributing to the likelihood and intensity of hail, is presented. Rapid Refresh (RAP) proximity soundings for 218 QLCS events from 2012 to 2022 are selected to sample QLCS environments near peak intensity. Study objectives are to assess common environmental parameter spaces that favor hail in QLCSs while connecting these findings to results for supercells. Hail occurrence is also examined in terms of synoptic regime.

Six synoptic regimes were identified to support QLCSs with hail, from high shear, low cape (HSLC) to low shear, high …

Surveys And Modeling: Using An Existing Survey To Describe And Compare Populations To Better Inform On Groundwater Model Inputs, M. Austin Wise

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

The Mississippi River Valley “Alluvial Aquifer” is among the most agriculturally significant aquifers in the United States. However, parts of the aquifer are exceeding sustainable yield as development of the water source continues. Survey research in other aquifers, such as the High Plains (Ogallala) Aquifer, has helped to understand the perceptions and attitudes of irrigators withdrawing from their aquifers. This led to numerous questions: What are the attitudes of irrigators in the Alluvial Aquifer region? How do they compare to irrigators in other regions of the country? Can their intentions be used to generate more accurate inputs when modeling adoption …

Exploring The Application Of Repeated Microgravity Surveys To Monitor Groundwater Level Variations In Nebraska, Kaitlin M. Steinauer

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

Groundwater is an important resource in the state of Nebraska for supporting industries and ecosystems. Monitoring this vast resource ensures its continued availability for generations to come. However, monitoring utilizes well data, and if a well is not present in a desired location, geophysical methods can be explored. This project tests the capability of repeated gravity surveys over Nebraska’s aquifers to monitor groundwater levels throughout 2024.

Two study areas were selected in Eastern Nebraska. The first is in Oakland, Nebraska, over a confined aquifer system. The second is in Plymouth, Nebraska, and exhibits unconfined conditions. Four sites were chosen to …

Soft Infrastructure And The Location Choice Of Multinational Firms:Evidence From Japanese Investment In The United States In The 1980s, Shuichiro Nishioka, Eric Olson, Haoyu Wang

Economics Faculty Working Papers Series

We examine whether culture-specific educational infrastructure influenced the location decisions of multinational enterprises by analyzing Japanese foreign direct investment (FDI) in the United States during the 1980s. Using the quasi-natural experiment of politically-driven Japanese FDI following Reagan-era trade tensions, we test whether pre-existing Japanese Studies programs in U.S. universities predict subsequent Japanese investment across 722 commuting zones. We find that zones with Japanese Studies programs in 1980 were 21-29% more likely to receive new Japanese manufacturing investment by 1992, controlling for traditional determinants likemanufacturing infrastructure, agglomeration, and market access. Our results suggest that "soft infrastructure"—culture-specific human capital pipelines—represents an overlooked …

League Of Women Voters Of The Huntington Area E-Mail Bulletin, August, 2025, League Of Women Voters Of The Huntington Area

League of Women Voters of the Huntington Area Bulletin 2020 - Present

The periodical is published by the League, which is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

Out-Of-Field Teaching In Junior Secondary Schools: Unveiling Challenges And Professional Development Needs In Kenya, Caleb Kaleli Kisangau, Tage Biswalo, George Nyaboga Nyarieko

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

Background

Magnetron sputtering was employed to deposit thin niobium films onto biochar surfaces to increase selectivity for electrostatic interactions.

Methods

Biochar samples were coated with niobium under various power levels and deposition times by magnetron sputtering. Each material was then characterized and tested for adsorption performance with an anionic model molecule.

Significant findings

Niobium impregnation raised the point of zero charge of the biochar by 0.33 to 0.94 pH units, expanding the pH range in which the niobium-coated adsorbents maintain a positively charged surface. Optimal adsorption was observed at 298 K with an adsorbent dose of 1 g L⁻1 and …

Depuration Of A Solitary Ascidian Depletes Transient Bacteria Without Altering Microbiome Alpha-Diversity, Brenna Hutchings, Susanna López-Legentil, Lauren M. Stefaniak, Marie L. Nydam, Patrick M. Erwin

Marine Science

Depuration, or the process of clearing impurities from the gut, is commonly applied to marine food products due to its efficacy in removing human pathogens from shellfish and edible ascidians. Recent studies also reported that depuration of filter-feeding animals helped reduce transient bacteria and identify resident symbionts in gut microbiome studies. Here, we examined the impact of depuration on bacteria in the branchial sac, gut, and hepatic gland of the solitary ascidian Pyura vittata. Replicates were kept in filtered seawater for 4 days prior to dissection (aquaria-depuration) and compared to samples that were immediately processed following collection (wild-no depuration) and …

Open Repository @ Binghamton Monthly Additions And Top Downloads - July 2025, Caitlin Holton

Library Created Resources

Newly added work in the Open Repository @ Binghamton (ORB) from 7/1/2025-7/31/2025. Top downloads from same time frame.

Scaling Laws Of Political Regime Dynamics: Stability Of Democracies And Autocracies In The Twentieth Century, Paula Pirker-Diaz, Matthew Wilson, Soenke Beier, Karoline Wiesner

Faculty Publications

In light of the current rise of authoritarian regimes and the anti-liberal tendencies in some established democracies, understanding the dynamic and statistical properties of political regimes is of critical importance. Despite their relevance, a comprehensive quantitative assessment of these dynamics on a historical scale remains largely unexplored, and the notion that democratization is an irreversible process has gone mostly unchallenged. This study provides a rigorous and quantitative analysis of political regimes worldwide by examining changes in freedoms of expression, association and electoral quality throughout the twentieth century. Utilizing the multidimensional V-Dem dataset, which covers over 170 countries across more than …

Integrating Sensory Strategies In The Classroom Setting: A Field Guide, Abigail Walcott

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

During my 14-week capstone project, I worked alongside St. John Vianney Catholic School, an early education and K-8 school to develop a program to target identified needs of students related to sensory challenges and emotional regulation skills to improve participation in school-based occupations. My primary ACOTE focus area was program development, and I worked to assess classroom needs and develop a program that could be implemented in the traditional classroom setting. My goals for this capstone project were to observe and discuss with my site mentor to assess classroom needs, to research and to create an evidence-backed program guide for …

The Eu Ai Act’S Impact On Artificial Intelligence Applications In Financial Services, David K. Krause, Eric Krause

Management Faculty Research and Publications

This paper examines the significant implications of the European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act (EU AI Act) for US and other non-EU financial technology firms involved in developing or deploying AI systems within the EU. The Act’s risk-based classification and stringent compliance obligations present considerable regulatory and operational hurdles for AI applications in crucial financial services like credit scoring and algorithmic trading. The analysis details how requirements for conformity assessments, data governance, human oversight, and auditability impact these applications. Furthermore, the paper evaluates the contrasting regulatory philosophies of the EU and the US, offering strategic recommendations for firms and policymakers navigating …

Black Belt Football Players' Perceptions Of Their Football And Academic Environments, Paul David Kadle Jr.

College of Education

The achievement gap between rural and non-rural schools is persistent. This study examines the achievement gap problem by analyzing two groups of rural schools to better understand their ecologies and the inner workings of rural schools. Ecological Systems Theory is the framework from which this study operates while looking at the mesosystemic relationship between the microsystems of high school football teams and classrooms in the Black Belt and otherwise rural areas of Alabama and Mississippi. A non-experimental quantitative survey design was used to answer research questions that focused on the achievement gap between Black Belt and non-Black Belt rural schools …