Digital Commons Network^™

Cultivating Academic Achievement: An Updated Social Psychological Explanation, Maika Malualelagi Tuala

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

This study looks at how income differences affect children's social psychological development, which in turn shapes their academic achievement. Building on theories of social class, cultural capital, and self-concept formation, this dissertation offers a new social psychological model that connects parental SES, concerted cultivation, children's academic mindset and achievement. This new concept called “academic mindset” includes several key social-psychological factors that influence academic performance namely- self-esteem, locus of control, math and reading self-concepts, and educational expectations and values. The study uses data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-1998 Kindergarten cohort and tests the model using multivariate regression analyses. Findings show …

Approximation Via Degree Reduction Of Nonlinearities With Applications To Turbulent Flows, Flame Fronts, And Magnetohydrodynamics, Matthew Enlow

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

We perform an analytical and computational investigation on the effectiveness of a locally bounded truncation function, which we call a calming function, when applied to the nonlinear terms of several dissipative partial differential equations. In particular, the 3D Navier-Stokes equations of incompressible fluid flow, the 2D Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equations of laminar flame fronts, and the 2D MHD-Boussinesq equations of magnetohydrodynamics. Each of these equations have open questions about the global existence and uniqueness of their solutions. These calming functions effectively reduce the algebraic degree of select nonlinear terms, thus one can verify global wellposedness for these "calmed systems." More specifically, in …

Next-Generation Crop Monitoring Technologies: Case Studies About Edge Image Processing For Crop Monitoring And Soil Water Property Modeling Via Above-Ground Sensors, Nipuna Chamara

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

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has advanced rapidly in the past two decades. Internet of Things (IoT) technology has advanced rapidly during the last decade. Merging these two technologies has immense potential in several industries, including agriculture.

We have identified several research gaps in utilizing IoT technology in agriculture. One problem was the digital divide between rural, unconnected, or limited connected areas and urban areas for utilizing images for decision-making, which has advanced with the growth of AI. Another area for improvement was the farmers' demotivation to use in-situ soil moisture sensors for irrigation decision-making due to inherited installation difficulties. As Nebraska …

Examining Theoretically Derived Mechanisms Underlying The Relationships Between Sexual Arousal, Alcohol Use History, And Sexual Aggression, Kailey Ann Richner

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

Various interventions have attempted to reduce the rates of sexual violence perpetrated by college men; however, meta-analyses suggest interventions need to further evaluate theoretically derived mechanisms to improve outcomes (Malamuth et al., 2018; DeGue et al., 2014; Vladutiu, et al., 2011). To address this concern, the present study utilized the Integrated Theory of Sexual Offending (ITSO; Ward et al., 2016; Ward & Beech, 2008; 2006) to explore mechanisms underlying the relationships between sexual arousal, alcohol use history (AUH), and sexual aggression. Working memory, impulsivity, and affective forecasting paradigms were selected to map onto the ITSO’s neuropsychological mechanisms. The interaction between …

Singing While Acting: A Mixed Methods Study Of Classical Singers’ Application Of The Chekhov And Meisner Acting Methods, Amy C. Johnson

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

When considering the minimal acting training incorporated into most voice performance programs, it is understandable why many singers struggle to balance vocal demands with acting demands. Furthermore, the expectations on singers to deliver authentic and nuanced performances are increasing as opera evolves. There is little in-depth understanding of classical singers’ experiences with applying specific acting techniques to their singing. There is also little information about how different acting methods may affect classical singing. This mixed methods collective case study aims to identify the impact of training in a specific acting method on classical singing. The qualitative strand focuses on the …

Surface Chemistry Of Femtosecond Laser Processed Surfaces, Graham Kaufman

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Micromachining and surface functionalization with femtosecond lasers is a rapidly developing technology in the field of materials and interfacial sciences due to its flexibility towards materials, tunability in surface features, and prospects for scalability. Many interfacial applications have been shown to be enhanced with femtosecond laser-induced surface texturing including two-phase heat transfer, antimicrobial properties, electrochemical systems and more. However, without ideal surface chemistry, the enhancements cannot be optimized for a given application. Surfaces functionalized by femtosecond lasers tend to have transient surface chemistries when exposed to the atmosphere, changing important interfacial properties like the interaction of the solid surfaces and …

Exploring Affective Experiences Of Queer Individuals Navigating Relationships With Evangelical Parents, Grace Pappas

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

An abundance of scholarship explores and discusses the process of queer identity development, including the experience of disclosing one’s queer identity, often referred to as coming out. Coming out to one’s parent(s) can be a challenging and complex experience for queer individuals, particularly for children from religious families. In this study, I explored the nuanced relationships between queer individuals and their Evangelical parents. I conducted qualitative interviews with nine participants. Using thematic analysis and Ahmed’s theory of affect and happy objects, I constructed four themes: (a) learning the affect queer carries, (b) feeling the affects of being queer, (c) how …

The Effects Of Partisanship On Legislative Support For Environmental Policies In The United States, Rachel Summers

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

This study investigates the relationship between political partisanship and support for environmental policies at the state level in the United States from the years 2017-2022. To do this, the study focused on two policy areas, water and land, for the average proposed, enacted, and failed bills for all 50 states in the timeframe, with the states categorized as Democratic, swing, or Republican based on the 2016 and 2020 elections. While the study did find that Democratic states were more likely to introduce environmental bills than Republican states, the study also found that there was no statistical difference in the enactment …

Charging Forward: A Comparative Analysis Of Facilitators To Electric Vehicle Adoption In Three U.S. States, Abigail Schroeder

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Electric vehicles (EVs) are a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, but low consumer adoption rates present a challenge. In order to understand what factors may facilitate EV adoption, a comparative analysis of three U.S. states was performed. These states have the highest rates of EV adoption in the country. Thus, studying them provided insights into what may make EV adoption successful. California, Hawaii, and Washington are the states with the highest EV adoption rates. Based on previous research, a list of 12 characteristics that may influence EV adoption was compiled and applied to each state, focusing on …

Impact Of Pollution On Marginalized Communities: Case Study Of Omaha, Nebraska, Miqaela Davis

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Environmental justice has been a struggle within our country for years. The goal of Environmental justice is for the fair treatment and equal voice for every single individual regardless of race, income, gender, etc. There has been environmental injustice and racism in many cities, but this study focuses on Omaha, Nebraska. Key questions include: What are some specific pollutants that are prevalent in areas with differing racial majorities in Omaha? What are some of the health patterns in these areas and does it relate to environmental racism? How has Omaha reinforced environmental racism through city planning? Using the Climate and …

Educational Influences On Environmental Perception: A Semester Analysis Of The New Ecological Paradigm Scale In Undergraduates, Zoe Zingler

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

This study evaluated the impact of a geography course, GEOG 181: Global Environmental Issues, at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on students’ endorsement of the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) using a pre-course and post-course NEP scale survey. Analyzing paired responses (n = 40) through t-tests and z-scores, only four of 15 statements had statistically significant shifts observed for the entire sample. However, a targeted analysis of students initially possessing lower endorsement of the NEP—early deniers—revealed significant paradigm shifts post-course. While women initially showed stronger NEP endorsement, men demonstrated notable changes following the course towards endorsement of the NEP. Academic majors, whether …

Sliding Markov Decision Processes For Dynamic Task Planning On Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles, Trent Wiens

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Mission and flight planning problems for uncrewed aircraft systems (UASs) are typically large and complex in space and computational requirements. With enough time and computing resources, some of these problems may be solvable offline and then executed during flight. In dynamic or uncertain environments, however, the mission may require online adaptation and replanning. In this work, we will discuss methods of creating MDPs for online applications, and a method of using a sliding resolution and receding horizon approach to build and solve Markov Decision Processes (MDPs) in practical planing applications for UASs. In this strategy, called a Sliding Markov Decision …

Development Of A Multi-Use Modular Microfluidic Platform Using 3d Printing, Carson Emeigh

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Microfluidic lab-on-a-chip (LoC) technology has driven numerous innovations due to their ability to perform laboratory-scale experiments on a single chip using microchannels. Although LoC technology has been innovative, it still suffers from limitations related to its fabrication and design flexibility. Typical LoC fabrication, with photolithography, is time consuming, expensive, and inflexible. To overcome the limitations of LoC devices, modular microfluidic platforms have been developed where multiple microfluidic modules, each with a specific function or group of functions, can be combined on a single platform. Modular microfluidics have overcome some of the limitations of LoC devices, but currently, their fabrication is …

Breakaway Luminaire Pole Research, Jacob Conway

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This document reports the efforts conducted to determine critical parameters and configurations for Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware 2016 (MASH) Test Level 3 (TL-3) compliant breakaway luminaire poles supported by slip bases, including identifying pole configurations with the potential to meet MASH TL-3 as well as recommending critical configurations for full-scale crash testing. A thorough literature review was conducted which included survey results collected from Midwest Pooled Fund state departments of transportation (DOTs), standard plans from state DOT’s, and past luminaire pole testing.

Numerical LS-DYNA models were developed for luminaire poles with 4-bolt slip base utilized by the Utah Department …

Peritextual Elements In Chinese Nonfiction Picturebooks, Sunah Chung, Jongsun Wee, Sohyun Meacham

Faculty Publications

The present work is a comparison of the peritext typology found across various nonfiction picturebooks focusing on Chinese people, including Chinese Americans. Nineteen nonfiction books were chosen following selection methods described in previous literature. Books were individually analysed to see which of five categories they fit under, and insider/outsider status for each author and illustrator was recorded as well. All five types were found in the surveyed Chinese nonfiction picturebooks; however, none of the books encouraged readers to take action for social change. We also found slight variation in peritext usage between the insiders and outsiders for authors and illustrators. …

Self-Perception And Positive Stereotype Endorsement, Aileen Lovitt

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The origin and reasoning behind the use of racial stereotypes has been a point of interest for researchers over the years. Many different theories have been proposed including those related to cognitive, evolutionary, and motivational explanations. However, most of these theories and the research backing them primarily focus on negative stereotyping. The origin of positive stereotyping, which also has negative implications associated with their use, has not been evaluated fully. Previous research has suggested that the motive to preserve self-worth and positive self-concept may play a role in stereotype endorsement. Two studies were conducted with the purpose of investigating whether …

Age, Gender, And Sexual Orientation And Their Effects On Online Dating Motivations, Jenna Leigh Mcpherson

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Online dating and dating apps are becoming more common as a means to meet a romantic or sexual partner (e.g. Rosenfeld, Thomas, & Hausen, 2019). Previous literature on the motivations for why people use dating apps and how they differ among participants of varying age, gender, and sexual orientation has not allowed for comparisons across these groups, or shows conflicting findings. In order to consolidate existing literature and further explore the topic, I conducted both a meta-analysis and meta-synthesis. The meta-analysis demonstrated a gender difference in the motivation of casual sex, such that men scored higher than women. The meta-synthesis …

Investigations Into The Relationship Between Menopause And Alzheimer’S Disease Pathology In A Mouse Model With Ovarian Follicle Depletion, Amanda M. Leisgang Osse

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) currently affects about 6.9 million Americans, with over two-thirds of those individuals being women. Interestingly, changes in the brain indicative of AD coincide with the onset of menopause. Post-menopausal women have significantly higher levels of AD pathologies, including amyloid beta and hyperphosphorylated tau, than pre-menopausal women. To investigate the relationship between AD pathologies and menopause, we induced menopause-like state in an AD mouse model, APP/PS1, by treatment with 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) to accelerate ovarian follicle depletion. To monitor the transition to menopause, vaginal lavages and cytology was performed to determine if mice reached anestrous. Both female APP/PS1 …

Examining The Risks And Resilience Of Older Adults Living With Hiv/Aids: Qualitative Community-Based Participatory Research Studies In Southern Nevada, Brandon Ranuschio

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Since the height of the HIV pandemic in the 1980s, medical interventions have significantly increased the life expectancy of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) and made HIV/AIDS a livable, chronic health condition. Because of this, PLWH have been living longer lives and thriving with the help of HIV sector healthcare and service providers. However, with their longer life expectancy, older PLWH have been experiencing other health challenges. One such challenge is the risk of developing HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND), which is a condition that affects up to 50% of PLWH at some point in their lifetime, with middle-aged and older …

Enhancing The Relationships Between Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders And Their Teachers, Jack Watts

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Outcomes of students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) have failed to meet the standards of educators and educational researchers. For several decades, such students have had worse academic and postsecondary outcomes than any other student population. This has led to emphasis on implementation of evidence-based practices to combat the negative outcomes associated with educational diagnoses of EBD (i.e., behavioral outbursts, suspension, and expulsion). Despite this increased attention, little improvement has occurred, leading to the question of whether practices implemented for students with EBD have been addressing the underlying causes of these students’ negative outcomes. Student–teacher relationships could be an …

Understanding Disk Substructures With 3d Self-Consistent Thermodynamics, Shangjia Zhang

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Protoplanetary disks are birthplaces of planets. The past decade witnessed a great advance- ment in disk observations by Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) and extreme adaptive optics (ExAOs). Hundreds of disks have been observed at high angular resolutions and revealed rich substructures (e.g., gaps/rings) at midplane and atmosphere, at least part of which are per- turbed by planets. Deep understanding of disk physics has a great potential to unveil more young planets from substructures and distinguish those that are not caused by planets. I worked on con- straining young planet populations using planet-disk interaction simulations and substructures and self-consistent treatment …

Understanding Stress And Coping Among Adults In The United States During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jocy-Anna Chevalier

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, individuals in the United States (U.S.) and across the globe have experienced unprecedented levels of stress. The purpose of this study is to understand the stress experienced among adults in the U.S. and which coping processes affect their overall emotional well-being. Guided by Lazarus and Folkman’s (1987) Transactional Model of Stress and Coping (TMSC), this study conducted a secondary data analysis (n=404) of adults across the U.S who completed an online survey examining their experiences with stress and coping. A Pearson correlation was utilized to explore the relationship between stress and depressive symptoms. Paired samples …

Investigations Into The Role Of Entropy-Selected Rf-Dna Fingerprint Features On Id-Verification Performance In The Presence Of Rogue Emitters, Awab Mohammed

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The Internet of Things (IoT) is projected to reach 30.9 billion devices by 2025. However, most lack adequate security measures against sophisticated threats. Specific Emitter Identification (SEI) is a crucial security approach for authenticating wireless emitters. This work integrates RF-DNA fingerprinting, a specialized form of SEI, with Deep Learning (DL) techniques to authenticate the identity of authorized emitters. This authentication becomes crucial in the presence of “rogue” emitters who deliberately impersonate authorized emitters using falsified digital credentials. The RF-DNA fingerprints are extracted from the entropy-selected regions within the TF representations of an emitter’s signals. The obtained results demonstrate the success …

The Influence Of Personal Factors On Wrongful Convictions, Ellee Jackson

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Previous work has identified factors that influence the likelihood of wrongful conviction. However, fewer efforts have been made to examine how these factors influence the amount of time between wrongful conviction and exoneration. This is crucial to the expansion of innocence research and the contextualization of wrongful convictions within the criminal justice system. This study employs negative binomial regression to analyze data collected by the National Registry of Exonerations (NRE). Using a sample of 2,349 cases in which the most severe conviction was murder, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, or drug possession, I examine the influence of an exoneree’s age, …

Fate And Treatability Of Engineered Nanoparticles In Urban Stormwater, Laura Wright

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Despite the tremendous benefits of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs), their inevitable release into the environment may be detrimental and hence cause for concern of these emerging contaminants. In this thesis research, the fate and transport of nano-silver (n-Ag) and nano-titanium dioxide in source specific stormwater is explored, and the influence of n-Ag on the treatability of co-pollutants is examined. Through the analysis of particle size distribution, it was noticed that metallic ENPs tend to aggregate initially, while extended turbulence in the system leads to disaggregation. Stormwater samples with added ENPs exhibited larger particles than those in stormwater without added ENPs. The …

The Non-Vanishing Of The Trace Of T ₃, Liubomir Chiriac, Daphne Kurzenhauser, Erin Williams

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

A generalized Lehmer conjecture predicts that, for every positive integer n, the trace of the Hecke operator T_n in level one does not vanish, unless the space of cusp forms acted upon is trivial. So far, this has only been established for n = 2. In this paper, we use p-adic methods to prove the statement for n = 3.

Effect Of Pre-Heating On Residual Stresses And Deformation In Laser-Based Directed Energy Deposition Repair: A Comparative Analysis, Usman Tariq, Sung Heng Wu, Muhammad Arif Mahmood, Michael M. Woodworth, Frank W. Liou

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Laser-Directed Energy Deposition (DED), a Metal Additive Manufacturing Method, is Renowned for its Role in Repairing Parts, Particularly When Replacement Costs Are Prohibitive. Ensuring that Repaired Parts Avoid Residual Stresses and Deformation is Crucial for Maintaining Functional Integrity. This Study Conducts Experimental and Numerical Analyses on Trapezoidal Shape Repairs, Validating Both the Thermal and Mechanical Models with Experimental Results. Additionally, the Study Presents a Methodology for Creating a Toolpath Applicable to Both the DED Process and Abaqus CAE Software. the Findings Indicate that Employing a Pre-Heating Strategy Can Reduce Residual Stresses by over 70% Compared to No Pre-Heating. However, Pre-Heating …

Perceptions Of Factors From Mba Students At Small Regional Universities That Enhance, Improve, And Impact Individual Behavior As Measured By Environmental Working Scales, John Alpers

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Organizations are continually trying to impact individual behavior so their employees will be motivated toward organizational objectives. The goal or intent of all organizations is to identify the impact the specific factors, engagement, leadership methods, and reward systems, can have on the motivation of employees toward organizational goals or objectives. The goal of this research is to identify if a relationship exists between the perceptions of Master of Business (MBA) students in regional universities toward the above-mentioned factors that improve, impact, and enhance their behavior toward organizational goals as indicated by each area’s impact on the work environment scale. Research …

Addressing Multimodal Transportation Needs Through Complete Streets Implementation, Eirini Stavropoulou, Nikiforos Stamatiadis, William Staats, Teng Wang, Reginald Souleyrette

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Since the early 2000s, over 1,600 transportation agencies in the United States have adopted Complete Streets policies. Recently, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) published its Complete Streets, Roads, and Highways Manual, which aims to implement a safe and equitable transportation system throughout the state, as well as a Complete Streets policy. The manual and policy offer guidance on integrating Complete Streets principles into road design, however, KYTC currently lacks tools or methods to evaluate how well specific projects address Complete Streets goals. This is problematic because systematic assessments are needed to effectively prioritize projects and allocate scarce funding. Based …

Developing Guidelines For The Use Of Lightweight Materials In Culvert Preservation, Charlie Sun, Kean H. Ashurst Jr.

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This study addresses challenges that arise during highway embankment construction on road widening projects when additional fill is placed above existing culverts. Researchers conducted reduced-scale model laboratory tests to simulate culvert behavior under different loading conditions and to determine how well lightweight materials (LWMs) perform when subjected to changing loads. Testing showed that proximity of LWM to the culvert’s top surface strongly influences the magnitude of strain reductions or increases. Placing LWMs with relatively low elastic modulus closer to the culvert’s top surface led to reduced culvert ceiling strain and increased culvert wall strain. LWMs with relatively high elastic modulus …