1

CONTENTS

Schedule of Events...........................................................................................................2

Poster Abstracts

Fine Arts/Humanities.............................................................................................3

Behavioral/Social Sciences...................................................................................5

Natural/Physical Sciences.....................................................................................8

Professional/Applied Sciences............................................................................17

Business & Technology.............................................................................17

Education...................................................................................................17

Graduate Studies............................................................................................18-20

Oral Presentation Schedule......................................................................................22-23

Oral Presentation Abstracts............................................................................24-27

Exhibition: Art Student Award Recipients...................................................................29

Student Participation Index............................................................................................32

Sponsored by:Office of Graduate Studies & Research

Research Services CouncilUndergraduate Research Council

Office of Sponsored Programs

2

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Friday, April 6, 2007

7:30 - 9:00 a.m. Poster Set Up NSU 238

9:00 - 11:00 a.m. Judging NSU 238

Noon - 1:30 p.m. Luncheon NSU 238 A&B Guest Speaker: Clayton Thyne

1:30- 3:30 p.m. SRD Oral Presentations NSU 310NSU 312

1:30 - 4:30 p.m. Poster Session Open NSU 238

3:30 - 4:30 p.m. SRD Award Reception NSU 238

5:00 p.m. Posters Removed NSU 238

Friday, April 27, 2007

8:30 - 3:00 p.m. Student Conference on Thomas Hall Language and Literature

3

Art & Art History

Katrina Florell (1)ADVISOR = Jake JacobsenPorcelain Possibilities

Attending the National Council on Education forthe Ceramic Arts will promote growth in myeducation at the University of Nebraska atKearney through new and recent informationobtained on ceramic processes, particularly inporcelain. Subsequent to the NCECAconference, I intend to apply the informationgained to my senior work. Currently, my workis lacking in areas of symbolism and glazeapplication. Porcelain is one method of solvingthese problems. As a result of the information, achange will occur with benefits including moreknowledge about porcelain and other white claybodies, a well prepared senior exhibition and thisknowledge gained that would be applied to myteaching career as well as my career as an artist.

Rachel Sitzman (2)ADVISOR = Richard SchuesslerDevaro Fine Linens

The intention of this project is to producemarketing materials for a fictional fine linencompany, Devaro. This company featuresproducts for the bed, bath, and table that arestylish, luxurious, and comfortable. The targetmarket for the company is female city-dwellersages 25-40 with household incomes of$100,000-250,000. Devaro operates on threebusiness tiers: wholesale (hotels), retail(independent fine linen boutiques), and privatelabel (found in New York, Los Angeles, SanFransisco, and Miami). Devaro competes withspecialty retailers such as SFERRA Fine Linens,Anichini, and Yves Delorme. Objectives of theproject include creating a unified system, whichDevaro would apply to all levels of their businesstiers. Also displaying the company as upscalewith dreamy/romantic tendencies would be animportant goal. Research will be conducted inthe form of a catalog, swatch book, website,product packaging, posters, and display units.

FINE ARTS&

HUMANITIES

English

Elissa Martin (3)ADVISOR = Robert LuscherAmerican Literature and the Era of the SalemWitch Trials

The historical period from 1680 to 1700 inAmerican literature was characterized by manywritings about witches and witchcraft.Historically, the Salem Witch Trials of 1692impacted not only social and political aspects,but also literature as witchcraft became a majortopic for literary minds. Even in recent years thistopic is addressed in genres such as historicalfiction and adolescent literature. Witchcraft wasa huge fear and concern, and since English lawhad declared it a capital crime in 1641, peoplefelt justified in combating it. Puritan values andbeliefs also contributed highly to the witch scare.Because differences were not tolerated, anyonewho expressed individualism in any way wasautomatically a target. Likewise, many scholarsbelieve that the girls who “named” witches wereprobably just seeking attention and relief fromthe awkwardness of adolescence when theyfound themselves caught in a web that theycould not escape.

Music & Performing Arts

Caleb Hastings (4)ADVISOR = James PayneInternational Music Products Association

A group of music business majors desired tolearn more about the international musicproducts trade show and market. The studentsdid their research at the 2007 NAMM Show, aninternational music products show hosted by theNational Association of Music Merchants. Thestudents researched their individual interest areasin several ways. They visited various exhibits tosee and work with products, visited with salesrepresentatives or technical development staffasking questions, attended concerts anddemonstrations of new products, and participatedin educational sessions given by NAMM or byNAMBI featuring well-known speakers andeducators in the industry. Each student willprepare a two-page paper outlining the results oftheir research and assist with the group poster atthe Student Research Day. The students willwrite up a report of their research with the resultsand a summary of what they learned throughtheir research.

4

Hikari Maekawa (5)ADVISOR = Valerie CislerThe Evolution of the Piano Trio-EffectiveStylistic Interpretation through ComparativeAnalysis of Mozart, Beethoven, Debussy, andShostakovich

This study is designed to provide a comparativeanalysis of four contrasting works for piano trio(piano, violin, and cello) that will serve toenhance an understanding of the stylecharacteristics that affect performanceinterpretation. The works studied and performedare Piano Trio in C Major, K. 548, by W. A.Mozart; Piano Trio in C Minor, Op. 1, No. 3, byLudwig van Beethoven; Piano Trio in G Major,by Claude Debussy; and Piano Trio in E Minor,Op. 67, by Dmitri Shostakovich. Each work isexamined through Contextual Analysis(including musical, social, historical, andcultural influences), Theoretical Analysis(including fundamental musical elements andcompositional techniques related to form andstructure), and Style Analysis (including range,pedal, harmonic color, expressive indications,and idiomatic use of the instruments) and theirimplications on effective performanceinterpretation. The study concludes with sampleperformance clips that highlight the stylisticdifferences between the works.

Matthew Rauert (6)ADVISOR = Andrew WhitePablo Casals as Composer: Selected SacredChoral Works

Pablo Casals (1876-1973) was perhaps bestknown as one of the world’s most renownedcellists. His accomplishments spanned the globeas a great innovator of cello technique. He was afamous conductor as well, but his compositionshave been under-researched by academia. Thepurpose of this research was to unearth thesacred choral works of Casals, to examine them,evaluate them in terms of musical value, and toplace them in the context of Casals’s life.Casals’s sacred choral works could be dividedinto two different groups: one, the group ofpieces composed earlier in Casals’ life, beforethe end of the Second World War, and two, hisoratorio, El Pessebre. Each group has a story tiedto it, one that could be found by examining both

the scores to the pieces and the literature thatcan be found that places the works on a timelineof Casals’s life. This research answers twoquestions regarding these sacred choral works ofPablo Casals. First, why each of the sacredchoral works were written, and, second, andperhaps more importantly, why it is that only oneor two of Casals’s sacred choral works are everperformed by today’s musicians. This workshows that the answers to these questions arecentered first on Casals’s efforts to come to theaid of those around him and, second, the factthat many works of composers of the twentiethcentury are swallowed up by theircontemporaries. Ultimately, this research provesthat Casals should not be remembered for onlyhis cello performances, but his compositions andefforts as a humanitarian as well.

Communications

Kanako Kusunoki (7)CO-PRESENTORS = Amanda Baillie,Kathryn Bodenhamer, Cade Feurer, JasonGould, Kevin Hervert, Hillary Kruger, HappyMacwan, Matthew Rieckman, LindsaySchluntz, Mihoko Yamamoto and DrewYoungsADVISOR = Ruth BrownAnalysis of Heartland Museum of MilitaryVehicles

Heartland Museum of Military Vehicles(HMMV) is a non-profit organization dedicatedto restoring and preserving military vehicles inhonor of the men and women who served in thearmed forces. Located at Interstate 80 exit 237(Lexington), the museum includes 98 vehiclesplus weapons, uniforms, rations, medicalsupplies and gear used in 20th century warfare.The Ad Campaigns class used primary researchto learn about the client through first-hand visitsand about its consumers by analyzing a decade ofmuseum records. Secondary research providedinformation on competitors and additional factson the client and consumers. Research helpeddetermine the integrated marketingcommunication strategy, which targets veteransand families with a message that positionsHMMV as vital to understanding life as a soldier.Objectives are to increase annual attendance to10,000 (20+%), donations from visitors by 20%,

5

gift shop receipts by 20%, and the number ofvolunteers by 25.

BEHAVIORAL&

SOCIAL SCIENCE

History

Racheal Smith (8)ADVISOR = Linda Van IngenAmericans Overseas in the Cold War: The Shiftin Attitudes from American Superiority toCultural Sensitivity

After WWII America was no longer isolationist.In fact, by the 1960’s, over 1.5 millionAmericans were living overseas serving in avariety of ways, including in the military, ingovernment, business and non-profitorganizations. As a result of the residency ofAmerican citizens abroad during the Cold War,there was a gradual change in the attitudes ofAmericans towards the world. One of thebiggest indicators of this shift in thought ismirrored in the literature from this time period.During the Cold War, America went from seeingitself as the heroes of the world fighting againstcommunism to seeing itself by the 1970s as the“Ugly Americans” who needed to learn totolerate other cultures. This shift in attitudecontinues to be as important today as over 4.1million Americans live overseas. Anappreciation of cultural differences cancontribute to the success of Americans’ effortsoverseas.

Sarah Westesen (9)ADVISOR = Mark Ellis“We Can Serve Behind the Lines”: NebraskaState Teacher’s College and World War II

The 1940s brought change for the Nebraska StateTeachers College. World War II had an impacton the student population, faculty, campus, andeveryday life. It affected social lives, classschedules, and their ideas about the world.During the war the campus struggled with theloss of many young men, doing everything they

could to support them. After the war, the campusflooded with veterans, putting a strain onhousing. Although NSTC was situated in theheart of the Midwest, it was not exempt fromfeeling the effects of national problems. It’simportant for students to realize how much pastevents have effected their lives. Not only wasthe NSTC student body, campus, and facultygreatly effected by World War II, but it provideda huge amount of support to classmates sentoverseas through fundraisers, letter-writing, andother activities. These activities the campusbecame united and together to provide support.

Psychology

Jamie Babutzke (10)CO-PRESENTORS = Joshua SoleADVISOR = Krista FritsonExploring Alcohol Use, Dependency, andAlcohol Related problems in College Studentsalong with the role of Peer-Health Resourcesand Risk Management

The aim of this study was to determine therelationship between alcohol used, alcoholdependency, and subsequent problems andconsequences associated with alcoholconsumption between students who are membersof Greek life and students who are not membersof Greek-life. Dangerous and harmful behaviorpatterns of alcohol abuse, dependency andspecific negative consequences and problemsassociated with alcohol abuse during collegewere determined by using establishedassessments. One hundred and sixty-oneundergraduate students completed a surveycomprised of the AUDIT, ADS, CAPS-r scales,and a peer-health alcohol risk managementscale. It was found that Greek students havelower or equal scores of alcohol abuse anddependence in the AUDIT and ADS, whencompared to non- Greeks. There was nodifference found between Greeks and non-Greekin alcohol abuse, alcohol related problems, orthe frequency of receiving negative alcoholconsequences as a result of alcohol consumption.

Jamie Babutzke (11)ADVISOR = Wayne BrinerVisualization of Depleted Uranium in the MouseBrain

Depleted uranium (DU) is a heavy metal inextensive use by the US military, and other

6

nations, as armor piercing munitions. DU is acontroversial material that has been implicated inGulf War Veterans Illness and suggested as acause for reported increases in cancer deaths inregions where it is used. Recent reports from thislaboratory and others support the idea that DUhad neurotoxic properties. This project describesthe methodology to visualize the deposition ofDU in the CNS of the mouse using of histologicmethods. Mice were exposed to DU in drinkingwater at concentrations of 0 or 75mg/L for twoweeks. Animals were anesthesized and perfusedwith a staining “cocktail” modified from theprotocol described by Kalinich & McClain(2001) to visualize DU deposits in cell culture.The brains were removed, sectioned, andmounted. Similar sections from control andexperimental brains were compared for intensityof staining.

Sara Brady (12)CO-PRESENTERS = Jennifer Bruns, BradleyStastnyADVISOR = Krista ForrestMock Jurors’ Perceptions of Evidence PloysEmbedded in Actual Interrogation Transcripts

Police may use false evidence ploys to gain aconfession from the suspect (Inbau, Reid,Buckley & Jayne, 2001; Ofshe and Leo, 1997).Examples include lying about DNA, failedpolygraphs, demeanor, etc. Previous researchfound when reading lists of evidence ploysparticipants believed police use scientific,general, and identification ploys at comparablerates (Bienhoff, Forrest, Leo & Stastny, 2006).However, identification ploys were consideredthe most deceptive and coercive of the three(Stastny, Forrest, Leo & Bienhoff, 2006). Thecurrent study discovered participants evaluatingthese same kinds of ploys embedded in actualpolice interrogation transcripts ratedidentification ploys as significantly moredeceptive and marginally more coercive thanscientific and general ploys. We also foundparticipants rated ploys equally deceptive andcoercive regardless of whether they resulted intrue or false confessions. Lastly, participants didnot rate the same ploys differently as a functionof whether they contributed to true or falseconfessions.

Heather Colling (13)CO-PRESENTER = Megan ProvinceADVISOR = Richard MillerThe Door In the Face Effect

The purpose of this experiment was to test thedoor-in-the-face-effect using four primingtechniques: reciprocal concession, relative cost,guilt, and worthy person. Participants received alarge request, priming, and then a small request.Our results did not support previous research asno door-in-the- face effect was found in anycondition.

Jacob Knutson (14)ADVISOR = Krista FritsonHow Family Alcohol Abuse Affects Children

Since alcohol use among college students is acommon problem, we were interested in seeing ifthe extent of alcohol use among young adultscould be predicted by household use when theywere children. We had 100 students completequestionnaires. We found that there is arelationship between alcohol use in the homeduring adolescence and current alcohol use.

Jamie Lamb (15)ADVISOR = Robert RycekInfluence of Parenting Styles on AdultAggression and Road Rage

The purpose was to determine which of the fourparenting styles manifested the most aggressionand road rage in young adults. Participants wereadministered parenting styles, aggression, androad rage questionnaires. It was found thatpermissive uninvolved and permissive indulgentparenting styles showed higher levels ofaggression including road rage.

Shane McFeely (16)ADVISOR = Joseph BenzImpact of Olfactory Cues on Parental Instincts

The current study examines the effects of genderand olfaction on parental yearning. Wehypothesized that the genders of the rater andbaby wearing the outfit would affect the scoreson a parental yearning scale. Results showedthat only participant gender had a significanteffect on parental yearning scores.

Tiffany Sherwood (17)ADVISOR = Krista FritsonThe Relationship Between Perfectionism andLife Satisfaction

The present study examined the relationshipbetween perfectionistic tendencies and reportedlife satisfaction. Upon completion of twoperfectionism scales and a life satisfaction scale,

7

participants were divided first into theperfectionistic group and the nonperfectionisticgroup to examine any difference on lifesatisfaction. Afterwards, participants werefurther divided into the following groups:maladaptive perfectionists, adaptiveperfectionists, and nonperfectionists. Previousresearch using middle school students resulted inthe adaptive perfectionists reporting greater lifesatisfaction in comparison to maladaptiveperfectionists and nonperfectionists.Gilman(2003). It was hypothesized thatconsistent with previous research; collegestudents who have adaptive perfectionistictendencies would report the highest lifesatisfaction when compared to the individualswith maladaptive perfectionistic tendencies andthe individuals with tendencies towardnonperfection. Results indicated that there wasnot a significant effect on life satisfaction whencomparing overall perfectionists andnonperfectionists or when comparing all threeperfectionist subtypes. Gender differences werealso examined.

Stacy Simonsen (18)ADVISOR = Krista FritsonExploring the Relationship between PersonalityTraits, Binge Eating Behavior, and AlcoholAbuse

The present study examined the relationshipbetween personality traits and binge eating anddrinking behaviors. Some personality traits aremore prominent in individuals with eatingdisorders. Many of these traits are also commonin individuals with alcohol use disorders.Students completed surveys evaluating eatingand drinking behaviors and personality traits. Itwas hypothesized that people who binge eat and/or abuse alcohol would score high onneuroticism and low on conscientiousness.Results showed that people who engage in bingeeating behaviors scored significantly higher onneuroticism. Results for conscientiousness weremarginally significant. Results for alcohol abuseand personality traits were not significant.

Shannon Thompson (19)ADVISOR = Krista FritsonThe Role of Drinking Refusal Self-Efficacy inAlcohol Consumption, Drinking Behaviors, andAlcohol-Related Problems

The present study investigated the role ofdrinking refusal self-efficacy (DRSEQ) in

alcohol consumption, drinking behaviors, andalcohol-related problems as measured by theAlcohol Use Disorders Identification Test(AUDIT). I hypothesized that participants withlower drinking refusal self-efficacy would havehigher scores on each subscale of the AUDIT.Findings revealed significant negativecorrelations among each subscale of the DRSEQand each subscale of the AUDIT. Participantswith lower drinking refusal self-efficacy didhave higher rates of alcohol consumption anddependency, more adverse psychologicalreactions, and more alcohol-related problemsthan those with higher drinking refusal self-efficacy. Implications for these findings arediscussed.

Brindi Utemark (20)CO-PRESENTER = Lindsay HinzADVISOR = Krista FritsonPerception of Depression Among CollegeStudents

We examined the effects of media commercialsas compared to standard health screenings fordepression and the likelihood for individuals toself-diagnose. We hypothesized that individualsshown medication advertisements would be morelikely to self-diagnose depression than those whotook a standard health screening or participatedin neutral conditions.

Social Work

Elizabeth Killip (21)ADVISOR = Maha YounesForever Changed; The Transformation of RuralAmerica Through Immigration

This qualitative case study reveals the attitudesand experiences of long-term residents of oneMidwestern rural community that has beendramatically transformed by immigration. The123 phone interviews and two focus groupsprovided much needed insight into the residents’perceptions of immigration and immigrants. Thestudy examines their ensuing personal struggleand community’s growing pains; andrecommendations for policy makers, immigrants,and other communities facing similar situations.

8

NATURAL&

PHYSICAL SCIENCES

Biology

Mason Dendinger (22)ADVISOR = Paul TwiggEffects of Hydrogen Peroxide on SwitchgrassGermination Rates

Switchgrass is a warm season perennial nativegrass to North America. This grass can producehigh yields in tons per acre with little fertilizer.Since it is a native species, it is very resistant topests, diseases, poor soils and drought. Theseeds of switchgrass are very small which makethem slow to germinate and vulnerable tocompetition with weeds. Switchgrass is beingdeveloped as the new biofuel to make cleanburning ethanol and diesel. Switchgrass wouldbe used in order to reduce America’sdependence on foreign oil. My research isstriving to find a way in reducing thegermination time of the switchgrass seedlingsonce planted. I have treated the seeds withdiffering concentrations of hydrogen peroxideand monitoring germination rate. I will presentthe data from my progress on this project.

Jenna Derr (23)ADVISOR = Kimberly CarlsonEffects of the Antioxidant Properties ofBlueberries on Mortality Rates and Indy GeneExpression in Drosophila melanogaster

Foods with antioxidant properties, such asblueberries, may extend the longevity of anorganism. In addition to environmental factors,genetics also plays a role in aging and death. InDrosophila melanogaster, genetic mutations tothe Indy gene (I’m not dead yet) have increasedlifespan. The objective of this experiment is todetermine if blueberries added to instant fly foodaffect mortality rates and Indy gene expressionprofiles of female D. melanogaster. To do this,D. melanogaster were reared on media with orwithout blueberries, mortality curves tallied, andfemales collected for RNA extraction andanalysis of Indy gene expression by quantitativereal time reverse transcriptase polymerase chainreaction (qRT-PCR). Survivorship curves

showed that females reared on blueberry medialived significantly longer than control reared.qRT-PCR analyses revealed differentialexpression of Indy between treatments and timepoints. This research will provide insight on therole of gene regulation of aging.

Scott Griffith (24)ADVISOR = Julie ShafferLooking for the True Alkalophile in aHypersaline, Alkaline Environment

The purpose of this experiment was to findbacteria in an alkaline/hypersaline environmentthat are alkalophiles, bacteria able to grow inmoderate to high pH. In this study, we collectedwater samples from both alkaline and non-alkaline lakes within a 2 km area. Colonies wereisolated and then grown on a series of pH’sin an effort to identify true alkalophiles.Alkalophiles were selected as they only grow atpH 9 and higher. Isolates were identified bycolony morphology, gram stains, oxidase testing,and oxiferm and enterotube analysis. Currently,we are working with 154 isolates. Ninety ninepercent of the isolates stained gram negative andoxidase negative. We have also found onebacterium that appears to be a true alkalophile.Once basic identification is completed, theisolates will be further identified by 16s rDNAsequence analysis at the University ofNebraska-Lincoln DNA sequencing facility.

Christine Gilling (25)ADVISOR = Kimberly CarlsonEffect of OTK18 on Differentiated NeuronsStimulated With TNF-α

OTK18 is a transcriptional suppressor expressedin all tissues under homeostatic conditions.Previously, supernatants from a monocyte/macrophage (MÖ) cell line that had inducedoverexpression of OTK18 were able to sustainneuronal survival in culture. We hypothesizethat cytokines produced in the MÖ supernatants(SN) are paramount in this neuroprotection.Cytokines are a class of molecules that aid incellular communication. Tumor necrosis factoralpha (TNF-α) is a cytokine produced primarilyby MÖ during the immune response. Thiscytokine is a Janus- faced molecule that canfunction as a growth factor, defend the bodyagainst certain pathogens, induce the response ofother cytokines, and/or stimulate cell death.This study is primarily concerned with the

9

interaction between TNF-α expression in dyingneurons and OTK18 regulation of this process.The hypothesis is that neurons cultured in MÖ SN containing overexpressed OTK18 will beneuro protective against TNF-α stimulation.Neurons were treated with 20 ng/mL nervegrowth factor (NGF) and TNF-α. Afterdifferentiation, they were treated with MÖSN from OTK18 overexpressed cultures.Morphological differences in the cultures wereobserved. This experiment will provide insightinto delineating the role of OTK18 regulation ofneuronal survival in response to TNF-αproduction.

Jeffrey Hamik (26)ADVISOR = Wyatt HobackUse of systemic pesticide and its performanceagainst leafhoppers in commercial potatoproduction

Leafhoppers (Cicadellidae) are cosmopolitaninsects. High levels of feeding can causeyellowing of leaves, stunting of plants, leaf roll,and “hopperburn”. Besides cosmetic effects andreduction to photosynthesis, leafhoppers arecarriers of many different viruses and diseases.Because of the potential to cause direct damageand to transmit viruses, potato growerscommonly use systemic insecticide. Systemicpesticides, such as Admire, provide early seasonprotection but decline later in the season. Littleinformation exists concerning the performanceof Admire among different varieties of potato. In2006, leafhoppers were counted using sweep netsamples on three fields comprised of threedifferent varieties. Based on the results itappears that the systemic application providesequal control of leafhoppers among varieties.These results are useful in determining theschedule of additional insecticide applicationswhen economic thresholds are reached.

Katie Hoblyn (27)ADVISOR = Joseph SpringerA Coyote Population Index in Rangeland VersusCropland Regions

Millions of dollars in damages due to coyotedepredation are reported every year. Since 1978,the year of record high coyote fur prices, coyotepopulations have been increasing, whichincreases the risk of livestock loss and damagecaused by the animals. This study compared tworegions: a rangeland area in the Sandhills (Loup

County) and a cropland area (Buffalo County),Nebraska. The purpose was to see if humanactivities in the cropland area had any effect onthe population of coyotes. Scent stations createdon sides of unpaved roads (north of Taylor andwest of Riverdale) were used to compare thecoyote population. The rangeland area showed astatistically significant decline in populationbetween September and October. The rangelandpopulation was also significantly lower than thecropland population.

Jennifer Johnson (28)ADVISOR = Wyatt HobackSuccessful Fishing for Tiger Beetle Larvae:Implications for Conservation of Rare Speciesand Their Habitat

Tiger beetles are increasingly the focus ofbiological monitoring and insect conservation.The larvae are sit-and-wait predators which formpermanent burrows in limited habitat. Previousstudies have sampled larvae by digging uphabitat, potentially endangering the larvae andnecessitating the formation of new burrows. Weconducted a series of field and laboratory studiesto examine the possibility of using a grass blade/stem to extract larvae from their burrow withoutdamaging the larva or the burrow. We found thatlarvae of many species can be efficientlysampled. These larvae have a low percentage ofinjury and can be assessed for parasitism andmass. They can then be returned to either theirown burrow or an alternative burrow where theycan be re-sampled. These results indicate thatfishing tiger beetle larvae can be used formonitoring populations, reducing parasiteimpacts, and relocating study organisms whileeliminating the impacts associated withexcavating larvae.

Ahna Luebs (29)ADVISOR = Steve RothenbergerPlant Species Diversity of the Juhl Prairie inNebraska

Plant species diversity in mixed-grass prairieshas been reduced due to human activities such asfarming, development, and overgrazing bylivestock. Juhl Prairie near Riverdale, Nebraska,is owned and managed by the Prairie PlainsResource Institute (PPRI) of Aurora, Nebraska.This prairie has been reseeded, grazed andburned periodically. Our quantitative botanicalstudy of plant diversity and species distributionwas completed during the 2006-growing season.The site was quantitatively sampled using plots

10

that were each 10 m 2. Within these plots,percent plant cover was estimated using a modi-fied Daubenmire cover-abundance scale. Vegeta-tion was also sampled by placing 20 (.2 m2)random quadrats/plot along systematic transects.The majority of the plots were placed in therestored or reseeded area of Juhl Prairie, butsampling was also done on west and north facingplots. Approximately 120 plant species weredocumented in this study.

Jonathan Meyer (30)ADVISOR = Marc AlbrechtSoil profile of the Island of Vieques, PR

To investigate the effects of a man made road ona mangrove ecosystem several environmentalparameters must be examined to gain insight intowhat factors of the tropical shoreline habitat havebeen disturbed. Flow of energy and matter inmangroves is dynamic. Multiple processes ofproductivity, nutrient input and output,respiration and biomass accumulation are allinfluenced by tidal movement. True mangrovesoccur exclusively in mangrove habitats, the areaof the intertidal zone, and do not occurelsewhere. High Salinity of mangrove soil is duemostly to salt introduction through the influx ofsea water with the tide. Salinity levels of thesesoils were examined on Vieques. Mangrove soilswere of significantly higher (p=.05) salinity thannon mangrove soils everywhere on the island.Small scale heterogeneity and hydrologyprobably account for significant differences insalinity between mangrove soils immediatelyadjacent to mangrove soils with varying salinity.

Brett Olds (31)ADVISOR = Kerri SkinnerDrought effects on zooplankton at HarlanCounty Reservoir

Harlan Reservoir serves as flood control andirrigation supply for agriculture in Nebraska andKansas. Over the past four years, RepublicanRiver inflows have declined and exacerbatedcurrent drought conditions seen in the Midwest,resulting in a total water pool 38% of capacity.Zooplankton species are the microscopic primaryconsumers in the lake which provide a food basefor all larval fish. The timing and concentrationsof these organisms are vital to the survival of fishspecies. Two important groups of zooplanktonare Copepoda spp. and Cladocera spp. and eachemerge at different times of the year. Cladoceraspp. are larger and sought after by walleye,

whereas Copepoda spp. are smaller, moreabundant in Harlan Reservoir and are readilyconsumed by filter feeders such as gizzard shadwith smaller mouths. Total zooplankton per litershould be maintained at 100/L for healthy sportfish populations. In 2003 and 2004, levels werehalf this amount, but above that threshold in2005 and 2006. Understanding theserelationships is crucial to maintaining aproductive fishery.

Kristy Rickert (32)ADVISORS = Joe Springer and Kim CarlsonIs There Gene Flow Between Populations ofDeer Mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) AcrossInterstate 80 in Central Nebraska?

Habitat fragmentation can interfere with thedispersal of natural populations of animals. Theconstruction of roads can restrict the movementof many species, and thus, create several isolatedpopulations. Limited movement in thesesubpopulations can hinder the exchange ofgenetic material between individuals anddecrease the genetic diversity in the population.The frequency of crossing by deer mice(Peromyscus maniculatus) across Interstate 80 incentral Nebraska, and the genetic variabilitybetween deer mice populations on the north andsouth sides of Interstate 80 were examiniedusing two microsattelite markers, PMs19 andPMs21. Only one deer mouse crossed Interstate80. Since a few deer mice cross the interstate,genetic variation between deer mice populationson the north and south sides of Interstate 80 islow. This investigation and future studies can beused to offer suggestions on improving the geneflow of several animal species across interstatehighways.

Brian Sass (33)ADVISOR = Tamara SmithUse of chemical cues in trailing behavior of thegrain mite, Acarus siro

Grain mites, Acarus siro, feed and reproduce ona variety of grains, cheese, and pet food. Inoptimal temperature and humidities, mites areable to spread throughout storage facilities, withpopulations reaching over 2 million mites per10g of food. Movement patterns by mites duringinfestation are poorly documented. We conducteda series of trials to test movement patterns andexamine the influence of previous mitemovement on subsequent trials. Mites wereplaced individually on fishing line. We recordedthe total time to travel 10cm. After the first mite

11

reached the end of the string, another mite fromthe same stock was placed on the same stringand timed. There was a strong correlationbetween the results of the first and second trialssuggesting that mites are leaving chemical trailswhich subsequent mites follow. These data mayprovide information for trapping methods whichcould decrease infestation levels in storagefacilities.

Katie Schaneman (34)ADVISOR = Paul TwiggNitrogen Assimilation of the Partrige Pea Plant

Nitrogen assimilation has been studied in avariety of plants. The pathways that nitrogenuses seem to differ among species. Legumessuch as the species Chamaecrista fasciculate,which is more commonly known as the partridgepea, uptake N mainly through their roots nodulesand shoots. Though the pathways and levels ofN present in the plant can be identified throughtissue testing, it is not yet known how Nspecifically affects the rates of growth and yieldsobtained in the partridge pea. This species is acommon, native plant to the Midwest. Thisexperiment the development of partridge peaplants in different concentrations of nitrogen.The results were not significant enough to showhow the rate of nitrogen intake affects thegrowth of the partridge pea plant. Thisinformation could be significant in understandinghow the partridge pea thrives in dry climates thathave various levels of nitrogen.

Dana Stubbs (35)ADVISOR = Janet SteeleGender Differences in the Excretion of Calciumin Long-Evans Rats

Osteoporosis affects people world-wide, andmany factors contribute to its development. Toaddress this problem, studies have examined theeffectiveness of calcium supplements to increasebone density. Because females are more proneto developing osteoporosis, I examined theinfluence of gender on efficiency and the amountof calcium absorbed. A calcium supplement(62.5 mg) was added to the daily diets of 8 maleand 8 female Long-Evans rats for 7 weeks.Calcium excreted over a 24-hour period wasmeasured before and after the calciumsupplement was added, and results wereanalyzed using Student’s t-test. Females tended(0.05 < p < 0.10) to excrete more calcium thanmales prior to the calcium supplement’saddition. After 7 weeks on the supplement,

excretion was significantly (p< 0.05) increasedin males but unchanged in females. Theseresults suggest the effectiveness of calciumsupplements may differ between males andfemales.

Manuel Torres (36)ADVISOR = Janet SteeleThe Effects of Ginkgo biloba on Short-TermMemory

Ginkgo biloba is one of the oldest trees on earth.Extracts of the leaves of this plant have beenprescribed to treat many different illnesses forhundreds of years. Ginkgo biloba has beenknown to help improve blood flow and reduceinflammation, and research has shown that it alsofunctions as an antioxidant. Cortisol is ahormone that is secreted in response to extendedstress. The purpose of this study was toinvestigate the effects of Ginkgo biloba onshort-term memory and to examine theinteractions between cortisol and Ginkgo bilobaon short-term memory. A population of collegestudents served as subjects. These subjects firstcompleted a computerized memory test, and asmall blood sample was taken for cortisolanalysis using an enzyme-linked immunosorbentassay (ELISA) technique. The subjects werethen given a Ginkgo biloba supplement to takedaily for 6 weeks. At the end of the 6-weekperiod, a second memory test and blood samplewill be taken.

Heather Tracy (37)ADVISOR = Marc AlbrechtINVERTEBRATE POPULATIONS IN AMANGROVE SWAMP: A Study of Road Ecology

The purpose of this survey was to identify thetypes of invertebrates that are living in themangrove habitats on Vieques, Puerto Rico, alsoto see if the road is causing a difference in typesof invertebrates found on either side. Vegetativebasal area of the site was also studied. Data wasanalyzed using three way ANOVA for theinvertebrate portion of the study. Vegetationdata was analyzed using both paired t- test and athree way ANOVA. Vegetative basal area wasfound to be significantly different (p=0.037)between sites 1, 2 and 3. Also a trend was seenbetween north and south side of the road forbasal area. No significant differences were seenin invertebrate populations.

12

Benjamin Welborn (38)ADVISOR = Julie ShafferComparison of Invertebrate Populations inAlkaline and Non-alkaline Lakes in WesternNebraska

The Nebraska Sand Hills are the largest sanddune area in North America. Some water bodiesdo not have outflow and do not get a constantinflow of water. This makes them susceptible toevaporation and concentration of minerals,leading to alkaline, hypersaline bodies of water.These extreme environments have unusualmicrobial communities. At the Crescent LakeWildlife Refuge in Nebraska four lakes wereselected due to their varying pH’s. Planktonsamples were collected using a plankton- netonce per month during the summer to see if therewas a difference in invertebrate populationbetween the lakes. The lakes differed in pH from8 to 10. They were taken back to the laboratoryand examined with a light microscope andpictures were taken of the samples. From the pH10 lake, Artemia salina and Ephydra hiansdominated the invertebrate population. LowerpH lakes seemed to contain a greater diversity ofinvertebrates.

Sean Whipple(39)ADVISOR = Wyatt HobackFood Preference of the Grasshopper SpeciesArphia xanthoptera and Dichromorpha viridis(Orthoptera: Acrididae)

A study of feeding preference was carried out ontwo grasshopper species, Arphia xanthopteraBurmeister and Dichromorpha viridis Scudder todetermine the role of these species grasslandenvironments. Both grasshoppers were offeredfour plant species including smooth brome(Bromus inermis), big blue stem (Adropogongerardii), sideoats grama (Boutelouacurtipendula), and Kentucky bluegrass (Poapratensis). Live biomass was weighed beforeand after feeding in order to quantify the amountof each species consumed by the grasshoppers.Statistical analysis shows that D. viridis stronglypreferred smooth brome (P<0.05). In the case ofA. xanthoptera, brome accounted for the mostbiomass consumed and was statistically differentbetween smooth brome and all other plantspecies with the exception of big blue stem. Thismay suggest that historically A. xanthoptera fedon big blue stem, and the incursion of smoothbrome has altered diet selection. These resultssuggest response of native herbivores tointroduced grasses.

Roger Yerdon (40)ADVISOR = Tamara SmithUse of citrus extract to prevent Acarus siroinfestation in stored grains

Grain mites, Acarus siro, infest a wide variety ofstored grains and cause considerable damage.Mite populations can increase rapidly and spreadfrom the original site of infestation. The use ofcitrus extract as a natural deterrent has beeneffective on a wide variety of arthropods. Weexamined the effectiveness of citrus extract(Citrus aurantium) as a deterrent and calculatedthe minimum concentration of orange extractnecessary to deter grain mites. A 20 mmdiameter ring was dipped in one of three liquids(water, oil, or citrus extract). A mite was placedthe circle and all ensuing behaviors wereobserved for a period of 10 minutes. The mitesleft the circle in all water and oil trials, but inonly 30% of the extract trials (X2=12.63, p<0.01,df=2). Our data suggest that citrus extract couldprovide a low-cost and natural alternative for theprevention of mites infesting stored foods.

Chemistry

Courtney Johnson (41)ADVISOR = Frank KovacsThe Specific Activity of Ascorbate Peroxidase inSwitchgrass

Panicum virgatum, commonly known asswitchgrass, has recently gained the attention ofscientists and government officials as a potentialbiofuel crop. Because of this increased attention,there is some interest in better understanding thebiochemistry of this prairie-dwelling plant. Ourlab has obtained the gene for an enzyme,ascorbate peroxidase (APX), that is important inresponding to increased levels of hydrogenperoxide (H2O2). APX catalyzes the conversionor reduction of H2O2 to H2O using a smallmolecule electron donor called ascorbate, alsoknown as vitamin C. We have worked tocharacterize the activity of switchgrass APX(sgAPX) by measuring the rate of ascorbateoxidation for the wildtype enzyme and twomutant versions that have single amino acidsubstitutions. The wildtype has a level of activity(79.55 +/- 18.65 mmol ascorbate/mg protein)fairly similar to APX of other plants. However,both of our mutants show significantly alteredactivity.

13

Bradley Miller (42)ADVISOR = Christopher ExstromChemistry of Mo(diimine)(CO)4 Complexes andDiisocyanides: Evidence of Binuclear ComplexFormation and Effects on MLCTSolvatochromism

To date, no reported organometallic clathrate, or“molecular-grid”, sensor materials respondvisibly to changes in solution or vaporenvironment. As a first step toward preparing anextended solid-state material based a knownmetal-to-ligand-charge-transfer (MCLT)chromophore, 1,4- diisocyanobenzene (dib) wasreacted with Mo(dtbbpy)(CO)4 (dttbpy = 4,4’-di-tert-butyl-2,2’-bipyridine) in a 1:2 mole ratio toproduce the novel, binuclear complex[Mo(dtbbpy)(CO)3]2(dib). IR spectroscopyconfirms the the coordination of one isocyanidefunctional group and the displacement of oneCO ligand per Mo center. 1H and 13C NMRspectroscopy show evidence of bothmonocoordinating and bridging dib ligands inCDCl3 solution. The pure[Mo(dtbbpy)(CO)3]2(dib) complex could not beisolated, but it was observed that diisocyanidecoordination drastically reduced the degree ofMLCT solvatochromism - much like thatreported for Mo(diimine)(PR3)(CO)3complexes. This has led to a parallel study of theeffects of the p- acceptor and donor ligands onthe degree of MLCT solvatochromism in Mo(diimine)(L)(CO)3 complexes (L = PR3, RNC,halogen anion). These results will be discussed.

Kyle Myers (43)ADVISOR = Jonathan ThompsonCavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy Using a LEDSource

A new method for obtaining cavity ring-downspectroscopy measurements by using a LightEmitting Diode (LED) as the light source isexplained. A lime-green, pulsed LED wasdirected into a 32 cm long optical cavity, and thephotons of light escaping from this cavity weremeasured using a photon counter. Theinstrument was tested for function by injectinggases into the cavity that absorb light within theparticular wavelength of the LED that we used(iodine and ozone). The ring-down time constant(t) of the light was expectedly shorted whenmeasured with our instrument after the injectionof the gases. This new method using an LEDsource with cavity ring-down spectroscopy maylead to manufacturing of cheaper gas detectiondevices or atmospheric monitoring systems.

Computer Science & InformationSystems

Holly Esquivel (44)CO-PRESENTER = Harry NgondoADVISOR = John HastingsUtilizing Idle CPU Usage In an AutomatedFashion For RSA Number Factorization

Businesses and consumers continually rely onthe security of RSA cryptosystems. The RSAalgorithm, which was first introduced in the1970s, has since served as a primary means ofkey cryptography. As computers have increasedin speed and capabilities the bit length of RSAcryptosystems has increased to lengths of 512 to2048 bits. RSA numbers in the past haveremained fairly secure because of the difficultlyinvolved in factoring large numbers. In thisresearch, we present an automated decryptiontechnique implemented through screensavers,which finds the factors of large RSA numbers.We have implemented our screensaver programon thirty plus computers in a manner whichrestricts CPU usage while performing themathematical calculations in order to promotehardware longevity. Our factoring algorithm hasbeen successfully applied to RSA numbers up to200 bits. Within the next year, we plan to expandour research to numbers to 500-2048 bitnumbers.

Mark Vavra (45)COPRESENTERS = Jed Fong, Kyle WilliamsADVISOR = Sherri HarmsSumo-wrestling Robots

Robotics is an important computer science fielddue to its increasingly useful role in ourautomated world. The objectives of this projectwere to 1) understand the interplay between thephysical design of a robot and the mentalcapacity of the robot in solving a problem; 2)experiment with various physical designs aswell as mental, or algorithmic designs; and 3)compare the robotic designs by having themcompete against one another in a simulatedsumo wrestling tournament. During competition,the robot that was pushed out of the ring first lostthe round. The robots were built from LegoMindstorms NXT kits, and were programmedusing the Lego Mindstorms NXT software.Several creative physical and algorithmicsolutions were developed while trying to solvethis problem. In the end, the outcome of this

14

competition seemed to suggest that a strongalgorithm was more important than a welldesigned robot.

Criminal Justice

Miranda Gardels (46)ADVISOR = Julie CampbellJail Time: A Deterrent for Underage Drinking?

Drinking under the legal age is not uncommon inany way in America. It is especially prevalent incommunities that have colleges and universities.The University of Nebraska at Kearney is nodifferent. The Kearney area has seen thedevastating effects that alcohol can have, andmany would like to see the amount of underagedrinking dwindle. The current policy in thiscommunity for sentencing minors caught with anMIP (minor in possession of alcohol) is quiteunique. Kearney sends underage drinkers citedwith an MIP to jail for one weekend as asanction. This sanction may seem harsh but itsgoal is to curb the underage drinking problem inKearney. In this project, undergraduate studentsat UNK were surveyed regarding the KearneyMIP policy and its deterrent value.

Sonya Hansen (47)ADVISOR = Julie CampbellEffectiveness of the Sex Offender Registry: Is it auseful public safety tool?

The sex offender registry is a fairly new tool forthe criminal justice system. It is used to makepeople aware of dangerous sex offenders aroundthem. Sex offenders in every state are required toregister on a national registry, and how thatinformation is publicly distributed varies bystate. The sex offenders typically have to givetheir name, address and criminal offense. Thepurpose of this research project was to analyzethe effectiveness of the registry at notifyingmembers of the pubic about the presence of sexoffenders in the community. The rates at whichundergraduate students and parents of childrenunder the age of five accessed the database werecompared.

John Pick (48)ADVISOR = Julie CampbellAssessing Perceptions of Danger in the Field ofLaw Enforcement

Law enforcement is generally perceived to beone of the most dangerous professions in our

society as officers regularly put their lives on theline, risking injury or even death, to serve and toprotect our communities. The purpose of ourresearch was to discover peoples’ perceptions ofthe levels of dangerousness in the differentsituations that law enforcement officersencounter. Students from the University ofNebraska at Kearney and officers employed withthe Kearney Police department were surveyed.The methods of this research consisted of aconsensual survey made up of thirty-sixquestions, along with a ride-along with theofficers and an interview of those officers. Thisresearch can be used to educate both the generalpopulation and those in the law enforcementcommunity. By understanding the perceptions ofrisk to officers, it is possible to develop the toolsto address it through education and training.

Geography and Earth Science

Ryan Haack (49)CO-PRESENTERS = Kurt Langrud, JoeStansberryADVISOR = Paul BurgerRedistricting Nebraska Legislature Using GIS

Following the 2010 Census, the Nebraskaunicameral districts will be redrawn. Similar tothe 2000 redistricting, Nebraska’s forty-nine (49)legislative districts, drawn on the principle of‘one person one vote’, will need adjustment foran increase in overall population and thecontinued shift eastward. In addition to equalpopulation are the other legal mandates ofcompact districts that are contiguous in nature.Augmenting these legal parameters is theoverarching objecting in redistricting that ofpreserving communities of interest (COIs) -neighborhoods with shared economic or culturalcharacteristics. These include: school districts,counties, cities, natural resource districts (NRD),and economic trade areas. Balancing all of thesecriteria can be daunting. With the advent of GISsoftware and the personal computer, literallythousands of iterations can be performed in thetime it used to take to draw one plan manually.The objective of this study is to use spatialanalysis methods to determine centroids for thelegislative districts that meet the redistrictingcriteria. ArcInfo’s location allocation (LA) isutilized in conjunction with GeoLyticspopulation estimates at the block-group level for2011 along with the geographic boundaries forthe COIs to delineate Nebraska’s unicameraldistricts. It is hoped that the results from this

15

study will serve as a tool for policy makerscharged with carrying out the redistrictingprocess. Keyword: GIS, Nebraska unicameral,redistricting.

Michael Blakeley (50)ADVISOR = Steele BeckerPreparations and Procedures for Winter Stormsin Kearney, Nebraska

My paper focuses on the preparation andprocedures to deal with the two Ice Storms inDecember 2006, by various agencies within ornear the City of Kearney, Nebraska. As the IceStorms approached, how did the news agenciesinform the citizens about how to be prepared forthe storms. Then after the storm, how didKearney’s Mayor office and other citydepartments deal with the black outs throughoutto conserve electrical power as the lines feedingKaerney were being repaired. The Ice Stormsleft Kearney and some thirty counties withoutelectrical power. By taking an in-depth look atthe prepardness and procedures of Kearney andagencies as the storms approached. Then as theCity of Kearney dealt with clean-up of brokentrees and as NPPD dealt with restoring power toKearney and the surrounding counties.

Charlene Falmlen (51)ADVISOR = Steele BeckerA Comparative Analysis of Google Earth

Satellite imaging is a rapidly expanding area ofstudy and interest. Google Earth is a programthat allows the public to use satellite imaging forrecreational and informational purposes. Thereare, however, positive and negative aspects to theprogram and its use. This research project willpresent both the positive and negativecharacteristics of Google Earth. In order todevelop a comprehensive opinion, it is importantto understand both sides of the issue. Therefore,this analysis will provide the reader with a solidbasis for developing an opinion on Google Earthand its capabilities.

Nathan Garst (52)ADVISOR = Steele BeckerDamage Distribution of Winter Sotrms

Central Nebraska’s power utilities were crippledby two devastating ice storms in December 2006that left thousands without power and causedhundreds of millions of dollars in damage. Thisresearch will focus on the spatial distribution andanalysis of damage sustained by Nebraska Public

Power District, Southern Power District, DawsonPublic Power District and the correlation ofFederal Disaster Aid received by the powerutility companies. With the extent of damagecovering such a broad area, it will necessitate arebuilding process lasting months to bring theelectrical grid back to pre-storm operatingcapacity for each of separate Public PowerCompanies’ districts. Damage to the electricalgrid infrastructure included ice-laden lines,broken poles, toppled structures, and damagedelectrical equipment.

Jamie Knuth (53)ADVISOR = Steele BeckerNebraska Public Power Infrastructure DamageAssessment of the December, 2006 Ice Storm

This research project will document the publicpower infrastructure of Nebraska that wassubstantially affected by the December, 2006 icestorm. The project will depict an overview of theelectrical grid system that is governed by theregional public power district operators. Stormimpact data will be summarized for individualcounties to emphasize on electrical transportationstructure damage. Maps will be used to show thegeographical area of impact and photographs willshow specific storm damage. Finally, I willattempt to asses the systematic breakdown of thepower grid system of Nebraska’s stormdamage area.

Daniel McIntosh (54)ADVISOR = Steele BeckerDistribution of Labor Caused by Ice Storm

In January of 2007 the area of Kearney, Nebraskaand surrounding communities were hit by acouple of major ice storms. These ice storms hitNebraska at two different times within twoweeks. Not only did the devastation of the iceaffect the land it also affected the people. Thisresearch will demonstrate not only why laborwas being disbursed to the Kearney area butwhere this distribution of labor was comingfrom. Also, research will show that anabundance of materials were shipped in. Theresearch will then touch base with thedistribution of these materials as well as thepeople transporting them. This paper shouldbring a better understanding of the distributionof labor that occurred during this period of timeand demonstrate just how effected peoplebecame as a result of such a devastating storm.

16

Amber Reynolds (55)ADVISOR = Steele BeckerAn Analysis of the December 29th-31st 2006Nebraska Winter Storm

On December 29th 2006, a significant winterstorm system began to track slowly to thenortheast across the central plains, originating inthe southwest United States. This low pressuresystem brought rain, freezing rain, sleet andsnow to Nebraska, which led, in particular, toconsiderable ice accumulations. As the waves ofprecipitation continued through December 31st,they were frozen layer upon layer. The heavy icethen caused widespread damage in central andsouth-central Nebraska. Many trees and powerpoles snapped from the weight of the ice, causinglines to be down and extensive power outages.This paper will analyze the history of the winterstorm that affected several Nebraska counties, aswell as storm-related damage.

Anthony Reznicek (56)ADVISOR = Steele BeckerWinter Storm: Different Reactions for DifferentAreas

On December 29th 2006 a large winter stormimpacted a large area of the country, withNebraska, Colorado, and Kansas most affectedby this storm. Central Nebraska receivedenormous amounts of ice causing power grids togo down and hindering transportation. Certainareas of Colorado had three feet of snow whichpiled up to 15 foot snow drifts in some areas.Kansas had many people stranded in variousplaces without power. The National Guard waseven called to help rescue people from areas inKansas that had so much snow, traditional rescueservices couldn’t reach them. My researchproject examines how different areas wereaffected by the storm and how areas reacteddifferently to get things back to normal.

Amos Roberts (57)ADVISOR = Steele BeckerA Comparison of Storms and Federal Response

In the last 60 years Nebraska has been struck bytwo notable winter storms the blizzards of 1948-49 and the ice storms of 2006-07. Though thearea affected was almost the same what differedbetween them, was the preparedness ofresidents, and the response of the government inthe form of Federal Aid. This project willhighlight the changes, both climatically andsocially, which contributed to the differences in

the ways both storms affected the state. Amongthese factors climatically was the warmerwinters that have been normal for the last fewyears whereas the winter of 1948 had been mildcompared to previous winters. The othercontributing factor in the most recent storm wasthe state’s reliance on electricity the loss ofwhich dealt a major blow to residents.

Steve Sherwood (58)ADVISOR = Steele BeckerChristmas/New Years Eve 2006 Ice Storm -Effects on Aviation Transportation in the GreatPlains (Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota,Kansas, Iowa, Missouri)

Due to the ice storms in late December 2006,catastrophic damage resulted in the nationalaviation infrastructure. As a result, aviationtransportation was at a stand-still in the GreatPlains region during the holiday season. Manyairports, including Eppley Airfield out of Omahaand the Kearney Municipal Airport, had to beshut down for considerable lengths due to theseice storms. Winter storms affected peripheralareas such as Denver International and KansasCity International by dumping countless inchesof snow along with intense wind gusts, whichexperienced even more delays. Bad winterweather, loss of navigational aids, and thetemporary halt of most activity in the airportenvironment lead to problems with passengerswho were stranded. Eventually, airports foundways to get passengers moving, and resumecommerce. My paper focuses on theseproblems, and explains what the affects thesewinter storms had on the aviation sector.

Physics and Physical Science

Adam Sevenker (59)ADVISOR = Trecia MarkesChanges in Student Models of Force and Motionin Activity-Based Physics

With a three-year FIPSE grant, it has beenpossible at the University of Nebraska atKearney (UNK) to develop and implementactivity-based introductory physics at thealgebra level. Many misconceptions aboutmotion and force persist after instruction. Pretestand posttest respoinses on the “Force andMotion Conceptual Evaluation” (FMCE) areanalyzed to determine the models that studentsuse. Responses are divided into expert model(correct answer), student model (common

17

incorrect answer), and null model (all otheranwers) categories. Students are categorized asbeing in an expert state (mostly expert modelanswers), a mixed state (mostly expert andstudent model answers), a student state (mostlystudent model answers), or a null state (mostlynull model answers). The change of state isidentified for each student in seven categories ofquestions. The changes are analyzed to determinethe effectiveness of activity-based instruction.*This work was supported by the US DOE’sFIPSE Grant No. P116B51449.

PROFESSIONAL/APPLIEDSCIENCES

Business & TechnologyFamily Studies and Interior Design

Avani Amin (60)ADVISOR = Tami MooreHomeschooling in Nebraska

Homeschooling is not a new concept in the stateof Nebraska. It will be defined historically andin its current context. Statistics onhomeschooling, locally and nationally, arepresented and analyzed. An exploration of theprocess is also provided for furtherunderstanding and discussion.

Alison Copple (61)ADVISOR = Janice KimmonsThe Accommodating Home: Accessible Designfor Aging in Place

The purpose of this project was to create aninclusive resource for homeowners that providesinformation on accessible housing and aging inplace, how accessible design can have a positiveimpact on any homeowner, and what stepshomeowners can take to create an accessiblehome. After preliminary research and informalconversations with homeowners it was surmisedthat there is a lack of education about how homedesign can negatively or positively affect ahomeowner’s living experience. Manyresources that are available concerning accessibledesign and aging in place are directed towards

designers and contractors. Other resourcesaddress specific issues and do not cover thebroad topic of aging in place in relation to thehome environment. Points on the mostimportant topics were compiled. Additionalresources were also provided for furtherinformation.

EducationHPERLS

Megan Costello (62)ADVISOR = Kate HeelanChanges in the Prevalence of at risk ofoverweight or overweight in children

The prevalence of children at risk of overweightor overweight (OWT) has increased in theUnited States from 29.8% in 1999-2000 to37.2% in 2003-2004 (Ogden 2006). The purposeof this study was to evaluate the changes inprevalence of OWT 4th and 5th grade childrenfrom 1994 to 2006 in Kearney, Nebraska. In1994, 2001 and 2006 4th and 5th grade studentswere measured for height and weight and bodymass index (BMI) was calculated. Prevalence ofOWT was defined as a BMI above the 85th

percentile using the BMI percentiles for age andgender from the Center of Disease Controlgrowth charts. BMI (kg•m2) PrevalenceYear N (mean ± STD) of OWT (%)1994 362 18.63 ± 3.62 252001 339 18.92 ± 3.52 282006 117 19.25 ± 3.79 33In past 12 years, the prevalence of OWT amongchildren in Kearney, NE has increased 24%. Ifthe trend continues as a 2% increase each year,50% of children will be OWT by 2020.

Andy Craig (63)ADVISOR = Kate HeelanAccelerometer Compliance in School AgeChildren

Developing accurate and reliable ways toquantify physical activity (PA) in childrencontinues to be a research priority (NIH, 1996).Accelerometry provides obejective measures ofdaily PA in children with real-time storagecapability. However the technology is noteffective if the child doesn’t wear the monitor.The purpose was to determine if youngerchildren (1st and 2nd grade) are more compliant

18

in wearing an accelerometer in comparison witholder children (4th and 5th grade). Two hundredsix children (91 younger, 115 older) were givenan MTI Actigraph Accelerometer to wear forfour consecutive days. Participants wereadvised to wear the monitor at all times, exceptfor sleeping or showering. Compliance wasevaluated for each day the monitor was wornusing procedures established in a previous study(Welk et al. 2007). If more than three periods of20 consecutive minutes of zeros were detectedduring the day (07:30-20:00), data from that daywas considered “missing”. Participants withmore than two days of missing data wereconsidered to be noncompliant. Compliance willbe compared between the two groups.

Allison Swendener (64)ADVISOR = Kate HeelanEnergy Intake, Calcium Intake and GlycemicLoad in 9-11 yr Old Children

Obesity continues to increase in the United Statesas eating behaviors progressively decline andchildren enter adolescence. The purpose of thisinvestigation was to examine daily energy intake,calcium intake and glycemic load in 9-11 yr oldchildren. 69 children completed the Youth/Adolescent Food Frequency Questionnaire. Theaverage energy intake was 1896.1 ± 548.4kcals/day with 52% from carbohydrate, 32%from total fat, and 17% from protein. A strongpositive association was found between energyintake and glycemic load (r= 0.946). Thirty eightpercent of participants met the RDA for calciumintake of 1300 mg/day (1637.0  285.7mg/day), while 62% did not (937.6  235.3 mg/day). Participants who met the recommendedcalcium intake consumed significantly moremilk. In addition, participants with higher energyintake had significantly higher glycemic load.Educating children about food choices isessential.

GRADUATE STUDIES

Biology

Rachel Anschutz (65)ADVISOR = Wyatt HobackAre Carrion Beetles (Coleoptera), SpecificallyThe American Burying Beetle (Nicrophorusamericanus), Affected By Lights?

The endangered American burying beetle (ABB),Nicrophorus americanus, is a nocturnal insectthat may be negatively affected by lights. A labexperiment with 27 ABB was conducted todetermine which light types were more attractiveto ABB. Eight ABB were attracted to mercuryvapor lights and 7 were attracted to UV lightswhich was significantly higher than otherchoices (chi-square=13.18, df=6, c.v.=12.59,p<0.05). Also, three study sites were establishedto test the effects of three types of lighting oncarrion beetles. Beetle choices were light alonetraps, light with carrion traps, and carrion onlytraps. A total of 112 nocturnal beetles including32 ABB were trapped over 24 nights. ABB weremore attracted to lights than other Silphidaeexamined suggesting that light pollution hasplayed a role in their decline. Within ABB range,choice of lighting should be carefullyconsidered, and conservation measuresincluding light shields should be implemented.

Jessica Jurzenski (66)ADVISOR = Wyatt HobackInsects Reveal Saltcedar has Little Effect onBiodiversitySaltcedar (Tamarix spp.), an invasive tree, hasbecome abundant on Nebraska waterways andprevious research suggests that ants may beeffective bioindicators of ecosystem change.Ants were collected from bait cards withinresearch plots at Harlan County reservoir. Forty-six research plots were sampled, of which 21had no saltcedar, 14 had low density saltcedarand 11 had high density saltcedar. We identified6,854 ants representing 11 genera. Total generarichness was highest in plots without saltcedar(11 genera). The low density plots and high

19

density plots had 10 and 8 ant genera,respectively. Statistical comparisons ofdiversity, richness and abundance showed nosignificant differences between genera for thethree conditions. The high density plots had ahigher percent composition for an opportunisticgenus. However, there were three genera thathad nearly 100% occurrence in plots withoutsaltcedar. This information will help monitorthe effects of saltcedar infestations oninvertebrates.

Anjeza Pashaj (67)ADVISOR = Kimberly CarlsonChanges in Glutathione-S-transferase GeneExpression in Large Caged Populations ofDrosphila melanogaster

Drosophila melanogaster is a model organism forstudying the genetics of aging, in which theresults are directly applicable to humans. Oneaging theory is the association with an increasein oxidative stress and free radical production.To circumvent this process, detoxificationenzymes are employed. A family ofdetoxification enzymes, glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), is found in all organisms,with orthologs in humans and D. melanogaster.The hypothesis for this study is that aging is theresult of a decrease in the transcription andtranslation of the GST genes over time. To testthis hypothesis, large caged populations (15,000)of D. melanogaster were sampled over a periodof 89 days and survivorship curves analyzed.Females were collected to determine changes inlevels of GST mRNA by quantitative reversetranscription-polymerase chain reaction. Thisproject will provide insight into the mechanisticregulation of aging as a result of GSTexpression.

Business Managment

Joshua Tolin (68)ADVISOR = Susan JensenThe Evils of Email: How this CommunicationTool Causes Conflict

Email as we know it today was first created in1971 by Ray Tomlinson. He did not think it wasa big deal, and in fact told his colleague not totell anyone that he had spent work time on it.Tomlinson’s playtime on that day has foreverchanged the way people communicate, both athome and at work. Email has greatly altered the

way one thinks, mingles, and works with thosearound us. A 2005 Stanford study shows that 44percent of users’ time online is spent oncommunication via email. This study investigatesemail as a tool for communication and how itscharacteristics are a cause for concern inamplifying interpersonal conflict. Moreover, thisresearch offers usage recommendations that willallow users to get the most out of email whiledecreasing its possible negative effects oncommunication.

Communication Disorders

Crystal Hinrichs (69)COPRESENTER = Laura BradshawADVISOR = Miechelle McKelveySocial Communication Interaction Patterns inPeople with Aphasia

The purpose of this research study was toidentify and compare changes in the social,interactional, and participatory domains of thecommunication environments of people withaphasia and their communication partners. Datawas collected through surveys and follow-upinterviews with five persons with aphasia andtheir spouses. Data reflects the person withaphasia’s degree of communication in specificsocial environments, their spouse’s perception ofthe person with aphasia’s communicationabilities, and their social responsibilities bothbefore and after acquiring aphasia.

Counseling & School Psychology

Michael Bishop (70)COPRESENTERS = Adriana Bustamante,April Follmer, Catherine Hock, Linda ShawADVISOR = David HofWhat do I do with this Information, Advcocacy InAction

At the workshop “What Do I Do With thisInformation? Advocacy in Action,” theparticipants will learn about social justiceorientation, advocacy, and the ACA SocialAdvocacy Intervention Categories andAssociated Competencies. Based on this newknowledge, attendees will build an advocacyplan for one of the issues discussed during theconference or for a need within their servicecommunities. The advocacy plan will identifyobjectives related to the selected issue. For eachobjective, the advocates will outline intervention

20

categories and competencies. Then, they willdevelop activities designed to achieve the desiredoutcome and identify the people responsible forcarrying out the activities. Finally, they willrecognize available resources, colleagues, andorganizations with whom they can collaborate.

Education

Barbara Mohrman (71)ADVISOR = Joan LewisCatch Me If (While) You Can - Strategies toIntervene in Student Failure

This research project is a study of therelationship between prevention andintervention strategies implemented and thenumber of student failures in the 8th grade at arural Nebraska Middle School. The projecthighlights both prevention and interventionstrategies. It provides quantitative data withstudent failure rates for a three year period.Three classes are followed through their 6th - 8thgrade years. The first class is a baseline yearwith no interventions, the second class with oneyear of interventions and the third class with twoyears of interventions in place. Qualitative datais included with student comments about theintervention strategies.

HPERLS

Pamela Janulewicz (72)ADVISOR = Kate HeelanHow active are children in PE classes?

Physical education (PE) classes are the ideal wayto reach a large number of children in efforts toincrease daily physical activity as 97% ofelementary school students take PE (Ross et. al.,1985). However, it has been suggested thatchildren only receive approximately 3 minutes ofvigorous exercise during a select PE class(Simons-Morton et. al., 1993). The purpose ofthis study was to determine how much time 4thgrade students are actually spending in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during a30 minute PE class. Fourth grade students from3 elementary schools wore an MTI Actigraphaccelerometer for 4 consecutive days. Activitycounts were collected every 15 seconds anduploaded to a statistical analysis program (SAS)for processing. Time spent in MVPA will beevaluated during PE time using activitythresholds established by Trost et. al (2001).

Time spent in MVPA will be averaged for allparticipants and compared between schools.

21

22

Oral Presentations – Room 310

1:30-1:45 Melissa JakubADVISOR = Elizabeth PeckA Modern Greek Tragedy: Eugene O’Neill’s Use of GreekElements in The Hairy Ape

1:45-2:00 Sarah JonesADVISOR = Michelle LangIconography of Women in Art Nouveau as seen in the workof Rupert Carabin

2:00-2:15 Jan Treffer ThompsonADVISOR = Charles PeekAn Empty Vessel: Eden Bower in ‘Coming, Aphrodite!’

2:15-2:30 Hikari MaekawaADVISOR = Valerie CislerThe Evolution of the Piano Trio: Effective StylisticInterpretation through Comparative Analysis of Mozart,Beethoven, Debussy, and Shostakovich

2:30-2:45 Kyle PetersenADVISOR = Ruth BrownSugar, Mud and Substance: Analyzing PoliticalAdvertisements Aired for Federal RAces During the 2006General Election in Nebraska

2:45-3:00 Joshua TolinADVISOR = Greg BroekemierPerceptions of Traditional vs. Web-based Classes fromStudents and Faculty with No Web-based Class Experience

3:00-3:15 Christopher SilvaADVISOR = Gerry StirtzAlternative Spring Breaks

23

Oral Presentations - Room 312

1:30-1:45 Grant SorensenADVISOR = David SmithEffects Of Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs On Mixed GrassPrairies In Central Nebraska

1:45-2:00 Megan JonesADVISOR = James GilbertMotivations for Drinking: A Self-Report of Members ofAlcoholics Anonymous

2:00-2:15 Shannon ThompsonADVISOR = Theresa WadkinsAcademic Dishonesty Among College Students

2:15-2:30 Brindi UtemarkADVISOR = Richard MillerUrban and Rural Helpfulness: Willingness to Help OthersBased on Familiarity and Attachment

2:30-2:45 Beth RobertsonADVISOR = Nyla KhanNavigating Identity: Postcolonial and TransnationalRelationships in Divakaruni’s Mistress of Spices

2:45-3:00 Michael GruszczynskiADVISOR = Joan BlauwkampThe Effects of Approval Ratings on Presidential MediaCoverage

3:00-3:15 Jerod PetersenADVISOR = Maha YounesThe Changing Landscape of Rural America

24

ORAL PRESENTATIONS

BEHAVIORAL&

SOCIAL SCIENCE

Criminal Justice

Megan Jones (73)ADVISOR = James GilbertMotivations for Drinking: A Self-Report ofMembers of Alcoholics Anonymous

The purpose of this study was to generate insightregarding motivations that cause people to drinkto the point of alcoholism. A survey wasdeveloped consisting of reasons for drinking,including social events, suppression,disinhibition factors and whether or not othermembers of the family drank. It washypothesized that the most common motives fordrinking would include such reasons as toescape the stress and problems of daily life andto feel more comfortable in social situations.Twenty participants, all members of AlcoholicsAnonymous (AA) completed this survey. Theresults demonstrated that although mostparticipants had family members that drank,they did not feel that that was the reason theybegan drinking themselves. Accordingly, thecurrent study promotes the belief that having afamily history of alcohol may influence anindividual to begin using alcohol, but it is not theonly, nor possibly the most significant,contributing factor.

Political Science

Michael Gruszczynski (74)ADVISOR = Joan BlauwkampThe Effects of Approval Ratings on PresidentialMedia Coverage

There is a large body of political research dealingwith the media’s use of polls in reporting thenews. Much of this research has examined howthe media affect the polls, but few studies haveexamined the reverse; the effect polls have on themedia. This research was carried out in order to

find whether changes in the president’s approvalrating affected the tone of his media coverage.The research design was inspired partly by theresearch of Thomas Patterson, who studied theeffects of candidates’ standings in the polls onthe tone of media coverage the candidatereceives. This research revealed a weakrelationship between presidential approvalratings and the tone of media coverage; however,the lack of a statistically-significant relationshipbetween the two raises considerable questionsabout the so-called “permanent campaign.”

Psychology

Shannon Thompson (75)ADVISOR = Theresa WadkinsAcademic Dishonesty Among College Students

The present study investigated the effects ofacademic motivation, academic integrity,attitude toward cheating, and self-efficacy oncheating behaviors of college students.Participants completed a puzzle- solving task, inwhich some of the puzzles were not solvableunless a participant cheated. In order to create asituation in which cheating could be to theparticipants’ advantage, three different levels ofmotivation were used. One group was offered a20 dollar reward for the highest score, thesecond group’s scores were made public, and thethird group was told that only the experimenterwould know their scores. There was not asignificant difference in the cheating behaviors ofthe three groups. A significant negativecorrelation was found between participants’ self-reports of cheating behaviors and how dishonestthey rated those behaviors. Participants whocheated on the puzzle task had significantlyhigher self-efficacy scores than those who didnot cheat. Implications for these findings arediscussed.

Brindi Utemark (76)ADVISOR = Richard MillerUrban and Rural Helpfulness: Willingness toHelp Others Based on Familiarity andAttachment

Differences between urban and rural helpfulnessto different types of requestors were examined.High-school students responded to one of ninehelping scenarios and completed an attachmentscale. Individuals from rural areas were morelikely to help than were urban residents. Thosewith certain attachment types were less willing to

25

help others. Gender and relationship to therequestor also affected helping.

Social WorkJerod Petersen (77)ADVISOR = Maha YounesThe Changing Landscape of Rural America

The intent of this qualitative case study is toexplore how immigration impacts the businessand human service landscape of one Midwesternrural community. Business leaders inhealthcare, social services, education, criminaljustice, commerce, and more were interviewed.The outcome reveals the perspective, adaptationprocess, and concerns of businesses as theyexperience growing pains, and embrace newroles and practices.

FINE ARTS&

HUMANITIES

Art & Art History

Sarah Jones (78)ADVISOR = Michelle LangIconography of Women in Art Nouveau as seenin the work of Rupert Carabin

In the last decades of the nineteenth century, theEuropean art community created a new style ofart which came to be called Art Nouveau or the“new art”. One artist who worked in thisinnovative organic style was Rupert Carabin, aParisian furniture maker and sculptor. Hissculpture and furniture can be visuallyinterpreted as commentary on the male reactionto modern women and their increasinglyassertive role in this newly formed world.Carabin was an important figure in fin-de-siecledecorative arts about whom little study has beendone. Visually, Art Nouveau artists, includingCarabin, found inspiration in nature. Mostexamples of Art Nouveau decorative art objectsuse a very specific visual language whichincludes flowing arabesques and whiplash curvesinvoking the delicacy of plant vines or the wildflowing hair of a sensuous woman.

Communications

Kyle Petersen (79)ADVISOR = Ruth BrownSugar, Mud and Substance: Analyzing PoliticalAdvertisements Aired for Federal RAces Duringthe 2006 General Election in Nebraska

Television advertising plays a dominant role indetermining the outcomes of elections.However, most analysis of campaign ads isrelegated to studying positive versus negativeapproaches and their effects on voter turnout.Generally, political advertising research does notinclude analysis of production techniques orspecific emotional and rational advertisingappeals, which are critical components ofcommercial advertising. This research paperanalyzes the content of television advertisementsaired for federal races in Nebraska during the2006 General Election. Advertisements arecoded based on their issue content, focus,setting, cinematography and other aspects tocover all facets of advertising methods utilizedin the political ads.

English

Jan Treffer Thompson (80)ADVISOR = Charles PeekAn Empty Vessel: Eden Bower in ‘Coming,Aphrodite!’

This paper focuses on Eden Bower in “Coming,Aphrodite!” as a victim of the forces Catherconsiders hostile to artists—small-townmaterialism and traditional gender roles—and asa pseudo-artist who develops only her physicalattributes. In contrast, Don Hedger rejected suchrestrictions and maintains a vision of art as anend in itself, reflecting Cather’s views. LindaPannill explains that in Youth and the BrightMedusa even women who are true artists areforced to become pretty vessels, which is whyCather makes them performers rather than visualartists. Eden’s exchanges with Hedger areopportunities for her to reveal and develop anartistic sensibility. He desires to share hisartistic vision with her, yet she fails tounderstand and prefers the faux-artistry ofmaterially successful Burton Ives.

26

Beth Robertson (81)ADVISOR = Nyla KhanNavigating Identity: Postcolonial andTransnational Relationships in Divakaruni’sMistress of Spices

In Mistress of Spices, Chitra Banerjee Divakarunitells the transnational tale of a woman born inKashmir who now lives in Oakland, California.The main character, Tilo, is forced to negotiateher South Asian identity in this Western settingwhile she is charged with the task of helpingother South Asian immigrants do the same.Through postcolonial and psychoanalyticreadings I will argue that Tilo’s task not onlyinvolves South Asian, Western, and diasporicidentities, but that her task is further complicatedby her own lack of identity. Divakaruni’s Tilooccupies a space between the self and not-selfthrough much of the novel. During her claimingof the self she becomes romantically drawn to aman she assumes is a white American—in fact heis Native American—and struggles with thenotion of the pure identity advocated by hermentor. Tilo’s cross-cultural relationship withthis Native American Indian leads her to analyzeher own “Indianness.” In this paper I willdiscuss Divakaruni’s use of this relationship toexplore the relationship between the NativeAmerican Indians—mistaken by early Europeanexplorers for Indians of the Spice Islands—andSouth Asian Indians. Both communities stillstruggle with the profound effects of colonialismregardless of individual location.

Melissa Jakub(82)ADVISOR = Elizabeth PeckA Modern Greek Tragedy: Eugene O’Neill’s Useof Greek Elements in The Hairy Ape

Contrary to Arthur Miller’s contention thatmodern writers failed to recognize the tragicpotential of the common man (The Tragedy ofthe Common Man [1948]), Eugene O’Neill’sdrama, The Hairy Ape, published twenty-sixyears earlier is a pioneering contribution tomodern Greek drama that clearly embodies theprimary characteristics of Greek tragedy. Notonly does O’Neill draw his tragic protagonist,Yank, from the depths of the common workingclass society, but he also artfully subscribes thetext of The Hairy Ape to the blueprint for tragedydescribed in Aristotle’s Poetics. By providing adetailed analysis of O’Neill’s incorporation ofGreek dramatic elements - including tragic plotdevelopment, reliance on the prescribedcharacteristics for tragic protagonists, the use of

the tragic chorus and the deus ex machineending - my study proves that in The Hairy ApeO’Neill masterfully applied and revised Greekdramatic strategies, reshaping them to makethem suitable for modern audiences. Similaritiesbetween O’Neill’s engine room stokers and theGreek tragic chorus, as well as Yank’s suddendeath with the deus ex machina ending, revealthat a complex and complete tragic world existswithin The Hairy Ape. O’Neill’s use of not one,but four distinct choral groups that commentupon the dramatic action while adhering to theGreek practices of song and dance, convincinglyillustrates O’Neill’s familiarity with traditionalelements of Greek drama. In addition, O’Neill’sliberal adherence to the traditional plot structureof developing a tragic hero offers contemporaryinsight to the struggling protagonist. Ultimately,my study demonstrates that O’Neill’s occasionalalterations of various Greek tragic elements fitwithin the parameters of Greek drama and arejustified as successful attempts to mold amodern tragic hero.

Music & Performing Arts

Hikari Maekawa (83)ADVISOR = Valerie CislerThe Evolution of the Piano Trio: EffectiveStylistic Interpretation through ComparativeAnalysis of Mozart, Beethoven, Debussy, andShostakovich

This study is designed to provide a comparativeanalysis of four contrasting works for piano trio(piano, violin, and cello) that will serve toenhance an understanding of the stylecharacteristics that affect performanceinterpretation. The works studied and performedare Piano Trio in C Major, K. 548, by W. A.Mozart; Piano Trio in C Minor, Op. 1, No. 3, byLudwig van Beethoven; Piano Trio in G Major,by Claude Debussy; and Piano Trio in E Minor,Op. 67, by Dmitri Shostakovich. Each work isexamined through Contextual Analysis(including musical, social, historical, andcultural influences), Theoretical Analysis(including fundamental musical elements andcompositional techniques related to form andstructure), and Style Analysis (including range,pedal, harmonic color, expressive indications,and idiomatic use of the instruments) and theirimplications on effective performanceinterpretation. The study concludes with sampleperformance clips that highlight the stylisticdifferences between the works.

27

NATURAL &

PHYSICAL SCIENCES

Biology

Grant Sorensen (84)ADVISOR = David SmithEffects Of Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs On MixedGrass Prairies In Central Nebraska

Given the coevolutionary past between grassesand grazers, it was hypothesized that black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus)increase the species richness and the net above-ground primary productivity of plants (NPP) atmixed grass prairie sites. Ten temporaryexclosures were established at each of 3 prairiedog colonies in south central Nebraska. Thetemporary exclosures aided in the measurementof NPP, utilization rates, species compositionand abundance, and the coefficient ofconservatism. There was no significantdifference in total utilization (mean=28%).There was a significant difference in NPP amongsites (P=0.013) and among the three treatments(P=0.009). In addition there was a significantdifference in NPP between the control(mean=0.48 g m-2 d-1) and the temporaryprotected treatments (mean=1.19 g m-2 d-1,P=0.009). Plant species richness was higherwithin colonies (81 species total) than in thethree control areas (57 species total). The datademonstrates that prairie dogs can increase NPPand species richness.

PROFESSIONAL/APPLIEDSCIENCES

Marketing

Joshua Tolin (85)ADVISOR = Greg BroekemierPerceptions of Traditional vs. Web-based Classesfrom Students and Faculty with No Web-basedClass Experience

As the reach of technology expands and interestin asynchronous web-based classes increases, itis important to understand what students andfaculty believe about such classes. Students andfaculty from a variety of academic disciplineswere surveyed at a medium-sized Midwesternuniversity regarding their perceptions of web-based and traditional classes. The results of thisstudy show the similarities and differencesbetween students who have never taken a web-based class and faculty members who have yet toteach a web-based class. By understandingpreconceived notions about web-based classesfrom both groups, institutions offering suchcourses can be better equipped to foster realisticexpectations and communicate information thataddresses the concerns that such students andfaculty may have. In doing so, these institutionscan benefit from both increased studentsatisfaction in these courses and greaterwillingness of faculty members to teach web-based classes.

Teacher Education

Christopher Silva (86)ADVISOR = Gerry StirtzAlternative Spring Breaks

With the participation of 30+ students, theAlternative Spring Breaks program provideshands-on opportunities for students to servecommunities accross the United States ofAmerica during UNK’s spring break. Theseopportunities try to develop students’ sense ofcitizenship, service- learning and social justice.During 2007, UNK sponsored 3 trips to thefollowing locations: New Orleans, Denver andSouth Dakota. The presentation will detail theplanning, participation and outcomes felt by thestudents.

28

Amin, Avani (17)Anschutz, Rachel (18)Babutzke, Jamie (5)Baillie, Amanda (4)Bishop, Michael (19)Blakeley, Michael (15)Bodenhamer, Kathryn (4)Bradshaw, Laura (19)Brady, Sara (6)Bruns, Jennifer (6)Bustamante, Adriana (19)Colling, Heather (6)Copple, Alison (17)Costello, Megan (17)Craig, Andy (17)Dendinger, Mason (8)Derr, Jenna (8)Esquivel, Holly (13)Falmlen, Charlene (15)Feurer, Cade (4)Florell, Katrina (3)Follmer, April (19)Fong, Jed (13)Gardels, Miranda (14)Garst, Nathan (15)Gilling, Christine (8)Gould, Jason (4)Griffith, Scott (8)Gruszczynski, Michael (23, 24)Haack, Ryan (14)Hamik, Jeffrey (9)Hansen, Sonya (14)Hastings, Caleb (3)Hervert, Kevin (4)Hinrichs, Crystal (19)Hinz, Lindsay (7)Hoblyn, Katie (9)Hock, Catherine (19)Jakub, Melissa (22, 26)Janulewicz, Pamela(20)Johnson, Courtney (12)Johnson, Jennifer (9)Jones, Megan (23, 24)Jones, Sarah (22, 25)Jurzenski, Jessica (18)Killip, Elizabeth (7)Knuth, Jamie (15)Knutson, Jacob (6)Kruger, Hillary (4)Kusunoki, Kanako (4)Lamb, Jamie (6)Langrud, Kurt (14)Luebs, Ahna (9)Macwan, Happy (4)

Student Participation IndexMaekawa, Hikari (4, 22, 26)Martin, Elissa (3)McFeely, Shane (6)McIntosh, Daniel (15)Meyer, Jonathan (10)Miller, Bradley (13)Mohrman, Barbara (20)Myers, Kyle (13)Ngondo, Harry (13)Olds, Brett (10)Pashaj, Anjeza (19)Petersen, Jerod (23, 25)Petersen, Kyle (22, 25)Pick, John (14)Province, Megan (6)Rauert, Matthew (4)Reynolds, Amber (16)Reznicek, Anthony (16)Rickert, Kristy (10)Rieckman, Matthew (4)Roberts, Amos (16)Robertson, Beth (23, 26)Sass, Brian (10)Schaneman, Katie (11)Schluntz, Lindsay (4)Sevenker, Adam (16)Shaw, Linda (19)Sherwood, Steve (16)Sherwood, Tiffany (6)Silva, Christopher (22, 27)Simonsen, Stacy (7)Sitzman, Rachel (3)Smith, Racheal (5)Sole, Joshua (5)Sorensen, Grant (23, 27)Stansberry, Joe (14)Stastny, Bradley (6)Stubbs, Dana (11)Swendener, Allison (18)Thompson, Jan Treffer (22, 25)Thompson, Shannon (7, 23, 24)Tolin, Joshua (19, 22, 27)Torres, Manuel (11)Tracy, Heather (11)Utemark, Brindi (7, 23, 24)Vavra, Mark (13)Welborn, Benjamin (12)Westesen, Sarah (5)Whipple, Sean (12)Williams, Kyle (13)Yamamoto, Mihoko (4)Yerdon, Roger (12)Youngs, Drew (4)

29