Digital Commons Network^™

Impact Of Wet Vs. Dry Hair And Varying Hair Changes On Surface Dose And Setup Consistency In Whole Brain Radiation Therapy, Dyanira Salinas

Masters Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to quantify how varying hair conditions—dry hair versus wet hair, complete hair loss, and the use of hair extensions—influence surface dose during WBRT. The study evaluated mask fit differences between the varying hair parameters and the potential implications for immobilization accuracy.

Methods: Four CT scans were acquired with a water phantom and varying hair parameters. A whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) plan was created on a dry wig human hair scan using 6MV photos. Thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) were used to measure surface dose for each hair condition. Gap between the water phantom and …

Advancing Bioinformatics With Language Models: Components, Applications, And Perspectives, Jiajia Liu, Mengyuan Yang, Yankai Yu, Haixia Xu, Tiangang Wang, Kang Li, Xiaobo Zhou

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Large language models (LLMs) are deep learning-based artificial intelligence models that have achieved remarkable success in natural language processing. Typically composed of neural networks with billions of parameters, they are trained on massive unlabeled datasets using self-supervised or semi-supervised learning. Beyond language, LLMs hold immense potential for addressing complex bioinformatics challenges. This review provides a comprehensive overview of transformer-based model applications in genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, drug discovery, and single-cell analysis. We discuss critical components, including tokenization strategies for diverse biological data, transformer architectures, attention mechanisms, and pretraining approaches. We also survey currently available foundation models and their downstream applications across …

“I Never Really Thought That Would Be Something To Talk About With My Doctor”: Developing A Theory-Led Decision Aid For College Students’ Substance Use Disclosure In Healthcare, Hayley Stahl

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

College students who use drugs face compounding barriers to disclosing substance use to healthcare providers, including uncertainty about health consequences and stigma-driven identity concerns. Existing disclosure tools address neither barrier in an integrated fashion. This explanatory sequential mixed-methods study examined how constructs from the Theory of Motivated Information Management (TMIM; Afifi & Weiner, 2004) and Stigma Management Communication (SMC; Meisenbach, 2010) theory suggest factors influencing substance use disclosure among college students and shape their lived disclosure experiences. In Study 1, simultaneous-entry multiple regression analyses revealed that communication efficacy was associated with information seeking, perceived benefits of disclosure were linked to …

The Role Of Cross-Cultural Connections In Leadership Identity Development: From Entry To Embodiment, Jennifer Okoliko

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

Leadership identity development has received considerable attention in the literature, but most of what we know comes from studies focused on students in formal leadership programs or on the mentee’s side of mentoring relationships. Less understood is the mentor's leadership identity development journey and the role of culture in that process.

This study explores how mentors from low power distance cultural backgrounds who engaged with mentees from high power distance cultural backgrounds interpreted the impact of those experiences on their leadership identity development.

Using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), I conducted two semi-structured interviews with ten participants recruited from different formal …

Sales Innovativeness Climate And B2b Salesperson Performance: The Roles Of Persistence, Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy And Creative Selling, John Charles Peter Edwards, Steven Peter D'Alessandro, Morgan Miles

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: Persistence is widely viewed as essential for success in business to business (B2B) selling, yet it remains unclear how persistence translates into higher sales performance when selling requires experimentation and novel customer solutions. This study examines whether a perceived sales innovativeness climate enables persistence and entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) and, in turn, creative selling, driving B2B sales performance.

Design/methodology/approach: An online survey of 346 US-based B2B salespeople was analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM).

Findings: The perceived sales-innovativeness climate is positively associated with ESE, persistence, and sales performance. Persistence is positively related to sales performance and ESE, …

Ideology In Translating Indonesian Political News Headlines From Indonesian To English: A Cda Study Of Antara, Ferina A. Lestari, Haru Deliana Dewi

Journal of Language, Literature, and Arts

This study examines how ideology is constructed in the translation of Indonesian political news headlines into English by ANTARA News Agency. Moving beyond the notion of translation as mere equivalence, it conceptualizes headline translation as a process of discursive recontextualization shaped by institutional practices and audience design. Using a qualitative comparative approach, the study analyses 20 pairs of Indonesian English political headlines. The analysis implied Fairclough’s (1995) three-dimensional Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) framework. The dimensional focusing on textual features, discourse practice, and social practice. The findings reveal transformations, including omission of culturally specific details, addition of evaluative elements, lexical reframing, …

A Systematic Survey Of Brachyuran Land Crabs In The Online Tropical Aquarium Trade, Ella Xanthe Whitaker, David L. Roberts, John I. Spicer, Lucy Millicent Turner

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Globally the tropical aquatic aquarium trade is a multi-million-dollar industry. Although marine ornamental fish and invertebrates are the main focus, tropical freshwater ornamental species including invertebrates (classed by the sector as semi-aquatic, such as land crabs) are also traded. Land crabs include both brachyurans (true crabs) and anomurans (false crabs, including hermit crabs). These are sourced from wild populations and/or tank-bred for use as ornamental commodity species. This global trade is unregulated and the full extent of the brachyuran land crab trade is unknown. Land crabs are important ecosystem engineers, and collection for the tropical freshwater/semi-aquatic aquarium industry is believed …

Rapid Recovery Of Peripheral Oxygen Saturation In Hypoxic Covid-19 Patients With Ivermectin/Doxycycline/Zinc Multidrug Therapy, Sabine Hazan, Adriana C. Vidal, Eleftherios Gkioulekas, Anoja W. Gunaratne, Sibaish Dolai, Robert L. Clancy, Peter A. Mccullough, Thomas J. Borody

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Several combination therapies for the early outpatient treatment of COVID-19 were proposed by independent research groups at the onset of the pandemic during 2020 and 2021. In this observational study, we report on the outcomes of an off-label triple combination therapy, consisting of ivermectin, doxycycline, and zinc, with adjunct vitamin C and D3 supplementation, which was used on high-risk COVID-19 patients. These patients refused an initial recommendation to seek inpatient care, despite a high-risk presentation compounded with one or more comorbidities and/or severe hypoxia. Telemedicine was used to administer personalized treatment to patients at home, who did not have access …

Patients, Not Lab Values: Ethical Reflections On The Limits Of Reductionist Biology, Kody Park, Tai Metzger, Sung-Ki Lee, Abdullah Jalal, Christine Lin, Jasmanet Chahal, Kacie Park

Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Technology For Obtaining Aliphatic Amines Based On Liquid By-Products Of Polymerization Processes, Kamila Sabirbaevna Allanazarova, Ulugbek Komiljonovich Urinov

Technical science and innovation

Polymerization processes generate considerable amounts of liquid secondary by-products, which are often underutilized despite their significant chemical potential. Addressing the need for sustainable resource use, this study aims to develop a technological method for converting these by-products into valuable aliphatic amines. The experimental approach involved the pre-treatment of liquid polymerization by-products through fractional distillation to isolate C3–C10 fractions, followed by catalytic amination using Raney nickel under controlled temperature (160°C) and pressure (12 atm) conditions. Analytical methods including gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were employed to characterize the reaction products. The results demonstrated the successful formation of …

Investigation Of Energy Efficiency Of An Autonomous Mobile Photovoltaic-Thermal (Pv/T) System With A Polycarbonate Absorber, Sanjar Kodir Ugli Shoguchkarov, Anvar Rakhmat Ugli Rakhmatov, Rushana Husen Kizi Abdullaeva, Orazbek Maratbay Ugli Temirbaev

Technical science and innovation

This study analyzes the enhancement of energy efficiency in photovoltaic-thermal (PV/T) systems, which enable the simultaneous generation of electrical and thermal energy from solar radiation. The research focus is an autonomous mobile unit based on multi-channel polycarbonate heat collectors with a hydraulic diameter of 8 mm, characterized by their lightweight nature and superior corrosion resistance compared to conventional metal absorbers. Experimental investigations were conducted at the solar testing field of the Physical-Technical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan under extreme continental climatic conditions to determine the system's stable thermophysical indicators. The results demonstrated that active water cooling using …

Analisis Tingkat Kognitif Übungen Dan Aufgaben Dalam Buku Ajar Netzwerk Neu A1 Berdasarkan Taksonomi Solo, Mutiara Feby Sufriono, Dewi Kartika Ardiyani

Journal of Language, Literature, and Arts

This study aims to describe the characteristics of Übungen and Aufgaben based on the cognitive levels of the SOLO Taxonomy in the Kursbuch Netzwerk Neu A1 textbook. A qualitative descriptive method with a content analysis approach was employed. The research procedures included developing documentation instruments, coding the data, preparing validation instruments, validating the findings through expert judgment, analysing the validated data, and drawing conclusions. The findings indicate that Übungen in the earlier units are predominantly classified at the unistructural level, whereas those in the subsequent units are mainly categorised as multistructural. Meanwhile, Aufgaben are predominantly classified at the relational level, …

Financial Analysis Tool (Ct-Ft) For Western North Carolina Christmas Tree Growers, Sam Blumenfeld, Solomon Ghezehei, Justin G.A. Whitehill, Elizabeth G. Nichols

Journal of Extension

Western North Carolina is a major national Christmas tree (CT) production region, yet the CT industry faces numerous challenges that threaten its financial sustainability. Little economic research has been done, and limited decision-making tools exist to assist producers, Extension agents, and associated industry stakeholders. We developed an Excel-based financial analysis tool (CT-FT) to assist small and midsize wholesale CT producers in operational planning and financial assessment. The publicly available financial tools will enable CT growers to better understand their finances and operations, interact with financial stakeholders, assess alternative management scenarios, and track yearly costs to improve operational financial sustainability.

Building Academic-Community Partnerships To Reduce Rural Health Disparities, Latoya J. O'Neal, Marcia Brown, Biswadeep Dhar, Noemi Reyes, Brittany Blake, John Diaz, Karla Shelnutt

Journal of Extension

Rural health disparities are increasing in the United States. Academic–community partnerships between Extension and faith-based organizations present a unique opportunity to improve health outcomes in rural areas. The main objective of this study was to identify the perceived barriers, needs, and strategies for implementing effective and sustainable health promotion programs through Extension and faith community partnerships. We conducted semi-structured interviews with Extension professionals and faith community leaders (N = 15). Our results suggest that academic–community partnerships could leverage shared needs, resources, and strategies to serve as a model for reducing health disparities among low-income, minoritized adults residing in rural …

Adapting And Delivering An Extension Diabetes Self-Management Support Program To Serve The Hispanic Community, Camden Bryan, Samantha Kanny, Christina Dietz, Danielle Mcfall, Michelle Parisi, Michelle Stancil, Johanna Bruen, Rhonda Matthews, Windsor W Sherrill

Journal of Extension

Expanding Extension education programs to serve the Hispanic community will be important as this population continues to grow. The rate of diabetes is higher among the Hispanic population than the non-Hispanic population; however, the barriers to implementing a health education program and recruiting participants are plentiful. This paper highlights the work conducted by the Clemson Cooperative Extension Service, in partnership with organizations across South Carolina, to adapt and deliver the Health Extension for Diabetes program to the Hispanic community. It offers insights into effective strategies for program adaptation, recruitment, and delivery that agents can use to overcome barriers and increase …

Assessing Knowledge Levels And Learning Preferences Among Organic Grain Farmers And Professionals; The Experience Of The University Of Wisconsin Ograin Program, Lauren Asprooth, Claire G Stedden, Evelyn Hammond, Ayse Okur, Erin Silva

Journal of Extension

With lagging domestic supplies of organic grains, transitioning from conventional to organic grain production is needed, but can be a daunting challenge for farmers. The OGRAIN program began at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2015 to support increased organic grain production in the Midwest. We surveyed 429 OGRAIN participants to assess the most accessed resources, areas of knowledge change, and areas for program improvement. Participants highlighted the importance of networking and the need for additional marketing resources. Differences were found in programming preferences by organic farming experience. These results can improve our understanding of how to best support organic grain …

Attracting Extension Program Participants: Tips For Extension Educators, Suzanna R. Windon, Theodore R. Alter

Journal of Extension

Extension educators hold a competitive advantage by delivering educational programs tailored to their communities' unique circumstances and perspectives. This article enhances the understanding of the proactive Extension program model and contributes to the literature on Extension educators' competencies. It offers tips for attracting participants to Extension programs and sustaining their engagement. Additionally, the proposed rubric is a practical tool for educators to assess and ensure that all aspects of their programs are well-prepared for successful implementation and meaningful participant involvement.

Websites Of Pharmacy Colleges: A Webometric Analysis, Yashwant S. Chaudhari Mr., Hemant S. Bhoye

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

In the digital era, institutional websites act as the primary gateway for disseminating academic information, services, and research output. Webometric analysis is a quantitative method used to evaluate the performance, visibility, and impact of websites based on web-based indicators such as hyperlinks, web pages, and parts of web pages.  This study examines 17 pharmacy colleges in Nashik district, out of a total of 63 pharmacy colleges affiliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune. The study examines domain extensions, number of web pages, internal and external links, and availability of library webpages. It also evaluates content features such as academic information, …

Front Matter, Information Literacy Collab

Information Literacy Collab

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, Information Literacy Collab

Information Literacy Collab

No abstract provided.

Editor's Note, Robert Rabe

Journal of 20th Century Media History

Editor's Note for Vol. 4, Issue 1 (2026)

Mental Health Challenges Associated With Social Media Use And Effective Management Strategies: A Systematic Literature Review, Ebrahim Timol, Kebashnee Moodley

The African Journal of Information Systems

This study conducts a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) to investigate the mental health challenges associated with increasing social media (SM) usage. The review compares these effects across youth and adult age groups and explores how mental health issues related to SM use have evolved before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a comprehensive search of databases including ProQuest, Scopus, JSTOR, and Google Scholar, 43 relevant articles were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings reveal that social media usage exacerbates mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, fear of missing out (FOMO), social and financial comparisons. The COVID-19 pandemic notably …

The Use Of Public Relations Departments In Palestinian Private Companies In The Northern Governorates On Social Media And Its Impact On Achieving Competitive Advantage, Ahmed Ammar

Middle East Journal of Communication Studies

This study aimed to examine the use of public relations departments in private Palestinian companies in the northern governorates for social media and their impact on achieving competitive advantage. The study adopted a descriptive-analytical approach, with data collected via a questionnaire distributed to a sample of 49 employees in public relations and related administrative roles. Descriptive analysis indicated that digital content management, media communication, audience engagement, relationship building, and performance monitoring and strategic analysis are all key factors in enhancing competitive advantage, with varying levels of impact. Multiple regression analysis showed that digital content management and media communication and audience …

Teachers’ Experiences In Teaching Foundational Reading Skills In The General Education English Language Arts Classroom In Grades 9-12, Jodi Leigh Mckenzie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Juvenile Justice Professionals’ Perceptions Of Prevention Programs In West Central Florida, Terry Rachelle Harmon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

What Strategies Do Some It Leaders Use To Prevent Ransomware Attacks On Healthcare Computer Networks, Sherraine Michelle Houston

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Leadership-Mediated Retention Strategies To Sustain Workforce Capacity And Performance In Public Health, Meredith Winslow Wilkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Workforce retention challenges continue to affect public health leaders by contributing to staffing shortages, reduced organizational capacity, and disruptions in service delivery. Public health leaders are concerned with employee turnover because it affects workforce stability, organizational performance, and the ability to meet community health needs. Grounded in Herzberg’s motivation-hygiene theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore effective workforce retention strategies used by public health leaders to retain skilled staff and strengthen organizational capacity and revenue. The participants were eight public health leaders in the Northeast region of the United States with responsibility for workforce management and …

Parental Participation And Engagement In North Carolina Medicaid Enhanced Mental Health Services For Children And Adolescents, Jonathan Andrew Traylor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Parental participation and engagement (PPE) are positively associated with improved treatment outcomes for children receiving mental health services; however, parental involvement remains inconsistent among culturally diverse and economically disadvantaged families served through North Carolina Medicaid enhanced mental health services. Barriers to communication, collaboration, and sustained engagement may limit parents’ active participation in treatment planning and service delivery. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore PPE among culturally diverse and economically disadvantaged parents whose children received North Carolina Medicaid enhanced mental health services. The ecological perspective of human development constituted the theoretical framework for this study. Data were …

Effective Strategies For Retaining Millennial Employees In Small Southern Retail Businesses, Justin Nathaniel Moore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small retail businesses in the Southern United States continue to experience costly millennial employee turnover, threatening workforce stability and long-term business sustainability. This issue is important to small Southern retail business owners because turnover increases staffing costs, disrupts customer service, and weakens organizational performance. The purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies some small Southern U.S. retail business owners use to improve millennial employee retention. The job demands–resources model grounded the research project. Participants were six owner-operators in Virginia, Alabama, and Tennessee with at least 5 years of leadership experience managing millennial employees. Data were collected through …

Adaptive Reclosing Strategy For Active Distribution Networks Considering Secondary Arc, Zhenxing Li, Xiaorong Zhang, Cong Hu, Yi Zhu, Ruofan Huang, Hanli Weng, Qiujie Wang

Journal of Electric Power Science and Technology

In view of the problem that the current adaptive reclosing scheme for active distribution networks recloses after an inherent delay upon identifying the disappearance of faults, without considering whether the accompanying arc is completely extinguished, an adaptive reclosing strategy for active distribution networks considering secondary arc was proposed. First, measurement points were set at the circuit breaker of the faulted line and the new energy outlet, and the reclosing and new energy off-grid operations were realized without interconnection communication according to the in-situ measured quantities of the two locations. Second, a secondary arc model of the distribution network was established, …