Digital Commons Network^™

The Board Committee Chair Effect: How Much Does It Contribute To Firm Performance?, Kalin Kolev, Donald J. Schepker, David B. Wangrow, Vincent L. Barker Iii

Management Faculty Research and Publications

Boards of directors rely on committees to perform important specialized monitoring and advising tasks. While there is general consensus that committees and their chairs influence board outcomes and, thus, firm performance, we know little about the magnitude of these effects on firm performance. Using variance decomposition, we show that audit, compensation, and nominating committee chairs explain a significant portion of variance in firm financial performance. Some of the performance variance attributed to committee chairs comes from the increased explanatory power of adding an important level of strategic leaders. However, most of the committee chair effect seems to stem from performance …

Honey, I’M Home!, Kayla Lockwood

Art Student Research

Honey, I’m Home! revisits the idealized domestic life of the 1950s and 60s, drawing inspiration from iconic sitcoms The Honeymooners and I Love Lucy. The exhibition explores how gender roles within the traditional nuclear family have evolved. Through the lens of nostalgia, it delves into the emotional landscape of the childhood home. In this place, the comforting scents of family life intermingle with memories of laughter and warmth. However, this familiar setting is transformed into a deeper reflection on grief, memory, and identity.

Vocational & Life Skills: Quarterly Report - Grant Cycle Five, Quarter Five July-September 2024, Nebraska Center For Justice Research, Janee Pannkuk, Abby Hayes, Katelynn Towne

Reports

The Vocational and Life Skills (VLS) program was created by Nebraska Legislative Bill 907 in 2014 with the purpose of easing the transition for individuals who reenter the community after incarceration. The VLS initiative is evaluated by the Nebraska Center for Justice Research (NCJR) to identify the impact service providers and programming have in increasing meaningful employment and prosocial lifestyle improvements among the justice-involved population. As part of the evaluation, NCJR provides trainings to support grantees as needed and provides feedback and information to the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) regarding the implementation process and data updates on a …

Mckee Minute April 2025, Southern Adventist University

McKee Minute – McKee Library This Month

The April 2025 edition of McKee Minute includes information on Campus Research Day Month, the library's spring book sale, faculty publications, and Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Precision Drug Dosing And Disease Risk Prediction: Advanced Deep Learning Artificial Intelligence Approaches For Precision Medicine Using Structured Electronic Health Records Data, Bingyu Mao

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Advancements in precision medicine increasingly rely on data-driven approaches to improve clinical decision-making. This work presents three interconnected studies that leverage deep learning, reinforcement learning, and comparative modeling to address key challenges in precision drug dosing and disease risk prediction. Together, these contributions offer novel computational frameworks that enhance model performance, improve dosing strategies, and guide model selection for clinical predictive tasks.

To improve individualized vancomycin therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), the first study introduces PKRNN-2CM, a novel deep learning framework that integrates a two-compartment pharmacokinetic (PK) model with recurrent neural networks (RNNs). While one-compartment models are commonly used in clinical …

Computational Methods For Enhancing The Quality And Interoperability Of Biomedical Terminologies, Xubing Hao

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Biomedical ontologies or terminologies not only serve as a part of the metadata standards for describing data in the FAIR Data Principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable), but also play a vital role in downstream applications such as cohort identification from electronic health records (EHR). However, there are two critical barriers that may lead to ambiguity, complexity, and inaccuracies in such ontology-based downstream applications. The first barrier is the quality of the ontology. Despite efforts by ontology curators to ensure ontology accuracy and comprehensiveness, errors and inconsistencies are unavoidable. The second barrier is the semantic heterogeneity since human experts may use …

Advancing Genetic Association Discovery In Brain Mri Using Unsupervised And Self-Supervised Deep Learning: Exploring Learning Dynamics, Region-Specific Features, And Spatially Resolved Representations, Sheikh Muhammad Saiful Islam

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Deep learning has unlocked significant potential for advancing the discovery of genetic associations in imaging genetics, particularly in brain imaging using T1-weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Traditional methods for this task often relied on hand-crafted or semi-automated feature extraction, followed by genetic association studies utilizing these features. While effective, these approaches are limited by their lack of data-driven exploration and the generation of features with limited informativeness.

Unsupervised deep learning, in particular, has emerged as a powerful alternative, addressing some of these limitations by enabling automated and data-driven feature discovery. Recent research in this domain has primarily focused on adapting …

Harnessing Knowledge And Data For Clinical Information Extraction In The Era Of Large Language Models, Yan Hu

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

The rapid digitization of healthcare records has led to the widespread adoption of Electronic Health Records (EHRs), which contain rich, unstructured clinical notes. These notes hold valuable information for patient care and clinical research, but their complexity and unstructured nature pose significant challenges for effective utilization. Clinical Information Extraction (IE) aims to bridge this gap by transforming unstructured text into structured data, enabling automated analysis. Traditional Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques, such as Named Entity Recognition (NER), have been widely used for clinical IE, but recent advancements in Large Language Models (LLMs) like GPT-3.5, GPT-4, and LLaMA have opened new …

Accelerating Drug Repurposing And Target Discovery Using Deep Learning, Kohong Lin

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Drug discovery is a long-lasting and expensive process. Computational approaches, particularly deep learning techniques, offer the potential to accelerate this process by integrating diverse perspectives from drug discovery theories and capturing intricate patterns within large, multimodal datasets. This dissertation explores deep learning methodologies to accelerate drug repurposing and genetic target discovery. The first aim focuses on integrating multimodal data, including chemical structures, disease genetics, and systems biology, into comprehensive disease knowledge graphs, followed by applying graph neural networks (GNNs) to prioritize repurposable drug candidates. The second aim is to develop a heterogeneous GNN-based approach capable of modelling distinct semantic relationships …

Internship Spotlights, Jacob Anderson

Tenor of Our Times

No abstract provided.

The Ascent Of The Balthi: The Emergence Of Visigothic Kingship In Late Antiquity, William Deloach

Tenor of Our Times

The first four centuries of the First Millennium AD witnessed the rapid development of political infrastructure among the Gothic people. Emerging from Scandinavia, Gothic group consolidated into more nuanced political confederations by the third century. Challenges to these power structures, both internal and external, became the catalyst for further consolidation. The adaptations of the third and fourth centuries resulted in the emergence of a more easily recognizable political unit: the Visigoths under a Balthi monarchy. These challenges, and forthcoming adaptations, places the Goths within the tradition of the Late Antique world. Late Antiquity, therefore, should not only be thought to …

A Journey Into Hybrid Play Space Approaches Within An Urban Context, Ross William Podyma Mr

International Journal of Playwork Practice

This paper explores the development and implementation of a hybrid play space approach at Normanton Park, in Derby, UK. It examines the integration of playwork and forest school principals within a free, open-access play environment, focusing on the role of adults in facilitating child-led play. The paper analyses the synergies and tensions between these approaches, considers the contributions of other organisations providing environmental opportunities for young people, and reflects on the application of these models in contexts of urban deprivation. It argues for the value of hybrid models in maximising inclusivity and accessibility while fostering children’s creativity, resilience, and connection …

Otterbein Aegis Spring 2025, Otterbein Aegis

Aegis: The Otterbein Humanities Journal

Contents

Editors' Introduction, Editorial Board Members

Essays: "Beyond the Fever: One-Sided Love and the Fetishization of Race in Spike Lee's Jungle Fever"; "The Female Husband"; "Double-A Manifesto", "A Critical Introduction to Frozen: On What Side Does The River Freeze?"; "'See what I hunger for': Roxanne Gay's Hunger"; "They Cannot Touch Her: Evocations of the Oedipus Complex in Taxi Driver"

Reviews: "Anatomy of a Fall"; "Anne With an E"; "Bladerunner"; "Genderqueer"; "Intermezzo"; "Message From Our Planet"; "Pinocchio"; "The Laramie Project"; "The Message"; "Who's Afraid of Gender"; "Wicked"; "Wildhood"

Introduced Plants In Bethel, Alaska, Lissa Kramer

2025 Research and Creative Activity Day Posters

No abstract provided.

Mitochondrial Complex I Function During Different Physiological States In Black Bear Tissues, Nivedita Menon

2025 Research and Creative Activity Day Posters

No abstract provided.

Curriculum Development: Teaching Genetics Through Hands-On, Field-Based Techniques For Youth, Kristen Reece

2025 Research and Creative Activity Day Posters

No abstract provided.

Christine Heller's Legacy And The Potential For Integration Of Traditional Knowledge Labels, Channing Buckmaster

2025 Research and Creative Activity Day Posters

No abstract provided.

Spring 2025 Graduation Survey Responses, Systems Intelligence And Data Analytics, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Graduation

Spring 2025 Graduation survey responses master file without identifiers.

Improving The Understanding Of Privacy Policies Using Large Language Models (Llms), Bhavani Malisetty

Computer Science Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity

This thesis explores the application of Large Language Models (LLMs) to improve the generation, classification, and accessibility of privacy policy content. As frameworks such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) evolve, organizations face growing pressure to present transparent, user-friendly privacy policies. However, the complexity of legal language and the variability of policy structures pose challenges for traditional analysis methods. This research addresses these issues using the LLaMA 2 open-source models developed by Meta. The study centers on two key investigations. The first evaluates the base LLaMA 2 model (zero-shot) and its 4-bit, …

Attitudes Towards Political Censorship In Eastern And Western Germany, Brandon Pionk

Political Science Theses and Capstones

Recently there has been a lot of coverage on political censorship in Germany. Censorship has an important role in Germany due to WWII. In Germany support for freedom of the press has been declining in recent years. Right leaning political parties are emerging which has caused opposition parties to try and ban them. I analyze data in this study from the Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences (GESIS). I analyze different political culture variables in western and eastern Germany for their impact on views on censorship. I incorporate multiple variables including education, gender, age, political affiliation, and living location. Early …

Do Political Party Voter Contact & Gotv Efforts Increase Voter Turnout?, Cody Gunsalus

Political Science Theses and Capstones

While the disconnect between potential voters and those who represent them has grown, parties have spent billions of dollars and millions of hours on voter contact. My question is how effective is pre-election voter contact in increasing voter turnout? What party is most effective at voter turnout? Does the impact of voter contact differ based on education? Is it more effective depending upon age or gender? And how has it changed over time? To address these questions, I analyze National Election Studies (NES) data. The NES has surveyed the national electorate in every national election since 1948. Preliminary analysis has …

The Impact Of American Politics On Canadian Voters, Reilly Funk

Political Science Theses and Capstones

I analyze to what degree American political forces shape Canadian elections. Due to the unique economic and cultural relationship between the countries, U.S. political and policy changes impact the Canadian political landscape. I examine this relationship with a comparative study using the Canadian Election Study of the 2021 federal election. This data enables analysis of voter behaviour within a wide variety of voters. Tentative findings show that major political events within the United States, such as presidential elections and major policy shifts, have a major impact on election results in Canada. Canadian political parties consistently adjust their messaging strategies to …

Deportation And Immigration Enforcement In The United States: Analysis Of Regional And Country Variations, Exmond Ofori Sarpiah

Political Science Theses and Capstones

This study examines the motivations behind President Trump’s mass deportation policies due to the inflow of undocumented migrants from different regions in America. The study employs data visualization techniques, such as scatter plot and bar charts, to analyze regional and country variation trends in migrant removals and undocumented populations across global regions.

Identifying Personality Factors Of Female Adolescents Most Susceptible To Anxiety And Addiction To Social Media, Kevin Cristadoro

Education Doctorate Dissertations

This dissertation explores the relationship between personality traits, anxiety, and social media addiction in adolescent females, with the goal of developing a low-cost screening tool for early identification. It integrates psychological theory (Maslow, Erikson, Gilligan, Vygotsky) with media theory (McLuhan, Postman) and postmodernist critiques by Guy DeBord and Jean Baudrillard. DeBord’s society of the spectacle and Baudrillard’s hyperreality offer a lens through which digital engagement is seen not as a supplement to real life, but as a simulation that can displace authentic connection—heightening anxiety and dependency on virtual validation.

The dissertation also touches on Breland’s concept of instinctive drift as …

Speed-Coaching As A Pedagogical Practice: Decision-Making And Priorities Among Successful Speed Coaches, Dillon R. Martinez

Education Doctorate Dissertations

This study employed a three-round Delphi study technique to identify key elements in speed development coaching by surveying 106 qualified coaches, including certified professionals, championship-winning coaches, facility operators, and NCAA strength-and-conditioning specialists. This study explored five critical domains: nonnegotiable elements of speed development, decision-making factors for teaching priorities, effective teaching methods, environmental influences, and coaching philosophies. The results revealed a significant emphasis on technique/mechanics and maximum velocity exposure as foundational speed development elements, with notable differences between elite-level and lower-level coaches. Elite coaches demonstrated more sophisticated measurement approaches through systematic data collection, advanced technical assessment tools, comprehensive performance metrics, and …

Archeota, Spring/Summer 2025, Nicholas Haynes, Stacy L. Vandenput, Jesse Jacobs

Archeota

Archeota is a platform for SJSU iSchool students to contribute to the archival conversation. It is written BY students, FOR students. It provides substantive content on archival concerns and issues and promotes professional development in the field of archival studies. Archeota upholds the core values of the archival profession. Contents: Happy 10th Birthday Archeota! Celebrating Archeota's 10 Year Anniversary by Gwendolyn Smith Beyond Survival: The Fragility of Context in Digital Archives by Nicholas Haynes “Records Doulas” and the Case for Patient Records Advocacy: An Emerging Role for Archivists by Stacy L. Vandenput Preserving Play: Memory, Meaning, and the Soul of …

Exploring The Use Of Artificial Intelligence As An Instructional Learning Tool In Middle School Mathematics Classrooms, Maurice Guest Jr

Student Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative causal-comparative study explored the effectiveness of AI instructional/learning tools, specifically the IXL platform, in middle school mathematics classrooms. In this study, AI tools, such as IXL, were investigated to determine if there was a significant influence on students’ academic growth and achievement in light of the continuing teacher shortage in Arkansas. The lack of highly qualified teachers has led to Arkansas high school students’ underperformance in mathematics. Framed by a Constructivist approach, the study viewed learning as an active, engaged experience in which students shaped their own learning, rather than passively receiving information in the classroom. Data from …

Tutoring And Its Impact On Mitigating Covid-19 Reading Learning Loss In A Rural Title I School District For 3rd Grade Students, Julie Nicole Goodin

Student Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods study evaluated the impact of a tutoring program on third-grade students' reading achievement, focusing on rural Title I schools. The research used the Kellogg Logic Model to assess the program's short-term outcomes. It analyzed universal reading data for one hundred and three third-grade students and gathered the perspectives from nineteen stakeholders, including teachers, parents, and administrators. The researcher assessed the long-term outcomes by analyzing data on third-grade students' overall academic reading growth and by examining the stakeholders' perceptions of the program's effectiveness. The themes for the study from the participants included the benefits of tutoring, bus transportation, use …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Co-Teaching—A Phenomenological Inquiry, Courtney Spann

Student Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand the phenomenon that is the congruence between secondary special and general education co-teachers’ knowledge, beliefs, and actions that characterize how they experience co-teaching. A qualitative, phenomenological research design was used to explore co-teachers’ lived experiences through one-on-one interviews and classroom observations. Purposeful and convenient sampling yielded secondary general and special education teacher participants from one large, urban school district in the United States. The findings extend Bandura’s (1986) Social Cognitive Theory, suggesting the presence of observational learning between educators in the co-taught classroom. Results also indicate an alignment between what co-teachers say, …

The Three Ps: Political Polarization, Perception, And Pedagogy, Tianka Renee Sheard Mitchell

Student Theses and Dissertations

Political polarization significantly impacts modern education, especially within social studies, where teachers confront sensitive issues in their curricula. This study addressed two research questions: RQ1 examined teachers’ perceptions of the influence of political polarization, and RQ2 explored how these perceptions affect their pedagogy. Through the lens of Reconstructionist Educational Theory, this research highlights the necessity for social studies education to cultivate critical thinking and civic engagement among students. The study aimed to determine whether social studies teachers modify their instructional approaches in response to political polarization, as avoiding "hard history" could jeopardize students’ critical thinking and cultural literacy. Participants shared …