Digital Commons Network^™

From Standard To Stratified: Modeling Ntcp And Ear To Personalize Daily Mv-Cbct In Radiotherapy., Duong Thanh Tai, Luong Tien Phat, Tran Trung Kien, Duong Tuan Linh, Nguyen Ngoc Anh, Nguyen Quang Hung, Peter Sandwall, Parham Alaei, David Bradley, James C L Chow

Oncology Articles

PURPOSE: To evaluate the cumulative radiobiological impact of daily megavoltage cone-beam computed tomography (MV-CBCT) imaging dose based on normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) and excess absolute risk (EAR) of secondary malignancies among radiotherapy patients treated for breast, pelvic, and head & neck cancers. This study investigated whether MV-CBCT imaging dose warrants protocol personalization according to patient age, anatomical treatment site, and organ-specific radiosensitivity.

METHODS: This retrospective study included cohorts of breast (n = 30), pelvic (n = 17), and head & neck (n = 20) cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy with daily MV-CBCT. Imaging dose distributions employing two common MV-CBCT protocols …

Pathways To Progress: Understanding Gender Gaps Across Life Stages In The Asean Region, Debbie Wong, Jacqueline Cheng, Elizabeth Cassity, Jeaniene Spink, Payal Goundar, Jeffery H. Marshall

International Education Research

The ASEAN region continues to grapple with some of the world’s most pronounced disparities in educational outcomes. Addressing foundational learning gaps and promoting equity and inclusion for girls, women and marginalised groups remains a central priority in both educational improvement and labour market reform agendas regionally and internationally. This report presents new insights into the factors shaping human development outcomes for girls, women and marginalised groups in the ASEAN region. It supports the priorities under the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI), which aims to reduce development disparities among ASEAN member states. Grounded in case studies from the newer ASEAN member …

The Nebraska Bird Review (December 2025) 93(4), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Changes to The Nebraska Bird Review, by Janis Paseka

Fall Field Report, August–November 2025, by W. Ross Silcock

First definitive records of Hermit Thrush and Wilson’s Warbler subspecies for Nebraska, by Stephen J. Brenner and Joel G. Jorgensen

Ogallala Fall Field Days, Sept. 26–28, 2025

Index to Volume 93

Subscription and Organization Information

Index To Volume 93

Nebraska Bird Review

Adams, Morgan
Aguiar: Maritza, Stephanie
Albright, Don
Alexander: Jeff, Jan
Aliferis, Taylor
Allard, Savannah
Allen, Edward
Allison, Betty
Altman, Dakota
Alvarado, A. H.
Ammon, E. M.
Anandan, Sampath Kumar
Andersen, Brett
Anderson: Ann, Chris, Will
Andrews, Ryan
Anhinga
Ani, Groove-billed
Annunziata, Laura
Armstrong, Nancy
Augustine, Jackie
Aurilio, James
Avocet, American

. . .

Zagst: Fred, Kay
Zeillemaker, Fred
Zemaitis, William
Zicafoose, Kirby
Zonotrichia leucophrys: gambelii, leucophrys, oriantha

First Definitive Records Of Hermit Thrush And Wilson’S Warbler Subspecies For Nebraska, Stephen J. Brenner, Joel G. Jorgensen

Nebraska Bird Review

During the fall of 2025, we initiated a pilot migratory bird-banding project in the Nebraska Panhandle. While the project’s goals included examining species composition, volume, and body condition of migratory birds at the western edge of the state compared to the eastern edge of the state, we also used this project to document the occurrence of subspecies and species which are very challenging or impossible to identify through field observation. Here, we report on the first definitive records of two subspecies in Nebraska.

On 16 September 2025, SJB banded an adult male Wilson’s Warbler (Cardellina pusilla) that was …

Fall Field Report, August–November 2025, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

As in previous fall seasons, by far the most modifications to BONO came from late departure dates; around 87 species were included, no fewer than 13 of these setting record late dates, notably Eastern Whip-poor-will, Mountain Plover, Brown Thrasher (north), Henslow’s Sparrow (flight call only), and Orchard Oriole.

Although this is a Fall Seasonal Report, noted or suggested breeding activity is of interest. Exciting were the 2nd and 3rd presumed breeding records of Black-chinned Hummingbird and, in Dodge Co, the 5th record of breeding by Black-bellied Whistling-Duck. Perhaps the strangest west to east occurrence was a Golden Eagle adventure in …

Changes To The Nebraska Bird Review, Janis Paseka

Nebraska Bird Review

As of this issue, The Nebraska Bird Review has been in existence for 93 years, looking very much now as it did when it began in 1933. However, due to the increasing costs of printing and postage, there will be some changes in its future. Our newsletter, The Burrowing Owl, is already provided online to our members, in a user-friendly and informative form. Future issues of The Nebraska Bird Review will also utilize a digital format to offer a more timely and colorful publication.

This is the final issue for which Ross Silcock will be compiler of the seasonal …

A Right To Be Born?: What Dobbs Could Mean For Artificial Reproductive Technologies, Stewart Chang

University of Baltimore Law Review

No abstract provided.

Ogallala Fall Field Days, Janis Paseka

Nebraska Bird Review

The 2025 NOU Fall Field Days were held in Ogallala on September 26–28, with about 80 in attendance. The programs were held at the Quality Inn, and the meeting was planned by Boni Edwards, Dave Cunningham, and Paul Pearson. Field trips were led by Tobin and Keegan Brown, Jacob Cooper and UNK ornithology students, Joel Jorgensen and Stephen Brenner, T. J. Walker, and Thane Dinsdale. Destinations included various sites around Lake McConaughy, Lake Ogallala, Cedar Point Biological Station, Sutherland Reservoir SRA, Ash Hollow State Historical Park, Crescent Lake NWR, Arthur Co and various Sandhills lakes. The total species count was …

Running The Race Twice As Hard: A Phenomenological Study On The Academic And Athletic Experiences Of Black Female College Student-Athletes At Predominantly White Institutions (Pwi), Jazmin Dunham

Education Doctoral

This qualitative transcendental phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of Black female college student-athletes at Division III predominantly White institutions (PWIs). Although Title IX and NCAA reforms expanded access to athletics, Black female student athletes continued to face unique challenges related to race, gender, and representation. These athletes often struggled with social isolation, microaggressions, and a lack of institutional and cultural support, which affected both academic performance and athletic participation. The study applied the theoretical framework of intersectionality to analyze how overlapping identities shaped these women’s experiences and contributed to broader patterns of marginalization in higher education and intercollegiate athletics. …

Existence, Difference, And The Nigerian Woman: A Feminist Praxis Beyond Patriarchy, Hannah Yemisi Ajewole

Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the postcolonial condition of Nigerian woman through a critical philosophical engagement with feminist theory, focusing particularly on Simone de Beauvoir’s existentialism and Irigaray’s ethics of sexual difference. It interrogates the historical processes through which gender became the basis of hierarchy in the Nigerian society, arguing that colonial and patriarchal override precolonial forms of relationality—marked by dual-sex relationship and age-based hierarchies—into rigid, male-dominated structures of authority and representation. Drawing also on Oyèrónkẹ́ Oyěwùmí’s critique of western gender epistemologies, the work contextualizes the Nigerian woman’s experience within a broader matrix of colonial imposition, cultural displacement, and epistemic violence. This …

Ukrainian Women In The Russo-Ukrainian War: Between Survival And Resistance, Jelena Nikolic Khatatbeh

Dissertations

This dissertation explores how the Russo-Ukrainian war has transformed the lives, identities, and resistance strategies of Ukrainian women. Drawing on in-depth, semi-structured interviews with forty-five Ukrainian women conducted between March 2022 and February 2023, it analyzes how everyday survival, political thought, and civic activism have changed during the war. Using a modified grounded theory approach and a feminist lens, this study examines women’s psychosocial experiences, their evolving political consciousness, and their active roles in humanitarian, cultural, and cyber resistance.Findings reveal that the war simultaneously reinforced and disrupted traditional gender expectations. While Ukrainian women dealt with increased domestic and caregiving burdens …

Wacsaw: An Adaptive, Statistical Method To Classify Movement Into Sleep And Wakefulness States, Austin Vandegriffe, V. A. Samaranayake, Matthew S. Thimgan

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Research & Creative Works

Wearable actimeters can improve our understanding of sleep in the natural environments. Current algorithms may produce inaccuracies in specific individuals and circumstances, such as quiet wakefulness. New hardware allows data collection at higher frequencies enabling sophisticated analytical methods. We have developed a novel statistical algorithm, the Wasserstein Algorithm for Classifying Sleep and Wakefulness (WACSAW), to identify behavioral states from recordings of everyday movement. WACSAW employs optimal transport techniques to identify segments with differing activity variability. Functions characterizing the segments' movement distributions were clustered into two groups using a k-nearest neighbors and labeled as sleep or wake based on their proximity …

Child Development: A Developmentally Appropriate Practices Approach, Second Edition, D.R. Meece

Open Textbooks

The book follows a topical approach and covers children from prenatal to late childhood/early adolescence. The book follows a Developmentally Appropriate Practices approach, emphasizing that development results from the interaction of age-related expectations, culture and context, and individual child characteristics. The text is written for education majors, as well as others who will work with children and families in a variety of fields, including psychology, social work, nursing, and others.

Optimization In The Synthesis Of Dual Ionic-Liquid-Functionalized Cellulosic Materials, Megan L. Franke

Honors College Theses

There is a growing urgency to develop sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based materials as concerns about environmental impact and resource depletion intensify. Among renewable biopolymers, cellulose stands out as one of the most abundant and versatile organic compounds on Earth. As the structural backbone of plant cell walls, it provides rigidity and mechanical strength, while its abundance, biodegradability, and tunable chemistry make it an attractive candidate for sustainable materials. Beyond its traditional uses in textiles, paper, and food additives, cellulose has been increasingly investigated in polymer chemistry for advanced

applications. The present study aims to optimize synthetic routes to dual ionic …

Using Noninvasive Calibrated Cuff Plethysmography To Observe The Effects Of Lifestyle Habits On Arterial Compliance, Joshua M. Whitaker

Master's Theses

Cardiovascular disease remains as a leading cause of death for both sexes and across all racial backgrounds. Continuing to research causes, early predictors, and preventative actions are paramount to ensuring that cardiovascular disease starts to decrease in its activity. Endothelial dysfunction is the earliest known predictor of cardiovascular disease, therefore investigating early detection methods of endothelial dysfunction can improve health outcomes. This study revolves around a non-invasive calibrated cuff device that uses the principles of segmental plethysmography and oscilliometry to measure arterial compliance of baseline and induced hyperemic conditions in human subjects to determine how well arteries vasodilate in response …

Draft Genome Sequences Of Four Phosphate-Solubilizing Microbes Of The Family Burkholderiaceae Isolated From Tailings From The Former Pea Ridge Mine In Washington County, Mo, Usa, Prince Oppong Amoh, Abiodun E. Idowu, Elizabeth R. Grube, Melanie R. Mormile, Hunter W. Schroer

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

We present draft genome sequences of four Gram-negative phosphate-solubilizing microbes isolated from Pea Ridge Mine tailings in Missouri, USA. Belonging to the family Burkholderiaceae, these isolates exhibit a phosphate-mineral-dissolving phenotype in liquid and solid cultures. Genome sizes span 5.6–9.7 Mb, with GC contents of 61.6%–67.0%.

(R2125) Impact Of Convective Condition And Inclined Magnetic Field On Casson Nanofluid With Bioconvection In Porous Medium, Touseef Fayaz, O. Otegbeye, Md. Sharifuddin Ansari

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

This paper presents an analysis on steady magnetohydrodynamic boundary layer flow of Casson nanofluid with microorganisms near an expandable boundary in a porous medium. The flow behaviour is analysed by incorporating impacts of magnetic field applied in a direction which makes an angle α∗ with the boundary and convective conditions in temperature, nanoparticle concentration and microorganism density at boundary. Non-dimensionalised nonlinear and coupled system of ordinary differential equations are solved by exercising a numerical algorithm termed as spectral local-linearization method. The considered numerical algorithm is found to be convergent and capable of yielding accurate results. Graphical sketches of solutions obtained …

Bridging Conservation And Planning: State Wildlife Action Plans Analyzed Using Wildlife Value Orientation, Ciara Nelson-Forcade

Community and Regional Planning Program: Theses

Wildlife conservation in the United States has transitioned from managing resources for human use to prioritizing ecosystem preservation and species protection. However, the ways in which conservation values and attitudes are reflected in state-level policy documents remain insufficiently examined. This thesis investigates how Wildlife Value Orientations (WVO) are expressed within State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs). Using a qualitative content analysis and flexible coding approach, fifteen SWAPs representing all eight U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regions were analyzed to identify conservation themes, value orientations, and structural characteristics such as plan length, departmental budgets, and political context. Findings reveal that most plans …

Bridging Conservation And Disaster Recovery: A Dual Study On Wetland Program Plans Evaluation And Midwest Post Disaster Recovery Assessment, Rao Nargis Jahan

Community and Regional Planning Program: Theses

Wetlands provide essential ecological, social, and economic benefits for our society. In the United States, states and tribes play crucial roles in wetland protection, restoration, and management. However, no research has systematically measured state-level wetland planning efforts towards national conservation goals. This study is the first to comprehensively evaluate how state-level Wetland Program Plans (WPPs) align with national missions, particularly the "no-net-loss" of wetlands goal. Our research assesses the EPA-approved state-level WPPs from 42 out of 50 states in the United States during the period from 2015 to 2024. Using a protocol of 30 indicators across five categories, this study …

Effect Of Successive Subculturing On Virulence, Growth, And Germination Of Fungus Metarhizium Rileyi For Biological Control Of Fall Armyworm, Joanna Marie E. Valeros, Trisha Anne P. Garcia, Noel G. Sabino, Marcela M. Navasero, Melissa P. Montecalvo

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

This study explored the impact of successive subcultures of Metarhizium rileyi (Farl.) Kepler, S.A. Rehner & Humber on its cultural traits, spore germination, and virulence against fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a key pest in agricultural systems. The mass production of infective propagules is essential for effective biological control. Notable changes were observed in the texture and mycelial appearance of the fungus across subcultures. Initially, the fungus exhibited a powdery texture up to the 6th subculture. However, the fungal growth became fluffy and cottony by the 8th and 10th subcultures. Additionally, sporulation rates (7.05 × 10^{8 …}

Impact Of Antibody Fc Engineering On Translational Pharmacology, And Safety: Insights From Industry Case Studies., Frank R Brennan, J Ryan Polli, Jean Sathish, Melissa Ramones, Babette Wolf, Tilman Schlothauer, Shirley J Peters, Curtis C Maier, Changhua Ji, David L Wensel, Derrick Witcher, Patricia C Ryan, T Scott Manetz, Adriano Flora, Brian Soper, Birgit Fogal, Lindsey Dzielak, Xiaoting Wang, Prathap Nagaraja Shastri, Karen Price, Michael Doyle, Nidhi Sharda, Mary Struthers, Maximilian Brinkhaus, Bianca Balbino, Eric Stefanich, Masaki Honda, Jan Terje Andersen, Shermaine Mitchell-Ryan, David P Humphreys

Faculty Research 2025

Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are often designed to not only bind targets via their antigen-binding domains (Fabs) but to also engage with cell surface receptors, FcγRs and FcRn, through their Fc regions, which may result in a variety of functional outcomes, including antibody- dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP), complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) and alteration of circulating half-lives. Engineering the Fc regions to achieve desirable pharmacology and pharmacokinetics is a widely adopted strategy in drug development. Fc regions can be modified through amino acid substitutions and glycoengineering, resulting in enhanced or reduced effector functions, preferential binding to FcR subtypes, …

Molecular Systems Biology At 20: Reflecting On The Past, Envisioning The Future., Poonam Bheda, Jingyi Hou, Ruedi Aebersold, Uri Alon, Joel S Bader, Lee Bardwell, Edison Liu, James C W Locke, Matthias Mann, Andrew J Millar, Felix Naef, Yitzhak Pilpel, Ron Shamir, Dennis Vitkup

Faculty Research 2025

As Molecular Systems Biology marks its 20th anniversary, we take this moment to reflect on two decades of discovery and innovation. Since its launch, the journal has stood at the forefront of integrating quantitative biology, computational modeling, and systems science—helping to shape how we understand complex biological systems.

Rna Binding Of Gapdh Controls Transcript Stability And Protein Translation In Acute Myeloid Leukemia., Sama Shamloo, Jeffrey L Schloßhauer, Shashank Tiwari, Kim Denise Fischer, Omar Almolla, Yohana Ghebrechristos, Lisa Kratzenberg, Aathma Merin Bejoy, Ioannis Aifantis, Francesco Boccalatte, Eric Wang, Jochen Imig

Faculty Research 2025

Dysregulation of RNA binding proteins (RBPs) is a hallmark in cancerous cells. In acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) RBPs are key regulators of tumour proliferation. While classical RBPs have defined RNA binding domains, RNA recognition and function in AML by non-canonical RBPs (ncRBPs) remain unclear. Given the inherent complexity of targeting AML broadly, our goal was to uncover potential ncRBP candidates critical for AML survival using a CRISPR/Cas-based screening. We identified the glycolytic enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) as a pro-proliferative factor in AML cells. Based on cross-linking and immunoprecipitation (CLIP), we are defining the global targetome, detecting novel RNA targets mainly …

Single-Cell Landscape Of Sex-Specific Drivers Of Alzheimer's Disease., Yiyang Wu, Kyle J Travaglini, Mariano Gabitto, C Dirk Keene, Amy R Dunn, Catherine C Kaczorowski, Philip L De Jager, Vilas Menon, Julie A Schneider, David A Bennett, Logan Dumitrescu, Timothy J Hohman

Faculty Research 2025

INTRODUCTION: We investigated sex-specific gene expression associations with the neuropathology and cognitive manifestation of Alzheimer's disease (AD) leveraging single-nucleus transcriptomic datasets including 2.84 million nuclei from the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC).

METHODS: We delineated the full scope of sex-specific transcript associations, differential gene expression, signaling pathway, and cell-cell communication network changes in eight major DLPFC cell types.

RESULTS: Nine female-specific associations were identified and replicated, involving ADGRV1, OR3A3, IFI27L1, LYRM1, STAP2, TSTD2, PDYN, and TMEM50B. We observed the preponderance of protective female-specific associations in neurons. Sex-specific genes were enriched in the immune-, inflammation-, and damage-related stress-response pathways. Six ITGB1-mediated microglia-specific …

Pak1 Inhibitor Nvs-Pak1-1 Preserves Dendritic Spines In Amyloid/Tau Exposed Neurons And 5xfad Mice., Tao Yang, Hasi Huhe, Sean-Paul Williams, Sukhneet Kaur, Yeonglong Albert Ay, Zachary W Davis-Gilbert, Gregory Cary, Carolyn Paisie, Robert R Butler, Jesse Wiley, Ranjita Betarbet, Haian Fu, Duc Duong, Nicholas T Seyfried, Karina Leal, Gregory W. Carter, Aled Edwards, Allan I Levey, Jacob L Capener, David H Drewry, Mohammad A Hossain, Hans J Oh, Alison D Axtman, Stacey J Sukoff Rizzo, Frank M Longo, The Emory-Sage-Sgc-Jax Treat-Ad Center

Faculty Research 2025

INTRODUCTION: Synaptic spine loss in Alzheimer's disease (AD) contributes to cognitive decline. p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1), a regulator of spine integrity, is aberrantly activated in AD. We investigated whether PAK1 inhibition might preserve dendritic spines in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS: Oligomeric amyloid beta (oAβ) or tau (oTau) were applied to hippocampal neurons ± NVS-PAK1-1, a selective PAK1 inhibitor. NVS-PAK1-1 was orally administered to 5xFAD mice. The effects of NVS-PAK1-1 treatment on PAK1 activity, spine density, and the proteome were assessed using phospho-PAK1 (pPAK1) western blotting, Golgi staining, and mass spectrometry for proteomic analyses.

RESULTS: NVS-PAK1-1 prevented oAβ and oTau-induced …

Integrated Phenotypic And Proteomic Screening Identifies Top-Tier Alzheimer's Disease Therapeutic Targets., Gregory Cary, Qianjin Li, Jesse C Wiley, Carolyn Paisie, Yuhong Du, Elizabeth L Zoeller, Duc Duong, Haian Fu, Nicholas T Seyfried, Allan I Levey, Ranjita Betarbet, Gregory W. Carter, The Emory-Sage-Sgc-Jax Treat-Ad Center

Faculty Research 2025

INTRODUCTION: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder. Hundreds of therapeutic targets have been nominated through genetic and multi-omic studies, but effective prioritization remains a major bottleneck.

METHODS: We applied an integrative screening framework to assess 29 candidate targets from risk-enriched biological domains. Using disease-relevant murine BV2 microglial cell lines with stable Psen2 knockdown, we performed small interfering RNA-mediated perturbations followed by cellular phenotypic assays and quantitative proteomics.

RESULTS: Twenty-five candidate targets significantly altered at least one phenotype, with stronger effects in Psen2 knockdown cells. Integrated proteomic analyses identified several perturbations that reversed AD-associated molecular patterns. Five targets-Ap2a2, Pdhb, …

Dendrimer Gel Nanoparticles With Dual-Targeting Of Upar And Ribonucleotide Reductase R2 Influence Necrosis, Apoptosis, And Cell Cycle Arrest In Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, Hsin Yin Chuang, Yue-Wern Huang, Hu Yang

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive breast cancer subtype with limited treatment options due to the absence of estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) receptors. We previously developed highly adaptable polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer-based gel nanoparticles (GDP-uPA/GTI) with dual-targeting capabilities against urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) and ribonucleotide reductase R2 (R2) to achieve selective antitumor effects. In this study, we investigated the underlying mechanisms of GDP-uPA/GTI-induced tumor inhibition. In vivo, GDP-uPA/GTI significantly downregulated R2 expression and activated caspase 8 and caspase 3, indicating caspase-dependent apoptosis. Histological evaluation of major organs revealed no observable toxicity. …

Upcycling Commodity Polymers To Advanced Materials For Energy And Environmental Sustainability, Anthony Griffin-Espinoza

Dissertations

Synthetic polymers play an essential role in nearly every aspect of our lives. Extending beyond single-use packaging, polymeric material design has progressed to attain tailorable architectures granting exceptional performance across advanced applications, including carbon-fiber reinforced polymer composites for aerospace, conductive materials for soft electronics, and drug carriers for biomedicine. While highly promising, intricately designed polymers needed to achieve excellent performance often have limited processability, complex synthetic methods, and expensive precursors. Furthermore, due to a lack of recyclability, commodity polymer waste streams result in both environmental impacts and a substantial loss of economic value. This dissertation focuses on developing robust strategies …

The Malonate Template: The Key To Unlocking Novel Amino Acids, Thomas Owens

Dissertations

The “Malonate Template” provides access to various amino acids, all from a common intermediate. Herein, demonstrates the use of the malonate template to establish a synthetic route to both 2-thiohistidine and 2-thio-3-N-methyl-histidine from a benzyl methyl malonate derived intermediate. Furthermore, efforts exploiting the applicability of the malonate template for the of both 2-thiohistidine and 2-thio-3-N-methyl-histidine as a suitable alternative to methods previously described by Erdelmeier are described.

The method presented incorporates modifications to the biomimetic pathway described by Erdelmeier for the synthesis of 2-thiohisidine. By exploiting the biomimetic formation of 2-thiohisitidne’s mechanism via mass spectrometry, we …