Digital Commons Network^™

Putting The L In Elsi: Legal Methods For Bioethics Research, Anya E R Prince, Benjamin Berkman, Donald Ford, Dov Fox, Christi Guerrini, Amy Koopmann, Natalie Ram, Jessica L Roberts, Kayte Spector-Bagdady, Sonia Suter

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Lawyers and law professors are increasingly involved in interdisciplinary scientific teams and grant research to answer ethical, legal and policy questions related to biomedical topics. Yet, the methods that lawyers use to conduct legal research and analysis are not always familiar to scientists and social scientists conducting peer review of a proposed project with legal aims or a publication reporting a legal study. To better facilitate interdisciplinary ethical, legal, and social implications collaboration, there is a need to better explain how legal research methodologies can provide robust tools to address a range of nuanced biomedical questions. This paper explores …

Imagining Genomics And Population Health In 2050: Anticipating Future Research, Policy, And Governance Needs, Bartha Maria Knoppers, Yann Joly, Ma Apos N H Zawati, Habiba Alsafar, Jeffrey C Barrett, Laura Blackburn, Brian Hon-Yin Chung, Martina C Cornel, Edward S Dove, David Glazer, Calvin Wai-Loon Ho, Muin J Khoury, Anna C F Lewis, Anneke Lucassen, Peter F R Mills, Colin Mitchell, Nicola Mulder, Ainsley J Newson, Anthony Ng, Paul D P Pharoah, Vasiliki Rahimzadeh, Megan C Roberts, Saskia C Sanderson, Jeffrey M Skopek, Ron Zimmern, Eric M Meslin

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Access To Digital Health Technologies: Personalized Framework And Global Perspectives, Sanjiv M Narayan, Mina K Chung, Demilade Adedinsewo, Luisa C C Brant, Leslie L Davis, David Duncker, Jennifer L Hall, Janet K Han, Carolyn S P Lam, Eldrin Lewis, Joseph Loscalzo, Manlio F Márquez, Vasiliki Rahimzadeh, Fatima Rodriguez, Prashanthan Sanders, Emma Svennberg, Kenneth Stein, Mintu Turakhia, Clyde Yancy, Antonis A Armoundas

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

The emergence and rapid adoption of digital health technologies (DHT) present unprecedented opportunities to democratize and reduce disparities in health care by monitoring health and disease at the point of care in all patients. However, limited access to DHT is becoming a major obstacle to realizing these goals. Access to DHT is influenced not only by well-recognized social determinants of health, but also by digital determinants of health, such as digital literacy and the need for broad access to digital infrastructure, as well as commercial and economic factors. Addressing these challenges and designing unbiased systems of care are essential to …

Antecedents Of Emergency Services’ Street Level Bureaucrats’ (Slbs) Delivery Of Public Value: An Exploratory Study, Yvonne Brunetto, Ben Farr-Wharton, Aglae Hernandez Grande, Fleur Sharafizad, Matthew Richman

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Street Level Organisations (SLOs) determine the Psychosocial Safety Climate (PSC) in their workplaces and we examine pathways from SLBs’ PSC and Public Service Motivation (PSM) to discretionary power, work stress, wellbeing and the subsequent delivery of public value. The structural equation modelling results from 195 Australian police, fire, ambulance, and emergency services workers indicate that PSC had a more significant role in explaining SLBs’ delivery of public value compared with PSM. The implication is that SLOs’ management must ensure psychosocially safe and supportive workplaces conducive to building SLBs’ wellbeing, because that is the pathway for delivering public value.

Land, Development, And Tribal Identity In India: The Heavy Engineering Corporation (Hec) And Tribal Land Acquisition, Nishka Malhotra, Anila Surin M.U.P., Niraj Verma Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Posters

Tribal land in Jharkhand, India, has been cultivated for generations by Adivasis, one of the largest aboriginal tribes of India. After India’s independence in 1947, the government-owned Heavy Engineering Corporation (HEC) was established as a tomb to the industrial development of a new India. Land for the massive project came from acquiring large tracts of Adivasi land. Even in cases where compensation was paid, the social and cultural costs borne by Adivasis far exceeded the land's market value. Our research (a) traces this history of how the discourse of modernization and development was used to justify dispossession of land; (b) …

A Closer Look At Substance Use: Understanding Abstinence In Social Gatherings, Hillary Bogyah

Undergraduate Research Posters

A Closer Look at Substance Use: Understanding Abstinence In Social Gatherings
Hillary Bogyah
Virginia Commonwealth University

Abstract

Alcohol and drug use in social settings remains a central focus in public health research, as these behaviors are often shaped by peer norms, environmental factors, and perceived social benefits. This study observes how people in various social contexts utilize drugs, alcohol, and both at the same time. A survey measuring substance usage throughout the previous month and how social interactions affected these behaviors was completed by a total of 257 participants.

The majority of respondents indicated no recent substance use. According to …

Workshop Outcomes Report: 2nd International Workshop On Seismic Resilience Of Arctic Infrastructure And Social Systems, Majid Ghayoomi, Daniela Morganti

Faculty Publications

The report provides an overview of the second international workshop on Seismic Resilience of Arctic Infrastructure and Social Systems. The report discusses agenda, workshop activities, interdisciplinary working groups, and results. It ends with several strategic questions and investigation plans that were developed as part of the workshop activities.

Motivational Factors Influencing Military Service: A Structural Equation Model Of Rotc Students And Service Members’ Motivation-Confidence To Serve, Brian J. Vansingel

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Amid declining college enrollment across the United States, academic institutions with United States Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) programs must consider underrecruited populations, such as military-bound young adults, in their recruiting strategies. To support this effort, this study examined the motivational factors associated with individuals’ decisions to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. This study utilized a quantitative, correlational research design with a survey comprising multiple sections: sociodemographic variables, items across six motivational factors for military service, and a Motivation-Confidence to Serve scale. The study used data from a convenience sample of 709 respondents, including college military science students …

Improving Evacuation Effectiveness On Cruise And Large Passenger Ships : An Analysis Of Human Factors, Safety Culture, And Behavioral Dynamics, Antonios Andreadakis

World Maritime University Ph.D. Dissertations

Maritime trade has long constituted a central pillar of economic development, supporting global commerce and cultural exchange. Nevertheless, the maritime environment is inherently hazardous and therefore the protection of human life has consistently constituted and will continue to remain a central priority (Casson, 1995). An instrumental turning point in maritime safety occurred after the sinking of Titanic in 1912, which prompted in 1914 an International Conference dedicated to the protection of human life at sea; which ultimately led to the adoption of the International Convention on Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) (Dalaklis, 2017). This Convention introduced internationally imposed safety …

Discord Is Still A Chord: A Mixed-Methods Analysis Of Discourse Networks, Brokerage, And The Fiscal Consequences Of Fracking Policy In The Delaware River Basin, In Hae Noh

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Beneath the policy debates of many environmental controversies lies a dynamic network of actors making claims, forming coalitions, and contesting policy discourses. Drawing on theories of discourse coalitions, discourse networks, network brokerage, and public finance, and using the Delaware River Basin hydraulic fracturing debate as a case study, this dissertation examines how discourse coalitions evolve, how discourse brokers shape coalition dynamics, and whether resulting policy decisions produce meaningful fiscal consequences. The first paper investigates how discourse coalitions shifted across three periods of the Delaware River Basin fracking debate, using a mix of methods integrating discourse network analysis, computational text analysis, …

Assessing The Possibilities And Speculations Of Blended Teaching-Learning (Btl) Based On The Online Teaching-Learning (Otl) Experience During Covid-19 In Bangladesh, Nazmun Chaitee

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Faculty Publications

This research paper investigates the potential and viability of implementing Blended Teaching Learning (BTL) in Bangladesh, drawing on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 Online Teaching Learning (OTL) practice experiences. The study specifically focuses on examining the advantages and challenges encountered by teachers and students in online classes during the pandemic. Through a mixed-methods approach, including questionnaire surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions (FGDs), data was collected from secondary-level teachers and students in Bangladesh. The findings highlight the dedicated efforts made by educators and students in embracing and adapting to online education during the COVID-19 crisis. Furthermore, the study identifies …

Rethinking Dfw In Gateway Mathematics: Preserved, Disrupted, And Dissipated Momentum Pathways To Student Retention, John Alan Nunnery, Charles Mathies

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Faculty Publications

This study examines how disaggregated first-year mathematics outcomes, including failure, low-passing grades, course withdrawal, and no attempt at a credit-bearing mathematics course, are associated with second-year retention at a large, diverse, urban public university. The study extends academic momentum theory by positing and operationalizing preserved (marginal passing), disrupted (failure or withdrawal), and dissipated (non-enrollment) as qualitatively distinct momentum states rather than a single condition. Using a segmented binary logistic regression model with more than 26,000 first-time, full-time students across ten entry cohorts (2012–2021), we estimate differences in retention by mathematics outcome, course type, and cohort context. Results show a pronounced …

Applying Transfer Learning For Street-Scale Nuisance Flood Forecasting In Coastal-Urban Environments, Binata Roy, Jonathan L. Goodall, Diana Mcspadden, Chetan Kumar, Steven Goldenberg, Yidi Wang, Malachi Schram

Data Science Faculty Publications

An important challenge with Machine Learning (ML) is its transferability; that is, whether an ML model trained on one set of data can be applied to a second set of data without requiring full retraining of the model. Transfer Learning (TL) addresses this challenge by transferring knowledge learned in the source domain (the data it was trained on) to the target domain (a second set of data that is statistically different but related, which the model was not trained on). This study investigates the use of TL for street-scale nuisance flood forecasting by exploring whether an ML model trained for …

Examining Inclusive Computing Education For Blind Students In India, Akshay Kolgar Nayak, Yash Prakash, Md Javedul Ferdous, Sampath Jayarathna, Hae-Na Lee, Vikas Ashok

Computer Science Faculty Publications

The growing demand for computer professionals, driven by the expanding Information Technology industry, has led to numerous inclusive computing education efforts. These efforts have even included blind or visually-impaired (BVI) students, who are being increasingly encouraged to pursue education and a career in computing, despite the visually-oriented nature of the discipline. Extant literature has predominantly focused on identifying and addressing the accessibility barriers faced by BVI students to promote more inclusive learning environments. While few studies have also investigated the accessibility of computing education from the perspectives of BVI learners and instructors, these have been primarily situated in the Global …

Towards Supporting Real-Time Estimation Of Vehicle Fuel Consumption And Co2 Emissions In Smart City Applications, Abrar Alali, Stephan Olariu

Computer Science Faculty Publications

This paper evaluates a simplified physics-based energy demand model designed to estimate vehicle fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions—a critical tool for sustainable transportation planning and smart city applications. Unlike data-driven regression models that lack generalizability for user-defined conditions or complex physics-based approaches that rely on extensive, often proprietary data, the simplified model is distinguished by its minimal parameter requirements, depending primarily on a single, overarching powertrain efficiency value. A key contribution is the comprehensive empirical evaluation of the simplified model against official Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) test data across multiple driving cycles and vehicle types, providing a rigorous validation previously …

Biosecure-Llm Framework: Protecting Llms From Cyberbiosecurity Threats And The Case For Independent Ai Safety Governance, Xavier-Lewis Palmer, Lucas Potter, Srdjan Lesaja, Sotirios Karathanasis, Mohammad Ghasemigol

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Large Language Models (LLMs) are becoming critical infrastructure in scientific, healthcare, and governmental contexts. As frontier AI laboratories increasingly partner with government agencies, a fundamental question arises: Who should control the safety and policy-enforcement layers that constrain model behavior? Current safety mechanisms (LLM guardrails) are typically designed for generic "harmlessness" and operate by detecting semantic patterns and refusing requests. However, they are inadequate governance instruments because they cannot implement auditable, domain-specific controls tied to external regulatory policy objects (e.g., control lists or rules governing personally identifying information). Even a perfectly aligned model is not able to express institution-specific policy without …

The Impact Of Organizational Sustainability On Improving Companies’ Financial Performance (Applied To The Southern Refineries Company.), Thaer Khalaf Khashan

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

The impact of organizational sustainability on improving companies' financial performance, applied to the Southern Refineries Company. The research aims to explore the impact oforganizational companies' financial performance. The research variables were organizational sustainability as an independent variable with its three dimensions (economic sustainability, social sustainability, and environmental sustainability), and improving financial performance as a dependent variable. To achieve the research objectives, the descriptive analytical approach was adopted. A questionnaire was used as a tool for data collection. The questionnaire was distributed to a random sample of (400) individuals from the employees of the Southern Refineries Company, (388) questionnaires were retrieved, …

Alternative Vat Policies For Sustainable Menstrual Products In Indonesia, Saraswati Nirmala Suci, Hanik Susilawati Muamarah

Jurnal Akuntansi dan Keuangan Indonesia

Background: Sustainable menstrual products currently face the same VAT rate as conventional products, making them less affordable and slowing their adoption. This price gap drives consumers toward cheaper disposable alternatives, increasing non-recyclable waste and environmental risks. Addressing this imbalance is essential to advancing sustainability and menstrual equity. Method: This study conducted in-depth interviews with officials from the Directorate General of Taxes, the Fiscal Policy Agency, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, academicians, and a sustainable product manufacturer. Data were analyzed using the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) framework to evaluate four VAT policy alternatives: normal VAT, VAT exemption, non-collected VAT, and …

The Role Of Linear Programming And Sensitivity Analysis In Improving The Transportation And Distribution Of Vegetable Oils: A Case Study Of The State Company For Vegetable Oils In Iraq, Zainab Alaa Hameed

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

The State Company for Vegetable Oils in Iraq faces a fundamental challenge of high transportation costs and inefficiency in distributing products across factories and warehouses to meet growing demand. Accordingly, this study aims to employ operations research methods-specifically linear programming and sensitivity analysis---to design a distribution plan that enhances efficiency and minimizes costs. The methodology involved developing a mathematical model of the transportation problem based on actual data related to supply quantities, demand requirements, and transportation costs between production sources and distribution outlets. The model was solved using WinQSB software to determine the optimal solution. Sensitivity analysis was then conducted …

The Impact Of Psychological Sustainability On The Strategic Agility System: The Role Of Design Thinking : An Analytical Study Of Technical Opinions From Senior Officials At Several Private Universities In Basra Governorate, Iman Hato Jahlol, Muhammed Nabeel Al-Salim

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

This study seeks to address the limited ability of private colleges in Basra Governorate to cope with organizational and educational challenges by examining the relationship between employees’ psychological well-being (faculty members and administrators) and strategic agility, while testing the mediating role of design thinking. The study adopted a descriptive–analytical approach and employed validated scales: Ryff (1989) for psychological well-being, Ergin (2024) for design thinking, and Doz & Kosonen (2008) for strategic agility. The sample consisted of 196 participants selected through stratified random sampling. The study was guided by a main hypothesis stating that the combined dimensions of psychological well-being (purpose …

Digital Transformation And Its Role In Achieving Sustainable Competitive Advantage: Entrepreneurial Capabilities As A Mediating Variable – An Analytical Study Of A Group Of Private Banks, Kamal Kadhim Al-Hassani, Ali Matar Abd

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

This study aims to explore the mediating role of entrepreneurial capabilities in the relationship between digital transformation and competitive advantage in the Iraqi banking sector. The study adopted a descriptive-analytical approach, and data were collected through questionnaires distributed to 235 managers in private banks in Iraq, using a structured survey instrument. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed via AMOS v.25 to analyze the data and test the hypothesized relationships. The results revealed a statistically significant positive relationship between digital transformation and competitive advantage, highlighting the pivotal role of digital transformation in enhancing banks’ ability to achieve competitive superiority. More importantly, …

The Importance Of Official Development Assistance In The Financial Revenue Structure Of Recipient Countries: Selected Models, Abdul Kareem J.Shingar Al-Issa, Mustafa Takhakh Zahir

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

Official development assistance (ODA) is a source of financing typically linked to external sources and typically provided to developing and middle-income countries. It was approved by the United Nations in the first decade of development in the 1990s, and is provided by multilateral international agencies and sometimes by donor countries to recipient countries. This study addresses the importance of official development assistance (ODA) in countries that rely heavily on ODA to contribute to economic and social development. This study examines the structure of financial revenues in each of the countries represented by the Arab Republic of Egypt and Bangladesh. It …

The Role Of Transformational Leadership In Achieving Strategic Recovery: A Survey Study Of The Opinions Of A Sample Of Directors In The General Directorate Of Education In Nineveh Governorate, Mariam Moneim Malallah Al-Halawajy

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

The current study aims to shed light on the role of transformational leadership as an independent variable, embodied in four dimensions (idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration), in achieving strategic recovery as a dependent variable, represented by three dimensions (apology, compensation, and rapid response) at the General Directorate of Education in Nineveh Governorate. To achieve the objectives of the study, the descriptive–analytical approach was adopted as a methodological framework to accurately observe and analyze relationships. A validated questionnaire was designed for data collection and distributed to a sample of managers working in the Directorate, numbering (98). The …

Sustainable Development In The Islamic Economy Between Theoretical Foundations And Practical Application, Dr. Ahmed Abbas Abdalhussein

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

This research aims to examine the implications of the Islamic vision of sustainable development and to identify the way Islamic law has addressed its environmental, economic, and social dimensions. This is achieved by examining evidence from the Prophet’s biography, which includes foundations that align, in some cases, with the goals of sustainable development, while also encompassing more comprehensive foundations for achieving sustainability. This is particularly true given that these foundations and principles are consistent with Islamic societies, as well as defining the responsibilities of the individual, society, and the state within the framework of the exalted status that God Almighty …

Total Quality Management And Its Relationship With Organizational Efficiency Through The Mediating Role Of Benchmarking –An Exploratory Study At The Hartha Thermal Power Station For Electric Power Generation, Dhuha Nadhem Abdullah Al-Maliki, Dr. Zainab Shallal Akkar Jaber

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

Public service organizations face increasing challenges in achieving organizational efficiency and sustainable excellence despite adopting quality initiatives. This is attributed to the limited integration of Total Quality Management (TQM) and benchmarking as pivotal tools in the continuous improvement process. This study aims to analyze the role of TQM, with its dimensions of (top management commitment, process management, training and capacity building, data-driven decision-making, and employee engagement), in enhancing organizational efficiency, while also examining the mediating role of benchmarking in this relationship. The study employed a descriptive-analytical approach and included a sample of 270 employees at the Al-Haritha Thermal Power Plant …

Navigating Trump Tariffs In Africa: The Role Of Regional Economic Integration, Baba N. Yaaba

Bullion

The global economy is shifting away from free trade toward protectionism and economic nationalism, from multilateralism to unilateralism. This is evidenced by both tariffs and non-tariff measures taken by major global powers, which arise from political populism, economic insecurity, and strategic competition among them. This study analyses this trend, emphasising Trump's recent tariffs and their attendant implications for the global economy. The study argues that African Regional Economic Integration offers a shield to the continent if pursued vigorously. With vast potential in Africa, strategic investments, good governance, and inclusive policies can drive growth. At the same time, cooperation, such as …

Ai Ethics And Governance For Leaders In Higher Education: A Hermeneutic Phenomenology Of Faculty Early Adopters’ Sensemaking, Pedagogical Innovation, And Transformation, Freddie Seba

Doctoral Dissertations

Artificial Intelligence (AI), especially Generative AI (GenAI), is transforming how we work, learn, acquire, produce, and deliver knowledge, as higher education experiences existential pressures, including demographic changes that reduce enrollment and revenues, as well as shifting public and government perceptions of higher education's value.

This hermeneutic phenomenology dissertation study explores how faculty early adopters critically engage, innovate, and experiment with this nascent transformational technology in their pedagogies amid multilevel pressures: macro—market-driven (neoliberalism) logic, Big Tech, and demographic change; meso—institutional policy, broader faculty community, and pedagogical innovation; micro—widespread student adoption, pedagogical experimentation, and innovation.

This dissertation study centers on shifting AI …

Social Construction Of Female-Headed Households Participating In Hud Public Housing Programs, Emma Forks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem this study addressed involved factors associated with long-term program involvement of female-headed households living in public and vouchered housing. The literature indicated a significant gap regarding the reasons women who received federal housing assistance stayed in government housing. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to examine the experiences of female-headed households living in public housing and Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) housing in a Central Texas region, specifically to identify the factors that limited their ability to leave these programs. Using Schneider and Ingram’s social construction of target populations theory, the data was collected from eight participants …

The Role Of Fuzzy Logic In Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis, Ahmed Imad Abed Al-Atabe, Mohammed Wafi Abbas Al-Shammar

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

Cost-volume-profit analysis (CVP) is one of the most important basic tools in management accounting. It enables understanding the relationship between three key elements: costs, volume, and profit level. The problem with this research is that this type of analysis, in its traditional form, uses clear and fixed data, such as the variable cost per unit, total fixed costs, selling price, or sales volume, which can be accurately determined. However, these assumptions do not accurately reflect practical reality, which is often characterized by uncertainty and fluctuations. The research aims to utilize an artificial intelligence tool, fuzzy logic, as a more flexible …

Career Development And Its Role In Organizational Commitment: An Analytical Survey Of The Opinions Of A Sample Of Employees At Al-Zahrawi Surgical Hospital/Maysan, Salem Haider Resen

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

The research aims to reveal the role of career development in its dimensions (training, promotions, career planning) in enhancing organizational commitment, as the research problem was embodied in knowing the role played by career development in the organizational commitment of employees at Al-Zahrawi Surgical Hospital/Maysan? To achieve this, the research relied on a main hypothesis that (there is no statistically significant correlation or effect between career development and organizational commitment). The importance of the research is highlighted by its contribution to the development of human resources strategies to achieve organizational stability at the level of the Iraqi environment. On the …