Digital Commons Network^™

When A University Dies, Craig Mattson

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

This past May, I marched in the final commencement of Trinity Christian College, a Reformed liberal arts institution where I had taught and researched for two decades.

Before the ceremony, I revisited Groot Hall, home of my old office building. It looked less ransacked than I had expected, probably because the professors had been too busy finishing up grades to pack. I made my way down its narrow hallways to the converted dorm room that had been my academic office. I had loved its high ceilings, designed in the 1970s for bunk beds, then converted to a space that welcomed …

Re: Draft Final Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit Unreclaimed Sites Field Sampling And Investigation Plan: Ur-51 –Area Near Bres No. 50 – Zelia And Mountain Con Mine, Mike Mcanulty

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Re: Draft Final Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit Unreclaimed Sites Field Sampling And Investigation Plan: Ur-52 Area West Of Bres No. 133 – Dexter Mill, Mike Mcanulty

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Integrated Reporting In Rationalizing Investment Decisions And Value Enhancing, Asst Prof Dr. Muna Jabbar Mohammed

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

The current research aims to identify and understand integrated reporting reports and to demonstrate their impact in investment decisions of publicly traded companies listed on the Iraq Stock Exchange and their role in enhancing the market value of these companies. To achieve this objective, a questionnaire was distributed to a group of investors in the Iraq Stock Exchange and processed using the SPSS statistical software. The questionnaire was analyzed using several statistical methods (factor analysis, correlation coefficient, and simple linear regression). The research reached several conclusions, the most important of which is that integrated reporting reports are a means of …

Servant Leadership And Organizational Loyalty: Examining The Mediating Effect Of Meaningful Work, Mezher Abdulsada Hunain, Hasan Oudah Abdullah

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

This study aims to examine the effect of servant leadership on organizational loyalty among administrative and technical employees at the University of Basrah, with particular emphasis on the mediating role of meaningful work in explaining this relationship. The study seeks to provide deeper insight into how servant leadership practices influence employees’ organizational attachment by enhancing their perception of work as meaningful, which in turn strengthens organizational loyalty. A quantitative research design was adopted, and a simple random sample of 362 employees was selected to ensure adequate representation across various colleges and administrative units within the university. Data were collected using …

Smart Financial Management Governance Based On Auditing As A Constitutional Mechanism For Accountability Of Algorithmic Authority, Ahmed Abdul Mahmood Al-Janabi, Yasser Saad Znad, Mohammed Salman Nima

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

This research examines the structural transformations brought about by the increasing use of algorithms and intelligent systems in financial management. These transformations extend beyond simply improving operational efficiency; they reshape the logic of decision-making and the distribution of power within organizations. The research is based on the premise that intelligent financial management generates a new form of algorithmic power, exercised through relatively closed computational models. This limits the interpretability and accountability of financial decisions within traditional governance frameworks. Furthermore, the research seeks to reframe the audit function from a regressive, compliance-based oversight role to a constitutional mechanism capable of holding …

Financial Behavior As A Mediating Variable Between Artificial Intelligence Applications And The Enhancement Of Financial Inclusion: An Analytical Study Of The Opinions Of A Sample Of Customers Of The Trade Bank Of Iraq (Tbi) In Al-Muthanna Governorate, Alaa Hussein Lrhayim, Kamal Kadhim Al-Hassani

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

This analytical study aims to explain the nature of the relationship between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the enhancement of Financial Inclusion through examining the mediating role of Financial Behavior. The study was conducted on a sample of customers of the Trade Bank of Iraq (TBI) in Al-Muthanna Governorate. A structured questionnaire was designed to measure the main research variables, namely Artificial Intelligence, Financial Behavior, and the level of Financial Inclusion. The research gap stems from the limited ability of previous studies to explain how Artificial Intelligence can contribute to enhancing Financial Inclusion, as most studies have examined this relationship directly …

The Impact Of Certain Electronic Payment Methods On Iraqi Bank Credit For The Period 2018–2024, Kareem Muttair Hassan Al-Zayadi, Ali Jaber Abdul-Hussein Al-Maali

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

The information revolution and the significant acceleration in the proliferation of electronic payment instruments over the last decade represent the primary frontier in reshaping traditional economic transactions, with the banking sector garnering the utmost attention in this domain, and beginning from 2018, Iraq initiated its digital financial transformation operations through the Central Bank launching initiatives to regulate the work of electronic payment companies, and the significance of this study lies in formulating an integrated analytical and econometric vision to explore the dynamic relationship between the expansion of these systems and the efficiency and trends of bank credit for the period …

Measuring And Analysing The Impact Of The Construction Sector On Per Capita Real Gdp In Iraq For The Period 2000–2024, Haider Abd Radhi

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

This study examines the extent to which the construction sector contributes to the national economy, specifically through its contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) at constant prices and per capita GDP. as this sector, which constitutes a significant part of the national economy in Iraq, aims to achieve an increase in GDP and per capita GDP and to achieve economic growth through the development of infrastructure in Iraq. Standard methods were used to measure the impact of the construction sector (the independent variable) on per capita real GDP (the dependent variable) during the period from 2000 to 2024, using the …

The Role Of Green Accounting In Achieving Sustainable Development Through The Quality Of Accounting Information: An Empirical Study Of Iraqi Industrial Companies, Ahmed Neamah Abed, Anmar Adnan Khudhair, Farqad Mohammed Bakr Al Saadi

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

The goal of this study is to highlight the role of green accounting, both direct and indirect, via the quality of accounting information, in achieving sustainable development goals in industrial companies in Iraq. The methodology was done based on data obtained in 2026 through a questionnaire sent to a random sample of 110 employees (accountants, heads of finance departments, finance managers and internal auditors) in industrial companies listed on the Iraq Stock Exchange. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to test the hypotheses and pathways by applying AMOS software. Furthermore, the results indicated that the green accounting is positively and …

Non-Parametric Bayesian Modeling For Predicting Financial Market Volatility, Maab Adil Sabbar, Ahmed Imad Jawad Alradhi

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

This study examines methodological developments in modeling financial market volatility, with a particular focus on Bayesian nonparametric approaches as flexible alternatives to traditional parametric models such as GARCH and stochastic volatility frameworks. While characteristics of financial time series—including fat tails, volatility clustering, asymmetry, and structural breaks—limit the effectiveness of rigid parametric specifications, nonparametric Bayesian tools such as Dirichlet Process Mixtures offer adaptive probabilistic structures that better capture the true behavior of returns.
Using daily data from the ISX Main 60 Index, the empirical analysis shows that although the GARCH(1,1) model achieves a good statistical fit, stable volatility estimates, and accurate …

2026-08-27 Provost Martin Speaks On Commencement Controversy, Dylan Berman

The Spectator Online

No abstract provided.

V.63-2, 2026 Masthead

San Diego Law Review

No abstract provided.

Liberty As Entitlement In The Common Law, Joshua C. Tate

San Diego Law Review

In recent decades, some Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court have questioned the broad definition of liberty that is the basis for the doctrine of substantive due process.  In his dissenting opinion in Obergefell v. Hodges, for example, Justice Thomas argued that liberty in the common-law tradition “has long been understood as individual freedom from governmental action, not as a right to a particular governmental entitlement.”  This Article will argue that such a narrow definition excludes many instances in which the common law used “liberty” as a synonym for “privilege” or “entitlement.”  Treatises that were well-known to the Framers …

Enhancing Protections For Professionals Who Report Misconduct As Required By A Fiduciary Duty Or A Professional Code Of Conduct, Nicholas Daniel Seger, Kelli Myers

San Diego Law Review

Whistleblowers play a critical role in maintaining ethical standards within professional environments, yet current legal frameworks often leave professionals who report misconduct vulnerable to severe retaliation.  Despite clear ethical and fiduciary duties requiring professionals, including attorneys, accountants, and medical providers, to report known misconduct, those who fulfill these obligations may face termination, reputational harm, and financial loss.  The case of Bohatch v. Butler & Binion starkly illustrates the chilling effect of insufficient legal protections, where a partner’s adherence to her ethical duty resulted in professional exile.  Without robust legal safeguards, professionals are left to navigate a treacherous landscape where integrity …

Residential Cooling Energy Efficiency During Heatwaves In South Texas, Rosa A. Castan, Gasser G. Ali

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Heatwaves have become increasingly intense and frequent in recent years. As a result, residents are forced to rely on air-conditioning systems, a major contributor to high energy consumption. South Texas is one of the regions that has been affected by historically extreme heat. This paper explores the challenges this region has faced due to heatwaves and the strategies adopted to mitigate their effects. It investigates the use of cooling technologies, energy-related habits, and investment in home construction to reduce indoor heat and manage electricity bills. A literature review is performed to help identify relevant factors related to maximizing energy efficiency. …

Evaluating The Impacts Of Extreme Temperature Events On The Us Rail Network, Gabby Gutierrez, Gasser G. Ali, Constantine Tarawneh

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

The United States railway is a critical part of the national infrastructure and economy. Heatwaves are a major weather event that can cause major disruptions and affect the stable operation of the railway. Failure in part of the rail network may have a ripple effect on the rest of the network. As such, there is a need to study the effect of weather on rail networks that require re-routing. The goal of this paper is to investigate the vulnerability of the contiguous United States rail infrastructure against disruptions to operations caused by extreme heat events. This goal is achieved by …

Estimating Highway Rehabilitation Projects Using Machine Learning, Samantha Ocaña, Silvia Flores-Osuna, Gasser G. Ali, Constantine Tarawneh

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Highways are a crucial part of the national infrastructure. As such, they are costly to construct and maintain; challenges such as deterioration, limited budgets, and cost uncertainty create a need for improved cost prediction of rehabilitation projects. This is especially true in the preliminary stage when all factors are unknown. Accordingly, this paper proposes a model to predict the cost of highway rehabilitation projects. A machine learning model is trained on large and publicly available datasets released by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Federal Reserve of Economic Data (FRED). These …

Utah Vegetable Production Guide (5th Edition), Nick Volesky, Marion Murray, Amelia Olds, Bridger Carey

All Current Publications

This guide, written by a collection of Utah State University (USU) Extension faculty and specialists, provides information on general Utah vegetable production, soil, nutrient, and water management, integrated pest management practices, and pesticides. The included chapters cover various vegetable crops, including brassicas, cucurbits, leafy greens, potatoes, legumes, onions, root crops, sweet corn, and solanaceous crops.

A Multisystem Presentation Of West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease: Lessons In Diagnostic Complexity, Carrine S. Kogulan, Philip Yusuf, Oluwafemi Ajibola

Student Publications

West Nile virus (WNV) is an uncommon but serious case of encephalitis and meningitis, often presenting with nonspecific symptoms that can mimic a wide range of infectious, metabolic, and endocrine disorders. We present the case of a 61-year-old male with multiple comorbidities who arrived with 5 days of fever, chills, profuse diarrhea, black stools, and worsening confusion. Initial evaluation in the emergency department revealed hyponatremia, transaminitis, and concern for tick-borne illness, prompting empiric doxycycline. However, the patient denied any tick bites. Given his known thyroid nodule and Burch-Wartofsky screening score of 70, he was empirically treated for thyroid storm despite …

Indolent Progression Of A Persistent Positron Emission Tomography (Pet)-Negative Ground-Glass Pulmonary Nodule To Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma Following Nine Years Of Radiographic Surveillance: A Case Report, Talyn Smith, Chenxi Shi, Saima Memon

Student Publications

Indolent pulmonary adenocarcinoma spectrum lesions can remain radiographically stable for years and often demonstrate little to no fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake on positron emission tomography (PET), making diagnosis and management challenging. We report the case of a 74-year-old Caucasian woman with a remote five-year smoking history and a strong family history of lung cancer who was followed for a persistent right upper lobe ground-glass pulmonary nodule. Despite gradual enlargement, PET imaging performed seven years later demonstrated no significant FDG uptake. Serial computed tomography (CT) scans over the following years showed slow progression from a pure ground-glass nodule to a mixed ground-glass …

The Common Law Is A Complex Adaptive System, Ronald J. Allen, Paul Piazza

San Diego Law Review

Traditional accounts of the common law from Blackstone to Dworkin focus on the role of precedent in judicial decision-making, the metaphysical nature of law, and the heroic judge.  As important as these perspectives are, they miss the essence of the common law, which is that it is a “complex adaptive system,” with the capacity to process vast amounts of information and broadly impact individuals and society in unexpected ways.

Complexity Theory—the study of decentralized, yet self-organizing systems and the emergent phenomena they produce—has been applied to study real-world systems as wide-ranging as the immune system, insect colonies, the global economy, …

The Oxymoron At The Heart Of Delaware’S Making Elon Happy Legislation, Franklin A. Gevurtz

San Diego Law Review

This Article proceeds as follows: Part II provides the background by giving a brief overview of the law governing transactions between a controlling stockholder and the corporation or its minority stockholders; laying out the complaints about recent Delaware court decisions applying this law; and explaining how S.B.-21 responded to these complaints through a belt and suspenders approach of narrowing both the definition of controlling stockholder and the difference in the legal treatment between controlling stockholder transactions and transactions with conflicted directors.

Part III explains the fundamental inconsistency created by the statute’s effort to limit the definition of controlling stockholder by …

Super Secret Or Super Illegal?: When Ndas Function As Unlawful Noncompetes, A Case Study Of The Reality Television Industry, Hannah K. Bollinger

San Diego Law Review

Reality television brings to mind staged conflicts, mindless entertainment, and fame-hungry casts.  However, beneath all this editing lies a unique and nontraditional employment structure whereby stars sacrifice everything to star on a show in the hopes of earning the coveted status of “celebrity” or “influencer.”  But the rules to play are one-sided.  Overly broad nondisclosure agreements restrict what stars can say and when, extending beyond the protectable bounds of storylines and trade secrets.  This Comment argues that these overly broad nondisclosure agreements function as de facto noncompetes that directly and indirectly limit stars’ abilities to compete within the labor market …

Microemulsion Eyedrop For Delivery Of A Pparα Agonist To Improve Diabetic Keratopathy Corneal Wound Healing., Ehsan Kaffash, Wentao Liang, Rudra Pangeni, Joseph M Clayton, Tianyi Li, Sagun Poudel, Shiya Han, Long Zhao, Jian-Xing Ma, Qingguo Xu

PCOM Scholarly Works

Diabetic keratopathy (DK) is characterized by delayed corneal wound healing in diabetes, and recent studies have linked this defect to impaired mitochondrial respiration and reduced peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARα) signaling in the corneal epithelium. The PPARα agonist fenofibrate (Feno) has shown therapeutic potential in diabetic corneal disease, but prior topical and oral approaches still face formulation and translational limitations. In this study, we developed a Feno-loaded microemulsion (Feno microemulsion) eyedrop to improve drug solubility, precorneal residence, and ocular bioavailability of Feno for the treatment of DK. Potential excipients were first screened in primary human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) to identify …

Operational Resilience In Cubesat Tracking Operations Through Complementary Architectures At Dss-17, Andrea Togni, Emily Walter, Chloe Hart, Ryan Collins, Noah Patrick, Christo Smith, Nathan Fite, Benjamin Malphrus, Marc Sanchez-Net

Small Satellite Conference

Loss of phase-locked loop (PLL) lock during CubeSat tracking can simultaneously eliminate both telemetry and Doppler observables, leaving operators blind during critical mission phases. While closed-loop receivers provide high-precision tracking under nominal conditions, they remain vulnerable to low signal-to-noise ratio, rapid Doppler dynamics, oscillator instability, and modeling errors. This single-point failure mode reduces operator situational awareness precisely when it is most needed. This work presents a dual-acquisition architecture that eliminates single point failure in CubeSat ground tracking. Implemented at DSS-17, Morehead State University's 21-meter deep-space antenna, the system pairs a conventional closed-loop modem with a parallel open-loop receiver implemented on …

Automatic Modulation Classification For Spectrum Sensing In Shared Satellite–Lte/5g Bands, Nahal Maleki, Todd Williams, Ulugbek Jainakov, Jason Jugar, Gilberth Caamano, Jeffrey Arnold

Small Satellite Conference

Automatic modulation classification (AMC) is a critical capability for spectrum monitoring, interference detection, and signal identification in increasingly congested satellite and terrestrial communication environments. This paper presents a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based AMC framework that classifies analog, digital, and multicarrier communication signals directly from raw in-phase and quadrature (I/Q) samples. The proposed framework supports twelve modulation classes, including binary phase shift keying (BPSK), quadrature PSK (QPSK), 8PSK, 16 quadrature amplitude modulation (16QAM), 64QAM, pulse amplitude modulation (PAM)4, Gaussian frequency shift keying (GFSK), continuous phase FSK (CPFSK), broadcast FM (B-FM), single-sideband amplitude modulation (SSB-AM), double-sideband AM (DSB-AM), and orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing …

Scaling Orbital Dynamics To The Laboratory: An Industrial-Robot Hardware-In-The-Loop Testbed For Small Satellites, Kelsey Tresemer, Shawn Higbee, Eric Albin, Steven Magana-Zook, Monwen Shen, Aaron Peer, Eric Reichel, Miranda Stern, Steve Hunter, Zach Shields

Small Satellite Conference

This paper summarizes an emerging hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) capability that uses collaborative robots (cobots) to reproduce satellite relative motion in a laboratory environment. The system maps orbital dynamics into a room-scale workspace while preserving mission-relevant pose evolution for small satellite applications such as rendezvous and proximity operations, formation flying, inspection, and cislunar concepts. The platform treats robot selection as a multi-parameter trade among workspace, orientation coverage, payload capacity, stiffness, acceleration, and path-tracking performance. Representative motion profiles define the required operating envelope, and the facility supports modular payloads that can host optics, avionics, inertial units, and flight computers. An external metrology system …

Hibiscus, Martha Pukahi

Hawaiian Quilt Pattern Digital Collection

Quilt pattern #23 of the Hawaiian Quilt Collection, featuring the "Hibiscus" design. The pattern consists of two pieces: a centerpiece measuring 63" and a border lei piece measuring 99".

Hua Kanaha, Isabella K. Linkee

Hawaiian Quilt Pattern Digital Collection

Quilt pattern #85 of the Isabella K. Linkee Collection, featuring the "Hua Kanaha" design. The pattern measures 90".