Digital Commons Network^™

Essays On Behavioral Aspects Of Retail Operations, Ceren Gultekin

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation combines a structured literature review on availability signaling in retail with two analytical chapters on inventory disclosure. The literature review incorporates the design and key insights of a systematic review and identifies directions for future research. Inventory disclosure is a form of availability signaling through which retailers strategically communicate stock levels to influence consumer buy-now-or-wait decisions. To mitigate strategic purchase deferrals, retailers may share low stock to create urgency or mask high stock to prevent consumers from relying on abundance. Despite its importance for profitability, academic findings and industry practices vary widely, ranging from consistent sharing to consistent …

Vestigial Choreographies: Climate Consciousness In The Long Nineteenth Century, Alexandra A. Rego

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The aims of this project are twofold: (a) to develop a method of theoretical analysis and (b) to put this method into pointed use. In service of (a), I propose a method of choreographic analysis. This method operates relationally, highlighting the production of movement and stillness among and between bodies, objects, and encounters. Choreographic analysis draws from methods typically sequestered to dance studies. Towards aim (b), this project demonstrates the relevance and breadth of choreographic analysis by connecting it to ecocriticism. Throughout this project, I apply choreographic analysis to a diverse set of case studies. I use choreographic analysis to …

Managing Migration And Political Change: Lessons From Sweden’S 2015 Asylum Crisis For South Korea’S Emerging Immigration Era, Sean Lee

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this capstone project is to analyze how two nations that have little in common in terms of geography or politics have been required to deal with immigration issues in ways that their institutions did not anticipate. One nation has been dealing with immigration-related issues for some time now, while the other nation has yet to do so. In 2015, when Sweden received approximately 162,000 asylum applications in one year alone, Sweden’s housing systems were strained, many of the municipalities were unable to keep up with the demand, and the political climate began to shift in ways that …

Sexual Communications, Digital Intimacy, And The Extremely Limited Admissibility Of Evidence Of A Complainant’S Intention To Consent, Elaine Craig

Dalhousie Law Journal

Research indicates that women are less likely than men to have any intention of actually engaging in the sexual activities they communicate about digitally, and men are more likely than women to assume that sexual text messages indicate an intention to engage in sex “in real life.” Sexting often reflects a highly stylized, performance-based, uninhibited and sometimes disinhibited form of discourse that distinguishes it from in-person communications. It is frequently open to interpretation and only rarely can these communications reasonably be said to reveal a reliable and non-discriminatory inference about a complainant’s actual sexual intentions for the future, let alone …

To Lecture Capture Or Not To Lecture Capture? The Answer For Legal Education Appears To Be A “Regulated Yes”, Nikos Harris Kc

Dalhousie Law Journal

The debate over the use of technology in the law classroom is often framed as the necessary use of modern forms of information sharing versus the creation of distractions which undermine deeper learning. One subject of significant debate in law faculties is whether students should have regular access to taped lectures from their courses, often referred to as “lecture capture.” Most universities have systems that can routinely record classes, and there are a number of pedagogical benefits which flow from student use of taped lectures. However, the issue of providing broad access to lecture capture is a complex one which …

Mandatory Minimum Sentences After R V Hill: A Different Way Of “Treating” Reasonably Foreseeable Offenders, Colton Fehr

Dalhousie Law Journal

The Supreme Court of Canada was initially reluctant to strike down minimum sentences for inconsistency with the prohibition against “cruel and unusual treatment or punishment” found in section 12 of the Charter. The Court’s more recent jurisprudence incorporating the experiences of equality-seeking groups and vulnerable offenders played a key role in reversing course. It is principled to take into account the experiences of minority groups to the extent they are capable of illustrating an offender’s reduced moral blameworthiness. The inevitable criticism that this approach unduly expands judicial review is nevertheless more convincingly rebutted by observing that equality plays a …

Eliminating Barriers For The Implementation Of Automation In The Mining Industry, Sefiu O. Adewuyi, Kray Luxbacher, Kanagy David, Miller Ben, Miller Hugh, Michael Moats, Savit Mark

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The integration of new technologies into U.S. mining operations is necessary for achieving continuous improvement in worker health and safety, as well as improving operational efficiency, but many have questioned why uptake of autonomy in the U.S. mining industry has been slow compared to other nations. Despite extensive research on mining automation, there remains a critical gap in understanding and systematically identifying the barriers to its adoption within the U.S. mining industry and globally. To quantify these barriers, a workshop model of data collection was employed. A total of 708 invitations were extended to professionals to participate in nine different …

The Impact Of Carbon Capture Technologies On Energy Prices, Bruktawit M. Ahmed, Mahelet G. Fikru

Economics Faculty Research & Creative Works

Despite previous literature evaluating the economic feasibility of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the energy and power sector, there are limited studies examining the impact on consumer prices - particularly energy prices and their variability. Using a Monte Carlo simulation based on a profit-maximization model in an oligopolistic market, we examine how production and abatement costs, policy incentives — including a carbon tax, renewable energy subsidies, and CCS subsidies — and energy demand parameters influence the percentage of carbon captured by a producer operating a diverse portfolio of energy-generating technologies. Additionally, we assess how these factors contribute to fluctuations …

Non-Judicial Mechanism For Resolving Past Human Rights Violence In Indonesia; How Does It Redress Women Victims Of Sexual Violence?, Sri Wiyanti Eddyono, Audrey Anggita Ayuningtyas

The Indonesian Journal of Socio-Legal Studies

This paper examines whether the Indonesian government's non-judicial settlement for addressing past gross human rights violations (PGHRV) offers redress for the victims of sexual violence of past human rights violations. Indonesia has grappled to address past human rights violations through formal justice mechanisms. There are about 12 unresolved cases, more than half of which concerning sexual violence during conflict. This paper combined a socio-legal approach with mixed methods to gather data on the issue PGHRV: desk research and interviews with key persons involved in the non-judicial mechanism. Due to the heavy political pressure, the formal judicial mechanism reached a dead …

Rehabilitation Or Retribution? A Socio-Legal Comparison Of Criminal Sanctions And Social Reintegration In Indonesia And Spain, Ridwan Arifin, Izan Mateo Cassandro

The Indonesian Journal of Socio-Legal Studies

This study examines the legal, institutional, and socio-cultural mechanisms influencing the social reintegration of ex-offenders in Indonesia and Spain. Despite a global trend toward rehabilitative approaches, practical implementation reveals significant divergence due to structural, cultural, and economic factors. Indonesia’s penal system, guided by Law No. 22 of 2022 and the new Criminal Code (KUHP), emphasizes statutory rehabilitation and vocational and spiritual programs. However, challenges such as prison overcrowding, limited post-release support, and societal stigma constrain effectiveness. Judicial decisions indicate cautious application of restorative provisions, reflecting both public expectations and institutional limitations. In Spain, rehabilitation is constitutionally entrenched under Article 25(2) …

Integrating Multi-Scale And Multi-Filtration Topological Features For Medical Image Classification, Pengfei Gu, Huimin Li, Haoteng Tang, Dongkuan Xu, Erik Enriquez, Dongchul Kim, Bin Fu, Danny Z. Chen

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Modern deep neural networks have shown remarkable performance in medical image classification. However, such networks either emphasize pixel-intensity features instead of fundamental anatomical structures (e.g., those encoded by topological invariants), or they capture only simple topological features via single-parameter persistence. In this paper, we propose a new topology-guided classification framework that extracts multi-scale and multi-filtration persistent topological features and integrates them into vision classification backbones. For an input image, we first compute cubical persistence diagrams (PDs) across multiple image resolutions/scales. We then develop a "vineyard" algorithm that consolidates these PDs into a single, stable diagram capturing signatures at varying granularities, …

Comparing Allometric Models To Machine Learning Models For Aboveground Biomass Estimation In Agroforestry Systems In Kenya, Samuel Irungu Kigotho, Kennedy Senagi, John Olukuru, David Masereti Makori, Elfatih M. Abdel-Rahman, Evans Omondi

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

This study compared traditional allometric models with machine learning (ML) techniques for accurately estimating aboveground biomass (AGB) in six Acacia species within Kenyan agroforestry systems. Using tree diameter at breast height (DBH) and total height as inputs, the research evaluated allometric models (Chave’s, Brown’s, and Henry’s) against ML models, including Gradient Boosting (GB), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Random Forest (RF), and Support Vector Regression (SVR). This research advances the field by benchmarking machine learning and classical allometric models at the species level within Kenyan agroforestry systems and employing SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) for interpretability analysis. Model performance was validated using …

Protective Potential Of Minimally Processed, Plant-Derived Foods Against Steatotic Liver Disease In Early Adulthood, Yasmina Tashkent, Jocelyn M. Choo, Steven L. Taylor, Therese A. O'Sullivan, Dujinthan Jayabalan, Sophie J. Miller, Richard Woodman, Luis Calzadilla-Bertot, Oyekoya T. Ayonrinde, Lawrence J. Beilin, Trevor A. Mori, John K. Olynyk, Alan J. Wigg, Kate R. Muller, Leon A. Adams, Geraint B. Rogers

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background & aims: The incidence of steatotic liver disease (SLD) among younger adults is increasing globally. While poor diet is a recognised risk factor, the impact of specific dietary components is unclear. We investigated associations between dietary patterns and SLD markers in younger adults. Methods: Analysis involved 887 members of the Raine Study Generation 2 cohort, assessed at age 27. SLD was defined using a validated MRI volumetric liver fat fraction equation. Dietary intake, assessed by food frequency questionnaires, was summarised using a modified Overall Diet Score (ODS) that classified foods as “healthy” or “unhealthy.” Associations between diet and SLD …

Airline Strategy Research: A Bibliometric And Thematic Analysis (1980–2025), Mustafa Kaya, Tuba Bayar, Renan De Oliveira, Gui Lohmann, Ferhan K. Sengur

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Research on strategic management in airlines has rapidly expanded since its inception in the 1980s, with studies providing valuable insights into topics such as alliances, competitiveness, sustainability, and digitalisation. To contribute to this effort, the present study presents an integrative bibliometric analysis of 306 documents indexed in either the Web of Science or Scopus (1980–2025). Using Bibliometrix (R), a performance analysis indicated that although this research topic shows steady growth, its citation impact is concentrated among a limited number of authors, institutions, and specialist journals. Competitive advantage, service quality, alliances, low-cost airlines, financial performance, business strategy, revenue management, and pricing …

Precision Nutrition In Breast Cancer: Towards Patient- And Tumour-Informed Dietary Strategies, Cristina Crespo-García, R. Taaffe, Carolyn Peddle-Mcintyre, Emily Jeffery, John P. Campbell, Robert Thomas, Daniel A. Galvao, Robert U. Newton

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Dietary strategies are increasingly recognized as important modulators of breast cancer outcomes, acting through effects on metabolic regulation, weight management, hormone signalling, immune function, and the gut microbiome. However, breast cancer heterogeneity and inter-individual variability mean that generic dietary guidelines may not fully capture patient needs. Precision nutrition offers the opportunity to align dietary interventions with tumour subtype, treatment context, and host biology, potentially enhancing therapeutic response and survivorship in patients diagnosed with breast cancer. In this narrative review, we summarize evidence on dietary patterns and prognosis, and explore how targeted interventions, including fasting regimens, ketogenic diets, and caloric restriction, …

The Development Of The Daughter-Guarding Scale: An Exploratory And Confirmatory Factor Analytic Study, Ray Garza, Farid Pazhoohi

School of Psychology

Fathers represent one of the earliest opposite-sex relationships for daughters, and it has been suggested that fathers may shape their daughters' developmental trajectory. Fathers are often stricter with their daughters compared to sons in monitoring and correcting behaviors, most notably in the avenue of social and sexual monitoring. Nonetheless, there are no valid measurement tools for capturing the different factors associated with daughter-guarding by fathers. The current study proposed an instrument for addressing daughter-guarding as reported by fathers. In Study 1, an exploratory factor analysis showed that 3-underlying factors were present in daughter-guarding, such as social monitoring of friends, guarding …

Recycling Aged Crumb Rubber-Modified Asphalt Pavements: A Review, Kwadwo Ampadu Boateng, Meng Wu, Dongzhao Jin, Zhanping You

Michigan Tech Publications

This study provides a comprehensive review of current progress and challenges in recycling crumb rubber-modified asphalt (CRMA) pavements. It examines key aspects, including mechanical performance, rejuvenation methods, chemical characterization, practical case studies, and environmental implications. Particular emphasis is given to the technical barriers that influence recyclability, such as the mix design for recycled mix, accounting for the combined aging of both the asphalt binder and the crumb rubber particles, and optimizing the rubber content alongside chemical interaction of rejuvenating agents. Existing research indicates that several traditional recycling practices, especially full-depth reclamation and hot central plant recycling, are generally suitable for …

Ig–Microbiota Binding Patterns In Mothers And Infants: A Scoping Review, Alicia Tan Yi Jia, Christopher S. Peacock, Danielle E. Dye, Claus T. Christophersen

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Studies characterising the immunoglobulin (Ig)-bound microbiota apply varying methodologies, making comparisons difficult. This scoping review synthesised evidence on Ig–microbiota binding patterns in maternal and infant contexts, identified recurrent Ig-bound and -unbound bacteria across studies, and highlighted knowledge gaps for further study. Nine articles investigating Ig–microbiota binding patterns in stool or breastmilk samples in mothers or infants were included. Ig–microbiota associations were influenced by sample type, Ig-subclass, genetics, and diet. The most important antibody was IgA, with partial functional redundancy with IgM, while IgG appeared more selective for pathobionts. Ig-bound taxa in early life included important commensals and pathobionts, with high …

Multimodal Narratives Of Adolescents’ Music-Wellbeing Literacy Capabilities In A Music-Focused Secondary School, Jason Goopy

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Meaningful and practical wellbeing strategies are needed to support young people living healthy lives. Wellbeing literacy is a positive psychology capability model for how people communicate about and for their wellbeing experiences, providing a framework for individuals to intentionally comprehend and create wellbeing languages to sustain and improve their own and others’ wellbeing. Contemporary views of literacy consider music a multimodal symbolic language and music is gaining recognition for its wellbeing benefits. This applied interdisciplinary study brings together theory and practices from positive psychology, education, and music to advance our understanding of the multimodality of wellbeing languages. A case study …

Numerical Evaluation Of A Zero Poisson’S Ratio Structure In Μ-3d-Printed Self-Expanding Nitinol Stents, Farhana Yasmin, Ana Vafadar, Majid Tolouei-Rad

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Stenting is a minimally invasive treatment used in managing peripheral artery disease (PAD). However, clinical challenges persist, including in-stent thrombosis and restenosis, primarily driven by axial foreshortening or elongation and suboptimal balance between radial stiffness and flexibility inherent to conventional stent designs. This study proposes an innovative arrow-shaped geometry exhibiting zero Poisson’s ratio (ZPR) behaviour for 3D-printed self-expanding Nitinol stents. The complete stent deployment process was modelled using finite element analysis (FEA), including radial crimping and subsequent expansion to enable systematic parametric investigation while accounting for µ-3D printing constraints. Response surface methodology (RSM) rigorously evaluated mechanical performance, defining peak stress, …

Peripheral Neuromuscular Fatigue Responses Of The Knee Extensors To Distinct Concurrent Training Protocols: A Preliminary Study, Tomás T. Freitas, Elena Marín-Cascales, Cristian Marín-Pagán, Linda H. Chung, Antonio Martínez-Serrano, Nicola A. Maffiuletti, Anthony J. Blazevich, Pedro E. Alcaraz

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: This study aimed to investigate the extent and time course of peripheral neuromuscular fatigue of the knee extensors following different concurrent training protocols in recreationally active men. Methods: In a randomized, counterbalanced, crossover design, ten participants completed one exercise session of three concurrent exercise protocols in consecutive weeks and in similar resting conditions: traditional concurrent training (TCT), sprint interval training (SIT), and high-intensity resistance circuit training (HRC). Maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) and electrically evoked tetanic force of the knee extensors were assessed before, immediately after, and at 24 and 48 h following each exercise session. Linear mixed models …

The Impact Of A Single Session Of Sprint Interval Training (Sit) On Pain Pressure Threshold (Ppt) In Healthy Adults, Francesco Pacenza, Gary Brickley, Umberto Crainich, Francesco Bettariga, Anthony Turner, Luca Maestroni

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Different forms of aerobic exercise lead to Exercise-Induced Hypoalgesia (EIH). The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effect of a single session of Sprint Interval Training (SIT) on EIH. A total of 44 recreationally active young adults participated in a single SIT session on a cycle ergometer, consisting of a 2 min warm-up, 3 × 20 s “all-out” cycling bouts interspersed with 2 min of active recovery, and a 3 min cool-down. Pain Pressure Threshold (PPT) measurements were taken on the quadriceps (working muscle) and thenar eminence (resting muscle) before and after the session. Additionally, average power …

Advanced Mathematical Modeling And Data-Driven Techniques For The Diagnosis Of Diabetes Using Continuous Glucose Monitoring (Cgm) Data, Farah Morsi

Theses

Diabetes mellitus is a major and growing health challenge, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) provides high-resolution time-series data that capture detailed glucose fluctuations over time. However, conventional CGM summary measures, such as mean glucose, standard deviation, and time-in-range, may not fully describe the nonlinear temporal structure of glucose dynamics.

This thesis investigates nonlinear dynamical approaches for analyzing CGM time series, with a focus on recurrence-based analysis and ordinal-network analysis. Recurrence-based methods, including recurrence quantification analysis (RQA), are used to characterize geometric and temporal patterns in reconstructed phase space, while ordinal networks …

استخدام تقنيات الذكاء الاصطناعي في إجراءات الاستدلال والتحقيق "دراسة مقارنة", حمد مصبح اليليلي

Theses

The Use of Artificial Intelligence Techniques in Reasoning and Investigation Procedures: Comparative Study

This research aims to analyze the role of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in the stages of criminal investigation and inquiry through an applied analytical study. It focuses on the use of these technologies to support law enforcement and investigators with advanced scientific methods, particularly in analyzing digital evidence and accurately linking it to suspects. The study also explores the future development of these systems through their integration with AI technologies to enhance the efficiency of criminal investigation.

The United Arab Emirates has consistently been keen to develop …

On The Fractional Laplacian Type Operator, Maysam Abdulnaser Zain

Theses

In this thesis, we study analytical structures arising from Dunkl theory and their

applications to harmonic analysis and fractional Laplacian operators. Dunkl operators are differential–difference operators associated with finite reflection groups, providing a natural generalization of the classical Fourier analysis through the introduction of root systems and multiplicity functions. Within this framework, several classical transforms appear as special cases of the (k,a)-generalized Fourier transform. We study the generalized Fourier transform ��ₖ,ₐ, its kernel B_k,a (x,y), and the associated translation operator and convolution structures. Using these tools, we construct the corresponding heat …

Ai-Powered Student Support And Development Platform, Wadha Rashed Alyammahi

Theses

Over the past few years, academic stress and student mental well-being have become critical concerns in educational settings, significantly affecting academic performance and overall quality of life. Students increasingly rely on digital platforms for academic support; however, many existing solutions lack the ability to adapt to users’ emotional states or provide personalized, context-aware assistance. In response to this challenge, this study presents the design and development of an intelligent, stress-aware conversational support system for students based on advanced natural language processing techniques and large language models.

The main goal of this study is to explore the effectiveness of an LLM-based …

Malicious Quic Traffic Detection Using Malicious Quic Traffic Detection Using Malicious Quic Traffic Detection Using Malicious Quic Traffic Detection Using, Choudhary Muhammad Zia

Theses

The enhanced QUIC protocol's encryption capabilities not only encrypt the traffic payload but also encrypt the packet headers that network security tools rely on for packet inspection. This enhanced encryption capability introduces challenges for network operators in monitoring and analyzing network traffic by creating blind spots in firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and deep packet inspection devices. Earlier research has demonstrated that training machine learning classifiers on individual QUIC packets across different classifiers has failed to detect any malicious traffic due to encrypted packet headers.

This thesis demonstrates that shifting to network flow analysis resolves this problem. Rather than analyzing individual …

Cycles Of Inequality In The Marketplace: Insights From Macro, Marketer, And Consumer Perspectives, Debora V. Thompson, Amna Kirmani, Rebecca Hamilton, Andy Li, Christilene Du Plessis, Daniel Fernandes, Guillaume Johnson, Brent Mcferren, Jian Ni, Vladmir Pavlov, Francine Petersen, Lisa Scheer, Yan Vieites, Keith Wilcox

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Seeking inequality via differentiation is a fundamental theme in the marketing literature: consumers derive utility from products that convey socially valued attributes, and marketers target consumers by giving them opportunities to differentiate on socially valued attributes. However, as a large body of evidence shows, inequality can reduce consumer well-being and limit economic growth. In this paper, we take a systemic view of marketplace inequality, examining the interdependence among consumers, marketers, and macro forces in shaping inequality in markets for goods and services. Our broad review of the marketing literature across ten marketing journals and a variety of subdomains within the …

The Future Of Epilepsy Care In The United Kingdom: A Roadmap For Technology-Enabled Transformation, Rohit Shankar, John Terry

Peninsula Medical School

Epilepsy is recognized to be a significant cause of premature mortality, socio-economic distress and poor quality of life in economically developed countries. Despite clear clinical guidelines, epilepsy care is marked by delayed diagnosis, fragmented management, high emergency admission rates, and pronounced health inequalities affecting rural populations, ethnic minority groups, and people with intellectual disabilities. Diagnostic pathways remain inefficient, with prolonged waits for electroencephalography (EEG), low sensitivity of routine investigations, and repeated inconclusive testing. Long-term management continues to depend on infrequent hospital visits and unreliable patient recall, contributing to suboptimal seizure control, avoidable morbidity, and preventable mortality. In the United Kingdom, …

Ldm-Morph: Latent Diffusion Model Guided Deformable Image Registration, Jiong Wu, Tinsu Pan, Kuang Gong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Deformable image registration plays an essential role in various medical image tasks. Existing deep learning-based deformable registration frameworks primarily utilize convolutional neural networks (CNNs) or Transformers to learn features to predict the deformations. However, the lack of semantic information in the learned features limits the registration performance. Furthermore, the similarity metric of the loss function is often evaluated only in the pixel space, which ignores the matching of high-level anatomical features and can lead to deformation folding. To address these issues, in this work, we proposed LDM-Morph, an unsupervised deformable registration algorithm for medical image registration. LDM-Morph integrated features extracted …