Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring Strategies And Innovations In Airline Profitability Assessment: The Role Of Artificial Intelligence, Elif Degirmenci

Journal of Global Hospitality and Tourism

The airline industry's profitability assessment remains a complex yet critical aspect of strategic decision-making, spanning from hub profitability to individual flight performance. This paper explores the diverse methodologies and challenges involved in evaluating both line and network profitability, emphasizing the need for innovative approaches in reconciling variable costs associated with aircraft types and route assignments. Traditional methods are juxtaposed with innovative concepts like the Blended Aircraft Cost model, offering insights into enhancing market route profitability. Additionally, advanced methodologies such as horizontal and vertical methods are discussed, alongside the role of artificial intelligence in revolutionizing real-time profitability analysis. Through a comprehensive …

3rd Place Contest Entry: Nontraditional And Commuter Student Experiences And Challenges, Sevana Karagoulian

Eric M. Scandrett Graduate Library Research Prize

This is Sevana Karagoulian's submission for the 2025 Eric M. Scandrett Graduate Research Prize, which won third place. It contains their essay on using library resources, their bibliography, and a summary of their research project on nontraditional and commuter student experiences and challenges.

Sevana is a student in the Ph.D. in Education program at Chapman University. Their faculty mentor is Dr. Keith Howard.

The Effect Of Smaller Classroom Settings On Behavioral Outcomes For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd), Erika Mull

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is increasingly prevalent among children worldwide and presents significant challenges in educational settings due to differences in behavior, communication, and social-emotional regulation. These differences can lead to unexpected and disruptive behaviors, such as aggression, refusal, and elopement, which impact students’ academic success and social interactions. Research has explored various strategies, including early interventions, teacher support, accommodations, and individualized education plans (IEPs), to support students with ASD. However, traditional classrooms with less structure can exacerbate these challenges. This inquiry-based research examines the impact of smaller classroom settings on the expected behaviors of students with autism, specifically focusing …

Collaborative Network Traffic Management Strategies Using Distributed Reinforcement Learning And Large Language Models, Saeed Rashed Alkuwaiti

Theses

The focus of this research is to explore collaborative network traffic management strategies using the Distributed Reinforcement Learning (DRL) and Large Language Models (LLMs) approaches. It emphasizes exploring a new tool for addressing network traffic by utilizing Distributed Reinforcement Learning (DRL) and Large Language Models (LLMs). This is achieved by utilizing self-organizing and self-directing techniques to optimize the network performance. Using the NF-TON-IOT dataset, various classifiers such as Random Forest, AdaBoost, C4. 5, Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), and SVM with an RBF kernel were tested for traffic classification and intrusion detection. Research recommends that DRL optimizes the complexity of the network …

Investigating Teachers' Perceptions On The Effectiveness Of School Inspection In Public Schools In The United Arab Emirates, Ruqaia Adel Mohammed

Theses

School inspection plays a significant role in ensuring quality education in UAE public schools. This paper investigates public school teachers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of school inspections in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and examines the impact of teachers’ demographic factors on these perceptions. A total of 218 teachers across the UAE participated in the study. The research focused on four key domains within the School Inspection Perception Framework (SIPF): Perceived Effectiveness of School Inspections (PESI), Perceived Effectiveness of School Inspection Training (PESIT), Perceived Credibility of School Inspections (PCSI), and Perceived Usefulness of School Inspection Feedback (PUSIF). Data were collected …

Study Of Falāj Pathways And Their Unknown Extension In Al Ain City Using Geophysical Methods, Saud Mohammed Alsenaani

Theses

Historically, the city of Al Ain has relied on its Falāj systems as historic water resources for freshwater, which is vital for drinking and irrigating its oases and essential for supporting life in the region for centuries, providing the foundation for communities and farming. The remarkable rainfall in 2024 uncovered several hidden ancient Falāj systems and newly enlarged versions of previously recorded ones, highlighting the importance of ongoing research for their preservation. This research project aims to examine the current Falāj systems in Al Ain, particularly Falāj Mezyad, using geophysical methods to identify uncharted extensions and to examine current Falāj …

Monitoring Sand Migration In Al Ain City Utilizing Remote Sensing Techniques, Sanad Salem Mohammad Fareaa

Theses

Sand migration significantly impacts urban development, infrastructure, and ecosystems in arid regions such as Al Ain city, United Arab Emirates (UAE). This study employs advanced remote sensing techniques to monitor and predict sand dune migration across the Sieh Al Hama dune field, a critical area west of Al Ain. The research objectives include quantifying dune migration rates over three years (2018–2020) using monthly Sentinel-2 satellite imagery, identifying distinct dune fields, and analyzing the textural and mineralogical properties of dune sediments to infer their provenance. Field sampling from four dunes (Large Sabra Dune, Dune 1, Dune 2, and Dune 3) was …

School Leadership Insights And Practices: Understanding Bullying Prevention Strategies Among Teachers In Private And Public Schools Across The Uae, Wissal Mohsen

Theses

This thesis investigates the detrimental effects of bullying on students, including its impacts on mental health, academic performance, and overall well-being. Addressing this issue necessitates a proactive strategy involving school leaders, teachers, and parents. Data was collected via a questionnaire: selected items employed a 5-point Likert scale, while others used a multiple-choice format. Analysis was conducted in SPSS and included descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, t-tests, and binary logistic regression. The t-tests indicated that leadership practices implemented to prevent bullying in both public and private schools were highly effective and statistically significant (p < .05). This research contributes to our understanding of how school leadership and teacher involvement influence the efficacy of bullying-prevention strategies. By using quantitative methods, the study offers a comprehensive examination of school policies, bullying-awareness initiatives, and reporting systems. The findings highlight the importance of adopting context-specific approaches to bolster prevention efforts within schools. Future research that combines qualitative and quantitative analyses may yield deeper insights into the real-world challenges encountered in bullying-intervention strategies, thereby bridging the gap between policy formulation and practical implementation to ensure anti-bullying programs are both effective and culturally relevant.

Distribution Comparisons Of Eac Cost Growth For Aircraft Work Breakdown Structure Elements, Kyle P. Marquis, Edward D. White, Brandon M. Lucas, Robert D. Fass, Jonathan D. Ritschel, Shawn M. Valentine

Faculty Publications

This article analyzes and investigates the distribution of cost growth of the Estimate at Completion (EAC) for the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) elements of approximately 60 historical United States Acquisition Category I Research, Development, Test and Evaluation aircraft programs. Using the method of maximum likelihood in conjunction with the Akaike Information Criterion, the authors suggest that both the lognormal and Weibull distributions provide relatively good fit to EAC cost growth, with the lognormal slightly edging out the Weibull. As a summarized finding, the authors present their empirical results for the mean, coefficient of variation (CV), the 15th and 85th percentiles …

The Department Of Health Wants To Know What You’Re Up To, Lance Plunkett Jd, Llm

The New York State Dental Journal

On May 3, 2023, Gov. Hochul signed into law, as part of the enacted New York State Budget, a new Article 45-A of the New York State Public Health Law known as the “Material Transactions Law.” The law took effect on Aug. 1, 2023, but it awaited promised guidance on its application and enforcement from the New York State Department of Health. In March, adhering to its usual torpor, the Department of Health finally issued such guidance. The law basically requires reporting certain transactions, like practice acquisitions, mergers and sales, to the Department of Health.

Novel Corporate Governance Structures, Jennifer S. Fan, Xuan-Thao Nguyen

Law Faculty Research and Publications

Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) startups have taken center stage, rapidly disrupting conventional industries at an unprecedented pace with their groundbreaking innovations. Hailed by many as the most significant technological advancement of our era, AI’s profound societal impact has garnered heightened public and governmental scrutiny. The spotlight has recently fallen on OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, which weathered a tumultuous period marked by the ouster and subsequent rehiring of CEO Sam Altman, a board reconfiguration, and Altman’s later return to the board. Concerns over AI safety were offered as the rationale for the tandem corporate governance structure of nonprofit and for-profit at …

The Role Of Chatgpt In Personal Statements For Plastic Surgery Residency Applications: Program Directors' Perspective., Krishna A Patel, Carly J Suriano, Jeffrey E Janis

Medical Education Articles

BACKGROUND: Personal statements are a required component of plastic surgery residency applications but can be extremely time- and labor-intensive. Artificial intelligence (AI) programs like ChatGPT can streamline personal statement writing, but their use, especially if undisclosed, can have ethical implications. This study elucidates the perspective of plastic surgery residency program directors (PDs) regarding the importance of personal statements in reviewing applicants and whether ChatGPT should be utilized.

METHODS: An anonymous, 6-question multiple-choice survey was designed and administered in 3 rounds via REDCap to 120 current plastic surgery residency PDs. An additional email reminder was administered by the principal investigator. Data …

Eating The Fat Of The Land: The Work Of Coxiella Burnetii To Traverse Intracellular Lipid Landscapes, Charlie Porto

Theses & Dissertations

Coxiella burnetii is an obligate intracellular pathogen and the causative agent of Q fever in humans. With primary hosts in livestock ruminants, C. burnetii is endemic globally, presenting significant health risks to agricultural workers and herd health at large. Numerous wild animal reservoirs exist, increasingly threatened by expanding livestock ranges. Furthermore, with a low infectious dose through aerosol transmission, the CDC considers C. burnetii a potential bioweapon, though in humans a large amount of infections persist subclinically, occasionally progressing to pneumonia and hepatitis with chronic infections leading to endocarditis.

The parasitic life cycle of C. burnetii is biphasic, a small …

Chalmers Library Research Award Winner 2 2025, Chau Vu

Chalmers Library Research Award

No abstract provided.

Policing Borders, Abandoning Rights: The Human Cost Of Eu Frontier Policy And Civil Society’S Response, Abena Afriyie

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This research examines the human rights consequences of recent shifts in the European Union and Spain’s immigration policies, which increasingly prioritize deterrence, externalization, and securitization over the protection of migrants’ rights. These policies, often framed as measures to combat irregular migration, have included the outsourcing of border control to third countries, such as Libya and Morocco, as well as the criminalization of humanitarian organizations engaged in search and rescue operations. By outsourcing border control to third countries, these policies exacerbate misinformation and anti-immigration sentiment while pushing asylum seekers into perilous transit routes fraught with abuse. Such strategies push migrants into …

Understanding Populism In Spain: Root Causes, Political Impacts, And Containment Strategies, Yuliu Huang

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This paper investigates the rise of populism in Spain, examining its root causes, political consequences, and potential strategies for democratic resilience. Spain presents a unique case of simultaneous left-wing and right-wing populist surges, embodied by the Podemos and V ox parties, respectively. Through a mixed-methods approach that includes a literature review and semi-structured interviews, the paper identifies economic inequality, political corruption, and cultural anxieties as the primary drivers of populist sentiment. It analyzes how these movements have reshaped Spain’s political landscape, such as dismantling the PSOE and PP duopoly in parliament, altering public policy priorities, and exacerbating political polarization. The …

Navigating Peril: The Impact Of Modern-Day Somali Piracy On Global Shipping Industries, Rachel A. Morton

Honors Theses

This thesis addresses the issue of modern-day Somali piracy and the impacts it has had on the global shipping industry. As a persisting problem in the 21st century, piracy has had dramatic effects on the global economy, with billions of dollars being spent in reaction to the crisis. Piracy has become a resurging problem in recent years, and it is essential to understand the logistical and financial implications of piracy in the past so that the problem does not persist.

Piracy in Somalia, is ultimately a result of state failure, demonstrated by the lack of government effectiveness and scarce employment …

“Left, Right, Your Left”: Marching Towards Equality In The U. S. Army, Zachary C. Creekmore

Honors Theses

The United States Army has transformed from a force shaped by exclusion to one striving for inclusion. This thesis explores the Army’s ongoing journey toward equality, focusing on how historically marginalized groups—such as racial minorities, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals—have fought for and gained the right to serve. It examines the impact of these changes on the Army’s structure, culture, and institutional identity.

Guided by four core questions, the research investigates: How have protected groups gained equality, and how has that affected the Army? Are all soldiers treated fairly under current policies? Should individuals once disqualified for mental health conditions be …

Traditions And Transitions: Intergenerational Family Relationships And Gender Roles In Appalachian Families, Abigail L. Belcher

Honors Theses

For hundreds of years the people of the Appalachian Mountains have come under scrutiny for their “backwards” and “outdated” customs. Often seen as inferior by the wider world, much nuance of Appalachian culture is overlooked and reduced to harmful stereotypes. Terms such as “hillbilly” or “redneck” serve to single out and label the people of Appalachia as “other.” Recent scholarship has taken to try and work around such stereotypes yet often fails to observe Appalachia through the eyes of its people, not generalized statistics. The practice of conducting and collecting Oral History serves to situate a select group of people’s …

Strong Democracies Need Reliable Citations, Margie Alsbrook

Articles

Legal systems must hold the trust of citizens in order for democracies to survive. Unfortunately, the American legal system is suffering from an unprecedented credibility crisis. Analyses of the roots of this problem have largely focused on political causes, with blame going to an array of issues ranging from the partisan nature of the judicial appointment process to the lack of ethical oversight for judges with lifetime appointments to the bench.

Thus far, scholarly articles analyzing the modern erosion of precedent have generally examined precedent from political or subject-matter-specific perspectives. This Article takes a more universal approach by discussing the …

From The Podium To The Press: Coverage Of Kamala Harris's 2024 Convention Address, Sean Ewing, Julia R. Azari

Political Science Faculty Research and Publications

Kamala Harris's nomination at the 2024 Democratic National Convention was both unusual and historic. Not only was she the first woman of color to be nominated for the presidency by a major party, but she also emerged as the party's choice without having competed in any nominating contests, an outcome made possible by Joe Biden's withdrawal from the candidacy. National nominating conventions are important opportunities for parties and candidates to draw media attention, and this coverage shapes the political impact of conventions. This was especially important in 2024, given the shortened nature of the Harris campaign. Using a sample of …

Navigating Personal Jurisdiction Based On Social Media Activity - Tips For Practitioners, Anna C. Conley

Faculty Law Review Articles

When will a social media post subject a defendant to personal jurisdiction outside their home state? The U.S. Supreme Court has not weighed in on the personal jurisdiction standard in intentional tort cases based on a defendant’s social media activity. Ever-changing technology and social media use have created a fractured legal landscape across circuit courts. This article does two things: (1) Provides an overview of the fractured landscape; and (2) Attempts to distill some guidelines for practitioners dealing with personal jurisdiction in intentional tort cases involving social media activity. The takeaway is that the defendant’s targeting of the forum state, …

Siac Rules 2025: A Critical Evaluation In The Indian Arbitration Context, Siyuan Chen, Chin Kye Joel Ko

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

No abstract provided.

Veterans Guardian Va Claim Consulting Llc V. Matthew J. Platkin

2025 Decisions

USDC for the District of New Jersey

Algorithmic Bias In Hiring: Amending Title Vii To Prohibit Ai Discrimination, Michael H. Leroy

Journal of Legislation

I propose amendments to Title VII to address discriminatory hiring related to AI technologies. Section 703(c)’s definition of an “employment agency” should be modified to include “any person who uses artificial intelligence” to procure employees. I also propose a new definition in section 703 that incorporates the expansive definition of AI in 15 U.S.C. 9401(3). These small changes would make AI hiring firms more responsible for discriminatory screening and selection of job applicants, and better protect applicants who are adversely selected by sex, race, disability and other protected characteristics.

Completing Social Security: Paid Leave And The Social Security Act, Molly Weston Williamson

Journal of Legislation

The Social Security Act of 1935’s twin flagship programs, unemployment insurance and retirement benefits, each provide cash benefits to replace lost wages when income is cut off due to harms beyond our control. But the Social Security Act fails to protect workers against wage loss due to serious but temporary illness, which poses a risk to economic security that parallels job loss and old age. This missing insurance protection is better known today as paid leave.

The omission of wage loss insurance for serious illness leaves a profound gap in the Social Security Act that was recognized since the law’s …

Volume 51, Issue 2 - Full Combined Issue

Journal of Legislation

No abstract provided.

“Then We Would Know, And Then We Could Help The World:” Exploring The Multidirectional Relationship Between Young Children, Families, And Social Movements, Carrie Ryter , '26

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

This study began with the researcher’s noticings and wonderings about young children’s understanding and impact in family activism spaces and broader social movements. Thus, the overarching research question was born: what is the multidirectional impact of young children on social movements? Secondary questions tackled children’s agency, families’ negotiation of activism at home and in the streets, and the rhetorical impact of children’s involvement. The bulk of the data was conducted via semi-structured interviews with young children (aged 3-8), caregivers, and educators. Qualitative thematic coding and analysis was conducted. A number of themes emerged, including: 1. Children make social movements more …

Historical Firearm Licensing And Permitting Laws, Robert J. Spitzer

Dickinson Law Review (2017-Present)

No abstract provided.

Analyzing The Effectiveness Of Information Security Compliance On Cloud Based Small And Medium Enterprises (Smes), Kasie Kelvin Awagu

Masters Theses & Doctoral Dissertations

As cloud computing becomes integral to business operations, security compliance is crucial for the success and sustainability of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs). While cloud adoption offers cost efficiency, scalability, and operational flexibility, it also introduces regulatory and security challenges. Unlike large enterprises with dedicated compliance teams and substantial budgets, SMEs often lack the financial resources and expertise to implement security frameworks effectively. Compliance with industry standards such as ISO 27001, SOC 2, NIST 800-171, and PCI DSS is particularly difficult, yet non-compliance can result in severe financial penalties, reputational damage, operational disruptions, and heightened cyber risks. Despite growing regulatory …