Digital Commons Network^™

Feasibility Of Home-Based Urine Collection In Children Under 5 Years In The Origins Birth Cohort Study: Mixed Method Protocol And Sample Completion Results, Courtney D.A. Kidd, Najma A. Moumin, Andrea Macrae, Tim J. Green, Desiree T. Silva, Susan L. Prescott, Nina D’Vaz

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Urine is an attractive biospecimen for nutritional status and population health surveys. It is an excellent non-invasive alternative to blood for appropriate biomarkers in young children and is suitable for home-based collection, enabling representative collections across a population. However, the bulk of literature in this population is restricted to collection in primary care settings. Feasibility of home-based collection at scale has not been tested. Here, we describe a mixed method approach to collect urine samples in a large cohort study with children under 5 years. Methods: The ORIGINS Project is an ongoing birth cohort investigating early life influences on …

Unravelling The Motivations For The Environmental Harm Posed By The Unsustainable Practices By The Apparel Industry In Ghana, William Boateng, Ronald Osei Mensah, Lillian Lamptey, Victor Fannam Nunfam

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The apparel industry in Ghana has increasingly come under scrutiny for its environmental footprint, particularly in the wake of rising concerns about ecological degradation. This study critically examines the motivations behind unsustainable practices within the industry, exploring how economic, cultural, and structural factors contribute to environmental harm. Using Routine Activity Theory (RAT) as a guiding framework, the research identifies key drivers of ecological damage, including the dominance of profit-driven decisions, market demand for fast apparel, limited awareness of sustainable practices, and challenges in accessing eco-friendly materials. Additionally, the study investigates how the apparel industry's operations exploit natural resources and fragile …

What Are The Optimal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Parameters And Design Elements To Modulate Corticospinal Excitability? A Systematic Review And Longitudinal Meta-Analysis, Liam C. Tapsell, Matheus D. Pinto, Ann Maree Vallence, Casey Whife, Maria Luciana Perez Armendariz, Shaswat Senger, Jack Andringa-Bate, Dana Hince, Myles C. Murphy

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Corticospinal excitability, measured by motor-evoked potentials (MEPs), is often impaired in neurological and musculoskeletal conditions. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can modulate cortical excitability and improve clinical outcomes, yet inconsistencies in parameter settings complicate identification of optimal protocols. Objective: Our primary objective was to examine the effects of: (i) stimulation polarity, (ii) duration, (iii) intensity, (iv) frequency, (v) electrode montage, and (vi) electrode design (size/shape) on MEP size. Methods: Nine databases were searched from inception to 24th November 2023. We identified 84 individual cohorts (1,709 participants) and assessed time-dependent effects of each parameter on M1 MEP-to-baseline ratio in healthy …

Zero Day Malware Detection With Alpha: Fast Dbi With Transformer Models For Real World Application, Matthew Gaber, Mohiuddin Ahmed, Helge Janicke

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The effectiveness of an AI model in accurately classifying novel malware hinges on the quality of the features it is trained on, which in turn depends on the effectiveness of the analysis tool used. Peekaboo, a Dynamic Binary Instrumentation (DBI) tool, defeats malware evasion techniques to capture authentic behavior at the Assembly (ASM) instruction level. This behavior exhibits patterns consistent with Zipf's law, a distribution commonly seen in natural languages, making Transformer models particularly effective for binary classification tasks. We introduce Alpha, a framework for zero-day malware detection that leverages Transformer models, Support Vector Machines (SVMs) and ASM language features. …

Application Of Plastic Waste As A Sustainable Bitumen Mixture—A Review, Nuha S. Mashaan, Thakur Chamlagai

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Plastic waste is growing rapidly, while asphalt binders remain heavily reliant on petroleum bitumen. Incorporating recycled plastics into bitumen can divert waste and enhance pavement performance. This review compiles 251 experimental records from 56 studies to evaluate how plastic type, dosage, and processing conditions affect softening point, penetration, and viscosity. Across studies, plastics (PET, LDPE/HDPE/LLDPE, PP, and hybrids) consistently stiffen binders, reducing penetration and increasing softening point and viscosity, thereby improving rutting resistance while potentially raising mixing/compaction demands. Using grouped cross-validated machine-learning models (median baseline, ridge, random forest, XGBoost), we quantify the predictability of binder properties and show that nonlinear …

Australian Teen Voices On Age Verification And Age Assurance Measures, Giselle Woodley, Harrison W. See, Brian O'Neill, Lelia Green, Elisabeth Staksrud, Paul Haskell-Dowland

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Age verification and age assurance technologies, including biometrics, facial recognition software and digital identification, have been explored as potential measures to restrict access of young people to social media and sexually explicit media (SEM), including pornography. However, there is limited data regarding how teens targeted by such restrictions feel about such strategies. Drawing on qualitative interviews with Australian teens and pre-teens (aged 11–17), this paper presents their views of age verification technologies, particularly in relation to restricting access to SEM. The participants in this study welcomed improved online protections but were ambivalent about proposed solutions. Age assurance and age verification …

Healthy Islands At 30: Revitalising An Ecological Framework For Planetary Health, Anaseini Ratu, Sione Tu'itahi, Timoci Naivalulevu, Donald Wilson, Helen Moewaka Barnes, Rebecca Patrick, Hannah A. Turley, Stacy D. Jupiter, Alice Latinne, Joel Negin, Margot W. Parkes, Anthony Capon, Pierre Horwitz, Aaron P. Jenkins

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

No abstract provided.

Perils Of Precisely Equal Group Size In Randomised Controlled Trials, Richard Gray, Daniel Bressington, Bridgina Mackay, Martin Jones, David R. Thompson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Participative Leadership In Enhancing Strategic Foresight, Ali Mawat Al-Sudani, Hadeel Kadhm Saeed, Iftikhar Abdhussein Kataa

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

Research diagnoses the role of Participative leadership in enhancing strategic foresight in the General Directorate of Education in the First Rusafa. To explain the influential relationships between the research variables and achieve the main objective of the research, a hypothetical model was developed in light of which a set of hypotheses were formulated. To test them, the researchers used the descriptive analytical approach to complete the research by using the questionnaire as a main tool for collecting data and information, which was distributed to the research sample, which included several managers (department manager and division officials) in the General Directorate …

Analysis Of The Role Of Agricultural Investment Policies And Agricultural Lending In Developing Commodity Production Of Rice Crops, Istibraq Mansour Falih, Omar Hameed Majeed

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

This study investigates the impact of agricultural investment policy—represented by agricultural loans and investment allocations—on rice crop production in Iraq over the period 2003–2023, employing the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model. Using time-series econometric analysis, the study confirms a short-term positive and statistically significant effect of financial support on rice output, while revealing statistically insignificant long-term effects. The presence of a cointegration relationship suggests long-term equilibrium between agricultural policy variables and rice production. However, the absence of causality in the Yamamoto-Toda test implies that structural and institutional inefficiencies may dilute the long-term impact of financial interventions. Practical implications of the …

Investigating The Similarities And Differences In Cultural Dimensions Between Primary And Secondary School Teachers In Jordan And Turkey, Based On Hofstede's Model, Balqees Almestareehi, Ercan Taşkin

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

This study aims to explore the similarities and differences in cultural dimensions between primary and secondary school teachers in Jordan and Turkey, based on Hofstede's model of cultural dimensions. The problem of the study stems from the need to understand and analyze these dimensions among teachers in both countries, to reveal the similarities and differences between them, and to explore their implications for different educational contexts. The research relied on a field survey of a sample of 100 teachers in the Jordanian and Turkish contexts, based on the recommendations of Minkov and Hofstede as preliminary data, in addition to the …

A Comparative Framework Of Hybridization Of Arima And Sarima Models For Forecasting Gold Price Movements In Iraq (2015–2025), Hiba Dhahir Alwan, Suhail Najm Abdulla

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

Predicting gold prices is crucial for policymakers, investors, and financial planners, especially in commodity-dependent economies like Iraq. This study examines the forecasting performance of Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) and Seasonal ARIMA (SARIMA) models using daily gold price data in Iraq from (April 30, 2015, to April 30, 2025). After preprocessing and testing for stationary, both models were estimated using Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) and further refined with modern machine learning post-processing, Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) method demonstrated greater stability and interpretability compared to the machine learning-based approach. However, the application of Gradient Boosted Trees (GBDT) to the residuals of …

Modeling And Analyzing Supply Chain Reliability Under Uncertainty: A Simulation-Based Study Using Real-World Data, Mostafa Abduljabbar Dawood

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

This paper has presented a simulation-based framework for analyzing supply chain reliability under uncertainty, supported by a comprehensive literature review, theoretical grounding, and a real-world case study. The main contribution lies in demonstrating how simulation modeling — particularly hybrid approaches — can capture the complex dynamics of modern supply chains and provide decision-makers with practical tools for stress-testing, scenario planning, and reliability enhancement. This study aims to evaluate supply chain reliability under uncertainty by integrating simulation and probabilistic modeling. The purpose is to investigate how disruptions in supply, demand, and logistics affect performance indicators such as service level, recovery time, …

The Effect Of Climate Change Disclosure Under Ifrs-S2 On The Going Concern Of Iraqi Listed Banks, Ahmed Jasim Abd Mohammed, Bushra Najem Al-Mashhadani

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

In recent years, increasing concerns regarding the implications of climate change and associated environmental risks on global financial stability have led both investors and stakeholders to demand more comprehensive disclosures on how economic entities impact the environment and climate. Also, the climate-related risks influence their operational sustainability and future cash flow generation. This study aims to investigate the effect of climate change disclosures according to IFRS-S2 on the going concern status of Iraqi listed banks. The research involves a sample of 30 banks listed on the Iraq Stock Exchange from 2018 to 2023. The study employed an analytical survey method …

Exploring The Role Of Transformation-Oriented Behavioral Accounting In Business Sustainability: A Qualitative Research, Nadia Dakhil Enad

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

Behavioral accounting is an interdisciplinary approach that the substantially contributes to financial decision-making by providing analysis of behaviors and guides managers throughout the risks to help organizations achieve their goals. This study examines the impact of transformation-oriented behavioral accounting on business sustainability within Baghdad’s State Company for Textile and Leather. The study employed a qualitative approach and an interpretative phenomenological method. The statistical population consisted of the managers of the Baghdad Textile and Leather Company. From this population, 14 individuals with their knowledge of accounting and behaviorism were selected through purposive sampling. Sampling continued until data saturation was reached. The …

The Effect Of Momentum And Liquidity Factors On Stock Returns In The Iraqi Stock Exchange: An Analysis Utilizing The Six-Factor Fama-French Model And Random Forest Methodology, Aseel Riyadh Joodi, Shatha Abdul-Hussein Jabr

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

This research investigates the influence of momentum and liquidity factors on stock returns in the Iraq Stock Exchange, employing the six-factor Fama-French model and enhancing the analysis with sophisticated machine learning techniques, including Random Forests. This research seeks to address deficiencies in prior studies by implementing an integrated model within the Iraqi market context, which is under-researched in the context of multi-factor asset pricing models. A quantitative analytical approach was applied to a sample of 10 companies listed on the market from 2014 to 2023. The findings indicate that the random forest model markedly outperforms conventional regression models, elucidating 72% …

The Role Of Barriers, Perceptions, And Strategic Gaps In Attracting International Students, Maqsood Saadi Mohammad

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

This paper examined the administrative outlooks of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq regarding the issue of recruiting international students, based on the perceived obstacles, institutional approaches, and the desired support of the government. The study is based on institutional theory and strategic management in higher education, which offers a strong theoretical framework for investigating how universities can ensure their internal capabilities are aligned with external policy structures. Quantitative research design was incorporated, and a structured survey was introduced to the presidents, deans, vice presidents, and directors of international relations and admissions of various universities. The collected data were analyzed using …

Perfectionism And Compulsive Exercise: A Systematic Review And Preliminary Meta-Analysis, Elizabeth Bills, Shannon R. Muir, Rose Stackpole, Sarah J. Egan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: There is a consistent link between perfectionism and compulsive exercise, and both are implicated in the maintenance of eating disorders, however no meta-analysis to date has quantified this relationship. We hypothesised that there would be significant, small-moderate pooled correlations between perfectionism dimensions and compulsive exercise. Methods: Published, peer-reviewed articles with standardised measures of perfectionism and the Compulsive Exercise Test were included. There were 7 studies included (N = 3117 participants, M age = 21.78 years, 49% female). Results: Total perfectionism (r = 0.37), perfectionistic strivings (r = 0.33), and perfectionistic concerns (r = 0.32) had significant pooled positive associations …

Climate Change And Population Aging, Anastasia Rhule, Michele Dinman, Natalie Galucia

Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging

Glaciers are shrinking, river and lake ice is melting earlier, plant and animal habitat ranges are changing, and trees and flowers are blooming earlier. Additionally, longer and more severe heat waves are occurring. Droughts, wildfires, and extreme rainfall are happening at a faster rate than previously predicted by scientists.

Incentives Influence Congruency Pre-Cue Utilization In The Stroop Task, Christopher O. Nuno

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Prior work using 4-choice conflict tasks has shown that pre-cues signaling the congruency of the following trial tend to produce robust pre-cue benefits (i.e., faster RTs relative to uninformative pre-cues) for congruent but not incongruent trials. The scarcity of evidence for pre-cue benefits on incongruent trials raises the question of whether people can adjust cognitive control on demand, given that incongruent trials uniquely require participants to enact an abstract control setting to ignore the goal irrelevant feature and focus on the goal relevant feature when presented with the pre-cue. One potential explanation is that participants are not sufficiently motivated to …

The Effect Of Zakat Compliance On Institutional Performance Through Strategic Planning As A Mediating Variable: An Applied Study At The General Authority Of Zakat, Yemen, Ali Nasser Al-Ahnomi

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

This study aims to analyze the mediating role of strategic planning in the relationship between zakat compliance and institutional performance in the General Authority for Zakat in Yemen, filling a research gap in fragile environments (Bin-Nashwan et al., 2021; Bryson, 2018).  The study employed a quantitative descriptive-analytical approach using a questionnaire as a key tool which was distributed to all administrative and functional leaders in the Authority and its branch in the capital, Sana'a, totaling 515, thereby representing a comprehensive survey of the research community. A total of 417 questionnaires were received. However, 398 were valid for final statistical analysis. …

Ai-Driven Decision-Making In Leadership: Balancing Automation And Human Judgment For Optimal Organizational Performance, Arafat Mohammed, Sulaiman Abdullahi Bambale, Umar Abdullahi

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

This study examines how artificial intelligence (AI)-driven decision-making can be effectively balanced with human judgment to enhance organizational performance and ethical leadership. The research adopts a systematic literature review covering studies from 2015 to 2025, retrieved from Scopus, Web of Science, IEEE Xplore, and Google Scholar. Through thematic analysis, the review identifies three core dimensions: (1) the impact of AI on strategic accuracy and operational efficiency, (2) the mediating role of human judgment in fostering innovation and trust, and (3) the influence of ethical AI governance on employee well-being and accountability. The findings reveal that organizations integrating AI’s analytical precision …

The Effect Of Organizational Culture On Faculty Performance: An Analytical Study Of A Sample Of Lecturers At Some Colleges In The Kurdistan Region Of Iraq, Hoshmand R. Ibrahim

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

The research problem of this study is to determine the connection between organizational culture and faculty performance in higher education, specifically, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, which consists of the public universities. Using the organizational culture theory and performance management models, the study explores three dimensions of culture, such as cooperation and communication, innovation and development, and appreciation and rewards, and their effects on the performance of the faculty in terms of academics, research, and administration/service. Quantitative approach was adopted through a structured questionnaire that was issued to faculty members working in different fields. The conceptual model of the …

Primary Care Physicians Prescribe Fewer Expensive Combination Medications Than Dermatologists For Acne: A Retrospective Review, Noah Keime, Oliver Titus, Monika Ziogaite, Jeremy Hugh, Lisa M. Schilling, Robert P. Dellavalle, Sarah J. Billups

Student Publications

Background: Many dermatologic medications are available as expensive combination products, though their lower-cost, generic components are available. Underutilization of these cheaper replacements is common and influenced by several factors, including prescriber's knowledge and disease severity.

Objective: To characterize differences in prescribing patterns for high- vs lower-cost dermatologic agents for acne between dermatologists and primary care physicians (PCPs).

Methods: Using an administrative insurance claims database, IQVIA PharMetrics Plus for Academics, we identified medication claims between January 01, 2017, and June 30, 2022. Inclusion criteria were claims for high-cost medications and lower-cost alternatives for patients diagnosed with acne. We excluded patients without …

Cefadroxil-Induced Drug Reaction With Eosinophilia And Systemic Symptoms (Dress) Syndrome After Double Mastectomy For Ductal Carcinoma In Situ: A Case Report, Iyawnna Hazzard, Alexandra Hong, Darius J. Shahbazi, Shahin Shahbazi

Student Publications

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a delayed hypersensitivity reaction to medications, characterized by a prodrome of malaise and fever, followed by skin and hematologic manifestations and end-organ damage. Typical causal agents of DRESS syndrome include allopurinol, aromatic anticonvulsants, and antibiotics. However, fewer than 3% of cases suggest cephalosporin-induced DRESS syndrome.

A 43-year-old female developed a diffuse, erythematous, pruritic rash encompassing her whole body after starting prophylactic cefadroxil therapy before a double mastectomy for ductal carcinoma in situ. Her rash continued to worsen despite discontinuation of cefadroxil and developed a fever, myalgias, and generalized weakness. In …

Signaling Through National Security Lawmaking, Weijia Rao

Faculty Scholarship

An often-overlooked element of the ongoing TikTok saga is China’s export control law, which prohibits the sale of TikTok’s core content recommendation algorithm without prior approval from the Chinese government. This law is just one example of the extensive national security lawmaking China has undertaken in recent years. Closely paralleling similar institutions in the U.S., China has established a comprehensive national security legal framework that authorizes the government to restrict exports, sanction foreign entities, screen foreign investments, and block transactions involving cyber infrastructure.

Why turn towards legality when China has the ability to employ these actions without a formal legal …

Quasi-Judicial: A History And Tradition, Beau J. Baumann, Jed Handelsman Shugerman

Faculty Scholarship

In challenging the historical assumptions underlying the unitary executive theory, scholars have made several seemingly unrelated discoveries. First, "judicial" power was conceived in English law as a subset of "executive" authority. Second, Congress at or near the Founding insulated certain court-like comissions from presidential control. Finally, the "quasi-judicial" and "quasi-legislative" powers that were central to the holding of Humphrey's Executor flowed from a forgotten nineteenth-century legal tradition was guiding Congress's construction of the modern state. This Essay connects these findings into a single claim: generations of American stretching back past the Founding have instinctively insulated administrators granted quasi-judicial functions from …

Presidential Removal As Article I, Not Article Ii, Gary Lawson, Jed Handelsman Shugerman

Faculty Scholarship

As a matter of original public meaning, Article I’s Necessary and Proper clause is the starting point for both Congress’s power to create offices and the limits on that power.

We believe that many legal scholars have demonstrated that, as a matter of original public meaning, the term “executive power” did not imply a presidential removal power, and Article II did not imply an indefeasible (unconditional) presidential removal power. By contrast, Article I’s Necessary and Proper Clause is a basis for limiting congressional power that is more historically grounded in original public meaning and in early practice. Tenure protections and …

The Post-Chevron Law Of Deference For Investor-State Arbitration, Won L. Kidane

Faculty Publications

In Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, the United States Supreme Court clarified the “law of deference” built “on the foundation laid in Chevron.” The American conception of the law of deference, long solidified as the Chevron doctrine, has had extraordinary resonance, having been cited in at least 18,000 cases and 22,000 publications over a period of forty years.

The Court’s overruling of the two-step Chevron analysis for the resolution of statutory ambiguity is the most obvious outcome and is likely to attract the most attention. There is, however, an obscure aspect of the Court’s overruling of Chevron: the clarification of …

Graduate Physical Therapy Students Perceived Benefit Of Prior Anatomy Experiences Following Their First Semester Graduate Physical Therapy Anatomy Course, Austin Alexander

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

Human anatomy stands as a cornerstone prerequisite for admission into graduate-level Physical Therapy Programs. As such, prior anatomy experiences need to prepare students for success in graduate-level coursework. However, studies have demonstrated that undergraduate anatomy courses vary in their ability to predict success in graduate Physical Therapy anatomy coursework. This research aimed to utilize students' perceptions of their undergraduate anatomy experiences to predict grades in graduate-level Physical Therapy anatomy coursework. The multinomial logistic regression in this study revealed that the absence of perceived preparedness was a significant predictor of membership in the C graduate anatomy grade group. Students who did …