Digital Commons Network^™

Ectopic Adipose Tissue In Subsistence Populations With Minimal Coronary Disease, Large Left Atria, And Very Low Rates Of Atrial Fibrillation, Randall C. Thompson, Benjamin C. Trumble, Daniel K. Cummings, Angela D. Neunuebel, Paul L. Hooper, Samuel Wann, Adel H. Allam, Frances Neunuebel, Benjamin D. Gans, Samantha I. King, Edmond Seabright, Caleb E. Finch, Margaret Gatz, Kenneth Buetow, Michael I. Miyamoto, Guido P. Lombardi, M. Linda Sutherland, James D. Sutherland, Christopher J. Ward, Madeleine J. Lee, Ashna Mahadev, Daniel Eid Rodriguez, David E. Michalik, Chris J. Rowan, Tianyu Cao, Jonathan Stieglitz, Cameron M. Quick, Gregory S. Thomas, Jagat Narula, Damini Dey, Michael Gurven, Hillard Kaplan

ESI Publications

Background

Methods

Dragon Guitars And Sexy Zombies: Tracing The Meta-Motion Of The Naga Motif In Northeast Thailand, Aaron Michael Stanley

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

Abstract

This thesis traces the evolving symbolism of the Naga motif (a mythic water serpent) in Northeast Thailand through a framework I call meta-motion, which maps symbolic persistence of this cultural signifier and boundary marker across four cultural horizons—animist (Z), Hindu–Khmer (B), Buddhist (A), and modern/global (C). Like electrons in quantum super position, symbolic motifs circulate as overlapping “waves” of potential meaning and are concretized into cultural “particles” only when recruited for specific ritual, commercial, or political purposes. I add a bookend extension to Chang’s Hindu-Buddhist (B/A) typology with the addition of Horizons Z and C in order to make …

Textile Work And Its Interface With Climate Change For Quechua Communities In Peru, Esmeralda Torres-Martinez

Capstone Collection

English – Indigenous communities have argued that their knowledge, lived experiences, and representation are crucial to address the climate transition because their communities have adapted to past climatic changes. Although climate change and culture can be interconnected in ways that are unique to each community, little research is done on how cultural practices can be catalysts for climate action. In fact, communities around the world have sparked socio-political movements from within their cultural context to solve both local and global issues. Therefore, this research asks how the practice of traditional textile making and weaving assist Quechua communities with adapting to …

The Automation Of Aesthetics: Artificial Intelligence And Commercial Artists In North Brooklyn, Devin Sudweeks

Theses and Dissertations

Corporate elites expect generative AI to replace commercial artists but overlook their social and aesthetic expertise. This ethnographic study explores how Brooklyn-based commercial artists narrate their value amid automation, emphasizing embodied presence in cultural scenes, visual language, style, and authenticity, skills not easily mechanized but vital to aesthetic economies.

Participatory Community Archiving To Preserve And Sustain North Georgia Appalachia’S Language, Literacy Practices, And Histories, Leah Panther Dr., Lindsey Walker, Presley Dyer, Tyler Osborn, Kerri Abernathy

Georgia Library Quarterly

This case study presents Swappin’ Stories, a community-based archiving event that serves as a model for public and participatory archiving. The event aimed to address gaps and misrepresentations of southern Appalachia by gathering the voices, artifacts, and stories of Towns County residents. By centering local narratives, it sought to foster a sense of community identity and offer an authentic portrayal of North Georgia, distinct from the narratives shaped by popular media and political figures. This case highlights the potential of community-driven archives to reclaim and reshape regional histories.

Coastal Consumption: Diet And Social Organization At Four Postclassic Sites In The Yucatán Peninsula, Paramita Choudhury

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research examines Postclassic Maya food practices during CE 1200–1600 to understand how eating behaviors reflect systems of social hierarchy, political economy, and cultural identity. The investigation focuses on four archaeological sites in the northern Yucatán Peninsula—Tulum, El Rey, El Meco, and San Miguelito—to examine dietary behaviors through dental microwear texture analysis (DMTA), oral pathology, and stable isotope data within a biocultural framework. The research aims to identify whether elite and non-elite individuals exhibited notable variations in food texture consumption, access to resources, and nutritional health. High-resolution 3D surface metrology enabled DMTA to assess the mechanical properties of consumed foods, …

Flex-Spatialities: Interior Spaces, Play, And Fantasy, Camilo Lozano-Rivera

Interiority

This article examines how interior spaces in the digital age have evolved into flexible, adaptive environments shaped by technological mediation and shifting everyday practices. Focusing on smart homes and home offices, this article introduces the concept of flex-spatiality to describe how these spaces continually reconfigure in response to changes in needs and digital interfaces. Grounded in Gregory Bateson’s (1972) theory of play and fantasy, the study explores how interior spatiality operates on two levels: as a locus for expressing identities and as a structure for organising social interaction. Through Bateson’s distinction between metalinguistic and metacommunicative functions, flex-spatiality is framed as …

Social Capital And Mobility Of Starling Madura Coffee Traders In Jakarta, Yeni Priana, Manneke Budiman

International Review of Humanities Studies

This study aims to generate knowledge about the social capital underlying the resilience of Starling Madura coffee traders in Jakarta. The idea that underlies this analysis is Bourdieu's social capital theory, in which social capital formed through networks is able to provide independence in overcoming social and economic problems. In addition to social capital, mobility strategies are utilized as opportunities by Starling Madura coffee traders in an effort to survive sustainably in the context of the informal economic order in Jakarta. This study provides data and analysis that strengthen the idea that Starling Madura coffee traders adopt distinctive social capital …

Indian Cosmology And Archaeoastronomy Of The Khmer Stone Temples In Sakon Nakhon-Thailand, Duangden Boonpok

International Review of Humanities Studies

This article is multidisciplinary study of cosmology, archaeology and astronomy of the Khmer stone temples in Sakon Nakhon. The study investigates of the temple’s architectural structure and environmental geography which related to the astronomical knowledge. The result of study found that the plan and structure of temples is influenced by the concept of Indian cosmology which has Mount Meru as the central axis. Buildings is signified as mountain or heaven with high and multi-layered base. The main building is symbolically important as the origin of power for the whole temple. The objects and positions are the transforming of cosmology concept …

Representation Of Women’S Role In Sumbanese Ikat Weaving (Tenun Ikat), Tasya Widya Krisnadi

International Review of Humanities Studies

The craft of weaving is not merely an economic or artistic activity, but also plays a central role in the identity and social life of the Sumba community, particularly in the Kodi District of Southwest Sumba Regency. Women in Sumba play a crucial role in the practice of tenun ikat. They are not only the custodians of the skills and technical knowledge of weaving, but also the bearers of cultural values embedded in the process. This research aims to reveal the role of Sumbanese women as preservers of tradition amidst the currents of modernization. This study employs qualitative methods with …

The Representation Of Indonesian National Identity In Syuhada Mosque, Kotabaru, Yogyakarta, Muthia Zahri Mardhiyah, Ali Akbar

International Review of Humanities Studies

This article examines the concept of national identity as embodied by the Syuhada Mosque, located in Kotabaru, Yogyakarta. Completed in 1952, the mosque was established as a monument to the independence of the Republic of Indonesia. This research addresses whether Syuhada Mosque genuinely represents national identity. The study aims to describe the architectural form of Syuhada Mosque and elucidate the representations of national identity embedded within its structure. The research methodology aligns with the framework proposed by Sharer and Ashmore, encompassing formulation, implementation, data collection, data processing, analysis, interpretation, and publication. Based on its historical background, the foundational ideas and …

Making The Macc: Communities Of Practice And Cultural Citizenship In Austin, Texas, Cassie Lynn Smith

Anthropology ETDs

Meaningful community engagement is a challenge for local governments without a thorough understanding of constituents’ histories and their relationship with City government. This dissertation investigates the City of Austin’s (COA) Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) in Austin, Texas, to understand how this culture and arts institution engages with and is influenced by its patrons. This study analyzes the role of the MACC’s community of practice (Lave and Wenger 1991)—an evolving group of educators, activists, artists, and COA staff—in shaping public policy and educational programming as well as creating places of belonging for marginalized people in the city. …

The Influence Of The Dutch East Indies Government’S Ethnic Politics On Discrimination Against The Chinese Ethnic Group In Batavia (1946–1950), Zaky Rizqy Zaidaan Fadrin, Fajar Muhammad Muhammad Nugraha

International Review of Humanities Studies

This study explains how discrimination was experienced by ethnic Chinese in Batavia in the early post-independence period in 1946–1950, with an emphasis on the influence of ethnic politics practiced by the Dutch East Indies colonial government. The purpose of this study is to analyze the pattern of discrimination against ethnic Chinese influenced by the legacy of colonial racial segregation. The method used is qualitative historical descriptive. The main sources of this study come from letters of complaint from the Chinese community in 1946–1949 in the National Archives of the Republic of Indonesia (ANRI) and newspaper articles from 1950 from De …

The Comparison Of Classical Tafsir And Contemporary Interpretation Regarding The Verses Of Astrophysics And Cosmology In The Qur’An, Azra Ansharullah, Basuni Imamuddin

International Review of Humanities Studies

As time progressed, various kinds of discoveries in the field of science emerged one by one, especially in the field of Astronomy and its "little brother" Astrophysics. This opens up opportunities for everyone to research things that have been researched from a new perspective, such as researching the Koran from a science and technology perspective. There are 310 instances in the Qur'an where the word "heaven" is mentioned, and within them, there are various statements regarding the nature, phenomena, and other things related to the sky. With the progress of technology, there is undoubtedly a gap in the interpretation and …

The British Colonial Land Policy And The Development Of Plantation Agriculture In Colonial Southwestern Nigeria, Adesola S. Adesote

International Review of Humanities Studies

The main thrust of this paper is to critically analyse the impact of the colonial land policy of the British on plantation agriculture in colonial Southwestern Nigeria. Although land legislation had been introduced as far back as the late 19^th century, such as the Public Lands Ordinance of 1876 later renamed the Public Lands Acquisition Ordinance of 1917, it was vigorously pursued with the imposition of colonial rule in the period between 1900 and 1960. It argued that the introduction of land policy by the British in order to achieve her economic objective in Nigeria led to the commercialisation …

Symbols And Power Discourses In Three Shadow Puppet Performances Of The Murwakala Play, Ayuk Latifah, Darmoko Darmoko

International Review of Humanities Studies

This study analyzes the symbols and discourses of power in three Purwa shadow puppet performances of the Murwakala play, styles of Surakarta, Yogyakarta, and Banyumas. The Murwakala play, centered on themes of purification and the transformation of power, contains a rich narrative for analyzing power dynamics through the interactions between characters such as Batara Kala (a form of destructive power), Batara Wisnu (a form of constructive power), and Batara Guru (a form of cosmic order). Using a qualitative approach, this research integrates Geertz's theory of cultural symbolism and Foucault's discourse of power to analyze how power is represented and negotiated …

Soft Power: Brics Cultural Diplomacy And The Rebalancing Of Global Narratives, Brice Tseen Fu Lee, Kotchaphop Kornphetcharat, Juan Pablo Sims

International Review of Humanities Studies

BRICS has broadened its agenda beyond finance to cultivate soft power through coordinated cultural diplomacy. Examining official statements, press releases, and scholarly commentary on the bloc’s flagship film, sports, and ministerial initiatives, this article shows that cooperation is advancing from one-off spectacles toward structured, recurring institutions. Findings indicate two simultaneous dynamics: outwardly, BRICS venues amplify Global-South perspectives that diversify international cultural flows; inwardly, member states use the same platforms to signal national prestige, revealing persistent status competition. The result is an early but uneven cultural architecture—one that counters Euro-Atlantic narrative dominance yet has not crystallized into a fully coherent BRICS …

Representing Vietnam’S Political Leadership In International Media: A Critical Discourse Analysis Of Coverage From 2018 To 2024, Jackson Andre William Kumaat

International Review of Humanities Studies

International media play a powerful role in shaping global perceptions of political legitimacy, particularly in states where authoritarian governance coexists with economic success. Vietnam—often described as a one-party socialist state with rapid economic growth—has attracted increased attention in international news coverage, yet little research has examined how its leadership is discursively constructed through media narratives. This study addresses that gap by analyzing how Vietnam’s political leadership was represented in international media from 2018 to 2024. Using Norman Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and Stuart Hall’s theory of representation, the research investigates how ideology, power, and meaning are embedded in news …

The 15-Minute City And Social Behavior Changes In The Tod Area: Blok M-Sisingamangaraja Tod Case Study, Dede Julfikar, Lin Yola

International Review of Humanities Studies

The changing process of the city can be due to economic development that results in urbanization then enlarges the city. This situation affects the growth and evolution of other activities in urban areas such as the emergence of new residential areas, industrial zones, and trade and service (commercial) areas. The government of DKI Jakarta is targetting to develop many public transportation infrastructure due to its target of 2040 70% of Jakarta residents live near by transit points. So that the distance of residential residents to urban facilities can be reached within 15 minutes of walking, cycling or using public transportation. …

“Gue Lo”: Form Of Address As A Strategy For Negotiating Cultural Identity, Dwi Rahmawanto

International Review of Humanities Studies

This study examines the relationship between language choice, especially the use of the form of address gue lo, and the disclosure of the cultural identity of Javanese students at Universitas Indonesia. This study adopts a descriptive mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative data collected through a survey of 52 Javanese student respondents. The results indicate that most respondents used the form of address gue lo when interacting with peers from outside Java, whereas alternative forms were more commonly used with other Javanese students. Correlation tests revealed a negative relationship between the intensity of gue lo usage and the desire …

The Establishment Of Jakarta International Schoolin Indonesia As A Reflection Of Globalisation Through Education, Brandon Cahyadhuha Rusdy, Linda Sunarti

International Review of Humanities Studies

"This article examines the establishment of Jakarta International School (JIS) within the context of the globalisation of Indonesia. Established in 1951 under the name International School of Djakarta by Antoinette Stepanek, an educator from the United States, it was the first school to provide an English-language education for the children of expatriates in Jakarta, Indonesia. The school underwent several name changes throughout its history. In 1965, the school was renamed to Joint Embassy School to reflect the support from a coalition of embassies, consisting of the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Yugoslavia. In 1978, the school was renamed again …

The Middle Class, The Youth, The Highways: Production Of Space And Urban Memory In Blok M, Jakarta, Bimana Novantara, Yudi Bachrioktora, Lilawati Kurnia

International Review of Humanities Studies

This paper examines the historical and contemporary dynamics of the Blok M area in Jakarta as a public space undergoing a process of spatial, cultural, and symbolic transformation. Using Henri Lefebvre’s theory of the production of space and then relating it to the discourse of urban memory according to Abidin Kusno, this study traces how Blok M developed from the modernist urban planning of Kebayoran Baru after independence to be the epicenter of youth festivity, then declined until it rose again through a place that utilized the memory of this area in the past. This study highlights how the politics …

Advertising Appeals Through Instagram Caption Code Switching, Irma Aulia Irawan, Myrna Laksman-Huntley

International Review of Humanities Studies

The COVID-19 disease required everyone to go into lockdown. All activities and communications were carried out through mobile devices, driving online content consumption to double. The Instagram app, which is part of social media, increased its visits by 43 percent during the lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic. As users turn to social media, influencers are emerging as figures in shaping online interactions and trends. One of the popular French influencers is Léna Mahfouf (@lenamahfouf). As a global fashion influencer, Mahfouf often uses English transitions in her captions. This qualitative research will identify the types of code-switching found with Poplack's theory …

Language Of Love: Kafka’S Affective Meaning In Briefe An Milena, Kafka Aisyah Triny, Julia Wulandari

International Review of Humanities Studies

Franz Kafka is known for his twisted literature filled with dark atmosphere and word choices, however when it comes to writing letters to his muse, Milena, he uses words unknown to him. He expresses his barest soul to her using word choices that indicate someone who is amazed. For a person like Kafka, love is not all about complementing word choices and emotions, seen by his internal battles with himself and uncertainty regarding the topic of love. This research will use Geoffrey Leech’s semantic framework along with Monica Schwarz and Jeannette Chur’s Wortfeld theory. The study aims to examine Kafka’s …

The Heritage Conversation Partners Project: Virtual Cultural Heritage Exchange In An Anthropology Course, Michael J. Kimball, Karin L. Bates, Miranda Bermudez, Liner Emilce Solarte Chourio, Amanda Consol

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

We describe the structure, benefits, and challenges associated with a virtual cultural heritage exchange (VCHE) between undergraduate students in an applied anthropology class and a group of English language learners (ELL). Using qualitative data collection and analysis methods, the project aimed to teach anthropological methods and perspectives to the students while investigating three research questions: Will a VCHE (1) build social bonds and bridges, (2) improve English language acquisition, and (3) raise “heritage consciousness” (awareness and appreciation of, along with an associated sense of agency toward, cultural heritage) among participants? Results support the research questions and show the effectiveness of …

Syntax-Enhanced Boundary-Aware Named Entity Recognition Model, Chuanming Yu, Bin Deng, Zhengang Zhang

Journal of Scientific Information Research

[Purpose/significance] This study addresses the issue of inadequate perception of entity boundaries in traditional character-level modeling-based named entity recognition models by integrating syntax information containing entity boundary features into the task using a multi-head graph attention network with dense connections. This integration enhances the effectiveness of named entity recognition.

[Method/process] This study proposes a Syntax-enhanced Boundary-aware Named Entity Recognition Model (SynBNER), which utilizes BERT for text semantic representation and integrates syntax information using a dense-connected graph attention network. This integration incorporates implicit entity boundary information from syntax information into word representations, thereby enhancing the model's entity boundary perception capability.

[Result/conclusion] …

Global Studies Initiative Faculty Report: Anthropology 101 Course Redesign, Lauren Anaya

Global Studies Initiatives in Arts and Sciences 2025

No abstract provided.

Editing Japan: Pornography Commentary As Postcolonial Revenge In China's Digital Sphere, Yichi Zhang

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines how Chinese male audiences reconstruct postcolonial masculinity through the consumption and reinterpretation of Japanese pornography. By analyzing commentary videos produced by "Team Strawberry," I argue that this phenomenon constitutes a symbolic revenge against Japan's historical dominance. Through degrading Japanese female performers and mocking Japanese culture and male actors, Chinese viewers invert colonial hierarchies, transforming sexual consumption into a nationalist project. However, this mimicry of colonial violence ultimately reinforces patriarchal structures rather than subverting them, while also framing nationalism through sexual conquest that mimics collective historical trauma. The re-editing and mocking of Japanese pornography by Chinese content creators …

Analyzing Human - Nonhuman Primate Conflict Mitigation Techniques In Mto Wa Mbu, Northern Tanzania, Lil Adams

Undergraduate Theses, Capstones, and Recitals

Human-wildlife conflict is a widespread challenge faced by those living in regular contact with wildlife that can have profound impacts on livelihood outcomes for humans, wildlife, and their shared environment (Barua et al., 2013; Blackie, 2023). Human – non-human primate conflict is particularly crucial due to primates’ high capacity to live among human populations (Chapman & Chapman, 1990; Alberts & Altmann, 2006; Reader et al., 2011; Sinha & Vijayakrishnan, 2017), and is currently on the rise due to increasing contact between human and non-human primates (Hockings, 2016; Uddin et al., 2020). To characterize and analyze techniques currently being used to …

Culture And Environment: The Calling Lakes Ecomuseum As A Community Sustainability Initiative, Kace N. Anders

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Located in Saskatchewan, Canada, the Calling Lakes Ecomuseum, CLEM, is a community-based organization focused on water management and sustainability. Ecomuseums are holistic organizations that occupy landscapes, are responsive to community needs, conserve in situ heritage, and incorporate sustainability along with community development. The ecomuseum movement came from a need for holistic heritage management that disengaged with conventional museology and created space for communities to engage with their heritage in ways that promote community identity. This thesis analyzes the Calling Lakes Ecomuseum and how it utilizes the ecomuseum concept alongside environmental sustainability. Both semi-structured interviews and place-based field observations were used …