Digital Commons Network^™

Discussion Of Living Through Capitalism, By James A. Chamberlain, James Chamberlain

Emancipations: A Journal of Critical Social Analysis

A discussion of Chamberlain's recent book, Living Through Capitalism: Resisting Devastation Through Communities of Life .

Chantal Mouffe And Albena Azmanova, Forty Years After Hegemony And Socialist Strategy (A Conversation), Chantal Mouffe, Albena Azmanova

Emancipations: A Journal of Critical Social Analysis

No abstract provided.

Universities Can’T Be Politically Neutral, But They Can Be Pluralistic, Enzo Rossi

Emancipations: A Journal of Critical Social Analysis

No abstract provided.

Lawyers Without Courts In Trumpland, Arjun Appadurai

Emancipations: A Journal of Critical Social Analysis

No abstract provided.

(En)Gendering Capacity: Neoliberalism, Empowerment, And Responsibility For Women In The Un’S Capacity Building Agenda, Sabrina K. Harris

Emancipations: A Journal of Critical Social Analysis

This article analyzes how the UN constructs capacity building as an element of its development agenda. It theorizes that the UN operates as a governmental actor, adopting and pursuing a political rationality of good governance, while also navigating structural limitations to its organizational authority in implementing this agenda imposed by the liberal international order. As such, this article argues capacity building emerges as a valuable technology of development for several reasons: firstly, it operates as an individual-level intervention, circumventing UN limitations on authority in mandating state action, and secondly, it is framed as demand-driven and empowering while delivering on the …

Borderlands, Nepantla And Interdependence: Some Notes About Onto-Epistemology In Gloria Anzaldúa’S Work, Martha Palacio Avendaño

Emancipations: A Journal of Critical Social Analysis

The purpose of this piece is to introduce some of the key concepts in Gloria Anzaldúa’s work. A Chicana feminist philosopher, Anzaldúa was born in a little town in Texas in 1942 and passed away in 2004. I am going beyond her idea of borderlands to point out that her idea of Nepantla offers multiple options for approaching our social reality, such as tracing diagnoses and evaluating the social conditions for the constitution of an emancipatory political subjectivity. Nepantla constitutes an analytical way for understanding the plurality of gender experience as well as a path of knowledge in the process …

Organizing Identities: The Power Of Technofeudalism In A Precarious World – Milei, Youth Precarity, And Post-Partisan (“Anti-Everything”) Identities In Contemporary Argentina, Valeria Brusco

Emancipations: A Journal of Critical Social Analysis

This article explains why an anti-state radical-right agenda can become politically effective in contemporary Argentina by shifting the focus from ideology to the organization of identities. Drawing on survey evidence (ENCResPA, 7,130 online cases collected in 2022) and a corpus of anonymized semi-structured interviews with young people (2024–2025), I argue that Milei’s appeal is best understood as a form of negative politicization: a post-partisan stance built around rejection of mediation (parties, unions, experts, public institutions) and condensed moral narratives (“caste,” “cuts,” “freedom”). I identify an “Anti-Everything/Anti-Todo” identity as an electorally available and affectively intense orientation that travels efficiently …

The Present Interregnum: The Ultra-Right Revolution, María Pía Lara

Emancipations: A Journal of Critical Social Analysis

This paper deals with recent political consequences of presentism as conceptualized by the historian Francois Hartog. It clarifies how our experiences of time and history have enlarged the present and the past and have almost disappeared the future (except for catastrophic views). The consequences of these changes in the experiences reflect profound changes in expectations about the future, and how this regime of historicity allows people to become disoriented. They were moved into the margins of precarity. As a result, many of their views on politics find resonance redesigned by the distorted narratives of ultra-right leaders who blame those who …

Why I Am An Activist, Mirella Elgersma

Emancipations: A Journal of Critical Social Analysis

No abstract provided.

Editors’ Reflections: Insights On The Role Of Approximations In Practice-Based Mathematics Teacher Education, Bima Sapkota, Heather Howell, Liza Bondurant, Carrie Wilkerson Lee

Publications

In this colloquium, we will present six years of collaborative research on approximations of practice in mathematics teacher education, exploring how these approximations shape teacher preparation and addressing issues of equity and authenticity in instructional design. Foci include past findings, current challenges, and future directions, drawing from the recently published book edited by the colloquium leaders: Promoting Equity in Approximations of Practice for Mathematics Teachers. Participants will engage in critical conversations on bridging research and practice, with opportunities to join ongoing collaborations.

Equity Vignettes: A Practice-Based Resource, Liza Bondurant, Jane Wilburne, Dana Franz

Publications

Mathematics teachers have the power and responsibility to center equity in their teaching practices. Yet their framings and mindsets about equity can impact whether and how they use equitable teaching practices. In this manuscript, we describe how secondary mathematics teacher candidates responded to two equity vignettes focused on (1) gender identity and (2) race and tracking. We wrote these vignettes to expose candidates to situations they may encounter and decisions they may need to make as mathematics teachers. The purpose of this study was to explore the teacher candidates’ beliefs. We use the FAIR Framework and the Educator Mindsets for …

Late-Stage Capitalism And Consumerism In Higher Education: A Morphogenetic Analysis, Kallen Zhou

Publications

Facing widespread student disengagement and dissatisfaction, U.S. higher education is undergoing a paradigm shift, detaching from its civic and pedagogical origins. A key force driving this transformation is the rise of student consumerism. While existing literature documents market-driven actions adopted by higher education institutions (HEIs) and the consumer roles students play, it overlooks structural market forces. Specifically, little theorization exists on the relationship between late-stage capitalism and student consumerism. This paper addresses that gap through two steps: first, offering a historical analysis of the traditional university model, late-stage capitalism, academic capitalism, and the decline of the liberal arts; second, developing …

Personal Health Advice In The World Of Artificial Intelligence: An Assessment Of Responses From Chatgpt For Three Common Health Conditions In The Southern United States, Marion W. Evans Jr, Julie Harrison Swartz, Harrison Ndetan, Damian Francis, John Moore, Mary Kozub, Ernie Kaninjing, Jennifer Jones-Locklear, Debbie Greene, Josie Doss

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) applications within the health sciences including education and healthcare practice are now common. Patients are likely to apply AI to better understand their health status or to learn what they can do to improve their health.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate outputs from ChatGPT for three common health conditions seen in the southern United States as to whether it would include medically biased care or lifestyle related advice, legitimate sources of information and to assess reading levels generated.

Methods: Health care professionals rated outputs in 4 areas and interrater …

Using Electronic Medical Records To Estimate The Prevalence Of Pediatric Obesity In Mississippi, Brian D. Christman, Abigail Gamble, Sonia Jain, Kalon Kl Ho, Lei Zhang, William B. Hillegass

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: Pediatric obesity is a major public health concern in Mississippi. However, existing surveillance systems, including the Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System, National Survey of Children's Health, and Child and Youth Prevalence of Obesity Survey, are limited by self-reported data, restricted age ranges, and incomplete subgroup coverage.

Purpose: This study evaluates the plausibility of using electronic medical records to improve population-level surveillance of pediatric obesity in Mississippi while addressing issues of data completeness, bias, and representativeness.

Methods: Electronic medical records from 40,215 patients aged 2–19 years who received care at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (2013–2022) were analyzed via …

Assessing Education And Training Of Developmental Screening Tools Among Residents In A Southern Academic Medical Center, Paige Seabrook, Dustin E. Sarver, Susan Buttross

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: Developmental disabilities are highly common. Early identification of developmental disabilities is critical, but many practitioners, including those in Southern U.S. states like Mississippi, do not utilize developmental screening tools.

Purpose: We aimed to identify modifiable targets within resident training experiences and their correlates using a quality improvement approach to serve as a baseline for intervention efforts.

Methods: Medical residents (N = 57) in pediatrics (n = 26), combined medicine-pediatrics (n = 12), and family medicine (n = 19) completed a survey assessing training, attitudes, practices, and perceived barriers regarding using screening tools. Perceived barriers were …

Enhancing Public Health Strategies: Addressing The Rsv Burden In Alabama Through Clinical Treatment, Community Prevention, And Surveillance Approaches, Martha K. Findley Roper, Jennifer S. Dawson

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Introduction: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a highly contagious pathogen driving morbidity, hospitalizations, and economic burden. This review uses the epidemiological triad and National Wastewater Surveillance System data to assess transmission, viral load spikes in Alabama, and strategies for treatment and prevention.

Methods: A review of literature on supportive care, vaccination, monoclonal antibodies, and emerging nanomedicine was reviewed to evaluate strategies for reducing viral burden and complications.

Results: Trends from December 2024–January 2025 were assessed with National Wastewater Surveillance System data. Primary prevention includes immunization, hygiene, air quality maintenance, and early diagnostics. Tertiary care addresses complications such as secondary …

Risk For Infant Mortality Among Childbearing Women In Alabama, Michael Rutalira Koko

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: Infant mortality is an important indicator of the health of a population. From 2016 to 2020, the infant mortality rate in Alabama significantly decreased. However, disparities remain among different groups. The objective of this analysis is to evaluate risk factors and disparities of infant mortality for the past five years.

Methods: We used the Alabama Center for Health Statistics database, a population-based state vital records registry. We included 290,832 births to women aged 15 to 44 years linked to 1,575 infant deaths from 2016 to 2020. We excluded births at less than 20 weeks of gestation and weighing 500 …

Trends In Drug Overdose Deaths In Alabama, 2010-2020, Michael Rutalira Koko, Raphu Wakumeki

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: Drug overdose deaths are the leading cause of injury-related death in the United States. Over the past two decades, drug overdose deaths have dramatically increased in the United States, and the rise in the number of drug overdose deaths is mostly due to opioids. This descriptive study aimed to examine trends in drug overdose deaths according to age, sex, and race/ethnicity from 2010 to 2020 in Alabama.

Methods: We used data from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) and the U.S. Census Bureau to calculate age-adjusted mortality rates for specific age groups, gender, and race/ethnicity. We used SAS Version …

Mechanical Properties Of Oak Timbers And Mats And Toughness Of Loblolly Pine After 0 To 6 Months On The Ground., Zachary Thomas Kyzer

Theses and Dissertations

Testing wood in various ways is important to be able to understand the strength and recovery values. The first part of this study aims to assess the design values of mixed oak in-grade, 8 in. thick timbers and mats under various design and loading scenarios. Graded timbers were drilled, assembled into mats, and tested. Results indicated that the mat with a line load across all timbers, was nearly equivalent to the mat with a load applied to the middle timber only. Drilling did not negatively impact strength as compared to solid non-drilled timbers. The second part of this study investigates …

Equity By Design: A North Glenn High School Equitable Practices Policy Guide, Kelli Andrews Jarrett

Theses and Dissertations

This capstone project addresses equity gaps in dual enrollment programs in Mississippi, with a focus on North Glenn High School, a pseudonym for a high-poverty rural school. While dual credit opportunities have expanded statewide, disparities remain for first-generation, low-income, and minority students. A significant barrier is Mississippi’s reliance on ACT benchmarks for eligibility, which disproportionately excludes marginalized groups. The study examines the potential of the Pre-ACT in grades 9 and 10 as an early diagnostic tool to identify readiness gaps and inform targeted interventions before students take the ACT. Grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory and the Dual Enrollment Equity …

Assessing Water Quality And Algae In Wetland Reserve Easements In The Alluvial Valleys Of Mississippi And Louisiana, Avery June Wissmueller

Theses and Dissertations

Wetlands in agricultural landscapes play a critical role in improving water quality by retaining and transforming nutrients and pollutants. In the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV), widespread conversion of bottomland hardwood forests to row-crop agriculture has diminished this natural function. The Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) program restores wetlands on marginal farmland to recover ecosystem services. In this study, I evaluated water quality and algal productivity in WREs compared to natural reference wetlands and crop sites. Restored wetlands showed improved water quality compared to crop sites and were often comparable to or intermediate between reference wetlands. Seasonal variation and hydrologic differences shaped …

Quantifying Benefits Of Biochar With Variable Absorption Capacity As A Partial Cement Replacement In Concrete, Benjamin Shannon

Theses and Dissertations

Extensive research has been conducted on biochar-incorporated concrete. However, no concrete mixture design guideline is currently available for implementing biochar incorporation in practice. The objective of this study was to correlate biochar absorption capacity with the compressive strength of biochar-incorporated concrete, to quantify the benefits of biochar and develop mix design guidelines. Biochar with varying absorption capacities was incorporated into concrete at 10%, 20%, and 40%. Strength and moisture loss were recorded over the 90-day curing period of the biochar-incorporated concrete. Results revealed three main findings: (1) in 10%, 20%, and 40% biochar mixes, the normalized strengths ranged from 0.65–0.85, …

Nuclear Transparency Of Photoproduced Rho-0 Mesons., Bhesha Raj Devkota

Theses and Dissertations

Photonuclear reactions using a real photon beam offer a unique opportunity to explore fundamental aspects of QCD within the nuclear medium. The experiment E12-19-003, conducted at Jefferson Lab’s Hall D in 2021, aimed to look for the transition from hadronic to partonic degrees of freedom and to explore the predicted QCD phenomenon known as color transparency in photons, mesons, and baryons. A key objective was to examine the transition of the photons from a resolved (hadronic fluctuation) configuration to a point-like electromagnetic probe. The experiment utilized liquid deuterium, helium, and carbon foils as target nuclei, which were probed by photon …

Evaluating Three Lightweight Airfield Matting Systems Under F-35b Aircraft Loading, Brett D. Cobb

Theses and Dissertations

Aircraft matting has been in service since WWII. It has provided a maneuverable substrate to allow aircraft forward operations to take place in austere environments. AM2 is the main matting system that has been used for generations. In recent years, the need for a lightweight matting system has come to the forefront of the matting community. This is not only to improve the maneuverability, but also the shipping restrictions. This research is on three different light weight matting systems above subgrade with two CBR values (i.e., 6 and 25). A specially designed load cart was adopted to simulate F-35B loading. …

Netflix And Kill: The Role Of True Crime Consumption In The Development Of Acquired Capability For Suicide, Chandler Jayne Mcdaniel

Theses and Dissertations

The Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide (IPTS) identifies acquired capability as a key factor contributing to suicidal behavior. Previous research has shown that violent media exposure can increase suicidal risk through desensitization, imitation, and trauma activation. However, little is known about the role of true crime consumption (TCC), a popular form of violent media engagement, in relation to IPTS constructs. This study examined whether TCC predicts acquired capability for suicide, perceived burdensomeness, and thwarted belongingness. A total of 215 participants were retained after data cleaning. Hypotheses predicted that higher TCC would be associated with higher acquired capability (H1), that TCC would …

Impacts Of Upgrading Gcc On The Srtuner Compiler Autotuning Algorithm, Jonathan D. Butterfield

Theses and Dissertations

An often-overlooked research gap is the applicability of research over time. The impact of updating the GNU Compiler Collection version was investigated for the SRTuner compiler optimization research. Versions 7 through 14 were tested using documented flags and recommended flag dependencies. Quality controls measured and enforced consistency across test runs and benchmarks. The performance of SRTuner was compared to a random control while the impact of enforcing flag dependencies was evaluated. The most influential flags were investigated by turning them off in isolation, but results were mixed. It was determined that enforcing flag dependencies resulted in improved performance, but the …

Evaluating Avian And Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Communities In Wetland Reserve Easements In The Mississippi Alluvial Valley, Kara Michelle Hall

Theses and Dissertations

During the 19th and 20th centuries, nearly 80% of historic bottomland hardwood forests (BLHFs) in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) was converted to cropland. Efforts to enhance and restore wetlands on marginal farmland have occurred since the early 1990s through the Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) and other programs, yet few studies have evaluated ecological impacts of WREs. I conducted avian and aquatic macroinvertebrate surveys across WREs, croplands, and historic minimally disturbed wetlands to index abundance, richness, and diversity. I found WREs had less overall avian abundance, richness, and diversity than reference wetlands, whereas WREs exceeded crop sites in total richness …

Use Of Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy For Estimating Soil Chemical, Physical, And Hydrological Properties In Mississippi And Texas, Kanthake Yasas Bandara Gamagedara

Theses and Dissertations

Accurate and efficient estimation of soil properties is essential for advancing sustainable agriculture, water management, and soil survey applications. Traditional laboratory methods and pedotransfer functions (PTFs) are widely used but are often constrained by high costs, time requirements, and limited scalability. As an alternative, mid-infrared (MIR) and visible–near-infrared (vis–NIR) spectroscopy provide cost-effective, rapid, and non-destructive approaches for soil analysis. However, variability among spectrometer types, geographic regions, and soil scanning conditions poses challenges to model transferability and generalizability. This dissertation evaluated strategies to overcome these challenges and enhance the prediction of soil chemical, physical, and hydrological properties in Mississippi and Texas. …

Evaluating The Effects Of Biostimulants On Apple Coloration, Patrick G. Owens

Theses and Dissertations

Apple peel color is one determining factor of apple quality and is a highly sought after trait by both growers and consumers. Historically plant growth regulators (PGRs) such as daminozide and auxins have been used to induce a greater amount of red color in the peel, but these products typically have negative production impacts and raise environmental concerns. One new area of interest is in called biostimulants. This study investigated the effects of two experimental biostimulants (MCEN1 and MCEN2) applied at varying rates and timings, as well as a commercially available plant growth regulator (Blush® 2X), on ‘Honeycrisp’ apple color …

Space Utilization Optimization, Troy D. Rockwood

Theses and Dissertations

Outer space is a crucial and increasingly leveraged resource for advancing human quality of life; however, its utility is constrained by inherent physical and spectral limitations. This thesis examines two distinct resource optimization problems critical to the sustainable development of space. The first part of this work addresses the optimization of physical orbital space. Unlike a terrestrial resource, mismanagement of this orbital space can lead to a runaway cascade of collisions, destroying the utility of entire orbital regimes. This thesis proposes a conjunction metric to quantify orbital capacity based on Keplerian parameters. We develop a computational tool to measure and …