Digital Commons Network^™

Crisis In Crimea: A Case Study In Geopolitics, Jesse Clarke

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This research project conducts an analysis of the current situation in Crimea and attempts to contribute to the literature around a possible solution. Done so with the help of geopolitical analysis, the history of the region of Crimea is examined in-depth in an attempt to shed light on strategies for a resolution and provide background information. Geopolitical analysis as a form of study is then briefly explained and its relevancy for looking at global events and predicting outcomes explained. Next, three possible strategies for a solution are then presented and their viability analyzed through a geopolitical lens. These three strategies …

Strategic Implications For The United States Of The Belt And Road Initiative In Africa, Alec Monnie

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The belt and road initiative is one of the most significant developments of the twenty-first century, which the United States will need to learn to adapt to. Much of the academic literature regarding the belt and road initiative mentions that Africa is a significant participant in this policy development, but fail to elaborate as to why that is, or what the implications for this are for the United States. This article expands upon the strategic significance of the African continent, and explains the implications thereof for the United States and China. This article argues that the belt and road initiative …

Mining’S Impact On Environmental And Human Health: A Case Study Of Ramba County’S Gold Mine, Vivika Fernes

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This research project aims to gain a greater understanding of the health implications that Ramba County’s goldmine has on miners, their families, and the environment. While this study observes the community-at-large, inclusive of visiting miners and extended family members of workers, it will focus on women who engage in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM). Millions of people in the developing word depend on ASGM for their livelihood, evident in this case study in Ramba County. However, while gold is associated with wealth, there is great irony in the fact that those working within the mining industry are being exploited …

Leopards Are Good To Think With: Spotting The Zanzibar Leopard In Jozani Forest, Andrew Weier

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In this project, the modern narrative of the Zanzibar leopard was studied in Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park. Game cameras were installed and various locations around the national park to try and gather primary evidence that supported the existence of a leopard population in the forest. In addition, local community members were interviewed about recent leopard related activities. No biological evidence was gathered that supported the existence of the Zanzibar leopard and information collected from interviews indicated a potential shift in which other organisms are considered leopards. Recommendations were made for future research to be able to better understand the complex …

Impacts Of Agricultural Practices On Soil Quality And The Resulting Soil Conservation Implication In Kizanda Village, Lushoto Region, Tanzania, Sarah Maccormick

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study examined soil conservation in Kizanda Village which is in the Lushoto District, Tanga Region in the West Usambara Mountains of Tanzania. In Tanzania, and more specifically, the rural montane area, agriculture is an important part of both social and economic development. Due to a reported high rate of land degradation in Tanzania, this development is threatened though the lack of soil conservation. This study conducted structured interviews with farmers in Kizanda through snowball sampling to collect information about local agricultural practices and farmers’ perceptions on soil conservation issues. Soil samples were then collected from the corresponding farms (n= …

Climate-Smart Agriculture: Building Resilience For Women Farmers In Kalchebeshi, Nepal, Annika Ruben

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This case study outlines women’s involvement in climate-smart agriculture and key climate adaptation strategies which are being implemented in the town of Kalchebeshi, Nepal. Kalchebeshi is considered a Resilient Mountain Village because of the town’s integrated approach to addressing climate change and building resilience for farmers. Key findings examined gender differences in farming responsibilities and the significance of farmers’ groups in women’s overall decision making and community involvement. Additionally, changes in water management and pesticide use have been shown to have a positive impact on the lives of women farmers in Kalchebeshi. This paper reinforces the importance of involving vulnerable …

Innovating Authentically: Cultural Differentiation In The Animation Sector, Susan Standing, Craig Standing

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This paper examines the concept of authentic innovation and the development of the animation industry in Malaysia. Authenticity is a concept that has been investigated from philosophical and institutional perspectives in the quest to explain the role of self-fulfillment and decision-making. It links with systems thinking because authenticity as a strategy requires a holistic approach since it is based upon values that influence action. The desire for authenticity can create expression outside the norms and produce innovation. We present interpretations of authenticity, explain the concept of authentic innovation and relate this to three case studies of Malaysian animation studios. We …

An Analysis Of Marketing And Microenterprise: Does Marketing Have An Impact On These Unique Organizations?, Bruce Alan Morgan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research study was a qualitative, multiple case study on how the implementation of good marketing techniques impacts the sustainability of microenterprises. This is a replicative extension study of prior research that revealed a theme of “promotional activities” correlating to microenterprise sustainability beyond two years (Haynes, 2017). This research extended the prior study by significantly increasing the number of participants (from six to forty), providing heterogeneity regarding lines of business, expanding to a new geography (the Upstate of South Carolina), focusing exquisitely on marketing techniques (as defined by the classical Marketing Mix), and defining sustainability by using both an accepted …

Comparing The International Commercial Courts Of China With The Singapore International Commercial Court, Zhengxin Huo, Yip Man

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

The article critically reviews the litigation framework of the Chinese International Commercial Court("CICC') using a comparative approach, taking as a benchmark the Singapore International Commercial Court ("SICC')--another Asian international commercial court situated within the Belt and Road Initiative ("BRI') geography. It argues that the CICC, despite being lauded as a visionary step toward an innovative, efficient and trustworthy dispute resolution system, does not live up to those grand claims on closer scrutiny. The discussion shows that the CICC is in many respects insular and conservative when compared with the SICC. The distinctions between the two litigation frameworks may be explained …

The Housing Crisis And The Rise Of The Real Estate State, Samuel Stein

Publications and Research

This article — an excerpt from my book, Capital City, with elaborations on a number of key points — argues that the housing crises endemic to contemporary capitalism must be understood as a result of the concentration of global capital into real estate and the the re-orientation of state planning capacities around the demands of the real estate industry. The first half of the article explains the dimensions of the crisis in the US and the rise of "the real estate state." The second half explores policy alternatives to contemporary urban neoliberalism and the kinds of movements necessary to …

What Do Publicly-Available Soccer Match Data Actually Tell Us?, Chester S. Labedz Jr., Robert Schumaker

Communications of the IIMA

Media analyses of soccer statistics and game play has accelerated in recent years. This is evident in visual displays of ball and player tracking, average player locations and distances they run. These media depictions aim to be attractive, entertaining and informative for viewers. But are such statistics predictive of goal scoring and match outcome? To answer this question we review the sixty-four matches of the 2014 World Cup and examine nine common match statistics, and others, to evaluate their predictive value for goal production and match outcome.

Ecological Indicators Of Mammal Exposure To Ebolavirus, John Paul Schmidt, Sean Maher, John M. Drake, Tao Huang, Maxwell J. Farrell, Barbara A. Han

College of Natural and Applied Sciences

Much of the basic ecology of Ebolavirus remains unresolved despite accumulating disease outbreaks, viral strains and evidence of animal hosts. Because human Ebolavirus epidemics have been linked to contact with wild mammals other than bats, traits shared by species that have been infected by Ebolavirus and their phylogenetic distribution could suggest ecological mechanisms contributing to human Ebolavirus spillovers. We compiled data on Ebolavirus exposure in mammals and corresponding data on life-history traits, movement, and diet, and used boosted regression trees (BRT) to identify predictors of exposure and infection for 119 species (hereafter hosts). Mapping the phylogenetic distribution of presumptive Ebolavirus …

Hightower, Montgomery, Perkins, Castles, And Stiles Families Papers, Mississippi State University Libraries

Special Collections Finding Aids

MSS. 537. 1848-1997 (Bulk Dates: 1881-1960). 33.8 cubic feet. The Hightower, Montgomery, Perkins, Castles, and Stiles families papers contain the papers of the members of five Mississippi families related by marriage. The papers include correspondence, certificates and diplomas, newspaper clippings, genealogical material, books, photographs, artifacts and costumes.

Shelf Inputs And Lateral Transport Of Mn, Co, And Ce In The Western North Pacific Ocean, Peter L. Morton, William M. Landing, Alan M. Shiller, Thomas D. Kelly, Michael Bizimis, John R. Donat, Eric H. De Carlo, Joseph Shacat

Faculty Publications

The margin of the western North Pacific Ocean releases redox-active elements like Mn, Co, and Ce into the water column to undergo further transformation through oxide formation, scavenging, and reductive dissolution. Near the margin, the upper ocean waters enriched in these elements are characterized by high dissolved oxygen, low salinity, and low temperature, and are a source of the North Pacific Intermediate Water. High dissolved concentrations are observed across the Western Subarctic Gyre, with a rapid decrease in concentrations away from the margin and across the subarctic-subtropical front. The particulate concentrations of Mn, Co, and Ce are also high in …

Extreme Obesity Among Adults In The United States: Spatial Variation And The Association With Mortality, Carrie Mills

Dissertations and Theses

Objectives: The purpose of this dissertation was to create small area estimates to describe and explore the county-level spatial variation of extreme obesity among adults in the United States and to assess the county-level association and spatial variation of extreme obesity and mortality.

Methods: The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System was used in conjunction with data from the Census Bureau to estimate county-level model-predicted prevalence of extreme obesity using multilevel regression and poststratification. Spatial dependence of estimates was assessed using global Moran’s Index, and local Moran’s Indices were used to identify clusters of higher and lower rates of extreme obesity …

Gain Without Pain: An International Case For A Tradable Green Certificates System To Foster Renewable Energy Development In Ukraine, Tetiana Kurbatova, Roman Sidortsov, Iryna Sotnyk, Oleksandr Telizhenko, Tetiana Skibina, Roubik Hynek

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

This paper elaborates on the theoretical and methodological fundamentals of a tradable green certificates system to foster renewable energy development in Ukraine. It proposes a management mechanism premised on the classical market model of tradable green certificates aiming at increasing the share of electricity from renewable energy sources in the country’s energy mix. Organizational stages of the mechanism formation at the national level and a methodological approach to assess green electricity generation cost are developed. The modeling has shown that the annual increase in the cap for green electricity consumption by 1% will raise the electricity tariff by 3%, which …

Lithic Material Procurement And Processing Of The Ancestral Puebloans In Montezuma Canyon, Richae Knudsen

Student Works

Recent analysis of lithic materials from Ancestral Puebloan sites in Montezuma Canyon demonstrates differences between the northern and southern sites in terms of practices of lithic procurement and processing. Materials from Alkali Ridge and Coal Bed Village had more lithic debitage without cortex, while those from Cave Canyon Village and Three Kiva Ruin had a much higher frequency of debitage with cortex. These data sets suggest that the northern sites performed primary flaking away from home, while those in the south did their primary flaking at home. This distinct behavior may be a result of differential access to lithic material …

Temporal Changes In Abundance–Occupancy Relationships Over 40 Years, Lisa L. Manne, Richard R. Veit

Publications and Research

1. Abundance–occupancy (A–O) relationships are widely documented for many organismal groups and regions, and have been used to gain an understanding of regional population and community trends. Monitoring changes in abundance and occupancy over time may be what is required to document changes in conservation status and needs for some species, communities, or areas.
2. We hypothesize that if there is a higher proportion of declining species in one group of species compared with another (e.g., migratory species vs. permanent residents), then a consequence of that difference will be vastly different abundance–occupancy relationships. If this difference persists through time, then the resulting …

Pengaruh Model Relating, Experiencing, Applying, Cooperating, Transferring Terhadap Kemampuan Berpikir Spasial Siswa Sma, Ifa Hasna Hidayanti, Sumarmi Sumarmi, Dwiyono Hari Utomo

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

Spatial thingking ability is a person’s ability to see space as an object of phenomena. Spatial thingking has important role in geography learning to understand the geographic phenomena that occur, physical or social phenomena. The study aims to determine the effect of react on students’ spatial thingking abilities. The research subject was class student X SMAN 1 Tulungagung. Spasial thingking measurements were carried out essay test and analyzed with t-test. The result show that the gain score spatial thingking in experiment class 21,94 and control 18,53. The result hypotesis prove that (REACT) has positive influence on student’s spatial ability.

Kearifan Lokal Upacara An Tama Masyarakat Adat Loona Sebagai Sumber Belajar Geografi, Martinus Hermenegild Mau, Singgih Susilo, I Nyoman Ruja

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

The purpose of this study was to examine the values of local wisdom in the An Tama ceremony at the Loona indigenous community as a source of learning Geography. This type of research is qualitative research using an ethnographic approach. Data sources were obtained from observation and interviews of Loona indigenous people’s. The results of the study show that during the An Tama ceremony at the Loona indigenous people’s established a harmonious relationship with their environment. Community trust in the forces of nature and ancestral spirits causes people to always act carefully in treating their environment. Unconsciously, community trust in …

Ellipsis In Iraqi Arabic: An Analysis Of Gapping, Sluicing, And Stripping, Saja Albuarabi

Purdue Linguistics, Literature, and Second Language Studies Conference

The purpose of this paper is to explore the syntax of ellipsis in Iraqi Arabic. The paper sheds light on three types of ellipsis in Arabic and English, namely: sluicing, gapping, and stripping and puts each of them in a comparison between Iraqi Arabic and English languages in addition to Arabic dialects. To the best of my knowledge, these elliptical structures have not been studied in Iraqi Arabic before. Therefore, this study offers the first description of these phenomena from a generative standpoint. The paper argues that the three types of ellipsis mentioned above can be the result of Phonological …

The Household Water Insecurity Experiences (Hwise) Scale: Development And Validation Of A Household Water Insecurity Measure For Low-Income And Middle-Income Countries, Sera L. Young, Godfred O. Boateng, Zeina Jamaluddine, Joshua D. Miller, Edward A. Frongillo, Torsten B. Neilands, Shaleans M. Collins, Amber Wutich, Wendy E. Jepson, Justin Stoler

Faculty Publications

Objective Progress towards equitable and sufficient water has primarily been measured by population-level data on water availability. However, higher-resolution measures of water accessibility, adequacy, reliability and safety (ie, water insecurity) are needed to understand how problems with water impact health and well-being. Therefore, we developed the Household Water InSecurity Experiences (HWISE) Scale to measure household water insecurity in an equivalent way across disparate cultural and ecological settings.

Methods Cross-sectional surveys were implemented in 8127 households across 28 sites in 23 low-income and middle-income countries. Data collected included 34 items on water insecurity in the prior month; socio-demographics; water acquisition, use …

The Household Water Insecurity Experiences (Hwise) Scale: Development And Validation Of A Household Water Insecurity Measure For Low-Income And Middle-Income Countries, Sera L. Young, Godfred O. Boateng, Zeina Jamaluddine, Joshua D. Miller, Edward A. Frongillo Jr., Torsten B. Neilands, Shelean M. Collins, Amber Wutich, Wendy E. Jepson, Justin Stoler, On Behalf Of The Hwise Research Coordination Network

Faculty Publications

Objective

Progress towards equitable and sufficient water has primarily been measured by population-level data on water availability. However, higher-resolution measures of water accessibility, adequacy, reliability and safety (ie, water insecurity) are needed to understand how problems with water impact health and well-being. Therefore, we developed the Household Water InSecurity Experiences (HWISE) Scale to measure household water insecurity in an equivalent way across disparate cultural and ecological settings.

Methods

Cross-sectional surveys were implemented in 8127 households across 28 sites in 23 low-income and middle-income countries. Data collected included 34 items on water insecurity in the prior month; sociodemographics; water acquisition, use …

Mapping Intellectual Structure Of Published Articles In Information Retrieval During 1983-2017., Mozhdeh Salajeghe Prof., Adel Soleimani Pro., Mahdieh Khazaneha Mrs

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Abstract

Today information and communication cause the daily growth of published information. Studying all scientific production content and structures for specialist in different fields and publications is impossible. This study aims to analyze the articles regarding information retrieval based on the concepts of co-occurrence network analysis and centrality indicators published in Clarivate Analytics Web of Science[1] during 1983-2017. This is a descriptive study, using Scientometric approach. Its statistical population contains all articles related to Information retrieval in Clarivate Analytics Web of Science during1983-2017. The scientific research on Information retrieval starts in 2002. Based on the scientific map of countries, …

The Appearance Of The Science Of «Jarh And Ta’Dil» And Its Development In The First Two Centuries, No‘’Monjon To‘Rayev

The Light of Islam

In the science of Hadith, great attention is paid to the chain of transmitters, that is, the isnad which is the component of hadiths. Indeed, according to the degree of credibility of the narrators in the Hadith, it is established whether the Hadiths are reliable or non-reliable, whether they should be accepted or rejected. The discipline, which deals with the identification of negative and positive qualities of the transmitters, such as inferiority, fairness and reliability, and which in the basis of this makes a conclusion about a particular transmitter, is called “jarh and ta’dil”. There are different views on the …

Interpersonal And Pet Attachment, Empathy Toward Animals, And Anthropomorphism: An Investigation Of Pet Owners In Romania, Alina Simona Rusu, Carmen Costea-Barlutiu, Dennis C. Turner

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

The current study investigates the associations between interpersonal and pet attachment (anxiety and avoidance dimensions), empathy toward animals, and anthropomorphism in the Romanian cultural context, where problems regarding the effectiveness of pet management programs are still being reported. A sample of 244 adult respondents, with a mean age of 32.9 years, mostly females (89.8%) and pet owners, completed standard instruments of interpersonal and pet attachment, empathy toward animals and anthropomorphism. In agreement with other studies in the field of human-animal interactions, our data indicate that female pet owners scored higher than male owners in empathy toward animals and the level …

Pilgrimages Through Time And Space. The Case Of Marian Pilgrimages In Greece, Dimitrios Mylonopoulos, Polyxeni Moira, Spyridon Parthenis

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Since ancient times and throughout history, religious sentiment has been one of the motives for people undertaking pilgrimages, seeking to communicate with the divine in sacred places. Travelling for religious reasons fulfilled a spiritual need and their undertaking was considered to be a redeeming action.

It is indeed difficult to identify any other human activity so widespread in space and so resilient in time as undertaking a pilgrimage to shrines. Since antiquity there has been a firm belief that praying or fulfilling one’s religious tasks is more efficient when it takes place in specific sites: in places where gods or …

Spirituality, Organisational Climate And Religious Tourism, Gilson De Lima Garofalo, Terezinha Filgueiras Pinho, Moacir José Rossetti Júnior

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This contribution discusses spirituality in the context of organisations and issues that may arise with regard to those who, in the future will act in the field of religious tourism. In this way, it presents a proposal in terms of motivation, joy, inner peace and deeper understanding. Initially the work adopts the deductive method with descriptive research based on literature addressing the spirituality inherent in those who exercise or will carry out activities in this important tourism segment. A survey was carried out to explore the close connections between spirituality and religiousness, and link this to the behaviour and practices …

Places And Religious Bands: Explorations In Spiritual Tourism, Antonietta Ivona, Donatella Privitera

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The musical aspect of religious tourism is currently amongst the less investigated themes. A first survey suggests that although it does not appear to be the main motivation for religious travel, it is a valued component of the experience. The aim of this study is to explore how sounds operate to forge social and spiritual identifications on the principles of Lefebvre’s rhythm analysis (2004).

This paper contributes to the emerging field of experiential tourism research by confirming that religious experiences are not only interior but also involve sensory experiences. It follows that tourists’ sensory experiences should be a key component …

Stakeholder Perceptions Of Religious Tourism And Local Development: Evidence From Lamego (Portugal) Historic Town, Ana Paula Rodrigues, Isabel Vieira, Luciano Ferreira, Rui Madeira

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The purpose of this study is to explore the views of different stakeholder groups (visitors, residents and local agents - heritage managers, tour operators, local authorities, Priests and head of the Church, directors of institutions linked to tourism) about the relationship between religion and tourism in a historic town setting. The main purpose is to examine the opinions/views/perceptions of different stakeholder groups about religious tourism and local development.

A mixed methodological (quantitative and qualitative) approach was used in order to analyse the perceptions and opinions of three stakeholders groups. The opinions of visitors (120) and residents (150) were analysed using …