Digital Commons Network^™

Symposium Review: Virtually Amish: Preserving Community At The Internet’S Margins—Lindsay Ems, Harry Argo, Dan Raber, Jonathan Stoll

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

Ems’s book, “Virtually Amish,” is a significant contribution to research on Amish survival and how the Amish continue to endure the influence of modernized technological capitalism on their faith, values, and way of life. The underlying questions address not only whether increased exposure to digitization will accelerate their assimilation but, more significantly, how they are able to address such challenges. [First paragraph.]

Migration, Trauma, And Tweeback: Perspectives On Russian Mennonite Identity In Elina Penner’S Novel Nachtbeeren, Berit Jany

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, a group of about 2.5 million Russia Germans immigrated to Germany, benefiting from the German law that recognizes citizenship to ethnic Germans who arrived in the territory as late ethnic Germans resettlers. Including their children, this subset of Germany’s population now numbers about 3.5 million, and about 350.000 Russia Germans have a Mennonite background. Of the 500.000 Plautdietsch-speaking people worldwide, about 200,000 of them live in Germany. In her debut novel, Nachtbeeren, the author Elina Penner illuminates the everyday life of German Mennonites from the Soviet Union and the successor …

‘We Wish To Keep A Wall Of Reserve’: Modesty Practice And Discourse Within Old Order Amish And Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Communities, Rivka Neriya Ben-Shahar

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

This study advances our understanding of modesty practices within religious groups by examining mixed-gender groups among Old Order Amish in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and Ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel. Through ethnographic participant observation and semi-structured interviews, my research addresses three questions central to understanding modesty practices: How do members of these religious bodies define and enforce acceptable practices of modesty and body management in mixed-gender settings? What mechanisms transmit written and unwritten rules within these groups? And how do religious leaders and texts shape modesty discourse and practices? Drawing on Hobsbawm’s differentiation between old and invented traditions, this comparative analysis reveals …

Profiles Of Major Amish Settlements In North America: A Guide For Researchers And Service Providers, Cory Anderson, Rachel Bacon

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

Amish populations cluster in ethnic enclaves, or “settlements,” which are located across much of North America, notably in the regions of the Mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes, Midwest, and Upper South. This article profiles 38 of the largest and best known Amish settlements. The profiles include (1) a recent population tally and population projections to 2050, (2) population density maps, (3) settlement history, (4) socio-economic attributes, (5) religious affiliations, and (6) an overview of the physical and economic landscape. The purpose of this article is to provide scholars and service providers an informative introduction to the different settlements. This article can help …

Title Page And Table Of Contents 12(1-2), Japas Editors

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

No abstract provided.

Grieving & Swiping: Online Dating As Consumers' Post-Breakup Resolution, Zeynep Ozdamar Ertekin, Salih Kural, İrem Taştan

Markets, Globalization & Development Review

This study explores the underlying motivations of consumers’ usage of online dating applications after the breakup of romantic relationships. The experiences of young-adult consumers who went through post-breakup grief are investigated through in-depth interviews. Findings resulted in twelve categories of motivations that participating consumers had regarding their usage of dating apps, in relation to managing the grief after breakup. Motivations are grouped under the categories of coping, updating, and desiring. Moreover, findings also demonstrated diverging pathways in using dating apps for emotional resolution. The study contributes to our understanding of dating app usage by highlighting important insights from consumers who …

From Cypherpunks To Decentralized Finance: How Crypto-Anarchy Is Redefining Legal And Economic Systems, Alesia Zhuk

Markets, Globalization & Development Review

This article explores the evolution of crypto-anarchy, tracing its origins from the cypherpunk movement to the rise of decentralized finance (DeFi) and its transformative effects on legal and economic systems. Central to crypto-anarchy is the belief in individual empowerment through privacy, financial autonomy, and decentralization, which allows users to bypass traditional intermediaries like banks. While these technologies offer increased freedom and financial inclusion, they also introduce significant risks such as money laundering, tax evasion, and the facilitation of illegal activities, posing challenges to current regulatory frameworks. The article examines the socio-economic implications of decentralization, including both the democratization of finance …

From Socially Responsible Enterprises To Crypto-Anarchy: We Cover Quite A Range, Nikhilesh Dholakia, Deniz Atik, Delphine Godefroit-Winkel

Markets, Globalization & Development Review

No abstract provided.

Tcas Benchmark, Vol. 30, No. 4, 2016, Chris Meis, Catrina Whitley, Mike Shannon

North Texas Archeological Society Records

Volume thirty and issue four of TCAS Benchmark.

Tcas Benchmark, Vol. 29, No. 4, 2015, Chris Meis, Charlene Erwin, Catrina Whitley, Mike Shannon

North Texas Archeological Society Records

Volume twenty-nine and issue four of TCAS Benchmark.

Tcas Benchmark, Vol. 29, No. 3, 2015, Chris Meis, Charlene Erwin, Catrina Whitley

North Texas Archeological Society Records

Volume twenty-nine and issue three of TCAS Benchmark.

Tcas Benchmark, Vol. 28, No. 3, 2014, Color Copy, Katrina Nuncio, Charlene Erwin, Mike Shannon

North Texas Archeological Society Records

Color copy of volume twenty-eight and issue three of TCAS Benchmark.

Tcas Benchmark, Vol. 28, No. 3, 2014, Katrina Nuncio, Charlene Erwin, Mike Shannon

North Texas Archeological Society Records

Volume twenty-eight and issue three of TCAS Benchmark.

Tcas Benchmark, Vol. 4, No. 2, 2005, Glynn Osburn, Paula Vastine

North Texas Archeological Society Records

Volume four and issue two of TCAS Benchmark.

Tcas Benchmark, Vol. 4, No. 2, 2005, Draft, Glynn Osburn, Paula Vastine

North Texas Archeological Society Records

Volume four and issue two of TCAS Benchmark. This issue marks the sudden switch to volume four and missing pages.

Faculty Senate Monthly Packet January 2025, Portland State University Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Monthly Packets

The January 6, 2025 monthly packet includes the agenda, appendices, and the Faculty Senate minutes and attachments from the meeting held January 6, 2025.

Navigating The Academic Terrain: Examining The Challenges And Success Factors Of Student Veterans In Higher Education Institutions, Katherine Reyes, Corey Idleburg

Education Division Scholarship

This study investigates the academic experiences of student veterans, addressing specific challenges they face in higher education. Using Schlossberg’s adult transition theory, it explores the effects of invisible barriers, enrollment trends, and institutional factors on veteran student success, leveraging the VA’s GI Bill Comparison tool to examine public versus private school support. Findings underscore the need for targeted resources, faculty training, and institutional awareness to foster a supportive and inclusive environment that enhances veteran students' academic success and sense of belonging.

A Randomized Trial Of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback Following Traumatic Brain Injury, Leah D. Talbert

Theses and Dissertations

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects over 1.7 million people annually in the U.S., often leading to autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysregulation and reduced heart rate variability (HRV), which may impact cognitive performance. This study investigated whether HRV biofeedback (HRV-B) improves HRV at rest and recovery after stress in individuals with TBI. Secondary aims examined links between HRV improvements and reductions in physical symptoms, enhanced emotional functioning, and better cognitive performance, as well as the role of practice adherence in moderating HRV-B effects. This randomized controlled trial compared HRV-B treatment to a sham control using a pre- and post-assessment design. Of …

Increasing The Knowledge, Awareness, And Readiness To Change Of Cultural Sensitivity Among Public Health College Students, Margaret Enlow

All ETDs from UAB

This research examined if a lecture-based intervention increased the DEI knowledge, awareness, and readiness to change in undergraduate public health students. Topics included a systematic review of DEI activities in undergraduate public health classrooms/academic programs, determining reliability of an adapted tool to measure knowledge, awareness, and readiness to change, and statistical analyses of pre- and post-data to determine knowledge, awareness, and readiness to change after students participated in the lecture-based intervention. The systematic review identified a gap in the literature regarding public health DEI education in the classroom. Through additional analyses, themes of DEI were identified in previous publications that …

Humans Are Not Normal: How Did This Happen?, Hermann Strasser

Sociology Between the Gaps: Forgotten and Neglected Topics

No abstract provided.

The Latter-Day Saint Indian Placement Program: An Examination Through An Experiential Lens, Quinn Elise Christiansen

Theses and Dissertations

The Indian Placement Program, operated by the LDS Church from around 1947 to 2000, was influenced by the Church's belief in a connection between Native Americans to a Book of Mormon group known as the Lamanites. This group held a special status within the LDS Church because of their believed Israelite heritage as well as a prophecy promising their conversion in the last days. Spencer W. Kimball, motivated by both personal goals and his authority within the LDS Church, expanded on a successful experience of a young Native girl, Helen John, growing it into the broader Indian Placement Program. This …

Gendered Sexual Behaviors: Unintended Pregnancies, And Sexually-Transmitted Infections, Deirdre Ferguson

All ETDs from UAB

Education is the most effective way to address unintended pregnancies and sexually-transmitted infections (STIs). Education through preventative counseling has been negatively correlated with unintended pregnancies. Although research has shed light on the risks posing challenges to the prevention of unintended pregnancies, the consequential costs of these pregnancies continue to mount, both individually and societally. Birth control counseling corresponds with reducing the behavior of nonuse of contraceptives significantly. Education is thus associated with combatting inaccurate information passed along via primary social groups. To gain insight into the prevention of unintended pregnancies and STIs, data was gathered using a mixed-method approach incorporating …

The Power Of Connection: Unraveling The Significance Of Social Support In The Stress Levels Of Informal Black Women Caregivers, Antoinette Shantay Williams

All ETDs from UAB

This study examines how three types of social support—having someone to talk to, someone to help with activities, and someone to provide care—affect the stress levels of informal Black women caregivers compared to Black men, White men, and White women caregivers in the United States. It explores the intersection of race and gender, with a specific focus on how social support influences the emotional, financial, and physical stress levels of informal Black women caregivers. This research aimed to answer two questions. Does social support decrease stress levels among informal caregivers? Does the association between social support and stress levels differ …

Autoethnographic Action Research As A Contemplative Practice: Awareness And Transformation Of Inner And Outer Selves, Jiju Varghese, Bal Chandra Luitel, Niroj Dahal

The Qualitative Report

Contemplation as a spiritual practice has taken various forms across different religious traditions and regions worldwide. Over the years, various contemplative practices have evolved and become popular even outside religious traditions to promote the well-being of all for inner and outer selves’ transformation. In education, many scholars worldwide have expounded on the benefits of contemplative practices in the classroom for students and teachers. Contemplative practices have penetrated research practices in the form of contemplative inquiry considering performative, philosophical, and artistic transformations, where researchers enter into a deep, thoughtful, and reflective introspective journey to see the connection between what is seen …

Enacting Project-Based Learning For Higher Education: An Autoethnographic Study Of Online Learning During The Pandemic, Somariah Fitriani

The Qualitative Report

This study is a reflection on my personal experiences with the higher education online teaching and learning process. It is an autoethnography study in which data were garnered from virtual participant observations, journals, an open-ended questionnaire and interviews about student projects during the COVID-19 pandemic. I leveraged project-based learning as pedagogical device. Thus, the students worked collaboratively on an online training project (webinar) as part of a course on education and training management. I served as both a teacher and a participant in the online training performed by the students. Through virtual participant observation, this project allowed me to learn …

From Climate To Conflict: Unravelling Multidimensional Vulnerabilities Of Small-Scale Fisheries In The Jaffna Peninsula Of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Senevi Gunaratne, R. B. Radin Firdaus, Augustine Sosai Sihivaitthasan, Sarjiyanto Sarjiyanto, Mohd Hafiidz Jaafar

The Qualitative Report

Vulnerability studies have often centered on climate change and catastrophic climatic events. Contrary to this trend, this study explores the multidimensional vulnerabilities faced by small-scale fisheries (SSFs) in the Jaffna peninsula of Sri Lanka. We employed the Integrated Vulnerability Analysis for Sustainability (IVAS) Framework for this analysis. Data was collected through focus group discussions and key informant interviews using semi-structured questionnaires. We analyzed our data following Reflexive Thematic Analysis using ATLAS.ti software and identified 15 vulnerability drivers across five domains specific to the local context, revealing that SSFs in the Jaffna peninsula are highly susceptible to multiple vulnerabilities. Notably, the …

Role Of Alter-Modernism On Saudi Visual Arts: Hybrid Art, Ebtsam. S. Alrasheed

Journal of Art, Design and Music

This study deals with the impact of alter-modernism on Saudi plastic art, "hybrid art," in three aspects: national identity, acceptance of multiculturalism, and freedom of the artist. An analytical descriptive curriculum was used and a questionnaire was submitted to a sample of plastic artists and art learners of the Faculty of Design and Arts, Princess Norah University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The sample size was one hundred and eighteen participants. The study aims to elucidate the impact of alter-modernism (hybrid art) on Saudi art by preserving national identity, accepting multiculturalism, and respecting the freedom of the plastic artist from the point …

Vol. 13 Iss. 2

Discussions

No abstract provided.

Fieldnote 25: Black Men’S Health & Healing In The Academy | Dr. Raymond Adams On Prostate Cancer, Wellness, And Social Work, Venus Evans-Winters Dr.

Fieldnotes of a Black Woman Scholar: Research, Culture, and Wellness

In this episode of Writing What I Like: Fieldnotes of a Black Woman Scholar, Dr. Mildred Boveda (YouTube: @mboveda) and I are joined by Dr. Raymond Adams, a Black male social work professor whose research sheds critical light on prostate cancer and the health experiences of Black men. Dr. Adams brings a powerful voice to the intersection of public health, wellness, and academic life—unpacking the ways that systemic inequities shape Black men’s access to care, and how his scholarship is both a personal and political act of resistance. Together, we explore how Black men navigate wellness in the context of …

Urban Security And The Crisis Of Values In A Risk Society: Elements For Reflection And Research, Bahamou Abdelilah, Abdelghani Chafik

Journal of Maya Heritage

Abstract: Urban security has become one of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century, shaped by the complexities of modern urban life. As cities grow and evolve, they face unprecedented security challenges that transcend traditional notions of crime prevention. These challenges encompass social, cultural, economic, and psychological dimensions, deeply intertwined with societal transformations.

In the context of what sociologist Ulrich Beck refers to as the "risk society," rapid globalization, technological advancement, and cultural diffusion have disrupted traditional social values. This disruption has created environments of uncertainty and fear, where mutual trust and social cohesion are eroded. As Émile Durkheim …