Digital Commons Network^™

From Nation-Building To Collapse: Analyzing Afghanistan’S 2021 Fall And The Geopolitical Entropies Of U.S. Withdrawal, Arash Beidollahkhani, Edriss Rasa

Journal of Strategic Security

The collapse of the Afghan government in 2021 and the subsequent return of the Taliban marked a significant shift in contemporary geopolitics. This paper examines the political and social dynamics surrounding the U.S. and allied forces' withdrawal, focusing on the entropic forces that contributed to the breakdown of Afghanistan’s governance system. While Afghanistan has experienced recurrent governmental collapses, the post-2021 crisis highlights deeper structural challenges within both the geopolitical and domestic spheres. The research investigates the failure of the U.S.-backed Afghan government, established through two decades of nation-building efforts, and explores how the abrupt foreign withdrawal dismantled fragile political structures, …

Hunter-Gatherer Subsistence Strategies In Changing Environments In Prehistoric Mindoro, Philippines, Alfred Ferdinand F. Pawlik

Sociology & Anthropology Department Faculty Publications

As an archipelago straddling two distinct biogeographic zones, Sunda and Wallacea, the Philippines have acted as a conduit for the movements of people, material culture and ideas across Southeast Asia throughout prehistory. The Mindoro Archaeology Project investigates several caves and rockshelters from the late Pleistocene and early Holocene, located in Sta. Teresa and Ilin Island in Occidental Mindoro on the southern end of Mindoro and explores the deep history of the first anatomically modern humans in the Philippines, the timeline of their arrival and dispersal, and their adaptation to coastal and island environments. By at least 40,000 years ago, anatomically …

Figo Position Statement: Gamete Donations, Laurie Henry, Aris Antsaklis, Dov Feldberg, Jaideep Malhotra, Suchitra Pandit, Carlos Salazar, Alex Vidaeff, Rafal Zadykowicz, M Louise Hull, Nikhil Purandare

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Gamete donation has become a crucial part of Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs), providing hope to individuals, including those who may have no other option for parenthood. This process comes with a wide range of ethical, medical, and legal challenges that need to be carefully addressed to protect the well-being and rights of all parties involved: donors, recipients, and offspring. Navigating these complexities requires strict ethical standards, robust regulatory frameworks, and international collaboration. By standardizing these, the field of gamete donation can continue to develop while ensuring that all parties are well informed and safeguarded. This paper explores the ethical concerns …

Extractivism And Water Crisis In The Moroccan Draa Oasis: Global South Reflections On Responsibility And Resistance, Ahmed El Khatabi

Journal of Maya Heritage

Abstract. The Draa Oasis in southeastern Morocco is experiencing severe water scarcity, driven by climate change and intensified by the expansion of watermelon agribusiness and desert tourism. This article explores how external investors, empowered by national agricultural policies, have disrupted traditional water governance systems rooted in collective management. Through ethnographic fieldwork involving interviews, focus groups, and spatial mapping, the study examines the socio-environmental consequences of groundwater depletion and land commodification. It argues that investors fail to assume ethical accountability for the ecological degradation they cause, despite being aware of the oasis’s fragile ecosystem. Meanwhile, local communities and civil society actors …

No. 43: Migration, Food Insecurity And Angolan Migrants In Namibia, Lawrence N. Kazembe, Ndeyapo Nickanor, Godfrey Tawodzera

Migration and Food Security (MiFOOD) Network

This study examines the food security challenges faced by Angolan migrants in Namibia, focusing on the interplay between migration, livelihoods, and food insecurity. Drawing on survey data from households in Northern towns and the capital city of Namibia, the research reveals high levels of food insecurity among Angolan migrants, characterized by limited dietary diversity and a reliance on coping strategies such as consuming less preferred foods and reducing meal portions. The findings highlight the marginalization of migrants, who primarily work in the informal sector with low incomes, exacerbating their vulnerability. The COVID-19 pandemic further worsened food insecurity by disrupting livelihoods …

Treaty Justice: Charles Wilkinson's Homage To The Boldt Decision, Michael C. Blumm

Public Land & Resources Law Review

Charles Wilkinson, a beloved teacher, author, and advisor, gave his readers perhaps his most personal gift in Treaty Justice: The Northwest Tribes, the Boldt Decision, and the Recognition of Fishing Rights (U. Washington Press, 2024). Wilkinson finished the manuscript just a week before his unexpected death, at age 81, in 2023. The book is a blend of personal memoirs of countless encounters of people involved in the seminal Boldt decision–which revolutionized treaty fishing rights– and its aftermath, and part of legal history by an analyst who was acutely sensitive to the vagaries of both law and history. We are fortunate …

Abandoning The Iron Horse: Railroad Rights-Of-Way And The Implied Doctrine Of Reverter On Indian Reservations, Arthur B. Macomber

Public Land & Resources Law Review

Land title issues on Indian Reservations are notoriously but unnecessarily complex. Unsettled land titles and the resulting fragile land ownership status on Indian Reservations are well-known factors impeding productive land uses, the cure of environmental degradation, and Indian sovereignty, ownership, and control over sustainable land uses. Some lawsuits even question the existence of a Reservation itself. Land titles to many parcels on Indian Reservations have been split into thousands of owners. Using existing law and principles of equity, abandoned Reservation rights-of-way of many types do not have to sit unused and economically unproductive. Future lawsuits and other wasteful societal friction …

Operating Fund Budget/ Expenditure Summary Report 2024-25, Csusb Budget Office

University Budget Office records

No abstract provided.

Purchase Motivation At Dimsum Restaurants In Medan. The Perspectives Of Lifestyle And Social Enjoyment, Efin Shu, Calvin Riando

Bulletin of Culinary Art and Hospitality

In Indonesia, dimsum has become a popular food choice due to its affordability and variety, making it a staple in many communities. The purchase motivation for dimsum menus is usually driven by the desire for a taste of tradition and a sense of community, as dimsum is frequently delighted with family and companions. The comfort and reasonableness of dimsum also contribute to its popularity, making it consumed as a lifestyle for numerous consumers. The reason for this research is to investigate the influence of lifestyle on purchase motivations with the moderation of social enjoyment at dimsum restaurants in Medan. The …

Breaking Barriers Exploring Guardianship & Public Administration Challenges Facing Egyptian Widows, Caroline Maher

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the influence of guardianship policies and the administrative infrastructure on the well-being of widows' families in Egypt. Widows in Egypt encounter significant challenges in exercising their guardianship rights due to patriarchal norms, bureaucratic hurdles, inefficient systems, and limited access to information. These obstacles can negatively impact their children's well-being, as well as economic and social stability. Despite social media activism, calls for administrative reforms, and legislative debates, no changes have occurred. This study aims to conduct in-depth exploratory qualitative research to analyze the challenges and limitations of current guardianship policies and administrative systems affecting widows’ families in …

Book Review: Maricel Guiao Santos, Rachel Showstack, Glenn A. Martínez, Drew Colcher, Dalia Magaña. (2024). Health Disparities And The Applied Linguist. Routledge, Pp. 148, David Sanchez-Jimenez

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Navigating Identity Tensions And Emotional Struggles: Indonesian Pre-Service Teachers In The Teaching Practicum, Afrianto Daud, Minh Hue Nguyen, Raqib Chowdhury

The Qualitative Report

Despite the critical role of teaching practicums in teacher education, little is known about how pre-service teachers navigate emotional tensions in Indonesia. In this study, we aim to explore the nature of tensions and emotional struggles pre-service teachers face and their coping mechanisms. Seven pre-service teachers from the English Education department at an Indonesian public university were purposefully selected. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews before the practicum and a focused group discussion after the program. Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were used to capture rich, in-depth accounts of participants’ experiences, while thematic analysis provided a structured approach to …

The Bhagavad Gita And The Attitude Of Contemporary Ukrainian Krishna Devotees Towards The Issue Of War And Peace, Vitalii Matvieiev, Olga Dobrodum, Mykola Palinchak, Olena Hudzenko

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article deals with the main philosophical and ethical provisions of the Bhagavad-Gita, a sacred text, which is a part of the Indian epic Mahabharata. A special place is given to the issues related to life, death, fulfillment of duty, i.e., following one’s dharma, which should result in spiritual perfection and liberation from samsara (the cycle of death and birth). The central element of the Bhagavad-Gita is the discussion of the problems of war and peace, presented through the dialog between Prince Arjuna and the god Krishna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. The authors of the article …

"Holy Cow, Where Do I Sign Up?" Attitudes Of Military Veterans Toward Epigenomic Biomarker Toxic Exposure Testing, Stacey Pereira, Calvin Apodaca, Kyle Slominski, Rachele K Lipsky, Cristian Coarfa, Cheryl L Walker, Amy L Mcguire, Lea Steele, Drew A Helmer

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Introduction: After the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act in 2022, there has been a great interest in studying toxic exposures encountered during military service. Development of epigenomic biomarkers for exposures could facilitate understanding of exposure-related health effects, but such testing could also provide unwanted information.

Materials and methods: We explored attitudes toward epigenomic biomarker research and the potential to test for past exposures using semistructured interviews with Veterans (n = 22) who experienced potentially harmful exposures.

Results: Twenty Veterans said they would hypothetically want to receive …

Pagsipat Sa Kaisipan Nina Orozco At Demeterio Hinggil Sa Fertility Dance Ng Obando, Bulacan Gamit Ang Kasaysayang Pasalita, Jennifer C. Delfin

Social Sciences and Development Review

This study examined Orozco and Demeterio’s research work on the history of the Obando Fertility Dance. This research seeks to trace its origins through preliminary historical tracing from the perspective of the older Obandenyo, aged 60 to 90. The study attempts to answer the following questions: (1) What is the chronology of Obando’s patrons, as well as the actual ritual performed for San Pascual Baylon, Santa Clara, and the Blessed Virgin of Salambao? (2) How do the images and rituals associated with the celebration in Obando, Bulacan, transform each May? (3) What is the historical context and form of the …

Profile, Trends, And Determinants Of Pregnancy Termination Among Filipino Women, Mejedin R. Tena

Social Sciences and Development Review

Cultural and legal barriers force many Filipino women to undergo unsafe and secret abortions. This study examines the profile of women who terminated pregnancy among those who gave birth in the last five years according to selected independent variables, and the trends in pregnancy termination from 1992 to 2022 all National Demographic and Health Surveys. It also identified the determinants of pregnancy termination and estimated its likelihood. The analysis accounted for the complex survey design. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis, and multivariate logistic regression were employed. Results show that nearly 13% of women who gave birth in the last five years …

Experiences Of Ba Sociology Students From A Philippine State University: Recruitment, Retention, And Future Aspirations, Mark Anthony M. Quintos, Minami O. Iwayama

Social Sciences and Development Review

Sociology as an undergraduate program in the Philippines has expanded significantly. A total of 49 higher educational institutions offer an undergraduate degree in Sociology; 20 of which are in Luzon and 8 are in Metro Manila. Despite this growth, Sociology departments face challenges in recruiting and retaining students amidst a competitive academic landscape. This study was conducted with students from a Philippine state university, exploring their motivations for enrolling, reasons for staying, perceived strengths and weaknesses of the program, and their post-graduation plans. The insights gained from this research could guide future improvements to Sociology programs to better meet the …

Be Curious, Not Judgmental: Neurodiversity In Legal Education, Katherine Silver Kelly

Arkansas Law Review

This Article takes the position that the curiosity associated with legal education is limited to those who are neurotypical. For students who are neurodivergent, law school is a place of judgment, not curiosity. The number of neurodiverse law students is increasing, yet they are not sufficiently supported in law school. This Article will seek to show how the current structures of legal education, although fundamentally sound, have become overly rigid. Instead of providing students with intellectual foundations of legal doctrine that prepare them for the challenges of practicing law, the existing status quo stifles those goals. By limiting our practices …

Vulnerabilidad Socioambiental A Inundaciones En Dos Humedales De San Cristóbal De Las Casas, Chiapas, México, Ender Fabian Toledo Alcázar, Salvador Adame Martínez, Marcelino García Benítez

Journal of Maya Heritage

Abstract

This study encompasses the following urban wetlands: "La Kisst," situated in the city center, and "María Eugenia," located in the southern part of the city of San Cristóbal de las Casas. There are four wetlands within the municipality, all of which have been protected as natural areas by a Ramsar decree since 2008. The research aims to assess the socio-environmental vulnerability of the two wetlands using indicators in the environmental, social, and legal dimensions, thereby establishing the degree of vulnerability of the urban population exposed to flooding. The methodological process is defined by the proposal of CENAPRED, which establishes …

Illuminating Two Secondary Schoolteachers’ Praxes On A ‘Terrain Of Freedom:’ Lessons For Teacher Education, Paul Tarc, Nicholas Ng-A-Fook, Tasha Ausman, Catherine James

Northwest Journal of Teacher Education

This paper attunes to the stated focus of this special issue—teacher subjectivities on a terrain of freedom—to consider the qualities, possibilities and limits of teachers’ praxes and development upon this ‘terrain.’ In response to the call, we explore three critical questions: 1) Where does the teacher’s freedom lie amidst required protocols and standardization?; 2) Can teachers transcend how they have been conceived and conditioned?; and 3) How can teachers engage in transformative development? Through a "poetics of teaching," inspired by Hansen (2004), we frame teaching as a curricular and pedagogical art form that melds interdisciplinary, intellectual, aesthetic, and …

Wisdom Responses To Troubled Times: Healing Through Contemplative And Somatic Approaches, David Smith, Thomas Falkenberg, Remy Y.S. Low, David Chang, Åsa Jarskog, Jason Brown, Randy Persad, Anna Rumjahn, Charles Scott, Heesoon Bai

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

Humanity is facing troubled times, as witnessed by increased polarization and division that are exploding into various forms of violence. Collectively, we are facing unprecedented ecological and environmental disasters. On campuses throughout North America, and closer to home, student anxiety, depression and other mental health issues are increasingly prevalent. The academic fields of contemplative inquiry and somatic studies, which highlight holistic approaches to education, are responding to these troubled times by showing how we can accomplish presence of mind, promote healing, and embrace the physical, intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual, and ecological dimensions of wellness.

Morphometric Analysis Of Palatal Vault For Sex Determination In Central Indian Population, Saurabh Sharma, Paran Joshi, Raman Grover

Indian Journal of Health Sciences and Biomedical Research KLEU

BACKGROUND:

Palate has been a topic of interest regarding sex determination from human skeletal remains in physical anthropology. Palatal index (PI) is an important parameter for the sex determination of deceased individuals with unknown identity.

AIM:

The study aimed to determine and compare PI, clinically and radiographically, and evaluate its role in sexual dimorphism in the Central Indian population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

This study was conducted on 392 participants, in the department of anatomy and dentistry of a premium medical college in India. Maxillary casts were used for clinical measurement. Posteroanterior and lateral cephalogram (Ceph) were used for the radiographic …

The Coexistence Of Concha Bullosa And Nasal Septum Deviation In Adult Nigerians, Beryl Shitandi Ominde, Patrick Sunday Igbigbi

Indian Journal of Health Sciences and Biomedical Research KLEU

BACKGROUND:

Concha bullosa (CB) with an associated nasal septum deviation (NSD) compromises the paranasal sinus drainage through the osteomeatal complex hence predisposing to sinus disease. This study aimed at elucidating the concomitant existence of CB and NSD in adult Nigerians.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Following institutional ethical approval, brain computed tomography images of 336 patients (199 males and 137 females) aged ≥ 20 years were analyzed for CB and NSD in the Radiology Department of a Teaching Hospital. Using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software version 23, the prevalence of these variants was expressed in percentages, and their association …

A Morphometric Study Of Femoral Length, Anterior Neck Length, And Neck-Shaft Angle In Dry Femora A Cross-Sectional Study, Prabha Nand Chaudhary, V. S. Shirol, Rajendra D. Virupaxi

Indian Journal of Health Sciences and Biomedical Research KLEU

Background:

As the environment plays an important role in the development, the regional variation of the femur bone is influenced by geographical area, sex, stature, and heredity. In the present study, measurements on the adult human dry femora have been carried out. The knowledge of variations in the parameters of dry femora will help the orthopedicians and also assist prosthetists to design a suitable prosthesis for restoration of normal neck-shaft angle (NSA) and will also help forensic anthropologists to determine the sex.

Objectives:

The objectives of this present study is to determine the various parameters including femoral length, anterior neck …

Accuracy Of Measurements Of Foramen Magnum And Occipital Condyle As An Indicator For Sex Determination Using Computed Tomography, Harshita Rai, Vaishali Keluskar, Santosh Patil, Anjana Bagewadi

Indian Journal of Health Sciences and Biomedical Research KLEU

Background and Objectives:

The determination of sex in forensic investigation is an important and crucial step. Unidentifiable crania are very common due to warfare, mass disasters, intentional attempt to obscure facial identity in criminal attacks, or physical injury caused by weapons, explosives, or fire. In such a situation, the determination of sex becomes extremely complicated and challenging.

Aim:

The present study was undertaken to provide data on foramen magnum and occipital condyle (OC) for the purpose of sex determination for establishing the identity in cases of unknown fragmentary skulls.

Settings and Design:

Retrospective.

Subjects and Methods:

The study group included …

“Dark” Narratives Of Venezuelan Migrants In Trinidad And Tobago: Voices Of Gratitude And Resilience In A Foreign Land, Susan Chand

Adventist Human-Subject Researchers Association

This study explored narratives of Venezuelan migrants in Trinidad during and post COVID-19 lockdown. Key themes of “gratitude” and “resilience” emerged despite exploitation and discrimination migrants faced in a foreign land. “Dark Ethnography” concept is applied to understand migrants’ lived experiences and the church’s role in integrating to new environment.

Challenges In The Enforcement Of International Legal Framework Against Child Soldiering, Shedrack Ekpa, Daniel Friday Atidoga

Indonesian Journal of International Law

The war crime of child soldiering has contagiously blossomed, necessitating the application of several prohibitive legal standards for its extermination. As the impact of this heinous and atrocious crime soars, the multi-dimensional scope for the protection against child soldiering becomes more sternly entrenched. This article aims to interrogate this global and worrying phenomenon in the light of existing international legal framework. Alhough doctrinal in nature, this article relies on both primary and secondary sources of data. It was found that despite the high retinue of prohibitive norms as stipulated in various legal instruments, the war crime of child soldiering has …

Living Heritage, Resilience And Ethically Informed Infrastructures In Malawi, Martha B. Lerski, Frank Puluputu Mwale

Publications and Research

Rooted in a rural community’s needs, this paper explores how historically, and ethically informed infrastructures can support community engagement towards identification, documentation, and dissemination of local, traditional, and indigenous knowledge relating to climate change. The paper examines climate adaptation and sustainability issues through the lenses of community organizing and Library & Information Science best practices. It draws on a growing body of literature identifying a role for expanded epistemological and subject discipline perspectives. While the impacts of climate on material culture are increasingly recognized, intangible, and biocultural heritage have not received as much attention. Living heritage traditions and knowledge systems …

A Future Better Than The Familar: Development From A Passive Observer, Monae Kyhara Sims

Theses - ALL

Not only are humans disconnected from each other, they are even more so disconnected from themselves. Now more than ever the progression of technology, anti-progressive ideology and policy has impacted modes of communication, community, and our consciousness. Using empirical research based on self-experience and evaluation, mass social studies, and reviewing media such as The Body Keeps the Score, The Black Ball, Casablanca, and many other articles and short form videos, this writing argues that capitalism is the true puppet master of the growing failures in our communities; outside of the known financial struggles that come with it. Dating apps and …

Disinformation Attacks And Nonprofit Communication Strategies, Elise Lael Kieffer, Kevin M. Carr

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

This study explores how disinformation attacks on social media can affect nonprofit organizations, a topic that has received limited scholarly attention compared to similar impacts in the for-profit sector. Through a review of existing literature and two in-depth case studies—Save the Children and the American Red Cross—this research analyzes how nonprofit organizations are uniquely vulnerable to reputational damage in the face of disinformation. The case studies highlight different motivations behind disinformation campaigns, including political agendas and deliberate efforts to harm brand credibility, and assess the effectiveness of various response strategies, including denial, debunking, attacking the source, and public education. Findings …