Digital Commons Network^™

No. 01: South Africa At War: Food Insecurity, Migrant Exclusion And Covid-19 Policies, Jonathan Crush, Sean Sithole

Migration and Food Security (MiFOOD) Network

The policy audit critically examines the South African government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly focusing on the militaristic enforcement of lockdowns and the resulting food insecurity and exclusion of migrant populations. The report aims to inform policy-makers about the impacts of these policies and provide recommendations for crisis management.

On 27 March 2020, South Africa imposed a nationwide lockdown to combat the spread of COVID-19. This lockdown, enforced by the police and the military, was characterized by stringent measures including curfews, bans on inter-provincial travel, and the closure of non-essential businesses. These measures, while necessary to control the pandemic, …

Settling Dust, Unsettling Ground, Olivia Newroz

Masters Theses

Understanding dust as a material system that blurs the line between ground and atmosphere, I developed a dust machine as a tool for making dust legible at the human scale. While the blurriness of ground is visualized at both particle and planetary scales, at the human scale, it becomes less evident. Drawing from Lisa’s Moffitt’s discussion of “environmental models”–that is, models that don’t merely simulate phenomena, in this case dust, but rather produce the underlying force itself––I produced visualizations of how dust, as both a grounded and atmospheric element, intertwines ground and weather across scales, through a cyclical process of …

An Exploration Of Adult Children’S Attachment To Their Parents Across Two Cultural Groups: Indians In India And Indians Who Immigrated To The United States, Vilasini Meenakshi Arun

Doctoral Dissertations

Typically, attachment theory has been studied and explored with western populations. Individuals seeking mental health treatment within the United States include western and nonwestern cultural groups and research, theories and interventions that apply to diverse populations are necessary. Attachment relationships are often a part of, or reasons for clients to seek therapy either overtly or covertly, thus allowing research on attachment to better inform treatment plans and practice. An attachment relationship between a parent and child can be influenced by several factors and may change over the course of development, but little is known about this process among Indians …

Pandangan Tentang Praktik Bedah Plastik Dalam Artikel Opini Di Surat Kabar Korea Tahun 2010–2019, Putu Pramania Adnyana, Abdul Muta'ali, Sonya Puspasari Suganda

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

This research aims to reveal Korean’s perspectives on plastic surgery practices through a corpus-based text analysis of Korean online newspapers. The research used quantitative and qualitative methods to observe keywords, significant collocates, and semantic preference. The data used were 106 opinion articles about plastic surgery in Chosun Ilbo and Donga Ilbo (2010–2019). Keyword analysis shows that the most frequently used keywords are seonghyeong (189 times) and seonghyeongsusul (116 times). Analysis of significant collocates and semantic preferences revealed that plastic surgery was frequently discussed in relation to body parts, people (collocate yeoseong (women), junggukin (Chinese), hwanja (patient), gwangganggek (tourist)), country (collocate …

Horizontal Gene Transfer In Intergenomic Conflicts Between Bacteria And Their Genetic Parasites, Pavithra A.S

Theses and Dissertations

Bacteria are constantly infected by obligate acellular genetic parasites, such as plasmids and phages. The genetic conflicts between bacteria and their parasites, aggravated by horizontal gene transfer, exert significant ecological and evolutionary pressure on their respective genomes. The eco-evolutionary significance of parasite-derived elements on bacterial genomes is not well understood.

This study explored the genomics of plasmid-derived genetic elements such as antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), type II endonuclease toxin-antitoxin systems (TAs) and endonuclease colicin-like bacteriocin (CLB) operons, and phage-derived prophages of Escherichia coli using bioinformatics and developing novel hybrid agent-based models. We sequenced eight E. coli isolated from local wastewater …

Ephemera As A Versatile Primary Resource: A Case Study Of The Nancy Tucker Postcard Collection, Dylan J. Mcdonald, Jennifer Olguin, Monika Glowacka-Musial

Journal of Western Archives

Ephemera are rich primary sources too often overlooked within archival materials and at collecting institutions. This case study argues that archivists and librarians should recognize ephemera, specifically postcards, as powerful historical documents worthy of scholarly investigation. By analyzing a sample set of digitized postcards held at the New Mexico State University Library, we show how scholars can use postcards to develop evidence-based arguments. Through the images, printed texts, and hand-written inscriptions found on these early 20th century postcards, we demonstrate how researchers can examine the pro-development messages found in southern New Mexico postcards.

Far-Right Ecological Extremism: The Synthesis Of Violence, Hate, And The Environment On /Pol/., Hannah Claire Dunleavy

Environmental Studies Senior Theses

American far-right ecologism incorporates the American far-right’s antidemocratic and exclusionary tendencies, fears of existential threats and conspiracies, apocalyptic fantasies, and commitment to racial hierarchies. There are many shades of far-right ecologisms – including authoritarian deep ecology, eco-fascism, and exclusionary eco-nationalism – but all threaten the United States’ democratic ideals, multiculturalism, and pluralistic society. This thesis examines the rise of far-right ecologism in the U.S. by analyzing posts from 4chan’s /pol/ board (2015–2020) with a mixed-methods that blends a literature review, quantitative analysis, and descriptive case study. From 2015 to 2019, far-right ecology posts increased by 410%, and violent rhetoric in …

The State Of The Unions 2024: A Profile Of Organized Labor In New York City, New York State, And The United States, Ruth Milkman, Joseph Van Der Naald

Publications and Research

This report released by the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies, State of the Unions 2024: A Profile of Organized Labor in New York City, New York State, and the United States, is a part of an annual publication series, documents recent trends in unionization patterns. The CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies’ latest annual report on unionization patterns shows that private-sector union organizing efforts continued to increase across the country over the last year. The report documents that growth in union election petitions since 2020 has reversed a decade of decline, reaching a level not seen since …

The Politics Of Science Communication In Indonesia: Understanding The Role Of Science Academies, Uswatul Chabibah, Nur Rafiza Putri, Inaya Rakhmani, Muhamad Burhanudin, Wahyu Adiningtyas

JURNAL KOMUNIKASI INDONESIA

The role of Indonesian academies as science communicators evolves together with changing government regimes. Globally, science academies are typically not-for-profit, independent academic communities committed to providing advice for the nation in matters pertaining to science and technology. In Indonesia, science academies are historically formed under state regimes. This article, drawing on Niilo Kauppi’s framework, examines five years of science communication by the Indonesian Academy of Sciences, and two organizations under its auspices: the Indonesian Young Academy of Sciences and the Indonesian Science Fund. It reflects on their efforts to bridge the gaps between science, policy, and the public. Within the …

Determinants Of Subjective Well-Being Of Migrants: A Systematic Review, Dombagaha Pathiranage Marian Shavini Medonka Peiris

International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting

The study aims to comprehensively analyze existing literature to derive insights into the determinants of Subjective Well-being (SWB) among migrants and identify underexplored areas within the research landscape, proposing directions for future studies. Utilizing the PRISMA framework, 22 relevant peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2024 were selected, excluding books, conference proceedings, and dissertations. The analysis considered factors such as publication year, geographical scope, methodology, and sector. The findings of this investigation reveal that research on migrants’ SWB is predominantly quantitative, with a significant lack of nuanced perspectives. Most studies focus on developed countries, resulting in an underrepresentation of developing …

Barriers And Facilitators To Administering Burn Pit Registry Exams In Vha Facilities, Patricia V Chen, Israel C Christie, Kyler M Godwin, Jaehwan Han, Nisha Jani, Anays Sotolongo, Asma Ali, Drew A Helmer

Faculty and Staff Publications

Introduction: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) established the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry (AHOBPR) in 2014 to address exposure concerns for veterans who have served in military operations in Southwest Asia and Afghanistan. By 2021, over 236,086 veterans completed the online questionnaire and 60% requested an AHOBPR examination. Of those requesting an exam, only 12% had an exam recorded in their medical record. This article summarizes barriers and facilitators to delivering AHOBPR exams and shares lessons learned from facilities who have successfully implemented burn pit exams for veterans.

Materials and methods: We (I.C.C and J.H.) constructed a key …

Effectiveness Of Digital Communication In Tackling Environmental Degradation In Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria, Bjc Anyanwu, Cynthia N. Jumbo, Oba Sunday Aikuirawo Anyi, Emeka Williams Etumnu, Alexander Chima Onyebuchi, Ezekiel S. Asemah

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Environmental deterioration as a whole is dangerous because it is currently causing widespread health concerns. The technological determinism theory served as the basis for this study. A descriptive survey was used in the investigation. The Australian sample size calculator was used to select 385 participants from the 983,000 total population. The multistage sampling was applied. Data was collected via a questionnaire, and analysis was done using percentages. Results revealed that 53.6% of the respondents confirmed that digital communication is used to circulate information on the dangers of environmental degradation in Owerri, Imo State, but to a low extent. The results …

The Effectiveness Of Home- And Community-Based Rehabilitation For Stroke Recovery In Low- And Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review, Angela Logan, Lorraine Hermosura-Faeldon, Jonathan Marsden, Bridie Kent, Aira Ong

School of Nursing and Midwifery

BackgroundStroke is a leading cause of mortality and disability. In higher-income countries, mortality and disability have been reduced with advances in stroke care and early access to rehabilitation services. However, access to such services and the subsequent impact on stroke outcomes in the Philippines, which is a lower- and middle-income countries (LMIC), is unclear. Understanding gaps in service delivery and underpinning research from acute to chronic stages post-stroke will allow future targeting of resources.AimsThis scoping review aimed to map available literature on stroke services in the Philippines, based on Arksey and O’Malley’s five-stage-process.Summary of reviewA targeted strategy was used to …

Predicting Poor Mental Health Among Older Syrian Refugees In Lebanon During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Nested Cross-Sectional Study, Berthe Abi Zeid, Leen Farouki, Tanya El Khoury, Abla M. Sibai, Carlos Mendes F. De Leon, Marwan F. Alawieh, Zeinab Ramadan, Sawsan Abdulrahim, Hala Ghattas Ph.D., Stephen J. Mccall

Faculty Publications

Background: Post-term pregnancy, defined as reaching or exceeding 42 + 0 weeks of gestation, is known to be associated with unfavourable birth outcomes. High-income countries have responded to this risk by widely adopting labour induction protocols in late-term, but many low- and middle-income countries have not. However, understanding underlying mechanisms linking post-term births to adverse newborn and infant outcomes remains limited.

Objective:To investigate the (a) prevalence of post-term, (b) the risk factors associated with post-term (c) the association between post-term births and the risk of smallfor-gestational-age (SGA) neonates and of infant mortality in middle-income settings.

Methods:We used existing …

Hierarchy Of Influence On The Implementation Of Search Engine Optimization In The Tribun-Bali.Com Newsroom, Oktava Anggara, Ni Made Ras Amanda Gelgel, Ni Luh Ramaswati Purnawan

JURNAL KOMUNIKASI INDONESIA

Technological disruption has driven changes in the media and journalism industry, affecting the workflow in the newsroom. One emerging practice in the newsroom is the application of search engine optimization (SEO). This practice raises concerns about editorial decisions being directed toward topics that are "popular and easily clickable". Tribun-Bali.com is one of the biggest news portals in Bali that implements SEO. This study aims to depict the hierarchy of influences on the implementation of SEO in the Tribun-Bali.com newsroom. It is a qualitative descriptive study that employs interview methods with key informants. Utilizing the hierarchy of influences theory proposed by …

A Scoping Review Of Stroke Services Within The Philippines, Angela Logan, Lorraine Faeldon, Bridie Kent, Aira Ong, Jonathan Marsden

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and disability. In higher-income countries, mortality and disability have been reduced with advances in stroke care and early access to rehabilitation services. However, access to such services and the subsequent impact on stroke outcomes in the Philippines, which is a lower- and middle-income countries (LMIC), is unclear. Understanding gaps in service delivery and underpinning research from acute to chronic stages post-stroke will allow future targeting of resources. Aims: This scoping review aimed to map available literature on stroke services in the Philippines, based on Arksey and O’Malley’s five-stage-process. Summary of review: A …

Thermokarst Landscape Exhibits Large Nitrous Oxide Emissions In Alaska’S Coastal Polygonal Tundra, Josh Hashemi, David A. Lipson, Kyle A. Arndt, Scott J. Davidson, Aram Kalhori, Kyle Lunneberg, Lona Van Delden, Walter C. Oechel, Donatella Zona

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Global atmospheric concentrations of nitrous oxide have been increasing over previous decades with emerging research suggesting the Arctic as a notable contributor. Thermokarst processes, increasing temperature, and changes in drainage can cause degradation of polygonal tundra landscape features resulting in elevated, well-drained, unvegetated soil surfaces that exhibit large nitrous oxide emissions. Here, we outline the magnitude and some of the dominant factors controlling variability in emissions for these thermokarst landscape features in the North Slope of Alaska. We measured strong nitrous oxide emissions during the growing season from unvegetated high centered polygons (median (mean) = 104.7 (187.7) µg N_{2 …}

Vol. 23, No. 3 - Whole No. 70, David Bratman

Mythprint

Mythprint is the monthly bulletin of the Mythopoeic Society, a nonprofit educational organization devoted to the study, discussion, and enjoyment of myth and fantasy literature, especially the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Williams. To promote these interests, the Society publishes three magazines, maintains a World Wide Web site, and sponsors the annual Mythopoeic Conference and awards for fiction and scholarship, as well as local and written discussion groups.

Hibah Dari Ayah Kepada Anak Kandung Yang Melanggar Hak Bagian Ahli Waris Menurut Hukum Kewarisan Islam (Studi Putusan Pengadilan Agama Nganjuk Nomor 0619/Pdt.G/2019/Pa.Ngj Juncto Putusan Mahkamah Agung Nomor 103 Pk/Ag/2022), Sekar Puspita Arum, Wirdyaningsih Wirdyaningsih, Neng Djubaedah

Indonesian Notary

The settlement of inheritance disputes over property that has been granted by parents to children should use Article 211 of the Compilation of Islamic Law as a basis for consideration. This is because in reality, parents do not equalize the share of grants to their children so that the grant violates the share that is the right of the heir. Such a case was found in Supreme Court Decision Number 103 PK/Ag/2022. This legal research is intended to analyze the division of inheritance with the existence of grants according to Islamic Maritime Law and the legal consequences of granting grants …

Air Conditioning (Or Lack Thereof) In France: A Cross Cultural Comparison, Jean Lavigne

Environmental Studies Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Overcoming Barriers To Persistence: A Single-Case Study Of Student Veterans In Higher Education, Janet G. Hupel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this intrinsic case study is to understand the lived experiences of student veterans as they overcome barriers to persistence at a small, faith-based institution of higher education in the South. The theory guiding this study is Pascarella’s student-faculty integration model, as it explains the relationship between the student veterans’ unique background characteristics and other educational experiences to the degree of integration with faculty on campus and, ultimately, their persistence in higher education. What are the experiences of student veterans as they overcome barriers to persistence in higher education? The setting for the study is a small, faith-based …

Restoring Priority On Cultural Skill Sets For Modern Military Professionals, Daniel W. Henk, Allison Abbe

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

The Department of Defense has failed to distinguish and sustain cultural education relative to foreign language and regional expertise, putting servicemembers at a competitive disadvantage in developing skills to engage other cultures. This article draws on recent retrospective publications and multidisciplinary social science perspectives but goes beyond them to argue for social science approaches to culture, department-wide efforts to revive culture education, and an improved transition of sociocultural research to practice. Policy and military practitioners will benefit from understanding how culture-general skills complement other important skills in the human domain and from implementing its recommendations.

Lighting The Lamp Of Learning: Florida Freedmen’S Education During Reconstruction, Jessica L. Damron

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

While the American Civil War attracts significant research attention, Reconstruction often receives little attention in comparison. Focus the research on Reconstruction in Florida, and the scholarship narrows even more. This study reveals the efforts of the Freedmen’s Bureau, northern aid societies, and the freedmen teachers who advanced the education of the freedmen in Florida during Reconstruction. The cooperative effort included the freedmen who participated inspiringly during this period in their pursuit of education. The freedmen understood education represented the key to unlocking the potential of their new freedom. The Reconstruction period in Florida underwent progress and setbacks. However, the zeal …

The Effects Of Social Media Presence On Historically Black College And University (Hbcu) College Student Band Selection, Kuronde Washington

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research reveals the effects of social media presence on Historically Black College and University (HBCU) college student band selection. This quantitative correlational research study investigates the impact of social media presence and engagement on how HBCU band students select the college band they wish to attend. Variables in the digital space are the students’ influence of choice and social media. The researcher surveyed 75 HBCU band students from various athletic conferences to determine what social media content factors influence how college and university band students perceive and rank band programs. Participants were selected based on active college or university …

Moral Injury In Police Officers Of Color, Samantha J. Thornton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this research is to explore the possibility of Moral Injury (MI) in police officers of color. This is a topic that is steeped in stigma and cultural dynamics, both for the community of police and communities of color. The aim is to add to the existing research on MI and how it may impact those who occupy dual special populations. The study approached targeted police advocacy organizations of color for recruitment nationwide. This study recruited 10 police officers of color from multiple states and explored their personal stories. This study used video recordings to capture qualitative data …

Incorporating Aaron Copland's Philosophy Of Inclusion In Midwest Rural Band Programs: A Qualitative Study Of Attracting And Retaining Students Of Low Socioeconomic Status, Jonathan, S. Laflamme

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The field of music education has established the value of instrumental band music instruction as congruent with students’ intellectual, kinesthetic, psychological, and academic success. However, one should scrutinize the validity of the above data, as it addresses issues concerning access to instrumental music education that persist within underserved populations, particularly those characterized by low socioeconomic status (SES) in rural Midwest America. Researchers have synthesized very little data specifically to address the needs of Midwest rural schools and underserved student populations. This qualitative study explores the effects of applying Aaron Copland’s philosophy of inclusion, specifically regarding students of low SES, in …

Renewable Energy In Illinois: The Agrivoltaics Contribution, Quin E. Karhoff, A. Bryan Enders, Jessica L. Guarino, Tyler J. Swanson

Southern Illinois University Law Journal

Siting of renewable energy production facilities on agricultural land often engenders conflict at the community level. The desire to preserve productive farmland and protect aesthetic connections to the rural landscape can be a significant impediment to renewable energy development. With respect to solar energy production, agrivoltaics— the colocation of solar power structures and agriculture—is a potential alternative to traditional binary approaches of characterizing land use. As a novel technological and land use strategy, a better understanding of the agrivoltaic policy environment is necessary to actualize implications for rural communities and progress toward renewable energy goals. Illinois, with its abundance in …

Launchpad And Homebase: Columbus Ohio’S Arts Ecosystem, Rachel Skaggs, Amanda Tobin Ripley

International Journal of Regional Issues in the Arts

This article draws critical attention to strengths and needs within the arts ecosystem of Columbus, Ohio. Relying on interviews and focus groups with artists and arts leaders, we establish three themes as the most prevalent and cross-cutting among artists and arts leaders: needs for community building, paid work, and space. Based on these stated needs, we identify two aspects of the arts ecosystem in Columbus: launchpad and homebase, neither of which fully support artistic careers. We argue that with investment will also come the opportunity to develop a stronger ecosystem that allows artists to live, work, and thrive in Columbus.

Referrals To National Constitutional Courts: A Preliminary Examination, Benjamin Bricker

Southern Illinois University Law Journal

Many judicial systems utilize a process, often known as a referral process, in which one court has the ability to call upon another court, particularly a superior court, for definitive interpretations of law. This referral process is perhaps most widely known from its use in the European Court of Justice (ECJ), which has long thrived on receiving referrals (known as preliminary references) from national courts within the European Union. Yet, the ECJ’s preliminary reference process is itself derived from the constitutional referral processes previously adopted in several national judiciaries of the EU member states, notably Germany and Italy. This Article …

Economic Impact Considerations For Sustainable Design Engineering As Derived From The Literature, K. Joshua Kelley, Christopher A. Mattson, Nile Hatch, John L. Salmon

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis contributes to the scholarship on sustainable development by presenting a review of the literature on the economic impacts of engineering design decisions and engineered products. Many design engineers already consider the economic impacts of their work, especially those impacts related to production cost and the economic feasibility of their products. However, we believe that a review of our findings can help design engineers consider a more comprehensive set of economic impacts that apply to their work, leading to greater sustainability. Presented in this thesis are 11 economic impact categories, spanning three economic scopes.