Digital Commons Network^™

In The Relational Sandbox: Deep Democracy And Technology, Alma Leora Culén, Nicholas Sebastian Stevens, Jasmin Niess, Sisse Finken, Jason Miklian, Kristian Hoelscher

Nordes Conference Series

Designing for democracy often emphasizes values but underestimates the role of relationships in shaping civic life. This workshop explores how relationality - our social ties, political agency, and economic conditions - affects grassroots democratic design experiments and the technologies they inspire. Grounded in deep democracy and participatory approaches, we engage in small-scale experiments using Relational Sandbox to explore how new technologies that support democratic values can reshape power dynamics and how locally rooted, tailored designs can counteract capital-driven technological development. By experimenting with relational civics, we will collectively imagine new design strategies that prioritize meaningful technologies for deep democracy over …

An Exploration On Relationality And Decoloniality In Participatory Design Based On Care, Annalinda De Rosa, Milagros Hurtig, Marco Andrea Finardi

Nordes Conference Series

How is positionality brought into participatory practices? How are moments for self-reflection created in participatory design? How do design researchers challenge colonial perspectives in design? The workshop aims to create a space for a collective reflection on the need to undo the narratives of modernity and the cult of futurity that brings to the ubiquitous discourse on innovation as the only possible path for a better future. The workshop experiments with materiality as a channel to collectively explore how designing – as a transformative action embracing relationality – could adopt a pluriversal mindset. It furthers the discussion on relationality, elucidating …

Designing With Relationalities: Interweaving Human And More-Than-Human Approaches, Barbro Scholz, Michaela Honauer, Claudia Nuñez-Pacheco

Nordes Conference Series

This workshop explores the interweaving of human and non-human relationalities through noticing strategies that decenter the anthropocentric perspective. As a starting point, we propose to examine our position of humans as interconnected and entangled with more-than-humans, problematising how this perspective could reshape human-centred methods and practices. We intend to elaborate on how our being in the world –co-shaped by non-human entities– can be experienced through embodying other (human or non-human) perspectives. We thereby explore noticing as a method and start tackling the following questions: How do designers relate in the design process to other humans and non-humans? How does decentring …

Compromising Consent: A Peer-Led Ethnographic Exploration Of Sexual Assault On A Small College Campus, Scott London, Mae Rohlk

Proceedings of the annual meeting of the Southern Anthropological Society

This study explores the persistent issue of campus sexual assault through an ethnographic lens, utilizing peer-led interviews conducted at a small liberal arts college. By focusing on three key themes—the interplay of alcohol, sex, and consent; peer responses to sexual assault accusations; and technology-facilitated sexual violence—the study offers a nuanced understanding of the normalization of sexual violence. Findings reveal that alcohol is frequently cited as a mitigating factor in assault narratives, perpetuating gendered power imbalances and undermining the effectiveness of consent education. Peer responses often rely on enduring rape myths, which reinforce victim-blaming and discourage reporting. Technology, while providing opportunities …

A Mikumiku Dance Inquiry: Fandom, Technology, Dance, Kendall Ussery

Proceedings of the annual meeting of the Southern Anthropological Society

A globally popular Japanese manga/anime series called JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure has become the basis for a form of fan video art that employs the MikuMikuDance (MMD) software program. This has led to the creation of a JoJo MikuMikuDance (JoJo MMD) digital community based on fan art creators and viewers. This digital ethnographic study, drawing upon an autoethnographic perspective, investigates the JoJo MMD fan community and its relationship to the MMD videos as fan video art. Examining this involves an analysis of YouTube videos and posted comments. The study argues that the JoJo MMD fan community has taken a very positive …

Legitimacy As Politico-Cultural Integration, Chase Plante

Proceedings of the annual meeting of the Southern Anthropological Society

Since the social sciences first began considering the concept of political legitimacy, or people’s acceptance and support of authority, the field has struggled to effectively define the concept in terms it can operationalize. This paper uses Talcott Parsons’ model of societal subsystems to advance a theorization of political legitimacy as the integration of the polity and culture subsystems. For society to function, all four subsystems (economy, societal community, culture, polity) must integrate. This research demonstrates that legitimacy is a process of politico-cultural integration by examining legal compliance. I argue that formal norms (laws) must be translated into informal norms, representing …

Global Drag And Cultural Scapes: Examining Queer Manifestations Of The Appadurian Cultural Economy In Guadalajara, Mexico, Logan Baggett

Proceedings of the annual meeting of the Southern Anthropological Society

This study investigates the emerging drag performance scene in Mexico, in the context of globalization and media expansion, particularly following the launch of Drag Race Mexico in 2023. Utilizing Appadurai’s framework of global cultural flows, this article examines how local drag culture navigates, resists, and engages the influence of international media conglomerates and technology that shape evolving queer ideologies. I argue that drag artists leverage media visibility to advance their careers while confronting challenges such as cultural authenticity and financial precarity. Such media visibility is conditioned by the presence of two drag series, La Más Draga and Drag Race Mexico, …

An Activist-Educator In The "New" Latinx South: A Case Study Of Internal Resistance In Charlotte. North Carolina, Mandy Muise

Proceedings of the annual meeting of the Southern Anthropological Society

Drawing upon fieldwork conducted over 16 months (2022-2023), this paper ethnographically examines the efforts of one Latinx activist-educator, Señora Gómez, to challenge deficit narratives while working within a public high school in Charlotte, North Carolina. Located within the so-called “New” Latinx South, increasing incidences of Latinx/Hispanic students elicit improvisational responses to combat resource limitations; teachers such as Sra. Gómez are saddled with the “invisible tax” placed upon bilingual educators of color. This case study of her work grapples with the imperfect, messy ways in which resistance within the school day is carried out in pursuit of Latinx student agency and …

Introduction, Kiley E. Molinari

Proceedings of the annual meeting of the Southern Anthropological Society

No abstract provided.

Front Matter, Journal Editors

Proceedings of the annual meeting of the Southern Anthropological Society

No abstract provided.

The Importance Of Solvents In Obtaining Gossypol Free Cotton Meal In The Extraction Process, Dilshod A. Nasredinov, Aslbek B. Yulchiyev, Kamar P. Serkaev

CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Comparative, analytical and experimental studies of methods for obtaining vegetable oils from oilseeds have been conducted, the purpose was to determine the advantages and disadvantages of technologies used in industry. As the experimental results have shown, among the existing methods of oil production, the method of direct extraction is promising, which provides 12% more water-soluble proteins while observing the technological regimes developed for each type of oil raw materials. Based on the fact that the current level of scientific and technological progress allows the use of targeted solvents and if necessary sequence of several extractants that provides isolation of a …

Improvement Of Flax Seeds Processing Technology For The Production Of Functional Oil Products, Manzura N. Hafizova, Ismoil B. Isabaev, Nафиса R. Djurayeva, Suvankul S. Ravshanov

CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

One of the main problems of our time is the sharp increase in alimentary-dependent diseases or so-called "diseases of civilization" caused by unbalanced nutrition, namely a stable deficiency or excess of nutrients with food relative to the physiological human needs. Therefore, recently there has been an increased interest in the production of functional products with a relatively balanced composition of certain nutrients depending on their purpose and intended use. A promising object of modification is traditional fat products, the transformation of which into functional ones is carried out by combining various types of raw materials, i.e., by creating composite (model) …

Transformations Of Uzbekistan Quartz Raw Materials – Quartzites Of The Dzherdanak Deposit And Vein Quartz Of The Nurota Deposit Under Thermal Impact, Umar G. Nomazov, Mastura Kh. Aripova

CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

The aim of the work is to study the transformations of quartz raw materials as a result of high-temperature exposure. The objects of the study were quartzite from the Dzherdanak deposit in the Surkhandarya region and vein quartz from the Nurota deposit in the Samarkand region. The mineralogical composition of natural raw materials and phase and structural transformations during high-temperature exposure to 1430 ° C were studied using X-ray and differential thermal analysis. Based on the results of physicochemical analysis methods, it was found that vein quartz consists entirely of quartz and, therefore, it can be assumed that impurity elements …

Kinetics Of Adsorption Of Copper And Nickel Ions Using A Rice Husk-Based Sorbent, Aziza A. Maksudova, Shukhrat A. Mutalov, Klara M. Adilova

CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

The aim of this study is to investigate the adsorption kinetics of Cu(II) and Ni(II) ions from aqueous solutions using an adsorbent obtained by treating rice husk with a solution of monoethanolamine. The experiments evaluated the influence of contact time on the efficiency of metal ion removal and calculated the adsorption capacity. To analyze the adsorption process kinetics, pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models were applied. The results demonstrated that the adsorption process follows the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Thus, monoethanolamine-modified rice husk can be considered an effective, environmentally friendly, and economically viable sorbent for the removal of heavy metal ions from …

Quantum-Chemical Study Of Complex Compounds Of Lanthanides With 2-Aminobenzimidazole Derivatives, Bakhtigul Yu. Ruzieva, Feruza F. Fayzullayeva, Zuhra Ch. Kadirova, Shahlo Sh. Daminova

CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

The aim of this study is to perform quantum-chemical modeling of mixed-ligand complexes of trivalent lanthanoid ions (Ln³⁺) involving primary ligands — 2-amino-1-methylbenzimidazole (MAB) and 2-phenylmethyl-1H-benzimidazole (FAB), as well as additional ligands — diethyldithiocarbamate (DEDTK), benzohydroxamic acid (BGK), and potassium diisopropyldithiophosphate (DiPDTP). Quantum-chemical calculations were carried out using semi-empirical methods within the PM3 and PM6 approaches, implemented in the BIOVIA Materials Studio (Accelrys Studio 2017) software package. The obtained data made it possible to determine the influence of the nature of the mixed ligands on the coordination behavior of lanthanoids and the stability of the corresponding complexes.

Synthesis And Ir Spectroscopic Study Of Complexes Of Selected 3d-Metals With 2-(Phenylmethyl)-1h-Benzimidazole, Gulnoza O. Babayeva, Gulbeka G. Mamatova, Daminbek A. Ziyatov, Lola Sh. Makhmudova, Shahlo Sh. Daminova

CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

The aim of this study was the synthesis and structural investigation of coordination compounds of selected 3d-metals with 2-(phenylmethyl)-1H-benzimidazole (FAB) using IR spectroscopy. Complexes of copper(II), nickel(II), cobalt(II), and zinc(II) with the general formula [M(FAB)₂Cl₂], as well as a complex [Co(FAB)₂(ac)₂], were synthesized. IR spectroscopic analysis revealed that FAB coordinates to metal ions through the nitrogen atom of the benzimidazole ring. Shifts in the ν(C=N), ν(C-N) bands and the appearance of new bands in the 580-430 cm⁻¹ region corresponding to ν(M-N) and ν(M-Cl) confirm the formation of metal complexes. It was established …

Technological And Mechanical Properties Of Polyethylene Filled With Nano-Sized Calcium Carbonate, Ilyos M. Makhmudov, Ravshan I. Adilov, Muzafar G. Alimukhamedov, Farangiz B. Izzatullayeva

CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Currently, one of the most effective and cost-effective ways to modify the properties of polyethylene is to introduce various fillers of organic or inorganic origin. The purpose of this work was to study the effect of the concentration of nanosized calcium carbonate on the technological and physicomechanical properties of polyethylenes of various origins. In the work, we used two grades of polyethylene: HDPE (273-83) and LDPE (10803-020) produced by Kazanorgsintez OJSC. The following were used as nanofillers: nanosized calcium carbonate in the form of a compound of the Nano-cal NC-K0117 brand made in China. The dependence of the physicomechanical properties …

Full Issue, Kritika Kultura

Kritika Kultura

Brina (2016), Chhorii (2021), and Jayeshbhai Jordaar (2022).

Front Matter, Journal Editors

Venture: The University of Mississippi Undergraduate Research Journal

Includes table of contents, editorial board, and reviewers

Racism And Sexism In Hollywood: Overcoming The Barriers To True Representation Of Women Of Color In The Film Industry, Emily Smith

Venture: The University of Mississippi Undergraduate Research Journal

This research paper dives into the omnipresent issues of gender discrimination and racism that women of color regularly face as professionals in the film industry, emphasizing the need for inclusion and diversity in Hollywood. It examines the disparity in representation among people of color, particularly how women are often denied the same opportunities as their male counterparts. The paper showcases the systemic biases against minority groups and lack of opportunity both on and off screen, as well as racial and gender stereotyping. Specifically, this paper seeks to reveal how obstacles such as colorism, tokenism, and white feminism impact the recognition …

Enhancing Oral Absorption Of An Ester Prodrug By Coating Drug Crystals With Binary Lipid Systems And Evaluating The Influence Of Compositions, Xiaowei Dong, Tao Zhang, Hellen L. Moreno Sanchez, Jaylen C. Mans, Sung Hun Bae, Liangqiao Bian

Pharmacy Faculty Scholarship

Background/Objectives: Prodrug strategies are a vital aspect of drug development, with ester prodrugs particularly notable for modifying parent drug properties through ester functional groups to enhance oral absorption. However, ester prodrugs are prone to hydrolysis by water and enzymes, making stability in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract prior to absorption a key challenge. Few formulation strategies effectively address this degradation issue. We recently introduced binary lipid systems (BLS), comprising a lipid and a water-soluble surfactant only that form stable microemulsions. This study aimed to explore the application of BLS for enhancing the oral absorption of ester prodrugs by coating drug crystals …

Implementation Of A Pre-Discharge Screening Program For Fracture Prevention, Sarah J. Russell

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem Osteoporotic fractures are a major public health concern in the United States; 1 in 2 women and 1 in 4 -5 men will experience a fracture due to low bone density. Despite established clinical guidelines, many patients in this managed care health system do not receive timely osteoporosis screening or treatment, placing them at increased risk for costly readmissions averaging $50,000 per hospitalization especially among those discharged to skilled nursing facilities.

Context The improvement project targeted patients admitted with fractures and integrated DEXA scanning during the acute care stay to avoid delays in diagnosis and bisphosphonate therapy. Barriers included …

Red Room Redesign: Improving Operating Room Workflow For Urgent And Emergency Procedures, Hipolito Jamilan

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: Limited operating room (OR) availability is a significant challenge in many healthcare facilities. Overbooked or understaffed ORs can lead to delays in surgical procedures, which are particularly detrimental in urgent and emergency situations (Cholewa et al., 2024). The OR is among the costliest areas in a hospital; it is essential to improve efficiency in surgical throughput to deliver timely care for urgent and emergent cases, enhance patient outcomes, and manage healthcare costs effectively.

Context: The microsystem for this project is a Northern California OR that handles a high volume of surgical procedures. There is a dedicated red room for …

Preventing Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia In Non-Ventilated Oncology Patients, Carmi Villanueva

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem - Hospital Acquired Pneumonia (HAP) remains the leading cause of death among hospital-acquired infections, underscoring the need for effective prevention strategies. Between October 2023-2024, six HAP infections occurred in non-ventilated oncology patients. A routine audit revealed zero adherence to the existing evidenced based ROUTE “bundle” to prevent HAP. ROUTE indicates Respiratory care (R), Oral Care (O), Up in bed (U), Tube care (T), Education (E).

Context – In a 325-bed hospital in Northern California, a 26-bed telemetry/oncology microsystem serves a mixed population including immunocompromised, non-ventilated oncology patients at higher risk for developing HAP. A quality improvement project was initiated …

Does The Addition Of Digital Care Along With Standard Chemotherapy Teaching That Is Provided At City Of Hope Increase Patient Satisfaction And Confidence?, Sheridan Wendy Lomeli, Brooklin Mize, Tatyana Franco, Daniela Naemi

Master's Projects and Capstones

Chemotherapy education is critical when it comes to improving patient confidence, reducing anxiety, and enhancing symptom management. However, there is still a variety of patients who begin their infusion therapy with a limited understanding of what to expect. This quality improvement project was conducted at an outpatient infusion center, exploring whether combining traditional nurse-led chemotherapy education calls with a digital care platform would enhance patient satisfaction and confidence compared to standard care alone. A total of forty-one adult oncology patients participated in an educational survey at the end of each follow-up phone call, which was completed three days after their …

Capers-Lrd-Z9: A Gas-Enshrouded Little Red Dot Hosting A Broad-Line Active Galactic Nucleus At Z = 9.288, Anthony J. Taylor, Vasily Kokorev, Dale D. Kocevski, Hollis B. Akins, Fergus Cullen, Mark Dickinson, Steven L. Finkelstein, Pablo Arrabal Haro, Volker Bromm, Mauro Giavalisco, Kohei Inayoshi, Stéphanie Juneau, Gene C.K. Leung, Pablo G. Pérez-González, Rachel S. Somerville, Jonathan R. Trump, Ricardo O. Amorín, Guillermo Barro, Denis Burgarella, Madisyn Brooks, Adam C. Carnall

Pacific Faculty Work

We present CAPERS-LRD-z9, a little red dot (LRD) that we confirm to be a z = 9.288 broad-line active galactic nucleus (BLAGN). First identified as a high-redshift LRD candidate from PRIMER NIRCam photometry, follow-up NIRSpec/PRISM spectroscopy of CAPERS-LRD-z9 from the CANDELS-Area Prism Epoch of Reionization Survey (CAPERS) has revealed a broad 3500 km s⁻¹ full width at half-maximum Hβ emission line and narrow [O iii] λλ4959, 5007 lines, indicative of a BLAGN. Based on the broad Hβ line, we compute a canonical black hole mass of log ( M BH / M ⊙ ) = 7.58 ± 0.15 , …

Deliberate Lives: A Reassessment Of Post-Wwii American Women’S Agency, Caroline Elizabeth Stewart

Masters Theses

World War II had an important impact on American women’s social and economic roles, helping them gain opportunities and skills which impacted them long after the war. While scholars have debated the exact extent and longevity of the changes, an examination of these women’s lives and the many roles they filled shows their quiet agency in making these post-war decisions. Social pressures and expectations certainly impacted their experiences, but examining their lives shows that many women also showed agency in multiple ways. More recent post-war narratives have acknowledged agency in more rebellious women but have increasingly focused on social expectations …

Tracing חֶסֶד And Ἔλεος: A Prototype Theory And Componential Analysis Of Covenantal Loyalty And Divine Mercy Across The Pentateuch, Septuagint, Targums, And New Testament, Jarritt B. Tadlock

Masters Theses

This thesis explores the semantic and theological dimensions of the Hebrew term ḥesed and its Greek counterpart eleos through a comparative intertextual and linguistic analysis. Utilizing prototype theory and componential analysis, the study examines occurrences of ḥesed in the Masoretic Text and Targum Onkelos, alongside eleos in the Septuagint and New Testament, to trace the development of divine-human relational language across textual traditions. The findings reveal that ḥesed consistently embodies covenantal loyalty and divine mercy, while its frequent rendering as eleos in the Septuagint emphasizes compassion within a Hellenistic framework. In the New Testament, eleos both preserves and reconfigures ḥesed’s …

Echoes Of Redemption: What Typology Reveals About The Significance Of Isaac In The Aqedah, Jacob A. Lugo

Masters Theses

In this thesis, I outline a problem of logical consistency within the typological interpretation of the Aqedah narrative in Genesis 22. I also attempt to provide a more consistent interpretation that still seeks to remain faithful to the text while recognizing how this account fits into the overall narrative of Scripture.

In times past, the literature on this topic has been saturated with the identification of Isaac as a type of Christ; this is seen most readily in the Early Church Fathers’ interpretation. I also explore other modern readings to demonstrate the multiplicity of understandings that have arisen regarding this …

Don't Say You Love Me, Breanna Dunwell

Masters Theses

Teen dating violence is a silent epidemic that is not talked about enough or taken seriously. This shows that age does not matter when it comes to any type of abuse or harassment – physical, emotional, sexual, stalking, etc. The household that the victim lives in, race, parents marital status, and financial situation do not play a role into who is a victim versus someone who is not. The perpetrator does not care about those kinds of details. They only care about needing to be in control of the other person. Even though this is a snippet, the story shows …