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Journal Article The Tiwa Community of Assam: A Historical and Cultural Study(2024) Bordoloi, Kongkon; Doloi, Gargi; Timung , BijoyThe Tiwa community, also known as Lalung, is an indigenous ethnic group primarily found in Assam and Meghalaya in Northeast India. They are known for their rich cultural heritage, including a distinct language, unique socio-religious practices, and a vibrant history. This article explores the origins, cultural evolution, socio-political structure, and current issues facing by the Tiwa community. This paper will provide a comprehensive understanding of the Tiwa Tribe’s history, geographical settlement, religious belief, cultural practices, and the significance of their folk festival in strengthening social integrity in Assam.Journal Article Reimagining China’s Transportation Funding Investments in Africa in the Context of COVID-1(2021) Hamilton, Clovia; Maliphol, Sira"Africa has not invested enough in its healthcare system, and China has been investing in and financing much of Africa’s transportation system. Many African countries’ fragile health and transportation systems have been further weakened by the COVID-19 pandemic. This literature review confirms the interdependence of the key functional areas of comprehensive development planning and the importance of building and maintaining a sound transportation infrastructure. With respect to partnerships with China, African nations need to strengthen government functional areas more comprehensively, considering all of the areas of development planning including trade as well as transportation and aid issues. It is all the more apparent given the COVID-19 pandemic that these trade deals need to include simultaneous heavy investments in healthcare, education, housing, public utilities (water and electricity), and economic development through improved supply chain management and the use of advanced digital technology. In addition to the deal structures for China’s investments in Africa’s transportation infrastructure, there are also opportunities to reimagine the African nations’ internal transportation spending. For example, there are models in the United States for using transportation funds to invest in health clinics in transit stations. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought this issue to bear, and it is a problem that can be rectified with ‘comprehensive’ development planning that takes into account all of the key functional areas of planning: healthcare, environmental protection, safety, education, housing, economic development, and transportation. Five recommendations follow the literature review and discussion."Journal Article Internet use, eHealth literacy and fear of COVID-19 among nursing students in the Philippines(2021) Oducado, Ryan Michael; Tuppal, Cyruz; Estoque, Homelo; Sadang., Jonaid; Superio, Daryl; Real, Don Vicente; Roa, Mary Nellie; Malaga, Xerxes; Quiros, Jejomar; Fajardo, Maria Teresa; Dela Rosa, Ronnell; Oducado, Ryan MichaelThe COVID-19 outbreak brought into focus not only the safety but also the mental well-being of nursing students. At present, the level of fear of COVID-19 and associated factors among nursing students in the Philippines are not well understood. This cross-sectional online survey determined the relationship between Internet use and eHealth literacy with fear of COVID-19. One thousand three hundred and sixty-seven (n=1,367) answered an online survey using the adopted eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS), and Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) administered from May 1 to 15, 2020. Descriptive statistics, tests for differences, and correlational analysis were performed. Results indicated that the composite score of the FCV19S was 3.65, indicating moderate to high levels of fear. Fear of COVID-19 significantly differed based on sex, year level, and location. A significant inverse relationship was found between the average daily use of the Internet and fear of COVID-19. On the other hand, no significant association was noted between eHealth literacy and fear of COVID-19. The first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in a far-reaching impact on nursing students' psychological well-being. This study highlights the value of the Internet and its use during the outbreak may not always lead to higher fear related to COVID-19. Nursing schools may need to create strategies to promote regulated and responsible Internet use, address students' mental health concerns, and develop interventions to respond proactively to mitigate or reduce fear among nursing students during the pandemic.Journal Article Analyzing Access and Equity in Primary Education: Addressing Rising Dropout Rates Among Malawian Learners(2023) Nyoni, Precious"With an emphasis on tackling the alarming increase in dropout rates among Malawian students, this study tackles the vital concerns of fairness and accessibility in Malawian elementary education. The study uses a qualitative method to clarify the opinions and experiences of significant stakeholders and to expose the complex interplay of factors that contribute to this pervasive challenge. Focus groups, in-depth interviews, and document analysis were used to collect qualitative data from a range of participant groups, including students, teachers, parents, and educa-tion officials, and to gain crucial insights into the state of education. With the use of these methods, the complexity of the problem was examined, and a thorough understanding of the challenges Malawian primary education faced was produced. According to the study's findings, the rising dropout rates are the result of a complicated web of circumstances. Due to the significant challenges faced by economically disadvantaged students in their educational endeavours, the subject of socioeconomic disparities has gained significant importance. There were also obvious gen-der differences, with early marriages and teenage pregnancies typically having an excessively negative effect on fe-males. The opinions and firsthand accounts of Malawian students provided valuable insights into the challenges they encounter when trying to get into and stay in school. Firsthand narratives brightened the difficulties that learners encounter, including risky and lengthy travels to school as well as inadequate facilities and educational resources. The study evaluated the effectiveness of government initiatives and programs created to lessen the dropout pandemic."Journal Article The Tiwa Community of Assam: A Historical and Cultural Study(2024) Doloi, Gargi; Bordoloi, Kongkon; Timung, BijoyThe Tiwa community, also known as Lalung, is an indigenous ethnic group primarily found in Assam and Meghalaya in Northeast India. They are known for their rich cultural heritage, including a distinct language, unique socio-religious practices, and a vibrant history. This article explores the origins, cultural evolution, socio-political structure, and current issues facing by the Tiwa community. This paper will provide a comprehensive understanding of the Tiwa Tribe’s history, geographical settlement, religious belief, cultural practices, and the significance of their folk festival in strengthening social integrity in Assam.Journal Article Adaptation Strategies and Collective Dynamics of Extraction in Networked Commons of Bistable Resources(2021) Schauf, Andrew; Oh, Poong"When populations share common-pool resources (CPRs), individuals decide how much effort to invest towards resource extraction and how to allocate this effort among available resources. We investigate these dual aspects of individual choice in networked games where resources undergo regime shifts between discrete quality states (viable or depleted) depending on collective extraction levels. We study the patterns of extraction that emerge on various network types when agents are free to vary extraction from each CPR separately to maximize their short-term payoffs. Using these results as a basis for comparison, we then investigate how results are altered if agents fix one aspect of adaptation (magnitude or allocation) while letting the other vary. We consider two constrained adaptation strategies: uniform adaptation, whereby agents adjust their extraction levels from all CPRs by the same amount, and reallocation, whereby agents selectively shift effort from lower- to higher-quality resources. A preference for uniform adaptation increases collective wealth on degree-heterogeneous agent-resource networks. Further, low-degree agents retain preferences for these constrained strategies under reinforcement learning. Empirical studies have indicated that some CPR appropriators ignore—while others emphasize—allocation aspects of adaptation; our results demonstrate that structural patterns of resource access can determine which behavior is more advantageous."Journal Article Perceived Stress Due to COVID-19 Pandemic Among Employed Professional Teachers(2021) Oducado, Ryan Michael; Rabacal, Judith; Moralista, Rome; Tamdang, Khen"The unexpected occurrence of the COVID-19 outbreak has undeniably disrupted the normalcy of life. Stress has become an important concern in education since the COVID-19 outbreak. This descriptive-correlational online survey administered in August 2020 utilized the COVID-19 Perceived Stress Scale (COVID-19 PSS-10) to assess the COVID-19 perceived stress among employed Filipino teachers. Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis tested for differences while Spearman’s rho was used to analyze the correlation between variables. Results demonstrated that more than half of teachers experienced moderate COVID-19 stress. Females experienced significantly higher COVID-19 stress compared to males. A negative correlation was noted between self-rated health and COVID-19 stress while a positive correlation was found between the perceive risk of getting COVID-19 infection and COVID-19 stress. This study highlights that steps must be undertaken to help teachers deal with the stress of the COVID-19 crisis as well as they must be provided or taught with stress management interventions during this pandemic. This study could be used as a baseline for future research to assess the impact of COVID-19 stress among professional teachers."Journal Article Myopic Reallocation of Extraction Improves Collective Outcomes in Networked Common‑pool Resource Games(2021) Schauf, Andrew; Oh, Poong"When individuals extract benefits from multiple resources, the decision they face is twofold: besides choosing how much total effort to exert for extraction, they must also decide how to allocate this effort. We focus on the allocation aspect of this choice in an iterated game played on bipartite networks of agents and common-pool resources (CPRs) that degrade linearly in quality as extraction increases. When CPR users attempt to reallocate their extraction efforts among resources to maximize their own payoffs in the very next round (that is, myopically), collective wealth is increased. Using a heterogeneous mean-field approach, we estimate how these reallocations affect the payoffs of CPR users of different degrees within networks having different levels of degree heterogeneity. Focusing specifically on Nash equilibrium initial conditions, which represent the patterns of over-exploitation that result from rational extraction, we find that networks with greater heterogeneity among CPR degrees show greater improvements over equilibrium due to reallocation. When the marginal utility of extraction diminishes, these reallocations also reduce wealth inequality. These findings emphasize that CPR users’ adaptive reallocations of effort—a behavior that previously-studied network evolutionary game models typically disallow by construction—can serve to direct individuals’ self-interest toward the collective good."Journal Article THE IMPACT OF MODERNIZATION ON JUNBEEL MELA: CONTINUITY AND CHANGE(2024) Doloi, GargiJunbeel Mela is a traditional fair of the Tiwa tribe of Assam, India which has been a cultural event for centuries and is known for its barter system and cultural activities. However, the process of modernization has brought some changes in the economic, social, cultural and environmental aspects of the Mela. This paper aims to analyze the effects of modernization on Junbeel Mela with special reference to the aspects of continuity and change. Based on ethnographic observations, interviews with the members of the Mela community, and historical records, this paper examines how modernization has impacted Mela’s practices and how some aspects of the culture have remained intact. The study indicates that although the process of modernization has affected the barter system in terms of commercialization and its partial disappearance, the main cultural practices and the values of totemism remain stable. The paper concludes with a discussion on the future of Junbeel Mela based on these changes and recommendations on how to strike a balance between tradition and modernity to ensure that Mela remains culturally relevant.Journal Article Influence of Self-esteem, Psychological Empowerment, and Empowering Leader Behaviors on Assertive Behaviors of Staff Nurses(2021) Oducado, Ryan Michael"Being assertive is essential skill nurses need to learn and develop. While many studies exist on nurses’ assertiveness, there is limited research on the factors associated with Filipino nurses’ assertive behaviors. This study examined the correlation of self-esteem, psychological empowerment, and leader empowering behaviors on staff nurses’ assertiveness in the workplace. This cross-sectional study conducted in 2019 involved 223 staff nurses working in two tertiary hospitals in the Philippines. Data were gathered using four validated self-reported scales: self-esteem scale, psychological empowerment scale, leader empowering behavior questionnaire, and workplace assertive behavior questionnaire. Correlational analysis using Pearson’s r was performed to test the relationship between the key variables. The composite scores for the self-esteem, psychological empowerment, empowering leader behaviors, and workplace assertiveness were 32.06 (SD = 3.65), 4.22 (SD = 0.43), 3.86 (SD = 0.51) and 3.61 (SD = 0.55), respectively. Self-esteem (r = 0.216; p = 0.001), psychological empowerment (r = 0.455, p = 0.000), and empowering leader behaviors (r = 0.269; p = 0.000) were significantly correlated with staff nurses’ assertiveness in the workplace. Self-esteem, nurse leadership behaviors, and empowerment play vital roles in staff nurses’ assertiveness. Understanding the factors influencing nurses’ assertiveness is important, and looking into these variables can be beneficial for nursing management when developing strategies to build nurses’ assertiveness. Thus, it is vital to focus on helping nurses nurture healthy self-esteem and initiate empowering conditions at work to aid nurses in setting healthy boundaries and supporting assertive behaviors at work."