American Research Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Flooding remains one of the most destructive environmental hazards, affecting millions of people each year and causing substantial loss of life, property, and sources of income. Its growing frequency and severity have increasingly been associated with changing climatic conditions, including sea-level rise and extreme rainfall events. Nigeria has experienced several major flood episodes in recent decades, demonstrating the serious consequences of recurrent inundation for vulnerable communities. This study examines the extent to which flooding disrupts livelihoods and investigates differences in vulnerability among population groups. Primary and secondary data were combined, while cluster and simple random sampling techniques were used to select respondents and gather relevant information. The findings indicate that the effects of flooding are not experienced equally, with women facing particularly severe social and economic challenges. Flood events substantially undermine household livelihoods through damage to agricultural production, loss of fish stocks, and disruption of income-generating activities. The study therefore emphasizes the need for vulnerability-sensitive flood management and recovery measures. Priority should be given to strengthening support for women, children, and other disadvantaged groups before, during, and after flood events. Addressing structural inequalities, including discriminatory access to land and productive resources, alongside improved welfare assistance, rehabilitation, and timely relief provision, is essential for reducing long-term livelihood insecurity and building community resilience.

Keywords: Interactive Video Teaching; Higher Education; Student-Centred Learning; Active Learning; Self-Directed Learning; Inquiry-Based Learning; Collaborative Learning; Digital Learning Resources; Instructional Innovation; Student Engagement; Educational Technology; University Teaching.

Philosophical inquiry is increasingly being confronted with conditions that challenge the assumptions underlying established ways of producing knowledge. Climate instability, armed conflict, political transformation, ecological disruption, and widening forms of social inequality raise questions not only about what philosophy should investigate, but also about how philosophical thinking itself should be practiced. This article examines the ethical responsibilities embedded in acts of thinking and writing by reconsidering philosophical inquiry through the perspectives of care and relationality. Drawing on Bruno Latour’s actor-network approach and María Puig de la Bellacasa’s account of matters of care, the discussion develops an understanding of thinking-with-care as a mode of inquiry that resists the image of the isolated and self-sufficient thinker. It also engages with the contributions of Joan C. Tronto and Donna J. Haraway to explore how responsibility emerges through relations among people, environments, institutions, technologies, and other forms of agency. Particular attention is given to the conditions of the Anthropocene, where human and nonhuman entanglements make detached intellectual positions increasingly difficult to sustain. The article considers whether philosophical writing can become more attentive to those whose experiences and agencies are frequently excluded from conventional academic frameworks. It argues that thinking with others and thinking for others can expand philosophy's social responsiveness without reducing ethical reflection to abstract principles. Ultimately, the article proposes that ethical philosophising must recognize its own situatedness within a complex web of relations and accept care, attentiveness, and shared responsibility as essential dimensions of intellectual practice.

Keywords: Care Ethics; Relational Inquiry; Thinking-With-Care; Actor-Network Theory; Distributed Agency; Philosophical Responsibility; Interconnectedness.

This study investigates an unusual pattern of marriage and kinship preserved in local family history in Jinlian Village, Qiqin Town, Xinjian County, Jiangxi Province. For generations, families bearing the Deng surname have intermarried, whereas marriages with the Li families of nearby Dageng Village, Chengshang Township, have reportedly been avoided for more than eight centuries. At first sight, this practice appears inconsistent with ordinary Han Chinese naming conventions and marital customs. Through genealogical records, local traditions, surname history, and historical reconstruction, the study examines the possible origins of this long-standing prohibition.

The analysis follows the ancestral development associated with the Deng families of Xuancheng and explores their connection with the Li surname. Particular attention is given to Li Youxin, Marquis of Xuancheng during the Southern Tang period, and the historical tradition that links the adoption of the Deng surname to his father, Li Tianhe, who held the title “Deng King.” The investigation subsequently traces earlier ancestral narratives connected with the Tuoba branch of the Xianbei and examines processes through which Xianbei ruling groups, aristocratic families, and ordinary communities became incorporated into Han society during the Northern and Southern Dynasties.

By extending this genealogical inquiry further into earlier historical periods, the article considers traditions linking the Tuoba people with broader Xiongnu ancestry and explores the proposed paternal connection between the Xuancheng Deng family and the lineage of the Han general Li Ling, grandson of the renowned general Li Guang. Rather than presenting Chinese population history as a simple or linear process, the study highlights the complexity of migration, surname transformation, intermarriage, cultural adaptation, and changing ethnic identification. The case demonstrates how family memory and local marriage customs can preserve traces of wider historical interactions and offers a genealogical perspective on the formation of interconnected communities within Chinese history.

Keywords: Deng Family History; Surname Transformation; Genealogical Memory; Xianbei Tuoba; Han Identity; Intermarriage; Historical Ethnic Interaction.

The rapid pace and increasing complexity of contemporary life have contributed to a growing range of psychological concerns among people across different age groups. Unlike physical illnesses, psychological difficulties are often associated with internal emotional, cognitive, and behavioral factors and may gradually influence an individual's personality, perceptions, interpersonal relationships, and emotional well-being. In China, hesitation or discomfort associated with conventional face-to-face psychological consultation can sometimes discourage individuals from seeking professional support. Online consultation therefore provides an alternative channel through which psychological services can be accessed with greater flexibility and privacy. Against this background, the present study focuses on the analysis and design of an online psychological consultation service system by integrating established psychological assessment and consultation procedures with Internet-based technologies. The study examines the practical requirements and service processes involved in conventional psychological consultation and translates these requirements into a web-based service framework. The proposed system consists of four principal modules: user access and permission management, psychological resource management, psychological assessment, and an online psychological consultation room. These components support the sharing of psychological resources, completion of online assessments, and communication between users and counselors through a unified digital environment. By allowing users to access relevant resources and complete assessments according to their individual schedules, the system offers a more flexible approach to psychological support. The proposed platform can improve the accessibility and convenience of psychological consultation while reducing some of the time, travel, and communication constraints associated with traditional consultation. It also creates a more accessible channel between individuals seeking psychological assistance and professional counselors, supporting the delivery of psychological services beyond the limitations of conventional face-to-face settings.

Keywords: Psychological Consultation; Online Mental Health Services; Psychological Assessment; Knowledge Management; Web-Based Service System.

The idea of a sustainable city is commonly associated with the integration of economic development, social well-being, and environmental protection. Yet the everyday realities of urban life reveal that sustainability is also shaped by cultural values, household practices, gender relations, and the ways residents interact with shared spaces and municipal services. Urban sanitation provides a particularly useful lens for examining these connections. Public waste management and sanitation policies involve relationships between local authorities, technical service providers, and residents, while domestic practices of cleanliness, wastewater disposal, and waste handling may generate tensions and environmental pressures within neighbourhoods. Although Sustainable Development Goal 11 promotes inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable urban communities, achieving these objectives remains difficult when deeply rooted social practices conflict with long-term environmental responsibility. This study therefore examines the gendered dimensions of urban sanitation and asks how women's everyday practices, access to technologies, and use of household sanitation equipment are influenced by broader relations of power and gender inequality. Drawing on urban sociology and anthropological perspectives that understand cities as lived social environments, the study adopts a hypothetico-deductive approach. Documentary analysis of academic and grey literature is combined with semi-structured interviews and direct observation. The findings suggest that internalized socio-cultural norms can complicate sustainable urban transformation when environmental practices are disconnected from everyday social realities. Greater attention to gender, culture, and lived experience is therefore essential for developing more socially grounded approaches to urban sustainability.

Keywords: Urban Sustainability; Gender Relations; Sanitation Practices; Social–Spatial Relations; Women and Urban Life; Sustainable Cities; Cultural Practices.

The growing integration of translation into digital, scientific, commercial and other technology-driven domains has made the reliable assessment of translation quality increasingly important. Although numerous Translation Quality Assessment (TQA) models have been developed, questions remain regarding their practical applicability, technological integration, consistency of evaluation criteria, and ability to address the complexity of contemporary translation practices. This study critically examines existing approaches to TQA and identifies key gaps that limit their effectiveness in both academic research and professional translation settings. Particular attention is given to models that remain predominantly theoretical, lack sufficiently flexible assessment dimensions, or make limited use of emerging computational technologies. In response, the study presents a technology-oriented perspective for strengthening TQA through multidimensional evaluation, intelligent assessment techniques, improved corpus development, standardized quality indicators, and more accessible assessment tools. It further considers the potential of artificial intelligence and machine learning to support faster, more consistent, and context-sensitive evaluation of translated texts. By examining the strengths and limitations of different assessment approaches, the study develops a broader framework for understanding how technological innovation can complement human judgement rather than replace it. The findings offer practical insights for translators, educators, researchers, and technology developers seeking more reliable and adaptable approaches to contemporary translation quality evaluation.

Keywords: Translation Quality Assessment; Translation Evaluation Models; Artificial Intelligence; Machine Learning; Translation Technology; Corpus-Based Evaluation; Human–AI Collaboration.

Effective training is essential for strengthening employee competence and improving institutional performance in revenue administration. When gaps in employees’ knowledge, practical skills, and work-related attitudes are not adequately addressed, the consequences may extend to the quality and efficiency of tax administration and revenue collection. This study examines the effectiveness of training delivered through the Ethiopian Ministry of Revenues Training Center, with particular attention to areas requiring improvement and possible measures for strengthening future programs. Training effectiveness was assessed through three dimensions: participant satisfaction, learning outcomes, and changes in workplace behavior. Data were gathered from employees who participated in training programs during 2021 using structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM). The findings indicate that limitations in training duration, the practical usefulness of training materials and modules, and the adequacy of the training environment may reduce the overall impact of the programs. The study recommends allocating sufficient time for training, developing materials that remain useful after participants return to their jobs, and ensuring that training facilities provide a clear, suitable, and supportive learning environment. The proposed Training Effectiveness (TREF) framework may also serve as a practical instrument for evaluating training initiatives across public and private sector organizations.

Keywords: Training Effectiveness; Employee Satisfaction; Learning Outcomes; Behavioral Change; Structural Equation Modeling; Confirmatory Factor Analysis.

Electromagnetic pollution is an increasingly recognized environmental pressure associated with the expansion of wireless communication systems, electrical infrastructure, navigation technologies, and other human-generated sources of electromagnetic fields. Although these emissions are generally invisible and difficult to perceive, emerging ecological research suggests that prolonged or intense exposure may influence wildlife in ways that extend beyond individual physiological responses. Changes in orientation, movement, reproductive activity, nesting patterns, feeding behavior, and migration have been reported across different animal groups, raising concerns about possible consequences for population stability and ecosystem interactions. In aquatic environments, electromagnetic emissions associated with underwater cables and other infrastructure may also interact with the sensory and communication systems of marine organisms. These potential effects are particularly important because even subtle behavioral changes can alter predator–prey relationships, reproduction, habitat use, and species interactions. This article examines the ecological implications of electromagnetic pollution and emphasizes the need to incorporate electromagnetic exposure into wildlife assessment and conservation planning. A more integrated approach involving ecological monitoring, environmental impact assessment, exposure guidelines, and species-specific research is necessary to understand long-term risks and support biodiversity conservation.

Keywords: Electromagnetic Fields (EMF); Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR); Wildlife Ecology; Biodiversity Conservation; Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA); Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI); International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP); Marine Electromagnetic Exposure; Animal Behavior; Ecological Risk Assessment.

Climate change is increasingly reshaping the conditions in which children grow, learn, and develop, with the consequences falling most heavily on communities exposed to recurrent environmental hazards. This study examines how climate-related disruptions affect the realization of children’s rights, focusing on interconnected concerns including displacement, food insecurity, health, interrupted education, child labour, and exposure to abuse and exploitation. A mixed-methods research design is employed to develop both a broad assessment of these challenges and a deeper understanding of children’s lived experiences. Quantitative information is used to identify patterns and relationships across vulnerable communities, while qualitative evidence gathered through surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions provides insight into the everyday difficulties faced by children and their families. The findings indicate that climate-related pressures can intensify existing social and economic inequalities and expose weaknesses in child protection systems. Important gaps are also observed between policy commitments and their implementation at the community level. The study therefore emphasizes the need to place children at the centre of climate adaptation and disaster-risk policies. Strengthening community preparedness, protecting access to education and essential health services, improving social protection, and expanding child-sensitive resilience programmes are identified as important priorities. Greater investment in sustainable and clean energy, together with stronger mitigation measures, is also necessary to reduce longer-term climate risks. Overall, the study argues that climate action should extend beyond environmental protection to include the preservation of children’s rights, dignity, safety, and opportunities for healthy development.

Keywords: Climate Change; Child Rights; Climate Vulnerability; Displacement; Food Insecurity; Education; Child Protection; Community Resilience; Policy Gaps.