Animo Repository - De La Salle University Research
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Religious Institutionalization: Understanding Why Leaders practice Shamanism in South Korea
Get PDFPolitical and business leaders in South Korea are often the focus of attention these days because of their relation to shamanism. These activities are labeled superstitious and are widely condemned, though they are not new. Despite the overall condemnation, shamanistic practices among leaders, similarly to the wider population, persisted in the long run. There are two distinct parts to the criticism: everyday practice and high political positions given to mudangs. Practice is condemned because shamanism is not considered a religion as it has no proper institutions, that is, church, ideology, clergy, official history, and so forth. On the contrary, practice is continuous because its efficiency is widely believed. Presently given political positions somewhat reflect their historical situation. Mudangs were religious and spiritual experts throughout the centuries, and they often held high-ranking positions. Historically, this kind of cronyism was not only compensation for personal support but also shared responsibilities and duties with the worthy. Today, this is condemned because of the general consideration of shamanism as superstition and because politics is expected to work in a bureaucratic manner with elected tasks and responsibilities based on rational operation and institutional legitimacy, where politicians are bureaucrats who cannot share the delegated power arbitrarily. The situation is very similar in business, although less apparent. In this study, we focus on the institutionalization process first. Although the historical development of shamanism did not happen to form an established Church, the preservation of the practices and the ancient roles of religious experts, the present market processes, the increasing scientific research, and the partial governmental acceptance inspired by UNESCO contributed to a secondary institutionalization. Although public acceptance follows the primary structures of society built on formal institutions, personal considerations and decisions are influenced by this secondary layer. Whether this contradiction is a psychological constraint and causes stress among the related population is a question. Secondly, Korean society’s postmodern transformation supports different religiosity and spirituality, which gives another way for shamanism to flourish. Postmodern lifestyle with increased fragmentation and media use can incorporate shamanism with ease and fit properly into its disintegrated character. The highly industrialized and urbanized Korean society and the prevalent advanced IT and communication technology serve as fertile ground to absorb new-old religiosity. The psychological compulsion for spiritual experiences and healing and the social need for building identity on history support shamanism both as a new spirituality and heritage at the same time
Cytotoxicity of crude ethanolic mushroom extracts on HCT-116 and HT-29 human colorectal carcinoma cells and their effect on the expression of the BAX and CASP3 Pro-apoptotic Genes
No full textEdible mushrooms are emerging as valuable sources of bioactive metabolites with potential anticancer applications. This study investigated the cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic effects of crude ethanolic extracts from Pleurotus florida, Pleurotus djamor, and Volvariella volvacea on human colorectal carcinoma cell lines HCT-116 and HT-29, and normal human liver THLE-3 cells. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using the resazurin assay. Based on the reference established by the Mycological Society of America, all three mushrooms were significantly cytotoxic to the carcinoma cell lines, with IC50 values \u3c 1 mg/mL. P. djamor was highly cytotoxic to HT-29 and V. volvacea to HCT-116 (IC50 \u3c 0.1 mg/mL), while P. florida required higher concentrations (0.5137 mg/mL for HCT-116; 0.2717 mg/mL for HT-29). All extracts were non-cytotoxic to THLE-3 (IC50 \u3e 1 mg/mL), indicating selective cytotoxicity. RT-qPCR analysis showed that P. florida and P. djamor upregulated CASP3 and Bax in both cell lines, while V. volvacea downregulated both genes in HCT-116. It likewise downregulated CASP3, but upregulated Bax in HT-29. The results highlight the potential of the mushroom extracts studied as novel anticancer therapeutics, inducing the apoptotic pathway in P. florida and P. djamor, as well as non-apoptotic regulated cell death or a Caspase-3-independent apoptotic pathway in V. volvacea.
Keywords: Pleurotus florida, Pleurotus djamor, Volvariella volvacea, cytotoxicity, colorectal carcinoma, Bax, CASP
To Us for Every Decision We Make: A Deleuzian and Guattarian Criticism of the Films To Me The One Who Loved You and To Every You I\u27ve Loved Before
No full textAnime has emerged not only as a form of entertainment but also as a cultural and philosophical medium exploring concepts such as identity, decision-making, and existential dilemmas. Despite its growing influence in both global and Filipino contexts, little scholarly attention has been given to how philosophical frameworks like Deleuze and Guattari’s can be applied to analyze such narratives. The study analyzed To Every You I’ve Loved Before (2022) and To Me The One Who Loved You (2022) while applying Deleuze and Guattari’s philosophical approach to understand how decisions, with identity formation and social norms, affect character development. The research applies qualitative textual analysis to analyze both films, applying core concepts from A Thousand Plateaus, which include rhizomatic thinking, becoming, smooth and striated space, assemblage, deterritorialization, reterritorialization, and line of flight. The analysis relied on Herman’s Narrative Framework (2009) to examine how Koyomi’s choices develop because of his previous experiences. Through his travels between parallel realms, Koyomi illustrates the constant battle between the forces of free choice and the unavoidable effects of actions. Through his choices, Koyomi demonstrates the fluidity of identity and the complexity of self-determination via loss and external factors, together with feelings of regret. The study emphasizes that Anime functions as a philosophical platform that presents existential problems that connect with people, especially those in the exploration phase of their lives. The study adds valuable insights to research about philosophical film analysis, animated narrative structures, and individuals’ development based on their environment and decisions
Understanding the identity formation of Filipino cis-men through their consumption of drag media
No full textDespite having deep historical roots—from the drag balls at Harlem, New York, to the Stonewall Riots—the presence of drag culture in contemporary mainstream media has increased its visibility and accessibility, most especially in places like the Philippines. Through Drag Race Philippines and Drag Den, the Filipino drag scene has never been more alive. Thus, this study investigates how the growing accessibility of drag culture through various forms of media influences the identity formation of Filipino cis-men. This demographic has often been overshadowed by their counterparts in previous studies; hence, this study aims to fill that gap. Using a qualitative descriptive research design, the study examines the lived experiences and consumer habits of Filipino cis-male viewers to gain a deeper understanding of the influence of drag media on individuals\u27 self-expression and sense of identity. The results of the current study revealed that family, religion, and other social institutions, platy a vital role in shaping an individual’s identity. Meanwhile, the consumption of drag media enables the expansion of the individual’s perspectives and awareness of queer culture, as well as political and social issues. Overall, the study shows that drag media functions not only as a form of entertainment but as an educational and sociocultural force that informs and helps Filipino cis-men understand themselves and the society they live in
The impact of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on Polyunsaturated fatty acid profiles and depressive symptoms in major depressive disorder: A meta-analysis
No full textSeveral clinical trials have attempted to measure the efficacy of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation across various degrees and comorbid conditions of major depressive disorder. Mixed results have been observed across clinical trials that generally observe this, with respect to the varying diagnoses and populations of patients, leaving room for future researchers to identify which patients with specific degrees and types of major depressive disorder are most suited for omega-3 fatty acid supplementation. In this study, the researchers examine the overall efficacy of such supplementation across clinical trials conducted in different regions and patient populations, with respect to the omega-3 and omega-6 profiles of the participants. Selected journal articles were gathered from online databases, and meta-analyses were performed to examine their results, specifically regarding the eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, arachidonic acid, overall n-3, overall n-6, and n-3/n-6 ratio levels of the participants. The results show that placebo was mainly favored across all the four journal articles, and that the selected journal articles display notable levels of heterogeneity with each other. As a result of this, the researchers hence recommend future researchers to cover specific demographics and degrees of major depressive disorder, as well as taking into consideration the presence of other conditions, such as cardiovascular heart disease
Benefits of Pineapples Promoted in Health Blogs and as Perceived by Malaysians
Get PDFLittle is understood about what and how health blogs communicate about the benefits of pineapples and whether they make known scientific findings, such as the anti-cancer potential of pineapples, to the public. This study investigated the benefits of pineapples promoted in health blogs and as perceived by Malaysians. The objectives of the study are to (a) examine claims on the benefits of pineapples in blog articles and (b) describe the benefits of pineapples as perceived by Malaysians. A total of 30 blog articles with a total word count of 39,496 were analyzed to determine the types of claims on the benefits of pineapples. The analysis showed eight types of claims: 31.9% performance claims, 14% food/nutrient claims, 14% risk reduction claims, 11.3% nutrient function claims, 9.6% enhancement claims, 8.3% symptom relief claims, and 1.7% diet claims. In addition, 152 online questionnaire responses from Malaysian participants were obtained. The results on the pineapple consumption patterns showed a preference for fresh pineapples rather than pineapple juice or other food made from pineapples. The participants were convinced about vitamin C contents and the general health benefits of pineapples, but 38.8% were not aware of the anti-cancer properties. After learning about the bromelain enzyme and the anti-cancer potential of pineapples, 44.4% of the participants intend to eat fresh pineapples, and 9.9% intend to take vitamin supplements with pineapple extract. Parents exerted a stronger influence than the newspaper, friends, and doctors on pineapple consumption. The acidic taste may be a barrier to pineapple intake, but not the cost of pineapple. The study showed that the translation of scientific findings in health blogs focussed on easy-to-understand concepts but may neglect the latest anti-cancer properties of pineapples
Cabin Crew Leadership Styles During COVID-19: A Case of Thailand
Get PDFThe COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the airline industry, causing a sharp decline in international air travel. To survive, airlines quickly adopted cost-cutting strategies, including human resource retrenchments. These job losses created widespread job insecurity, leading to negative consequences such as depression, lower motivation, job dissatisfaction, and a decline in overall productivity among cabin crews. During a crisis, leadership becomes a strategic tool for maintaining employee performance, as leadership styles play a key role in reducing job stress and anxiety among subordinates. Although studies on crisis leadership in tourism and hospitality are somewhat prevalent, little attention has been paid to the airline industry, a subsegment of the tourism sector. To address this research gap, this study aims to investigate leadership styles that help cabin crews cope with the stress and anxiety caused by job insecurity during COVID-19 and sustain their performance throughout the crisis. A qualitative research method involved in-depth, open-ended interviews with 20 cabin crew members in Thailand. Findings deriving from the thematic and narrative analysis of the interviews revealed that ideal leaders should possess characteristics such as being good listeners, empathetic, composed, and effective communicators. These leadership qualities help reduce stress and anxiety during flight operations and enhance team productivity. By employing the contingency theory of leadership as a theoretical framework, this study contributes to the literature on specific leadership styles during crises within the tourism-related industry