Texas A&M International University: Research Information Online (RIO)
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Democracy in China Since Tiananmen: Elite Choice in Historical Context
Full text linkWhy has the modern Peoples Republic of China not democratized? Since the late 20th century, scholarly consensus has acknowledged a process of waves of democratization occurring globally since the early 19th century, and yet the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has remained mostly unmoved and aloof to these changes. This work seeks to understand why the PRC has not democratized since the opening-up of the nation and its markets under Deng Xiaoping after Mao. To answer these questions on democratic resistance the work highlights the evolving logic of the PRC’s system and its leadership since the 1980s. As I argue, the central focus on stability within the PRC provides insight into Chinese resistance to democracy. To do this the work applies theories of democratization to three important historical moments related to Beijing’s treatment of Hong Kong, a once democratic enclave within the nation and its relationship to the driving leadership of each era. What is shown is that the modern PRC’s refusal of democratization revolves around two central factors: the decisions of Chinese elites, who have increasingly sought authoritative control in the name of stability, and the popular indifference of ordinary Chinese citizens, for whom access to political discourse is severely limited and recent economic prosperity has by and large quieted the demand and discussion of Western politics. The findings suggest that the PRC is now less likely than it has been in decades to democratize, and the that the nation has seen the rise authoritarian and centralized control steadily increasing under Xi Jinping to levels that have not been seen since the Maoist era
Intereses que movilizan a la comunidad digital de change.org: más allá de lo político
No full textLos movimientos populares tomaron un renovado impulso con la consolidación de las nuevas tecnologías y el surgimiento de plataformas públicas y privadas, que sirven como canal para las protestas sociales y la defensa de intereses ciudadanos. Desde un método de análisis de contenido cualitativo, se examinan las veinte peticiones más exitosas en la historia de la plataforma privada Change.org en cuatro países: Estados Unidos, Reino Unido, Francia y Australia. Se observa cómo operan estas campañas, y se identifican los intereses que motivaron la participación de su comunidad digital. A pesar de que el impacto de la participación política online es un tema de debate en la literatura científica, los resultados evidencian similitudes en el tipo de temáticas que se defienden a nivel transnacional en Change.org, y sugieren que existirían peticiones externas al campo estrictamente político que movilizan de modo transversal a la ciudadanía en el campo digital
Discurso y poder en Ecuador: análisis del discurso de los presidentes Rafael Correa Delgado y Lenin Moreno Garcés
No full textEcuador desde el 2007 y hasta el 24 de mayo de 2021, estará gobernado por un proyecto político denominado: La Revolución Ciudadana (Alianza País-Listas 35), partido que ha sufrido una serie de discrepancias y el distanciamiento del presidente L. Moreno. Este artículo usa los postulados del Análisis del Discurso, relacionados con las estructuras semánticas, compuestas de complejidad léxica, uso de superlativos y tendencias ideológicas para analizar los mensajes emitidos por Rafael Correa Delgado (2006-2009-2013) y Lenin Moreno Garcés (2017), considerando tres momentos: 1. Campaña electoral, 2. Plan de gobierno y 3. Toma del poder. Sistematiza las promesas usadas en el discurso según los tres momentos mencionados, para luego analizar de manera cronológica y cualitativa las ofertas que lograron cristalizarse durante el ejercicio del poder presidencial. Existe un cambio progresivo del discurso público, debido a dos variantes, la primera asegurar la permanencia en el poder y la segunda, justificar la situación de crisis del país, pero en cualquiera de los casos siempre está conectada con el discurso populista. En el discurso de Rafael Correa se identifica una estrategia definida ideológicamente. Mientras que Lenin Moreno tiende a improvisar, usando un discurso variable, sin conceptos concretos, ni estratégicos
Las periodistas y trabajadoras de la comunicación frente a las violencias y discriminación en medios tradicionales en Ecuador
No full textEl presente documento analiza la cultura periodística para ofrecer un panorama general de la situación de las periodistas y trabajadoras de la comunicación en radio, televisión y medios impresos, desde una mirada universal hasta elementos propios del caso ecuatoriano. A través de una revisión del marco legal y teórico, junto a elementos históricos y cifras, como el Registro Público de Medios y el Monitoreo de Contenidos del Consejo de Comunicación, se presentarán datos sobre la realidad de las mujeres que laboran en la esfera mediática. Se expondrán algunas prácticas de violencias y discriminación contra las periodistas, ligadas a temas como los llamados techo de cristal y suelo pegajoso, para reflexionar sobre actitudes recurrentes que atentan contra su seguridad, integridad y progreso tanto al interior de medios tradicionales, como en lo público y su relación con las audiencias. Además, se ofrecerán algunas pautas técnicas para superar esta problemática, que afecta tanto al ser humano en su calidad de mujer, como a la libertad de expresión y de prensa
Influence of Carbon Sources on the Pathogenicity of Mycoplasma Pneumoniae
Full text linkMycoplasma pneumoniae is a human respiratory tract pathogen and one of the best-characterized minimal bacteria. It is a serious problem because of health problems it can cause as it can be detrimental to humans and the occurrence and aggravation of systemic involvement in M. pneumoniae infection occur via multiple immunological pathways. With its major source of carbon and energy coming from phospholipids, Mycoplasma pneumoniae thrives on lung epithelia. In Mycoplasma pneumoniae, pathogenicity is closely related to carbon metabolism. By testing carbon sources in well plates and growth curves to analyze how growth is affected in Mycoplasma pneumoniae and measure optical density, carbon source effectiveness may be better understood. The hypothesis of this study is that other carbon sources similar to glycerol and glucose, such as mannose and sorbose, can be beneficial to the growth of Mycoplasma pneumoniae as well. With the use of well plates and culture flask, growth curves were developed to measure growth with optical density. Glucose and glycerol were shown to be carbon sources that were able to use by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, with carbon sources such as maltitol and xylitol showed positive results. The hypothesis in this study was shown to be not supported. While other carbon sources were able to be utilized by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, they were not as efficient as glucose and glycerol. Maltitol was a carbon source uncharacteristically grew with Mycoplasma pneumoniae. A two-way ANOVA that was done testing No Carbon Source against other carbon sources showed that glucose was the only carbon source that was significant. A two-way ANOVA of glucose against other carbon sources showed they were all significant, except for maltitol. It can be assumed with the data that hexose sugars, pentose sugars, and sugar alcohols that are similar to glucose and glycerol can be used by these lung bacteria. In turn, theoretically these carbon sources can be used to develop alternate treatments to treat afflictions that infect the lungs. In time, these carbon sources can be possibly be used to counter diseases and difficulties caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae
The Tragedy of Conscience in Edgar Allan Poe\u27s Tales: A Nietzschean/Freudian Dialectical Approach
Full text linkThe American Gothic tales of Edgar Allan Poe often follow protagonists that are mentally plagued by their conscience. These protagonists attempt to rid themselves of their conscience through violent actions that bring them a momentary sense of freedom before their immediate downfall. For various literary critics, Poe’s recurrent theme of ridding oneself of a conscience has put into question the need or motivation for such actions. As Poe’s protagonists demonstrate an internal split of the mind, it is evident that there are extreme oppositional forces in the psyche that influence the actions of his characters. The theoretical studies put forth by European thinkers such as Friedrich Nietzsche and Sigmund Freud show how human nature is fundamentally divided much like the identities of Poe’s characters. On the one hand, Nietzsche’s theory of Greek art in The Birth of Tragedy (1872) explains how the truth about suffering and life is made possible through two oppositional forces: Dionysius and Apollo. On the other hand, Freud’s view, as expounded in his article “The Id and the Ego” (1923), explains how the ego is involved in a constant battle between the instincts of the id and the moral imperatives of the super-ego. Although both thinkers focused on differing areas of study, it is evident that Freud’s super-ego is Apollonian, and the id is Dionysian. In Poe’s tales such as “William Wilson” (1839), “The Tell-Tale Heart” (1843), and “The Black Cat” (1843), Nietzsche’s and Freud’s theories will be used to analyze the internal and external influences of his characters’ actions and why their desires remain unfulfilled and inevitably doomed. The application of Nietzsche’s and Freud’s theories to Poe’s tales show how each narrator’s perception of his world includes a manifestation of the conscience through an Apollonian illusion which they react to in an overwhelming Dionysian passion of instinctive violence. These illusions are what Poe’s narrators use to mentally justify their impulsive and violent actions as each protagonist’s motivation to rid themselves of their conscience proves to be insufficient because the conscience inevitably returns to exact its due
An Auther\u27s Depth Discovered Through a Freudian Lens: An Analysis of Wes Anderson\u27s The Royal Tenenbaum\u27s
Full text linkWhile examining Anderson as an auteur, many aspects of his unique style allow me to relate characters and plot development to Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic concepts. Throughout Wes Anderson’s film The Royal Tenenbaums (2002), I recognize specific Freudian theories of the life instinct and death drive, the pleasure and reality principles, and the Oedipus and narcissist complexes. Specifically, the children of the Tenenbaum family are prime examples of characters who attain multiple emotional flaws due to their parents’ divorce early in their adolescence. Anderson is able to use his acquired film techniques to enhance two points that I will discuss: Freudian symbolism and Freudian familial and romantic relationships. Freudian symbolism in The Royal Tenenbaums is noticeable with Anderson’s use of clothing, dialogue, mise-en-scène, and music. The costumes of characters Chas, Margot, Richie and Eli represent the distinctive Freudian concepts of development: the death drive and the pleasure principle. The Tenenbaum children all display a strong regard for the obsession with death. Furthermore, the siblings all desire to stay within their developmental phase of Freud’s pleasure principle. Anderson’s use of deadpan humor within his characters’ dialogue motivates me to define Royal’s narcissistic qualities and Richie’s development of an Oedipus complex. The popular Freudian concepts are easily identified within the characters throughout their dialogue. Moreover, another film technique Anderson establishes as an auteur is mise-en-scène, a visual combination of the actor, the setting, the props, and the camera composition. The director found a way to complement Royal’s narcissism and Margot and Richie’s incestual love with visually stunning elements. The symbolic elements of Freudian theories allow for a more direct approach to familial and romantic relationships where a bolder use of Freud’s psychoanalysis is identified. A deeper connection to the family dynamics Anderson presents of a father and his children comes from a development of the death drive and the pleasure principle. Once they all progress from their flawed state of being, the Tenenbaum children finally develop an “inner satisfaction,” something Freud considers the key to adult happiness
Fat-free mass characteristics of Hispanic adults: Comparisons with non-Hispanic Caucasians and cadaver reference values
No full textBackground: A four-compartment (4C) model quantifies fat, water, mineral and residual. As such, 4C models are more accurate than two-compartment (2C) models based off cadaver reference values (RV), which necessitate assumptions regarding fat-free mass (FFM) characteristics. Nonetheless, research has yet to determine whether the FFM characteristics of Hispanics are similar to non-Hispanic Caucasians and RV. Aim: The aim of this analysis was to compare the FFM characteristics of Hispanics to non-Hispanic Caucasians and cadaver RV. Methods: Data from 2 separate research centers were pooled to create a sample of 100 and 119 Hispanic males and females (age: 18–54 yrs; BMI: 16.46–42.27 kg/m2), respectively, and 47 and 55 non-Hispanic Caucasian males and females (age: 18–54 yrs; BMI: 16.00–36.67 kg/m2), respectively (n = 331). A 4C model was determined using bioimpedance analysis for hydration, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry for mineral, and air displacement plethysmography for body density (4C-ADP). FFM was calculated via the 4C-ADP and FFM characteristics (i.e., density [DFFM], water [TBW:FFM], bone mineral [Mo:FFM], and residual [R:FFM]) were compared between sexes and ethnicities using a one-way ANOVA and against RV via a one sample t-test. Results: In Hispanics, all FFM characteristics significantly differed from cadaver RV (all p \u3c 0.05). In contrast, DFFM and TBW:FFM of non-Hispanic Caucasians were similar to cadaver RV for both sexes (all p \u3e 0.05). Moreover, the R:FFM of non-Hispanic Caucasian females did not differ from cadaver RV (p = 0.403) whereas all other comparisons were significantly different (all p \u3c 0.05). Sex comparisons within Hispanic participants revealed FFM characteristics were similar between males and females other than Mo:FFM (p \u3c 0.001) whereas all FFM characteristics were similar between non-Hispanic Caucasian males and females (all p \u3e 0.05). All of the ethnicity comparisons within males were statistically significant (all p \u3c 0.05). Moreover, ethnicity comparisons within females were statistically significant for all comparisons other than Mo:FFM (p = 0.258). Conclusion: The observed differences in FFM characteristics of Hispanics as compared to non-Hispanics Caucasians and reference values indicate that allied health professionals should employ appropriate caution when estimating body composition via 2C models in Hispanic populations
Agreement Between 2 Segmental Bioimpedance Devices, BOD POD, and DXA in Obese Adults
No full textThis study examined the agreement between 2 segmental bioimpedance analysis (BIA) devices, air displacement plethysmography (BOD POD), and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for estimating body composition in obese adults. Fifty obese adults (25 men and 25 women; age = 34.20 ± 11.19 years; BMI = 36.14 ± 5.33 kg/m2) had their body fat percentage (BF%) and fat-free mass (FFM) evaluated with 2 segmental BIA devices (InBody 230 and InBody 720), BOD POD, and DXA (Lunar iDXA). Body composition via the BOD POD was determined using the Siri equation whereas manufacturer-based equations generated metrics (ie, BF% and FFM) for the InBody devices. The effect size of the mean differences for all BF% and FFM comparisons were trivial (Cohen\u27s d \u3c 0.20). The standard error of estimate (SEE), total error (TE), and 95% limits of agreement (LOAs) were low for both segmental BIA devices when compared to DXA (SEE \u3c 2.26% and 2.35 kg; TE \u3c 2.58% and 2.66 kg; 95% LOAs \u3c ± 4.94% and 4.86kg). The error for BOD POD was also low when compared to DXA (SEE = 2.39% and 2.57 kg; TE = 2.34% and 2.56 kg; 95% LOAs = 4.63% and 5.06 kg). Validity statistics were slightly higher, but considered acceptable, when comparing the segmental BIA devices against BOD POD (SEE \u3c 3.37% and 3.63 kg; TE \u3c 3.44% and 3.79 kg; 95% LOAs \u3c ± 6.62% and 7.19 kg). Lastly, the 2 segmental BIA devices produced nearly identical validity statistics when compared to each other. However, both BIA devices revealed proportional bias for BF% and FFM when compared to the BOD POD and DXA (all p \u3c 0.05). The current study\u27s findings indicate the InBody 230 is interchangeable with the InBody 720 in obese adults. Also, the trivial effect size, when compared against the BOD POD and DXA, suggest the InBody devices could be used for estimating group BF% and FFM. In contrast, the significant proportional bias demonstrates the BIA devices are not acceptable for individual estimates of body composition in an obese clinical population
Rollover risk and managerial cost adjustment decisions
No full textRollover risk is the risk that a firm may not be able to refinance its debt when it becomes due. We investigate whether managers’ resource adjustment decisions are influenced by rollover risk and find that cost stickiness is decreasing in rollover risk. Additionally, the negative relationship between rollover risk and cost stickiness is stronger for firms with higher financial constraints and fewer financing sources. These results suggest that, when faced with elevated rollover risk, managers are willing to forego the benefits from a sticky cost behaviour. Finally, the use of an alternative firm-specific measure of cost stickiness corroborates our main finding