Texas A&M International University: Research Information Online (RIO)
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TICs, comunicación y participación ciudadana en los planes de Gobierno Abierto de Argentina, Costa Rica y México
No full textEste trabajo indaga las formas en que las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación (TICs) propician o no una comunicación gubernamental más horizontal en la era de la cultura participativa y digital. Para ello, se analiza el contenido de los compromisos relacionados con el desarrollo y/o mantenimiento de las TICs de los tres primeros planes acción de Gobierno Abierto de México, Costa Rica y Argentina. Se caracterizan los compromisos en términos de su aporte a la transparencia, la participación ciudadana y la colaboración —los tres pilares de Gobierno Abierto— los niveles de participación y el tipo de plataformas tecnológicas que proponen para potenciar la participación ciudadana. Los resultados sugieren que aún estamos en la primera etapa del proceso de implementación de un modelo de Gobierno Abierto, caracterizada por compromisos en el ámbito de la transparencia y que se limitan a acciones informativas. Sin embargo, se pueden apreciar una transición a una comunicación más participativa: en el diseño de las plataformas tecnológicas, en la inclusión de las TICs en estrategias que combinan acciones virtuales y presenciales para fomentar la participación ciudadana, y en el ciclo completo de diseño y evaluación de las políticas públicas
The relative accuracy of skinfolds compared to four-compartment estimates of body composition
No full textBackground: Body composition estimates using skinfold thickness are common in field settings and can provide a reasonably accurate measure when more advanced technology is unavailable. However, the observed error between skinfolds and criterion body composition measures may be influenced by the methodology used to derive the criterion measure. Aims: The aim of this study was to examine the relative accuracy of body composition estimates derived from measures of skinfold thickness when compared to four-compartment (4C) models that utilize underwater weighing (UWW) and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)-derived body volume (BV). Methods: The sample consisted of adult males (n = 96) and females (n = 91) who were apparently healthy (age = 21.85 ± 4.82 years; BMI = 24.45 ± 4.62 kg/m2). %Fat was assessed via skinfold using three common equations. BV assessed via UWW and DXA were used to estimate %Fat derived as part of a 4C model. Between group differences were assessed using a repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: %Fat4C ranged from 4.7 to 39.7 %Fat (21.9 ± 8.1 %Fat). Estimated %FatSF using the SF7 Jackson, SF7 Evans, and SF4 Peterson were significantly lower than %Fat4C as measured via UWW (−4.8 ± 3.5 %Fat, −3.3 ± 3.9 %Fat,-3.1 ± 6.9 %Fat, respectively, all p \u3c .001). The estimated %FatSF error was lowest when compared to the %Fat4C that used the Smith-Ryan DXA-derived BV equation (−0.2 ± 7.3 to −1.9 ± 4.6 %Fat) and highest for the Wilson DXA-derived BV equation (−6.5 ± 7.1 to −8.3 ± 3.3 %Fat). Conclusions: Skinfold prediction methods can provide reasonable accuracy when estimating %Fat in field settings when more advanced methods are unavailable or undesirable due to increased participant burden. In addition, clinicians and researchers should use caution when selecting a method of estimating body volume via DXA, as the methodology and equation used to derive body volume as part of the 4C model can introduce differences in error
How Does Perceived Integrity in Leadership Matter to Firms in a Transitional Economy?
No full textPerceived integrity of managers affects employee attitudes. Yet its impact on employee behavior and organizational performance is unknown. Addressing this gap, we examine the effect of perceived integrity in leadership on both subjective firm performance and objective employee productivity. Applying dynamic capabilities theory, we propose that perceived integrity in leadership may not only directly affect the outcome variables but also moderate the effect of the firm’s multiple-strategy implementation on outcome variables. We test the hypotheses using multiple informants from a transitional economy with an ineffective legal and incomplete institutional environment, which could seriously challenge the leader’s commitment to integrity. As hypothesized, perceived integrity is associated with manager’s perception of firm performance directly and objective employee productivity through its moderating role in the firm’s implementation process of dual strategies. The results illustrate that perceived integrity in leadership plays as an important driver for employee productivity in dual-strategy and non-strategy firms. We provide detailed discussions about the integrity challenge and call for additional future research on this topic
Innovation matters: creative environment, absenteeism, and job satisfaction
No full textPurpose: While there has been an abundance of research on the positive outcomes of creative environment, little work has been done on how creative environment influences the general work outcomes of noncreative specialist workers. The paper aims to fill this void by examining the influence of creative environment on absenteeism among garden variety workers and the mediating role of job satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach: The paper uses cross-sectional data of 116 noncreative specialist workers to empirically test the hypotheses. The authors used covariance-based structural equation modeling (SEM) through the lavaan package for the statistical software R. Findings: Results found that, for a cross section of noncreative specialist workers, a one standard deviation increase in a worker\u27s creative environment would decrease that worker\u27s absenteeism by 0.447 standard deviation. The creative environment also explained 11.3% of the variance in absenteeism. Subsequent analysis showed that job satisfaction fully mediated the relationship between the creative environment and absenteeism and that the results were resistant to omitted variable bias. Originality/value: The study contributes to theory and practice by showing empirically that creative environment leads to positive work outcomes, despite the innovation level required by the job. This study advances research on creative environment by targeting the garden variety workers, underscores the importance of cultivating a creative environment and calls attention to the complexity of the creativity–job affect link
Intimate partner violence among nontraditional Hispanic college students: an exploratory study
No full textNontraditional and commuter students, including Hispanic minority members and immigrants, are increasing within university enrollment. Although there is a national focus on sexual harassment, the dilemmas faced by these often-older students can include intimate partner violence (IPV). Research on risk and protective factors of IPV is a building block but incomplete for understanding and responding to IPV among Hispanic nontraditional university students. This study fills the gap by examining IPV victimization among a group of Hispanic students. The findings reveal that alcohol and drug use were significant risk factors of IPV victimization and offending, while a good family relationship served as a protective factor
The Violence of Political Empowerment: Electoral Success and the Facilitation of Terrorism in the Republic of India
No full textIdeological violence, according to previous research, tends to spike following what may be perceived as an electoral success of an ideologically-affiliated political camp. Despite a growing number of examples across the globe, the extent to which ideological success in electoral processes impacts terrorism within constituencies remains under-researched. This exploratory analysis seeks to examine how majority-minority outcomes in the electoral process influence terrorism in democratic states. This study employs a longitudinal case study approach for the Republic of India, using publicly available data from the Census of India and open-sourced data on terrorist activity. We find that economic stress most strongly impacts the likelihood that supporters of the political majority will engage in terrorist activity, followed by social cohesion, measured through religious homogeneity
Features of building scholars’ summer research weeks towards student retention and graduation
No full textTitle V - Building Scholars is a partnership between Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) and Laredo College (LC) to increase the number of Hispanic and low-income students attaining post-secondary certifications, associate and bachelor’s degrees. It aims to prepare students to compete for positions in graduate and professional schools, thus increasing the competency and diversity of our workforce. This paper highlights the extent of faculty intervention in this component of the program, including features, format, and successes of Summer Research Week (SRW). SRW provides incoming TAMIU students, particularly LC transfer students, with discipline-specific research to succeed in entry-level courses at TAMIU
Numerical simulation to the FitzHugh-Nagumo model with strong reaction
Get PDFThe Fitzhugh-Nagumo model is a mathematical model derived from the simulation of propagating pulses in multicellular organisms. Since its creation, this model has drawn great attentions from academics and industry. To better understand the properties underlying this system, suitable numerical methods are needed to study it. In this thesis, numerical methods including the finite difference method, the finite element method, and the least-squares finite element method are applied to approximate its traveling wave solutions. In particular, since the FitzHugh-Nagumo model with strong reaction has a significant role in application, appropriate numerical scheme is designed to study it. Consistency and stability of the methods will been investigated. Numerical results are provided to illustrate the performances of the methods on the FitzHugh-Nagumo model under different cases
FAULKNERIAN ECHOES AND THE GROTESQUE IN MCCARTHY’S THE ORCHARD KEEPER
Get PDFABSTRACT
Faulknerian Echoes and the Grotesque in McCarthy’s The Orchard Keeper (August 2020)
William Leland Haynes, B. A., Texas A&M International University
Chair of Committee: Dr. Manuel Broncano
This thesis is an exploration of Cormac McCarthy and William Faulkner’s craft through a focus on their works The Orchard Keeper and “Barn Burning.” This analysis charts the two dialoguing or conversing with each other across times through the art of their writings.
The basis of this project examines a key phrase from “Barn Burning,” where the problem of doing the right thing creates a conflict of identity within the story’s young protagonist, Sarty Snopes. The Snopeses are family to Sarty, and through Faulkner’s stream of consciousness technique, we see how he internally feels “the old fierce pull of blood.” Coincidentally, in The Orchard Keeper, there is a moment where the elderly “Uncle Ather” feels “the old fierce pull of blood” as he realizes in horror the occurrence of an irrevocable act outside of his control, for he has steadfastly and patiently attended the wasted remains of Kenneth Rattner for seven years, serving as the orchard keeper whose title brings out the theme of responsibility and of the gardens dear to Scripture and mythology. How can “blood” seem to mean the same thing in Sarty’s desperate situation and in such a moment of equivocal release for Uncle Ather? This poses an intriguing paradox, but clearly Cormac McCarthy found it essential to his artistic vision. This old fierce pull of blood is part of the two writers’ dialogic symphony, which seeks to examine the journey of finding one’s identity in a world where family and duty are at war with an innocent’s sense of right and wrong
Digital Native Tongue: Bringing Multilingual, Multimodal Curriculum to College Composition for Beginning Latinx Writers
Get PDFYoung Latinx students are struggling with composition when they enter college, and the performance and completion gaps are widening (Ybarra 89). Multilingual education offers insights into language pedagogy and practice, while new, multimodal education offers solutions that make use of digital techniques. This thesis proposes combining activities, frameworks, and theories from both of these education camps in order to update college composition curriculum that may to be more effective for American Latinx students in the 21st century. Multimodal education is the process of composing in multiple media (written, aural, visual) simultaneously. In the modern world, it is often intertwined with digital media, which is disseminated and accessed through the Internet. Students are already composing in some form. College composition must channel these digital composition techniques. Simultaneously, multilingual education asks students to use all of their language skills at once. Multilingual students have skills in writing, but not always in English proficiency. This project will apply practical uses of bilingual education theory of Ofelia Garcia, Min-Zhan Lu, and Paul Matsuda, as well as multimodal theories from Marc Prensky, Cynthia Selfe, and Gunther Kress. It will consider the specific pedagogical and cultural needs of multilingual Latinx digital native students as well as the role of technology in the college composition classroom for digital natives. This project examines how multilingual and multimodal theories are already working together, how they can synergize more effectively, and how to fit these new practices into existing policy and curriculum. This culminates into the development of multimodal-multilingual assignments and activities to use in college composition in the form of new writing projects