Texas A&M International University: Research Information Online (RIO)
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Global Postmodernity, World Music and the Discourse of Authenticity: Insights from the Buena Vista Social Club
Get PDFIn this essay,[i] I engage with the complex set of sonic connections that goes by the label, “World Music.” The next section on “Framing World Music/The Global Postmodern/Authenticity” outlines some key elements in how World Music can be theoretically framed—as a specific kind of text, anchored in conditions of global postmodernity and characterized by a defining discourse—that of “authenticity.” This is followed by a biographical/textual accounting of an iconic World Music text, the Buena Vista Social Club (the music and documentary) and its leading star, Ibrahim Ferrer,with a focus on examining how his biographical/textual imprint illustrates the different ways in which the discourse of “authenticity” is mobilized in World Music/the global postmodern. Finally, the concluding section offers some broad reearch questions about the global postmodern/ authenticity to be examined in future studies
Anticipations of Kant in Coleridge\u27s Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Get PDFImmanuel Kant’s moral philosophy resonates in the works of one of the most important Romantic writers in history, Samuel Taylor Coleridge. In chapter one of Religion within the Boundaries of Mere Reason (1793), Kant diagnoses the human race as being radically evil; they raise selfish incentives of desire above the moral law. Kant also expresses that the human race cannot extirpate themselves of radical evil because they are frail, impure, and perverse. Samuel Taylor Coleridge, a follower of Kant, seeks to remedy Kant’s diagnosis of radical evil in his works Aids to Reflection (1825) and Rime of the Ancient Mariner (1798) by suggesting that the “human will,” when tempered by Reason, awakens mankind’s spiritual mind and safeguards him from sin. This thesis closely examines the first chapter of Kant’s Religion within the Boundaries of Mere Reason in order to familiarize readers with Kantian arguments and key terms. The thesis then examines the similarities between Coleridge’s Aids to Reflection and Kant’s Religion. These similarities make a Kantian interpretation of Rime possible, which is the heart of this thesis
The Association Between Ego Identity Status and Social Media Use
Get PDFWith the current rise in the use of social media across different societies and groups, the question arises as to how social media use relates to psychosocial development, or more specifically, ego identity status. Social media platforms may serve as tools for self-expression and it is through its use that would allow for an individual’s identity exploration characteristic of various ego identity statuses. The purpose of the current study was to examine how current ego identity status may predict integration of social media in individuals’ daily lives, providing a better understanding of how each of the four statuses differ based on their use of social media. Based on anonymous online survey data, 293 participants were classified according to their ego identity status (i.e., Achievement, Diffusion, Moratorium and Foreclosure) and they reported on their daily use of social media. It was predicted that differences in integration of social media use would be significantly predicted by ego identity status, where the highest integration of daily social media use would be reported by those with an Achievement ego identity status and the lowest integration would be reported by those with a Diffusion ego identity status. One-way ANOVA revealed no significant differences in social media use based on ego identity status
Comparison of bioimpedance and underwater weighing body fat percentage before and acutely after exercise at varying intensities
No full textThe purpose of this study was to compare single-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) with underwater weighing (UWW) body fat percentage (BF%) before (PRE), immediately post (IP), and 60 minutes post (60P) an acute bout of moderate and vigorous aerobic exercise. Nine men (age = 24.6 ± 3.7 years) volunteered for this study. Subjects visited the laboratory on 3 separate occasions. Testing included two 30-minute exercise sessions at 60 and 80% heart rate reserve (HRR) and a 30-minute control (CON) trial. The constant error (CE) was significantly higher for BIA at each time point and exercise session (CE = 3.0-4.9% for 60% HRR; 2.5-4.7% for 80% HRR). Conversely, BIS yielded a nonsignificant CE at each time point and exercise session (CE = 20.9 to 1.1% for 60% HRR; 20.3 to 1.2% for 80% HRR). The standard error of estimate (SEE) for both exercise sessions ranged from 2.7 to 3.1% and 3.8-4.3% for BIA and BIS, respectively. The 95% limits of agreement were narrower for BIA (60% HRR = ±5.5 to 7.8%; 80% HRR = ±6.6 to 8.5%) than BIS (60%HRR = ±8.4 to 9.4%; 80% HRR = ±8.1 to 10.2%). Results indicate that BIS can be used for mean group BF% in men at PRE, IP, and 60P time periods. However, BIA yielded a lower SEE and 95% limits of agreement than BIS. Therefore, BIA provides better individual estimates of BF% in men, but the CE should be taken into consideration
Digital native or digital immigrant? Using intraorganizational resources to develop technological competence among older employees
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this viewpoint article is to demonstrate that firms can utilize intraorganizational resources to aid in helping older workers become technologically competent. Through the use of these intraorganizational resources, firms can benefit from the transfer of technological knowledge between younger and older workers. A further benefit is cost savings associated with utilization of internal as opposed to external resources. Design/methodology/approach: This paper is a viewpoint article which demonstrates and raises awareness of some elementary internal resources which can aid in the development of older workers’ technological competence. Findings: There exists a marked difference between younger and older workers and the associated technological competence of each. Implementing a mentoring process which matches recent college graduates or younger workers, digital natives, with older workers, digital immigrants, who are either returning to the workforce or transitioning to jobs which require technological skills, can aid in knowledge transfer of proprietary and public software programs and has the potential to lead to improved employee relationships. Originality/value: This paper addresses the development and utilization of internal as opposed to external resources in aiding older workers gaining technological competence. These workers may be returning to the workforce or transitioning to jobs which require more technological knowledge, and, by providing a system to support this transition, both, firms and employees can benefit
How likely is Simpson\u27s paradox in path models?
No full textSimpson\u27s paradox is a phenomenon arising from multivariate statistical analyses that often leads to paradoxical conclusions in the field of e-collaboration as well as many other fields where multivariate methods are employed. This work derives a general inequality for the occurrence of Simpson\u27s paradox in path models with or without latent variables. The inequality is then used to estimate the probability that Simpson\u27s paradox would occur at random in path models with two predictors and one criterion variable. This probability is found to be approximately 12.8 percent, slightly higher than 1 occurrence per 8 path models. This estimate suggests that Simpson \u27s paradox is likely to occur in empirical studies, in the field of e-collaboration and other fields, frequently enough to be a source of concern
Dye-sensitized solar cells using Aloe Vera and Cladode of Cactus extracts as natural sensitizers
No full textThe purpose of this study is to develop dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) from natural plant-based dyes, extracted from the Cladode (nopal) of the Thornless Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica), the gel of Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis miller), and the combination of Cladode and Aloe Vera extracts on side-by-side configuration. Optical properties were analyzed using UV–Vis Absorption and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. Open circuit voltages (Voc) varied from 0.440 to 0.676 V, fill factors (FF) were greater than 40%, short-circuit photocurrent densities (Jsc) ranged from 0.112 to 0.290 mA/cm2 and highest conversion efficiency of 0.740% was reported for the Cladode DSSC
Is There Balance? Mexican Medical Practitioners’ Work- Life Experiences And Emotion Management On The U.S.- Mexico Border
Get PDFThe purpose of this study is to analyze medical doctors’ work-life experiences and emotional management while practicing on the U.S.-Mexico. They have varying experiences and there is a constant shift of doctors attempting to manage work and personal lives; they must learn how to cope with the emotions that derive from their profession and the added pressures of practicing medicine with precaution due to the ongoing drug war in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. Additionally, doctors on the border treat patients from both Mexico and the U.S. There are significant pressures and tensions involved in practicing medicine, and this is even more relevant when working on the border region. This is why this study is relevant and important. Through qualitative methodology, I acquired the experiences of Mexican doctors on the Laredo-Nuevo Laredo border. Through a thematic analysis of in-depth interviews, doctors described the difficulties they encountered when dealing with emotions at work, which gave deeper meaning to their statements. Kidnappings, muggings, and extortions put significant constraints on doctors’ occupational lives. Doctors modify their work practices, work schedules, and other daily routines, which intersect with their work and personal lives. Doctors also displayed resilience to continue practicing on the border regardless of the violence. Doctors in my study experience Clark’s (2000) border theory, developed to fill in the gaps causing criticism of other work and family theories and work-life mechanisms (Clark, 2000). In addition to the border theory (Clark, 2000) the role theory (Kahn et al. 1964) also describes my participants’ multiple role amalgamation. This theory proposes workers, in this case, doctors, are involved in varying life roles such as employee or family member amongst other roles that sometimes are incompatible (Greenhaus & Beutell, 1985)
An ERP examination of figurative language processing in Spanish-English bilinguals
Get PDFThis study examined the differences in Event-Related Potential (ERPs) amplitudes and reaction times (RTs) with English-Spanish bilingual readers when processing English idiomatic phrases. Twenty-eight English-Spanish bilinguals from Texas A&M International University participated in the study (13 males, 15 females). Participants were administered a meaningfulness judgment task. In this task, participants were asked to determine if a visually presented target, was related to the preceding context, kick the bucket-DIE. The measures recorded were the reaction time (RT), accuracy of the response, and N400 and P600 wavelengths signifying the activation of literal and figurative meanings. It was hypothesized that idiomatic expressions that are less salient (i.e., less well-known and less familiar) would be interpreted by bilinguals dominant in Spanish first in their literal sense and that the literal meaning of the phrase would be more readily available in their mental lexicon. For the bilinguals dominant in English, it was hypothesized that the figurative meaning would be more readily available and processed faster than the literal meaning, thus evoking shorter reaction times and smaller amplitudes of the N400 and P600 potentials. An example of figurative incongruent is, I was feeling nervous about going up on stage, but my fellow actors all told me to take a deep breath and break a leg.-DAMAGE, and for incongruent literal, I received a package from my mother, who always told me that I’m too skinny, and it turned out to be a piece of cake.-SIMPLE. Analysis of the results showed only a partial support for the hypothesis that dominant English bilinguals would have smaller N400 and P600 amplitudes for incongruent figurative than for incongruent literal targets. There was a dynamic interplay of literal and figurative meanings of idioms, conforming to the N400 hypothesis but not the P600 hypothesis wavelength. The N400 wavelength results are consistent with the Configuration Model (Cacciari & Tabossi, 1988) and Literal Salience Model (Cieślicka, 2006a), and the P600 wavelength results are consistent with Giora’s (2002) Graded Salience Hypothesis
Three Essays on Systematic Information Flow Between Credit Derivative and Equity Markets
Get PDFI undertake a comprehensive analysis of the lead-lag relationship between the systematic investment grade and high yield credit derivative and equity markets and their sub-indices within a robust differenced VAR, asymmetrical Granger causality and VARMA framework. I operationalize a broad set of liquidly tradable CDX credit derivative indices produced by Markit and compare them to closely matched equity portfolios from which I construct indexes. Prior efforts studying informational flow between these two markets have focused almost exclusively on the unsystematic (firm-specific) relationship. I observe a distinct heterogeneity in the pattern of informational flow across the different market segments studied. In the systematic investment grade markets, I document a persistent semi-strong form of capital market efficiency in which information, irrespective of whether it is positive or negative, is impounded in a quick and timely manner in both markets. In the high yield market, I observe a two-way causality, meaning that certain types of information are impounded more efficiently in each market. The lead-lag relationship from the credit to the equity market is regime dependent, with causality more prevalent under adverse market conditions and the effects hold most strongly for the aggregated high yield and BB-rated indices. Finally, I document a persistent causality flowing from the equity to the credit sectors with no causality in the opposite direction in the investment grade rated sub-indices, meaning that sector based credit investors are reactive to developments in the equity market. These distinctly different results across market segments suggest very different behavior on the part of investors in how they use credit derivatives indexes and have practical for implications for arbitrageurs seeking to exploit cross market informational efficiencies