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On the colonial lethargy: masculinity and social transformation in neocolonial senegal through sembene ousmane's films from 1960 to 1980
No full textThis study examines the representation of masculinity and its role in social transformation in post-independent Senegal, as seen through Sembene's works from 1960 to 1980. The research contextualizes Sembene's works within the socio-political and socio-historical landscape of Senegal, particularly during the autocratic rule of Leopold Sedar Senghor, the country's first president. It examines the relationship between neocolonialism, African ancestral heritage, and societal apathy, referred to as colonial lethargy. Drawing on postcolonialism and film studies, this study examines the evolution of Sembene's filmmaking career, his artistic project, and his relationship to (post)colonial power structures. Divided into six discussion chapters, the study assesses the connection between Sembene's narrative, characters, and visual language to illustrate the complex dynamics of postcolonial masculinity, highlighting its intersections with power, patriarchy, and resistance. I also analyze Sembene's critique of post-independence elites and their contribution to the production of discourse in the context of social change. I introduce the concept of colonial lethargy to highlight the importance of Sembene's work as a catalyst for critical reflection and socio-political discourse in Senegal and the wider Black African context.Este estudio analiza la representación de la masculinidad y su impacto en la transformación social en el Senegal post-independencia a través de las obras de Sembene entre 1960 y 1980. Contextualiza estas obras en el paisaje sociopolítico e histórico del país, particularmente durante el gobierno autocrático de Leopold Sedar Senghor. La investigación explora la relación entre neocolonialismo, herencia ancestral africana y apatía social, denominada letargo colonial. Utilizando el postcolonialismo y los estudios cinematográficos, examina la evolución de la carrera cinematográfica de Sembene y su relación con las estructuras de poder post-coloniales. Estructurado en cinco capítulos de discusión, se analiza el vínculo entre la narrativa, personajes y lenguaje visual de Sembene para ilustrar la complejidad de la masculinidad (post)colonial, destacando sus intersecciones con el poder, el patriarcado y la resistencia, así como su crítica a las élites de la era post-independencia y su papel en la producción discursiva y la creación de la apatía en el contexto de cambio social. Se teoriza sobre el letargo colonial para enfatizar la importancia de la obra de Sembene como catalizador de una reflexión crítica y discursiva sobre la situación socio-política en Senegal y el África Negra.Programa de Doctorat en Ciències Polítiques i Social
A deep cascaded, biomechanics-driven framework for medical image registration
No full textAquesta tesi presenta un marc que combina una xarxa neuronal profunda en cascada amb un modelatge biomecànic per millorar el registre d’imatges mèdiques, amb aplicacions en la imatge cerebral perinatal i l’anàlisi de malalties cardiovasculars. Per a la IRM fetal, s’ha desenvolupat un model en cascada multi-resolució que millora la precisió del registre capturant tant estructures anatòmiques fines com gruixudes, aspecte clau per estudiar les anomalies en el neurodesenvolupament. Aquest model també s’aplica a la segmentació amb múltiples atles, obtenint resultats competitius fins i tot amb dades anotades limitades. El marc s’estén a la imatge cardíaca, incorporant una regularització inspirada en la biomecànica per predir propietats dels teixits i classificar malalties cardiovasculars amb alta precisió. Finalment, s’aplica a l’anàlisi del creixement cerebral neonatal, amb paràmetres biomecànics aprenentables per modelar les deformacions dels teixits i predir tensions, canvis de volum i patrons de creixement anisotròpic. Aquest enfocament millora la precisió del registre i la interpretabilitat, oferint informació valuosa sobre els canvis estructurals i mecànics durant el desenvolupament cerebral normal i anormal.This thesis presents a framework combining a cascaded deep neural network with biomechanical modeling to improve medical image registration, focusing on perinatal brain imaging and cardiovascular disease analysis. For fetal MRI, the study proposes a multi-resolution cascaded model that improves registration accuracy by capturing both fine and coarse anatomical structures, essential for studying neurodevelopmental abnormalities. This model is also applied to multi-atlas segmentation, achieving competitive results even with limited annotated data. The framework is further extended to cardiac imaging, introducing biomechanical regularization to predict tissue properties and classify cardiovascular diseases with high precision. Finally, it is applied to neonatal brain growth analysis, incorporating learnable biomechanical parameters to model tissue deformations and predict strain, volume changes, and anisotropic growth patterns. This approach enhances registration accuracy and interpretability, providing valuable insights into structural and mechanical changes during normal and abnormal early brain development.Programa de Doctorat en Tecnologies de la Informació i les Comunicacion
Exploring the role of climate variability and change in the spillover of zoonotic diseases: towards the development of Early Warning Systems (RWS)
No full textThe primary goal of this PhD is to deepen our understanding and improve the modeling capacity of zoonotic spillover, the multilevel process by which pathogens manage to overcome a series of natural barriers and infect other species. In particular, a key focus of this study is to unravel the influence of various external environmental and climatic extrinsic factors on this complex ecological process. These include land-use changes, deforestation/vegetation health, and especially climate trends, variability, and extremes. Considering the inherent challenges in forecasting long-term atmospheric conditions, this study delves into the potential of coupled atmosphere-ocean phenomena. Recognized for their enhanced predictive capabilities, these phenomena are analyzed as essential climate covariates, in order to be able to increase the foresight, accuracy, and efficiency of early warning systems targeting zoonotic diseases. Concurrently, the thesis also investigates the role of climate in influencing microbial biodiversity, a portion of which contributes to pathogenic biodiversity. This aspect of the research aims to discern how climatic variables may determine the geographical patterns of zoonotic spillover.L'objectiu principal d'aquesta tesi és aprofundir en la nostra comprensió i millorar la capacitat de modelització del spillover zoonòtic, el complex procés ecològic mitjançant el qual els patògens aconsegueixen superar una sèrie de barreres naturals i infectar altres espècies animals. Més específicament, aquesta tesi se centra en estudiar l'impacte de factors ambientals i climàtics extrínsecs, incloent els canvis en l'ús del sòl, la desforestació, i sobretot les tendències, la variabilitat i els extrems climàtics, en el fenomen del spillover. Ateses les limitacions per realitzar prediccions a llarg termini dels sistemes atmosfèrics, aquest estudi explora el potencial dels fenòmens acoblats atmosfera-oceà. Aquests, reconeguts per la seva major capacitat predictiva, s’estudien com a covariables climàtiques clau per a millorar l’antelació, precisió i eficàcia dels sistemes d'alerta primerenca de malalties zoonòtiques. Paral·lelament, la tesi també aborda el rol del clima en la configuració de la biodiversitat microbiana, una part de la qual és la biodiversitat patògena. Aquesta línia de recerca busca comprendre com els factors climàtics poden influenciar els patrons geogràfics del spillover zoonòtic.Programa de Doctorat en Biomedicin
ERK1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase dimerization is essential for the regulation of cell motility
No full textERK1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinases (ERK) are key regulators of basic cellular processes, including proliferation, survival, and migration. Upon phosphorylation, ERK becomes activated and a portion of it dimerizes. The importance of ERK activation in specific cellular events is generally well documented, but the role played by dimerization is largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that impeding ERK dimerization precludes cellular movement by interfering with the molecular machinery that executes the rearrangements of the actin cytoskeleton. We also show that a constitutively dimeric ERK mutant can drive cell motility per se, demonstrating that ERK dimerization is both necessary and sufficient for inducing cellular migration. Importantly, we unveil that the scaffold protein kinase suppressor of Ras 1 (KSR1) is a critical element for endowing external agonists, acting through tyrosine kinase receptors, with the capacity to induce ERK dimerization and, subsequently, to unleash cellular motion. In agreement, clinical data disclose that high KSR1 expression levels correlate with greater metastatic potential and adverse evolution of mammary tumors. Overall, our results portray both ERK dimerization and KSR1 as essential factors for the regulation of cell motility and mammary tumor dissemination.We are indebted to Dr D. Engelberg for providing reagents. PC lab is supported by grant PID2021-126288OB-I00 and PDC2022-133569-I00 from the Spanish Ministry of Science (MICIU/AEI/FEDER, UE); CIBERONC (CB16/12/00436) from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII); and a grant from ASPLA S.A "Encintalo en Rosa" Initiative. BC is funded by grants from Ministerio de Innovación, Ciencia y Universidades, MICIU PID2020/112760RB-100 and La Fundació d'Estudis i Recerca Oncològica (FERO, BFERO2021.03). JA is supported by CIBERONC; Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF-23-008) and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) (PI22/00001). AK is supported by the Wellcome Trust (Multiuser Equipment Grant, 208402/Z/17/Z). DF-V is a CIBERONC predoctoral fellow (JCSTF2105526)
La independencia judicial y el desafio populista
No full textLa presente tesis doctoral aborda en qué forma el auge del populismo ha socavado la independencia de los tribunales, un elemento esencial para el Estado de Derecho. A pesar de su ambigüedad, el populismo ha emergido en la actualidad como un concepto íntimamente asociado con los procesos de involución democrática. A partir de un estudio novedoso de derecho comparado donde se analizan los discursos y los métodos utilizados para aprobar las reformas judiciales, es claro que uno de los principales objetivos del populismo es debilitar a los tribunales, y así impedirles ser un contrapeso efectivo a los poderes electos por el pueblo. Ello se aprecia de forma cristalina cuando se examina la jurisprudencia de los tribunales constitucionales capturados, convertidos en un actor clave en la legitimación de la agenda iliberal del gobierno. En este contexto, el análisis de la respuesta ofrecida por los tribunales constitucionales, los tribunales internacionales y/o supranacionales (TEDH, Corte IDH y TJUE) pone de manifiesto que una defensa estrictamente judicial del Estado de Derecho puede mitigar los efectos más perniciosos de las reformas populistas, pero no detenerlas. La investigación explorará las ventajas de introducir algunas reformas institucionales para así reforzar la eficacia de la respuesta judicial. Sin embargo, la pervivencia de la democracia constitucional necesita de la consolidación de una cultura de respeto al Estado de Derecho compartida y asumida por los poderes políticos y la ciudadanía.This doctoral thesis addresses how the rise of populism has undermined judicial independence, an essential element of the Rule of Law. Despite populism’s ambiguous nature, it has emerged today as a concept closely associated with democratic backsliding. One of the populist main goals is to weaken judicial courts, thereby preventing them from effectively counterbalancing the political powers as elected by the people. This becomes clear through this thesis’s comparative law study and its analysis of narratives and methods used by populist governments to justify judicial reforms. It becomes particularly evident when analyzing case law of captured constitutional courts, which have become key actors in legitimizing the illiberal agenda of a populist government. The responses to the populist threat, as offered by constitutional, international and supranational courts (ECtHR, IACtHR and the CJEU) reveal that although the judicial defense of the Rule of Law can mitigate the most harmful effects of populist reforms, it cannot stop them. While the advantages of introducing some institutional reforms should be explored, the survival of constitutional democracy as we know it urgently demands the consolidation of a culture of respect for the Rule of Law, shared and embraced by political powers and citizens alike.Programa de Doctorat en Dre
A model for website analysis and conception: the Website Canvas Model applied to Eldiario.es
No full textThis article presents the model of ideation and analysis called Website Canvas Model. It allows identifying the key aspects for a website to be successful, and shows how it has been applied to Eldiario.es. As a result, the key factors prompting the success of this digital newspaper have been identified
Algeria's 2019 uprising and the significance of slogans: a discourse analysis
No full textIn 2019, millions of Algerians staged demonstrations, throughout the entire country, for months against the whole political regime calling for change and democracy. The protesters used the medium of slogans to both communicate their political demands and hopes, and to respond and react to politicians¿ speeches and the successive decisions made to appease the protesters¿ anger. This paper aims to analyse a number of slogans as political and social practice performed by protesters, taking into consideration linguistic and semiotic elements in specific context(s). The work draws on a number of devices, such as humour, intertextuality, word plays, etc.; to analyse the persuasive effect of their messages. Drawing on data collected from placards and banners, from several demonstrations over several weeks and locations across the country, this paper reveals that these slogans mirror the sociolinguistic structure of the community, the identity of its members and the linguistic devices employed to reach their goals
El Derecho a la rectificación en Ecuador y su aplicación en torno a la Ley Orgánica de Comunicación durante los gobiernos de Rafael Correa y Lenin Moreno: percepciones
No full textLa siguiente investigación ha tenido como objetivo conocer las percepciones que la aplicación del derecho a la rectificación, en torno a la Ley Orgánica de Comunicación, tuvo en Ecuador durante los gobiernos de Rafael Correa y Lenin Moreno en las empresas de medios diarios. Para ello, se estudiaron tres colectivos: jurídico, académico y periodístico, con la intención de determinar si se interpretó por parte de estos colectivos profesionales la presencia de mecanismos de censura durante el ejercicio periodístico. El análisis de las entrevistas en profundidad semiestructuradas realizadas a cada uno de los colectivos permitió descubrir que, de manera general, se comparte la percepción que durante los gobiernos de Rafael Correa la prensa escrita ecuatoriana instauró formas de censura para evitar los efectos de la ley y las rectificaciones. De igual manera, se contrastó que durante el mandato de Lenin Moreno las percepciones variaron y los colectivos entrevistados aseguraron que fue posible ejercer el periodismo con mayor libertad. El estudio logró descubrir que existen diferencias de criterios entre los periodistas de diarios privados versus el de carácter estatal; así como también, entre los miembros de la academia. Por último, la investigación incluyó conocer si las versiones digitales de los medios fueron utilizadas como forma de soslayar los efectos de la ley de comunicación, descubriendo que el órgano legal y las rectificaciones eran de igual aplicación que en las versiones impresas.The following research aimed to understand the perceptions regarding the implementation of the right to rectification under the Organic Law of Communication in Ecuador during the governments of Rafael Correa and Lenin Moreno within daily media companies. Three groups were studied: legal, academic, and journalistic, with the intention of determining whether these professional groups perceived the presence of censorship mechanisms during journalistic practices. The analysis of in-depth semi-structured interviews conducted with each of these groups revealed that, in general, there is a shared perception that during Rafael Correa's governments, the Ecuadorian print media established forms of censorship to avoid the effects of the law and rectifications. Similarly, it was observed that perceptions varied during Lenin Moreno's term, and the interviewed groups asserted that it was possible to practice journalism with greater freedom. The study discovered that there are differences in opinions between journalists from private newspapers and those from state-owned ones, as well as among members of the academia. Lastly, the research also explored whether digital versions of the media were used as a means to circumvent the effects of the communication law, revealing that the legal framework and rectifications were equally applicable to both printed and digital versions.Programa de Doctorat en Comunicaci
La primera edició (1878) de la traducció catalana d'Andreu Febrer de la Commedia de Dante
No full textEn aquest article es ressegueix el coneixement de la figura i l'obra del poeta medieval Andreu Febrer durant el segle xix, amb una atenció especial a la traducció de la Commedia de Dante, de 1429. Així, es presenta l'obra crítica dels principals erudits catalans de l'època estudiosos de Dante i de la literatura catalana medieval: des de la informació que recollí Torres Amat (1836) sobre els manuscrits que contenien la traducció de Febrer, passant pels diversos treballs sobre Dante de Milà i Fontanals a mitjan vuit-cents, fins a la primera edició de la traducció de Febrer (1878), a càrrec de Gaietà Vidal i de Valenciano. L'article se centra en aquesta edició, publicada en un únic volum, i en la seva recepció crítica, tant a la premsa de l'època com al llarg de la història. A més, es dona notícia de diversos documents inèdits de Vidal, entre els quals els dos volums que havien d'acompanyar l'edició de la traducció de Febrer i que no es van arribar a publicar mai: un volum sobre la vida i l'obra del poeta i un altre amb les notes i l'aparat crític de la traducció.Aquest article forma part del projecte d'I+D+i PID2021-123266NB-100, finançat per MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/FEDER/UE
Long-term spatial clustering in free recall
No full textWe explored the influence of space on the organisation of items in long-term memory. In two experiments, we asked our participants to explore a virtual environment and memorise discrete items presented at specific locations. Memory for those items was later on tested in immediate (T1) and 24 hours delayed (T2) free recall tests, in which subjects were asked to recall as many items as possible in any order. In experiment 2, we further examined the contribution of active and passive navigation in recollection dynamics. Results across experiments revealed a significant tendency for participants to consecutively recall items that were encountered in proximate locations during learning. Moreover, the degree of spatial organisation and the total number of items recalled were positively correlated in the immediate and the delayed tests. Results from experiment 2 indicated that the spatial clustering of items was independent of navigation types. Our results highlight the long-term stability of spatial clustering effects and their correlation with recall performance, complementing previous results collected in immediate or briefly delayed tests.This work was supported by European Research Council (341196)