A Construção da figura do herói nos mangás e comics: uma análise comparativa entre samurais e super-heróis

Este estudo trata da representação do herói nas histórias em quadrinhos do Japão, os mangás, e dos Estados Unidos, os comics. Esta análise se propõe a comparar a figura do samurai, focada nos títulos Samurai X e Vagabond, e do super-herói, através de Superman e Batman. Para tal, utilizam-se duas minisséries norte-americanas de cada um dos títulos escolhidos publicadas entre o final da década de 1980 e a década de 1990, mesmo período dos quadrinhos japoneses. Os títulos escolhidos ilustram questões-chaves para o entendimento da figura do herói: seu surgimento, morte e confronto com antagonistas. Considerando o vasto material relacionado aos personagens norte-americanos, criados no final da década de 1930, optou-se por trabalhar com sagas específicas ao invés da obra como um todo, o que só foi possível no caso dos mangás. Por isso, essa análise se baseará nas histórias em quadrinhos publicadas a partir do final da década de 1980, preservando assim a paridade cronológica entre comics e mangás, os quais possuem uma cronologia mais rígida se comparada aos primeiros. Quanto aos segmentos escolhidos, no lado do Superman, farão parte dessa análise os arcos Man of Steel, de 1986, com a origem do personagem e A Morte e o Retorno do Superman, de 1992. Já em Batman serão analisadas as HQs Batman: Ano Um, de 1987 e Knightfall, de 1993.

Changes in consumer tastes in the demand for fish and meat in Malaysia

In this article the demand for fish and its substitute was estimated using a very flexible demand function, the Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS) developed by Deaton and Muelllbaeur (1980), incorporating the habit formation variable to measure the impact of the changes in tastes in comsumer demand for fish and meat products from 1960 to 1990 in Malaysia. Information on price and income elasticities for these meat groups was also obtained. To incorporate consumption habit variables, the dynamic translating procedure proposed by Pollak (1970) and Pollak and Wales (1981) has been adopted. The overall results of the maximum likelihood estimates of the dynamic AIDS model are quite good where 19 of 30 coefficients are significantly different from zero and the minimum budget shares, the constant, are between zero and one for each meat type. Consumers tend to purchase and consume fish, chicken, and pork almost daily. Beef and mutton are only consumed occassionally since they are relatively more expensive. This finding is consistent with the trend observed in the per capita consumption and budget share where fish, chicken, and pork tended to dominate over beef and mutton from 1960 to 1990.

Diet composition and food habits of demersal and pelagic marine fishes from Terengganu waters, east coast of Peninsular Malaysia

Fish stomachs from 18 demersal and pelagic fishes from the coast of Terengganu in Malaysia were examined. The components of the fishes’ diets varied in number, weight, and their frequency of occurrence. The major food items in the stomachs of each species were determined using an Index of Relative Importance. A conceptual food web structure indicates that fish species in the study area can be classified into three predatory groups: (1) predators on largely planktivorous or pelagic species; (2) predators on largely benthophagous or demersal species; and (3) mixed feeders that consume both pelagic and demersal species.

Aquaculture of a high-value freshwater fish in [Malaysia] : the marble or sand goby (Oxyeleotris marmoratus, Bleeker)

The article highlights the aquaculture of marble or sand goby (Oxyeleotris marmoratus) in Malaysia. Topics discussed are: breeding, hatchery and nursery techiques, nutrition, growout techniques, and diseases.

Length-weight relationship of mudskippers (Gobiidae: Oxudercinae) in the coastal areas of Selangor, Malaysia

Parameters a and b of the length-weight relationship (LWR) were estimated for eleven species of mudskippers caught in the coastal areas of Selangor, Malaysia. The values of b ranged from 2.56 to 3.50 with the mean b equal to 2.95 (n=11; sd=0.302). A normal distribution of the calculated LWR exponent (b) was obtained.

A post-tsunami assessment of coastal living resources of Langkawi Archipelago, Peninsular Malaysia

Rapid and detailed post-tsunami surveys carried out in the Langkawi archipelago in January 2005 showed that the coral reefs dOld_ID not suffer any significant structural damage. Nevertheless, there were signs of recent sediment resuspension at the sites studied. The diversity and abundance of coral reef fishes and invertebrates were low. However, this was not attributed to the tsunami effect but rather to the present environmental conditions. The extent of damage at the villages of Kubang Badak and Kuala Teriang may indicate that intact coastal ecosystems such as mangroves have the potential to protect lives and property during natural disasters.

A bio-socioeconomic model for the management of the small pelagic fishery in northwest Peninsular Malaysia

The article was extracted from the author's dissertation entitled "Management of small pelagic fisheries on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia: a bio-socioeconomic simulation analysis". The basic structure and uses of this simulation model are presented here.

Portable canvas tanks for culture of hybrid catfish (Clarias gariepinus x Clarias macrocephalus) by small-scale farmers in Malaysia

This paper describes the trials made with a simple portable canvas-tarpaulin tank system developed at the University Sains Malaysia for culture of hybrid catfish (Clarias gariepinus x Clarias macrocephalus) by Malaysia small scale farmers.

Determinants of women's economic participation in the small-scale fisheries sector, Peninsular Malaysia

This paper specifically examines the main determinants of women participation in income-earning activities in Peninsular Malaysian small scale fisheries.

Building coalitions, creating change: an agenda for gender transformative research in development Workshop Report 3-5 October 2012, Penang, Malaysia

There is compelling evidence that increased gender equity can make a significant contribution towards alleviating poverty and increasing food security. But past efforts to integrate gender into agricultural research and development practice have failed to address the inequalities that limit women’s access to agricultural inputs, markets, resources and advice. A Gender Transformative Approach (GTA) goes beyond just considering the symptoms of gender inequality, and addresses the social norms, attitudes, behaviors and social systems that underlie them. The CGIAR Research Program on Aquatic Agricultural Systems (AAS) has placed the GTA at the heart of its gender strategy. This workshop was an opportunity for researchers, practitioners and donors working in this area to address the challenge of how to translate this approach into actual research and development practice. The workshop recommended that a GTA should be adopted alongside, not instead of, existing efforts to reverse gender disparities in resources, technologies and markets. It is through this pairing that improved social and material outcomes can be achieved, with the expectation that when achieved together, both types of outcomes will be more lasting than if achieved individually.