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Use Of Randomly Amplified Polymorphic Dna-Polymerase Chain Reaction (Rapd-Pcr) To Distinguish North American Populations Of Acroptilon Repens (L.) Dc, Raul A. Ruiz

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Sixty U.S. populations of Acroptilon repens collected in 1998 were analyzed using RAPD-PCR. Each population was represented by five specimens gathered from each location. A total of 301 specimens were examined using two Operon Technologies, RAPD-PCR primers (A 10 and C04). The DNA amplification products produced through the PCR process were electrophoretically separated to produce DNA fragments ranging from 100 to 2000 base-pairs in length. The 60 U.S. populations sampled, produce ten RAPD banding pattern types using A 10 primer and seventeen pattern types with C04. Genetic variation within and among the populations was low, however, one dendogram did show …

Psychological Correlates Of Pain Perception: An Assessment Of False Biofeedback, Tobie Jay Escher

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Effects of suggestion and placebos in pain therapy have become a modern theme in pain management. This study was designed to investigate whether suggestive false biofeedback, compared with a true biofeedback control condition, would have an effect on pain perception ratings in a simplified version of a cold pressor task (CPT). Psycho-physiological measures of electrical cortical activity (EEG) and muscle tension (EMG) combined with psychological correlates (verbal and visual pain ratings) were also assessed.

A separate 2 (gender) x 2 (feedback condition) x 6 (time segment) mixed-design ANOVA was performed for (a) EEG frontal and (b) parietal lobe alpha activity, …

Production Of The Subtropical Seagrass, Halodule Wrightii Aschers., In Lower Laguna Madre, Texas, Joseph L. Kowalski

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The autecology of shoal grass, Halodule wrightii Aschers., was studied at 1.2 m depth from June 1995 to February 1997 in Lower Laguna Madre (LLM), Texas. Halodule wrightii in LLM received about 47% surface irradiance, but otherwise displayed lower growth rates and biomass in nutrient-poor rhizosphere and water-column environments compared to H. wrightii populations in other Texas estuaries. High tissue N content and low C:N ratios belied low growth dynamics. Halodule wrightii in LLM is probably nutrient limited. A high nutrient demand by H. wrightii in a nutrient-poor environment may explain, in part, its gradual displacement by Thalassia testudinum and …

Trust And Ethics In International Business Negotiations: A Cross-Cultural Analysis, Mohammad Niamat Elahee

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The growing interdependence in the global economic and political arena is resulting in accelerated growth in cross-national commercial relationships. Since some form of negotiation precedes most commercial activities and relationships, the topic of cross-cultural negotiation is of crucial importance to academicians, practitioners, and policy formulators. Despite its importance, research on cross-cultural business negotiation has not been very systematic and most of the empirical studies lack the explanatory power that is necessary for theory building. This study attempts to overcome this shortcoming by systematically linking different dimensions of national culture with different types of negotiation behavior.

This dissertation studies the relationship …

Spillover Effects On Latin American Equity Markets: The Case Of Adrs And Non-Adr Firms, Roberto Jairo Curci-Berrio

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The development of the American Depositary Receipt (ADR) market allows investors desiring to diversify in Latin America to follow three diversification strategies. First, they may invest in Latin American firms traded through ADRs in the U.S. equity market. Second, they may invest in the underlying stocks of Latin American ADRs traded in Latin American stock exchanges. Third, investors may invest in Latin American firms not cross-listed; hereafter called non-ADR firms, and traded in Latin American stock exchanges. This dissertation contributes to the current literature by investigating whether U.S. and Latin American investors improve portfolio performance by investing in ADR or …

Development And The Environment: A Case Study About The First Attempted Creation Of A Texas Coastal Conservation District, Rene De La Rosa

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

In 1991, the American General Insurance Corporation desired to create a $2.5 billion ``ecotourism'' resort in Willacy County, Texas. Unfortunately, the land the Corporation owned was located within the Coastal Barrier Resource System which does not allow federal flood insurance for any construction in the area due to it's proximity to ``Hurricane Alley''. American General's plan to build hinged on a three-pronged attack at the federal, state, and county levels. At the federal level, AG was shut out except for some minor concessions. At the county level, a municipal utility district (MUD) was established to help with building the infrastructure …

The Ecology And Life History Of The Mexican Tetra, Astyanax Mexicanus, (Teleostei: Characidae) In The Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Mario Estrada

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The Mexican tetra has been found to migrate from shallow waters in the spring and summer months into deeper waters during the winter months when temperatures are too cold for their survival. This fish is omnivorous with insect material being the major source of food. Its food types include green algae, nematoceran larvae, hemipterans, coleopterans, hymenopterans, dipterans, ostracods, fish eggs and amphipods. Furthermore, size classes showed that the Mexican tetras reached their largest size at the River site and smaller sizes at the Bridge and Gate sites and apparently breed year round. They are capable of producing from 300 to …

Sucrose Metabolism In Two Saccharum Species, Monica Ida Valdez-Garza

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

S. officinarum is a thick-stemmed sugarcane which stores large amounts of sucrose, and S. spontaneum is thin-stemmed with very little sucrose. Sucrose synthase (SS), sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS), and invertase enzymes are thought to affect the accumulation of sucrose in the stems of sugarcane. This study was performed to determine if (i) differences between SPS and acid invertase activities account for the difference in sucrose content of sugarcane stems, and (ii) differences in SS activity influence sucrose concentration. The difference between SPS and acid invertase activities did not appear related to the low sucrose content in S. spontaneum. However, the …

The Public Dream: A Jungian Interpretation Of "The Waste Land", Obed Sanchez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

A Jungian interpretation of The Waste Land was undertaken in this thesis. The symbolic underpinnings of the poem were found to resonate with archetypal significance. A comparative study of key ideas developed by C. G. Jung and T. S. Eliot was adopted in order to illuminate the psychological aspects of the poem. The theme of individuation and the archetypes which accompany it were revealed in the symbolic imagery of The Waste Land. The emotional tenor of Eliot's disposition and the philosophical direction of his thinking at the time The Waste Land was written were found to correlate with and parallel …

Acculturation Level And Performance Of Mexican Americans On A Test Of Malingering, Sonya Rosa Flores

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The detection of malingered neuropsychological impairments is an essential issue for mental health professionals. Acculturation level and performance of Mexican Americans on the Computerized Assessment of Response Bias, (CARB), was investigated in the present study. The CARB was administered to 89 subjects comprised of 51 student volunteers and 38 community volunteers. There were 41 males and 48 females, with ages ranging from 18 to 46 years of age. All subjects were instructed to try their best to "fake" a memory deficit. Subjects were grouped into four acculturative typologies according to their performance on the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans-II, …

The Political Realities Of Rio Grande Valley Women, Linda Buxton

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The inclusion of minority women in literature on electoral politics is scarce. Although they do exist in this realm, officially and unofficially, their influence has not been a popular topic of study. This study attempts to gain insight into the meaning that politically-active Mexican American women attach to their involvement in politics. The rhetorical criticism approach of fantasy theme analysis has been chosen as the framework for this thesis, which is linked to the general communication theory of symbolic convergence. Responses from 24 in-depth interviews with Mexican American women of Hidalgo County in south Texas were analyzed for common themes …

Silent Messages In Negotiation: A Descriptive Study Of Negotiators' Perceptions Of The Role Of Nonverbal Communication In Multi-National Business Negotiations, Yun Chu

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study specifically explored the perceived importance of the following nonverbal factors in the negotiation process: proxemics (location and negotiation site), physical arrangement (seating and furniture arrangement), and kinesics (eye contact, facial expressions and gestures). The findings show that the negotiators' perception about the three categories and their role in negotiation are consistent with nonverbal communication theory.

Effects Of Labor Unions On Regional Economic Development In Mexico, Rafael Otero

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of this research is to help determine the net effect of trade unionism in Northern Mexico (Matamoros, Nuevo Laredo, Juárez, and Tijuana). The maquiladora industry is used to empirically test union regional economic effects because there are different union structures along the regions where maquiladora firms are located. The results of the investigation regarding the relative changes in wages in the maquiladora and non-maquiladora sectors for the four cities in the study are consistent with the hypothesis that the real wage growth in a region's maquiladora sector relative to the non-maquiladora sector is associated with the strength of …

Abraham Lincoln: Strategist Of Union Victory, Rolando Avila

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Military strategy can be divided into two major categories. First, national strategy which shapes and defines a nation's political goals. Second, operational strategy which is the instrument for achieving those goals. Most studies of Abraham Lincoln's military strategy during the American Civil War are too narrow in focus, because they mainly look at operational strategy. But operational strategy can not be truly understood or judged unless there is a firm understanding of national strategy, for which operational strategy is a mere tool. As a national strategist, Lincoln was largely responsible for Union victory.

A Comparison Of Prison Rehabilitation Classes, Linda Sue Jackson

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study employed a Pretest-Posttest Comparison Group Design in order to determine the comparative effectiveness of two prison rehabilitation classes. The experimental group was comprised of 14 adult, male, incarcerated offenders enrolled in a Prerelease class designed to impact their attitudes, thinking, and values. The comparison group consisted of 22 adult, male, incarcerated offenders enrolled in a GED preparation class. Both groups received a battery of pretests and posttests consisting of the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory, the Adjective Checklist (ACL), and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2). There was an interval of 23 school days between the pretests and posttests. Between …

A Research Model Of Care-Givers And/Or Socializing Agents Explored In Terms Of Grandparenthood, Susanna Imelda Guadalupe Stephens

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

A collection of secondary (literature) information which revealed the relevant elements and conditions that surround the psychosocial aspects of family kinships were integrated to form the Kin-Psychosocial-Systems Model (KPSS). The KPSS Model is an investigative model (that includes a set of inter-related concepts, definitions, and propositions) which presents a systematic view of family kinships by specifying relationships among culture and family social systems, care-giving and socialization, and psychosocial development for the purpose of providing researchers with a means for explaining and predicting psychological and social phenomena related to the expression and enactment of family kinships.

Colonia Outreach Assistance And Training (C.O.A.S.T.), Eunice Aida Garcia

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This project examines the benefits of Educational and/or Job Training under the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) Title II-A and Title II-C programs for Colonia residents in Hidalgo County. The design will be a pretest-posttest non-randomized experiment, conducted by the County of Hidalgo Office of Employment and Training (CHOET). This paper will present the background of the study, describe the methodology, present facts about the living standards of the colonias within Hidalgo County, the procedures of the project, and the measurement of the project impacts.

A Management Role Perspective Of Adult Protective Services, Isaac Garza

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study examines the most important management roles, as viewed by Adult Protective Services supervisors and Adult Protective Services staff members in Region 11. A total of 6 supervisors and 51 staff members were mailed questionnaires on October 1, 1998. A total of 5 supervisors and 26 staff members completed and returned the questionnaires.

The study is limited by a lack of a consistent management role theory, limited to a basic method of aggregation, and limited to a specific population.

APS supervisors were found to believe the management roles of leader, monitor and disturbance handler as being most important to …

Acculturation In Mexican American Adolescents And Its Relation To Perceived Social Support, Rossana Jimenez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Previous research has demonstrated the importance of social support resources for emotional well-being and health, few studies have explored the determinants of social support. A number of factors that can influence Mexican American adolescents' tendencies when seeking help have been studied. Variables such as acculturation, culturally shared beliefs or values, social support systems, and self-esteem may help to better understand such behaviors.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of acculturation on perceived social support by adolescents. Specifically, we examine the extent to which gender, acculturation, and age influenced perceived social support of adolescents.

In general, results …