Digital Commons Network^™

Study Of Creative Processes That Lead To Successful Visually Narrative Art Products, Denissa U. Kiehl

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The success of an artist’s work depends upon a few key factors. No matter which field of study you pursue as an individual it is important to examine and understand previously collected knowledge and works developed within that field. Once an artist has learned from the successful “Old” methods and examples of artworks he or she may then combine the “Old” with some of his or her “New” methods and ideas. When it comes to visual narrative art there is a large variety of visual art and other creations to learn from. Factors related to decision making will change with …

Characterization Of Gan Thin Films Grown By Rf Magnetron Sputtering For Fabrication Of An Algan/Gan Hemt Biosensor, Rocio Yolanda Garza

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Radio-Frequency (RF) Magnetron Sputtering has been used to grow GaN thin films for future fabrication of an AlGaN/GaN HEMT biosensor. A GaN target was sputtered at various parameters on silicon and sapphire substrates, at room temperature and at elevated temperature using substrate heating and post deposition annealing treatment. The research conducted investigates the effects of sputtering gas (Argon or Nitrogen gas), RF power (40W or 50W), and pressure (4mT – 30mT) on the structural properties of the thin films. Imaging tools such as the Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray Diffractometer (XRD), and …

Companies' Responses To Negative Online Reviews, Claudia L. Ramos

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Past research has revealed that very little research had examined services recovery strategies in the online context. The study investigated different types of companies’ responses to negative online reviews as a service recovery strategy after a service failure. The current research centers on the relationship between one service recovery strategy and three online customer behavioral reactions: post-purchase cognitive dissonance, post-recovery satisfaction and re-purchase intentions. Participants were randomly assigned to one of five conditions and were asked to complete a questionnaire that measured cognitive dissonance, post-recovery satisfaction and re-purchase intention scores, as well as demographic items. Results showed that the apology …

Difference In The Perception Of Political Art Inside And Outside The Art Gallery, Jose Maria Parga

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of the research for this exhibit was to explore whether a major difference exists in the way political art is perceived by an audience when the art is in an art exhibition and when it is seen in an urban environment. Since the subject matter of En el País de No Pasa Nada, is the current wave of violence and corruption happening in Mexico, the targeted audience for this exhibited is limited to Mexican people and people on the US border with Mexico. If there is a difference in perception, what does the work of art gain, and …

Two Dimensional Mathematical Model Of Fluid Flow In A Growing Solid Tumor, Adriana Gracia

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

We investigate the problem of steady and unsteady fluid flow in a growing solid tumor. We develop a mathematical model for the two dimensional fluid flow in a spherical tumor where the spatial variations of the interstitial velocity, interstitial pressure and the drug concentration within the tumor are, in general, with respect to the radial distance and the latitudinal angle in the spherical coordinates. The expressions for radial and latitudinal variations of the interstitial velocity, interstitial pressure, and the two investigated drug concentrations were determined analytically. We calculated these quantities in the tumor as well as in a corresponding normal …

Seeds Of Solutions™: An Economical & Efficient Approach Towards Power Engineering Education, Eli Alvarez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Power demands are set to increase over the next twenty years; however, research shows that there may be a shortage of power engineers due to an appreciable percentage of the current power engineer workforce retiring, insufficient enrollment in power engineering programs and a lack of emphasis in power engineering at the university level. This thesis provides supporting research for future power demands, workforce and faculty shortages. Using temporary research in modern learning / teaching styles, student / teacher perceptions, educational trends and regional course offerings, this thesis describes a learning approach towards power engineering education. Designed specifically for universities with …

Reflections Of Oppression, Fatemeh Semiari

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This thesis is an investigation into the lives of women living in Iran. I develop a critical framework for understanding it. It is now my understanding that women suffer greatly from the restrictions they are subjected to. I discuss what some of these restrictions are, and how these pressures create turmoil and confusion within some women. The artwork created for my thesis project is a reflection upon the relationship between social proscription and a woman’s desire to express her individuality publicly. The women I portray in my thesis project exhibit a range of emotions such as anger, depression, despair, defeat, …

Gps-Miv: The General Purpose System For Multi-Display Interactive Visualization, Irving A. Gonzalez Garza

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The new age of information has created opportunities for inventions like the internet. These inventions allow us access to tremendous quantities of data. But, with the increase in information there is need to make sense of such vast quantities of information by manipulating that information to reveal hidden patterns to aid in making sense of it. Data visualization systems provide the tools to reveal patterns and filter information, aiding the processes of insight and decision making. The purpose of this thesis is to develop and test a data visualization system, The General Purpose System for Multi-display Interactive Visualization (GPS-MIV). GPS-MIV …

Developing The Modern Heroine Of Fantasy Literature: An Examination Of Lyra From "His Dark Materials" And Clary From "The Mortal Instruments", Diana Aileen Borghols Herrera

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This work looks at the figure of the heroine as present through the characters of Lyra Belacqua in His Dark Materials and Clary Fairchild in The Mortal Instruments. The characters will be analysed within the fantasy genre and the tradition of the heroic figure. By defining the hero and the heroine, two types of characters with different traits, I will show that the heroic archetype for the female is not entirely set. Lyra and Clary share some similarities but their relation to their respective role is perceived and fulfilled through varying degrees of commitment. The analysis will be contained to …

Detection Of Gravitational Wave Signals From Ns-Ns Inspirals In Presence Of Non-Stationary Noise, Wenhui Wang

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Gravitational Wave (GW) detection is an important and inspiring project. Once detected, it will open a new window to understand the universe. The laser interferometer GW detectors, specially LIGO, is the most sensitive detectors at the moment, which can detect GW signal as weak as 10−21. Chirp signal generated by neutron star binaries is a well modeled waveform. One goal of LIGO is to study chirp signal detection. In this field, matched filtering is a widely used method. But since LIGO noise is non-stationary, which will weaken the efficiency of general matched filtering. In this work, a modified matched filtering …

La Intencion Pictorica En Tres Novelas De Corte Realista De Ana Maria Matute, Viviana Carvajal

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This thesis proposes a study about the profound relationship existing in the literary production of the Spanish author, Ana María Matute, between the poetic language found in her narrative and the Visual Arts. While a number of critics and researchers have analyzed in depth the works of this author, there is no abundance of studies that explore the pictorial intention found in them. Likewise, there are scarce or marginal contributions focused on the notion of ekphrasis in connection to her narrative. In order to analyze the rhetoric structure in Matute’s narrative, a definition of “space” as a literary category is …

Preliminary Transcriptome Analysis And Homeobox Gene Isonlation For Tomocerus Minor (Entomobryomorpha: Tomoceridae), Alejandro Alaniz

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Collembola, or “springtails,” are small, edaphic arthropods classified as Entognatha; a group traditionally included as part of Hexapoda and sister-group to the true insects. However, some genetic studies suggest that they may instead have derived from a separate crustacean lineage rather than from a proto-Insecta lineage. The unique abdominal structures that develop on the collembolan ventral abdomen appear to be appendicular in origin – atypical to the canonical, appendage-less insect abdomen ground plan. I developed culture and embryo fixation protocols for; and sequenced and analyzed a multi-stage embryo transcriptome for Tomocerus minor (Collembola: Entomobryomorpha). This analysis annotated 14,417 distinct genes, …

Sign Me Up! Determining Motivation For High School Chemistry Students Enrolling In A Second Year Chemistry Course, Nilda N. Camarena

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

A sample of 108 Pre-AP Chemistry students in Texas participated in a study to determine motivational factors for enrolling in AP Chemistry and University Chemistry. The factors measured were academic attitude, perceptions of chemistry, confidence level in chemistry, and expectations/experiences in the chemistry class. Students completed two questionnaires, one at the beginning of the year and one at the end. Four high school campuses from two school districts in Texas participated. Two campuses were traditional high schools and two were smaller magnet schools. The results from this study are able to confirm that there are definite correlations between academic attitudes, …

Landing: On The Other Side, Marianita Escamilla

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Landing: On the Other Side a collection of essays that discuss one woman's struggle with the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia (FM). The narratives are organized non-chronologically because the more pervasive effects of this chronic illness manifest in waves that do not follow a simple means of progression. Rather, FM's most powerful symptom is the highly variable pain strength coupled with its unpredictability.

The mass marketability of this text, as with other illness/disability narratives, lies in the universal message of prevailing against adversity. A person need not suffer from this illness or any ailment to comprehend the narrator's plight. While this …

A Preventive Maintenance Framework In Dairy Production Operations, Maria F. Vargas

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Dairy operations suffer frequent stops. Product shrinkage is a consequence of downtime, which includes losses of packaging material, scraped finish product and capacity. This work proposes a troubleshooting methodology to identify causes of downtime, estimation of waste cost, and minimization of operation disruptions by applying a combination of a cost function to assess waste, and performance measurements. The drinkable yogurt process is evaluated to find the principal areas for wasted bottles and yogurt. In order to make a decision about which of those sources to address, a General Cost Function is used to estimate waste cost which include measurements that …

Educational Practices, Funding, And The Implementation Of A Reading First Program, Maria Maricela Rodriguez-Salaiz

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The National Reading Panel (NICHD, 2000) found that too many children struggle with learning to read. Through a Congressional mandate, the panel identified key skills and methods that were central to reading achievement in the grades kindergarten through third grade. According to the United States Department of Education (USDE) Summary of Discretionary Funds (2008b), over $6 billion were allocated to the schools to implement the research based strategies from 2002 to 2008. States throughout the country showed gains from the states’ first year of implementation to 2008 in grades 1-3 in comprehension assessments. The Reading First: Student Achievement, Teacher Empowerment, …

Low Speed Water Tunnel Testing, John J. Taylor

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Water tunnels are ideal for studying flow patterns for hydrodynamic effects. The functionality of the University of Texas-Pan American water tunnel was limited by not being able to measure forces and moments corresponding to flow patterns. This report delivers an experimental set-up for calibrating the velocity of the water and development of a load measuring system to relate simultaneous visual investigation. An in-depth parts breakdown of the SST-model pump and the dye injection system for flow visualization will be reviewed. Few balances have been made for water tunnels due to small and difficult to measure flow-induced forces. The motive is …

A 129nw Neural Amplifier And Gm-C Filter For Eeg Using Gm/Id Methodology, Samuel A. Gallegos

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This Thesis presents a low-power analog front-end amplifier and Gm-C filter for biomedical sensing applications, specifically for Electroencephalogram (EEG) use. The proposed neural amplifier uses a supply voltage of 1.8V, it has a mid-band gain of 40.75dB, and consumes a total current of 71.82nA, for a total dissipated power of 129.276nW. Also presented is the design of a 3rd order Butterworth Low Pass Gm-C Filter which makes use of 14.7nS transconductors; the proposed filter has a pass band suitable for EEG recording use (1-100Hz). The amplifier and filter utilize current sources without bias resistances which provide 56nA and (1.154nA x …

Assessment And Treatment Of Elopement In Young Children With Autism, Ivette Andrade

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Elopement, leaving a caregivers side without permission or supervision, is a behavior that is more prevalent among children with autism as compared to their typically developing peers. With potentially fatal consequences (e.g., drowning, being run over, abducted), it is reported to cause high levels of stress for caregivers. In the present study, we evaluate the assessment and treatment of elopement using a multicomponent treatment package to address the multiple functions of elopement. The treatment consisted of an antecedent treatment procedure, blocking and differential reinforcement of other behaviors with extinction (DRO w/ EXT). An ABAB reversal design was utilized to assess …

The Best Bullies: A Critical Analysis Of Young Adult Anti-Bullying Novels, Nina Marie Bone

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Recently, bullying has become a critical area of research across disciplines exploring effective tools for dealing with this increasing problem. Emerging from this critical research is a new sub-genre of young adult (YA) anti-bullying literature that is becoming increasingly popular. This thesis offers a critical analysis of the contemporary YA anti-bullying literature and how it corresponds to The Bullying Circle, a highly effective bully prevention program tool. This work will incorporate scholarship about the educational interpretation of YAL and the potential impact it has on adolescents. Looking at The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier and Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli with …

Applications Of Magnetostrictive Materials In The Real-Time Monitoring Of Vehicle Suspension Components, Raul Estrada

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of this project is to explore applications of magnetostrictive materials for real-time monitoring of railroad suspension components, in particular bearings. Monitoring of such components typically requires the tracking of temperature vibration and load. In addition, real-time, long-term monitoring can be greatly facilitated through the use of wireless, self-powered sensors. Magnetostrictive materials, such as Terfenol-D, have the potential to address both requirements. Currently, piezoelectrics are used for many load and energy harvesting applications; however, they are fragile and are difficult to use for static load measurements. Magnetostrictive metals are tougher, and their property of variable permeability when stressed can …

Effects Of Vapor Grown Carbon Nanofibers On Electrical And Mechanical Properties Of A Thermoplastic Elastomer, Daniel Thomas Basaldua

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Carbon nanofiber (CNF) reinforced composites are exceptional materials that exhibit superior properties compared to conventional composites. This paper presents the development of a vapor grown carbon nanofiber (VGCNF) thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) composite by a melt mixing process. Dispersion and distribution of CNFs inside the TPU matrix were examined through scanning electron microscopy to determine homogeneity. The composite material underwent durometer, thermal gravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, heat transfer, hysteresis, dynamic modulus, creep, tensile, abrasion, and electrical conductivity testing to characterize its properties and predict behavior. The motivation for this research is to develop an elastomer pad that is an electrically …

The Effects Of Enhanced Discharge Education On Knowledge Retention In First Time Stroke/Tia Patients, Edward M. Stiner Jr.

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of this study is to determine whether patients aged 40-65 years, who are admitted for stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA) for the first time and who receive enhanced stroke discharge education have higher levels of education retention than patients aged 40-65 years who are admitted for stroke/TIA for the first time who receive standard stroke discharge education without the enhancement. Forty male and female participants were randomly placed into either a standard discharge education N=20 or enhanced discharge education group: N=20. The standard discharge education group received the usual stroke/TIA discharge education administered by the staff …

Resaca Ecosystem Development: Colonization And Succession Of The Macroinvertebrate Community, Leah M. Mcintosh

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Freshwater wetlands in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas are locally known as resacas. Resacas are remnants of the Rio Grande River channel that were cut off by sedimentation and erosion of river banks. Many are maintained as permanent wetlands through intermittent water pumping from the river; and provide valuable habitat for fish, invertebrates, migratory birds and a diverse floral community in the semi-arid environment of South Texas. Three resacas in different stages of ecosystem development were studied, including one from day zero after re-flooding. The objectives were to document the colonization process of the re-flooded resaca and the …

Stakeholders' Perceptions Of Parental Involvement And Home-School Connections In A South Texas Border Town, Cynthia A. Lopez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Latinos have a high amount of individuals residing in poverty, and, yet, are still the fastest growing minority group in the nation (Gandara & Contreras, 2009; National Council of La Raza, 2014). For some families, living in poverty and the need to earn a living prevents parents from being actively involved in their children’s education (Moreno & Gaytan, 2013). Therefore, the need to form alliances with parents is critical. Partnerships with parents must be formed to better understand the necessities of these children. Consequently, educators should convey to parents the significance of forming links between the home and school. Moreover, …

Pulsar J0453+1559, The 10th Double Neutron Star System In The Universe, Jose Guadalupe Martinez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Pulsars are neutron stars that spin rapidly, are highly magnetized, and they emit beams of electromagnetic radiation like a lighthouse out in space. These beams of radiation are only observed when the beams face towards Earth and can be measured by a radio telescope. Pulsar studies have an abundance of scientific implementations in solid state physics, general relativity, galactic astronomy, astronomy, planetary physics and have even opened windows in cosmology. This thesis reports the results of a study of pulsar (PSR) J0453+1559, a new binary pulsar discovered in the Arecibo All-Sky 327 MegaHertz Drift Pulsar Survey. The recorded observations of …

A Comparison Of Fish Communities Over Different Reef Configurations In The Northwestern Gulf Of Mexico, Catheline Y. M. Froehlich

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

High fishing pressure and limited natural habitat characterize the otherwise barren northwestern Gulf of Mexico. South Texas lacks extensive research of local natural and artificial reefs, and few studies report fish community and sportfish analysis of different reef densities. To alleviate this lack of data, fish abundances were monitored at different reef configurations in the PS-1047 Reef, 13 km off Port Mansfield, Texas, where 4000 concrete culverts were placed in 2011. Four culvert categories (CC1: 1-30 culverts, CC2: 31-70 culverts, CC3: 71-120 culverts, and CC4: 121-190 culverts in a 30-m radius), natural reefs and bare areas were sampled. Species abundances …

Deconstructing The Rhetoric Of Fear In Post 9/11 Young Adult Literature, Ronald Dean Straight

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study demonstrates how M.T. Anderson's "Feed" (2002), Scott Westerfeld's "Uglies" (2006), and Veronica Roth's "Divergent" (2011) offer young adult readers alternative messages through tropes and rhetorical devices within a mediated reality. The outcome of these messages offers mixed messages about rebellion and conformity to young adults living in a post 9/11 global community. The development of this message begins with teens in "Feed" exploring a dystopian future where society is tied together through technology that eliminates boundaries. The teens within the story explore a world, for a week, where those boundaries are reestablished due to an act of terror, …

Recruitment Patterns Of Juvenile Fish At An Artificial Reef In The Gulf Of Mexico, Rachel Noel Arney

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

In 2011, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department deployed 4,000 culverts as an artificial reef off Port Mansfield, TX to serve as habitat for sport fish species in the Gulf of Mexico. The aim of this study was to assess juvenile fish recruitment at particular culvert densities among the reef. Standard monitoring units for the recruitment of reef fish (SMURFs) were used in this study and acted as sampling devices. SMURFs were placed at thirteen sampling stations among four different reef patch densities and sampled repeatedly from 2013-2014. Culvert densities included stations with: zero culverts, 1-50 culverts, 51-100 culverts, and …

Expression And Functional Characterization Of Mtp Genes From Arabidopsis Thaliana In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Yessica E. Cerino

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

In this study the functional characterization and overexpression of Metal Tolerance Protein (MTP) cDNA were evaluated using a transgenic yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) model system as a preliminary means for the characterization of metal tolerance conferred by putative Group III MTP genes from Arabidopsis thaliana. Metal disc assays for nickel, zinc, cobalt and cadmium treatments were performed to measure the tolerance imparted to yeast by the MTP cDNAs. Statistical analysis from zinc and cadmium assays showed AtMTP1 imparted the highest zinc tolerance in yeast, while AtMTPB1 imparted the highest cadmium and cobalt tolerance. However, AtMTPA2 and AtMTPB produced a decrease in …