Digital Commons Network^™

Upper Bounds On The Low-Frequency Stochastic Gravitational Wave Background From Pulsar Timing Observations: Current Limits And Future Prospects, F. A. Jenet, G. B. Hobbs, W. Van Straten, R. N. Manchester, M. Bailes, J. P.W. Verbiest, R. T. Edwards, A. W. Hotan, J. M. Sarkissian, S. M. Ord

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications and Presentations

Using a statistically rigorous analysis method, we place limits on the existence of an isotropic stochastic gravitational wave background using pulsar timing observations. We consider backgrounds whose characteristic strain spectra may be described as a power-law dependence with frequency. Such backgrounds include an astrophysical background produced by coalescing supermassive black-hole binary systems and cosmological backgrounds due to relic gravitational waves and cosmic strings. Using the best available data, we obtain an upper limit on the energy density per unit logarithmic frequency interval of ΩgSMBH[1/(8 yr)}h2 ≤ 1.9 × 10-8 for an astrophysical background that is 5 times more stringent than …

Observation Of Fano Asymmetry In Raman Spectra Of Srtio3 And Cax Sr1-Xtio3 Perovskite Nanocubes, Sarbajit Banerjee, Dae In Kim, Richard D. Robinson, Irving P. Herman, Yuanbing Mao, Stanislaus S. Wong

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Bulk SrTi O3 is cubic and not expected to exhibit any first-order Raman scattering. However, nanocubes of SrTi O3 with an edge length of 80±10 nm show strong first-order Raman scattering originating from the breaking of symmetry caused by frozen surface dipoles (local tetragonality) and the presence of nanoscopic polar domains (arising from incorporated impurities). Rapid polarization fluctuations within these nanoscopic ferroelectric regions interfere with a polar phonon, resulting in a Fano-like asymmetric line shape in these SrTi O3 nanocubes, as well as in Ca0.3 Sr0.7 Ti O3 nanocubes.

A Multilevel Analysis Of Socioeconomic Status And Prostate Cancer Risk, Maureen Sanderson, Ann L. Coker, Adriana Perez, Xianglin L. Du, Gerson Peltz, Mary K. Fadden

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

PURPOSE

We investigated whether prostate cancer was associated with socioeconomic status (SES) at the individual level, area level, or a combination of both levels.

METHODS

This population-based case–control study of prostate cancer in men aged 65 to 79 years was conducted between 2000 and 2002 in South Carolina. Complete interviews were available for 407 incident prostate cancer cases and 393 controls (with respective response rates of 61% and 64%). We used educational level to measure individual-level SES and a composite variable capturing income and education from 2000 Census data to measure area-level SES.

RESULTS

After adjustment for race, age, geographic …

On The Use Of Modis Evi To Assess Gross Primary Productivity Of North American Ecosystems, Daniel A. Sims, Abdullah Rahman, Vicente D. Cordova, Bassil Z. El-Masri, Dennis D. Baldocchi, Lawrence B. Flanagan, Allen H. Goldstein, David Y. Hollinger, Laurent Misson, Russell K. Monson, Walter C. Oechel, Hans P. Schmid, Steven C. Wofsy, Liukang Xu

School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

[1] Carbon flux models based on light use efficiency (LUE), such as the MOD17 algorithm, have proved difficult to parameterize because of uncertainties in the LUE term, which is usually estimated from meteorological variables available only at large spatial scales. In search of simpler models based entirely on remote‐sensing data, we examined direct relationships between the enhanced vegetation index (EVI) and gross primary productivity (GPP) measured at nine eddy covariance flux tower sites across North America. When data from the winter period of inactive photosynthesis were excluded, the overall relationship between EVI and tower GPP was better than that between …

Art, The Social Enzyme: The Emergence Of An Art Community In The Rio Grande Valley, Heaven Lashley

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study explores the emergence of an art community in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) region of South Texas. In researching this objective, I relied on observations at many gallery public functions where I had the opportunity to observe the interactions between prospective buyers, gallery owners and artists. I also visited with gallery owners and artists many times in small group settings where I raised open ended questions about the region's artists and other historical developments that would allow me to put together a cohesive story about the emergence of the art community

This study began as an unstructured exploration …

Maintaining An Immigrant Heritage Language Other Than Spanish Or English In The Bilingual Culture Of The Rio Grande Valley Of South Texas, Sonia A. Shepherd

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

A 2005 study in the bilingual Spanish/English Rio Grande Valley of South Texas investigates the language strategies used by immigrant families from China, Greece, Hungary, Japan, the Philippines, Russia, Taiwan, and the Ukraine to preserve their heritage languages and pass them on to their children. Personal interviews determine that all the parents are well-educated and from an above average socio-economic level. This investigation categorizes the various strategies used by the parents. All the immigrant parents emphasize that the main reason they want to preserve the heritage language with their children is to insure that the children can continue to communicate …

The Importance Of Continuity In First Language Education For Learning A Second Language, Stephen M. Shepherd

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Scores from the Texas Reading Proficiency Tests in English (RPTE) for ninety-four Newcomer ESL students were analyzed to understand the differences between students who had attended school continuously and those who had discontinuity in their first language (LI) education in their home country. This research was performed in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, a few miles from the border with Mexico. The hypothesis is that students who have gaps in their L1 education will not learn to read as quickly in English as those who had none since the former are lacking cognitive skills which the latter already …

Multisensor Processing Algorithms For Underwater Dipole Localization And Tracking Using Mems Artificial Lateral-Line Sensors, Saunvit Pandya, Yingchen Yang, Douglas L. Jones, Jonathan Engel, Chang Liu

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

An engineered artificial lateral-line system has been recently developed, consisting of a 16-element array of finely spaced MEMS hot-wire flow sensors. This represents a new class of underwater flow sensing instruments and necessitates the development of rapid, efficient, and robust signal processing algorithms. In this paper, we report on the development and implementation of a set of algorithms that assist in the localization and tracking of vibrational dipole sources underwater. Using these algorithms, accurate tracking of the trajectory of a moving dipole source has been demonstrated successfully.

“Let Every One Of Us Take His Gun And Put Himself In The Ranks”: The Louisiana Native Guard's Defiance Of Antebellum Ideas Of Gender And Race, 1861–1863, Jeremy B. Taylor

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The Louisiana Native Guards are an appropriate topic for the study of the relationship between gender and race in Civil War era America. After Louisiana seceded in 1861, free men of color from New Orleans began an odyssey that led them to fight on both sides of the conflict. They eventually became the first black regiment mustered into the United States military and the only one to have black officers.

This study will attempt to demonstrate how the men of the Louisiana Native Guard helped redefine the nineteenth century ideas of manliness. Through their soldiering these men demonstrated qualities associated …

The Pan American (2006-11-30), Claudette Gonzalez

UTPA Archives - The Pan American

No abstract provided.

A New Integrable Equation With Cuspons And W/M-Shape-Peaks Solitons, Zhijun Qiao

School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

In this paper, we propose a new completely integrable wave equation: mt+mx u2 −ux 2 +2m2ux=0, m=u−uxx. The equation is derived from the two dimensional Euler equation and is proven to have Lax pair and bi-Hamiltonian structures. This equation possesses new cusp solitons—cuspons, instead of regular peakons ce− −ct with speed c. Through investigating the equation, we develop a new kind of soliton solutions—“W/M”-shape-peaks solitons. There exist no smooth solitons for this integrable water wave equation.

The Pan American (2006-11-16), Claudette Gonzalez

UTPA Archives - The Pan American

No abstract provided.

The Pan American (2006-11-09), Claudette Gonzalez

UTPA Archives - The Pan American

No abstract provided.

The Pan American (2006-11-02), Claudette Gonzalez

UTPA Archives - The Pan American

No abstract provided.

Recent Developments In Understanding Two-Dimensional Turbulence And The Nastrom-Gage Spectrum, Eleftherios Gkioulekas, Ka Kit Tung

School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Two-dimensional turbulence appears to be a more formidable problem than three-dimensional turbulence despite the numerical advantage of working with one less dimension. In the present paper we review recent numerical investigations of the phenomenology of two-dimensional turbulence as well as recent theoretical breakthroughs by various leading researchers. We also review efforts to reconcile the observed energy spectrum of the atmosphere (the spectrum) with the predictions of two-dimensional turbulence and quasigeostrophic turbulence.

Capraria Mexicana (Scrophulariaceae) In Cameron County, Texas: Rediscovered In The United States, Alfred Richardson, Ken King

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Two new sites are reported for Capraria mexicana (Scrophulariaceae) in the United States.

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Se reportan dos nuevos sitios para Capraria mexicana (Scrophulariaceae) en los Estados Unidos

The Pan American (2006-10-26), Claudette Gonzalez

UTPA Archives - The Pan American

No abstract provided.

The P14 Fusion-Associated Small Transmembrane (Fast) Protein Effects Membrane Fusion From A Subset Of Membrane Microdomains, Jennifer A. Corcoran, Jayme Salsman, Roberto De Antueno, Ahmed Touhami, Manfred H. Jericho, Eileen K. Clancy, Roy Duncan

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications and Presentations

The reovirus fusion-associated small transmembrane (FAST) proteins are a unique family of viral membrane fusion proteins. These nonstructural viral proteins induce efficient cell-cell rather than virus-cell membrane fusion. We analyzed the lipid environment in which the reptilian reovirus p14 FAST protein resides to determine the influence of the cell membrane on the fusion activity of the FAST proteins. Topographical mapping of the surface of fusogenic p14-containing liposomes by atomic force microscopy under aqueous conditions revealed that p14 resides almost exclusively in thickened membrane microdomains. In transfected cells, p14 was found in both Lubrol WX-and Triton X-100-resistant membrane complexes. Cholesterol depletion …

The Pan American (2006-10-19), Claudette Gonzalez

UTPA Archives - The Pan American

No abstract provided.

The Pan American (2006-10-12), Claudette Gonzalez

UTPA Archives - The Pan American

No abstract provided.

The Pan American (2006-10-11), Claudette Gonzalez

UTPA Archives - The Pan American

No abstract provided.

The Pan American (2006-10-05), Claudette Gonzalez

UTPA Archives - The Pan American

No abstract provided.

Utpa Commencement – Fall 2006, University Of Texas-Pan American

UTPA Archives - Commencement

No abstract provided.

Utpa Stats At A Glance - Fall 2006, University Of Texas-Pan American

UTPA Archives - Stats At A Glance

No abstract provided.

In Search Of The Community University Student, Laura M. Villarreal

Teaching and Learning Faculty Publications and Presentations

Around the first week of school, a young man stayed after class to speak to me, waiting until everyone left. Sam was in his late twenties, early thirties, a serious student in class with a permanent frown as he listened intently. He was worried about comments I had made concerning attendance and he explained that there might be times during the semester when he would have to be absent if his children were sick. He softly added that he was a single father of four small children. Several days later, I had the opportunity to ask him about his family …

Developing Teachers Who Are Reflective Practitioners: A Complex Process, Alcione N. Ostorga

Bilingual and Literacy Studies Faculty Publications and Presentations

Teachers everywhere are being held accountable for their professional actions through the test-driven curricula sweeping the nation. The National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE, 2002) makes it clear that promotion of reflective practice is an important component of teacher education programs. This multiple case study examines the relationship between epistemic stances and reflective thinking using a set of theories and instruments that allowed for the analysis of these constructs. The participants' epistemic stances were examined through the use of instruments developed by Baxter-Magolda (1992) while the qualitative aspects of reflective thinking were examined through the use of …

Orange & White - Fall 2006, University Of Texas At Brownsville, Texas Southmost College

UTB/TSC Archives - Orange & White

No abstract provided.

The Principal’S Role In Retaining Para Educator Turned Teacher: Hope For Increasing Latinas In The Teaching Force, Michelle H. Abrego, Iliana Alanis, Reynaldo Ramirez Jr., Jesus Abrego

Organization and School Leadership Faculty Publications and Presentations

This article reports the results of a qualitative study done on a group of Latina para educators turned teachers along the Texas-México border. The study focuses on the para educators turned teachers’ perceptions regarding administrative support provided their first year of teaching. School administrators’ perceptions of support provided to para educator turned teachers was also measured. Findings indicated a correlation among three factors: 1.) the amount of experience the para educator turned teacher brings to the classroom, 2.) the relationship with the campus principal and 3.) the relationship with campus colleagues. Para educators turned teachers have different needs than those …

The Pan American (2006-09-28), Claudette Gonzalez

UTPA Archives - The Pan American

No abstract provided.

Art Imitates Life: Violence And The Music Of Metal And Rap, Gordon A. Crews, Angela D. Crews

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

The purpose of this presentation is to explore the similar evolution's of Black Metal and Gangsta Rap musical genres. The authors argue the following similarities exist: 1) different cultures and statements being made, but violence is a common thread (outcomes of violence and societal responses), 2) the music and lyrics in both reflect their cultures, histories, and lives, and, 3) there is a strong musical and lyrical expression of violence related to the behavioral expression of violence among the artists and the fans in both genres. Finally, the authors question whether art imitates life or life imitates art.