Digital Commons Network^™

Ethnobotanical Study In Casma, Peru: The Important Knowledge Of Ethnobotanicals From Local People, Rebecca L. Reyes

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

I began to investigate how local people use medicinal plants in Peru in the summer of 2007. It soon became apparent that many of the citizens of the small coastal town of Casma have an extensive knowledge of how to identify, prepare, and use these plants. During the summer of 2008, I did extensive research on the subject; however, focused more on the local knowledge of medicinal plants. To put my work in context, I researched ethnobotany more generally and became more aware of the worldwide implications, local background traditions and life, and local knowledge that impact the use and …

The Reevaluation Of Dwight Eisenhower And Bernard Law Montgomery, David Allen Warden

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Dwight Eisenhower and Bernard Montgomery were the two generals that coordinated and implemented the military strategy to invade North Africa to Europe. The two generals combined the militaries of Great Britain and the United States to defeat the Axis powers of Germany and Italy. By May 1945, the Allied forces had succeeded in finishing the war in Europe. Historians soon began to look at the two men and evaluated their ability to work together. This thesis provides a study of the reasons why the two generals were different. The study also evaluates how the two generals were able to work …

The Return To Aztlan, Eliseo Moreno

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

With this thesis I will focus on my Chicano artistic influences as well as on my life experiences as a third-generation Chicano growing up in the barrios of Browntown, “Tejas” (Brownsville, Texas) I will also examine in my paintings the Chicano identity; its culture, traditions, beliefs, and lifestyle. In this thesis like my artwork I will depict the myth of “Atzlan” via eras of the Chicano movement. I will start my writings with the mid-nineteen forties, the “Zoot Suit” era, which I believe is the original beginning of the Chicano movement, and advance to the nineteen sixties and seventies where …

Curanderismo And Healing Rituals: An Ethnographic And Historical Study Of The Casma Valley In Northern Peru, Maria Esmeralda Perez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

While curanderismo and shamanism form an important cultural aspect throughout Peru, the healing rituals in the Casma Valley are mostly unknown. This paper attempts to define the historical background of curanderismo in the Casma Valley by describing the traditional healing rituals throughout the Atlantic World. Recounting, not only the history of curanderismo, religion, witchcraft, and sorcery in Latin America, but also the history of these beliefs in Europe and Africa as well. One of the main goals of this paper is to provide sufficient proof of the ties and connections that curanderismo in the Casma Valley in Northern Peru share, …

La Noche Y Sus Silencios: Imágenes Del Tiempo, Ansiedad Y Muerte, Erika Elisa Garza

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Esta tesis intenta representar la voz femenina a través de la escritura creativa de relatos. Este libro se divide en tres partes importantes: “Niñez y adolescencia”, “Insomnios y otras ansiedades” y “Mujer y muerte”. “Niñez y adolescencia” es un compendio de anécdotas y de la creatividad que combinan nostalgia, humor e inmadurez. “Insomnios y otras ansiedades” son relatos autobiográficos que ayudan a mitigar la ansiedad y que muestran a la escritura como una catarsis emocional que purifica. Por último, en el capítulo “Mujer y muerte” los relatos muestran escenarios que van desde los celos más inofensivos hasta al odio o …

Sex At The Park: Stories From My Days With Ninfa, Dalel Serda

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This creative nonfiction manuscript chronicles the burgeoning relationship between the narrator and her subject, Ninfa—the folkloric, enduring and elusive Harlingen, Texas prostitute. This project aims to document the process of demystification the narrator undergoes as the women get to know each other. Furthermore, in the process of gathering the materials that will tell her subject’s story, the narrator attempts to tell the story about getting the story, about what led to this story and of what resulted. In sum, this work explores the often-blurry boundaries and complexities of what is inevitably a friendship.

Finding Hart: The Lost Text And Biography Of Hart Stilwell, Brandon D. Shuler

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Hart Stilwell was a noted newspaperman, journalist, outdoor writer, and political activist. He is most noted for the books Border City (1945), Uncovered Wagon (1947), and Campus Town (1950), which were, as confessed to J. Frank Dobie, Stilwell’s life story. Finding Hart: The Lost Text and Biography of Hart Stilwell pieces together the most inclusive biographical sketch of this enigmatic man of Texas letters to date through his correspondences and autobiographical novels. The author has also included an edited and footnoted version of a previously unpublished Stilwell manuscript, Glory of the Silver King, a history of Texas and northeast Mexico …

Armor During Wwii: The Defeat Of The Superior Panther, Phillip D. Clark

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

It is the popular opinion among the masses that the Soviet Union's T-34/76 battle tank was the superior weapons platform during World War II when compared to the United States M-4 Sherman and Germany's Mk V Panther tanks. Through a combination of research and personal military knowledge and experience, I will demonstrate that the German Panther was indeed the superior battle tank in mobility, firepower, armor, and could, on a individual level (one on one), defeat not only the Soviet Union's T-34 tank, but all allied armor employed against it. I will further demonstrate that the economic stress placed on …

“Cosecha Voices”: Toward A Transcultural Pedagogy, Silvia Patricia Solis

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

In the fall of 2007, I began filming a course called Cosecha Voices, which centered on the migratory, farmworking experiences of South Texas students attending the University of Texas—Pan American. This thesis therefore, stems from my two-year collaborative experience with the Cosecha Voices project. I propose Cosecha Voices opened up an academic space for critical pedagogy and transculturation to intersect, creating a transcultural pedagogy. Transcultural pedagogy as praxis, centers on students' lived experiences, engaging educators and students in a transculturation of intersecting theories intertwined in oral performances, film ethnography, and testimonios as pedagogical practices and epistemologies. This process allows …

Cuando Te Pierdes En Mí, Carolina E. Alonso

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

En esta tesis se presenta una coleccion de veintiseis poemas de mi autoria que tienen como base una tematica lesbica. En estos se abarcan subtemas como la sensualidad femenina, el amor, y el desamor. Ademas del poemario, se incluye un ensayo referente al desarrollo de la literatura homosexual, enfocandose en la poesia lesbica contemporanea en Mexico a manera de ars poetica. De igual forma se adentra en la importancia de los movimientos sociales y politicos que iniciaron en el siglo XX, los cuales ayudaron al desarrollo y propagation de la literatura lesbica.

Built Environment: Does Geographical Proximity Play A Role In Exercise Frequency And Adherence?, Nancy Anzaldua

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Built environment has been identified as a factor affecting exercise adherence. The author conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study to examine the relationship of distance traveled and its relationship to frequency of exercise and level of adherence. Surveys with demographic and contextual information were collected from 260 participants. Demographic data was mapped using Geographic Information Systems software and data analyses were performed on geographical trends, participants' use facilities and participants' proximity to their respective place of exercise. Trends among participants across the various bands were determined. The author found strong support to show geographical proximity as an important factor in frequency …

The Impact Of Exchange Rate Movements On Firm Value In Emerging Markets: The Case Of Mexico, Chrystell Flota

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

It is a widely held belief among financial theorists, economic analysts, empirical researchers, and even the financial press, that exchange rate fluctuations ought to affect a firm's cash flow expectations and thus the value of the firm. Previous research has examined the relationship between currency exposure and firm value by focusing primarily on developed economies and on various variables regarding the firm's assets and revenues. The empirical evidence has not fully established what the link is between currency exposure and firm value; however, the evidence suggests that the relationship could be firm-specific, depending on the geographical distribution of the firm's …

Two Essays On Financial Sector Performance In Latin America, Omar M. Al Nassar

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This dissertation consists of two essays on financial sector performance in Latin America. These two essays complement each other so that, when placed together, they are expected to provide policymakers with guidelines on how to design appropriate financial sector reform strategies in an attempt to promote long-term economic development, and thus to attract more foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows not only for Latin American countries, but also for developing countries in general.

Chapter one investigates the extent to which the short and the long-run relationship between financial development and economic growth exists in Latin America. It focuses on two major …

The Animal Coming Together, Rodney Gomez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This project is an ekphrastic collection of poems. The term 'ekphrasis' is usually used to refer to texts that respond to or are influenced by particular works of visual art, but it can sometimes be used to refer to texts that respond to non-visual art as well, such as musical compositions. I take the more inclusive approach to ekphrasis: most of the poems in this collection are based on paintings, but several are based on photos, films, sculpture, multimedia works, musical compositions, and art generally. Most of the poems are based on Chican@ and Latin American art. The collection is …

Racial Discrimination, Skin Tone, Locus Of Control, And Acculturation Among Mennonite Latino/As Of The Rio Grande Valley, Nancy Rivera

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study assessed the relationship between perceived racial discrimination, and skin tone, locus of control and acculturation among Latino/a Mennonites of the Rio Grande Valley. Eighty nine Latino/a Mennonites were recruited. The following measures were used: Schedule of Racist Events, Intrinsic Spirituality Scale, a short version of the revised Acculturation Scale for Mexican Americans-II, and Rotter's Internal-External Locus of Control Scale. A window tint meter assessed skin tone. Multiple regression analysis and multivariate analysis of variance was used to determine how rates of perceived discrimination among Mennonite Latinos/as were related to skin tone, locus of control and acculturation. The results …

Health Care Accessibility Among A Hispanic Community In South Texas, Juan F. Lopez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Historically, residents who live along the southern Texas and northern Mexican border live below the poverty threshold. This study examines the likelihood, of the independent variables of age, sex, education, marital status, income, number of children, and residency status, in contributing to a community's accessibility to health care along the Texas-Mexican border. During the second half of the month of March 2009, a sample of 517 residents completed a health-care survey at four different branches of a community-based non-profit organization. The results suggest that age, education, income, and residency status had a significant effect on a respondent's likelihood of having …

Sechin Alto Early Horizon Ceramics Assemblage, Omar Fonseca

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The focus of this thesis is to elaborate on the Early Horizon (900-200 B.C.) ceramic component at the site of Sechin Alto in the Casma Valley of Peru. The site of Sechin Alto consists of an enormous rectangular platform mound with four rectangular plazas and two circular courts and is considered to be part of the larger Sechin Alto Complex that spans 4 mile area (Fagan 1996:632). Sechin Alto is primarily an Initial Period (2150-1000 B.C.) site with an Early Horizon component superimposed above Initial Period material. This material was excavated in the field and analyzed in the laboratory during …

Hispanic Youth Physical Activity Participation: A Study Of Psychological And Social Influence, Maria L. Trinidad

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study seeks to identity barriers that influenced middle school students from engaging in daily physical activity at least 60 minutes outside of their physical education classes in the Rio Grande Valley. Statistical significance of the study will be determined at the 95% level of confidence. The researcher offers the null hypothesis of no difference between the doers and non-doers The participants of this study were 79 middle school students ages 12-15. The participants were given an open-ended questionnaire. Cross tabulation analyses was conducted to determine difference using the Mann-Whitney U Test. Data from the research questions was analyzed by …

Three Essays On The Effects Of Reverting Capital Flows On U.S. Financial Markets, Rahames A. Lizardo

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The United States has been running, for a long time now, an-increasing current account deficit. In fact, the U.S. has a current account deficit with most countries in the world. The implication is that Americans have been enjoying an ever-increasing standard of living by consuming way more than what they produce, not only manufactured goods, but also important commodities such as oil. In other words, a significant fraction of our prosperity is based on borrowing rather than increased production. These persistent deficits, which translate into additional indebtedness by the U.S. and an-ever increasing amount of dollars reserves by countries such …

A Qualitative Study Of The Hispanic Gender Role And Social-Cultural Factors Influencing The Attraction Process: The Recruitment Of The Latina To Meet 21st Century Labor Shortage Challenges In America, Olga Chapa

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Approximately one-fourth of the 303,824,640 individuals representing the labor workforce in the United States (U.S.) are part of the baby boom cohort (Toossi, 2004). Seventy eight million individuals are credited for the shifting demographics in the U.S. The largest gap in the labor force will be seen in the professional arena (Hilton, 2008). In order to proactively meet the challenge of a future labor shortage, organizations will need to focus their recruitment effort on the remaining replacement pool of qualified individuals. For a variety of reasons, the recruitment of the Hispanic as a sustainable and growing replacement pool offers many …

Conflict Between The National Park Service And The Bureau Of Indian Affairs In The Glacier Region Of Montana, 1896–1934, Renee A. Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

On a physical and cultural frontier, competing agendas within Department of the Interior bureaus, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the National Park Service (NPS), developed into a battle over the use of federal lands and resources, both human and physical, at Glacier National Park and the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. The NPS intended to protect the natural environment of the region while also, for economic reasons, encouraged the public to visit and enjoy the region. The BIA's acculturation of the Blackfeet Indians and their development into an agrarian society continued as their sole purpose. Primary source materials of the …

The Borderline Between The Personal And Political, Celeste De Luna

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This paper is a documentation of the form, content, techniques, and processes of the body of visual artwork I created for my M.F.A. graduate coursework. My work frequently uses themes based on the migrant/border experiences of women, children, and families throughout generations in the context of the larger American experience. My acrylic paintings on canvas, assemblages and installations validate Latino/Chicano experiences and invites reflection and learning. My work is influenced and relates to contemporary Chicano and Post-Chicano Art, Feminist Art, and the writings of Gloria A. Anzaldua.

Following Cleng Peerson: A Niece's Journey, Christine Suzanne Ardis

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

In the summer of 1821, Cleng Peerson came to America as a scout for a group of Norwegians hoping to find a place where they could freely express their religion and enjoy economic prosperity. In this thesis, I explore the results of Cleng’s scouting and his preparations for the arrival of his sister, Carrie, her family and their friends on the Norwegian sloop Restaurationen. Throughout the text, I juxtapose my life story with Cleng’s. Together we experience relocation, homesickness and hardships and create a familial bond 188 years after his arrival in America. My thesis ends at the Murray/Kendall settlement …

Slavery And The Constitution: A Study As To How Constitutional Principles Were Used As The Primary Instrument In The Legal Protection And Propagation Of Slavery, Jose Juan Guajardo

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

It has been the argument of many scholars and historians that the institution of slavery was, when it existed, unconstitutional. Other historians have acknowledged that the Constitution did empower the institution itself, and a few have even suggested that it was generic or benign since it failed to mention the word "slavery" at all. This thesis argues that slavery would not have survived as long as it did had the Articles of Confederation remained in force beyond 1787. The movement to create a new governmental document in 1787 was also a movement to imbed slavery at the core of the …

A Concise Chronology Of The Rio Grande Delta From The Paleo-Indian Period To Early Spanish Exploration And Colonization, Kristina Solis

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The Rio Grande Delta's archaeological record is mostly unknown. This paper attempts to assemble scattered resources into a concise and understandable chronology of the Delta’s prehistoric cultures. The prehistoric environment is discussed to clear up the misconception that modern day and prehistoric environments were identical. Archaeological contributions are covered to illustrate the difficulties and successes that 20th century archaeologists experienced. Chapter III discusses a few major sites from the region to give an example of what archaeologists have discovered, and what kinds of cultural remnants have been found. A concise chronology covering the Paleo-Indian period through the Late Prehistoric follows. …

Rio Grande Hispanic Consumers' Perceptions Of Spanglish Dialogue Use In Print And Television Advertising, Nick Taylor

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Along with this population growth, greater affluence has occurred. Advertisers are taking notice of these facts and are scrambling to find the most effective way of marketing to Hispanics. Spanglish dialogue use in advertising is an increasingly popular method marketers use in attempts to advertise to Hispanics. The Texas/Mexico border provides a unique opportunity for the study of Spanglish in advertising. The population of the RGV identifies as overwhelmingly Hispanic, 89.1 percent according the U.S. Census Bureau (2006). The population of this region, then, represents the target audience of advertisements that utilize Spanglish dialogue. This study investigated the valence (positive, …

Chicana Identity: Recognizing The Hybrid Self In Demetria Martínez's “Mother Tongue”, Cathy Ann Cortina

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study argues that although borders divide and fragment identity, there can be an embracement of a hybrid identity. Mártinez's novel, Mother Tongue, uses the representation of a Mexican-American female who has recognized and endeavored to cross a border to better understand the complexities of her hybrid identity. This journey is represented through Mary, a young woman who resides on a physical border between the United States and Mexico and lives on a cultural border between New Mexico and El Salvador. Martínez presents the cultural, historical, linguistic, and psychological aspects of living on a border between the United States …