Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Empowerment Or Threat: Perceptions Of Childhood Sexual Abuse In The #Metoo Era, Melissa Samantha De Roos

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Most victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA) will not disclose the abuse until they reach adulthood. When victims do disclose, they often face negative responses such as disbelief or blame. The specifics of both the individual and the abuse can create barriers for individual victims to disclose the abuse (i.e. gender of the perpetrator or age of the victim at the time of abuse). These situational and individual differences create societal expectations and stereotypical beliefs about CSA that further complicate the disclosure process for the victim. The aim of these studies is to explain why men tend to be less …

Language Attitudes Toward Mexican Spanish-Accented And Standard Varieties Of English, Michelle Aguilar

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The unique demographics of El Paso, Texas show that it is a site with intense Mexican-American ethnolinguistic contact that creates a co-existence of different English and Spanish varieties. In El Paso, approximately 80 percent of the population identifies as Hispanic or Latino and approximately 95 percent of that group has reported to be of Mexican ancestry (Statistical Atlas, 2015). As a result, Spanish is spoken by 68 percent of the population (United States Census Bureau, 2016). Yet, particular Hispanic-accented English varieties spoken in the region, (Chicano English and Mexican Spanish-accented English), are stigmatized. The focus of this study will be …

Environmental Injustice And Racial/Ethnic Heterogeneity In Houston, Texas, Michel G. Loustaunau Garcia

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This Thesis seeks to contribute to distributive environmental justice (EJ) research by analyzing racial/ethnic and intra-ethnic disparities in potential health risks from exposure to hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) in Harris County, the most populous county in Texas. Previous EJ research in this urban area has not examined intra-ethnic heterogeneity in exposure to air pollutants or attempted to compare social disparities in exposure to air pollution caused by vehicular (mobile) and point (stationary) sources. The goal of this study is to determine how the EJ implications of cancer risks from inhalation exposure to HAPs from mobile and stationary sources differ across …

Geospatial Relationship Of Intelligent Compaction Measurement Values With In-Situ Testing For Quality Assessment Of Geomaterials, Luis Alberto Lemus

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The implementation of Intelligent Compaction (IC) in the construction of transportation infrastructure as a tool for quality control of compacted geomaterials has attracted the attention of a number of highway agencies. Compaction quality has been conventionally assessed using density, and to a less extent, modulus-based spot measurements at selected locations along the roadway section. While spot measurements do not provide a thorough rendition of the level of compaction of the roadway, IC technology is effective in meeting full coverage requirements. IC roller measurements are accelerometer-based measurements recording machine-ground interaction assumed to be indicative of the stiffness of the compacted geomaterial. …

Differentiating Hostility And Indifference: Motive Autonomy As A Circumplex Moderator, Shelby Rae Curtis

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Basic personality models, such as the Interpersonal Circumplex and the Five Factor Model often conflict when defining the traits that form the negative pole of communion. Some argue that both hostility and indifference compose the opposite of warmth, whereas others collapse the two traits into one (e.g. hostility/indifference, cold/quarrelsomeness). Still others argue that it is indifference (or hostility) alone that should be considered the negative pole to communion. Whereas consolidation of traits may result in misinterpretations of interpersonal interactions and behaviors, choosing only hostility or indifference may miss critical information. Thus, the present research explores the inclusion of motive autonomy …

Acculturation, Biculturalism, And Familistic Cultural Values' Relationship With Latino Mental Health, Nathalie Gonzalez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

As the Latino population increases in the United States, mental health professionals encounter mixed research findings on immigrant mental health. There seems to be an epidemiological paradox in relation to Latino mental health and the effect that acculturation has on anxiety and depression symptoms among this minority population. One discernible research limitation in the existing literature is that researchers measure acculturation as a unidimensional, rather than multidimensional, construct. The present study examined not only acculturation, but also biculturalism, as correlates of depression and anxiety symptoms in a Latino population. Additionally, the present study identified potential Latino cultural buffers against depressive …

Practical Models For Interpreting Traffic Speed Deflectometer Data, Setare Ghahri Saremi

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

For more than 30 years, FWDs have been the most viable device for structural pavement evaluation. During the last decade, several moving deflectometers have been introduced, among those, traffic speed deflectometer has been proven as the most utilized device. Since TSD can measure the deflection parameters of pavement at traffic speeds up to 50-60 mph (80-95 kph), it overcomes FWD shortcomings. However, the analysis of the data collected with TSD is in its infancy.

Since TSD measures the vertical component of pavement velocity (a.k.a. deflection velocity), relationships to convert deflection velocities to deflections for further analyses are needed. Computer software …

Comparisons Of Accessibility To Public Transit Stations By Ridesourcing And Its Competitors, David Hoblí­K

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This Thesis assesses the role of ridesourcing as a mode of first and last mile transport. Review of ridesourcing and taxi business models has been provided as well as a comparative review of laws and regulations regarding ridesourcing and taxi. A potential accessibility gravity based model and logit mode choice model have been applied to compare ridesourcing with other possible modes for first and last mile transport that serve a transit station in Prague, Czech Republic and a transit station in El Paso, Texas. Based on the results, recommendations for ridesourcing companies and local authorities and transportation systems managers are …

Functional Investigation Of A Brainstem Excitatory Connection Relevant To Sensorimotor Gating, Luis Enrique Martinetti

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

To focus attention, our brain has to "gate" or block irrelevant sensory information that could lead to brain overload. This is done by way of a neuronal pre-attentive mechanism termed sensorimotor gating (SG). Therefore, deficits in the SG mechanism prevent patients from focusing attention. SG deficits have been observed in patients suffering from various neurological disorders, and it is a hallmark of schizophrenia. Previous work has identified key brain areas, such as the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg), that send inputs to the brainstem to regulate SG. However, there is still a knowledge gap concerning what cell types are involved and …

Walls And Wilderness: Analyzing The Impacts Of Border Barriers On U.S. Government Lands Of The United States - Mexico Border, Bryce Garrett Fugate

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This paper seeks to describe the impacts of physical structures (fences, walls, barricades, etc.) on five selected areas of federally-protected U.S. lands along the U.S.-Mexico border that fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of the Interior. The five selected areas are: Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, Big Bend National Park, Organ Mountains - Desert Peaks National Monument, the Tohono O'odham Nation Reservation, and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. The research looks into the historical development of structures put in place on the U.S. - Mexico border, how they have become ever more ubiquitous in the region, and what …

Policy Mediation And Curricular Integration In A Texas Charter School, Brian Diedrich

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The focus of this study are the processes of curricular integration in a Texas charter school. At the campus level, vertical and horizontal curricular integration requires attentive teacher and administrative observations, effective collaboration, and the experience to mediate how these components affect classroom instruction. Teacher observations are the first step in the process of differentiation and intervention that keeps students from falling behind. Administrative observations direct the activities of teachers as defined by state and institutional documents. The institutional emphasis on cultural preservation makes this charter school beneficial as a research site because the curricular focus and overall mission of …

Utilization Of Digital Image Correlation Technique In Asphalt Testing, Alejandra Escajeda

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Over 90% of the roads in the United States are paved with hot mix asphalt (HMA). These asphalt pavements include many mix types, such as permeable friction course (PFC), stone mastic asphalt (SMA) and conventional dense graded mixes. The performance of the HMA is an important factor in pavement design programs used by many departments of transportation. The type of HMA selected not only influences the performance of the pavement structure, but also the pavement's life cycle cost. The performance life of an HMA mix is to be studied further with experimental data in order to contribute and expand on …

"Ok Girls, The Fbi Is Here- Look Your Best!": The Defining Of Postfeminism In Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Jennifer Lynn Handrop

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This is a qualitative study on E! Entertainment's Keeping Up with the Kardashians. This study explores if and how KUWTK contributes to the definition of postfeminist theory in popular culture and the media. Additionally, this study explores any potential class issues that intersect with postfeminism in KUWTK.

Seeking Health Information In The Diabetes Online Community (Doc); The Role Of Health Literacy, Social Support And Community Interaction On Treatment Adherence, Allyson Hughes

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Social support, being valued and cared for by others (Wills, 1991), is a critical construct for disease management and often includes providing advice and information to peers online. Approximately 83% of individuals with chronic disease search for health information online and there are more than 500,000 active social media users in the Diabetes Online Community (DOC) who have varying levels of disease management expertise. Due to the strenuous nature of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), members of the DOC are continuously asking for and receiving anecdotal health information, yet very few studies have evaluated the impact of the DOC on treatment …

Age At First Offense As A Predictor Of Recidivism Among High-Risk Juvenile Delinquents Versus All Juvenile Delinquents, Claudia Iliana Lopez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Researchers have generally found a moderate negative correlation between juvenile delinquents' age at first offense and their risk of recidivism (Cottle, Lee, & Heilbrun, 2001). However, two studies at the El Paso Juvenile Probation Department (El Paso JPD) by Valenzuela (2011) and Ranadive (2014) found the correlation of age at first referral with recidivism to be non-significant and close to zero. A possible explanation for these findings at El Paso JPD is that age at first referral is predictive of recidivism among high-risk juvenile offenders but not in the general population of all juveniles referred to the justice system. The …

Convergent Validity Of Five Observational Rating Scales As Measures Of Rapport In Investigative Interviews And Interrogations, Justin Loren Magee

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Research suggests that rapport can play an integral role in the success of investigative interviews. Accurate measurement of rapport is therefore critical. However, published scales designed to measure rapport in investigative interviews require interviewee self-report or complex behavioral coding. Global observer ratings of rapport may be more practical for use in law enforcement and national security interview training. In the present study, novice observers rated 92 simulated investigative interviews on three dimensions of rapport using quick, global rating scales. All observer ratings scales were significantly related to interviewee self-report ratings of analogous dimensions of rapport. Further, scores on all observer …

Design Of Robotic Tram Unit For Field Data Collection, Quetzalcoatl Mendoza Rosas

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Satellite remote sensing is the most applied method for detection and measurement of electromagnetic energy and its interaction with Earth surface. the analysis of the data acquired can provide important information with uses in areas as like weather forecasting, military intelligence and environmental and resources location. Due to the great distance from where the samples are taken and even with the most sophisticated sensor it is impossible to have an exactly replica of the Earth surface. As a result, scientist analyze imagery where a single pixel can be the representation of a 30 by 30 meters area of land. This …

"Wommanly Noblesse:" Female Gender Dynamics In Medieval Romance, Mary Elizabeth Shaner

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Exploring systemic, gendered power dynamics and inequalities for women within medieval Matters of Rome, France, and Britain Romances is essential to understanding real-world sociopolitical power structures and female gender roles. Diverging from most previous scholarship in my use of critics as well as in my interpretation of Criseyde and Guinevere as protagonists, my argument examines how scholars would laud the heroic bravery of Geoffrey Chaucer's Criseyde and Sir Thomas Malory's Guinevere if they were male heroes, yet because of the narrative conventions of medieval Romance, Courtly Love, Chivalry, and the Antifeminist Traditions, these fictive women are seen as the destroyers …

Drug-War Violence, Mental Health, And Coping Mechanisms Among Mexican-Origin Women In El Paso, Texas, Nora Angelica Benavides

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This Thesis examines how the drug-war violence in Mexico from 2006 to 2012 shaped the experiences of migrant women who were adapting to life in El Paso, TX (USA) after leaving Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. This study is oriented through a testimonio approach, which involves telling the stories of ten Mexican origin women interviewed between 2012 and 2014. It focuses on their narratives about their traumatic experiences with drug-war related violence in Juarez and forced migration to El Paso, TX and how they coped with the challenges to achieve resilience after arriving in the US. I also report on their mental …

Geometry, Timing, And Kinematics Of Neogene Extensional And Transtensional Structures Of Southern Death Valley: Implications For Regional Reconstructions And A Corrective Method For Rigid Body Rotations, Zachariah Fleming

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Chapter 1:Advancements in computing capabilities over the last decade have allowed for the routine creation of Structure from Motion-Multiview Stereo (SfM-MVS) terrain models that can serve as base for high resolution geologic mapping. Outcrops models developed from these systems are high-resolution, photo-realistic 3D base providing unprecedented capability for geometric analysis. Yet, before this technology becomes a mainstay of field geology, the potential errors associated with it must be well understood. Here, we compare orientation measurements from multi-point analyses on the SfM-MVS point clouds to those taken in the field with the objective of resolving the geometry of complex folds within …

Credit Union Loan Rate Determinants During The Post-2009 Expansion, Esmeralda Patricia Muniz

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Credit union deposits have grown substantially in recent years. Given that, an increasing number of consumers and small businesses are joining credit unions as members. This study investigates the determinants of credit union loan rates during a period of economic expansion in the United States using fourth quarter 2015 data for 5,942 credit unions. Five different interest rate categories are analyzed using nine potential loan rate determinants. The results indicate that credit union loan rates tend to be lower when economies of scale exist, while high ratios for net charge-offs and operating costs cause interest rates to increase. Opposite of …

Assessment Of Climate Change Impact On Hydraulic Design Procedures Of Bridges, Anjuman Ara Akhter

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The significant change in climate is evident from the records of increased temperature, changed precipitation pattern, increased frequency of extreme weather events like storms, floods, and so forth. Like other infrastructure highway infrastructures also suffer the consequences of these climate change. Since the hydraulic design of these infrastructures is performed using historical climate data, the designs may not be able to provide services because designs are not considering climate change influence especially in terms of precipitation intensity. This study aims at identifying the most accurate source of climate database that predicts future climate change with less uncertainty and links them …

An Econometric Analysis Of The 2016-2017 Nba Regular Season, Michael Lynn Jaeger

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This study examines the on-court performance of the thirty National Basketball Association (NBA) teams during the 2016-17 NBA basketball season. Cross sectional data are employed to analyze the wins for the 2016-17 NBA basketball season. Although the results are inconclusive, there is one notable outcome in the negative variable for human capital payroll. Field goal percentage is favored over other in game statistics. Replication of this study for the 437 teams in National Collegiate Athletics Association provides and intriguing opportunity for further research.

No Habrá Rey Sin Reina: Gender Discourse In Isabel, A Contemporary Representation Of Queen Isabel I Of Castile And King Fernando Ii Of Aragon, Michelle Sabrina Peters

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

By examining the figures of the Catholic Monarchs -Isabel and Fernando- in the popular television show Isabel, this research demonstrates how the historical fiction genre tends to privilege the stories of exceptional women and the men surrounding them. Unlike other historical fiction shows where the emphasis is placed on the empowerment of a single female character, Isabel emphasizes the mutual empowerment and equitable dynamic between a woman and a man. In an era when gender roles and prejudice were particularly strict, Fernando and Isabel enter into marriage with diametrically opposed notions of gender roles. However, when they begin ruling and …

A Psychometric Evaluation Of The Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire (Tsrq) For Assessing Motivations For Responsible Drinking, Dylan Keith Richards

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Self-determination theory (SDT) may be useful for understanding alcohol use and alcohol-related consequences among college students. A version of the Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire (TSRQ; Ryan & Connell, 1989) exists for assessing motivations proposed by SDT for responsible drinking, but no study has evaluated its psychometric properties. Thus, the purpose of the present studies was to provide a psychometric evaluation of this version of the TSRQ. In Study 1, among a convenience sample of college student drinkers (n = 308), a four-factor structure of the TSRQ that is theoretically consistent with SDT was supported; however, the amotivation subscale demonstrated unacceptable internal …

Development And Testing Of A Culturally Tailored Intervention To Promote Hpv Vaccination Intentions In Latina Young Adults, Erica Landrau

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States and a known risk factor for cervical cancer. Several HPV vaccines have been approved as a primary prevention option. Vaccine administration is recommended for individuals between the ages of 9 and 26. Despite recommendations to vaccinate and a disproportionately high rate of cervical cancer among Latinas, rates of vaccination remain low among this population. The HPV vaccine consists of three doses applied six months apart. Vaccination initiation and completion rates are particular low among Latina young adults (18-26 years of age) and adolescents (13-17 years …

The Empirical Relationship Of Income And Body Mass Index In El Paso, Tx, Jessica Rubyn Mares

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

To understand the determinants of obesity in El Paso, TX, this study examines the relationship between income and the body mass index for adult men and women using County-level data from the Texas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Specifically, two periods are considered, 2002-2010 (BEFORE) and 2011-2015 (AFTER). Key results show that during the BEFORE period women are highly susceptible to unhealthy weight levels at lower incomes. Obesity prevalence is high among men and women as Age rises. During the AFTER period, Age and Race/Ethnicity are related to BMI in men only. Unexpectedly, no associations are found in women.

Indios To Vecinos: Identity And Classification In Paso Del Norte, Eric Murillo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Identity for Native Americans in the US-Mexico borderlands is still a challenge in many ways. Native Americans in the US-Mexico borderlands often struggle to be seen as such, and many are subjected to a fragmented identity. This research explores how Spanish colonial classification continues to affect Native Americans from the borderlands.

A Sustainable Performance-Based Methodology To Address The Impact Of Climate Changes On The, Oscar Ortega

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This research focuses to address the effects of climate change on the transportation asset management. Climate change has resulted in increased storms, droughts, flooding, temperatures, and other climate to become more significantly frequent and powerful. As a result, climate change is now affecting the transportation assets around the world. This Thesis is divided into six components: the literature review, development of the framework, development of the methodology, case study, discussion, and conclusions. The literature review will show threats, risks, and performance measures to monitor the climate change impact on transportation infrastructure. The literature review includes transportation asset like bridges, roads, …

Suicide Attempts In Latinx: Findings From A Household Survey Among A Predominantly Mexica-American Sample Living In El Paso, Tx, Giovanna Monique Perez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Suicidality in the U.S. has increased dramatically in recent years (Stone et al., 2018). In 2016, 1.3 million U.S. adults attempted suicide (NIMH, 2018). The demographic breakdown showed that Latinx adults had a suicide attempt rate of 6%. In addition, among Latinx adolescents rates were highest among Latinx students (11.3%) compared to white students (6.8%) (CDC, 2016). Latinx are the largest minority in the United States and make up 17% of the U.S. population (United States Census Bureau, 2016). El Paso presents a unique demographic since over 80% of the city's population is Latinx (Pew 2016). To date, there has …