xxi, 234 p. : ill. (some col.) A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / Life history theory examines the allocation of resources among competing demands, including growth, immune function, and reproduction. Immune function can itself be divided into innate, cell mediated, and humoral responses. For humans, factors like economic condition, disease exposure. and social milieu are all hypothesized to affect life history allocations. For the Shuar of Amazonian Ecuador these factors are rapidly changing as traditional subsistence hunting and horticulture give way to wage labor and Western medicine. This dissertation presents fieldwork conducted amongst the Shuar between 2005 and 2009. It is among the first studies to test for life history trade-offs between different branches of immunity and growth across market conditions. Shuar data include anthropometrics (n=1,547), biomarkers (n=163), and household compositions (n=292). Comparison samples include the Shiwiar of Ecuador (n=42), non-indigenous Ecuadorian colono children (n=570), the Tsimane of Bolivia (n=329), and the 2005-2006 U.S. NHANES (n=8,336). The dissertation finds significant differences between both populations and Shuar villages in growth and immunity. Increasing market integration is associated with poorer growth, but household factors mediate these changes. Adult males have positive effects on child growth in acculturated areas with wage labor and in distant areas where fishing and hunting remain important but not in intermediate areas. Children have consistent negative effects on one another's growth, suggesting competition for resources. Poorer growth is also associated with higher levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE), a humoral response to helminths. In contrast, C-reactive protein, an inflammatory marker, has a positive association with growth. This divergence between humoral and innate immunity is consistent with a lasting reallocation of immune resources towards a T H 2 response in helminth infected individuals. The age-profile of IgE also varies across market conditions: comparing the Shuar with samples from the U.S. and Bolivia, the age of peak IgE is correlated with the level of peak IgE in each population, providing some of the first evidence for a "peak shift" in immune response. Overall, these results support the hypothesis that local conditions lead to the adaptive "tuning" of trade-offs between branches of immunity and growth. This dissertation includes previously published and unpublished co-authored material. / Committee in charge: Lawrence Sugiyama, Chairperson, Anthropology; James Snodgrass, Member, Anthropology; Frances White, Member, Anthropology; John Orbell, Outside Member, Political Science

Alfredo Molano, écrivain et sociologue colombien contemporain, remet en question la concentration de la propriété terrienne et la distribution inégale des richesses. L'étude de son oeuvre explore trois axes centraux. Premièrement, la transformation de son écriture, qui évolue d'un format propre au discours scientifique vers le témoignage journalistique et littéraire. Cet écart par rapport à l'objectivisme scientifique entraîne un certain risque de fictionnalisation, que l'écrivain assume, car, d'après lui, il ne porte aucune atteinte à la factualité des récits et favorise en revanche leur lecture et leur diffusion. Nous avons également analysé la technique, chère à l'écrivain, de l' « imputation », consistant en la fusion de plusieurs témoins en un seul personnage, qui garde les traits des individus dont il s'est inspiré. Notre intérêt s'est aussi porté sur l'hybridation générique, puisque le Colombien fait appel aux récits de vie, de voyages et d'apprentissage, autant qu'aux textes sentimentaux, d'action et d'aventures, et à l'essai, entre autres. Cette confluence reflète la complexité d'une société féodale et postmoderne, et permet l'expression d'une variété de témoins hétérogènes, notamment les Amérindiens, les paysans, les activistes politiques, les délinquants et les prisonniers. Ils sont, pour la plupart, victimes de l'inégalité et du conflit permanent entre le centre hégémonique et la périphérie opprimée, deux pôles aussi flous que la violence est tangible, sanglante et multiforme. Alfredo Molano, comme la plupart des témoins, ne s'en tient pas au constat de cette violence, il la dénonce ouvertement et propose des solutions structurelles. Il s'oriente vers la construction d'une « mémoire historique », reconnaissant la souffrance des victimes, et vise une société non seulement hybride, mais surtout juste et égalitaire. / Alfredo Molano, a contemporary Colombian writer and sociologist, calls into question the concentration of land property and the unequal distribution of wealth. The study of his writing explores three main axes. At first, the transformation of his writing, which advances from a scientific discourse to the journalistic and literary testimony. This distance concerning the scientific objectivism carries away some risk of fictionnalisation. The writer assumes because, according to his point of view, his writing has no effect on the factuality of the stories but it is quite easy to read and to circulate. Then, the writer's technique of the "imputation" has been analysed. The author is really attached to. It consists on the fusion of many witnesses into a single character, who keeps the characteristics of people he was inspired by. Finally, our study of his writing is also focused on generic hybridisation, since the Colombian refers not only to the stories of Life, travel and learning, as well as sentimental texts, action and adventures, but also to the essay, among many others. This confluence reflects the complexity of a feudal and postmodern society, and allows the expression of heterogeneous diversity of witnesses, particularly Amerindians, farmers, political activists, offenders and prisoners. Most of them are victims of the inequalities and the continuous conflict between the hegemonic center and the oppressed periphery, two poles as fuzzy as the violence is palpable, bloody and multiform. Alfredo Molano, like most of his witnesses, does not content himself by the recording of this violence, but he denounces it openly and proposes structural solutions. He turns himself towards the development of a "historical memory", recognizing the suffering of victims and targeting a society not only hybrid, but most of all just and egalitarian. / Alfredo Molano, escritor y sociólogo colombiano, critica la concentración de la propiedad de la tierra y la distribución desigual de la riqueza. Este estudio de su obra explora tres ejes principales. Primeramente, la transformación de su estilo, de un formato propio del discurso científico, hacia el testimonio periodístico y literario. Tal distanciamiento frente al objetivismo científico conlleva cierto riesgo de ficcionalización, asumido por el escritor, para quien ésta no afecta de manera alguna el carácter fáctico de los relatos y, en cambio, facilita su lectura y su difusión. Analizamos igualmente la técnica "molanesca" de la "imputación", consistente en fusionar varios testigos en un solo personaje, el cual conserva los rasgos de los individuos en los que se inspira. Nos hemos interesado también por la hibridación genérica, puesto que el colombiano recurre a las historias de vida, a los relatos de viajes y de aprendizaje, así como a textos sentimentales, de acción y de aventuras, y al ensayo, entre otros. Esta confluencia refleja la complejidad de una sociedad tan feudal como posmoderna y permite la expresión de una serie de testigos heterogéneos, como los amerindios los campesinos, los activistas políticos, los delincuentes y los reclusos. Son ellos, en su mayoría, victimas de la desigualdad y del permanente conflicto entre el centro hegemónico y la periferia oprimida, dos polos tan difusos como tangible, sangrienta y multiforme es la violencia. Alfredo Molano, como casi todos sus testigos, no se limita a constatar dicha violencia; la denuncia abiertamente y propone soluciones de fondo. El escritor trabaja en la construcción de una “memoria histórica” y vislumbra una sociedad no sólo híbrida, sino ante todo justa e igualitaria.