Objective: Male-to-male sexual contact is the most common mode of transmission for HIV among Latino men. Psychosocial factors such as machismo, homophobic discrimination, and internalized homophobia have been hypothesized to greatly impact sexual behaviors among Latinos. However, studies investigating the relationship between these psychosocial factors and risky sexual behaviors are limited. This study examined the impact of machismo on risky sexual behaviors among Latino Male who have Sex with Men (MSM).Methods: This study utilized data collected from 254 Latino MSM in 1999 from selected cities within Virginia. The analysis focused on respondent demographic characteristics, psychosocial factors, acculturation, and sexual risky behaviors. Composite measures for acculturation, machismo, internalized homophobia, and sexual discrimination were created by combining sets of relevant questions. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used and odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals were calculated.Results: The study found a statistically significant relationship between machismo and HIV/STD sexual risk behaviors. Latino MSM with high machismo values were over four times more likely to engage in HIV/STD sexual risk behaviors compared to those with low machismo values (OR=5.53,95%CI =1.85-16.47). In contrast, HIV/STD sexual risk behaviors were not significantly associated with acculturation, discrimination, or homophobia.Conclusions: Machismo is a significant risk factor for HIV and STD sexual risk behaviors in Latino MSM. Culturally competent messaging and appropriate skill building opportunities addressing machismo values should be incorporated into HIV and STD prevention programs that target Latino MSM.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

The following collection of short stories explores the notion of being caught between two worlds, of straddling physical, emotional, linguistic and metaphorical borders. I have chosen these characters in order to give voice to those who are often voiceless. The collection has been divided in two parts in order to challenge ideas of what is "real." I argue that the emotional truth of a story is paramount, and this reality can sometimes be best achieved through unconventional means.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, lapses in federal policy-making and a lack of state level enforcement paved the way for employer exploitation of predominantly Latino migrant workers, transforming working-class Latino newcomers into the newest class of storm victims in post-Katrina New Orleans. In essence, a "rebuild above all else" recovery scenario took hold between 2005-2007 in which immediate reconstruction of the city took priority over the participation of local, African-American workers and the protection of immigrant worker rights. Despite their disadvantaged position, however, migrant workers did not remain passive victims to injustice but actively organized against employer abuse and intimidation by law enforcement and immigration officials. Latino worker activists and their allies sternly rejected the “rebuild above all else” recovery model championed by local, state and federal government policies and sought to carve out an alternative rebuilding model that respected immigrant labor rights.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act emphasized the importance of parents’ participation in all educational decisions concerning their children with disabilities. However, parents’ ability to actively participate in, and contribute to, their children’s special education process is influenced by a variety of parent and school related factors. For immigrant Latino parents, these factors may include additional issues related to cultural and linguistic diversity not experienced by most parents. This study examined the experiences of immigrant Latino parents when navigating the special education system as well as the impact that such experiences had on parents’ participation in the special education process of their children with disabilities. A researcher-developed survey (Special Education Parent Participation Survey, SPED-PPS) was used to collect the data. Findings indicated that, although about half of the participants were unable to communicate in English with educators, parents still communicated and collaborated often with school personnel. In addition, most immigrant Latino parents trusted professionals working with their children and had a positive perception of school personnel. A minority of parents believed that teachers knew best about their children’s needs, believed that teachers thought that parents interfered too much in their work, and/or felt uncomfortable with having many professionals in the Individual Educational Plan meetings. Immigrant Latino parents’ participation in their children’s special education process appeared to be influenced by the child’s disability as well as parents’ knowledge of the American education system, perception of school personnel, English language communication skills, and ability to confront school personnel about the child’s needs.

Objective: Cultural neuropsychologists face barriers such as access to culturally appropriate psychometric instruments and norms. Further, three commonly encountered dilemmas in cultural neuropsychology include the following questions: (1) How do psychologists determine the best normative data to use for a given assessment scenario? (2) Do measures and models developed with North American samples also work in adaptations of instruments used with cross-cultural samples? (3) How can alternative and cost-effective measures be developed to meet the need for additional assessment tools? In response to these dilemmas, this dissertation consists of three papers aimed at developing Latinx and cultural neuropsychology psychometric resources for one of the most common cultural assessment scenarios: intelligence assessment amongst Spanish-speaking individuals using the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale – Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV). Chapter 1. A sample of 305 highly educated Colombian corporate executives completed the WAIS-IV. Data were scored using norms from Colombia, Chile, Mexico, Spain, United States, and Canada and scores were compared using ANOVA. Additionally, a comparative sociodemographic framework was established to contextualize our sample to the standardization samples and populations of the six countries. Chapter 2. Accumulating evidence indicates the original factor structures published in the Wechsler Intelligence Scales may not best describe the data captured by these tests, and instead supports a five factor Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) model over a four factor Wechsler model, and a bifactor model over a higher-order model. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling was used to evaluate factor structure of the Chilean-WAIS-IV (Wechsler, 2013) normative sample (ages 18-60; N=672) to better understand its psychometrics and to contribute to much needed cross-cultural study of alternative WAIS-IV factor models. Results marginally favored CHC and bifactor models but provided strong support for higher-order and Wechsler model variants as well, pointing to the need of further theoretical, methodological, clinical, and cross-cultural research. Chapter 3. The recent publication of the Chilean adaptation of the WAIS-IV has contributed to ongoing efforts to provide more psychometric instruments culturally appropriate for regions in South America. While not all assessment situations necessitate administration of the full WAIS and calculation of a full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ), there is virtually no published research on WAIS-IV short forms for estimating IQ in Latin America. This study used a rigorous series of methods (adapted from Smith et al., 2000) to develop robust estimated IQ short forms, aligned with Wechsler and CHC models, using the Chilean WAIS-IV standardization data (ages 18-90; N=887). Linear scaling was used to produce normative tables for the 28 best two-, three-, four-, and five subtest short forms of the Chilean WAIS-IV. Discussion. Together, the three papers of this dissertation provide psychometric guidance and resources not only for Latin American neuropsychologists in the area of intelligence assessment, but also more broadly for all cultural neuropsychology researchers and clinicians. / Graduate / 2020-06-25

Thesis advisor: C. Patrick Proctor / The role of immigrant generation status on Latinos' English language development has not received much attention. Empirical studies (Bean & Stevens, 2003) and descriptive data (Fry & Passal, 2009), suggest an intergenerational shift from Spanish to English, such that the first generation primarily speaks Spanish, the second generation speaks both Spanish and English, and the third generation primarily speaks English. Indeed, this intergenerational shift suggests the important role of immigrant generation status in the language and reading comprehension development of bilingual Latinos. If first generation students are more likely to be Spanish dominant, arguably their English language and reading development are likely to be distinctive from their American born peers. Logically, this would suggest a lockstep intergenerational improvement such that second and third generation peers would significantly outperform the first generation in English language and reading. To address this role of immigrant status in the English language and reading development among Latino bilinguals, this dissertation is divided into two studies. The first study was guided by a component view of reading within the context of the immigrant paradox. The second study was concerned with the role of immigrant generation status on the linguistic interdependence (Cummins, 1979) between Spanish language, English language, and English reading comprehension. Both studies utilized multi-level growth modeling to develop longitudinal growth trajectories of English language and reading development. Results indicated that Latino children's English language and reading comprehension performance increased over time. For Study 1, significant effects for generation status suggested a Generation 2 and Generation 3 advantage. For Study 2, significant effects for generation status and Spanish language on the English language growth trajectories provide evidence for paradoxical immigrant generation status trends and cross-language transfer. Both studies emphasize the need for educators to be cognizant of linguistic differences within the bilingual population - particularly for newcomers and students who are less likely to speak English. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2015. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Teacher Education, Special Education, Curriculum and Instruction.

Thesis advisor: Sarah Beckjord / This thesis examines the motivations for English language acquisition among Latino immigrants currently residing in the United States. By interviewing 34 adult students enrolled in ESOL classes in the Boston area, the author attempts to determine whether their desire for language acquisition is motivated by integrative or instrumental factors. These results are analyzed in light of the current debate on the assimilation of Latino immigrants, ultimately concluding that this segment of the population is indeed desirous of integration into the mainstream U.S. society. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2008. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Romance Languages and Literature. / Discipline: College Honors Program.

A partir da interpretação do conceito de semiosfera formulado por Iúri Lótman, a comunicação é entendida como um processo de tradução semiótica que ocorre na fronteira entre sistemas culturais. Consiste na transformação da informação em que os códigos são antes recodificados que decodificados, propiciando uma dinâmica também cultural na medida em que nesse processo tradutório estejam envolvidos mais do que simples códigos ou signos, senão padrões culturais que compreendem uma dimensão espaciotemporal em que se inserem as diversas linguagens. O mecanismo que propicia essa dinâmica parte de uma concepção epistemológica do espaço porquanto suponha uma fronteira que atue como filtro tradutor dos textos que se encontram fora de um determinado sistema que esteja sendo observado, modificando seu sentido ao torná-los próprios. Como o espaço semiótico compreende diversos sistemas de signos estruturados em diversas linguagens e submetidos a diversos contextos culturais, essa passagem de um meio a outro pode implicar em níveis de intraduzibilidade e imprevisibilidade que, apesar da resistência que possam suscitar à memória do sistema, uma vez traduzidos, asseguram um ganho qualitativo ao sistema cultural introduzindo informação nova e diversificada. O estrangeiro trata justamente dessa condição de ambiguidade da fronteira em que os textos podem ou não ser traduzidos. A hipótese é que a diversidade constitua-se na situação ideal de manutenção e de desenvolvimento do sistema ao permitir um número maior de interações e semioses, inibindo o risco de redundância e de homogeneização. Propõe-se também que a diversidade seja resultado dessa tensão entre o programa econômico (ideológico) da memória e a permeabilidade da fronteira. A análise desse mecanismo é observada a partir do espaço semiótico do tango que contempla basicamente os sistemas de signos da música, da dança e da canção, além de representações conflitantes que marcam a heterogeneidade e a mobilidade desse espaço de produção de sentido. Constata-se um ganho qualitativo ao sistema-tango na tradução de novos textos de cultura, ainda que estes causem estranhamento à memória por não reconhecer padrões já estabelecidos, forçando-a a reorganizá-los e hierarquizá-los segundo outros valores. Por outro lado, uma vez que não se concede plena autonomia de sentido à linguagem, trabalha-se na perspectiva da admissão de uma dupla matriz espaciotemporal, permitindo tratar da inferência da geopolítica na produção da territorialidade do tango, assim como de seu caráter anacrônico que surge justamente da dissociação entre esses registros epistemológicos. Esta pesquisa busca examinar a operacionalidade dos principais conceitos aplicados ao mecanismo semiótico da comunicação e da cultura a partir da construção de um objeto empírico estruturado em três capítulos (bandoneón, ritmo e memória) em que são investigados os fundamentos ontológicos do tango. Além da discussão epistemológica e estética proposta, a escolha do tema persegue uma valorização do intercâmbio cultural latino-americano para o qual a técnica de observação direta revelou-se como recurso metodológico imprescindível na análise e interpretação dos dados. / From the interpretation of semiosphere formulated by Yuri Lotman, communication is understood as a process of semiotic translation that occurs at the border between cultural systems. It consists in the transformation of information in which the codes are recoded rather than decoded, providing also a cultural dynamics in so far as that in this translation process are involved more than simple codes or signs, but cultural patterns that comprise a spatiotemporal dimension where several languages are inserted. The mechanism that provides this dynamic comes from an epistemological conception of space as it supposes a border that acts as a texts\' translator filter of a given system that is being observed, modifying their sense when appropriating them. As the semiotic space comprises several signs systems structured in diverse languages and submitted to different cultural contexts, this passage from one medium to another can imply in levels of untranslatability and unpredictability that, despite the resistance that might give rise to the system memory, once translated, ensures a qualitative gain to the cultural system by introducing new and diversified information. The stranger deals with this condition of ambiguity of the border in which the texts may or may not be translated. The hypothesis is that diversity is constituted in the ideal situation of maintenance and development of the system as it allows a larger number of interactions and semiosis, inhibiting the risk of redundancy and homogenization. It is also proposed that diversity is a result of this tension between economic program (ideological) of memory and the permeability of the border. The analysis of this mechanism is observed from the semiotic space of tango, which covers the systems of signs, music, dance and song, and conflicting representations that characterize the heterogeneity and mobility of this space of production of meaning. It is observed a noticeable qualitative gain to the tango system in the translation of new texts of culture, even though they cause estrangement to memory by not recognize patterns already established, forcing it to rearrange and hierarchize them according to other values. On the other hand, since language does not have a full autonomy of meaning, one works from the perspective of the admission of a double space-temporal matrix, allowing deal with the inference of geopolitics in the production of the tango\'s territoriality, as well as its anachronic character that arises from dissociation between these epistemological records. This research aims to examine the operability of the main concepts applied to the semiotic mechanism of communication and culture from the construction of an empirical object structured into three chapters (bandoneón, rhythm and memory) in which are investigated the ontological foundations of tango. Besides the proposed epistemological and aesthetic discussion, the choice of theme pursues a valorization of a Latin American cultural exchange, for which the technique of direct observation proved to be an indispensable methodological resource for the data analysis and interpretation

As avaliações sensoriais tomam cada vez mais sua posição de importância dentro dos centros produtores e vendedores de alimentos e de outros produtos. Nestes, o objetivo final dos trabalhos realizados nas áreas de desenvolvimento, produção e `marketing\' e o consumidor, cuja avaliação se baseia, principalmente, na aceitabilidade e custos dos produtos. Nesses experimentos, uma serie de tratamentos e dada para cada provador, e um problema relevante e que a variável resposta dependa não só do tratamento aplicado atualmente, mas também do anterior seguido a ele, chamados de efeitos residuais. Visando uma melhor qualidade do produto, analises cada vez mais rigorosas são exigidas. Assim, um método frequentemente utilizado e o da analise descritiva, que tem por objetivo descrever e avaliar a intensidade dos atributos sensoriais dos produtos avaliados, orientando eventuais modificações das características das mesmas a m de atender as exigências do consumidor. Realizada por pessoas treinadas, com habilidade de discriminar, recebendo o nome de analise descritiva quantitativa (ADQ). Consequentemente, dadas as limitações quanto ao numero de provas sucessivas de degustação e presença frequente de efeitos residuais, o planejamento e analise dos experimentos para ADQ adquirem importância fundamental. Assim, de modo a resolver o problema apresentado, Williams (1949) apresentou os delineamentos quadrados latinos balanceados para vizinhança que, de forma geral, garantem que os efeitos residuais dos tratamentos não exerçam influência sobre a comparação dos efeitos dos tratamentos. Métodos adequados de construção, aleatorizacão e analise, utilizando o método ADQ de tais delineamentos são descritos e adaptados para o problema. São apresentados, analisados e discutidos, ainda, os resultados de um experimento de analise sensorial de diferentes cachaças, planejado e conduzido pela autora. Assim, com os resultados obtidos, concluiu-se que, para o planejamento de ensaios para a análise descritiva quantitativa (ADQ), os quadrados latinos balanceados para vizinhança, com a última coluna repetida, são uma alternativa importante / The sensory evaluations are increasingly taking its position of importance within the centers producers and sellers of food and other products. In these, the ultimate goal of the work in the areas of development, production and \'marketing\' is the consumer, whose evaluation is based mainly on the acceptability and cost of products. In these experiments, a series of treatments is given to each panelist, and a major problem is that the response depends not only on the treatment currently applied, but on the former followed by him. For a better quality product, analyzes increasingly stringent are required. Therefore, a method often used is descriptive analysis, which aims to describe and evaluate the intensity of sensory attributes of the products evaluated, guiding future modications of the same characteristics in order to meet consumer demands.Performed by trained people, with ability to discriminate, receiving the name of quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA). Therefore, given the limitations on the number of successive tasting trials and frequent presence of residual eects, planning and analysing the experiments for QDA are fundamentaly important. Thus, in order to solve the problem presented, Williams (1949) presented the Latin square design balanced for neighborhood that, in general, ensuring that the residual eects of the treatments do not in uence the comparison of treatment eects. Appropriate methods of construction, randomization and analysis, using the method of QDA such designs are described and adapted to the problem. Are presented, analyzed and discussed, yet, the results of an experiment of sensory analysis of dierent brandy, planned and conducted by the author. So with these results, we concluded that, for the planning of tests to quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA), the Latin squares balanced for neighborhoods, and repeated the last column, are an important alternative.