Digital Commons Network^™

Reciprocal Transplantation Of The Desert Soil Crust: Can It Be Done?, Christina D. Cole

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

A 100 meter X 100 meter study site was chosen at White Rock Springs in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Nevada. To examine Syntrichia caninervis, a desert crustal moss, reciprocal transplantations (20 mm and 40 mm diameter cores) were performed between shaded to shaded, exposed to exposed, and shaded to exposed microsites to determine if it was possible to transplant the study organism with reasonable survivorship. Transplants were inspected following rain events for percent hydration, number of dead stems, and change in percent cover. Data indicated that there was a low mortality rate of S. caninervis stems, and few …

Officer Involved Shooting: The Emotional Impact And The Effective Coping Strategies, Patrick P. Charoen

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The emotional impact of a shooting incident on the individual police officer has been recognized and detailed by both police and mental health professionals (Lippert & Ferrara, 1984). The human cost and financial costs to Police Departments as a result of "post shooting" trauma has sensitized many departments to the need for professional support for officers involved in shootings. Recent survey research has provided information about the percentage of officers who experienced great, moderate, or no emotional impact after being involved in shootings (Stratton, 1982). However, information about the degree to which police departments have responded to this need has …

Systemic Environmental Analysis Of The Legal Mechanisms For Controlling Air Pollution In The Las Vegas Valley, Richard Little

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study examines the air pollution control structure for the Las Vegas Valley. A System Dynamics computer model was created that represents the structure of the real world system for controlling air pollution, in order to examine how the current air pollution control system might behave in the future.

A Comparative Analysis Of Southern Nevada Municipalities, And Their Active Participation To Implement Historical Preservation, Rhonda M. Reeves

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

A comparative analysis of southern Nevada municipalities, and their active participation to implement historical preservation is the foundation of research for this paper. The city of Las Vegas and surrounding municipalities have varying preservation programs in place. The distinctions between the municipalities historic preservation programs foster little protection for the historic site itself in most cases. Historic preservationists are actively bringing to the attention of government the importance of preservation, and are seeking more and more action on the part of the government to implement historic preservation mandates and protection.

The federal government funding for historical preservation within states is …

A Case Study Of Process Servers In Clark County, Nevada In The District Attorney Criminal Division, Amy M. Meedel

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In 1996 the job classification of Process Server was created in the Clark County District Attorney Criminal Division in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was implemented by DA Stewart L. Bell as a cost-saving measure meant as a reclassification of the position of Investigator. Since the initial job posting, the duties appropriate to the position of Process Server have been and remain in question. No written, measurable job performance standards have been established and no consistent training or supervision provided. A review of the literature suggests wide variance in what may be considered appropriate job duties for this classification, though the …

A Study Of Issues Related To Privatization Of Workers’ Compensation In Nevada, Kathryn A. Mack

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The key purpose of this study is to examine and evaluate current legislative initiatives for reform of workers’ compensation in Nevada. The examination will focus on issues relating to open competitive markets, market pricing, privatization of a state fund, and cost controls that have affected workers’ compensation in the state. The methods used in this paper include an in-depth examination of legislative statutes that have been enacted to control spending. Also, included is a review of literature that relates to privatization of state funds, and issues that are inherent in the transition from a state agency to private enterprise. Key …

A Comparison Of The Establishment Of The Organizational Structure Of A Citizen Review Board At The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department And The City And County Of Denver Public Safety Review Commission, Glenn Glover

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The study focuses on the issue of establishing a citizen review board at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) for the purpose of reviewing allegations of misconduct. With the recent increase of police officer misconduct the LVMPD has come under a great deal of scrutiny by residents of the community. The credibility of the department has been jeopardized as a result of the current complaint investigations process which is conducted by the Internal Affairs Bureau. Community activist have demanded that a citizen review board be established to investigate complaints of police misconduct. The purpose of setting up a citizen …

Mineral Paragenesis And Ore Fluids At The Turquoise Ridge Gold Deposit, Nevada, Michiko Shigehiro

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In this study, mineral assemblages and related fluid inclusions at the Turquoise Ridge Carlin-type gold deposit were examined to answer the following questions: (1) What is the ore-stage mineral paragenesis? (2) At what pressures and temperatures did the deposits form? (3) What are the sources of ore fluids?

Pyrite with gold, jasperoid quartz, stibnite, orpiment, realgar, and calcite were successively deposited at Turquoise Ridge. Microthermometric data and isotopic ratios of inclusion fluids in ore-related minerals indicate entrapment of multiple generations of fluids in pre-ore, ore-, and late-ore stage minerals. Primary fluid inclusions in an ore-stage jasperoid quartz crystal have salinities …

Alteration Associated With Gold Deposition At The Getchell, Carlin-Type Gold Deposit, North-Central Nevada, Tracy Lynn Cail

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Alteration at the Getchell deposit was examined to determine the effects of ore-bearing fluids on host lithologies and the relationship between K-bearing alteration minerals and Au deposition. The geochemistry of unaltered to highly altered and mineralized rocks from the Getchell deposit was quantified for 54 samples collected along 14 transects in calcareous siltstone, carbonaceous limestone, and a rhyodacitic dike. Each transect was collected along a single homogeneous bed that could be followed from visibly unaltered waste rock into high-grade ore.

Calculated elemental gains and losses record an increase in the concentrations of Au, Hg, Sb, Se, Si, Te, Tl, and …

The Southern Nevada Strategic Planning Authority Plan Public Outreach Efforts In The City Of Henderson, Brenda S. Fischer

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Region is the fastest growing region in the United States and has been for several years. The same source lists Henderson as the fastest growing large city (over 100,000 population) since 1990.

To mitigate the effects of growth, the Southern Nevada Strategic Planning Authority (SNSPA) was created in 1997. it was tasked with creating a 20 year plan for growth and presenting that plan to the 1999 legislature. The purpose of this paper is to determine it the residents of Henderson agree with the contents of the plan, as rt …

Higher Education Cost Leads To Increased Education Debt, Nasreen Bakhtary

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

A college education is a rite of passage for many young adults in the United States. The rate of college attendance by high school graduates has been growing steadily for more than 20 years. More than six in ten high school graduates now continue their education after high school. At the close of twentieth century, higher education appears to be more important than ever to our economy and our competitive position in the world, and to an individual's chances of sharing in U.S. prosperity. In an era of increasing income inequality, strengthening and broadening educational opportunities is key not only …

Marketing The City Of North Las Vegas: Marketing Plan And Image Enhancement Program, Janet Zimmerman

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Like many other Southwestern states, Nevada is experiencing a tremendous growth in population. As the second fastest growing city in Nevada, North Las Vegas is facing its own unique challenges and opportunities. Growth in Southern Nevada has also brought internal competition for those residents and businesses entering the area. It has also created a need to update the city's image and appeal.

One example of how a city effectively enhanced its image can be found in the same population area, Henderson, Nevada. Henderson, the state's fastest growing community, is attracting new residents and businesses at a rate that was 1.5 …

A Comparison Of Public Agency And Casino Employee Turnover Rates In Las Vegas, Timothy A. Clemens

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The primary focus of this professional paper is to determine and then compare turnover rates between public agencies and the gaming industry in the Las Vegas area. The paper's intention is to discover what differences and similarities in employee turnover rates exist between public agencies and casinos. A secondary focus is to determine if the public sector can provide any lessons to lower employee turnover to the Las Vegas gaming industry. This secondary focus is based on the assumption that public agencies have higher employee retention (and, therefore, a lower rate of turnover) than those found within the Las Vegas …

The United States Federal Law Enforcement Response To Increased Drug Smuggling On The Southwest Border, Even Rosenthal

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In recent years the United States Southwest Border has had a tremendous increase in drug smuggling from Mexico to the United States. Various federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies have stepped up their efforts to combat this increased influx of narcotics into the United States. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), United States Customs, and the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) are the lead agencies combating the drug trade.

What Is Y2k And How Did The University Of Nevada System Solve It?, Diane R. Dietrich

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The turn of the century change from 1999 to 2000 will create chaos for the world's computer systems. This paper will discuss the causes of the Y2K problem, the reaction to this problem by the University of Nevada System Computer Services and possible repercussions of this problem for Nevada, the United States and the world.

Unlv Residence Hall Recycling & Reuse Program For Move-In And Move-Out, Angela Michelson

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The goal of this thesis was to develop a program for the UNLV Residence Hall Recycling & Reuse Program for Move-In and Move-Out that would collect unwanted and unneeded materials from the residents and put them to use. Move-In collected cardboard boxes for recycling while Move-Out collected usable items such as shoes, clothes, food, bedding, and school supplies for resale. In order to have a good collection turnout, a combination of advertising and resident and staff education was conducted. Letters were sent to Resident Assistants (RA’s) and Complex Coordinators and posters and other advertisements were placed in high traffic areas …

Factors Affecting Participation In Senior Center Programs, Betty J. Jefferson

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study investigated whether the factors of relationships, recreation, relatedness, and reward would affect participation in senior centers. Demographic variables of age, sex, and socio-economic status and enabling variables of health, transportation, and income were also investigated. Data were collected from a sample of 57 older adults (aged 55 and over) from three Las Vegas Senior Centers using an instrument developed by the investigator. Findings revealed that relationships, recreation, and relatedness contributed to reasons for participation. Rewards did not seem to affect participation. In terms of demographics, more participants tended to be older, female, and educated. Enabling variables revealed participants …

Life Beyond Nuclear Testing The Nevada Test Site, Fina Martinez-Myers

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The Nevada Test Site (NTS) has served a crucial role in protecting the nation's security over the last 50 years. Changing national budgets and fiscal priorities have signaled dramatic adjustments for the NTS. Following the 1992 nuclear testing moratorium, the U.S. government has begun to make parts of the NTS available for private-sector use in an effort to generate money, utilize the Test Site's unique resources and capabilities, and provide economic development to southern Nevada. The initiative to attract private industry to the NTS is similar to activities taking place at other nuclear facilities across the nation. With a change …

Public Participation In Clark County, Nevada: An Analysis Of Public Participation In The Land Use Planning Process, Fred R. Turnier

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This paper explores public participation as determined through three land use planning case studies in Clark County, Nevada. Chapter One outlines the existing conditions for public participation and introduces a set of questions to be explored. Chapter Two defines the scope and methodology employed in the research. Chapter Three is a literature review for levels of public participation. The next Chapter discusses statutory requirements for planning and formal public participation. Further, Chapter Four outlines the events leading up to a revised planning participation process and implementation in three land use plan updates. Finally, Chapter Four explores themes derived through the …

An Analysis Of The Impact Of The Internet As A Marketing Tool For Economic Development In Municipal Governments In The Western Region Of The United States, Jacquelin Risner

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This professional paper is a cross-sectional analysis of the western United States that explores the research question of whether the internet, when used as a marketing tool, has an impact on urban economic development for municipal governments. Economic development has changed throughout the years. It is now global in perspective. The necessity for municipal governments to compete on a global level requires an investigation into new technology and its importance to economic development efforts. Specifically, the advent of the internet and its significance to economic development in municipal governments was explored. A survey was constructed and sent to one hundred …

A Comparison Study Of The San Francisco Community Board Whole Schools Conflict Resolution Project, Kimberli Huston

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The key purpose of this study was to compare and contrast the San Francisco Whole Schools Conflict Resolution Project to the School Mediation Program utilized in Clark County, Nevada. The evaluation further assessed the impact the San Francisco Project had on incidents of school-related violence in order to project these figures to the Clark County Program.

The methods used in this evaluation included a review of the implementation processes and training components for each conflict resolution program. The researcher also conducted a pre- and post- training analysis of San Francisco Unified School District incidents of school-related violence. Additionally, the Clark …

The Origin Of Brucite In Hydrothermally Altered Limestone Near Devil Peak, Nevada, Rhonda L. Knupp

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Open-space brucite was identified in veins crosscutting hydrothermally altered limestone near the Devil Peak rhyolite plug in southern Nevada. The brucite occurs with serpentine, calcite, chalcedony, hydromagnesite, dolomite, and clinochlore.

Brucite usually forms as a replacement mineral, but textural evidence indicates that the brucite at Devil Peak precipitated in open space. The presence of chalcedony in veins indicates the temperature of the hydrothermal fluid was <180^oC during and after mineral deposition. Thermodynamic modeling shows this temperature is too low for replacement brucite to form, thus the low temperature of alteration may be a factor in this unusual occurrence of …

Geochemistry And Petrogenesis Of The Bonanza King Mafic Intrusive Complex, Trinity Terrane Ophiolite, California, Keith R. Willse

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The Bonanza King mafic intrusive complex (MIC) (>25 km^2₎ of the Trinity terrane ophiolite, northern California, consists of cogenetic plutonic and dike lithologies. Steep intrusive contacts exist between cumulate pyroxenite, isotropic gabbro, and peridotite country rock. Near vertical east-west trending, bimodal dikes intruded gabbro and are centered within the complex. Geochemical modeling indicates taht accumulation/fractionation of a gabbroic parental magma produced lithologic trends of cumulate pyroxenite and fractionated gabbro and dike lithologies. Similarities between all lithologies suggest cogenetic formation of all the elements of the Bonanza King MIC during the Late Silurian (431 +/- 3).

Parental magma …

The Geochronology And Geochemistry Of The Bearhead Rhyolite, Jemez Volcanic Field, New Mexico, Leigh Justet

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Around 82% of mapped Bearhead Rhyolite (Main Cluster) and Peralta Tuff appears to have been derived from a relatively long-lived (~680 ka), large, shallow (Earth's surface) magma chamber that did not produce a caldera-forming eruption. Although volatile contents were great enough (~ wt.% H₂O), no large-scale explosive eruptions occurred because magma may have been tectonically vented. The lack of systematic chemical variation within the Main Cluster with time during this ~680 ka interval may imply that erupted magmas were physically separated from each other by fault-formed cupolas in the roof of the magma chamber. These results are significant …

The Las Vegas Monorail, An Innovative Solution For Public Transportation Problems Within The Resort Corridor, Cam C. Walker

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The Las Vegas Monorail project is the first and quite possibly the only private sector endeavor to construct mass transit grade transportation at no cost to the taxpayer, and with no public sector investment, subsidy, or guarantee. The Las Vegas Monorail project follows a structure similar to the innovative toll road projects of the last decade, illustrating how other transportation problems can be solved by similar procedures. This study provides an opportunity to get an inside look at the process of designing, building, operating, maintaining, and financing a major transportation project in Las Vegas and the unique cooperation between public …

A Comparative Policy Analysis On The Effectiveness Of Implementing Student Uniforms In Public School Districts Within The United State From 1993 Through 1998, Desiree Hiestand

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study is to compare and analyze student uniform policies in public school districts within the United States and to ascertain whether or not they are effective. Available information from America's 70 largest school districts is collected and compared to determine if the policies are feasible. Findings indicate there is a broad spectrum of ways in which the districts address student attire and imply that most of the districts are not adapting uniform policies, but are leaving the decision up to individual schools and to the parents. Districts that are adapting policies boast favorable results. Although statistical …

Do User Fees Violate Nonmember Rights?, Jerry Hartman

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

User fees are moneys charged non-union members by their representative union for the purpose of processing grievances. The non-member has to request the union to represent them in order for the union to do so. They may also hirer private representation at their own cost. User fees violate the intent of right-to-work laws in Nevada. The Nevada Local Government Employee-Management Board was wrong when they allowed Union/Local 1107 to charge such fees. The "Executive Board Policy" posted by Local 1107 on union bulletin boards announcing the fees for representation was coercive and discriminatory. According to survey, 40% of the respondents …

A Comparative Assessment Of The Status, Structure And Process Utilized By Nevada's Family Support And Preservation Consortia To Achieve Collaboration, Marlys A. Morton

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This paper presents a framework for understanding inter-organizational collaboration and describes and analyzes how collaboration was used as a method to build new service networks, the characteristics of the consortia, and the status of the collaborative processes.

Although the literature on inter-organizational collaboration in the human services is increasing, little is known about how regional consortia view the process of working together towards a common purpose. The results reported in this paper are intended to help fill that gap.

The findings reported in this study are based on a survey process using a standardized questionnaire to study the collaborative status. …

Rio Natural Gas, The Alternative Fuel Of The Future, Peter Garner

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Automobile exhaust is a major contributor of harmful air pollutants. Exhaust emissions include water (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrous oxides (NOX), sulfur oxides (SOX), hydrocarbons (HC), and particulate matter (PM), and of these the four major air pollutants are CO, HC, NOX, and PM. Particulate matter is predominantly emitted from diesel fuel burning vehicles. In order to aid in reduction of air pollution, and reduce dependence on foreign oil imports, federal legislation has been enacted. The two prominent acts are the National Energy Security Act in 1992, which mandates use of alternative fuels, and the Clean Air …

Golf Courses In Southern Nevada Will Significantly Impact The Water Management Efforts By Using Recycled Water Rather Than Potable Water To Irrigate Their Turf, Sean D. Ainsworth

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

As the number of people continually move to the Las Vegas Valley and take up residence, the possibility of "running out of water" can become a reality. Having large water users (i.e. golf courses) irrigate their turf with recycled water, they will significantly impact the water management efforts in the Las Vegas Valley. When each course is irrigating their turf with recycled water, this will help ease the drinking water demand in the valley, especially during the peak demand season (summer).