Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Inverse Problem For Non-Viscous Mean Field Control: Example From Traffic, Shaurya Agarwal

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This thesis presents an inverse problem for mean field games where we find the

mean field problem statement for which the given dynamics is the solution. We use

distributed traffic as an example and derive the classic Lighthill Whitham Richards

(LWR) model as a solution of the non-viscous mean field game. We also derive

the same model by choosing a different problem where we use travel time, which

is a distributed parameter, as the cost for the optimal control. We then study the

stationary versions of these two problems and provide numerical solutions for the

same.

Kinematics And Timing Of The Miocene-Quaternary Deformation In Nellis Dunes Recreational Area, Nevada, Shaimaa Abdelhaleem

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The kinematics and origin of transfer, accommodation and strike-slip zones is of paramount significance in understanding continental extension. The Las Vegas Valley Shear Zone (LVVSZ) is a NW-striking right-lateral fault system in the central Basin and Range province. Despite its prominence among the structures of the region and its role in the regional tectonic development, little is understood about its eastern portion. The inadequately constrained trace of the LVVSZ along its eastern part contributes largely to the ambiguity of the time activity and role of the LVVSZ. The eastern part of LVVSZ lies in Nellis Dunes Recreational Area (NDRA), north …

Hydrothermal Routes To Technetium Cluster Compounds, William M. Kerlin

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Transition metals of groups six through nine exhibit unique direct multiple metal-metal bonding cores. Technetium is a group seven transition metal and is the lightest radioelement in the periodic table. Technetium exhibits nine oxidation states (from -I to VII) and an extensive set of mixed oxidation states due to bi- or poly- nuclear complex formation. Technetium has no stable isotopes and thirty four technetium isotopes have been discovered. Two main isotopes are of great importance ⁹⁹Tc and its metastable nuclear isomer ^99mTc. The isotope ^99mTc (T_1/2 = 6.01 hours, γ = 140.5 keV) is used in …

Versatile Synthetic Methods For Photoluminescent Pyrylium Tosylates, Jung Jae Koh

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Pyrylium salts are an important class of cationic organic molecules that exhibit good absorption, fluorescence, and photo-induced electron transfer properties. They can also function as precursors for synthesis of different heterocyclic organic molecules such as furan, pyridine, pyridinium salt, and betaine dyes. This thesis describes versatile methods of synthesis for a series of 2,4,6-triarylsubstitued pyrylium tosylates with different substituents by using p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate instead of conventional acid catalysts including perchloric acid or boron trifluoride diethyl etherate that accompany explosion danger and difficult storage problem, respectively. The chemical structures were established by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic techniques …

Study The Mechanism Of The Prompt Emission Of Gamma-Ray Bursts, Wei Deng

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The prompt emission of Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) has been detected over 40 years, but the mechanism of the prompt emission is still a mystery. The problem can be summarized as several debatable questions: What is the energy composition of the jets/outflows? What is the energy dissipation mechanism? How are the particles accelerated during the energy dissipation process? What is the radiation mechanism to produce the observed prompt emission? In order to solve these problems, several theoretical models have been proposed, including the classical "internal shock (IS)" model, the "dissipative photosphere" model, the "magnetic dissipation" model, and so on. Different models …

The Effects Of Enhanced And Decreased Expectations On Balance Performance In Those With And Without Parkinson’S Disease, Joshua Ostrander, Granuaile Parrish, Jacob Blood

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background: It has been reported individuals typically perform well on a task when enhanced expectancy was provided prior to task performance. It has also been reported people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) are especially susceptible to pre-task placebo cuing and suggestion. Evidence of this susceptibility has been previously demonstrated through brain imaging studies and with demonstration by individuals with PD improved balance performance.

Objective: This study was designed to further previous studies’ results for improved task performance with enhanced expectancy. The purpose of this study was to investigate if the pre-task verbal delivery of enhanced expectancy, decreased expectancy and no expectancy …

Patient No-Show For Outpatient Physical Therapy: A National Survey, James Bokinskie, Payton Johnson, Trevor Mahoney

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Introduction: Patients who fail to show for scheduled medical appointments (no-show) create a cascade of issues for the health care system, the provider, and themselves. No-show can affect clinical productivity, cost and quality of care, and treatment outcomes. There is an overwhelming lack of research on no-show as it relates to outpatient physical therapy in the United States. The purposes of this study were to report national no-show rates, describe the presence and characteristics of no-show policies, determine the relationship of these policies and other demographic information to no-show rates, and describe the most commonly perceived reasons for no-show.

Methods: …

The Effects Of Instruction On Landing Strategies In Female College-Aged Dancers And Non-Dancers: A Pilot Study, Brittany Keating, Jason Pyfer, Kimberly Vialpando

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background Female athletic participation has increased over the past decade and with it the prevalence of knee injuries. Current research demonstrates an increased risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury for female athletes. However, a number of studies have pointed out that ballet and modern dancers exhibit a lower incidence of ACL injuries despite the fact that they perform jumping and landing frequently.

Objective The objective of this study was to examine how dance experience and instruction affect the lower extremity biomechanics during drop landings. Specifically, lower extremity joint alignment and muscle activation of gluteus maximus and gluteus medius were …

Immediate Effects Of Cervical Spine Manipulation On Gait Parameters In Individuals With And Without Mechanical Neck Pain, Jordan Isom, Shaylyn Kennedy, Justin May, Samuel Moore

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine 1) if there were any differences in gait parameters between participants with mechanical neck pain and those without and 2) if cervical spine manipulation has an immediate effect on these gait parameters.

Methods: Twenty participants with mechanical neck pain and twenty participants without neck pain were randomly assigned into either the sham or manipulation group. The two intervention groups participated in walking across a GAITRite Walkway that recorded gait parameters such as stride length, cadence and step width before and after cervical spine manipulation. The participants walked at their own cadence …

The Immediate Effects Of Cervicothoracic Manipulation Versus Stretching On Upper Trapezius Pressure Pain Thresholds And Range Of Motion In Individuals Without Neck Pain, Kevin Carr, Morgan King, Erin Oelklaus, Brendan Parry

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background and Purpose: Myofascial pain may be considered one of the most common clinical findings in patients with neck pain (NP). Motor aspects of myofascial pain include disturbed motor function and muscle weakness secondary to motor inhibition, muscle stiffness, and restricted range of motion (ROM). Currently, it is unclear which interventions may have the greatest immediate impact on pressure pain sensitivity and ROM. Several studies have demonstrated improved pressure pain thresholds (PPT) after cervical manipulation; however, it is not clear if manipulation targeted to the cervicothoracic (CT) junction will have a similar effect. Others recommend stretching as a method to …

Four Weeks Of Minimalist Style Running Training Reduced Lumbar Paraspinal Muscle Activation During Shod Running, Stephanie Barton, David Brown, Talia Joyce

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background and Purpose: Research has shown that the risk of low back dysfunctions in runners is related to the increased mileage of distance running. Repetitive shock loading of the spinal structures during running has been indicated as one of the important biomechanical mechanisms underlying such injury. Acute changes in foot strike pattern, like those seen during minimalist style running, have been shown to lead to modifications in lumbar range of motion. Minimalist style running could lead to changes in lumbar biomechanics and muscle activation, potentially reducing the loading on the musculoskeletal structures of the lower back. However, the long term …

Comparing Usability And Variance Of Low- And High Technology Approaches To Gait Analysis In Health Adults, John Mcconnell, Brian Silverman

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the usability, reliability, and objectivity of four tools that represented varying gait analysis technologies used in clinical practice and/or research. Low technology clinical tools included the Gait Abnormality Rating Scale (GARS-M) and the Rancho Los Amigos Observational Gait Analysis (Rancho OGA). High technology tools included the GAITRiteÒ computerized walkway, and the APDM Mobility LabÔ wearable sensor system.

Subjects: 74 healthy adults ages 18-41 years (mean = 24.82, SD = 4.39) 33 males and 40 females.

Methods: Subjects were instructed to walk at a self-selected speed for two minutes …

Burdens And Benefits Of Climate Change Solutions: A Case Study Of Climate Change Skeptics And Deniers In Rural Nevada, Patricia Dutcher

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This dissertation is an ethnographic case study of climate change Doubtfuls and Dismissives with the purpose of understanding their perceptions of water use and renewable energy in the context of a changing climate. I also investigate the information sources and messages they use to understand climate change and climate change solutions. The Global Warming's Six Americas project identifies climate change Doubtfuls and Dismissives as one third of the American public, and an active voice in US climate change policy (Maibach et al, 2009; Leiserowitz et al., 2014). Doubtfuls are people with skeptical attitudes towards anthropogenic climate change, while Dismissives deny …

High Pressure Behavior Of Mullite-Type Oxides: Phase Transitions, Amorphization, Negative Linear Compressibility And Microstructural Implications, Patricia Kalita

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Even though mullite occurs rarely in nature, it is perhaps one of the most important phases in both traditional and advanced ceramics. Existing and emerging applications of mullite and mullite-type materials include: high-temperature composites, aerospace materials, ballistic shielding for military applications and even non-linear optical materials. There are many uncertainties regarding the basic physical properties of mullite-type materials, particularly in terms of their high-pressure structural stability and mechanical behavior that are important to address for emerging applications of mullites as engineering materials. This work is the first reported comprehensive investigation of the high –pressure structural behavior of several different mullites …

Constraining The Progenitor And Central Engine Of Gamma-Ray Bursts With Observational Data, Lu Houjun

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are extremely energetic explosions at cosmological distances. We have made great progress in understanding the mysteries of these events since they were discovered more than forty years ago. However, some open questions still remain, e.g. how many classes of GRBs are there, what are the progenitors of these classes, and what is the central engine powering these huge explosions? Thanks to the NASA missions Swift and Fermi, which are used to detect the multi-wavelength emission from these transients, our understanding of GRBs has been greatly advanced. In this dissertation, I use multi-wavelength data to constrain the progenitor …

A Comparison Of Recent Results On The Unicity Conjecture Of The Markoff Equation, Brandon John Metz

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In this thesis we discuss the positive integer solutions to the equation known as the Markoff equation

x² + y² + z² = 3xyz.

Each solution to the equation is a permutation of a triple (x,y,z) with [mathematical equation refer to PDF] which is called a Markoff triple and each integer of the triple is referred to as a Markoff number.

In 1913, Frobenius conjectured that given an ordered Markoff triple (x,y,z), then both x and y are uniquely determined by z. In other words, if both (x₁,y₁,z) and (x₂,y_{2 …}

Impacts Of Ozone Dose And Empty Bed Contact Time On Total Organic Carbon Removal Through Ozone-Biological Activated Carbon Treatment, Ashley Selvy

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In the face of climate change, pollution, and population growth, water scarcity has become a global threat. Many populations have witnessed their drinking water sources dwindle to an unsustainable level. These severe conditions have sparked interest in potable reuse as an increasingly viable alternative to typical ‘pristine’ drinking water sources. Currently, the California Division of Drinking Water (DDW) provides the most stringent requirements for reuse water quality. The best way to meet these standards is through the use of full advanced treatment (FAT), which consists of reverse osmosis (RO) and an advanced oxidation process (AOP). Alternative treatment trains composed of …

A Study Of Sequential Inference For The Risk Ratio And Measure Of Reduction Of Two Binomials, Zhou Wang

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The binomial distribution is one of the most commonly and widely occurring probabilistic phenomena in our lives. Since observations from independent Bernoulli trials yield a dichotomous type, the distribution of sequences provides the basis and clue for statistical formulations of a wide variety of problems.

Occasionally, the core of biomedical studies is related to the comparison and evaluation of the risks of events or outcomes of interest in comparing populations under study. For instance, one wishes to compare two groups of subjects drawn from two independent populations. Then, two sample proportions play central roles in those comparisons. One of the …

Efficient Estimation Of Cluster Population, Sanjeev K C

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Partitioning a given set of points into clusters is a well known problem in pattern recognition, data mining, and knowledge discovery. One of the well known methods for identifying clusters in Euclidean space is the K-mean algorithm. In using the K-mean clustering algorithm it is necessary to know the value of k (the number of clusters) in advance. We propose to develop algorithms for good estimation of k for points distributed in two dimensions. The techniques we pursue include a bucketing method, g-hop neighbors, and Voronoi diagrams. We also present experimental results for examining the performances of the bucketing method …

Generalized Markoff Equations, Euclid Trees, And Chebyshev Polynomials, Donald Joseph Mcginn

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The Markoff equation is x^2+y^2+z^2 = 3xyz, and all of the positive integer solutions

of this equation occur on one tree generated from (1, 1, 1), which is called the

Markoff tree. In this paper, we consider trees of solutions to equations of the form

x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = xyz + A. We say a tree of solutions satisfies the unicity condition

if the maximum element of an ordered triple in the tree uniquely determines the

other two. The unicity conjecture says that the Markoff tree satisifies the unicity

condition. In this paper, we show that there exists …

A Multi-Level Trust Management Scheme For The Internet Of Things, Anusha Ramanathan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The significance of the Internet of Things (IoT) in current trends is continuously rising. It is an umbrella term that signifies a network of physical devices that are embedded with electronics, software, sensors and connectivity that enable greater functions and services through the exchange of data accomplished through interconnection. The applications of the IoT are varied and numerous; they range from relatively simple home automation scenarios to the much more complex scenarios of interconnected smart cities. IoT is expected to dominate the future with huge amounts of content oriented traffic that is a result of intensive interactions between the millions …

Concurrent Lazy Splay Tree With Relativistic Programming Approach, Jaya Ram Sedai

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

A splay tree is a self-adjusting binary search tree in which recently accessed elements are quick to access again. Splay operation causes the sequential bottleneck at the root of the tree in concurrent environment. The Lazy splaying is to rotate the tree at most one per access so that very frequently accessed item does full splaying. We present the RCU (Read-copy-update) based synchronization mechanism for splay tree operations which allows reads to occur concurrently with updates such as deletion and restructuring by splay rotation. This approach is generalized as relativistic programming. The relativistic programming is the programming technique for concurrent …

Concurrent Non-Blocking Skip List Using Multi-Word Compare And Swap Operation, Anish Ratna Tuladhar

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

We present a non-blocking lock-free implementation of skip list data structure using multi word compare and swap (CASN) operation. This operation is designed to work on arbitrary number of memory locations as a single atomic step. We discuss the implementation details of CASN operation which only utilizes the single word compare and swap atomic primitive found in most of the contemporary multiprocessor systems. Using this operation, we first design lock-free algorithms to implement various operations on linked list data structure, then extend it to design skip lists. Skip list is a probabilistic data structure composed of linked lists stacked together …

Carbon Isotope Variations Associated With A Middle Ordovician Karstic Unconformity, Patricia Suzanne Williams

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Large negative carbon isotope (δ¹³C) excursions have been documented from late Neoproterozoic-Paleozoic successions. These δ¹³C excursions have been widely used for regional and global stratigraphic correlation, particularly in strata with limited paleontological and radiometric age controls. Recent studies, however, argued that some negative δ¹³C excursions from stratigraphic record may have been resulted from meteoric/burial diagenesis, which commonly shifts both carbon and oxygen isotopes toward lower values. Testing the diagenetic origin of δ¹³C excursions in stratigraphic successions without independent stratigraphic framework has been difficult because it evolves into circular arguments about stratigraphic completeness …

Tracking And Monitoring Unmanned Aircraft Systems Activities With Crowd-Based Mobile Apps, Tejaswini Papireddy

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

An Unmanned Aircraft System(UAS) is an aircraft without human pilot onboard. They can be controlled remotely from a ground control station (GCS) or can fly autonomously based on pre-programmed flight plans. Tracking and monitoring these UASs activities in the National Airspace System (NAS) is one of the major challenges related to UAS. This system tracks a set of UASs at a given point of time based on the user-submitted tracking information. This thesis presents the basic knowledge of UAS, types of UAS, advantages, and challenges with UASs. The implemented Android application allows the users to submit the observed UAS information …

Lead Hazard Control In Henderson, Nevada: Identifying Critical Areas And The Associated Costs, Khaye Gerazel Arcilla Rufin

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Lead poisoning is a common, yet preventable childhood health problem in the United States today. Studies show statistically significant (p < .05) associations between higher childhood lead exposure and subsequent negative developmental outcomes. Since 1993, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Lead Hazard Control (LHC) Grant Program has devoted more than $1 billion in funding to several cities.

This study investigated a total of n=75 homes enrolled into the Henderson Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Program (HLHCHHP) from December 2013 – February 2015. A logistic regression was performed to ascertain the frequency of lead-based paint (LBP) found in homes based on the year it was constructed. Of the 75 enrolled and tested for LBP, 58 homes (77.3%) were found to contain LBP and 17 homes (22.7%) did not contain LBP. The significance value of p=0.013 shows that …

Trace Element Variations In A Stalagmite From Southwest Mexico: Implications For Paleoclimate, Chad Michael Crotty

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The combination of stable isotope and trace element concentrations in speleothems has been shown to be a valuable indicator for interpreting paleoclimatic conditions. Anomalous spikes in trace element concentrations have also been shown to indicate anthropogenic environmental changes to the surface, such as deforestation events. In this study, trace element concentrations (24Mg, 25Mg, 84Sr, 88Sr, 137Ba, and 238U) of a stalagmite (JX-6) from Juxtlahuaca Cave, in southwestern Mexico, were measured using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). These trace element concentrations were compared to previously analyzed δ18O and δ13C values from JX-6, and to the results of previous studies …

Studies Of Flerovium And Element 115 Homologs With Macrocyclic Extractants, John Dustin Despotopulos

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Study of the chemistry of the heaviest elements, Z ≥ 104, poses a unique challenge due to their low production cross-sections and short half-lives. Chemistry also must be studied on the one-atom-at-a-time scale, requiring automated, fast, and very efficient chemical schemes. Recent studies of the chemical behavior of copernicium (Cn, element 112) and flerovium (Fl, element 114) together with the discovery of isotopes of these elements with half-lives suitable for chemical studies have spurred a renewed interest in the development of rapid systems designed to study the chemical properties of elements with Z ≥ 114. This dissertation explores both extraction …

Situational Assessment Using Graph Comparison, Pavan Kumar Pallapunidi

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In strategic operations, the assessment of any given situation is very important and may trigger the development of a mission plan. The mission plan consists of various actions that should be executed in order to successfully mitigate the situation. For a new mission plan to be designed or implemented, the effect of the previous mission plan should be accessed. These mission plans use various sensors to collect the data which can be very large and aggregate them to obtain detailed information of the situation. In order to implement an effective mission plan the current situation has to be assessed effectively. …

Exact Statistical Inferences For Functions Of Parameters Of The Log-Gamma Distribution, Joseph F. Mcdonald

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The log-gamma model has been used extensively for flood frequency analysis and is an important distribution in reliability, medical and other areas of lifetime testing. Conventional methods fails to provide exact solutions for the log-gamma model while asymptotic methods provide approximate solutions that often have poor performance for typical sample sizes. The two parameter log-gamma distribution is examined using the generalized p-value approach. The methods are exact in the sense that the tests and the confidence intervals are based on exact probability statements rather than on asymptotic approximations. Exact tests and exact confidence intervals for the parameter of interest based …