Digital Commons Network^™

Top Tier 2.0: Community Partnership, University Of Nevada, Las Vegas

Focus on Top Tier 2.0

Community Partnerships have a positive long-term impact on our local communities. UNLV leverages resources for the public good to advance the university and the communities it serves. The value of the university is demonstrated through collaboration and engagement with the community to provide expertise, service, and support.

Mirizzi Syndrome: The Trojan Horse Of Gallbladder Disease, Mary Froehlich, Elizabeth M. Sodomin, Taylor Fontenot, Noama Iftekhar, Christian N. Chan

Department of Surgery Faculty Research

Background: The incidence of Mirizzi Syndrome ranges from 0.05 to 5.7 % of patients who undergo cholecystectomy. The purpose of this study is to examine the preoperative workup and postoperative outcomes for patients diagnosed with Mirizzi Syndrome. Methods: Retrospective chart review was conducted between January 2018 and January 2022 at a single institution. All adult patients who underwent cholecystectomy were included. Results: 1628 patients underwent cholecystectomy of which 47 were diagnosed with Mirizzi Syndrome. The majority of patients had type 1 Mirizzi Syndrome. Preoperative studies were often nondiagnostic and 81 % of cases were diagnosed intraoperatively. 66 % of cases …

Post Covid-19 Recovery In Mountain West Metros, Zachary Walusek, Vanessa Booth, Annie Vong, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Economic Development & Workforce

This fact sheet examines data on the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and recession on Mountain West metros. The original report includes data on economic activity, labor market, and real estate trends.

A Brief Early History Of The Unlv Department Of Geoscience, Matthew S. Lachniet

Geoscience Faculty Research

This project represents four years of part-time research and investigation. It started as something simple, a need for a spreadsheet for me, as a new Department Chair in January of 2020, to assemble the tenure and promotion timelines of existing faculty based on their employment starting dates. It then expanded to document every Geoscience faculty member, which revealed so many interesting stories along the way. Once it began it was hard to stop, with the research taking on a mind of its own as it meandered down the historical archive of the Department. And why stop with people? Buildings? Fair …

Patient–Provider Communication Quality: Socioeconomic Disparities In Smoking Outcomes, Soumya Upadhyay, Jalen Jones

Healthcare Administration and Policy Faculty Research

Introduction:
/="/">Patient–provider communication quality is instrumental for healthy outcomes in patients. The objective of this study is to examine the relationships between patient–provider communication quality and participant characteristics, perception of e-cigarette harmfulness, and smoking outcomes.
/="/">
/="/">Methods:
/="/">A pooled cross-sectional design was used on secondary data obtained from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 5 from Cycle 1 through Cycle 4, from 2017–2022. Our final sample contained 3511 observations. Our outcome variable was the perception of electronic cigarette smoking status. The independent variable was patient–provider communication quality (PPCQ), measured from a series of questions with responses …

Isn’T There A Better Way To Nominate Presidential Candidates?, Elaine Kamarck

Brookings Scholar Lecture Series

This lecture examines why every four years the major political parties undertake a drawn-out, confusing series of primaries, caucuses, and conventions to determine their presidential nominees. Over the years, a number of rational and more orderly ways to select presidential nominees have been proposed but none of these ideas have been adopted. Brookings Institution scholar Elaine Kamarck, who has written extensively on the topic and served as a presidential and presidential campaign advisor, addresses these topics and more.

"They Are Usually Borderline Homeless": Exploring The Nexus Of Homelessness, Housing Instability, Successful Reentry, And Long-Term Reintegration, Emily Troshynski, Carolyn Willis

Criminal Justice Faculty Research

For previously incarcerated persons, affordable and safe housing options are scarce. Barriers to securing housing include federal mandates (i.e., eligibility requirements) as well as local rules and regulations (i.e., zoning and ordinances). When housing is available, disclosing criminal history on applications impacts individuals’ chances to rent (Philips & Spencer, 2013). A lack of a consistent rental history, no personal and/or employment references, and securing capital to cover security deposits are added challenges. Since parole rules direct ex-convicts not to associate with others that have a criminal record, living with partners, friends, and family members may not be an option. Research …

Clean Investment Monitor: Q4 2022 — Q3 2023, Madison Dwyer, Zachary Billot, Annie Vong, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Environment

This fact sheet presents investment trends in clean manufacturing, energy and industry, and retail in the Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. This fact sheet examines data from the Q3 2023 update of the Clean Investment Monitor (CIM), a joint project of Rhodium Group and the MIT Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research.

Developing A Remote Gamma-Ray Spectra Collection System (Rgscs) By Coupling A High Purity Germanium (Hpge) Detector With A Cosmicguard Background Reduction Device, Zaijing Sun, Krishnakumar Divakar Nangeelil, Haven Searcy

Health Physics and Diagnostic Sciences Faculty Research

Despite being widely used for high-resolution spectral analysis and quantifying low activity in natural samples, the operations and data analysis of High Purity Germanium (HPGe) gamma-ray detectors are seldom fully automated due to the excessive costs associated with commercially available automatic sample changing systems. This paper introduces the design and implementation of a cost-effective, customized remote gamma-ray spectra collection system centered around the HPGe detector coupled to a cosmic-ray veto background reduction device. The HPGe detector system, equipped with a Lynx DSA, is seamlessly integrated with an economically viable automatic sample changer. This sample vial changer is controlled by a …

Comparing Ait And Eft In The Reduction Of Negative Emotions Associated With A Past Memory: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Gregory Brown, Kavita Batra, Raveena Bakhru, Andrew Han, Arianna Palermini, Robert Sottile, Sherine Khanbijian

Psychiatry & Behavioral Health Faculty Research

The field of Energy Psychology [EP] has amassed several hundred published research studies over its thirty year history which includes systematic reviews and meta-analyses. These have consistently demonstrated significant effect sizes equivalent to EMDR and trauma based CBT (Church et al., 2022, and Feinstein, 2021). Energy Psychology Techniques typically include an energetic component, an emotional component, a somatic component, focus upon a specific memory, and secondary cognitive shifts. Memory Reconsolidation may be primary for effect. Emotional Freedom Technique [EFT] is the most studied EP technique to date, and considered an evidenced based treatment for a number of conditions. Advanced Integrative …

Research Space At Public R1 Universities In The Mountain West, 2021, Zachary Billot, Jesse Fager-Larsen, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Higher Education

This fact sheet reports data on research space square footage for public R1 universities in five Mountain West States: Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. This fact sheet includes national rankings of public R1 universities in the Mountain West states based on total square footage and reports square footage for individual research disciplines for the two public R1 universities in Nevada: the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR).

Association Between Breastfeeding Cessation Among Under Six-Month-Old Infants And Postpartum Depressive Symptoms In Nevada, Smriti Neupane, Clarlana Vitoria Ramos De Oliveira, Claudia Nery Telxeira Palombo, Gabriela Buccini

Social and Behavioral Health Faculty Research

Background: Postpartum depression affects 13% of women after childbirth in the United States. Mothers who experience depression are less likely to breastfeed than those who do not experience depression. On the other hand, breastfeeding may have a positive effect on maternal mental health. Research aim: We aimed to analyze whether breastfeeding cessation is associated with postpartum depression symptoms among mothers of infants under six months old in Clark County, Nevada. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021 using a purposive sample of 305 mother-infant dyads. Postpartum depression symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2), and the breastfeeding …

Kinematic Characteristics Of Novices’ Sprint Techniques At Maximum Velocity Phase, Saburo Nishimura, Yoshinori Kinomura

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 5: Issue 1, Article 2, 2024. Sprint performance is a crucial aspect of achieving high performance across a range of sports. However, previous studies analyzing the sprint technique of novices have yielded disparate findings regarding effective sprint techniques. For instance, Saito and Ito (1995) found no significant difference in the maximum thigh angle of the free leg between boys aged 7 to 12 and sprinters. Conversely, Katoh et al. (2001) reported that elementary school sprinters indicated a larger maximum thigh angle of the free leg than novice elementary children. Inconsistency like this makes …

The Use Of Fecal Microbiota Transplant In Overcoming And Modulating Resistance To Anti-Pd-1 Therapy In Patients With Skin Cancer, Tahne Vongsavath, Rodd Rohmani, Kyaw Min Tun, Vignan Manne

Department of Internal Medicine Faculty Research

While immune checkpoint inhibitors have evolved into the standard of care for advanced melanoma, 40–50% of melanoma cases progress while on therapies. The relationship between bacterium and carcinogenesis is well founded, such as in H. pylori in gastric cancers, and Fusobacterium in colorectal cancers. This interplay between dysbiosis and carcinogenesis questions whether changes in the microbiome could affect treatment. Thus, FMT may find utility in modifying the efficacy of anti-PD-1. This review aims to examine the use of FMT in treatment-resistant melanoma. A literature search was performed using the keywords “fecal microbiota transplant” and “skin cancer”. Studies were reviewed for …

“There’S So Much History”: Shared Parenting Dynamics In Kinship Families, Amanda Klein-Cox, Angela Tobin, Ramona Denby

Social Work Faculty Research

Shared parenting, when adults collaborate in childrearing, is a practice of interest for children in out-of-home care. Yet, little is known about its feasibility and outcomes for kinship families who have preexisting relationships with birth parents. This article shares qualitative results from focus groups that explored participants’ experiences and attitudes toward shared parenting. The sample comprised 25 kinship caregivers and 34 child welfare professionals. Findings revealed that shared parenting within kinship families is often less feasible than desired. This article identifies barriers and facilitators of shared parenting, offers a shared parenting typology, and explores implications for policy and practice.

Development Of An Anisotropic Hyperelastic Material Model For Porcine Colorectal Tissues, Youssef Fahmy, Mohamed B. Trabia, Brian Ward, Lucas Gallup, Mary Froehlich

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research

Many colonic surgeries include colorectal anastomoses whose leaks may be life-threatening, affecting thousands of patients annually. Various studies propose that mechanical interaction between the staples and neighboring tissues may play an important role in anastomotic leakage. Therefore, understanding the mechanical behavior of colorectal tissue is essential to characterizing the reasons for this type of failure. So far, experimental data characterizing the mechanical properties of colorectal tissue have been few and inconsistent, which has significantly limited understanding their behavior. This research proposes an approach to developing an anisotropic hyperelastic material model for colorectal tissues based on uniaxial testing of freshly harvested …

Association Between Depressive Symptoms And Dynamic Balance Among Young Adults In The Community, Jinyoung Park, Cynthia Lee, Ye Eun Nam, Hyunhwa Lee

Nursing Faculty Research

Background: Detecting and addressing depression symptoms at their outset can reduce the burden on individuals and society; however, it has a limitation in that such evaluations mainly rely on self-reports. Several studies have demonstrated a strong association between motor symptoms and early depression. We aimed to associate body balance measured by the Lower Quarter Y Balance Test (YBT-LQ) with depressive symptoms among young adults in the community, to confirm the current evidence that depression negatively influences body balance. Research question: Is the YBT-LQ an objective tool for measuring and evaluating young adults’ depression risks, as well as assessing whether depression …

Fluid Flow, Mineralization And Deformation In An Oceanic Detachment Fault: Microtextural, Geochemical And Isotopic Evidence From Pyrite At 13°30′N On The Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Andrew J. Martin, John W. Jamieson, Sven Petersen, Mostafa Fayek, Javier Escartin

Geoscience Faculty Research

Hydrothermal fluids in ultramafic-hosted hydrothermal systems associated with oceanic detachment faults can be more oxidizing compared to mafic-hosted vent sites. These fluids form a mineral assemblage of pyrite, magnetite and hematite. At 13°30′N on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, chlorite-quartz breccias recovered from an exposed fault scarp contain pyrite, with abundant magnetite and hematite, indicating that the redox of the fluids was variable. In primary micron-scale zonations in pyrite, Ni, Co, and Se have a decoupled relationship, recording fluctuations in the chemical composition and temperature of hydrothermal fluid as the grains grew. Secondary zonations that erase and overprint primary zonations are limited …

Ai-Enhanced Education In Nevada And Its Transformative Impact On Workforce Development, Employment Prospects, And Tomorrow’S Job Market Proficiencies, Tiffiany Howard, Jingyao Xiang, Otoniel Ramos, Maya Price

Political Science Faculty Research

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Nevada's education system holds transformative potential for workforce development, economic growth, and job market readiness. This report examines the state's current educational and workforce infrastructure to assess Nevada’s preparedness for an AI-driven economy, and identifies areas where policy interventions could enhance AI and computer science literacy among students.

Nevada is making strides in incorporating AI and STEM education at various levels. The state has established foundational computer science standards in K-12 schools, with a notable achievement of nearly 96% of high schools offering at least one comprehensive computer science course, positioning Nevada as …

Maintenance As A Core Value Recommendations For Increasing Gender Equity On Digital Scholarship Teams, Amanda Koziura, Stephanie Becker

Library Faculty Research

As two female librarians who have worked in digital scholarship at research institutions, we have observed how patriarchal gender norms can influence the way teams operate and the toxic impact they have on librarians. In this chapter, we will identify points of impact and suggest a feminist approach, which relies on maintenance and care, to further equity in the subfield of digital scholarship within academic libraries.

The Behemoth Of The Last Ice Age: The Evolutionary Saga Of The Columbian Mammoth In North America, Nathaniel Valentine

Calvert Undergraduate Research Awards

The Columbian’s mammoth evolutionary history can be traced back to the origin of life and its evolutionary lineage can be tracked down by examining select species over geologic time. I conducted a literature review with multiple scientific journals to identify key transitional species that trace their lineage to the Columbian mammoth. Transitional species were selected from the Precambrian and the various periods of the Phanerozoic which exhibited vertebrate-like body structures and behaviors. Evidence suggests that early vertebrate-like animals were present by the Cambrian period. Mammal evolution would continue in the Mesozoic era and radiate in the Cenozoic era. The Columbian …

Variation In Las Vegas Tree Diversity Based On Socioeconomic Status, Fabrizio Ciccone

Calvert Undergraduate Research Awards

An increased level of plant biodiversity has been observed in urban communities of above average socioeconomic status. This phenomenon was previously termed the luxury effect. This study aimed to identify potential disparities in tree diversity of different communities across Las Vegas and Henderson. Communities were selected based on the zip code’s median income for 2023; this information was gathered from the Healthy Southern Nevada database. Public parks were chosen from a range of zip codes, with trees initially being identified with PictureThis, then cross-referenced with Southern Nevada Water Authority’s regional plant list for validity. Trees were counted, identified, and …

A Phenomenological Exploration Of Intracommunity Attitudinal And Experiential Barriers To The Utilization Of Psychotherapeutic Services In Bipoc Populations, Jade Turner

Calvert Undergraduate Research Awards

This study used Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to explore the role that intracommunity attitudes and beliefs and negative mental healthcare experiences play in determining treatment-seeking behavior in BIPOC communities. Through in-depth semistructured interviews, five participants shared their perspectives and experiences, providing rich and nuanced insight into the subjective landscape of mental healthcare avoidance among racial and ethnic minority populations. The analysis revealed five overarching themes (pray it away, isolated and invisible, fear, perceived importance of racial matching, and therapeutic experiences profoundly impact treatment-seeking) shedding light on the nuanced ways in which BIPOC individuals make sense of and navigate mental health within …

Musical Chills: The Impact Of Age And Musical Ability, Isabella Aceituno

Calvert Undergraduate Research Awards

Listening to music is widely regarded as a pleasant experience, but sometimes music evokes such a strong rush of emotions that it elicits physical sensations. Musical chills, also referred to as frisson or thrills, is a peak emotional response to music often distinguished by goosebumps, tingling sensations, or raised hair on the skin (del Campo & Kehle, 2016). Musical chills are typically described as pleasurable, as evidenced by subjective self-reported pleasure ratings of songs that elicit chills (Grewe et al., 2007; Grewe et al., 2011; Salimpoor et al., 2009; Sumpf et al., 2015, Mori & Iwagana, 2015, 2017; Bannister, 2020) …

The Sun Goes Down In Juárez, Rosario Martinez

Calvert Undergraduate Research Awards

The Sun Goes Down in Juárez is a historical fiction short story based on the Mexican Revolution (1910-1917). It follows the changing relationship between brothers Rudy and Jaime as they join a rebel army in their journey across Mexico to assist in one of the most pivotal battles of the revolution. As their values unalign and the trek continues, Rudy and Jaime are left wondering if they left the other back home. The story heavily focuses on duty and family, particularly pertaining to their importance in Mexican culture, and how these values influence one’s decisions and the consequences that follow. …

Frozen Moments: Navigating Memory, Grief, And The Fear Of Loss Through Captured Images, Kayla Lockwood

Graduate & Professional Student Association Research Forum

Contemporary art photography delves into human intimacy, memory, grief, and the fear of loss through meticulously captured images. These photographs challenge conventional representations by presenting emotionally charged narratives encompassing themes such as love, loss, vulnerability, and resilience. Photographer identity and the deliberate absence of certain individuals within the frame prompt reflection on the significance of relationships and the personal nature of emotional response to photographs. Drawing on insights from Roland Barthes' "Camera Lucida: Reflections on Photography" and Susan Sontag's "On Photography," contemporary art photography becomes an exercise in pathology, laying bare the emotional lives of subjects while also serving as …

Unlv Title Iii Aanapisi & Mcnair Scholars Institute Research Journal 2024, Jesica Godinez-Paredes, Kian Hassankhan, Apia Hickman, Robin Ruth Kee, Kevin Ayala Pineda, Briana Melendez, Kalli Ramos, Saturn L. Reyes, Fabian Leija, Selena Pepe, Silva Topchyan, Celeste Ainsley, Mayra Arzate, Jessica Balistreri, Zantana Ephrem, Mirella Jasso, Karl Panou, Nichole Pelaez, Miklo Alcala, Akshay Dave, Mey Mey Heng, Michael Finkle, Janessa Montenegro, Reynafe Naol Aniga, Victor Mejia, Angelica G. Diaz, Anayeli Flores-Garibay, Kari Lee Joe Goold, Samantha Hernandez, Lianelys Cabrera Martinez, Caitlin Reynolds, Kimberly N. Usbeck, Abdulrahman Alahdal, Angelica Diaz, Willaine Mae Kahano, Raquel Jackson, Cecia Ruiz-Hernandez, Kers Ung-Watson, Yessenia Henriquez, Vanessa Marie Booth, Alexia Brown, Darlyn Magana, Bianca Navarro, Nicholas Pereira, Gia Renemae Calip, Lucky Heng, Ralph Sagun, Lucas Abreu, Alexandra Maria Acosta, Tristan Benally, Cosset Hernandez Pena, Adrian Montenegro, Cierra Paaaina-Daquioag, Nicole Torosian, Tracy Fuentes, Julissa Martinez, Medina Mcallister, Michal Newhouse-Van Vlerin, Tiria Carr, Nima Abkenar, Isabella Aceituno, Yuhan Bi, Victoria Campos, Melika Cummings, Zachary J. Johnigan, Alexis Sotolongo-Marin

McNair Journal

Journal articles based on research conducted by undergraduate students in the AANAPISI, LSAMP, and McNair Scholars Program.

Table of Contents

About AANAPISI

Dr. Chris Heavey, Interim President

Dr. Keith Rogers, Vice President for Student Affairs

Ms. Zhanna Aronov, Associate Vice President for Retention & Outreach

Comparing Ait And Eft In Reduction Of Negative Emotions Associated With A Past Memory: A Randomized Control Study, Gregory Brown, Kavita Batra, Emily Dorin, Raveena Bakhru, Andrew Han, Arianna Palermini, Robert Sottile, Sherine Khanbijian, Michael Hower

Psychiatry & Behavioral Health Faculty Research

Advanced Integrative Therapy [AIT] is an Energy Psychology-based system of intervention utilized by psychotherapists since the late 1990s. Recently, a study investigated the perceptions of therapists regarding the effectiveness of AIT in reducing negative emotions related to past traumatic events. Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) are a set of well-researched Energy Psychology based interventions which have been established as an effective intervention for post-traumatic stress disorder. This study is the first to compare the effectiveness of AIT to EFT in reducing negative emotions associated with a particular memory in a sample of college and professional students, who were randomly assigned to …

The Associations Of Cardiometabolic And Dietary Variables With Clinical Periodontitis In Adults With And Without Type 2 Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study, Arpita Basu, Leigh Ann Richardson, Alicia Carlos, Neamat Hassan Abubakr, Robin L. Weltmann, Jeffrey L. Ebersole

Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences Faculty Research

Periodontitis is a commonly occurring inflammatory oral disease affecting a large proportion of global and US adults and is characterized by the destruction of the tooth-supporting apparatus. Its etiology is multifactorial, and type 2 diabetes and diet play critical roles in its remission and progression. However, few studies have addressed nutritional and serum vitamin D status in adults with periodontitis in the presence of diabetes. A cross-sectional study (n = 78), and a sub-set of age- and BMI-matched case–control studies (n = 50), were conducted to examine differences in dietary and cardiometabolic variables, and serum vitamin D in adults with …

Zagamiite, Caal2si3.5o11, The Hexagonal High-Pressure Cas Phase With Dominant Si, As A Mineral From Mars, Chi Ma, Oliver Tschauner, John R. Beckett, Eran Greenberg, Vitali B. Prakapenka

Geoscience Faculty Research

Within the Ca-Al-silicate system, dense, layered hexagonal phases occur at high temperatures and pressures between 20 and 23 GPa. They have been observed both in nature and in experiments. In this study, we describe the endmember with a dominant sixfold coordinated Si as a mineral zagamiite (IMA 2015-022a). This new mineral identified in Martian meteorites has a general formula of (Ca,Na)(Al,Fe,Mg)2(Si,Al,□)4O11, thus defining CaAl2Si3.5O11 as a previously unknown endmember of the hexagonal CAS phases. Zagamiite assumes space group P63/mmc with a unit cell of a = 5.403(2) Å, c = 12.77(3) Å, V = 322.9(11) Å3, and Z = 2. …