Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Discipline
Keyword
Publication Year
Publication
Publication Type
File Type

Articles 15991 - 16020 of 17691

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

Assisted Reproduction: Deciding What's Best For The Child, The Family, And Our Society, Gayle R Fisher Jan 1999

Assisted Reproduction: Deciding What's Best For The Child, The Family, And Our Society, Gayle R Fisher

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The use of high-tech reproductive technologies to have children is widely practiced today in the United States. While state statutes regulate this industry to some extent, this field is largely self-governed, and disputes between individuals are usually resolved through the courts; In my thesis, I examine the inadequacy of public policy formation in the three more controversial areas of assisted reproduction: artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, and surrogate motherhood. Policy-making is mostly done indirectly and haphazardly through the courts and some state and federal legislation. There has been no organized national dialogue; I recommend that moral consensus be sought on …

Go to article

Prescription Drug Advertisements As Fantasies: A Cultural Critique Using A Visualization Model, Julie Dianne Fisher Jan 1999

Prescription Drug Advertisements As Fantasies: A Cultural Critique Using A Visualization Model, Julie Dianne Fisher

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Foss' (1994) rhetorical schema for the evaluation of visual images in conjunction with elements of Bormann's (1982) theories on fantasy theme analysis provides a framework for the creation of the included Visualization model which enables the examination of prevalent advertising images. The transformation of the dissemination of information from a verbal to a visual focus necessitates studies that explore the social messages invading the collective unconscious. The implicit messages and related fantasy themes in the visual dimension influence perceptions and individual visions of what is real. Imagery tells us much of what we know about the world. Consequently, the profusion …

Go to article

Living Expressions And Their Effects On Primary Recipients, Dana Lynn Galbavy Jan 1999

Living Expressions And Their Effects On Primary Recipients, Dana Lynn Galbavy

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

"Living Expressions" are formal events where appreciative feelings are disclosed to a living recipient by friends and/or relatives. Effects of events on the self-esteem of recipients and recipient's relationships with disclosers were studied. Self-esteem and self-disclosure are components of personal and relational health. Living Expressions were expected to enhance self-esteem and personal relationships through self-disclosure. Living Expressions have semblance to ideas contained in eulogies, Gestalt and other therapies and group theories. Self-enhancement and self-consistency theory conflicts were considered. Social penetration theory and self-disclosure studies were reviewed. Eleven recipients were subjects in this multi-case, qualitative study. The combined self-enhancement/self-consistency theory and …

Go to article

Employee Motivation, Satisfaction And Productivity: A Study Of The Workplace, Yvonne Michelle Guthrie Jan 1999

Employee Motivation, Satisfaction And Productivity: A Study Of The Workplace, Yvonne Michelle Guthrie

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Quantitative and qualitative analyses of employee motivation, satisfaction, and productivity at a Las Vegas office supply company were conducted. The purpose of the analyses was to determine if there were differences in perception of motivational variables and "hygiene factors" between employees and management. Also, the analyses were conducted to assess if there were differences in perception of the same motivational variables and "hygiene factors" between male and female employees. Motivation and management theories were used as historical reference and potential approaches for improving motivational levels of employees. The results of the study indicate that there were differences in perception regarding …

Go to article

The Stages Of Development In The Portrayal Of African-Americans In Television Comedy, Rashawnda Deve Horn Jan 1999

The Stages Of Development In The Portrayal Of African-Americans In Television Comedy, Rashawnda Deve Horn

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This thesis involves a historical and critical examination of the utilization and development of African Americans in television sitcoms. By reexamining the initial research by Riggs (1991) and extending it, I will introduce a new stage focusing on contemporary sitcoms; According to Riggs' (1991), study on the utilization and development of African Americans in television can be divided into four stages that represent various periods in television history. Each stage is indicated by the transition in role, increase or decline in visibility, and the changes in their image or portrayal on television. By furthering Riggs study by examining contemporary sitcoms …

Go to article

United States Probation/Pretrial Officers' Concerns About Victimization And Officer Safety Training, Kevin D Lowry Jan 1999

United States Probation/Pretrial Officers' Concerns About Victimization And Officer Safety Training, Kevin D Lowry

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

In June of 1991, the Monograph 109 supervision manual changed the role of the U.S. Probation/Pretrial Officer from predominately that of a social worker to an enforcement agent. Officers now perform enforcement activities and supervise a more dangerous clientele. This shift in responsibilities did not result in increased safety training. Safety issues have become a major concern for many officers; The current research involved a national survey of U.S. Probation/Pretrial Officers to measure levels of victimization, concerns for personal safety and satisfaction for safety training. The results indicate that few officers were victims of physical assaults but a majority reported …

Go to article

Perceived Readability, Understandability, And Hazardousness Of Prescription Drug Warning Labels As A Function Of Icon, Font Size, And Color, Melissa Marie Mccafferty Jan 1999

Perceived Readability, Understandability, And Hazardousness Of Prescription Drug Warning Labels As A Function Of Icon, Font Size, And Color, Melissa Marie Mccafferty

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Current standards on warning design recommend including icons on various product labels to increase saliency and reinforce meaning. In order to examine if icons are understandable and salient, Experiment 1 consisted of a sample of 489 undergraduate students rating 43 pharmaceutical pictorials with regards to understandability, carefulness, likelihood of injury, severity of injury, and saliency. The icons "Shake well," "Poison," .. "should be taken with plenty of water," "for headaches," "do not drink alcoholic beverages," and "for the ear" met the ISO 67% comprehension criteria. In a subsequent study, a sample of 51 undergraduates rated 24 pharmaceutical labels varying in …

Go to article

Rethinking The Aceramic Neolithic: Insights From An Ethnoarchaeological Study On Cyprus, Sherry Lynn Marks Jan 1999

Rethinking The Aceramic Neolithic: Insights From An Ethnoarchaeological Study On Cyprus, Sherry Lynn Marks

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The so-called bizarre Aceramic Neolithic Period on the Mediterranean island of Cypros is reconsidered in light of an ethnoarchaeological study conducted in conjunction with the Kholetria-Ortos Project. The ethnoarchaeological study was designed to discover the organizational aspects of agropastoral strategies on the modern landscape and its relevance, if any, to the study of agropastoralism during the Aceramic Neolithic Period. As a result, a number of strategies considered "irrational" by agricultural policy analysts were identified, posing an analogical conceptual dilemma of contemporary phenomena. The presentation and discussion of the ethnoarchaeological results from the perspective of economic uncertainty, however, demonstrates that these …

Go to article

The Effects Of Catastrophizing And Labeling On Pain Tolerance, Sensation, And Affect, Otto Pedraza Jan 1999

The Effects Of Catastrophizing And Labeling On Pain Tolerance, Sensation, And Affect, Otto Pedraza

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The present study examined the effects of labeling on pain tolerance, sensation, and affect for individuals who are high or low pain catastrophizers, as measured through the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). Pasticipants completed the PCS and were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 labeling conditions: A maximizing, a minimizing, and a neutral label condition. All participants then took part in a cold-pressor test. The cold-pressor measure of pain tolerance, as well as visual analog scales of sensory and affective ratings of pain, provided the dependent measures. Participants also completed the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI) and the Somatic Amplification Questionnaire (SAQ). …

Go to article

"Pygmalion" Vs "My Fair Lady": A Comparison Of The Vision Of Two Authors And What Each Play Says To Women, Jessica Lynn Raymer Jan 1999

"Pygmalion" Vs "My Fair Lady": A Comparison Of The Vision Of Two Authors And What Each Play Says To Women, Jessica Lynn Raymer

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This thesis examines the vision of George Bernard Shaw on his masterpiece Pygmalion, and compares it to that of Alan J. Lerner and composer Frederick Loewe on their adaptation of Pygmalion into a history making musical called My Fair Lady. Through this examination it is discovered what Shaw considered a romance and how his ideas could and couldn't be translated into the conventions of nineteen fifties musical theatre. This thesis follows each play from its inception through its arrival to legendary status. The last chapter is devoted to a discussion on which play, if any, makes a stronger statement in …

Go to article

Examining Specialized Drug Courts: An Evaluation Of The Las Vegas Drug Court Treatment Program, Erin Nicole Reese Jan 1999

Examining Specialized Drug Courts: An Evaluation Of The Las Vegas Drug Court Treatment Program, Erin Nicole Reese

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Developed in response to overcrowded jails and backlogged court dockets, drug courts use comprehensive treatment and graduated sanctions to deal with drug offenders. This study evaluates the Las Vegas Drug Court in terms of its effectiveness in reducing recidivism by comparing data for drug court cases with drug cases not processed in the drug court. The results indicate that recidivism rates for drug court participants are significantly higher than for non-drug court participants. These findings suggest that further research should be conducted about the impact and utility of drug courts.

Go to article

Claiming Identity: The Effect Of The American Myth On Human Relationships In David Mamet's "American Buffalo", "Glengarry Glenn Ross", And "Speed-The-Plow", Lyn Sattazahn Jan 1999

Claiming Identity: The Effect Of The American Myth On Human Relationships In David Mamet's "American Buffalo", "Glengarry Glenn Ross", And "Speed-The-Plow", Lyn Sattazahn

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

David Mamet's American Buffalo, Glengarry Glen Ross, and Speed-the-Plow explore the damage American business has done to the human spirit. The frontier myth has evolved into exploitative capitalism where competition becomes an obstacle for community and friendship. The characters in these plays try to establish and define their identities by their particular status within the business hierarchy. Unfortunately the nature of competition creates an environment in which the characters use each other's needs and vulnerabilities for their own gain. To openly express the need for love and community in this climate is to expose weakness. Fear of revealing such vulnerability …

Go to article

Ecofeminism As Invitational Rhetoric: Envisioning The Shift In Western Consciousness, Julie Ann Schutten Jan 1999

Ecofeminism As Invitational Rhetoric: Envisioning The Shift In Western Consciousness, Julie Ann Schutten

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Ecofeminists believe the Western patriarchal worldview perpetuates a power-over ideology that contributes to the destruction of the environment. Ecofeminists advocate that understanding the web of life is crucial for attaining a paradigm shift to a mindset that respects all entities. This study examines how ecofeminist discourse offers individuals a new paradigm grounded within feminine systems of meaning--no hierarchical ordering. The theory of invitational rhetoric supports feminist systems of thought, maintaining every entity has immanent value. This study reviews themes represented by the re-emergence of the Goddess as a gateway towards ecofeminist thinKing Additionally, two pieces of ecofeminist discourse are critiqued …

Go to article

Voice And Body Incorporated Into Actor Training, Rochele Ann Tillman Jan 1999

Voice And Body Incorporated Into Actor Training, Rochele Ann Tillman

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This thesis is an examination of both the vocal and physical aspects of training involved in the education of actors; Beginning with a comparison of techniques and principals applied in the styles of vocal specialists: Edith Skinner, Cicely Barry, and Kristin Linklater. I then explore various forms of "body use" technique's used in an acting student's learning process, such as: Alexander Technique, Laban, Neutral Mask work, T'ai Chi, and Modern Dance. Finally, this text unifies the vocal and physical training, incorporating it into a single class. By this, it is hoped to inform the student how he/she may achieve an …

Go to article

Crack As A Moral Panic: The Racial Implications Inherent To Crack And Powder Cocaine Sentencing, Deena R Trueblood Jan 1999

Crack As A Moral Panic: The Racial Implications Inherent To Crack And Powder Cocaine Sentencing, Deena R Trueblood

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This thesis explores the nature and extent of the print media's coverage of crack cocaine to determine whether a moral panic ensued during the late 1980's. A content analysis was conducted on the Los Angeles Times from 1985 to 1990, examining both the nature and extent of the Los Angeles Times' coverage of crack cocaine as well as the relationship between this drug and its association with Blacks. The findings of the content analysis provided support for the hypothesis that a moral panic did in fact take place in the late 1980s with respect to crack cocaine. Further, that this …

Go to article

Chinese Children's Evaluation Of Authority's Responses To Social Events, Pui San Tse Jan 1999

Chinese Children's Evaluation Of Authority's Responses To Social Events, Pui San Tse

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Chinese children's conceptualization of moral, conventional and personal events and their judgments of authority were examined by assessing their evaluation of authority's responses to these acts. Seventy-two Macau children from second, fifth and eighth grades made judgments of permissibility of acts, personal jurisdiction, and obedience to rules regarding these events and then rated moral, conventional and filial duty reasons provided by parents in response to these events. Findings were that children made distinctions among these events. They also rated moral reasons as the best response to moral transgressions. Children rated both moral reasons and conventional reasons more positively than duty …

Go to article

Technique And Impulse: A Practical Approach, Thomas Carl Turner Jan 1999

Technique And Impulse: A Practical Approach, Thomas Carl Turner

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Acting technique and impulse must be blended to give a complete performance. In this thesis, I will explore the relationship between acting technique and impulse in vocal work, stage combat, script exploration, and truth. Ultimately, I hope to prove the necessity of both in all of the above areas. Lastly, I will describe a series of exercises that, I believe, can lead to the blending of technique and impulse.

Go to article

Matrilineaology: Mother-Daughter Relationships In Contemporary Fiction, Terra Ann Williams Jan 1999

Matrilineaology: Mother-Daughter Relationships In Contemporary Fiction, Terra Ann Williams

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This thesis examines Dorothy Allison's Bastard out of Carolina, Louise Erdrich's The Beet Queen, Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things, and Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club to attempt to answer questions such as, "How do a mother's experiences prior to the birth of her daughter affect the way that she raises that daughter?" and "How does a mother's history affect her attitude(s) toward her daughter?" These questions are important because they lay the groundwork for the ultimate question that this thesis attempts to answer: "Will history repeat itself?" In addition to tracing history, this thesis will identify Nan …

Go to article

Concealed Carry Weapon Permits And Their Relationship To Crime In Las Vegas, Gary Wayne Yuen Jan 1999

Concealed Carry Weapon Permits And Their Relationship To Crime In Las Vegas, Gary Wayne Yuen

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Permits allowing qualified citizens to legally carry a concealed weapon ("CCWs") in public have become increasingly popular. Nevada adopted more lenient CCW standards in October of 1995, and an unprecedented number of legally armed citizens in the public has resulted. Supporters of CCWs claim the right to self-defense with less crime resulting. Critics claim more armed citizens will only produce more violence and crime; To answer this debate, the following was conducted; (1) a literature review of private firearm ownership, including CCWs, and crime, (2) an analysis based on Las Vegas' Uniform Crime Reports rates before and after adopting these …

Go to article

Effect Of Atmospheric Variations On Subsurface Flow And Transport, Laila Badran Jan 1999

Effect Of Atmospheric Variations On Subsurface Flow And Transport, Laila Badran

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This thesis investigates the effect of atmospheric variations on subsurface flow and transport at the proposed high level waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. The conditions of subsurface transport were simulated with NUFT (Nonisothermal Unsaturated-Saturated Flow and Transport model) modeling software developed by the Lawrence Livermore National Labs (Nitao, 1995). Rock properties and surface ambient conditions specific to the mountain, including diurnal and seasonal changes in temperature, pressure and humidity were incorporated into the NUFT model. The effects of changing atmospheric conditions on the liquid and vapor phase components and fluxes were examined as well. Time swing analysis of weather …

Go to article

The Effect Of Exposure, Involvement And Sponsorship Types On Spectator Recognition And Attitude, Tanya Michelle Benson Jan 1999

The Effect Of Exposure, Involvement And Sponsorship Types On Spectator Recognition And Attitude, Tanya Michelle Benson

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to examine the effects of sport sponsorships on consumer recognition and attitudes toward the sponsor. This study explored the differences in recognition and attitude among four types of tournament sponsorships (exposition, multi-level, sky box and dummy sponsors). In addition, this study looked at the effects of exposure, involvement and aesthetic qualities on sponsorship recognition. Surveys were administered to spectators at the 1997 Las Vegas Invitational Golf Tournament. Results from this study revealed a significant difference in recognition and attitude among the four different types of sponsorships at the tournament. These differences were attributed to …

Go to article

Modeling The Rates Of Lead And Strontium Uptake By Zeolitized Tuff From Rainier Mesa, Nevada Test Site, Nevada, Patricia Ann Bernot Jan 1999

Modeling The Rates Of Lead And Strontium Uptake By Zeolitized Tuff From Rainier Mesa, Nevada Test Site, Nevada, Patricia Ann Bernot

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The fate and transport of contaminants released during nuclear testing at the NTS are partly controlled by interactions of their aqueous species with mineral surfaces. It has been shown that retardation of contaminants in the subsurface may be controlled by intraparticle mass transfer rather than equilibrium partitioning. For this reason, the rate of lead (Pb) and Strontium (Sr) uptake by zeolitized tuff from Rainier Mesa, NTS, was studied as a function of pH, ionic strength, and metal concentration; To test the hypothesis that sorption of Pb occurs through surface precipitation and Sr sorbs through diffusion, the data were modeled by …

Go to article

Hydrogeology Of The Penoyer Valley Region, Central Nevada, Douglas Bruce Blatchford Jan 1999

Hydrogeology Of The Penoyer Valley Region, Central Nevada, Douglas Bruce Blatchford

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Groundwater in the vicinity of Penoyer Valley in central Nevada is part of the White River Flow system that drains from Jakes Valley in the north to Muddy River Springs in the south, a distance of 320 km (200mi). A four-basin subregion was modeled that indicates Penoyer, Garden, Coal, and Tikaboo Valleys are hydraulically connected. This connection is facilitated by carbonate rock formations found in the Worthington Mountains and the Timpahute Range, located on the eastern and southern perimeter of Penoyer Valley. Although Penoyer Valley and Garden Valley are hydraulically connected, it is likely that groundwater does not flow across …

Go to article

A Study To Determine The Minimum Autocad Command Set For Computer-Aided Drafting In The Las Vegas Area, David John Brodersen Jan 1999

A Study To Determine The Minimum Autocad Command Set For Computer-Aided Drafting In The Las Vegas Area, David John Brodersen

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the computer aided drafting (CAD) commands most frequently used in the industrial application of the thirteenth release of the software product AutoCAD, vended by AutoDESK. Respondents were located within the Las Vegas drafting community and nearby areas. The outcome of this study was used to identify commands needed to operate the software at a desired level of competency and to identify any relationship between the release thirteen commands used by the respondents and commands available in the previous release of the software; A questionnaire was delivered to 90 businesses engaged in drafting …

Go to article

Study Of Business Failure In The Hospitality Industry From Both Microeconomic And Macroeconomic Perspectives, Luyuan Gao Jan 1999

Study Of Business Failure In The Hospitality Industry From Both Microeconomic And Macroeconomic Perspectives, Luyuan Gao

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Business failures in the hospitality industry were examined in this study from both microeconomic and macroeconomic perspectives. In the micro-level study, this paper developed a discriminant model for predicting bankruptcy of hospitality firms (lodging and restaurant firms). This model achieved a 92-percent accuracy in classifying the in-sample firms into bankrupt and non-bankrupt groups one year prior to bankruptcy, and a 83-percent accuracy two years prior to bankruptcy. This model also correctly predicted an out-of-sample bankruptcy from one to four years in advance. Additionally, in order to eliminate the industry effect, the study estimated a bankruptcy prediction model for the restaurant …

Go to article

Avian Habitat Relationships In The Mojave Desert, Matthew Eugene Hamilton Jan 1999

Avian Habitat Relationships In The Mojave Desert, Matthew Eugene Hamilton

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The relationship between bird community composition and plant community composition and structure was studied over three years (1994-1996) in a variety of Mojave Desert habitat types. This study addressed two fundamental questions: what plant community characteristics are statistically related to bird species diversity and the density of individual bird species, and what is the affect of neighboring habitat on bird species composition? Three habitat types were surveyed, Larrea scrub, Larrea scrub with Yucca and Opuntia, and Coleogyne scrub with Yucca. Bird species richness varied from 1 to 10 species, with the Coleogyne sites having the most species and the Larrea …

Go to article

Penware Panther: An Embedded Computer System For Real-Time Applications, Chenyong Huang Jan 1999

Penware Panther: An Embedded Computer System For Real-Time Applications, Chenyong Huang

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Embedded computer systems target on different tasks and serve in various environments. This thesis relates to the design of Panther, an embedded computer system for real-time applications. Panther, a product of Mobinetix System Company, is a transaction and signature capture terminal which is aimed at a paperless environment. This product possesses a variety of functions from electronically capturing signature for receipts, contracts or identification, to touch-screen communication for PIN entry, advertising and customer survey. The emphasis of the thesis is on design of the firmware module of Panther. Instead of using the traditional flow chart and state machine approaches, an …

Go to article

An Examination Of Two-Year And Four-Year Continuing Education Curriculum In Post-Secondary Hospitality Management Programs, Clark Smith Kincaid Jan 1999

An Examination Of Two-Year And Four-Year Continuing Education Curriculum In Post-Secondary Hospitality Management Programs, Clark Smith Kincaid

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine continuing education in foodservice management and higher education focuses on how academic programs view continuing education. Four specific areas were focused upon in this study (1) operational issues in continuing education, (2) program design of continuing education, (3) academic practices related to continuing education, and (4) subject areas of foodservice which could be a part of a continuing education program; When possible, importance and performance scores were calculated, allowing for a robust analysis. The analysis includes general descriptive statistics such as frequencies and means and appropriate inferential statistics.

Go to article

Fast Algorithms For Wavelet-Based Analysis Of Hyperspectral Signatures, Jiang Li Jan 1999

Fast Algorithms For Wavelet-Based Analysis Of Hyperspectral Signatures, Jiang Li

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Hyperspectral sensors promise great improvements in the quality of information gathered for remote sensing applications. However, they also present a huge challenge to data storage and computing systems. Thus there is a great need for reliable compression schemes, as well as analysis tools that can exploit the hyperspectral data in a computationally efficient manner. It has been proposed that wavelet-based methods may be superior to currently used methods for the analysis of hyperspectral signatures. In this thesis, a wavelet-based method, as well as traditional analytical methods, was implemented and applied to hyperspectral images. The computational expense of the various methods …

Go to article

Towards The Cloning Of The Human Heat Shock Protein Twenty-Seven Multigene Family, Ann A Ohiaeri Jan 1999

Towards The Cloning Of The Human Heat Shock Protein Twenty-Seven Multigene Family, Ann A Ohiaeri

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

We attempted to clone closely-related members of the human heat shock protein 27 (hsp 27) multigene family. Genomic DNA was obtained from human A549 lung cancer cells. Colony hybridization and the Polymerase chain reaction identified the hsp 27 genes. Positive clones were subcloned into pGEM-3Z. The DNA sequence information for three of the clones was determined, and analyzed using DNAsis and Blast Algorithms. DNA Alignments of the inserts contained in three positive clones showed a homology of 29-51% to the human hsp 27 gene. Our data suggests that these inserts are distant members of the human hsp 27 multigene family. …

Go to article

First Prev Next Last