Digital Commons Network^™

Rationale And Proposed Design For A Mars Sample Return (Msr) Science Program, Timothy Haltigin, Ernst Hauber, Gerhard Kminek, Michael A. Meyer, Carl B. Agee, Henner Busemann, Brandi L. Carrier, Daniel P. Glavin, Lindsay E. Hays, Bernard Marty, Lisa M. Pratt, Arya Udry, Maria-Paz Zorzano, David W. Beaty, Barbara Cavalazzi, Charles S. Cockell, Vinciane Debaille, Monica M. Grady, Aurore Hutzler, Francis M. Mccubbin, Aaron B. Regberg, Alvin L. Smith, Caroline L. Smith, Roger E. Summons, Timothy D. Swindle, Kimberly T. Tait, Nicholas J. Tosca, Tomohiro Usui, Michael A. Velbel, Meenakshi Wadhwa, Frances Westall

Geoscience Faculty Research

The Mars Sample Return (MSR) Campaign represents one of the most ambitious scientific endeavors ever undertaken. Analyses of the martian samples would offer unique science benefits that cannot be attained through orbital or landed missions that rely only on remote sensing and in situ measurements, respectively. As currently designed, the MSR Campaign comprises a number of scientific, technical, and programmatic bodies and relationships, captured in a series of existing and anticipated documents. Ensuring that all required scientific activities are properly designed, managed, and executed would require significant planning and coordination. Because there are multiple scientific elements that would need to …

Women In Tech In The Mountain West Cities, 2021, Saha Salahi, Joshua Padilla, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Economic Development & Workforce

This fact sheet examines data exploring the SmartAsset, “Best Cities for Women in Tech – 2021 Edition” and presents information on the best cities for women in tech in the Mountain West. This fact sheet focuses on the eight cities in the Mountain West region that appear within the 63 U.S. cities included in the original report.

Diabetes-Related Outcomes Following Use Of Basal-Bolus Insulin Vs Premixed Insulin In A Va Population With Type 2 Diabetes: A Retrospective Chart Review., Ravisha Bai, Kavita Batra, Charmaine Yap, Kenneth Izuora

School of Medicine Faculty Presentations

No abstract provided.

A Generalized Family Of Exponentiated Composite Distributions, Bowen Liu, Malwane Ananda

Mathematical Sciences Faculty Research

In this paper, we propose a new family of distributions, by exponentiating the random variables associated with the probability density functions of composite distributions. We also derive some mathematical properties of this new family of distributions, including the moments and the limited moments. Specifically, two special models in this family are discussed. Three real datasets were chosen, to assess the performance of these two special exponentiated-composite models. When fitting to these three datasets, these three special exponentiated-composite distributions demonstrate significantly better performance, compared to the original composite distributions.

Automatic Voter Registration And Voter Turnout In Nevada Elections, Dielle T. Telada, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Elections & Governance

For the first time in Nevada’s history, voters who are not registered as Democrats or Republicans (i.e., nonpartisans and minor party registrants) constitute a majority of active registered voters. In particular, the rapid growth in nonpartisan registrants corresponds with Nevada’s adoption of Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) in January 2020, resulting in the addition of more than 320,000 new voters to the electorate. This fact sheet summarizes voter registration and voter turnout statistics reported by the Nevada Secretary of State for elections since 2012.

1485-Pub: Assessing Correlates Of Microvascular Complications Among Patients With Diabetes Mellitus, Kenneth Izuora, Amalie Alver, Arpita Basu, Kavita Batra, Shelley J. Williams, Jeffrey L. Ebersole

Department of Internal Medicine Faculty Research

Background: Microvascular complications associated with diabetes (DM) are important predictors of morbidity and mortality. Understanding the factors associated with these complications is important in reducing their burden. Method: Using a cross-sectional study design, seventy-one ambulatory patients with Type 2 DM (female 60.6%, white 36.6%, mean age 64.1± 10.3 years, and mean duration of DM 15.8±9.1 years) were recruited using an investigator-administered questionnaire and chart review. Variables of demographics, smoking, HbA1c, DM duration, and complications were collected. CRP was measured and oral health status was assessed by a clinical exam. Data were analyzed using Chi-square/Fisher exact tests and binomial logistic regression …

It Is Time For A New Type Of Type To Facilitate Naming The Microbial World, M. Palmer, I. Sutcliffe, S. N. Venter, B. P. Hedlund

Life Sciences Faculty Research

Since January 1, 2001, the only acceptable nomenclatural type for species under the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes (ICNP) has been pure cultures. Here, we argue that this requirement is discordant with the more inclusive nature of nomenclatural types accepted under other codes of nomenclature and posit that the unique rigidity of the ICNP has failed to serve the broad research community and has stifled progress. This case is based on the axiom that many archaea and bacteria are interdependent in nature and therefore difficult, if not impossible, to grow, preserve, and distribute as pure cultures. As such, a …

A Systematic Review Of The Efficacy And Safety Of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation In The Treatment Of Hepatic Encephalopathy And Clostridioides Difficile Infection In Patients With Cirrhosis, Kyaw Min Tun, Annie S. Hong, Kavita Batra, Yassin Naga, Gordon Ohning

Department of Internal Medicine Faculty Research

The microbiome of the human gut and liver coexists by influencing the health and disease state of each system. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has recently emerged as a potential treatment for conditions associated with cirrhosis, such as hepatic encephalopathy and recurrent/refractory Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI). We have conducted a systematic review of the safety and efficacy of FMT in treating hepatic encephalopathy and rCDI. A literature search was performed using variations of the keywords “fecal microbiota transplant” and “cirrhosis” on PubMed/MEDLINE from inception to October 3, 2021. The resulting 116 articles were independently reviewed by two authors. Eight qualifying studies …

A Multi-Theory Model Based Analysis Of Correlates For Initiating And Sustaining Mammography Screening Behavior Among Hispanic American Women In The United States, Manoj Sharma, Kavita Batra, Amanda H. Wilkerson, Francesco Chirico, Siddharth Raich

Social and Behavioral Health Faculty Research

Background: Despite the known advantages of mammography, screening rates among Hispanic American women are lower compared to other ethnic groups. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aimed to explore correlates of mammography screening behavior among a sample of Hispanic women aged 45-54 years living in the United States using the multi-theory model (MTM). Methods: A 50-item web-based survey consisting of psychometrically valid tools based on MTM theoretical framework was administered through non-random sampling procedures using Qualtrics. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: Out of 370 participants, nearly 49% (n=189) reported not having a mammogram in the …

Unveiling Macau Gaming Inspectors: Functions, Conditions And Operations, Changbin Wang, Hong-Wai Ho

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

Macau has seen the rapid development of casinos in the past two decades. Long-established regulatory control of the city’s gaming industry ensures compliance with the applicable regulations and standards. Among other regulators and staff, gaming inspectors are responsible for the first-line supervision of gaming operations across Macau casinos. This paper is the first attempt to review the casino regulatory inspection in Macau with a particular focus on the functions and practices of gaming inspectors stationed at casinos. Existing internal and external factors affecting the functions of gaming inspectors are identified and discussed in this paper. The authors of this paper …

Climatic Backdrop For Pueblo Cultural Development In The Southwestern United States, Victor J. Polyak, Yemane Asmerom, Matthew S. Lachniet

Geoscience Faculty Research

While climatic triggers for collapse and population migrations of ancestral Pueblo communities have been proposed, little is known about the overall climatic backdrop for the entire pre-Hispanic Pueblo period (ca. 1300 to 460 B2K). Here, we report data from stalagmite HC-1, from Hidden Cave, Guadalupe Mountains, New Mexico, covering the past 3400 years, showing an interval of increased frequency of droughts from 1260 to 370 yr B2K that is coeval with the entire pre-Hispanic Pueblo period. Our record suggests that this puebloan Late Holocene climatic interval was the most arid and highly variable climatic period of the last 3400 years. …

A Rapidly Growing Mesenchymal Hamartoma In A Neonate With Known Placental Anomalies, Justin Bauzon, Desiree Morris, Charles St. Hill, Taylor Schanda, Michael Scheidler, Shirong Chang

Department of Surgery Faculty Research

Hepatic mesenchymal hamartomas (HMH) are benign liver lesions that present as cystic, slow growing masses within the first few years of life. Few cases demonstrate placental abnormalities and abnormal levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). We report an unusual case of a rapidly growing HMH with associated placental anomalies and elevated AFP. A 2-month-old female born prematurely due to concerning placental findings presented with a prenatally-identified liver mass. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a marked increase in the size of the mass over a three- month period. Prior to surgery, the AFP was elevated and decreased after operative resection. Histopathology confirmed the …

Sociodemographic And Biological Factors Of Health Disparities Of Mothers And Their Very Low Birth-Weight Infants, June Cho, Lung-Chang Chien, Diane Holdtich-Davis

Nursing Faculty Research

Background: Black mothers and their very low birth-weight infants in the United States have increased risk of adverse neonatal and maternal health outcomes compared with White mothers and infants. Disparities in adverse birth outcomes associated with sociodemographic factors are difficult to quantify and modify, limiting their usefulness in assessing intervention effects. Purpose: To test hypotheses that (1) the biological factors of maternal testosterone and cortisol are associated with sociodemographic factors and (2) both factors are associated with neonatal health and maternal mental health and healthy behaviors between birth and 40 weeks' gestational age. Methods: We used a descriptive, longitudinal design. …

Socioecology Shapes Child And Adolescent Time Allocation In Twelve Hunter-Gatherer And Mixed-Subsistence Forager Societies, Sheina Lew-Levy, Rachel Reckin, Stephen M. Kissler, Ilaria Pretelli, Adam H. Boyette, Alyssa N. Crittenden, Renee V. Hagen, Randall Haas, Karen L. Kramer, Jeremy Koster, Matthew J. O'Brien, Koji Sonoda, Todd A. Surovell, Jonathan Stieglitz, Bram Tucker, Noa Lavi, Kate Ellis-Davies, Helen E. Davis

Anthropology Faculty Research

A key issue distinguishing prominent evolutionary models of human life history is whether prolonged childhood evolved to facilitate learning in a skill- and strength-intensive foraging niche requiring high levels of cooperation. Considering the diversity of environments humans inhabit, children’s activities should also reflect local social and ecological opportunities and constraints. To better understand our species’ developmental plasticity, the present paper compiled a time allocation dataset for children and adolescents from twelve hunter-gatherer and mixed-subsistence forager societies (n = 690; 3–18 years; 52% girls). We investigated how environmental factors, local ecological risk, and men and women’s relative energetic contributions were associated …

Evidence-Based Practice Strategies For Faculty Professional Development In Clinical Translational Research At Institutional Development Award (Idea) State Institutions In The Mountain West, Merle R. Kataoka-Yahiro, Larissa Myaskovsky, Ruben K. Dagda, Akshay Sood, Kathrene Conway, Joseph Guerrero Lopez, Mark R. Burge, Francisco S. Sy

Environmental & Global Health Faculty Research

The Mountain West Clinical Translational Research – Infrastructure Network (MW CTR-IN), established in 2013, is a research network of 13 university partners located among seven Institutional Development Award (IDeA) states targeting health disparities. This is an enormous undertaking because of the size of the infrastructure network (encompassing a third of the US landmass and spanning four time zones in predominantly rural and underserved areas, with populations that have major health disparities issues). In this paper, we apply the barriers, strategies, and metrics to an adapted educational conceptual model by Fink (2013). Applying this model, we used four tailored approaches across …

Urban Air Mobility: Envisioning Uam As An Integrated Form Of Future Transport - A Las Vegas Case Study, Osarodion Victory Igbinobaro

Hospitality Design Graduate Student Capstones

Rapid urbanization has resulted in more people moving to cities to live and work. By 2030, an estimated 5 billion people will live in urban areas representing about 60% of the world's population. This increase in population growth brings forth new mobility challenges and opportunities for city planners, importantly, the challenge of transporting people and goods to their destinations in the most efficient, safe, quick and sustainable manner.

Traffic congestion, greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, the cost of maintaining existing and building new transportation infrastructure are among several reasons why many cities seek sustainable alternatives to compliment their existing transport …

Biophilic Escapism: Designing The Hotel Mojave, Mark Kua

Hospitality Design Graduate Student Capstones

Many places in urban destinations such as Las Vegas (and abroad) are lacking in natural elements, and therefore, are disconnected from nature. The lack of biophilic design principles in the built environment can create places and spaces that are conducive to stress and tension in users. By improving the human connection to nature, we can reduce ill health, improve productivity, and create spaces and environments that are more comfortable and appealing. Tying this to hospitality, we can utilize natural materials with a strong connection to nature; incorporate biophilic focal points; utilize plant life and water features deliberately and thoughtfully; create …

A New Look Into Old-Design As A Re-Purposed & Upscaled Integration, Jorge Medina

Hospitality Design Graduate Student Capstones

Instead of creating trash, upscale and repurpose materials to determine a new design aesthetic.

According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Las Vegas had 32,230,600 visitors in 2021. That's approximately 88,303 visitors per day, all of which created trash. If we consider, each of those visitors disposing of one can of soda, one bottle of beer, or one bottle of water, we can easily reach 88,303 empty containers per day. Thought, it may be more realistic that visitors consume more than one bottle of liquid a day.

According to PBS Terra, Americans create 4.9 pounds of trash a …

Mycological Renovations: How Saprophytic Fungi-Composite Materials Can Remodle Ff&E, Dillon Denig

Hospitality Design Graduate Student Capstones

The hospitality sector in Las Vegas particularly could do a better job at leading by example through more sustainable renovations and experiences. Today's travelers, restaurant patrons, hotel bookers and shoppers care about sustainability and sustainable practices make hospitality organizations stand out. In the ongoing climate crisis, research is being conducted assessing the viability of biomimetric materials which are responsibly sources, do not release harmful man-made toxins, and decompose through natural means. One of these organic materials further being researched as a likely future replacement of plastics is mycelium. The design method will follow growing various mycelium fixtures and furnishings following …

Food Reclamation And Redistribution: Addressing Grocery Store Food Waste, Insecurity And Accessibility Through The Introduction Of Food Pantry And Educational Space On Existing Grocery Store Sites, Diane Arista

Hospitality Design Graduate Student Capstones

Looking at Las Vegas, there is a lack of local agricultural systems. Due to its desert climate and current state of drought, there are insufficient resources to establish a traditional style of agriculture. With the lack of in-state or in-city agriculture, Las Vegas is seeing a rise in population of those who face food insecurity and lack of access to fresh food. In order to even consider food growth that would help to mitigate insecurities, there would need to be commitment to establishing an alternative agricultural process that would survive in Las Vegas' arid climate. These alternatives often look at …

Overcrowded Street: Entertainment-Design-Driven Approach To Urban Design, Jairo Fajardo

Hospitality Design Graduate Student Capstones

Cable cars have evolved over the years, both in technology and in their uses. In the beginning, they were used mainly to transport materials and supply troops in times of war; after the First World War, these cable cars began their transformation, orienting them as economic transport and tourist attractions with a low impact on the landscape, allowing us to travel through areas that are difficult to access or where the construction of roads is not justified.

For this project, a proposal will be made to implement a cable car system to decongest the overcrowded sidewalks and as a tourist …

Hospitable Healthcare Design: Bridging Hospitality And Palliative And End-Of-Life Care, Gabrielle Fernandez

Hospitality Design Graduate Student Capstones

Aside from the reverence of cemeteries and funeral homes, healthcare facilities are spaces where the reality of death coexists with the vitality of life. Regardless of culture or background, every person has to interact with the certainty of mortality, but not all of society is provided with rituals and spaces that adequately allow one to grieve. In the case of patients and family members who experience palliative and hospice care, the grieving process tends to begin long before the person has passed; changes in physical and mental state are a foreshadowing to an end that is hard to accept overnight. …

Performance Canopy For Hospitality Design: Performative Design For M/Hotel Operators, Carlos Reynoso

Hospitality Design Graduate Student Capstones

The project proposes a solar-array canopy with rainwater retention system to address an existing structure's operational weaknesses.

Alternative Current: A Las Vegas Solution To Ev Charging Design, Jason Saccoliti

Hospitality Design Graduate Student Capstones

Altnerate Current examines trends in the gas station industry, lessons learned from Las Vegas, and current Electric Vehicle charging stations to create the Ultimate Charging Experience.

The World's A Stage: The Strip's Privatized Areas Reimagined As A Performance Space, Klaire Viduya

Hospitality Design Graduate Student Capstones

Las Vegas has been home to live performances since 1931, tying entertainment with the existence of hotels and casinos. A lot of focus has been put into the live music performances on a larger scale such as concerts and residencies throughout the tourist-filled Strip. Nowadays, major cities are promoting themselves through culture, art and the creative industries, developing new innovative urban spaces and business. According to a study by the UNLV Gaming Research Lab, throughout the past few years in hospitality, there has been a trend of the entertainment having less revenue compared to other sectors such as gambling and …

Parking In Progress: The Evolution Of Parking Garages, Jazmin Isabel Navarro

Hospitality Design Graduate Student Capstones

In the U.S. there are approximately 40,000 parking garages (Hartt, 2014) and that number continues to grow rapidly; for years the design of those structures has stayed stagnant, not being rethought since their conception around the 1950's. Meanwhile the automobile industries are evolving more rapidly than ever before to create smarter and more energy efficient technologies. The automobile has become a staple of society and there is little chance of it being eliminated from our society; it is a necessary evil at this point.

As vehicles rose in popularity there came the need for parking, and before long there was …

Redefining Pedestrian Infrastructure, Maurice Gregory

Hospitality Design Graduate Student Capstones

Urban spaces are seeing a poor adaptability of roads and pedestrian traffic to coexist without conflict. This can be seen by looking into vehicle versus pedestrian accidents and their causes, what interventions are currently in place, and how urban sprawl has played a part in this crisis. In addition, case studies focusing on various urban design plans will be evaluated. Finally, it will be discussed how these issues can be addressed and what implementations can be made architecturally to alleviate the strain between vehicles and pedestrians in urban spaces.

Lawrence T. Odom: Techniques And Commentary On Arranging For The Wind Band, Clinton L. Williams

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Orchestral works transcribed for wind and percussion ensembles have been a standard component of the performance literature throughout the twentieth century to the present. Though an increasing number of composers were beginning to write original works of merit for wind bands during the mid-twentieth century, selections from the orchestral canon remained a staple of secondary school, college, community, and military wind and percussion ensembles.

This study analyzes the textural, rhythmic, and harmonic elements of Lawrence T. Odom’s transcription techniques used arranging masterworks for the United States Air Force Band from 1958 to present day. He transcribed over three hundred orchestral …

Workforce Development: A Comparative Analysis Of Community College Governance And Funding In The Mountain West And Policy Proposals For Nevada, Peter Grema

Student Research

Nevada experienced one of the worst economic downturns in the nation following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed the vulnerability of Nevada workers. In his 2021 State of the State address, Governor Steve Sisolak highlighted aligning the state’s workforce development capacity with community colleges to best leverage federal funding and statewide infrastructure for jobs training and economic recovery. In addition, he said, “I will be asking the Legislature to work with the Nevada System of Higher Education over the next two years to develop a framework transitioning Nevada’s community colleges to a new independent authority that will focus …

Student And Faculty Diversity: University Of Nevada, Las Vegas (Unlv) And University Of Nevada, Reno (Unr), 2012-2020, Olivia K. Cheche, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Higher Education

This fact sheet highlights data on the racial and ethnic diversity of students, tenured faculty, tenure-track faculty, and non-tenured/tenure-track faculty at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). Data are presented for each year from 2012 to 2020. The UNLV Office of Decision Support and representatives at UNR assisted in the compilation of this data.