Digital Commons Network^™

Investigation Of The Chemical And Electronic Structure Of A 2h Phase Mos2 Single Crystal, Mary Blankenship

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Molybdenum disulfide has a wide range of applications in energy conversion devices, like thin-film solar cells, batteries, bio sensors, and more. Although the properties of MoS2 and other transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDC) have been widely studied, disagreements and discrepancies regarding its electronic structure remain.

In this thesis, a highly-oriented synthetic 2H phase MoS₂ single crystal is investigated using a toolchest of spectroscopic techniques to uncover its chemical and electronic properties. Lab-based x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS), inverse photoemission spectroscopy (IPES), and low energy electron diffraction (LEED) were performed at UNLV and combined with resonant inelastic soft …

Assessing The Risk Of West Nile Virus In The Southwestern United States, Bradon Bucher

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Climate change is an increasing public health threat that has been shown to influence Culex mosquito populations, the vectors of West Nile Virus (WNV). The main objective of this study was to determine which variables are most associated with WNV in the Southwest United States, defined herein as: California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. A Poisson regression model was used to analyze total cases from 2004-2020 using the following predictors: mosquito season temperature average, mosquito season precipitation average, bodies of water, and protected lands. Results indicated that precipitation average (P =.014) and the interaction between precipitation and temperature (P=.024) were significant. …

Examining Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among The Nevada African American Population Using The Social-Ecological Model, Katelyn Faulk

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In Nevada, COVID-19 vaccines have been widely available to the general population since March 2021; however, even with the wide availability of these vaccines only 40% of the African American population in Nevada has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of May 2023. This is problematic as it has been shown that the African American population is disproportionately affected by COVID-19 with higher rates of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths when compared to other races or ethnicities. Through the literature, it has also been well documented that African Americans may experience hesitancy toward these vaccinations for a multitude of reasons including …

Scalable Algorithm Design And Performance Analysis For Graph Motifs Discovery, Md Abdul Motaleb Faysal

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Discovering motifs or structural patterns, such as communities, is a significant graph application utilized for classifying groups in social and business networks, identifying similar proteins, detecting anomalous behavior in the cybersecurity domain, and finding critical entities in rumor propagation or infectious disease spreading. Existing state-of-the-art techniques for community discovery face challenges related to scalability, performance limitations, and methodological inaccuracies. The objective of this doctoral dissertation is to introduce novel parallel algorithms and propose high-performance computing architecture designs to address the performance constraints of current community detection approaches when processing large-scale social and biological data. This research focuses on two main …

Investigating Van Der Waals Josephson Junctions With 2h-Nbse2 And 1t’-Wte2, Kristine Lorraine Haley

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Josephson junctions have garnered significant attention due to their unique electronic properties and applications in quantum devices. In this thesis, we investigate the fabrication processes and characterization of two-dimensional (2D) Josephson junctions consisting of layered van der Waals materials: niobium diselenide (2H-NbSe₂) and few layered tungsten ditelluride (1T’-WTe₂). The reduction of dimensionality can bring forth unique characteristics in certain materials that are not seen in their bulk counterparts, making them prime candidates for physical exploration. 2H-NbSe₂ is an s-wave superconductor at temperatures near and below 7 K. 1T’-WTe₂ is a semimetal in bulk but …

Investigating A Passive Treatment System For The Removal Of Nutrients From Urban Runoff, Jasminn Gray

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The Environmental Protection Agency recognizes urban runoff as a major contributor of surface water pollution with nutrients as the second largest cause of surface water impairment in the United States. While a water quality standard of 100 lbs/day total phosphorus load allocation for all nonpoint sources is permitted for the Las Vegas Valley (LVV) under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, currently there is not a counterpart standard for nitrogen. With the continued development of the LVV and the depletion of the quantity of water in Lake Mead due to the ongoing drought, the concentrations of phosphorus and nitrogen species …

The Room Temperature Electrolysis Of F-Elements In Aqueous And Ionic Liquid Media: Synthesis, Dissolution, And Reduction, Phillip George Hammer

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Procuring F-element metals is no simple task and often requires the use of caustic and hazardous materials at high temperatures. These materials are invaluable for a variety of scientific missions ranging from the elucidation of fundamental properties, as fast spectrum nuclear fuel forms, to pit production modernizing our nuclear stockpiles. Metallic actinide materials are essential to strategic and critical materials recovery, the nuclear energy sector, and weapons production. Room temperature electrolysis is envisioned as a process to recover laboratory scale (milligram to gram) quantities of actinide metals. This process closes the uranium chemical loop allowing the reclamation of materials for …

Healthcare Practices In The United States Aimed At Improving Care And Language Access Services For Limited English Proficiency Refugees: A Systematic Review, Bemnet Kebede

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Objective: The United States has accepted over 3 million refugees from all around the world since 1975. However, many Limited English Proficiency (LEP) refugees face significant barriers when seeking healthcare due to limited access, lack of knowledge, mistrust in physicians, language differences, cultural concerns, and overall complexity of the U.S. healthcare system. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify practices in the last 10 years that have improved healthcare and language access services for LEP refugees living in the U.S.

Methods: A search was conducted in four electronic databases PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and Scopus from January 2013 to …

Beyond The Surface: A Novel In-Game Behavioral Observation Matrix To Assess Video Game Expertise, Sam A. Leif

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In the evolving landscape of gaming, a need for reliable methods to differentiate expertise levels among players has emerged. This study defines experts by their exceptional skills, domain-specific knowledge, and successful application of these attributes in complex situations. Unlike conventional methods that rely on self-reported experience for expertise stratification, this research proposes a shift towards systematic behavioral observation for a more reliable assessment of expertise. The Model of Domain Learning (MDL) facilitates empirical differentiation between novice, competent, and expert categories, allowing for appropriate stratification. Drawing from digital proxemics theory and adapted from the behavioral assessment matrix used by McCreery and …

Profiles Of Cross-Domain Motivational Beliefs: Relations With Engagement And Gender, Alireza Maghsoudlou

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

A central tenet of expectancy-value theory is that individuals’ relative expectancies and values across multiple academic domains influence their achievement-related outcomes. However, few studies have investigated how expectancy-value beliefs in multiple domains combine within individuals and how such motivational configurations are related to engagement. In this study, a person-centered approach was employed to identify and evaluate naturally occurring combinations of motivational beliefs among 3,928 fourth-grade students. Leveraging TIMSS and PIRLS database of 2011, I examined profiles of students’ math, reading, and science self-concept and interest value and their relations with engagement in these domains. Additionally, I examined gender as predictors …

The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic Response On Food Safety Violations Observed In Southern Nevada Food Establishments, Samantha Morales

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Food poisoning is a common term used to describe what is actually foodborne illness. Despite the fact these illnesses can become deadly, foodborne illnesses are endemic and common in the United States. Nonetheless, they are completely preventable simply by following proper food safety procedures. The Food and Drug Administration identified the most common foodborne pathogens responsible for most foodborne infections, as well as the five risk factor categories to target in order to decrease the risk of cases and outbreaks.

To ensure foodborne outbreaks and cases are prevented, health authorities are tasked with conducting routine inspections on permitted food establishments. …

Examining The Spatial Periodicity Of Force Chains And Strain Localization In Polycrystal Models, Richard D. Panduro-Allanson

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Shear strain localization is typical in deforming rocks and is vital for developing faults and tectonic boundaries. There are various proposed drivers of shear localization (temperature, fluid, phase transformation, and microstructure); we will explore the effects of elastic heterogeneity (a microstructural influence) on shear localization in polycrystal models. Elastic heterogeneity can lead to varied stress states in material and drive shear localization. Previous simulations of elastically heterogeneous polycrystal models have shown that the stress distribution can be described as forming an anastomosing pattern of high-stress streams parallel to the compression direction. This anastomosing patterning resembles force chains; linear, high-stress features …

Implementation Of Adas And Autonomy On Unlv Campus, Zillur Rahman

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The integration of Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving functionalities into contemporary vehicles has notably surged, driven by the remarkable progress in artificial intelligence (AI). These AI systems, capable of learning from real-world data, now exhibit the capability to perceive their surroundings via a suite of sensors, create optimal routes from source to destination, and execute vehicle control akin to a human driver.

Within the context of this thesis, we undertake a comprehensive exploration of three distinct yet interrelated ADAS and Autonomy projects. Our central objective is the implementation of autonomous driving(AD) technology at UNLV campus, culminating in …

Actinide Behavior In Soft Ligand Environments And Higher Oxidation States Of Neptunium In Aqueous Media With Solid-State Synthesis Of Np(Vii) Compounds, Kelly Floyd Seeley

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The fundamental properties of Uranium and Neptunium were investigated with Powder X-Ray Diffraction (PXRD) to study the behavior or 5f electrons with chalcogen, alkali metals, and alkaline earth metals. Two novel compounds were generated: NaCuUS₃ and NaCuNpS₃. There are several crystal structures that form in the family of AMM’Q (A = s-block, M = d-block, M’ = d-block or f-block, and Q = chalcogen), with oxidation states of A¹⁺, M¹⁺, M’⁴⁺, and Q^2- ions from the family of type I compounds. Work was continued to …

Examining Health Literacy And Patient-Centered Communication: A Secondary Analysis Of U.S. Adults With A History Of Cancer, Kimberly Ann Dy Tomas

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Racial/ethnic communities bear a disproportionate burden when examining cancer mortality and infection-related cancer incidence rates. According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), health literacy and clear communication between professionals and patients are crucial to improving health and the quality of healthcare. This study examined the relationship between personal health literacy and perceived patient-centered communication quality (PPCQ). A secondary data analysis was conducted using the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 5, Cycle 4 (2020), and STATA/BE 17.0 for Windows. The sample included respondents who have a history of cancer and have seen a healthcare provider within …

On The Synthesis Of Heavy Rare Earth Solid Solutions And Their Hydrides, Joshua R. Van Cleave

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The theoretical predictions and results from the (La,Y)Hx ternary hydride solution provided evidence toward phase stability at comparatively lower pressures, as consequence the (Yb,Lu)H_x and (Tm,Lu)H_x ternary hydrides are studied here with pressures up to 25 GPa in the diamond anvil cell. The onset of an unknown feature in the XRD pattern coincides with crystallographic plane distortions in the tetragonal lattice of ytterbium hydride at their laser-heated interface, possibly driven by a solid solution of Lu-Yb. Findings in collected Raman spectra and X-ray diffraction patterns in an Ar environment suggest potential stability of the FCC and high-temperature HCP …

A Dynamic Scoring Methodology For Morphing Airfoil Designs With Application To A Stalling Scenario, Stone Wachs

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Shape Changing Airfoils (SCAs) are a developing technology with potential aircraft applications. Leading aerospace corporations are actively researching SCA capabilities. The necessity for this technology stems from the requirement of control surfaces for safe aircraft control. However, the process of testing and determining optimal SCA designs can be costly and time-consuming. While methodologies exist, they often require specific scenario examples and lack a standard approach. To address this issue, a standardized methodology is needed that can be applied to various applications and scenarios. This methodology consists of computational/experimentally produced data for airfoils, a subjective and strategic scoring equation, an algorithmic …

Travel Time Theory For Traffic Conservation Laws With Applications, Sergio Contreras

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Travel time is an important concept in various intelligent transportation system (ITS) applications. The concept is used in a wide array of applications, such as system planning, system performance, and optimization. Reducing the time required to travel between different points on a network is an important goal. Benefits include reducing time wasted in traveling, and keeping travelers satisfied. Thus, studying and reducing travel time in ITS is beneficial in different applications.

The classic density-based Lighthill Whitman Richards (LWR) equation for modeling traffic flow is the starting point in this dissertation. A more recent travel time dynamics function built on top …

New Observations On The Age And Origin Of The Geologist Seamounts, South Hawaiian Seamount Province, Brandon Chester Scott

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Investigation into seamounts that stem from intraplate volcanism—that is volcanism occurring far from plate boundaries—presents an opportunity to deconvolve processes associated with mantle compositional heterogeneities and melting dynamics. Upwelling and decompression of thermochemically anomalous mantle plumes is the primary mechanism for significant intraplate volcanism; however, many seamounts dotted across the Pacific Plate do not correlate spatially, temporally, or geochemically with mantle plume volcanism. One region of enigmatic volcanism in the ocean basins that is not clearly attributable to plume-derived magmatism are the Geologist Seamounts and the wider South Hawaiian Seamount Province (∼19°N, 157°W). Here we present merged multibeam (<100 m) and satellite altimetry bathymetric maps of the Geologist Seamounts region, new ^{40 …}

Physiological And Biomechanical Response To Indoor Cycling With And Without The Ability To Sway, Alina P. Swafford

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Introduction: Bicycles have been around since the early 19th century. Since the invention of the bicycle, it has taken on several purposes. People have used bicycles as a means of transportation, leisure, exercise, and sport. The number of individuals who participate in a cycling event per year has increased. With the increase in popularity, research related to cycling has also increased. Research related to the physiology and biomechanics of cycling are of particular areas of interest. Balance is a crucial component of understanding why we cycle a certain way. Some research has labeled balancing on a bicycle as cycling sway. …

Analysis Of Triton Cg 110 Foaming Characteristics For Use As A Potential Fire Suppressant, Addison Cobb, Jeremy Cho

Undergraduate Research Symposium Lightning Talks

Background: Per-FluoroAlkyls (PFAs) are incredibly stable molecules which do not biodegrade. These chemicals have been linked with a series of health issues and environmental problems.

Problem: PFAs have been identified in most drinking water supplies in the United States. Large Amounts of this is due to Aqueous Fire-Fighting Foams (AFFF’s), which contain PFAs, seeping into the groundwater supply.

Solution: While little can be done about PFAs currently in groundwater supplies, replacing PFA-based AFFFs with newer Eco-AFFFs can halt AFFF contamination, and maintain firefighting suppression.

Career And Technical Education Teachers’ Perceptions Of Instructional Feedback From Supervisors, Brooke L. Thiel, Justin V. Benna, Breanna Pastir, Nikki Fideldy-Doll

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

The purpose of this study was to examine Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers’ perceptions of feedback from supervisors. All CTE teachers in North Dakota were surveyed during early 2023. A series of one-way ANOVAs and t-tests were run to compare the differences in teachers’ perceptions based upon reported professional characteristics. The results of the study indicate that, even though CTE is different from other content areas, CTE teachers still prefer pedagogical feedback over content-specific feedback. Unless, however, the supervising principal was a former CTE teacher, then the feedback related to their lived experience seemed to be valued by …

Purposeful Stem Integration In School-Based Agricultural Education Programs, Christopher J. Eck, Kristopher Rankin Iii, J. Shane Robinson

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

The emphasis for STEM integration in school-based agricultural education (SBAE) classrooms is imperative, resulting in a need for teacher educators to generate a positive view on the integration. Specifically, SBAE teacher aspirants need to be prepared to deliver relevant agricultural curriculum grounded in STEM. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the content knowledge and interest in STEM-related careers for secondary students enrolled in SBAE programs in Oklahoma. Pre-service SBAE teachers from Oklahoma State University were charged with delivering a sustainable bioenergy unit of instruction to their students. This study resulted in a statistically significant improvement in students’ STEM …

An Evaluation Of Lead Concentration In Commercially Available Tiles, Daidre N. Gamboa

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Workers in the manufacturing and construction industries are at risk of lead exposure in projects that involve removal or installation of tiles, and other individuals exposed to lead, including children may also be at risk. The concern with lead in tiles is thought to be related to the glazing process or the country where the tile was produced. Multiple regulations are in place in the U.S. to protect people from lead exposure, including through surface coatings or painted surfaces. But these regulations do not cover glazed tiles. This study examined whether there are differences in lead concentration in (1) tiles …

Interaction Of Technetium (Iv) With Dibutyl Phosphate In N-Dodecane, Jonathan George

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

During the reprocessing of nuclear fuel, the degradation of tributylphosphate (TBP) occurs as a result of radiolytic and thermal processes. These processes lead to the formation of minor amounts of dibutyl phosphate (HDBP). However, the presence of DBP poses a challenge in the partitioning of uranium (U), plutonium (Pu), and technetium (Tc) due to its chelating effects. The chelation of these elements by HDBP can interfere with their intended separation and purification, thereby impacting the efficiency and effectiveness of the reprocessing process. In this study, X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS) spectroscopy is employed to investigate the speciation of Tc following …

Improving Multi-Crane Planning On Construction Sites, Ali Khodabandelu

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Designing the configuration of tower cranes, managing their operations, and coordinating material logistics are intricate processes that wield significant influence over the time, cost, productivity, and safety of construction projects. This complexity stems from the multitude of layout configurations, diverse crane types, varied tasks, and material supply points, all interacting within a dynamic environment. Collisions pose a heightened risk due to overlapping crane areas, further adding complexity to the planning of crane layouts and operations. Optimizing crane layout and operational planning while ensuring safety requires establishing effective connections between tasks, cranes, and material supply locations. Traditionally, research and industry practices …

Beyond Corporate Greenwashing: Discourse Of A 'Just' Electric Energy Transition Materialized At The Thacker Pass Lithium Mine, Laekyn Kelley

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Thacker Pass in Northern Nevada is a rich desert ecosystem with spiritual significance to local Indigenous peoples, and it is also the site for what will be, for now, the United States’ largest open-pit lithium mine. Lithium is one mineral constituent of electric batteries which are essential to current U.S. electric energy transition policy, a transition which policymakers and other public groups have called on to be done in a way which is just. However, what exactly a just electric energy transition looks like in places like Thacker Pass is under continued negotiation in theoretical and practical senses. Existing research …

Water Efficiency & Sustainability In The Mountain West, 2022, Zachary Billot, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Environment

This fact sheet analyzes the effectiveness of state-level policies related to water usage, conservation, and sustainability for the Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah in 2022. The original data are published in the “2022 State Policy Scorecard for Water Efficiency and Sustainability” report written by the Alliance for Water Efficiency.

The High Pressure Dependence Of X-Ray Induced Decomposition Of Cadmium Oxalate, Adrian F. Lua Sanchez, Petrika Cifligu, Marc Graff, Michael Pravica, Pradip K. Bhowmik, Changyong Park, Egor Evlyukhin

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

The high proclivity of x rays to destabilize and distort molecular structures has been previously utilized in the synthesis of novel compounds. Here, we show that x-ray induced decomposition of cadmium oxalate induces chemical and structural transformations only at 0.5 and 1 GPa. Using x-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy, the synthesized product is identified as cadmium carbonate with cadmium oxalate remnants, which is stable under ambient conditions. At ambient and >1 GPa pressures, only degradation of the electronic density distribution is observed. The transformation kinetics are examined in terms of Avrami’s model, which demonstrates that despite the necessity of high …

Evocative And Provocative Image-Making In The Age Of Generative Ai, Julian Kilker

Tradition Innovations in Arts, Design, and Media Higher Education

Editorial for inaugural AI-focused special issue of Tradition-Innovations in Arts, Design, and Media Higher Education, published under the auspices of the Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities (a2ru). Discusses three articles by five authors in this issue: (1) Choreographing Shadows: Interdisciplinary collaboration to orchestrate ethical image-making by Mark Burchick and Diana Pasulka; (2) Giving Up Control: Hybrid AI-augmented workflows for image-making by Joshua Vermillion; and (3) Hands are Hard: Unlearning how we talk about machine learning in the arts by Adam Hyland and Oscar Keyes.

Editing this special issue explored several key questions: What does “innovation” mean when …