Digital Commons Network^™

Stability And Equation Of State Of A Nanocrystalline Ga-Ge Mullite In A Vitroceramic Composite: A Synchrotron X-Ray Iffraction Study, Kristina E. Lipinska-Kalita, Patricia Kalita, Cedric Gobin, Oliver Hemmers, Thomas Hartmann, Gino Mariotto

Environmental Studies Faculty Publications

Synchrotron x-ray diffraction and diamond anvil cell techniques were used to characterize the phase transformations and to evaluate the structural stability at elevated pressures of a developed nanocrystalline composite. The optically transparent material was built of a germanium oxide-based amorphous host matrix with homogeneously dispersed 13±3 nm Ga-Ge mullite-type nanocrystals, which had a structure similar to the conventional Al₂O₃-SiO₂ mullite. The equation of state of the nanocrystals and the overall structural integrity of the nanocomposite were investigated in quasihydrostatic conditions on compression to 36 GPa and on the following decompression to ambient conditions. The overall …

Take Pride In America In Southern Nevada: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Covering January 6 - April 5, 2008, Margaret N. Rees

Anti-littering Programs

• The Interagency Anti-Litter Team received new direction concerning the recycling plan deliverables.
• The Phase II media plan was completed.
• One hundred fifty nine (159) people signed the anti-litter pledge this quarter.
• The anti-litter team participated in 14 different clean up events this quarter.
• The anti-litter team participated in four community outreach events this quarter.

Limnological Assistance For The Lake Mead National Recreation Area In Meeting The Challenge Of The Water 2025 Initiative: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Ending: April 1, 2008, Margaret N. Rees

Limnological Studies

Hiring: A decision is anticipated in the upcoming weeks regarding the hiring of a limnologist. Two candidates were selected from among three qualified applicants for telephone interviews; they were subsequently interviewed in-person.

Project 1: Review of the draft Boulder Basin Adaptive Management Plan is on-going. Meetings of the Systems Conveyance and Operations Program (SCOP) Technical Advisory Teams were attended.

Project 2: Development of a white paper expressing the joint needs of the entities involved in Water 2025 projects is on-going; scientific review of data and reports related to bacteria in high-use areas of Lake Mead is underway.

Project 3: Discussions …

Fire Effects On Gambel Oak In Southwestern Ponderosa Pine-Oak Forests, Scott R. Abella, Peter Z. Fule

Public Policy and Leadership Faculty Research

Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii) is ecologically and aesthetically valuable in southwestern ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forests. Fire effects on Gambel oak are important because fire may be used in pine-oak forests to manage oak directly or to accomplish other management objectives. We used published literature to: (1) ascertain historical fire regimes in pine-oak forests, (2) discern prescribed burning effects on Gambel oak survival and diameter growth, and (3) provide suggestions for using fire to manage oak. Frequent fire is part of Gambel oak’s historical environment, as historical fire return intervals often averaged less than 10 years in pine-oak forests. More …

Plant Community Response To Fire: A Chronosequence Study, Scott R. Abella, E. Cayenne Engel

Public Policy and Leadership Faculty Research

Fires are becoming more prevalent events across the landscape in the southwestern US. Over the next several decades the already arid southwest is predicted to become warmer and drier, with longer summers, and an increase of “extreme” weather events such as lightening inducing thunderstorms. While the “hotter and drier” forecast may indicate less abundant plant life, and thus less available biomass for fuel, exotic invasive plant species are becoming more dominant across the landscape with increases in human travel and commerce. Exotic species (particularly many of the invasive grasses) are adding fuel for the fires to burn when the annuals …

Colorado College State Of The Rockies Report Card, David Havlick, Walter E. Hecox, Christopher B. Jackson, Matthew K. Reuer

Publications (SD)

The critical research topics for the 2008 Report Card include immigration, affordable housing, renewable energy resources, river restoration and restoration economies, and wildlands.

Inside Unlv, Shane Bevell, Mamie Peers, David Ashley, Diane Russell, Michelle Mouton, Grace Russell

Inside UNLV

No abstract provided.

Mojave Applied Ecology Notes Spring 2008, Lesley Defalco, E. Cayenne Engel, Scott R. Abella, Jessica E. Spencer, Jill E. Craig

Mojave Applied Ecology Notes

Post-fire restoration, fire chronosequence study, Joint Fire Science update, Weed Sentry program and DNWR surveys

Unlv Magazine, Tony Allen, Afsha Bawany, Barbara Cloud, Holly Ivy De Vore, Gian Galassi, Matthew K. Jacobsen, Michelle Mouton, Erin O'Donnell, Shane Bevell, Cate Weeks

UNLV Magazine

No abstract provided.

Comparing Net And Eri Standardized Exam Scores Between Baccaulureate Graduates Who Pass Or Fail The Nclex-Rn, Mary D. Bondmass, Sheniz Moonie, Susan Kowalski

Environmental & Global Health Faculty Research

In the United States, nursing programs are commonly evaluated by their graduates success on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). The purpose of this paper is to describe a change in NCLEX-RN success rates following the addition of standardized exams throughout our program's curriculum, and to compare these exam scores between graduates who pass NCLEX-RN and those who do not. Our results indicate an 8.5% change (p < 0.000) in the NCLEX-RN pass rate from our previous 5-year mean pass rate, and significant differences in standardized test scores for those who pass the NCLEX-RN compared to those who do not (p < 0.03). We conclude that our selected standardized exam scores are able to significantly identify graduates who are more likely to pass NCLEX-RN than not.

Building An Effective Marketing Model For Native American Casinos, Jeffery M. Pletcher

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In 1987 the U.S. Supreme Court recognized that, as sovereign political entities, federally recognized Native American tribal entities could operate gaming facilities free of state regulation. Soon after, Congress introduced the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), which maps out the conditions under which Native American tribal entities are permitted to operate casinos and bingo parlors (Kilby, Fox, & Lucas, 2005). These terms and conditions for Native American casinos under IGRA regulation are Class II gaming methods. Class II gaming is defined as the game of chance commonly known as bingo (regardless of electronic, computer, or other technological aid) (Kilby …

Interagency Science And Research: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Ending March 31, 2008, Margaret N. Rees

Interagency Science and Research Strategy

• The Interagency Science and Research Team provided a review of its overall progress to the SNAP Board at a meeting on January 25, 2008.
• A meeting was held with an ad hoc SNAP Land Use Team to request members’ assistance in the development of the science strategy. These individuals reviewed the draft SNAP Science and Research Strategy sub-goal related to land use and then developed priority science questions and associated contributing questions. Assistance was provided to the Cultural Resources Team and the Recreation Team with the selection and prioritization of their science questions.
• External and management peer reviews were conducted …

Lake Mead National Recreation Area Vegetation Monitoring And Analysis: Quarterly Progress Report, January 1— March 31, 2008, Margaret N. Rees

Vegetation Monitoring

Executive Summary

• The Weed Sentry program surveyed 104 miles of transportation corridors on federal land in Clark County for incipient populations of exotic plants.
• Seven manuscripts attained in-press or published status and two manuscripts were submitted for review this quarter. Among other in-press manuscripts, are one documenting Sahara mustard germination patterns (Western North American Naturalist), one assessing exotic species distributions in Clark County (Environmental Monitoring and Assessment), and another is a synthesis of burro effects on Mojave Desert vegetation (Environmental Management).
• Staff delivered four presentations this quarter at conferences or at agency meetings. Twenty-six Las Vegas bearpoppy sites were assessed …

Lake Mead National Recreation Area Monitoring And Evaluation Of Sensitive Wildlife: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Ending March 31, 2008, Margaret N. Rees

Wildlife Monitoring

Project 1. Relict Leopard Frog Monitoring, Management, and Research

• Translocation program initiated this quarter, egg mass collections completed, tadpole rearing underway.
• Egg mass surveys at Blue Point Spring conducted approximately weekly; one egg mass collected from site for headstarting.
• Spring nocturnal surveys in progress.
• Coordination for potential translocation sites on BLM lands ongoing.
• Habitat improvements coordinated and conducted at one new translocation site on BLM lands in the Gold Butte; site scheduled to receive frogs in April.
• All milestones and deliverables associated with the MSHCP project on schedule.

Project 2. Bald Eagle Winter Monitoring and Evaluation

• Winter bald eagle count …

Nevada Interagency Volunteer Program: Helping Hands Across Public Lands – Phase Ii: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Covering January 1 – March 31, 2008, Margaret N. Rees

Get Outdoors Nevada

• The number of records in the volunteer database increased 10% since the end of last quarter. At the end of this quarter, the database contains 4,866 records.
• Website activity increased by 1% from last quarter; it received an average of 83,326 hits per month, with an average of 9,240 pages viewed per month.
• Two hundred college students learned about the Interagency Volunteer Program during the program’s first open house tour.
• Winter volunteer training was completed
• Spring volunteer training is scheduled.
• Five volunteers who attended the first event assistant training work as event assistants.
• The database manager updated and archived records …

Equation Of State Of Gallium Oxide To 70 Gpa: Comparison Of Quasihydrostatic And Nonhydrostatic Compression, Kristina E. Lipinska-Kalita, Patricia Kalita, Oliver Hemmers, Thomas Hartmann

Environmental Studies Faculty Publications

Synchrotron x-ray diffraction and diamond-anvil cell techniques were used to characterize pressure induced structural modifications in gallium oxide. Gallium oxide was studied on compression up to 70 GPa and on the following decompression. The effect of the pressure-transmitting medium on the structural transformations was investigated in two sets of compression and decompression runs, one with nitrogen as a quasihydrostatic pressure-transmitting medium and the other in nonhydrostatic pressure conditions. The x-ray diffraction data showed gradual phase transition from a low-density, monoclinic β-Ga₂O₃ to a high-density, rhombohedral α-Ga₂O₃. With the use of nitrogen as a …

Inside Unlv, Shane Bevell, Donna Mcaleer, David Ashley, Grace Russell, Michelle Mouton, Mamie Peers

Inside UNLV

No abstract provided.

Final Report: Nevada System Of Higher Education Quality Assurance Program, Nevada System Of Higher Education

Publications (YM)

The principal purpose of the cooperative agreement was to develop and continue providing the public and the Office of Repository Development (ORD) of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (OCRWM) with an independently derived, unbiased body of scientific and engineering data concerning the study of Yucca Mountain as a potential high-level radioactive waste repository. Under this agreement, the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE), formerly the University and Community CollegeSystem of Nevada (UCCSN), performed scientific and engineering research, and maintained and fostered collaborative working relationships between government and academic researchers. In performing these activities, …

Education In The Environment: A Strategy For Continued Interagency Outdoor Programming: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Ending February 29, 2008, Environmental Education Strategy For Nevada

Reports (PLI Education)

Highlights of the university’s focused efforts during the past three months include the following:

• Progress was made on three projects to meet Southern Nevada Agency Partnership (SNAP) strategic messaging needs: an anti-litter exhibit, a volunteer restoration program with educational components, and activity stations to tell the story of Lee Meadows restoration efforts.
• Interpretive planning is underway for Mountain’s Edge Explorer’s Interpretive Trail.
• A Spanish class tailored to meet the communication needs of environmental educators and interpreters was held January 2008.
• Our Places Tell Stories conference, featuring sixty presenters, panelists, moderators, and facilitators, will be held March 4-6, 2008.
• The Nevada …

Regional Analysis Of Trend And Step Changes Observed In Hydroclimatic Variables Around The Colorado River Basin, William Paul Miller, Thomas C. Piechota

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction Faculty Research

Recent research has suggested that changes in temperature and precipitation events due to climate change have had a significant impact on the availability and timing of streamflow. In this study, monthly temperature and precipitation data collected over 29 climate divisions covering the entire Colorado River basin and monthly natural flow data from 29 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauge locations along the Colorado River are investigated for trend or step changes using parametric and nonparametric statistical tests. Temperature increases are persistent (at least 10 climate divisions over 6 months in trend analysis) throughout the year over the Colorado River basin, whereas …

Anti-Litter/Anti-Dumping Messaging Campaign – Phase Ii, Public Lands Institute

Anti-littering Presentations

• Desert dumping is a problem
• Dumping and littering are illegal, costly and socially irresponsible
• There are easy, legal ways to dispose of trash and construction debris

Quality Assurance Services, Amy J. Smiecinski

Publications (YM)

The Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Quality Assurance (QA) Program provides a full range of affordable QA services including records management, document and data control, training, and auditing. The program was regularly audited by the United States Department of Energy (DOE) to ensure strict compliance to regulatory requirements for nuclear facilities.

The NSHE QA Program is staffed by knowledgeable professionals who specialize in assisting smaller organizations who have no previous quality assurance experience.

Knowledge-Based Information Resource Management System For Materials Of Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactor, Sean Hsieh

Reactor Campaign (TRP)

In the development of advanced fast reactors, materials and coolant/material interactions pose a critical barrier for higher temperature and longer core life designs. For advanced burner reactors (sodium cooled) such as EBR-II and FFTF, experience has shown that the qualified structural materials and fuel cladding severely limits the economic performance. In other liquid metal cooled reactor concepts, advanced materials and better understanding and control of coolant and materials interactions are necessary for realizing the potentials.

Liquid sodium has been selected as the primary coolant candidate for Gen. IV nuclear energy systems. Global Nuclear Partnership (GNEP) Advanced Burned Reactor (ABR) has …

Evaluation Of Cs/Sr Waste Form For Long Term Storage And Disposal, Gary Cerefice

Waste Forms Campaign (TRP)

The goal of this project is to examine the potential long term performance of the proposed aluminosilicate waste/storage form for the isolation and eventual direct disposal of the cesium and strontium separated from recycled nuclear fuel. In the first phase of this work, researchers will investigate the sintering procedure to prepare the drum-like aluminosilicate waste/storage form from the as-received aluminosilicate powder, and then examine the basic physical properties, phase structure and microstructure of the sintered aluminosilicate with /without mixing solution with several ppm Cs/Sr. In the second phase, researchers will evaluate the interaction of the proposed waste form with structural …

Our Places To Tell Stories: Preliminary Program, Public Lands Institute

Our Places to Tell Stories

Our Places Tell Stories is an innovative conference for educators and others working at public lands, nature centers, museums, zoos, aquariums, and other nature- and heritage-rich places. By providing participants with successful educational strategies and techniques, this conference will meet the needs of those interested in learning how to effectively connect with audiences to create motivated stewards of the environment.

Exceptional Ground Accelerations And Velocities Caused By Earthquakes, John G. Anderson, James N. Brune

Publications (YM)

This project aims to understand the characteristics of the free-field strong-motion records that have yielded the 100 largest peak accelerations and the 100 largest peak velocities recorded to date. The peak is defined as the maximum magnitude of the acceleration or velocity vector during the strong shaking. This compilation includes 35 records with peak acceleration greater than gravity, and 41 records with peak velocities greater than 100 cm/s. The results represent an estimated 150,000 instrument-years of strong-motion recordings. The mean horizontal acceleration or velocity, as used for the NGA ground motion models, is typically 0.76 times the magnitude of this …

Take Pride In America In Southern Nevada: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Covering October 6, 2007-January 5, 2008, Margaret N. Rees

Anti-littering Programs

• Project Manager Douglas Joslin has been assisting the IVP team due to the resignation of Donna Grady. This included assisting with the November 3, 2007 volunteer recognition event.

• The team created a tentative event schedule for 2008.

• The messaging campaign year two plan is complete and under review by the SNAP Board.

• Take Pride in America in Southern Nevada and Public Lands Institute was featured in Las Vegas Weekly.

• Mr. Joslin is conducting a waste characterization study for NPS.

• A new bus stop ad campaign is complete and currently awaiting approval by the SNAP …

Subcube Embeddability And Fault Tolerance Of Augmented Hypercubes, Sithy Shameema Mohamed Yasim

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Hypercube networks have received much attention from both parallel processing and communications areas over the years since they offer a rich interconnection structure with high bandwidth, logarithmic diameter, and high degree of fault tolerance. They are easily partitionable and exhibit a high degree of fault tolerance. Fault-tolerance in hypercube and hypercube-based networks received the attention of several researchers in recent years; The primary idea of this study is to address and analyze the reliability issues in hypercube networks. It is well known that the hypercube can be augmented with one dimension to replace any of the existing dimensions should any …

Don't Trash Nevada: Open House, Public Lands Institute

Anti-littering Presentations

Through an interagency partnership, our mission is to reduce litter and dumping by identifying root causes and solutions. This will be accomplished through education and awareness programs, clean-up of public lands, and enforcement efforts.

Don't Trash Nevada: Friday Show, Public Lands Institute

Anti-littering Presentations

Through an interagency partnership, our mission is to reduce litter and dumping by identifying root causes and solutions. This will be accomplished through education and awareness programs, clean-up of public lands, and enforcement efforts.