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Analysis Of Bank Failure And Size Of Assets, Guancun Zhong

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The financial health of the banking industry is an important prerequisite for economic stability and growth. Bank failures in the United States have run in cycles largely associated with the collapse of economic bubbles. The number of bank failures has increased dramatically over the last thirty years (Halling and Hayden, 2007). In this thesis, we try to address the following two questions: 1) What is the relationship, if any, between a bank's asset size and its likelihood of failures? 2) How can we use statistical tools to predict the numbers of bank failures in the future? Various modeling techniques are …

Evaluation Of Possible Source Rocks In Northern Nye County, Nevada: Implications For Hydrocarbon Exploration, Inessa Yurchenko

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The presence of oil outside of Railroad Valley, northern Nye County has sparked the interest of exploration companies in Nevada. The geology in this region is very complex and the level of petroleum exploration is low. In order to understand the distribution of oil, a complete petroleum systems analysis is required. Previous studies confirmed that the Mississippian Chainman Shale and Cretaceous to Paleocene Sheep Pass Formation, Member B are source rocks. However, a number of other possible source rocks exist in northern Nye County, but they are not confirmed because of incomplete datasets. The goal of this thesis project is …

Determining The Motion And Location Of The Frenchman Mountain Fault, Las Vegas, Nevada: A Paired Basin Analysis And Structural Analysis, Laura Margaret Eaton

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Understanding the evolution of large-scale fault systems remains a challenge to geologists and is of critical importance in understanding the dynamics of larger plate tectonic interactions. I mapped the southwestern Frenchman Mountain Fault (FMF), conducted a basin analysis of units in the footwall of the fault, and measured kinematic indicators along the fault zone in order to constrain fault offset, magnitude, and timing in an attempt to further our understanding of these systems.

My findings include: 1) the presence of vertical and sub-vertical slickenlines on southwest dipping fault surfaces indicative of normal sense offset; 2) relatively little lateral variation in …

Northern Stars Safety Village: Program Evaluation, Gawain Guedry, Marcie Jackson, Joanne Witter

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The City of North Las Vegas (CLNV) and the North Las Vegas Fire Department (NLVFD), circa 2007, embarked on a mission to create a safety village for children. The initial intent of the program is to provide a place where children can learn real-life strategies for dealing with emergencies while developing a positive attitude towards safety. The fire department has accomplished a significant amount of preliminary work; however, the program currently remains in the conceptualization phase, as they have been unable to develop a tangible product. This, in large part, is due to the economic crisis Southern Nevada has been …

Maintaining The Profitability Of Gaming’S Premium Players, Maxwell J.H. Olson

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose: This paper does not seek to condemn the use of incentives for high-end casino players. Rather, it is intended to illuminate common policies and practices that might require more measurement and consideration prior to being distributed. This paper also explores and examines existing literature and findings regarding the profitability of high-end casino players and offers guidelines for evaluating profitability.

Statement of Objective: This paper targets existing policies and practices in the contemporary Las Vegas casino gaming business, separately examining the profitability of each incentive program or common practice. As a consolidated examination of such practices, this paper can serve …

Non-Monetary Strategies To Retain Key Employees, Becky Rader

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this paper is to provide a handbook that management can use to retain employees, especially top performers.

Companies within the hospitality industry are attempting to strengthen their bottom line during these tough economic times. Employees contribute significantly to the bottom line but are often overlooked as assets by the company. As a result, many employees become disengaged and unsatisfied. As this happens, employees begin to look for opportunities outside the company where they feel they will be more valued for their abilities. Unfortunately, for the company losing employees, the most likely losses are the most accomplished employees. …

Implementing A State Lottery In Nevada, Benjamin K. Boulton

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility of implementing a state lottery in Nevada and to present the benefits of a state lottery for both the Nevada hospitality industry and the Nevada economy. It will compare and contrast the arguments for and the arguments against a lottery by executing a content analysis of existing research literature as well as other relevant publications. It will also examine the history of lotteries, the states that border Nevada and have lotteries and the legislative history of lottery proposals in Nevada.

Logistics And Supply Chain Management In The Hotel Industry: Impact On Hotel Performance In Service Delivery, Clement K. Odoom

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this professional paper is to identify and describe the way logistics and supply chain management practices can be used for costs savings. As hotel companies manage and operate their properties, they should focus on several aspects such as logistics management, inventory management, information technology, procurement and distribution, lean and green supply chain practices. Finally, this paper explores the competitive benefits that come from applying these concepts. Part three will contain a set of recommendations how they can be utilized in the hotel industry

An Introductory Wine Course For Hospitality Students, Jeffrey Conklin

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of an associate level hospitality management degree program is to prepare graduates for careers in the multi-faceted hospitality industry. In order to be successful these graduates must have the knowledge, skills and ability to be successful in the industry. The curriculum for these programs must be comprehensive, current and relevant to the industry. The research presented in this paper is intended to address introductory wine education, and outline an introductory course in wine. This area, which is not currently offered in some programs, is an important part of the food service side of the industry.

This research paper …

A Business Plan For Grass Fed Restaurant, Joshua Schonfeld

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This paper will present a business plan for a grass fed steakhouse concept in Chicago. After having spent the past year researching the grass fed meat market, meeting with grass fed farmers and looking for restaurant locations in three different markets (Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago) it has become apparent that Chicago is going to be the best market for this type of concept. In the restaurant industry, contacts and word of mouth are two huge players in success in the restaurant business and this is definitely a connection that the partners have in Chicago.

Why grass fed? As …

Synthesis And High-Pressure Structural Studies Of Aux2 (X= Al, Ga, In) Compounds, Jason Lee Baker

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Three intermetallic compounds, AuX₂ (X = Al, Ga, In), were synthesized by arc-melting proper stoichiometric ratios of high purity Au, Al, Ga, and In. They were found to be single-phase in the CaF₂ type Fm3m crystalline structure. Interest in these particular intermetallic materials is due to intriguing pressure-induced behavior such as electronic topological transitions (ETTs), and structural phase transitions as well as their use in a variety of practical applications such as a solar spectral absorber and in electronic circuitry. In this study, the high-pressure structure of these materials was studied using high resolution synchrotron x-ray diffraction (XRD) …

Sexual Harassment In Las Vegas, Jonathan Michael Birds

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Sexual harassment, either "quid pro quo" demands or the creation of a hostile environment harms both success and social confidence (Welsh, 1999). The nature of sexual harassment in an overtly sexual environment like Las Vegas has not yet been explored. The current study primarily analyzed responses from UNLV students who work in Las Vegas. Experiences of and attitudes towards sexual harassment were compared by gender. Finally, experiences of sexual harassment were compared between UNLV students and students at another university.

Mother Knows Best: The Rhetorical Persona Of Michelle Obama And The "Let's Move" Campaign, Monika Bertaki

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Some first ladies are often condemned for being too involved with the presidents' power in politics while other first ladies find themselves condemned for the lack of involvement. First ladies, it seems, are damned if they do and damned if they don't. Consequently, Michelle Obama faces rhetorical problems that in some respects are similar to those of previous first ladies and in other respects are quite different. Along with the criticisms encountered by previous presidential wives, Obama faces the stereotypes African American women have endured since the inception of the nation. Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" campaign serves as a rhetorical …

The Use Of A Pylon Mounted Transducer For Investigating The Gait Of Transtibial Amputees, Justin Robert Brink

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Two areas of research interest in the design and use of lower limb prosthetic devices are how foot performance varies with design and how prosthesis alignment affects gait. The current study addressed both of these areas through the use of the JR3 triaxial transducer mounted at the base of the socket. The transducer is an innovative form of instrumentation that measures forces and moments at the end of the socket. Traditional measurement of gait uses a force plate buried in the floor of a gait laboratory. The study established that the transducer offers a viable means of instrumentation for amputee …

Upgrading Unlv's Astm E477 Test Facility To Meet The Current Standards Of Astm E477, Ronn Fojas

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

A by-product of Heating, Ventilation, and Air-conditioning (HVAC) systems is noise that is produced by fans, compressors, and other related equipments and the noises from the turbulence that is created by moving air. Sometimes, it is impractical to modify the sources of the noise, which requires designers to modify the path of the noise, the duct system. These modifications might include installing an in-duct silencer or acoustical lining on the inside walls of the ducts. The testing and the precise quantification of the performance of these silencers and duct linings are necessary for any designer to be able to make …

Exploring The Seed Bank Dynamics Of Red Brome: Longevity, Density, And Relationship To Fire, Benjamin S. Jurand

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This research explores several untested aspects of the seed bank characteristics of red brome (Bromus rubens), an invasive annual grass in southwestern United States arid lands. Red brome is a formidable competitor to native plant species, both annual and perennial alike, and produces many seeds that germinate easily. The stalks of red brome contribute continuous-cover fuel loads that facilitate wildfires destructive to mature native Mojave Desert plant communities. This makes it a priority species for land managers, particularly when dealing with recovery after fire.

This project addressed questions related to the longevity of red brome seeds in soil seed banks …

The Zeta Function Of Generalized Markoff Equations Over Finite Fields, Juan Mariscal

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this paper is to derive the Hasse-Weil zeta function of a special class of Algebraic varieties based on a generalization of the Markoff equation. We count the number of solutions to generalized Markoff equations over finite fields first by using the group structure of the set of automorphisms that generate solutions and in other cases by applying a slicing method from the two-dimensional cases. This enables us to derive a generating function for the number of solutions over the degree k extensions of a fixed finite field giving us the local zeta function. We then create an …

Reclaimed From A Contracting Zion: The Evolving Significance Of St. Thomas, Nevada, Aaron James Mcarthur

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Historians tend to treat Mormon history separately from the larger patterns of western American and U. S. history. The history of St. Thomas, Nevada, the remains of which are within the boundaries of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, show that this segregated treatment is inadequate. St. Thomas was established in 1865 by Mormon missionaries after the Mormon leader Brigham Young sent them to the Moapa Valley in what is now southern Nevada to grow cotton. The town, like a few other Mormon sites in the region, was abandoned by the LDS Church, taken up by other people, and assigned …

August 28, 1963: Building Community Through Collective Discourse, Jennifer Nestelberger

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The August 28, 1963 March on Washington is often remembered primarily for Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, which serves as the pinnacle of civil rights movement oratory. This thesis, in contrast, examines speeches of the leaders of the "Big Six" organizations that preceded King's well-known words in order to shed light on the complexities of the movement and the outcomes that can result from meaningful dissent. Occurring at a time of division, the March emerged as a symbol of hope for change in the nation. The addresses of the day reflected this hope and helped build …

A Father's Hands: African American Fathering Involvement And The Educational Outcomes Of Their Children, Theodore Samuel Ransaw

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Although there is a great deal of research on hegemonic masculinity, fathering involvement and a father's influence on his children's educational outcomes, little empirical research has linked these practices to African American fathers. Because they are typically depicted as ineffective, irresponsible and non-present, African American fathers who are involved in their children's lives must do so in ways that affirm their identity, ways that are contrary to the common social conceptions and media representations of Black men. Using the framework of hegemonic masculinity, this study examined how the increase of women in the workforce translates to both the amount of …

Restaurant Service Employees Organizational Commitment: Shared Gratuity Versus Independent Gratuity Environments, Susan J. Roe

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study examined the organizational commitment levels between 207 restaurant service employees from 11 restaurants working in different types of gratuity distribution environments, those sharing (or pooling) gratuities and those retaining their own gratuities. Identifying differences in organizational commitment levels between employees can assist managers in selecting which gratuity distribution environment, shared or individual, to utilize in their restaurant operations. No statistically significant differences were found in organizational commitment or organizational justice levels between restaurant employees in the differing gratuity environments. Differences in organizational commitment were found among employee types. Restaurant service staff preference for type of gratuity distribution system …

Effects Of Hyperthermia On Photochemical Internalization-Mediated Delivery Of Bleomycin, Christina Schlazer

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Standard treatment protocols for high-grade gliomas, such as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), are highly ineffective due to their inability to eradicate infiltrating tumor cells. Improvements in overall survival are likely to be realized only with the development of more effective localized therapies capable of eradicating tumor cells in the surgical resection margin and beyond. Photochemical internalization (PCI) is a localized light-based therapeutic modality that enhances the efficacy of therapeutic macromolecules including chemotherapeutic agents such as bleomycin. A number of studies have shown that this photodynamic therapy (PDT) - based modality may prove effective in the treatment of high-grade gliomas.

Three-dimensional multicell …

Evaluation Of Highly Efficient Distribution Transformer Design And Energy Standards Based On Load, James Sanguinetti

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Power distribution transformers have been prevalent in commercial building distribution systems since the inception of modern commercial electricity. Yet as more and more manufactures seek to improve transformer efficiencies by making changes to the design of the transformer itself, a fundamental concept may be overlooked - the impact transformer demand sizing has on power losses. When modern transformers are improperly sized for the application they will be installed for they are not being utilized at their optimum design loading range, which may impact operating efficiency.

This thesis will aim to test and evaluate modern day transformer design coupled with currently …

Improving Efficiency And Capacity Of Hydro-Turbines In The Western United States, Hoover Dam, Jonathan Sanchez

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The goal for this thesis is to minimize clearances and tolerances, in order to prevent water leakage. A proper seal on the seal rings does not let excess water flow through the turbine runner, thus conserving more water and wasting less energy. Moreover, water leakage past worn wear plates allows for an extra load for the turbine when operating in condense mode. When the wicket gates are closed, water leakage past worn plates wastes mechanical energy in the water; thus, decreasing the efficiency of the Francis turbine, especially when operating at partial loads. Furthermore, the wicket gates also known as …

Troubled Youth: Girls In Gangs, Mark Manny Valentin

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Girls in gangs have been around since society recognized that there was a gang issue and although there has been an increase in attention paid to gangs in the last few decades, there has been relatively little attention paid to the girls in these gangs. It has only been recently that research has been conducted to explore the reasons behind girls joining gangs and their roles in the gang setting. Generally though, the research on girls in gangs has either been middle school surveys or qualitative studies of girls already in gangs. This research pulled from a population of delinquent …

Defining Neighborhood: Social Disorganization Theory, Official Data, And Community Perceptions, Jeremy Waller

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

While the theory of social disorganization has been refined through research and critique, data and methods used to measure key concepts related to the theory have largely remained the same. This study examines the extent to which resident perceptions of neighborhoods are reflected similarly in official data provided by the U.S. Census, in terms of both neighborhood boundaries and neighborhood conditions. It consists of a combination of respondent-identified data and official data gathered on neighborhoods, their condition, and crime. Comparisons between perceptual indicators of neighborhood boundary and characteristics and corresponding official data at the block, block group, and Census tracts …

Concordance Of Vocational Interest And Efficacy Of Female College Students Pursuing A Traditional Career Path, Priscilla A. Walton

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Women make up a considerable portion of the 21st century workforce. Despite the increase in the labor force, the Census Bureau continues to reflect that the majority of women are employed in what are defined as traditionally female occupations (Watson, Quatman & Edler, 2002). Even though the proportion of women in the work force has increased, women continue to be underrepresented in high-paying, high status professions that have been traditionally male dominated (Betz, 1994). Significant research has been devoted to understanding the unique variables which affect women's career choices and behaviors. According to Fitzgerald, Fassinger, and Betz (1995), women's vocational …

Parker Winds Revisited: An Extension To Disk Winds, Timothy Waters

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

A simple 1D dynamical model of thermally driven disk winds is proposed, based on the results of recent, 2.5D axi-symmetric simulations. Our formulation of the disk wind problem is in the spirit of the original Parker (1958) and Bondi (1952) problems, namely we assume an elementary flow configuration consisting of an outflow following pre-defined trajectories in the presence of a central gravitating point mass. Viscosity and heat conduction are neglected. We consider two different streamline geometries, both comprised of straight lines in the (x,z)-plane: (i) streamlines that converge to a geometric point located at (x,z)=(0,-d) and (ii) streamlines that emerge …

Kinesio Taping On Short-Term Changes In Shoulder Strength In Healthy Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Dario A. Callegari, Cristobal E. Cordova, Julia R. Dunievitz

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Study Type: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Introduction:

Kinesio tape is an elastic tape used in various settings and it is purported to assist in strengthening weakened muscles. The mechanism behind this claim is neuromuscular facilitation. The purpose of this study was to determine if the claims of Kinesio tape would be supported in its role in strength enhancing properties.

Methods:

Twenty-nine healthy, untrained male and female college-aged individuals participated in this study. Two baseline measurements assessing shoulder external rotation (ER) strength were collected using isokinetic dynamometry. Subjects were then randomized into two groups, Kinesio tape with ER strengthening (KT-Ex) and …

Why Access Barriers To Primary Care Exist For People With Mobility Disabilities: A Mixed Methods Study Of Health Care Administrators, Jennifer Renee Pharr

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Previous studies have been conducted to assess the barriers that limit access to health care services for people with disabilities. However, no study has been conducted to understand why barriers exist. Do practice administrators lack knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or is cost the issue? The purpose of this study was to examine why structural and equipment barriers exist that limit access to primary health care for people with disabilities.

A convergent parallel mixed methods design was employed. Practice administrators were selected for this study because of their oversight of the budget, equipment purchasing, facility operations and …