Digital Commons Network^™

Must Pay Now, David C. Perkins

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

These poems attempt to stand amidst the towering shadows of Enlightenment. One of these pillars involves the newfound land from a collective western European vantage and these lands are called the Americas. This space is where these poems are located. They suckle at the monolithic breasts of Enlightened Romance as did Romulus and Remus to the She-Wolf. The poems in their own originality engage with writers such as Jonathan Edwards, Alice Notley, Susan Howe, Frank O’Hara, William Carlos Williams, Walt Whitman, Christina Rossetti, William Blake, and John Cage. If there ever was such a thread in tradition, these people might …

Selling Knowledge: A Sociological Analysis Of Attorney Advertisement In Las Vegas, Giselle Velasquez

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

I analyze how Las Vegas attorneys represent themselves, their associates and clients in televised law firm commercials. I use attorney commercials as a case to explore cultural beliefs in media representations. Using an inductive method, I analyze the textual, visual, and aural symbols that appear most frequently in television commercials to interpret how law firm advertisements convey themes of attorney expertise, knowledge, ethnic and gender stereotyping. I introduce this study with a historical evaluation of the rise of advertisement in the United States. I continue discussing how the media is an important realm of discourse that affects people's identity. Using …

Donepezil And Galanin Interactions In An Animal Model Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Jonathan J. Sabbagh

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder marked by a progressive loss of cognitive function. One of the neurobiological hallmarks of AD is a progressive loss of cholinergic neurons and a decrease in the amount of acetylcholine in the brain. Pharmacological therapies have targeted the cholinergic system, specifically first-line, palliative treatment using acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors, such as donepezil. Donepezil has been shown to increase cholinergic tone and ameliorate some of the cognitive deficits in AD patients. Galanin, a neuropeptide that inhibits the evoked release of several neurotransmitters including acetylcholine as well as modulates seveal intracellular cascades, is overexpressed in AD …

The Multiple-Choice Concept Map (Mccm): An Interactive Computer-Based Assessment Method, Ioan C. Sas

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This research attempted to bridge the gap between cognitive psychology and educational measurement (Mislevy, 2008; Leighton & Gierl, 2007; Nichols, 1994; Messick, 1989; Snow & Lohman, 1989) by using cognitive theories from working memory (Baddeley, 1986; Miyake & Shah, 1999; Grimley & Banner, 2008), multimedia learning (Mayer, 2001), and cognitive load (Chandler and Sweller, 1991, 1992; Cerpa, Chandler, & Sweller., 1996) to identify potential design weaknesses of traditional select-and-fill-in (SAFI) concept map assessment and then to guide the design of the new and improved multiple-choice concept map (MCCM) assessment method. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the …

Therapist-Initiated Addiction Assessment Procedures Of Marriage And Family Therapists In The Southwest United States, Emire Olmeztoprak

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to examine the addiction assessment procedures of marriage and family therapists. Addiction prevalence rates are growing therefore it is likely that marriage and family therapists will have clients affected by addiction. Undetected addictions can impede treatment and/or prevent the therapist from making appropriate treatment related decisions. Marriage and family therapists in Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico were invited to complete a web-based survey containing a series of questions about their assessment procedures for addiction as well as a series of demographics questions. The data from the completed surveys was collected and analyzed. The data …

Effects Of Environmental Prompts On Stair Usage, Lori Andersen

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether environmental prompts placed in two-story buildings on a university campus would increase stair usage. Three buildings were used. One served as a control, while the other two received an intervention. Participants of three buildings were observed taking the stairs and elevator for seven weeks. Baseline data was collected; signs were introduced, and then removed during this time period. Approximately 2700 observations were collected. Environmental prompts did not appear to increase stair usage. There were significant differences in the amount of stair users between buildings. The stair usage rates of this particular …

Online Gaming: Prohibition Vs. Regulation, Andrew Montgomery

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Since online gaming began in 1995, the industry has been unsettled. Despite online gaming being viewed as illegal by the United States government, revenues generated from players in the U.S. grew consistently and rapidly from 1995 to 2006. U.S. lawmakers believed they clarified the legality issue by passing the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006 (UIGEA); however, this legislation did little to discourage people in the U.S. from engaging in online gambling. U.S. lawmakers have long debated prohibition vs. regulation of the industry. Given the apparent ineffectiveness of online gaming prohibition via UIGEA, lawmakers favoring legalization and regulation of …

“You Can’T Change What You Don’T Acknowledge”: A Content Analysis Of The Dr. Phil Show And Implications For Marriage And Family Therapists, Barbara Ann Spanjers

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Marriage and family therapists work from an ecological perspective, which includes the influence of mass media. The current study, a quantitative content analysis of The Dr. Phil Show, draws from communication studies, specifically cultivation theory. A content analysis is a first step to understanding how television messages affect client expectations of psychotherapy. Coding categories adapted from the common factors of psychotherapy literature are employed to determine how well the messages of The Dr. Phil Show correspond with practices related to positive psychotherapeutic outcomes. Common factors specific to the field of marriage and family therapy are utilized. The Dr. Phil …

Removal Of Arsenic And Strontium From Aqueous Solution Using Ironoxide Coated Zeolitized Tuff, Nataliya V. Kasimtseva

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

As world population grows so does the demand for safe drinking water. Meanwhile water resources become increasingly scarce and quality of natural water decreases due to a combination of natural and anthropogenic factors. Industry and agriculture have become a premiere source of hazardous constituents, along with natural processes such as rock weathering and volcanic eruptions. Our ability to remove hazardous constituents from water depends on chosen technology and nature of contaminant. Sorption and ion-exchange have been widely applied for water purification. Natural zeolites have been widely applied in water and waste water treatment as ion-exchangers for removal of harmful contaminants …

Attachment Theory As A Predictor Of Communicative Responses To Infidelity, Sandra Donovan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study set out to determine one’s communicative responses to infidelity as predicted by attachment style. Three hundred and ninety-two participants responded to a measure of attachment and were then randomly assigned to one of three scenarios: imagining a partner’s sexual infidelity, imagining a partner’s emotional infidelity and imagining a partner’s combined sexual and emotional infidelity. Participants then responded to a communicative response scale in reaction to the scenario. Results showed moderate support for attachment theory. Additional analysis revealed responses differed by infidelity type. Limitations and implications are discussed.

Study Of Stemming Algorithms, Savitha Kodimala

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Automated stemming is the process of reducing words to their roots. The stemmed words are typically used to overcome the mismatch problems associated with text searching.

In this thesis, we report on the various methods developed for stemming. In particular, we show the effectiveness of n-gram stemming methods on a collection of documents.

Structural Model Of Effects Of Cultural Factors On Escalation Of Commitment Through Antecedents, Agency, And Negative Framing Effects, Woo-Sik Danny Choi

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to identify and measure the effects of Hofstede‟s cultural factors on escalation of commitment for hospitality managers among American and Chinese managers. Typical cultural factors include power distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualism and collectivism, masculinity and femininity, and orientation. Escalation of commitment refers to making decisions in risky circumstances. First, the effect of cultural factors on escalation of commitment was measured through antecedents (mediator variables). Second, the first effect of antecedents on escalation of commitment was measured through agency and negative framing effects. Structural equation modeling (SEM) found significant relationships between cultural factors and mediator …

Variability Of Pacing In Marathon Distance Running, Thomas A. Haney Jr.

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purposes of this study were to describe variability of pacing during a marathon and to determine if there is a relationship between variability of pacing and marathon performance. A total of 301 race profiles that contained personal global positioning system (GPS) from the Rock „n‟ Roll Las Vegas (Race 1) and San Diego (Race 2) marathons were downloaded (http://connect.garmin.com) and analyzed. Each marathon finish time was placed into one of three finish time bins: Bin 1: 2.5 – 3.9 hrs, Bin 2: 4.0 – 4.6 hrs, Bin 3: 4.7 – 7.2. The coefficient of variation of velocity (Velcov) was …

Altering Explicit And Implicit Racial Prejudice Towards African American Males, Veronica A. Glover

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Researchers tested 281 undergraduates to determine if positive behavior messages about African American males presented during a learning task affected scores on explicit and implicit racial prejudice measures. During the learning task, we manipulated how many positive messages the participant viewed (100 vs. 150 or none) and the amount of African American males these messages applied to (1 vs. 3). Participants who viewed 150 positive messages about one African American male displayed more explicit prejudice than participants in control groups or participants learning 100 messages about one person. Results for the implicit measure indicated that participants who learned about three …

Pauline Viardot's Russian Compositions, Amy Jo Hunsaker

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Pauline Viardot-Garcia (1821-1910), an internationally famed opera singer well known for her vocal dexterity and range, was an intelligent and sophisticated woman who circulated easily among the brightest stars of the nineteenth century. Viardot, who was fluent in five languages, composed over 100 songs and was one of the first Western Europeans to set Russian words to music. Many of her French, German, Spanish, and Italian songs were translated into Russian and published in St. Petersburg. Viardot’s interest in Russian music began early in her career, when she performed with the Imperial Opera in St. Petersburg from 1843 to 1846. …

Impact Investigation Of Reactor Fuel Operating Parameters On Reactivity For Use In Burnup Credit Applications, Tanya N. Sloma

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

When representing the behavior of commercial spent nuclear fuel (SNF), credit is sought for the reduced reactivity associated with the net depletion of fissile isotopes and the creation of neutron-absorbing isotopes, a process that begins when a commercial nuclear reactor is first operated at power. Burnup credit accounts for the reduced reactivity potential of a fuel assembly and varies with the fuel burnup, cooling time, and the initial enrichment of fissile material in the fuel. With regard to long-term SNF disposal and transportation, tremendous benefits, such as increased capacity, flexibility of design and system operations, and reduced overall costs, provide …

A Study Of Internship Programs In The Bed-And-Breakfast Industry, Pamela Frazier

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Effective internship programs can offer both interns and employers significant benefits. For the college student or mid-career changer seeking entrance into an industry, an internship offers practical experience in an area of interest while providing valuable skills, bolstering a professional resume, and increasing a worker’s marketability. For the employer, internship programs can support operational success and reduce employee recruitment costs. Specific to the highly labor-intensive hotel industry, internship programs have been instrumental in filling labor shortages during peak seasons, which allow hotel organizations to consistently provide optimal guest service. An industry known for their high employee-turnover rates, internship programs have …

Study Of China’S Online Catering Market Under The Booming Of Online Group Purchasing, Ben Fei

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this paper is to display the feasibility of the U.S. online catering business model applied in China’s market. First, this paper will investigate the Chinese catering dining reservation market, examine the Chinese consumer’s behavior, and analyze the business models of U.S. online catering companies. Second, this paper will study the current Chinese online group purchasing market and Chinese online catering Web sites. According to this information, this paper will find how to apply the well-developed U.S. online business model to the immature Chinese online catering market.

Exploration Of Chinese Consumer Complaint Behavior In The Hospitality Industry, Meng Li

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This paper will examine all the factors that would influence Chinese consumer complaint decision-making and choice of complaint response, particularly in the hospitality setting. In addition, it will also explain the most prevalent Chinese cultural values and analyze the potential impact of these values on the Chinese consumer complaint behavior in the hospitality industry. In other words, this paper will examine how consumer complaint behavior would vary under the Chinese cultural influence within the hospitality industry. In the end, the paper will propose a conceptual model of Chinese consumer complaint behavior in the hospitality industry. Such a model is to …

Does Complimentary In-Room Internet Access Influence Business Traveler's Decision On Hotel Selection In Singapore, Zainal Abiddin Kassim

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This exploratory paper begins by examining the influence of complimentary in-room internet access on hotel selection by business travelers to Singapore. Review of literature includes studies done in Asia Pacific, Europe and United States (U.S.) of America on the business travelers’ trends and perceptions of room amenities and the use of internet. The specific objective of this study is, therefore, to assess the importance and benefits of providing complimentary in-room internet access to business travelers in the perspective of the hotels.

In the methodology section, research on hotel websites was conducted to discover how many Singapore hotels are presently offering …

The Effects Of Social Media Networks In The Hospitality Industry, Wendy Lim

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

There are various platforms provided by the social media networks such as Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and Twitter to the marketing of products and services for the hospitality industry. Social network offers media technologies that can facilitate online functionality and monitoring perspectives wherein the data gathered can be used to develop their services for customer satisfaction. The hospitality industry can market themselves in social media and networking. Hospitality industry can use social media to engage customers and clients in dialogue and recognize their needs. Through these networking sites, hospitality industry can interact with consumers before, during, and after the vacation experience. …

Improved Back-Of-The-House Processes With Rfid Enabled It Model For Hospitality Industry In Singapore, Chieng We Ng

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This is a research paper exploring the ability of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to cope with challenges of back-of-the-house of the hospitality industry in Singapore. Focused on supply chain, food safety and security, the paper reviewed the three integrated service support processes of back-of-the-house that drove the service delivery processes of front-of-the-house in meeting the critical reliability dimension of SERVQUAL model. The RFID mobile technology’s advantages were studied in mitigating risks and meeting compliances within the three back-of-the-house areas. The RFID was further examined as a viable IT solution based on the potential impacts associated with cost-of-not-doing and the …

Perceptions Of The Tourism And Hospitality Industry By Singapore Polytechnic Hospitality Students: An Exploratory Study, Justin Matthew Pang

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Many Singapore polytechnic students are not keen to join the hospitality line even after being enrolled in a 3-year hospitality program. Many students find the nature of the job too stressful and strenuous. Students have also cited reasons such as long working hours, shift work, dealing with unpredictable circumstances in the job environment and having lower starting remuneration as compared other industries (K. Ong, personal communications, June 16, 2010). Other perceived qualitative reasons that have been given by students for not joining the industry would be the semi-professional nature of the hospitality industry as compared to other industries such as …

Is There A Suitable Crm Framework To Evaluate The Effectiveness Of Crm Practices In The Singapore Hotel Industry?, Janet Wong

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

With the continuous growth of the hospitality industry in Singapore and the increasing interest in CRM, it is becoming more critical to ensure Singapore hotels have in place a best CRM practice to improve customer value and retention. The purpose of this study is to develop a best CRM practice for Singapore hotels. Four frameworks are discussed in the study with Buttle’s modified framework being the best suited because other models took on a more strategic CRM focus or focus their attention on the role of ICT. This framework provides a detailed value chain to understand the CRM practices at …

Embracing Self Service Technology For Hotel Productivity Growth, Kee Chuan Neo

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This paper explores the various ways in which self-service technology (SST), if employed by the hotel industry, can actually contribute to the productivity growth in Singapore. The study provides an understanding of customer’s technology acceptance and readiness by utilizing the two widely extended and accepted approaches, Technology Readiness Index (TRI) and Technology acceptance model (TAM). The study also evaluated the four common self-service technology channels: electronic kiosks, the Internet, mobile devices, and the telephone applications. From an investigation on past studies, it is found that Singapore is receptive to self-service technology. Self-service technology thus could bring a highly respectable return …

Legalizing Gaming In Singapore: The Ethical Implications, Yeng Tuck Nicholas Lee

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In this day and age when directors of companies are found to be corrupt and governments are not void of graft and bribes, it is not a wonder that people would question the integrity of both companies and governments. Many cities in the world have decided to build mega resorts with gaming facilities for the purpose of economic development that includes employment and tourism. The aim of this study therefore is to contrast and compare the ethical issues and implications of the decisions made not only by the Singapore government but other governments of the US, Macau, the Bahamas and …

Technology Enhancement In Hotel Guestroom, Chee Wah Peter Too

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This is an exploratory research paper looking on various types of technology, facilities enhancement and devices adopted by hoteliers for their guestrooms to meet the ever increasing demand and expectations from their guests. This paper also explores the technologies and devices that owners use to leverage on business sustainability for their operations. As part of the corporate social responsibility, hotel owners are exploring the opportunities to increase these activities through the use of modern technology and devices to reduce damage to the environment such as using energy saving devices in their properties. Business and leisure travelers who are environmentally conscious …

City Of Las Vegas, Department Of Building And Safety: Valuation Based Fee Schedule Analysis, Darcy Adelbai-Hurd, Vicki L. Brown, Josh Turley, Mary Ann Weidner

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The City of Las Vegas Building and Safety Department (B & S) is being forced to make a number of difficult decisions regarding the structure of fees charged for the various services it provides. Like many building departments nationwide, B & S is experiencing the financial impact of the current economic decline affecting the construction industry. These fees directly affect B & S’ ability to staff the department in a manner that enables them to deliver an adequate level of service. With construction permits issued by B & S plummeting from an all-time high of 19,147 in 2004 to 5,093 …

The Case For Increased Cross-Agency Data Sharing In The State Of Nevada, Richard Entringer, Tina Jara, Alysia Peters, Steve Price

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

According to a July 2010 survey conducted by CNBC Nevada ranks 34th in its quality of life. Contributing to this low ranking are remarkable statistics that rank Nevada as the highest state in the nation regarding the percentage of 18 to 24 years olds who are not high school graduates and for 16 to 19 year olds who are not in school and not working. In addition, Nevada currently has the highest unemployment rate in the nation at 14%. Recognizing the need to increase the education and work skill levels for Nevada’s youth, and in an effort to remediate unacceptable …

Hotel Feasibility In The Recessionary Economy Of 2010: A Case Study In Reno, Nevada, Sang-Mun Cho

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In the aftermath of the economic crisis of 2008, it became evident that Nevada’s economy felt pains greater than that of the rest of the country. With sinking property values, opportunities may exist for the hotel investor. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the risks and benefits of acquiring a hotel property through the instrumentality of a hotel feasibility report. The literature review includes an evaluation of hotel feasibility analysis, its historical context, criticisms, and recommendations for performing effective studies. The case study part of this paper investigates the broader implications of hotel acquisition in the current recessionary …