Digital Commons Network^™

The Impact Of The 2007 Oklahoma Immigration Reform Act On Labor Costs In The Restaurant Industry, Xun Zhou

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Restaurant industry is becoming the largest employer of immigrants in the United States, immigration policies are fundamental to the success of the restaurant industry, as entrepreneurs, as customers, and as workers. Therefore, this paper attempts to investigate current issues regarding the unauthorized labor force in the hospitality industry. In particular, this study will try to discover and explore the difference in labor costs in the restaurant industry before and after the newest immigration reform act enacted in Oklahoma. In addition, this paper will also provide suggestions for future researchers in this research field.

An Evaluation Of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Survival On Five Environmental Surfaces Under Two Different Humidities, With And Without The Addition Of Bovine Serum Albumin, Courtney Ann Coughenour

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria is a major public health concern, as they result in greater healthcare costs and increased morbidity and mortality rates. Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one organism of particular concern, with the number of infections increasing in epidemic proportion. Bacterial surface contamination with MRSA is significant, as it may serve as a reservoir for transmission and have negative health implications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate survival of MRSA on five environmental surface materials; glass, wood, vinyl, plastic, and cloth. The effect of relative humidity (RH) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were …

Water Quality Changes In A Constructed Wetland At The Springs Preserve In Las Vegas, Nevada, Aaron Mathis Miller

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The Springs Preserve near downtown Las Vegas, Nevada contains a seven-acre constructed wetland. Springs Preserve managers are planning to use water from the constructed wetland to irrigate creeks immediately north of the wetland. These creeks will be used by a variety ofaquatic wildlife, including endangered amphibians sensitive to harmful metalloids, such as selenium, lead, and arsenic.

In an attempt to answer toxicological questions about contaminant concentrations in the constructed wetland, three metals and metalloids (selenium, arsenic, and lead), two nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), and the major ionic species were analyzed at four sampling locations for aqueous concentrations, in two separate …

An Evaluation Of Group Differences In Mentoring Programs' Perceived Outcomes, Jennifer Sue Anderson

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Mentoring programs, like Big Brothers/Big Sisters (BBBS), focus on targeting at-risk youth in a preventative effort to increase pro-social behaviors as well as improving one's confidence, competence, and caring. These factors are important as they are indicative of the types of attachment bonds that insulate juveniles from delinquent behavior. Using data from a BBBS located in the Southeast part of the United States, the current study examined whether different groups of juveniles in mentoring programs are considered to be equally successful in promoting feelings of confidence, competence, and caring. Employing a series of one-way ANOVAs, no significant relationships were found …

An Evaluation Of Plastic Toys For Lead Contamination In Day Care Centers In The Las Vegas Valley, Joseph Alan Greenway

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The harmful effect of childhood exposure to environmental lead continues to be a major health concern. This study examined lead contamination within the plastic of children's toys. It was also hypothesized that the use of lead as a stabilizer would result in higher incidents of elevated lead (> 600 ppm) in polyvinyl chloride plastics (PVC) than non-PVC plastics. It was also hypothesized that, due to the use lead chromate, yellow toys would have higher incidents of elevated lead (> 600 ppm) than toys of other colors. Toy samples were limited to those found in day care centers in Las Vegas, …

Targeting Youth—Hit Or Miss? Juvenile Certification In Clark County, Nevada Examined, Brittnie Turquoise Watkins

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Juvenile certification is the method by which a juvenile may be removed from juvenile court jurisdiction and placed in the adult criminal court jurisdiction. In many cases, juvenile courts exercise judicial certifications, in which a judge determines if the case will be heard in juvenile or adult court. Many factors influence a judge's determination of certification outcomes. Legal factors include dangerousness, amenability, and maturity of the youth. Extra-legal factors include race and sex. Although judges are believed to be impartial, prior research has found that these bias factors may influence outcomes. This study assesses what factors are influential in one …

Advance Practice Nurses Readiness To Change Assessment Methods In Parents Of Obese Children, Carolyn Leach

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The worldwide epidemic of child and adolescent overweight and obesity continues to increase at disturbing rates. Unhealthy dietary practice is one of multiple causative behaviors leading to child and adolescent overweight and obesity. This behavior can contribute to short and long-term health consequences. Parents are modulators in the development of children's dietary behavior practices. It is recommended clinical practice that pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) assess readiness to change behavior in parents of overweight or obese children. The components of the Prochaska and DiClemente's Transtheoretical Model (TTM) in correlation with the counseling style of Rollnick, Miller and Butler's methods of Motivational …

City Of Las Vegas Detention And Enforcement Commission On Accreditation Of Law Enforcement Accreditation Program Evaluation Report, Karen Kelly, Cecelia Mcneely, Sandy Seda

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The City of Las Vegas Detention and Enforcement (CLVDE) is a highly efficient, professionally managed, unique law enforcement agency. The CLVDE has a multifaceted mission and is responsible for providing diverse law enforcement, patrol, code enforcement and support services for the City of Las Vegas. The agency is comprised of several operational divisions: A city Jail, an Animal Control division, Parking Enforcement and the Marshals (police). For many years, the CLVDE, has enjoyed the unique distinction of being a "Triple Crown" accredited agency1. The agency currently has attained accreditation status from several nationally recognized professional organizations such as: The American …

Increasing Skill Performances Of Problem-Solving In Students With Intellectual Disabilities, Debra Lynn Cote

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Research indicates that teachers and parents of children with disabilities rated self-determination, and in particular problem-solving skills, as important for success (Agran & Alper, 2000; Kolb & Hanley-Maxwell, 2003; Wehmeyer, Agran, & Hughes, 2000). Yet students with intellectual disabilities lack specific instruction related to self-determination, and often they have limited opportunities to practice the problem-solving skills that are needed (Agran & Wehmeyer, 2005; Grigal, Neubert, Moon, & Graham, 2003). This results in adolescents with intellectual disabilities exiting the school environment without the problem-solving skills needed to solve real-world problems.

Problem-solving instruction increases the acquisition of self-determination skills of students with …

The Swedish Casino Model: A Comparative Study Of Casino Gaming Models, Daniel Sahlin

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This comparative study addresses the different gaming regulations that exist around the world. The study involves seven different countries, with its center of attention on the Swedish Casino Model which is owned and operated by the Swedish Government. The study of the Casino Models that originate from each country’s gaming legislation and the influence they have worldwide, as well as how and why new Casino Gaming models are developed. Lastly, a discussion is presented on how different Casino Models can have an effect upon each other and how the Sweden Casino Model may or may not effect other nations.

An Examination Of Female Poker Players, Di Ma

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

MSN Encarta defines gambling as the wager “of money or other items of value on an uncertain event, dependent either wholly or in part on chance.” The major types of gambling are lotteries, sports betting including horse racing, and casino games including slot machines and table games (2007). A look at PokerUK.com’s Famous Gamblers of the 18th century to present shows thirteen men and zero women (2007). This gender division has experienced a recent change. In 1999, CNN.com reported that women who gambled increased 20% between 1994 and 1998. This figure doubled the percentage growth for male gamblers. The e-Commerce …

An Examination Of The Non-Gaming Nightlife Entertainment Sector Of Las Vegas Resort-Casinos, Jennifer Miyakubo

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This paper provides an overview of the non-gaming nightlife entertainment sector of Las Vegas resort-casinos. Three qualitative interviews with executives of The Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, The Monte Carlo Las Vegas Resort and Casino, and The Mirage Las Vegas were conducted to examine their perceptions and needs in the industry. This paper examines the impact the current economic recession is having on the Las Vegas nightlife and also reveals what types of questions resort-casino operators want to know about their customer. This exploratory research is a useful preliminary step that helps ensure that a more rigorous, more conclusive future …

Persuasiveness Of The Text: An Analysis Of Virginia Woolf's "Three Guineas", Carl William-John Linder

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This analysis is a consideration of the Three Guineas by Virginia Woolf and deals with her use of endnotes and citations throughout the essay-novel, and their persuasive role in regards to the text. This paper will investigate this paratextual source material and its purposeful inclusion into the work. As mnemonic components and logical evidence, the textual citations are subservient to the persuasive quality of the text and the arrangement of her argument. After separating historical elements from the rhetorical aspects of the essay-novel, the paper explores Virginia Woolf's use of Classical rhetorical strategies in constructing her argument in Three Guineas. …

A Study Of Relevance Feedback In Vector Space Model, Deepthi Katta

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Information Retrieval is the science of searching for information or documents based on information need from a huge set of documents. It has been an active field of research since early 19^th century and different models of retrieval came in to existence to cater the information need.

This thesis starts with understanding some of the basic information retrieval models, followed by implementation of one of the most popular statistical retrieval model known as Vector Space Model. This model ranks the documents in the collection based on the similarity measure calculated between the query and the respective document. The user …

The Effect Of Concurrent Cell Phone Use And Walking On Gait Characteristics, Jennifer Marie Aldridge

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study examined the effects that cell phone use has on gait and situation awareness. Subjects (n=18; 24.67±3.60 yrs) completed three five-minute treadmill walking conditions (self-selected speed): (1) CONTROL (walking only), (2) TALK (walking and talking), and (3) TEXT (walking and texting). The number of detected lights presented in the visual field was recorded, as were kinematic data of the feet. Using a one-way repeated measure ANOVA it was determined light detection (F _(2,17) =39.777, p<0.001) and TC_min (F_(2,17) =8.574, p=0.001) were different between conditions. Specifically, light detection decreased during TEXT (2.6±2.2 lights) versus TALK (5.8±0.05 lights, p<0.001) or CONTROL (5.9±0.05 lights, p<0.001); TC_min decreased …

Mercury Concentrations In Muscle Tissue From Sportfish In Lake Mead, Nevada, Joanna L. Kramer

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Lake Mead is the largest reservoir by volume in the United States and provides fishing opportunities for numerous anglers. Considerable attention has been given to the bioaccumulation of methylmercury in fish tissues, however, no formal study utilizing approved USEPA methodology has been conducted to quantify the amount of mercury present in fish tissue from Lake Mead. The purpose of this study is to determine the concentrations of mercury present in the most commonly consumed fish from Lake Mead and to identify if any of the 4 major basins contain fish with elevated concentrations of mercury. Largemouth bass (n=49), striped bass …

Perceptions Of Employers Toward Hiring Graduates With Online Degrees, Leisa Dione Thompson

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Since the late 1990s, online education programs for academic credit have emerged in colleges and universities across the country at an astonishing rate. Enrollment in online courses and online degree programs has grown dramatically. Online education is in high demand because it allows individuals to pursue an education while maintaining their full-time jobs and commitments to their families. However, the employability of a graduate with an online degree has not kept pace with the growth of this delivery method. This study was an attempt to explore the workforce sentiments concerning employment of college graduates obtaining a degree completed through online …

Biology-Inspired Adaptive And Nonlinear Robust Control Of Bauv Using Pectoral-Like Fins, Subramanian Ramasamy

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Aquatic animals have splendid ability to move smoothly through water using variety of oscillating fins. Presently researchers are involved in developing biorobotic autonomous underwater vehicles (BAUVs) which have the ability to swim like marine animals. Multiple oscillating fins (dorsal, caudal, pectoral, pelvic, etc.) can be mounted on BAUVs to generate control forces for propulsion and maneuvering. In this research work, control of the BAUVs using pectoral fins alone is considered. The oscillating pectoral fins produce unsteady periodic forces. The control of motion of an BAUV in yaw and dive planes are considered.

Turn Constrained Path Planning Problems, Victor M. Roman

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

We consider the problem of constructing multiple disjoint paths connecting a source point s to a target point t in a geometric graph. We require that the paths do not have any sharp turn angles. We present a review of turn constrained path planning algorithms and also algorithms for constructing disjoint paths. We then combine these techniques and present an O(nlogn) time algorithm for constructing a pair of edge disjoint turn constrained paths connecting two nodes in a planar geometric graph. We also consider the development of a turn constrained shortest path map in the presence of …

Quest For Quotidian: A National Survey Of Non-Heterosexual Attitudes Toward Marriage, Troy A. Mcginnis

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Marriage equality remains a legal impossibility for same-sex couples in most states, and opponents are concerned that expansion of marriage to include gays and lesbians would radically redefine the institution. Findings from an online survey of lesbians, gays and bisexuals— a non-random sample of 466 adult men and women age 18 to 74 in 37 states— strongly suggest that many non-heterosexuals' attitudes reflect neither a radical departure from core definitions of marriage, nor a rejection of traditional "family values," but instead signal an assimilationist position favorable to traditional marriage norms rather than a liberationist position critical of the institution.

An Examination Of Sport Identity Amongst Youth Soccer Participants And The Implications For Mls Marketing, Emmanuel Ayim

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Up to this point, numerous studies have been done on sport consumption behavior among spectators. However, few studies have been done on participant consumption behavior and no research has focused on soccer participant identity. The purpose of this study is to examine soccer identity among youth soccer players, including their level of identity as a soccer participant, soccer spectator and fan. Additionally, identity development of youth soccer participants relative to MLS marketing efforts of soccer was investigated.

Sport is intimately intertwined with the American lifestyle. Experts conservatively estimate sport as an over 400 billion dollar industry. This places the sport …

Predictors Of Hpv Knowledge And Awareness In Rural America, Melanee Dulfon

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Prior research has shown that overall awareness of HPV is low among women in America. Yet limited research exists as to the awareness of HPV among rural U.S. women. The goal of this study was to determine the factors that predict women's knowledge and awareness of HPV in rural America. Secondary data was utilized from the National Cancer Institute Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) of 2005. The sample consisted of 788 adult women over the age of 18 from rural areas of the U.S. Results indicated younger age, increased education, receipt of a Pap exam in over three years, …

Flowing Toward Sustainability: Two Stream Adjudications Analyzed Under The Iad Framework, Nancye Lou Bethurem

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

One of the most significant problems impacting the western United States today is the lack of naturally occurring water resources, especially during this period of drought and explosive population growth. This has led to intense competition over water use and ownership in the arid and semi-arid regions of the United States. During this period of water resource scarcity, it is extremely important to determine the ownership of water rights in order to implement optimal management systems. Most western states use a system of "general stream adjudications" to make water rights ownership determinations.

General stream adjudications are legal proceedings used to …

Trophic Interactions Associated With Indroduction Of The Invasive Quagga Mussel In Lake Mead, Nevada, Eric Michael Loomis

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The ecology of Lake Mead is experiencing an uncertain future since the documented arrival of the invasive quagga mussel. Interactions among constituents of the food web will undoubtedly be altered over time, adversely affecting the popular sport fishery. This study is the first in Lake Mead to present historic trends in lower trophic interactions among threadfin shad and zooplankton before, and shortly after, the arrival of quagga mussels. Shad stomach content analysis revealed cladocerans and copepods were the dominant identifiable food items in Las Vegas Bay and Overton Arm of Lake Mead. Baseline energetics data through the use of stable …

An On-Sun Parametric Study Of Solar Hydrogen Production Using Wo3 Photoanodes, Christopher K. Halford

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The solar production of hydrogen using photoactive electrodes is a topic receiving much attention in recent years. The use of thin metal oxide films as photoanodes allows the water splitting reaction to occur at a much lower applied voltage than would be necessary with a straight electrolysis process. Researchers have reported up to 18% solar to hydrogen efficiencies over short periods. The University of Nevada Las Vegas in conjunction with the UK based firm Hydrogen Solar have developed a prototype of this type of cell using a WO3 photoanode. An on-sun test facility has been constructed by the UNLV Center …

African American Parental Beliefs About Resiliency: A Delphi Study, Vita L. Jones

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Resiliency is a concept that has been discussed in the fields of anthropology, psychology, sociology, and education for over 30 years. Most authors define resiliency as the ability to triumph over adversity. The term associated with children/youth who rise above negative situations is resilient. A subgroup of students who are disproportionately affected by negative perceptions from society and who often find themselves in negative situations are African American children/youth. It appears that these students encounter less social fit in school, have a higher propensity for at-risk behavior, and experience less favorable academic and social outcomes.

This study involved a Delphi …

"Divine William" And The Master: The Influence Of Shakespeare On The Novels Of Henry James, Amy M. Green

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Henry James's most sustained commentary on Shakespeare comes in the form of an introduction to an edition of The Tempest that was published in 1907. In it, he remarks that the play is a reflection of Shakespeare "consciously tasting of the first and rarest of his gifts, that of imaged creative Expression...to show him as unresistingly aware" (1207). This praise ties unerringly back to James's praise of the artist as one who views the world through open eyes and can capture the nuance of experience. James himself worked at the craft of fiction, and writes extensively in his notebooks and …

Adult Estimation, Eye Movements And Math Anxiety, Robert T. Durette

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In this experiment the estimation ability of college undergraduates was examined using a number line task, with lines numbered 0-to-100, 0-to1,000 and 0-to-723 presented on a computer monitor. Previous research on kindergarteners' through 6^th graders' ability to estimate showed a progression from a logarithmic mental representation of numbers to a linear mental number line. Children's ability to estimate was found to correlate strongly with math achievement. We used this task to examine the hypothesis that remnants of the underlying logarithmic number line representation persist into adulthood despite formal educational experience with the number system (e.g. Dehaene, 1997). 0 to …

Maximizing Cash Flows In Integrated Resorts: An Exploratory Study Of The Highest And Best Use Of Available Space, Denise Négrel

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Through the analysis of the available literature, this exploratory study focuses on the concepts of direct and indirect contribution of amenities to the financial results of Integrated Resorts. In addition, the paper reviews the retail definition of highest and best use and evaluates its possible applications to the hospitality industry. Even if limited in number, studies in the field show that, with the appropriate statistical models, it is possible to estimate the indirect financial contribution of specific amenities to the profitability of Integrated Resorts. Moreover, an unprofitable amenity can justify its presence in an Integrated Resort only by indirectly contributing …

Analyzing Policy Issues In Presidential Speeches And The Media: An Agenda-Setting Study, Jessica L. Hughes

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

For decades, researchers have maintained that the president has a significant role in setting the policy-making agenda. In this study, a grounded theory approach was applied to determine President George W. Bush's success in focusing the media's attention toward policies mentioned in his State of the Union Addresses (2002-2008). Bush's issue priorities were determined by coding individual paragraphs as themes. To identify the frequency of these same themes in the media, the front pages of The L.A. Times, The New York Times, and The Washington Post were analyzed one week before and after each address. Coding was limited to every …