Digital Commons Network^™

Estimating The Indirect Contribution Of Sports Books: Sports Wagering As A Driver Of Other In-House Revenues, Brett L.L. Abarbanel

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Using data from a repeater market hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, the relationship between sports book and slot machine revenues is examined. Daily sports book write and daily slot handle are compared over a 250 day period. Though many industry leaders theorize that sports book gamblers also wager in slot banks, the results of this research fail to demonstrate a statistically significant relationship between sports book write and slot coin-in. In addition, the model used included race book win as an independent variable. Race book win was found to be a highly insignificant indirect contributor to slot revenue volume and …

Hierarchical Routing In Manets Using Simple Clustering, Adam Carnine

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This thesis presents both a review of current MANET routing protocols and a new MANET routing algorithm. The routing protocols reviewed include representative samples from the three primary forms of routing found in MANETS: proactive routing, reactive routing and hybrid routing. Secure algorithms are given special treatment in the review. In addition several protocol enhancements are discussed.

The proposed routing protocol is designed to support networks of a medium size, containing over 200 nodes but less than 3,000 nodes. The design is intentionally simple to allow ease of implementation in comparison with other MANET protocols that provide similar functionality.

Criticality Studies Of Actinides Within Fissures, Trevor Wilcox

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The storage of nuclear waste in underground storage facilities presents numerous engineering challenges and risks. Experimental verification of engineered underground storage is impractical or prohibitively expensive, leaving scientists with few options. A 1995 report by Bowman and Venneri of the Los Alamos National Laboratory generated considerable controversy by hypothesizing that wastes composed of fissionable plutonium leached from underground storage containers could pose a nuclear criticality hazard. They proposed cases where plutonium collected in underground fractures could lead to sustained nuclear fission. In overmoderated cases, they argued that the resulting release of energy from fission could result in steam explosions, or …

Mining Wars: Corporate Expansion And Labor Violence In The Western Desert, 1876-1920, Kenneth Dale Underwood

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This dissertation analyzes the class struggle in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in Mexico and the western United States to illuminate the social transformation taking place in this trans-national region. The US and Mexico both underwent a significant metamorphosis in this era. The creation of a labor based working class and the displacement of occupational professionals from the upper class in many communities into an emerging middle class disrupted traditional social structures in both nations. This systematic social change, occurring nearly simultaneously in the US and Mexico, was complicated by the emerging system of monopoly capitalism, which led …

The Casaloma, Justin P. Burnside

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The Casaloma was written to challenge held beliefs in what constitutes genre, what constitutes "selfhood," and what constitutes borders.

First, it is an examination of Rimbaud's famous line, "I is an other," which challenges the position of the "I" in relation not only to the self, but the self in relation to the world around it. This I call the poetics of the pre-positional, or prepositional relationship. This poetics is explored and tested through the voices, and the suigenerous nature of the material that constitutes the book.

Secondly, this book is meant to be an exploration of ideas that were …

Oxidation Modeling By Means Of Molecular Dynamics, Chaiyod Soontrapa

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Oxidation modeling is normally engineered to study systems at macroscopic scales, mostly in analytical forms based on diffusion theories. The associated time scale is usually in months, days, or minutes, and the length scale is in the order of microns. In this dissertation, oxidation modeling is performed at atomistic scale with the time and length scales in picoseconds and angstroms, respectively, using molecular dynamics. Molecular dynamics simulations generate trajectories of each atom or particle in a system according to the laws of physics. Studying oxidations under the atomistic point of view can offer new insights on atomic behaviors and influencing …

The Efficacy Of Fragrance Use For Enhancing The Slot Machine Gaming Experience Of Casino Patrons, Gael D. Hancock

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Once guests are inside a casino, experiential factors within the casino must be managed so that these guests are encouraged to engage in the gaming opportunities; remain in the casino to eat and shop; return to the casino; and hopefully, to recommend the casino to others. Ambient conditions have been shown to influence a person's willingness to stay in a public setting and their repatronage intentions. Air fragrance is one small, but controllable piece of the experience puzzle that includes décor, lighting, music and other ambient sounds, comfort of the seating, quality of the service, perception of cleanliness and ease …

Sponsorship Of Interscholastic Athletics: An Examination Of State High School Athletic/Activity Association Sponsors, Justin Wartella

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Sport sponsorship has evolved into a vast business enterprise, encompassing sport at all levels. In 2007 alone, spending on sport sponsorship worldwide was approximately $28 billion with an estimated amount of over $14 billion being spent in North America (IEG, 2008). Previous empirical research has been conducted to determine why companies choose to become involved in a sport sponsorship relationship. The existing literature on sport sponsorship objectives includes studies that have focused primarily on professional sport, intercollegiate athletics and international sport and sporting events. Despite the previous research conducted in the area of sport sponsorship, there has been a theoretical …

Fracture Toughness, Crack-Growth-Rate And Creep Studies Of Alloy 276, Joydepp Pal

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Austenitic nickel-base Alloy 276 had been proposed to be a candidate structural material within the purview of the nuclear hydrogen initiative program. A mechanistic understanding of high temperature tensile deformation of this alloy has already been presented in an earlier investigation. The current investigation has been focused on the evaluation of crack-growth behavior, fracture toughness, stress-corrosion-cracking and creep deformation of this alloy as functions of different metallurgical and mechanical variables. The results of crack-growth study under cyclic loading indicate that this alloy exhibited greater cracking tendency with increasing temperature at a constant load ratio (R). However, the effect of temperature …

Optimization Of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Interconnect Design, Krishna C. Pulagam

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Performance of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) is dependent of a set of complex physical and chemical processes occurring simultaneously. Interconnect for SOFC is important as it provides electrical connection between anode of one individual cell to the cathode of neighboring one. It also acts as a physical barrier to protect the air electrode material from the reducing environment of the fuel on the fuel electrode side, and it equally prevents the fuel electrode material from contacting with oxidizing atmosphere of the oxidant electrode side. A three-dimensional numerical model has been developed to evaluate the SOFC including the current collector, …

Geoelectrical Response Of Surfactant Solutions In A Quartzitic Sand Analog Aquifer, Meghan Therese Magill

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In this project, the resistivity and phase shift of ten surfactant aqueous solutions in a sand matrix were measured using spectral induced polarization (SIP). In addition, specific conductivity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and dielectric constant measurements of the solutions were also evaluated. The frequency range assessed was 0.091-12000Hz. The surfactants, which are typically used in the remediation of tetrachloroethylene, were Aerosol MA 80-I, Dowfax 8390, and Steol CS-330. The surfactants were mixed into solutions of both deionized and tap water at varying concentrations and injected into a closed system of silica sand. The surfactant treatments altered resistivity, specific conductivity, and pH …

Tensile Strength And Failure Criterion Of Analog Lithophysal Rock, James A. Nott

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This project determines the tensile strength of lithophysal analog rock and presents failure criteria that can be used by geotechnical engineers to evaluate underground structures in rock. The physical and mechanical properties that are related to the failure criterion, such as porosity, compressive strength and modulus of elasticity, are also discussed. Experimental tensile tests were made using direct uniaxial and indirect Brazilian tests. Three 4-inch specimens were fabricated and tested in direct uniaxial tensile tests using Hydro-Stone TB. The results showed that the elastic tensile modulus of elasticity was within two percent of existing data for the compressive modulus of …

So Tell Me, What's Different But The Skin I'M In? Seven Adolescent Black Girls Making Sense Of Their Experiences In An Online School Book Club Featuring African American Young Adult Literature, Benita Rutonya Dillard

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Believing the claim made by Black feminist research and scholarship that Black women writers and Black female social networks were safe spaces for Black females to come to voice, this qualitative multiple case study examined how seven adolescent Black females enrolled in a public virtual charter high school positioned themselves as they responded to contemporary realistic young adult fiction written by African American female authors in an online single-gendered book club. This study captured participants as some interacted in Tuesday's group and the others in the Thursday's group. Interpretivist methods are used to specifically examine the ways in which the …

Analysis Of Flaked Stone Lithics From Virgin Anasazi Sites Near Mt. Trumbull, Arizona Strip, Cheryl Marie Martin

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This thesis examines flaked stone tools that were used by the Virgin Anasazi and the debitage resulting from their manufacture at six sites in the Mt. Trumbull region in order to infer past human behavior. The behaviors being examined include activities carried out at sites, the processing and use of raw stone materials, and patterns of regional exchange. I have applied obsidian sourcing technology and an analysis of flaked stone attributes. The research indicates a range of activities occurred at habitation sites at Mt. Trumbull, and toolmakers did not need to expend large amounts of time and energy on acquiring …

Exploring The Effects Of Online Instruction On Reading Comprehension Achievement Of Students With Learning Disabilities, Nancy Shuman Fitzgerald

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Two major pieces of legislation, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (2004) and No Child Left Behind (NCLB) (2001) mandate that students with disabilities be placed in the Least Restrictive Environment and have access to the general education curriculum. To provide access to the general education curriculum, inclusion in general education classes for students with disabilities has become the accepted practice. Many students with specific learning disabilities experience difficulties with the general education curriculum because their reading ability falls significantly below the school curriculum and textbook instructional levels (Deshler & Schumaker, 1993). The Word Identification Strategy (Lenz, Schumaker, Deshler, & …

Analysis And Design Of Low Power Cmos Ultra Wideband Receiver, Abdul Bhuiyan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This research concentrates on the design and analysis of low power ultra wideband receivers for Multiband Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing systems. Low power design entails different performance tradeoffs, which are analyzed. Relationship among power consumption, achievable noise figure and linearity performance including distortion products (cross-modulation, inter-modulation and harmonic distortion) are derived. From these relationships, circuit design proceeds with allocation of gain among different sub circuit blocks for power optimum system.

A power optimum RF receiver front-end for MB-OFDM based UWB systems is designed that covers all the MB-OFDM spectrum between 3.1 GHZ to 9.6 GHZ. The receiver consists of a …

Diversity Leader: Case Study Of A Selected Organization's Transformation, Aileen Guerrero Zaballero

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Diversity initiatives have evolved from a focus on compliance-oriented training to a systematic approach which integrates the many dimensions of diversity in all aspects of business to enhance performance through the practice of organization development (OD) (Bendick, Egan, & Lofhjelm, 2001). Many organizations have implemented short term solutions to address the demographic changes in the workforce, but have had minimal results. When diversity interventions are conceptually grounded in organization development practices the results are much more substantial for both the employees and the organization (2001). The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the perceived influential factors of …

Determinants Of Academic Achievement And Intention To Complete The Program Among Pga Golf Management Students, Brian James Soule

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Students enrolled in PGA Golf Management programs at five public universities were surveyed to determine what contributed to their academic achievement, i.e., grades, and their intention to successfully complete their academic program. The Eccles expectancy-value model of activity behaviors was used as the theoretical framework for this study. The results of regression analyses indicated that the students' perceptions that their parents and peers believed that they could successfully complete their degree requirements, as well as their own self-efficacy beliefs, predicted their academic achievement, but not their intention to complete the program. The results of regression analyses indicated also that the …

Study Of Corrosion Of Materials In The Sulfur-Iodine Hydrogen Production Cycle, Thao Trung Ho

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Hydrogen is of great interest since the availability of traditional fossil fuels is in decline. Strictly speaking, hydrogen is not a primary source of energy but is an energy carrier, since energy typically must be used from another source (electricity, natural gas, coal, etc.) to produce it. Of hydrogen production techniques, the Sulfur-Iodine thermochemical water splitting process (S-I cycle), which was proposed by General Atomics (GA), is promising with its simplicity and high efficiency. Most of the chemicals are recycled except water. However, the S-I cycle operates in a harsh, corrosive environment in the presence of a mixture of iodine …

A Validation Study Of Risk Management Systems, Bridget Kelly

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to examine the predictive validity of Risk Management Systems (RMS) as a risk assessment instrument. To date, a published validation study does not exist for the RMS. The study employs secondary data analysis to examine the predictive validity of RMS recidivism and violence scores on three outcomes: arrest, unsuccessful termination from supervision, and technical violations. The study sample consisted of 830 probationers from the United States Probation Office, District of Nevada. The analyses showed that RMS recidivism and violence scores were moderately predictive of all three outcomes.

Molecular Systematics And Phylogeography Of The Genus Richardsonius, Derek Dee Houston

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The complex geological and climatic events that significantly altered the landscape throughout the Cenozoic Era impacted the diversification of many North American taxa, including freshwater fishes. Here, I employ an array of phylogenetic analyses using a multiple gene tree approach to address several questions regarding the phylogenetic relationships of the North American cyprinid genus Richardsonius and two other closely related genera, Clinostomus and Iotichthys. I also use divergence time estimates generated using fossil calibrations to qualitatively assess the phylogeographic implications of evolution within and among these three genera. Mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences show a sister relationship between Iotichthys and …

Effects Of Mechanical And Metallurgical Variables On Creep, Fracture Toughness And Crack Growth Behavior Of Alloy 617, Muhammad Hasibul Hasan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Nickel base Alloy 617 has been identified to be a suitable structural material for heat exchanger applications in both hydrogen and electricity generation using nuclear heat. A maximum operating temperature of 950°C has been specified by department of energy (DOE) for both applications to achieve a maximum possible efficiency. Therefore, an extensive investigation has been pursued to evaluate time-dependent-deformation (Creep) of this alloy as functions of temperature and applied load. The results indicate that this alloy exhibited severe creep deformation, characterized by development of an instantaneous tertiary creep region at 850 and 950°C under applied stresses corresponding to its 35% …

A Perspective Of Global Capitalism, James Soller

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Since the 1970s, the political-economic structure of global society has undergone drastic restructuring. International political economy is concerned with providing explanations for these changes. This thesis will provide an alternative view of international relations that is often marginalized in the mainstream literature. It will be argued that global society needs to be understood under the historical context of capitalism and the class relations that stem from it. Central to this argument is a Gramscian derived articulation of hegemony. Thus, hegemony will be conceptualized in this thesis as a transnational class that governs over global society through consent and coercion. While …

A Palestinian State, Jennifer A. Hileman-Tabios

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Should an independent, sovereign state of Palestine have the right to exist? The establishment of an independent Palestinian state is important because it could possibly end an extended period of violence with Israel, where civilian casualties have been high, and it could help to solidify a foundation of political tolerance and acceptance in the Middle East. Under the proposed two-state solution, an independent Palestinian state is possible. However, to determine if a Palestinian state is viable, it will be necessary to examine internal political struggles, economic resources, systems of communication, political systems and internal and external political policies. This qualitative …

Individual Copper Nanowire Decorated By Gold Nanoparticles For Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering, Roshan Guttikonda

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In this Thesis, I discuss the theory, implementation and applications of Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Surface enhanced Raman scattering has been used to detect 4 mercaptopyridine molecules. On a Silicon wafer, Gold nanoparticles are deposited onto Copper nanowires. Hotspots occur at the small gap (less than 10nm) between the nanowire and nanoparticle. The interaction of the electromagnetic field of the incident laser and the surface plasmon resonances of the metal nanoparticles at the hot spots enhances the Raman scattering signal of the adsorbed pyridine molecule (10 -3 M ). The dependence of SERS signal on the polarization angle of …

Configurations Of Site-Based Financial Leadership Practice Within School Contexts, Sylvia Tegano

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study employed an ethnographic perspective to generate a grounded theory that contributes to the understanding of financial leadership practice in four elementary school contexts: Non Title I School, Title I School, Empowerment School and Charter School. The literature, interviews, observations, document analysis, and review of relevant financial artifacts at each site were used to form an Innovation Configuration Map, which represented financial leadership practice.

Results showed that financial leadership practices are rooted in targeted resource tools, mindful internal accountability routines, and collaborative, inquiry based mindsets of school practitioners. Moreover, variations emerged such that financial leadership practices adapted to the …

Perspectives On Timeshare Ownership: An Exploratory Study Of Markets In China, Kai-Li Chi

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study aims to explore the attitudes of prospective customers in China about timeshares, and to identify potential marketing opportunities for timeshare companies targeting China. This exploratory study is the first of its kind and it intends to provide valuable information about the consumer potential for the timeshare industry in China. The findings indicate that consumer acceptance of timeshares in China is high. Six socio-demographic variables were identified as keys in predicting those with statistically significant likelihood of purchasing a timeshare within the next three years: age, occupation, marital status, annual household income, vacation frequency, and attendance at a previous …

Dancing In The Ashes, Vytautas Adolph Malesh

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The following novel is the third draft of my creative thesis entitled Dancing in the Ashes . It is an exploration of the Detroit rave scene in its dying days, and it mixes real and imagined places and events in order to portray the essence of that time, if not the factuality. The bulk of the novel follows just over two weeks in the life of Thomas Kowalski, a drug dealer living with his parents in suburban Detroit. He parties constantly and seldom works except as necessary to keep his job at a local record store - an invaluable source …

Eminent Domain: The Unintended Consequences Of Kelo, Tracy Lynn Bower

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In recent years, local governments in the United States have increasingly used eminent domain to promote economic development, raising concerns among property-right advocates over what those advocates view as unlawful, or what should be unlawful, takings of private property in order to benefit another private property owner. This philosophical and legal dispute reached a crisis point in the 2005 United States Supreme Court decision in Kelo v. City of New London. In that decision, the court narrowly upheld a Connecticut Supreme Court ruling granting the City of New London permission to redevelop land that had been seized from existing homeowners …

Protection Of Macrophages J774a.1 By Purine Nucleoside Analogues From Bacillus Anthracis Mediated Necrosis, Zadkiel R. Alvarez

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Eight years after the lamentable anthrax attacks, major scientific effort continues to be done, in order to stop imminent acts of bioterrorism. Innovative ways of therapy against the anthrax disease are being investigated. B. anthracis, the etiological agent of the infection, has a dormant stage in its life cycle known as the endospore. When conditions become favorable spores germinate, transforming into vegetative bacteria. In inhalational anthrax, the most fatal manifestation of the disease, spores enter the organism through the respiratory track, and are phagocytosized by alveolar macrophages of the lungs. Spores are able to sense nutrient availability, activating their germination …