Digital Commons Network^™

Seasonal Investigation Of Native Fishes And Their Habitats In Missouri River And Yellowstone River Backwaters, Shannon J. Fisher

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Interactions between the Missouri River and its floodplain have been severely degraded due to channelization and impoundment. Ecologists have assumed that backwaters are a critical habitat component for certain life stages of native fishes; however, documented relationships are limited. During this study, I monitored fishes, invertebrates, and habitats to help determine the importance of backwaters to native fishes of various life stages, and to assess the changes that occur in habitat characteristics and invertebrate densities during periods with differential connectivity. Seven assemblages of fishes, identified with catch-per-unit-effort data, had at least some relationship with the backwaters. The assemblages included two …

The Effect Of Fish Oil On Liver And Plasma Mda And Antioxidant Status Of Rats, Nuriye Mete, Birgül Işik, Levent Erdi̇nç, Fuat Gürkan

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

The question how fish oil (FO) and soybean oil (SO) change the state of antioxidant and the lipid peroxidation in liver and plasma of rats and the protective role of vitamin E were investigated. Six-week-old forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups. One of the groups fed a control diet, another one fed SO, while the other three groups fed FO diet at the level of 10% Vitamin E supplementation was maintained to three different levels 3, 50, 150 IU/per kg diet in the FO diets and 3 IU vitamin E per kg of the SO diet. At …

Quantification Of Total Collagen In Rabbit Tendonby The Sirius Red Method, Dilek Taşkiran, Emin Taşkiran, Hüseyin Yercan, Fatma Z. Kutay

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Animal-Assisted Therapy At A Long Term Care Facility, Sarah Kendziorski, Carol Treacy

Masters Theses

This thesis is a qualitative study on how resident pets impacted the lives of residents in a nursing home. Through the hermeneutic process, ten participants were interviewed to determine their relationships with the animals. Five common themes emerged from this study; (a) the participants enjoyed the companionship of pets, (b) the participants found pleasure in feeding the pets, (c) the participants enjoyed petting the animals, (d) most of the participants were unable to care for the animals, and (e) a resident animal would be an important factor in choosing a new nursing home for these participants. This thesis supports the …

The Effect Of Antibiotic And Resistance Education On Patient Knowledge, Karen Niemchick

Masters Theses

Our society, which has enjoyed the benefits of antibiotics for over fifty years, is now experiencing an increase in bacterial resistance. One contributing factor is a lack of patient understanding about antibiotics resulting in their inappropriate usage. This study examined the effect of patient education in antibiotics and bacterial resistance on patient knowledge.

Adults from various medical facilities (a student health services clinic, an urgent care office, a family practice, and a community convenience sample) were given a ten-question survey designed to assess their knowledge of antibiotics and resistance. Half of the participants were randomly given an educational brochure to …

Shahar V. Bowers: That Girl Just Didn't Have Good Sense, Cynthia J. Frost

Minnesota Journal of Law & Inequality

No abstract provided.

Affirmative Action In Higher Education: A Legal Analysis Of The Use Of Race As A Factor In College Admissions After Bakke, N. J Pettit

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to examine the legal status of affirmative action in higher education admission policies with regard to the use of race as a factor. This study answered these three questions:;What is the current status of the Regents of the University of California v. Bakke decision as a basis for assessing higher education admission policies? What legal benchmarks have emerged since the Bakke decision which may impact the development of university admission policies? What policies may achieve diversity in higher education admissions without incurring legal risks by using race and ethnicity in the admissions policies?;The significance …

Written Retellings Of Narrative And Expository Texts: A Case Study Of Elementary Primary Grade Delayed Male Readers, Timothy Todd Houge

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This study examined how four second grade delayed readers, who were delayed in various stages of reading and writing, read and wrote about narrative and expository paired-topic texts. This study was based on the assumption that: (a) elementary primary grade children could read and write about narrative and expository texts; (b) delayed readers are children who can learn to read, even though they are below grade level, if they are given the opportunity; and, (c) written retellings could be used to assess students' understanding of texts and are one method of bringing the reading-writing relationship together; A case study research …

Dimension Reduction Of Image And Audio Space, Blaine Lee Hagstrom

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The reduction of data necessary for storage or transmission is a desirable goal in the digital video and audio domain. Compression schemes strive to reduce the amount of storage space or bandwidth necessary to keep or move the data. Data reduction can be accomplished so that visually or audibly unnecessary data is removed or recoded thus aiding the compression phase of the data processing. The characterization and identification of data that can be successfully removed or reduced is the purpose of this work. New philosophy, theory and methods for data processing are presented towards the goal of data reduction. The …

Town And Hinterland: Kingman And Mohave County, Arizona, 1860--1940, Diana Roock Dever

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This work examines the complex socioeconomic relationship between a northwestern Arizona town and its hinterland from 1860--1940. During this time, Mohave County, Arizona experiences the impact of three industries: mining, ranching, and railroaDing After 1882, mining boomtowns in the hinterland stimulate the growth of the Kingman railsiding, making it the only viable transshipment point in the county. The town's development relies on economic activities within its hinterland, national trends, and the character of its hardworking inhabitants, including its diverse racial and ethnic groups. Separate demographic profiles from 1900--1940 of Kingman and Mohave County's composition demonstrate changes that occur. Following the …

A Windows-Based Roadway Maintenance Management System, Ranjit Menon

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

A Maintenance Management System (MMS), as the name suggests, is a system used to manage maintenance activities on any infrastructure system or facility such as a road network. Maintenance of a road network involves repair, construction and improvement of pavements and the right of way elements that deteriorate due to their usage, exposure to the environment and various other causes such as impact during crashes, vandalism etc. Management of the maintenance activities is critical to maintain the level of service of the road network, public safety and welfare and for effective and efficient fiscal planning. Since this involves large expenses, …

An Age Of Opportunity: Education And Employment In Cyberspace, Rachel Beth Friedman

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

There are many trends in cyberspace that are directly affecting both universities' education systems and the current job markets. This research provides an overview of some of these computer mediated trends. The purpose of this work is to look at the current job market, examine some of the computer related jobs for recent college graduates, look at distance education as an educational opportunity for many different people, and look at future opportunities that computer mediation will continue to provide. Students will have better insight of these trends, while professors will have a strong appreciation of the importance of teaching and …

A Chipped Stone Characterization Of Ghwair I: A Neolithic Village In Southern Jordan, John Patrick Gervasoni

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Ghwair I, a Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (PPNB) village in the Wadi Feinan in Southern Jordan, has been excavated from 1993 through 2000. The chipped stone recovered from Ghwair I (N = 48,388) has undergone a techno-typological analysis to help characterize the site's chronology and possible function. The analysis of recovered PPNB chipped stone indicators has demonstrated that Ghwair I is a PPNB village that shows minimal variation in its chipped stone proportions from different areas of the site. The analysis presented here also concludes that Ghwair I, although rife with microlithic technology typical of an earlier PPNA occupation, does not …

Battered Women: Exploring Motivating Factors To Leave Or Remain In Violent Relationships, Lora Ellen Kirn

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The current study explores factors motivating women to leave or remain in violent relationships from an interactionist perspective. Literature reviewed will integrate gender socialization and labeling with studies on domestic violence to investigate a woman's role in becoming a victim and her responses to violent relationships. Interview data from women residing in a domestic violence shelter examine the label "battered woman" insofar as it may serve as a catalyst for leaving an abusive relationship once a woman identifies with being a battered woman. Further, a woman's view of her role, commitment to family maintenance, and children in the home are …

Using Porn: Discourse And Identity Construction In Male Consumers, Andrew Fletcher Harper

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

A number of cultural perspectives address the question of male consumers of heterosexually oriented pornography. Porn and the consumer have been characterized from feminist, conservative, and scientific positions. Despite the presence of these perspectives, little work informed from the consumer perspective exists. This research allows consumers to speak about their own experience. This research analyzes the impact of framing discourses on the identity construction of consumers. Using concepts from Foucault and cultural studies, these questions are explored: How do discourses about consumers affect their identity construction? Which are important? How do men construct their consuming experiences? How does consumption context …

Habitat Use And Movements Of Channel Catfish In The Red River Of The North, Jamison L. Wendel

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Descriptive Analysis Of Augmentative And Alternative Communication Evaluations In Speech-Language Pathology, Kathleen A. Fergus

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Identification Of Proteins Secreted By The Choroid During Recovery From Experimentally Induced Myopia In Chicks, Yuan Huang

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Women In Prison: Do Visits From Children Influence Inmate Behavior?, Melissa Marie Cozad

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The number of women in prison is increasing at an alarming rate in the United States today. Because nearly 75 percent of incarcerated women are mothers of minor children, the issue of maintaining family relations deserves special attention. This study examines child visitation and its relationship to female behavior inside the priSon If women who receive visits adjust more easily to prison life, prison administrators would be wise to note these benefits; Data was collected at a private female prison in North Las Vegas, Nevada. Information on visitation and disciplinary infractions was gathered from inmate files and visitation records at …

Assisted Reproduction: Deciding What's Best For The Child, The Family, And Our Society, Gayle R Fisher

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The use of high-tech reproductive technologies to have children is widely practiced today in the United States. While state statutes regulate this industry to some extent, this field is largely self-governed, and disputes between individuals are usually resolved through the courts; In my thesis, I examine the inadequacy of public policy formation in the three more controversial areas of assisted reproduction: artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, and surrogate motherhood. Policy-making is mostly done indirectly and haphazardly through the courts and some state and federal legislation. There has been no organized national dialogue; I recommend that moral consensus be sought on …

United States Probation/Pretrial Officers' Concerns About Victimization And Officer Safety Training, Kevin D Lowry

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

In June of 1991, the Monograph 109 supervision manual changed the role of the U.S. Probation/Pretrial Officer from predominately that of a social worker to an enforcement agent. Officers now perform enforcement activities and supervise a more dangerous clientele. This shift in responsibilities did not result in increased safety training. Safety issues have become a major concern for many officers; The current research involved a national survey of U.S. Probation/Pretrial Officers to measure levels of victimization, concerns for personal safety and satisfaction for safety training. The results indicate that few officers were victims of physical assaults but a majority reported …

Rethinking The Aceramic Neolithic: Insights From An Ethnoarchaeological Study On Cyprus, Sherry Lynn Marks

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The so-called bizarre Aceramic Neolithic Period on the Mediterranean island of Cypros is reconsidered in light of an ethnoarchaeological study conducted in conjunction with the Kholetria-Ortos Project. The ethnoarchaeological study was designed to discover the organizational aspects of agropastoral strategies on the modern landscape and its relevance, if any, to the study of agropastoralism during the Aceramic Neolithic Period. As a result, a number of strategies considered "irrational" by agricultural policy analysts were identified, posing an analogical conceptual dilemma of contemporary phenomena. The presentation and discussion of the ethnoarchaeological results from the perspective of economic uncertainty, however, demonstrates that these …

"Pygmalion" Vs "My Fair Lady": A Comparison Of The Vision Of Two Authors And What Each Play Says To Women, Jessica Lynn Raymer

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This thesis examines the vision of George Bernard Shaw on his masterpiece Pygmalion, and compares it to that of Alan J. Lerner and composer Frederick Loewe on their adaptation of Pygmalion into a history making musical called My Fair Lady. Through this examination it is discovered what Shaw considered a romance and how his ideas could and couldn't be translated into the conventions of nineteen fifties musical theatre. This thesis follows each play from its inception through its arrival to legendary status. The last chapter is devoted to a discussion on which play, if any, makes a stronger statement in …

Ecofeminism As Invitational Rhetoric: Envisioning The Shift In Western Consciousness, Julie Ann Schutten

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Ecofeminists believe the Western patriarchal worldview perpetuates a power-over ideology that contributes to the destruction of the environment. Ecofeminists advocate that understanding the web of life is crucial for attaining a paradigm shift to a mindset that respects all entities. This study examines how ecofeminist discourse offers individuals a new paradigm grounded within feminine systems of meaning--no hierarchical ordering. The theory of invitational rhetoric supports feminist systems of thought, maintaining every entity has immanent value. This study reviews themes represented by the re-emergence of the Goddess as a gateway towards ecofeminist thinKing Additionally, two pieces of ecofeminist discourse are critiqued …

Voice And Body Incorporated Into Actor Training, Rochele Ann Tillman

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This thesis is an examination of both the vocal and physical aspects of training involved in the education of actors; Beginning with a comparison of techniques and principals applied in the styles of vocal specialists: Edith Skinner, Cicely Barry, and Kristin Linklater. I then explore various forms of "body use" technique's used in an acting student's learning process, such as: Alexander Technique, Laban, Neutral Mask work, T'ai Chi, and Modern Dance. Finally, this text unifies the vocal and physical training, incorporating it into a single class. By this, it is hoped to inform the student how he/she may achieve an …

Crack As A Moral Panic: The Racial Implications Inherent To Crack And Powder Cocaine Sentencing, Deena R Trueblood

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This thesis explores the nature and extent of the print media's coverage of crack cocaine to determine whether a moral panic ensued during the late 1980's. A content analysis was conducted on the Los Angeles Times from 1985 to 1990, examining both the nature and extent of the Los Angeles Times' coverage of crack cocaine as well as the relationship between this drug and its association with Blacks. The findings of the content analysis provided support for the hypothesis that a moral panic did in fact take place in the late 1980s with respect to crack cocaine. Further, that this …

Matrilineaology: Mother-Daughter Relationships In Contemporary Fiction, Terra Ann Williams

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This thesis examines Dorothy Allison's Bastard out of Carolina, Louise Erdrich's The Beet Queen, Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things, and Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club to attempt to answer questions such as, "How do a mother's experiences prior to the birth of her daughter affect the way that she raises that daughter?" and "How does a mother's history affect her attitude(s) toward her daughter?" These questions are important because they lay the groundwork for the ultimate question that this thesis attempts to answer: "Will history repeat itself?" In addition to tracing history, this thesis will identify Nan …

Modeling The Rates Of Lead And Strontium Uptake By Zeolitized Tuff From Rainier Mesa, Nevada Test Site, Nevada, Patricia Ann Bernot

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The fate and transport of contaminants released during nuclear testing at the NTS are partly controlled by interactions of their aqueous species with mineral surfaces. It has been shown that retardation of contaminants in the subsurface may be controlled by intraparticle mass transfer rather than equilibrium partitioning. For this reason, the rate of lead (Pb) and Strontium (Sr) uptake by zeolitized tuff from Rainier Mesa, NTS, was studied as a function of pH, ionic strength, and metal concentration; To test the hypothesis that sorption of Pb occurs through surface precipitation and Sr sorbs through diffusion, the data were modeled by …

Rodent Effects On Shrubs In A Mojave Desert Shrub Community, Steven Schuyler Vrooman

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The mounds created by many species of Dipodomys (kangaroo rats) are long-term modifications of the the soil chemical and physical environment which have been shown to increase both the diversity and abundance of annuals in the deserts of the Southwestern United States. I characterized shrub distribution and soil parameters on and off rodent mounds in a Coleogyne ramosissima community in Lucky Strike Canyon near Las Vegas, Nevada and performed several experiments to investigate rodent effects on seedlings and seeds of C. ramosissima. Rodent mounds were found to be long-term modifications of the soil physical and chemical environment which support a …

Urban Public Space On The Las Vegas Strip, Kip Barton

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This study is an analysis of randomly selected urban public spaces on the Las Vegas Strip. This study uses criterion gleaned from studies of traditional as well as contemporary urban public spaces throughout the world but predominately major cities in the United States such as New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. These criteria serve as a preliminary basis of compariSon First hand observation is used to collect the data which is used for this compariSon Further observation is used to determine the characteristics present in these spaces that may not be present in other urban public spaces; While urban …